- Apr 26, 2012
- 5,292
I've been following as well... I already have a few radios on the shelf in the basement... Been thinking about dustin'em off and crankin'em up... like I've got the time...
I’m not sure but I can say that the build quality of the Diamond seemed to be very good. Did you compare the technical specs? I’m wondering what makes it more expensive too.
I am following this thread with that sickening sense of inevitability that comes with knowing another interesting, not-inexpensive time-crushing pursuit is about to get its claws into me. Darn you all to heck.
Yes I compared. All I really saw was a little more gain from the Comet. Diamond has nice graphics of the radiation pattern but I couldn't find similar data for the Comet to compare them.
I'm not planning on putting up a tower, just mounting above my roof, maybe 40ft above ground level, but not above tree tops. I'm almost on the highest elevation in my neighborhood, about 80 ft above tide level.
My Comet GP-3 has been a great performer, and not terribly expensive.
I’ve read that operators use Drones to string up lines over trees to hoist up long HF antennas. You’re half way there.
But in all seriousness it all started out as an emergency preparedness endeavor for me.
My wife and I passed our Technician Class exam this morning in New Oxford, PA. I also took the General Class license exam cold and missed the mark by 3 . Yay for both of us!
And when the falcons drop the ropes on the other side, you can train cats to grab the other ends and pull the slack out. Easy peasy, do it all from the HoveRound...I think I'l get into training falcons to do that, so I can have another maddening hobby
Many people get into the hobby for that reason...and very often expand as they learn how fascinating it can be.That's right where my brain has always been on this. Want to be able to remain connected to the world, or at least to key neighbors, family, and friends if life here inside the beltway gets too exciting one day. But I'd probably settle for just having some gear with nice blinking lights that occasionally emits the sound of someone talking in Finnish. I might pick your brains at some point.
Comet GP-6?
Diamond X200A.
I actually got my transceiver together and fired it up for a few min. I’m able to open several repeaters within 20-23mi. I could ping a repeater in Davidsonville (27mi) and get it to open but with lots of static.
Now you've got me hung up between the 2, wondering if the Comet is worth the extra $100
The 6 is a lot more expensive than the 3
Just be sure you need the 6. No point in spending more money, if your repeaters are close. If they are very far away, the Arrow antenna may be a better buy.
http://www.arrowantennas.com/solid/146-4s.html
I can hit 5 repeaters with a rubber duck; I might have some other goal. The CX-333 is a lot less expensive than the 6.
Someone advised me that a directional antenna isn't worth spending money on unless you put it up high enough to clear all your local trees.
TWO WEEKS!!
Yup, you heard right: Two weeks until the next FREE licensing exam session at the National Electronics Museum in beautifully industrialized Linthicum!
Date/Time:
Tuesday, November 26 / 5:45pm
Pre-registration info:
https://sites.google.com/site/marylandmobileers/ve-testing
Location:
https://sites.google.com/site/marylandmobileers/ve-testing/map
Plenty of time to cram and finish studying for your Tech or your upgrade.
ToolAA - probably time for your XX3XXXstroke AE.
Meantime, if you're ready now, they are administering exams in Laurel this Saturday:
https://calendar.google.com/calenda...DAwWiBtYXJ5bGFuZG1vYmlsZWVyc0Bt&ctz=GMT-05:00
Well, if it's free and close enough to your QTH, it might be worth trying while you have your momentum.Ed, I’m not sure I’m going to be ready for Tuesday. I’m trying but I’ve only been able to slip in maybe 20-30 min of study time per day over the past two weeks. I’m scoring 60-70 on practice test....Unless I can get up into the mid-80’s by Monday night I think I should wait until January.
However playing around on 40m has really gotten me more excited and motivated to get the AE test under my belt.
There you go! Closer than January and at the clubhouse in Davidsonville, still free.The AARC club will host an exam on Saturday 14 December, 12:30 pm.