Hobby Thread - Aug 17, 2024 [TRex]

Welcome hobbyists! Pull up a chair and sit a spell with the horde in this little corner of the interweb. Got your ears on? A spin of the Ace of Spades wheel of hobbies has come up with a theme of amateur radio for this week.

Are you a ham operator? Do you SOTA or POTA? Do know the difference between CB, FRS, GMRS, MURS, and WTF? How do you connect with others? How did you get into the hobby? There are many different flavors of amateur radio - what is yours? Do you have fancy equipment? If you are not active now, were you active previously? What great stories does the horde have that involve a radio communication?

TRex is not wise in the ways of amateur radio, so looking for horde help to make this work. We're here to talk about amateur radio. As usual, keep this thread limited to hobbies. Politics and current events can wait for other threads. Play nice. Don't feed the trolls. No pants required. Copy?

Special welcome to the lurkers or those catching up on the thread later. Nice to have your eyeballs. You're always welcome to join in. Post anytime or drop an email in the hobby thread email box.

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Top photo - Did you know that Alf (Alien Life Form) owes its story line to ham radio? Willie Tanner is a shortwave radio enthusiast. After his home planet Melmac exploded, Alf followed his shortwave radio signals with his spaceship and crashed into Willie's home. When Willie uses his homemade ham radio to call somebody, he uses the callsign K726 XAA. He was arrested by the FBI after Alf made radio calls to Air Force One, but after another call came in while Willie was in custody, his innocence was determined as he could not have been two places at once and Willie was released by the President.

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Horde member in good standing PabloD has generously contributed knowledge about a radio-based hobby of his called SOTA - Summits on the Air. It sounds like a scavenger hunt with a radio where people find each other and use Morse Code to communicate. The challenge is finding people who are long distances away. It also gives people an excuse to get out into the world and physically check out locations they would have no reason to visit otherwise.

SOTA is for amateur radio operators who want to integrate ham radio into their outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, or mountain biking. The basic idea is that you go up to the top of a hill or mountain, set up a radio, and make contacts with other hams. Some of those other hams might be on another hilltop (known as a summit to summit contact); others might be at their homes and monitoring for activity.

There are activators and chasers. The activator sets up shop and starts looking for chasers. Chasers on the hunt are listening for messages from activators. If they find each other, they briefly exchange call signs, strength of signal, and location.

The SOTA organization assigns points to different geographies and participants upload their activity into the magic SOTA database. The database reconciles the activity and awards points. If an activator makes four (or more) contacts from a one point summit, they get one activator point. If an activator makes four (or more) contacts from a six point summit, they get six points. Points range from one to ten. The distance between activator and chaser is not a factor in scoring but seeing how far away you can make connections is part of the fun. People who score enough points as activators can earn the mountain goat award. People who score enough points as chasers can earn the shack sloth award. There are other smaller awards and badges and the evidence is a little graphic pinned on the users database home page.

Below is a typical exchange between an activator and a chaser. I'll use a voice example, since the Morse Code version is full of abbreviations and more difficult to understand:

Activator: CQ SOTA, CQ SOTA, this is KB4XYZ calling CQ SOTA.
Chaser: W6ACE.
A: W6ACE, good morning, your are a 5-9 on Mt. McLoughlin, 5-9. Back to you.
C: QSL, you are a 4-7 in Texas, 4-7 in Texas. Good luck. Back to you.
A: Roger, Texas, thanks for the 4-7. CQ SOTA, this is KB4XYZ.

The exchange is usually limited to your call signs, a signal report (how well or not well you're being heard), and the location of the chaser. This is for two reasons: (1) the activator is usually trying to get as many contacts as possible in a short amount of time; (2) atmospheric conditions can change rapidly, and what was an open band can become completely closed and shut down your activation in a split second. The connection is the main goal. Part of the interest is seeing where your signal goes from day to day. Some days I mostly hit states that are adjacent (300-600 miles); other days I get lucky and shoot a signal 2000+ miles.

There are a few rules: (1) You have to be on portable gear. Even if you drive your Jeep to the summit, you have to get out and not use any part of the vehicle or its power supply. (2) Not all hilltops count - there's an online atlas showing which summits count for activating. Some are easy; some require mountaineering skills. The harder the climb, the more points you can get. (3) Just because the summit is in the database, you don't have the right to access private property without permission. Stick to public grounds or talk to the owner before going.

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Youtube has a number of videos on SOTA. Remember, TRex doesn't know much about this, so the selected videos may or may not be shining representatives for the hobby:

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If you like Summits on the Air, you might also like Parks on the Air. Similar concept except with national and state parks and other outdoor locations of interest.

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SOTA and POTA in action - the main event is time stamps 4:20 to 10:40. The rest is transit by Jeep to and from the target location by an activator:

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NASA ham radio from the space station?

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Is CB radio dead? Do truckers still use it? Does anyone else?

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The Rich History of Ham Radio Culture

Amateur radio history through 1930

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Where does the term ham come from?

At the turn of the 20th century, the terms ham and plug were used by landline telegraphers to describe an operator who lacks ability or who had poor or ham fisted skills. By 1881, it had been alleged by telegrapher unions and trade groups that companies were employing ham operators who were negligent or incompetent. These unskilled operators were described as either drinking alcohol while working, irresponsible teenage boys, or merely having very little ability. Their miscommunication was blamed for causing severe train wrecks. Railroad executives during this era were also accused of hiring unskilled operators to save money and were said to be accepting bribes from telegraph schools to hire unqualified students. These disreputable telegraph schools were referred to as ham factories.

Another origin story exists: In 1908, members of the Harvard University club created the worlds first amateur radio station. Their names were Albert S. Hyman, Bob Almy and Peggy Murray, and their first callsign was HYMAN-ALMY-MURRAY. Translating it into Morse code is hard, and it was shortened to HY-AL-MU. But a Mexican steamship used a similar callsign, HYALMO, and they began to mix on the air. Then the Americans further abbreviated their call sign to HAM.

A special committee of Congress in Washington created a law project that severely limited the activities of radio amateurs. In 1911, Albert Hyman proposed his version of the law on the telegraph without wires in his dissertation for Harvard University. The reviewer sent a copy to senator David Walsh, a member of the relevant congressional committee. The theses impressed the lawmaker so much that he invited the author to a commission meeting. Hyman told the members of Congress how much effort and labor it took to build their small amateur radio station and he argued that the commission's project would force amateurs to close their radio stations.

During the debate, HAM became the symbol of all the small amateur radio stations in the country, desperately resisting the pressure and threats of powerful professional radio stations. During the discussions, all speakers came to the defense of hams. The project was rejected, and the abbreviation became the symbol of all amateur radio stations.

Great story, but apparently none of it is true...

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Did you miss the hobby thread last week with a painting and animation theme? The horde shared some great stories. The comments may be closed, but you can re-live the content.

Notable comments from last week:

20240816-Screenshot 2024-08-16 134617.jpg

20240816-Screenshot 2024-08-16 134745.jpg

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Words of wisdom:

"Because despite all our troubles, when things are grim out in that wide round world of ours, that's when it's really important to have a good hobby." Posted by: tankascribe at June 22, 2024 07:41 PM (HWxAD).

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If amateur radio is not your thing and you have trouble finding something in the content or comments that resonates with you, hijack the thread for your hobbying as you see fit. We will feature a different hobby next time around. Send thoughts or suggestions to moronhobbies at protonmail dot com or just email to say hello. Over and out.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 05:30 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Wut

Posted by: Scarlett O'Hara at August 17, 2024 05:31 PM (yjEX3)

2 Breaker Breaker

I didn't get a first.

Over

Posted by: Darrell Harris at August 17, 2024 05:35 PM (YLZP5)

3 ALF is using a Kenwood microphone on a Kenwood transceiver.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at August 17, 2024 05:35 PM (63Dwl)

4 June 2024 was my 60th anniversary as a ham.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at August 17, 2024 05:36 PM (63Dwl)

5 Primarily CW OP here, straight key and bug. Never really liked using paddles, but I have a set with my KX1. SOTA and POTA CW are lots of fun.

Some friends of mine have a teenage son who's getting ready to take his license exam, so I'm getting a 2m setup put together for him as a gift. I have an older Yaesu VX-7R that doesn't see much use anymore, but it will let him hit his local repeaters and nets pretty well. It's the first step towards getting him into the HF Addiction. Muwahahaha.....

Posted by: Pennsyltucky at August 17, 2024 05:36 PM (QdGJh)

6 I used to do CB and then Amateur (HAM) Radio. What kinda killed it for me was the prohibition on encryption right about the time I was starting to experiment with packet radio. I understand why the rules are the way they are, but I was just getting into the first releases of PGP and using that on the internet, and ... well, I guess I never looked back.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at August 17, 2024 05:36 PM (O7YUW)

7 I purchased a decent set of four walkie talkies about 15 years ago for my prepper cache.

I assume the quality has improved in those 15 years? Anyone?

Posted by: polynikes at August 17, 2024 05:37 PM (B1dzx)

8 Welcome Hobbiests
Never myself got into Ham radio but the Reverend when I was growing up had one so a few times got to listen to foreign broadcast

Posted by: Skip at August 17, 2024 05:38 PM (fwDg9)

9 Wow, I never thought I'd be labeled as a "Horde member in good standing," much less featured in a thread.

I'm assuming this bumps me up to cardboard-level membership, though I don't want to seem greedy.

Posted by: PabloD at August 17, 2024 05:38 PM (HSwo3)

10 I don't have a HAM license, but I've been toying around for a couple years with SDR (software defined radio.) Basically a USB dongle with a coax connecter and USB to listen to a wide spectrum of radio signals.

Non-encrypted.

Interesting stuff. A lot of air traffic, EMS, etc.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at August 17, 2024 05:39 PM (Q4IgG)

11 And no idea why yesterday watched CW McCall's Convoy video

Posted by: Skip at August 17, 2024 05:39 PM (fwDg9)

12 I'm 60% finished with my oil painting of the sea stacks on the Oregon coast.

Posted by: polynikes at August 17, 2024 05:42 PM (B1dzx)

13 > I'm 60% finished with my oil painting of the sea stacks on the Oregon coast.
------------
Hero

Posted by: Martini Farmer at August 17, 2024 05:43 PM (Q4IgG)

14 I'm 60% finished with my oil painting of the sea stacks on the Oregon coast.
------------
Hero
Posted by: Martini Farmer at August 17, 2024 05:43 PM (Q4IgG)

What does that supposed to mean .

Posted by: polynikes at August 17, 2024 05:45 PM (B1dzx)

15 People aren't as impressed by ham radio as they were before cell phones. But I don't have to pay a provider to use my radio.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at August 17, 2024 05:49 PM (63Dwl)

16 Now I'm getting inspired to get back into model building. I always enjoyed the 1/35 scale kits from Tamiya.

Posted by: PA Dutchman at August 17, 2024 05:49 PM (QyT5w)

17 Age 12 had a crush on a ham's daughter.
K6MJU or Mighty Juicy Underwear as she said.

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle at August 17, 2024 05:51 PM (7PlRe)

18 14 What does that supposed to mean .

Posted by: polynikes at August 17, 2024 05:45 PM
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After learning last week how long it takes to complete a painting, I choose to believe that it is a gesture of respect because most of us would never have made it halfway - let alone further... Carry on.

Posted by: TRex at August 17, 2024 05:51 PM (IQ6Gq)

19 > Hero
Posted by: Martini Farmer at August 17, 2024 05:43 PM (Q4IgG)

What does that supposed to mean .
Posted by: polynikes at August 17, 2024 05:45 PM (B1dzx)
------
You mentioned starting that painting a couple days ago.

That's pretty impressive.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at August 17, 2024 05:52 PM (Q4IgG)

20 16 Now I'm getting inspired to get back into model building. I always enjoyed the 1/35 scale kits from Tamiya.

Posted by: PA Dutchman at August 17, 2024 05:49 PM (QyT5w)
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Jets? Tanks?

Posted by: TRex at August 17, 2024 05:55 PM (IQ6Gq)

21 15 People aren't as impressed by ham radio as they were before cell phones. But I don't have to pay a provider to use my radio.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at August 17, 2024 05:49 PM (63Dwl)
---------------

This is true. With cell phones and satellites and worldwide communication in everyone's pocket, ham radio isn't quote-unquote cool anymore. A couple of my radio friends do emergency services-type events, and even they admit that if things were bad enough that radio ops were the only comms available, we'd already be screwed. They refer to it as, "Solving yesterday's problems with the technology of...yesterday!"

It's still incredibly fun, though. Same as film photography - I do it simply because I love it.

note to our overlords: how about a film photography hobby thread?

Posted by: Pennsyltucky at August 17, 2024 05:55 PM (QdGJh)

22 "People aren't as impressed by ham radio as they were before cell phones." True, but I suspect they'll be fairly impressed AFTER cell phones, iykwim.

I do sometimes get approached by people when I'm out on a SOTA. Some folks are just curious what I'm doing and why; others take a genuine interest and want to know more. Amateur radio, to most people, is grouchy old farts in a basement talking to other grouchy old farts. It's nice to present a different image.

Posted by: PabloD at August 17, 2024 05:59 PM (HSwo3)

23 @TRex I was really into various armored vehicles and figures. I tried a couple dioramas but gave up. I have a Type 97 Japanese tank kit and I'm thinking that will be my first project.

Posted by: PA Dutchman at August 17, 2024 06:02 PM (QyT5w)

24 I been a ham since 1980. I hung out with the QRP guys for a long time and we were always going off places to run radio, and I finally have some antennas to go with the radios.

I have done a bunch of CW, and I have a key collection.

I need to do more operating, and I kind of had plans to operate the North American QSO Party, which started about four hours ago, but life got in the way.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at August 17, 2024 06:02 PM (iZEhM)

25 Been a ham for many years but not very active lately except for 2m and 440.

Many areas have designated weather emergency stations, connected with the National Weather Service. (The ones that send out warnings on weather radios.) They come in handy. On a drive through Ohio the sky started looking 'off'. I had a 2 meter mobile rig in the car and checked with the local weather weather repeater and some other local machines. There was a tornado warning and the observation reports being called in indicated it was heading our way. Stopped at a rest area to gas up and mentioned to others about the warning but they ignored us. We parked and waited. The storm was strong enough to cause the minivan to start to rise slightly, even with my bulk in it. Afterwards, we continued the drive and saw dozens of vehicles had been blown in ditches. No injuries but there could have been. Those hams and the emergency stations stations kept us safe.

Posted by: JTB at August 17, 2024 06:02 PM (zudum)

26 Not a ham operator. But I do own a tower in the county that I let the local Ham Club put an antenna on rent free. Not sure how it's used. Maybe as a repeater for rebroadcasting?

Posted by: olddog in mo at August 17, 2024 06:03 PM (9Bb92)

27 Ah, the CB craze back in the day. There's a bear in the air!

Posted by: Notorious BFD at August 17, 2024 06:04 PM (mH6SG)

28 22 Amateur radio, to most people, is grouchy old farts in a basement talking to other grouchy old farts. It's nice to present a different image.

Posted by: PabloD at August 17, 2024 05:59 PM (HSwo3)
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Doing thread research, I was impressed at how much of the SOTA chatter is about the places and getting to the places. Hiking, off road Jeep, etc. The radio part adds purpose to the journey, but people enjoy getting outdoors and checking out new territory.

Posted by: TRex at August 17, 2024 06:04 PM (IQ6Gq)

29 On the fiber side, in a few weeks, I will be getting two charkhas. One will be a traditional Indian box charkha, the other is a Bosworth book charkha. These are small portable spinning wheels, designed for cotton and fine fibers. I used to own an Indian book and box charkha. The Bosworths are like the Mercedes of charkhas. Will be fun to play around with and spin up some of my cotton stash

Posted by: Notsothoreau at August 17, 2024 06:04 PM (dDSBl)

30 Have GMRS license, mostly so my family has access to the area repeaters 'just in case'. Also - MURS is a decent non-license replacement for CB... which has turned into the lawess Wild-west, full nonsense and criminals. Amature license may be in the future, but I hate taking tests... 🙂 Also Also, you can then get into building your own antennas!

Posted by: tRusty Hudson at August 17, 2024 06:05 PM (ScW81)

31 The HAM licensing ordeal is one of the reasons why I don't have a license. Seems silly.

In this day and age, why?

Posted by: Martini Farmer at August 17, 2024 06:06 PM (Q4IgG)

32 Barry Goldwater, and Joe Walsh (guitarist for the Eagles among others) were both HAMs.

I had a lot of fun finding antique radios and refurbing them back to life. I don’t know that’s a thrill; but it is. Unfortunately there is nothing to listen to on the Shortwave bands. In the 1980s it was wall to wall stations along the dial. Not any longer.

Posted by: Common Tater at August 17, 2024 06:11 PM (IetnX)

33 Here is a tool question, possibly relevant.
I've been a hand tool guy all my life, but I just got a cordless screw driver and wow, my life just got easier, my wrists thank me.
BUT it doesn't accept drill bits at all.
Have to buy a different cordless item for that.
Grr...

Posted by: gourmand du jour at August 17, 2024 06:12 PM (MeG8a)

34 31 The HAM licensing ordeal is one of the reasons why I don't have a license. Seems silly.

----------

BOO HOO. Try getting a concealed weapon permit in CA.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at August 17, 2024 06:12 PM (vjVW5)

35 I'm not a ham but radio has always been fascinating to me. The ability to receive data from a distant location with the most primitive of equipment is a major Universe hack.

When I say primitive, I made a "foxhole radio" one time. A 100' or so of insulated wire, a safety pin, a razor blade, some thumbtacks, a board to mount it all on, and a sensitive earpiece. With that you can pick up local AM broadcasts.

When I made it, I was reminded of the people that could pickup radio stations with the fillings in their teeth. It's the same principle as the foxhole radio really.

Posted by: fd at August 17, 2024 06:12 PM (vFG9F)

36 29 On the fiber side, in a few weeks, I will be getting two charkhas. These are small portable spinning wheels, designed for cotton and fine fibers.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at August 17, 2024 06:04 PM
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I had to do an interweb search to visualize. Never heard of a portable spinning wheel. Best wishes!

Posted by: TRex at August 17, 2024 06:12 PM (IQ6Gq)

37 Notso, I respect anyone who spins. The chakras sound neat. I spun some wool that had been carded with the fur of a favorite cat, and it was lovely and silvery, and I spun it on a hand spindle and then struggled to ply it, and I have never been so tired in my life, lol. All for a little bit of yarn. I thought about getting a wheel at times, but thinking more and more, that just isn't me, Kudos to you.

Posted by: skywch at August 17, 2024 06:12 PM (uqhmb)

38 "BUT it doesn't accept drill bits at all.
Have to buy a different cordless item for that.
Grr...
Posted by: gourmand du jour at "

You can get hex drive bits.

Posted by: fd at August 17, 2024 06:13 PM (vFG9F)

39 Saw an interview with Joe on this and he's really passionate about it. IIRC they showed his rig and it was majorly impressive.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at August 17, 2024 06:14 PM (mH6SG)

40 21 note to our overlords: how about a film photography hobby thread?

Posted by: Pennsyltucky at August 17, 2024 05:55 PM (QdGJh)
***
What say ye, horde? A film photography theme at some point? How about a photography theme in general that can include film?

Posted by: TRex at August 17, 2024 06:14 PM (IQ6Gq)

41 "You can get hex drive bits."

OK, now I know what to look for...
Thanks!

Posted by: gourmand du jour at August 17, 2024 06:15 PM (MeG8a)

42 15 ... "People aren't as impressed by ham radio as they were before cell phones. But I don't have to pay a provider to use my radio."

Cell phones can replace some of the emergency functions ham radio used to do but there are still limits. If the power is out or the system is overwhelmed the cell phones are useless. Ham radios have their own power. Also, many hams are trained in how t communicate quickly and completely to avoid confusion and delays. (The old joke is if you need a surgeon and someone sends a sturgeon.)

On 9/11 the cell phone service in the DC area was overwhelmed and mostly useless. But I was able to get information about the evacuation to Mrs. JTB trying to leave the city because of the repeaters in the area.

More to follow.

Posted by: JTB at August 17, 2024 06:15 PM (zudum)

43 My across-the-street neighbor in Tulsa was a paraplegic after a car accident in high school, and was a avid HAM operator. I used to spend hours with him traveling the world on his radio. He is now an activist for disabled mobility in Houston. He was my first introduction to the world beyond Oklahoma!

Posted by: Jayhawkone at August 17, 2024 06:16 PM (0ymEZ)

44 37 I have never been so tired in my life, lol. All for a little bit of yarn. I thought about getting a wheel at times, but thinking more and more, that just isn't me, Kudos to you.

Posted by: skywch at August 17, 2024 06:12 PM (uqhmb)
***
I think this every time I see someone doing a demonstration at a colonial-era museum. Weaving at scale was a game changer.

Posted by: TRex at August 17, 2024 06:18 PM (IQ6Gq)

45 PabloD!

Good stuff.

SOTA is fascinating. Thanks for the report.

Posted by: CharlieGray'sDildo at August 17, 2024 06:18 PM (d9fT1)

46 I guess CB doesn't really qualify as HAM but damn we had a lot of fun with it in the late '70's, early 80's.

I still have my home base and what's left of my tower after it crumpled in a wind storm.
Also still have my 3 channel Radio Shack giant brick and the CB I had in my truck as a teen.

I always wanted to do HAM. I still look for HAM stuff at estate sales.
Someday maybe.

Posted by: Reforger at August 17, 2024 06:20 PM (xcIvR)

47 I got in to the CB craze back in the day. Had them in my vehicles and in the house. It was fun until everybody owned a CB. It became a nightmare pretty fast. It was useful when traveling with a buddy in another vehicle.

Posted by: Ronster at August 17, 2024 06:20 PM (TC1qA)

48 > What say ye, horde? A film photography theme at some point? How about a photography theme in general that can include film?
-----------
+1

I have boxes of 35mm prints. Lots of boxes.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at August 17, 2024 06:21 PM (Q4IgG)

49 The worst part about getting an amateur radio license is navigating the FCC's website. In a field replete with contenders, it has to be the worst US government website of all time (when it's working).

I think the license is a fairly low barrier that has the effect of keeping out a percentage of the yahoos who might want to buy a radio and start causing headaches for the rest of the users. Those folks can hang out on CB channels. I'm convinced the FCC lets CB'ers do almost anything they want, short of interfering with commercial operations, as a way of providing an outlet for knuckleheads who want to play radio without rules.

Posted by: PabloD at August 17, 2024 06:21 PM (HSwo3)

50 930 AM, KWOC, Poplar Bluff, MO had a world map in their lobby with push pins from DX'ers (most ham operators) that had picked up their signal around the globe. I thought that was pretty cool.

Posted by: olddog in mo at August 17, 2024 06:22 PM (9Bb92)

51 George O Smith who was a ham from the 20's referred in one of his books a ham being from "hamboning" which is a rhythmic slapping and clapping music form. some of it gets very complex
I liked that definition because once you are in the groove you are good for hours

https://tinyurl.com/hambonehambone

Posted by: Kindltot at August 17, 2024 06:23 PM (D7oie)

52 Afternoon, hobby folken,

My only hobby at present is my pipes and pipe tobacco. Every day I peruse various sites, both of new pipes and vintage (read: "used") ones. Invariably the shapes I like I already have an excellent version of. Yes, I wouldn't mind getting a birth year Dunhill pipe to say that I have one. But will it smoke 3-4x better than a recent or modern pipe of a less $$$ make? Somehow I don't think so.

Keeping my '16 Buick LaCrosse, now at 81K miles, in tip-top shape is a kind of hobby. Modern cars need less frequent maintenance than ones from the '60s to the '90s, and in any case I have no place to do stuff like oil changes. But keeping the car glossy and clean is important. This morning, aware of a mild mold scent inside, I took out the rubber floor mats, sprayed Febreze all around the carpet, and let it dry while I washed the exterior. I even bought one of those like $1.25 scent trees you can hang from your mirror: vanilla.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 17, 2024 06:25 PM (omVj0)

53 I will add that if you are interested in odd approaches to ham radio, you can get interesting links at Hackaday.com
In between the links to 3d printing, homebrewing q-bits and rebuilding computers from the 50's you find articles on ham radio as well.

Posted by: Kindltot at August 17, 2024 06:25 PM (D7oie)

54 That's what happened historically. It took multiple spinners to supply a weaver. They mechanized the process with spinning wheels. That lead to mechanized looms. But it went from a task you could do as you did your other daily chores to something that you worked at 8 hours a day.

The charkhas are still in production in India due to respect for Gandhi. They are pretty primitive but work well. Gandhi actually used a different style. I like having spinning wheels but have always preferred spindles for portability and using less space.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at August 17, 2024 06:26 PM (dDSBl)

55 A photography thread would be nice

Posted by: Skip at August 17, 2024 06:28 PM (fwDg9)

56 What say ye, horde? A film photography theme at some point? How about a photography theme in general that can include film?
Posted by: TRex at August 17, 2024 06:14 PM (IQ6Gq)

---------

Film? I remember that.

It was made of papyrus, wasn't it?

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at August 17, 2024 06:29 PM (vjVW5)

57 Well expanded on two hobbies this weekend - books and manga.

The book was Zoukei-Mura's He 219 Concept book for a good price which in turn should help me with, if I ever muster the courage, building Zoukei-Mura's 1/32 He 219 Uhu.

Second was adding another volume of Silent Mobius QD by Kia Asamiya of Studio Tron.

Posted by: Anna Puma at August 17, 2024 06:29 PM (TZjxi)

58 Ham radio has never interested me much, I'm afraid. But I would love to have a shortwave set and be able to pick up music broadcasts from overseas. The portable AM-FM-SW radio I bought after Katrina, and still use in the mornings to listen to "news," used to be able to pick up WWV, the time signal out of Fort Collins, CO. From what I can tell the station frequencies are still the same. But I can get nothing. Has the station's power decreased? Would I have to run an antenna outside?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 17, 2024 06:29 PM (omVj0)

59 I had a friend that worked in museums. One time, he had to use a warp weighted loom, like they used in Skandinavian countries. You beat the weft in place with an upwards motion. He said it completely wore him out.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at August 17, 2024 06:30 PM (dDSBl)

60 due to respect for Gandhi.

What did Gandhi ask his butler for when he left the house?
Muh hat, muh coat. (Mahatma coat)

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle at August 17, 2024 06:31 PM (7PlRe)

61 Unfortunately there is nothing to listen to on the Shortwave bands. In the 1980s it was wall to wall stations along the dial. Not any longer.
Posted by: Common Tater at August 17, 2024

***
Oh -- is that why I seem to be unable to pick up anything on SW?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 17, 2024 06:31 PM (omVj0)

62 Photographs to be clear one had to have the subject freeze for 15 -25 seconds

Posted by: Skip at August 17, 2024 06:32 PM (fwDg9)

63 Continued from comment 42.

Part of the value of amateur radio is in emergencies. Some examples I've been involved with. A coordinated search for a missing toddler in the woods.

One of the big hospitals lost ALL phone service, even the internal ones. Hams followed the doctors and other emergency people with their radios so they could be directed to the needed rooms. It was an intense few hours.

The recovery efforts at the Pentagon after 9/11 involved responders from all over the DC/Virginia/Maryland area. Problem was they couldn't communicate with each other as they all used different systems. This was especially a problem coordinating the supplies needed for the rescuers, guards and even the K9 teams. Powerful stations were set up at the Red Cross and Salvation Army where supplies were stockpiled. (We supplied our own radio gear.) Hams on the scene shadowing the rescue teams called in for the needed supplies so they could be delivered to the right people. Everything from safety gear, dog food, bottled water, hospital supplies, etc. Mrs. JTB and I were busy with that for several days.

Posted by: JTB at August 17, 2024 06:33 PM (zudum)

64 62 Photographs to be clear one had to have the subject freeze for 15 -25 seconds
Posted by: Skip at August 17, 2024 06:32 PM (fwDg9)

----------

And if the flash powder failed to go off, your picture was toast.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at August 17, 2024 06:33 PM (vjVW5)

65 Muh hat, muh coat. (Mahatma coat)
Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle at August 17, 2024 06:31 PM (7PlRe)

-------------

Wah wah waaaaaaah

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at August 17, 2024 06:35 PM (vjVW5)

66 We went to an exhibit of early photography in the Columbia River Gorge. They had one of the cameras used. It was huge! Then they had to lug glass plates. It's amazing that any of that stuff still exists.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at August 17, 2024 06:35 PM (dDSBl)

67 Now I'm getting inspired to get back into model building. I always enjoyed the 1/35 scale kits from Tamiya.
Posted by: PA Dutchman at August 17, 2024

***
Yes. The two tanks I built from their kits in the '70s were two of the best I ever painted and assembled -- beautifully detailed, everything in proportion, as if an alien had used a shrink ray on a real King Tiger tank and a West German Leopard tank. I can only imagine that their tech has gotten better -- or so I hope.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 17, 2024 06:35 PM (omVj0)

68 62 Photographs to be clear one had to have the subject freeze for 15 -25 seconds
Posted by: Skip at August 17, 2024 06:32 PM (fwDg9)
***
At some point, I figured out this was probably the reason nobody smiled in early photos. Can't hold a smile for so long.

Posted by: TRex at August 17, 2024 06:37 PM (IQ6Gq)

69 At some point, I figured out this was probably the reason nobody smiled in early photos. Can't hold a smile for so long.
Posted by: TRex at August 17, 2024 06:37 PM (IQ6Gq)

--------------

Hold my beer.

Posted by: The Joker at August 17, 2024 06:39 PM (vjVW5)

70 Ace posts such lovely photographs on the cafe threads.

Posted by: gourmand du jour at August 17, 2024 06:40 PM (MeG8a)

71 Tamiya is still producing 1/35 armor like the M-8. Plus they release their older kits.

Rye Field Model 1/35 armor is where you can lose your sanity because they tend to offer full interiors with their kits.

Posted by: Anna Puma at August 17, 2024 06:41 PM (TZjxi)

72
Unfortunately there is nothing to listen to on the Shortwave bands. In the 1980s it was wall to wall stations along the dial. Not any longer.
Posted by: Common Tater

They've switched over to using the internet where Big Brother can shut them off.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at August 17, 2024 06:44 PM (63Dwl)

73 Tamiya is still producing 1/35 armor like the M-8. Plus they release their older kits.

Rye Field Model 1/35 armor is where you can lose your sanity because they tend to offer full interiors with their kits.
Posted by: Anna Puma at August 17, 2024

***
A long long time ago, Renwal -- the maker of the Visible Man assembly kit -- offered a model of a US nuclear ballistic missile sub with an interior. I don't know if half the hull was clear plastic, or you just left that half off to show, but there were decks, equipment, the reactor room, the missiles, everything. I don't recall the scale, but I think the finished model was something like two feet long.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 17, 2024 06:45 PM (omVj0)

74 Short on space? Want to model. Do dioramas?

https://www.ghqmodels.com/

Insane detail for the scale.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at August 17, 2024 06:47 PM (Q4IgG)

75 72
Unfortunately there is nothing to listen to on the Shortwave bands. In the 1980s it was wall to wall stations along the dial. Not any longer.
Posted by: Common Tater

Have a buddy who used ham radio a lot back in the day. But a neighbor complained and he had to take down his antenna and he says there's not much on the air, anyway

Posted by: JM in Ill -- Behold the Manchurian Candidate at August 17, 2024 06:49 PM (pyzA7)

76 Various of the Japanese model kit companies issued kits of both Japanese and German WWII submarines. Still, the grandest box art of them all was that for the Aurora U-505 kit: the U-Boat surfaced in a heavy sea at night, a freighter on fire in the near distance from (no doubt) the sub's torpedo, while crew of the sub manned the deck gun. Aurora's kits were not always great -- but they really came up with the best box art.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 17, 2024 06:49 PM (omVj0)

77 Alf! And so soon after the kitten thread!

Posted by: Eromero at August 17, 2024 06:50 PM (o2ZRX)

78 I don't know if half the hull was clear plastic, or you just left that half off to show, but there were decks, equipment, the reactor room, the missiles, everything. I don't recall the scale, but I think the finished model was something like two feet long.

----------

The Paolo, he have the gratitude for the tribute, but he ask no recognition other than, how do you say, the sweat and exhaustion of the lady.

Posted by: The Paolo at August 17, 2024 06:51 PM (WBQfF)

79 Here is a tool question, possibly relevant.
I've been a hand tool guy all my life, but I just got a cordless screw driver and wow, my life just got easier, my wrists thank me.
BUT it doesn't accept drill bits at all.
Have to buy a different cordless item for that.
Grr...
Posted by: gourmand du jour at August 17, 2024 06:12 PM (MeG8a)

My wife got me a DeWalt cordless drill and a chainsaw, and I use both of them a lot. I got hex drivers for it. to drive tek screws, as well as the hex-shank screw drivers and both are fantastic over using a screwdriver if you are doing a big project.

On the other hand, I also picked up a hand-cranked drill too, and that was kind of fun to run.

Posted by: Kindltot at August 17, 2024 06:56 PM (D7oie)

80
"Even a minion knows: with ham radio, you can talk to the world—Banana frequency not included!"

Posted by: HappyFun at August 17, 2024 06:58 PM (aIURK)

81 77 Alf! And so soon after the kitten thread!

Posted by: Eromero at August 17, 2024 06:50 PM (o2ZRX)
***
Ha! Well played.

Posted by: TRex at August 17, 2024 06:59 PM (IQ6Gq)

82 I drew this in PhotoShop this week:

https://tinyurl.com/2k8852hx

Well, I didn't draw the greenery or the sky.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at August 17, 2024 06:59 PM (CHHv1)

83 Gourmand you might have a impact screwgun, if it only takes a shaft to accept screw bits. You can get what I know as a jobber drill bit set that a drill bit fits into that shift. A set of them might get you out of a jam

Posted by: Skip at August 17, 2024 07:00 PM (fwDg9)

84
I don't know if half the hull was clear plastic, or you just left that half off to show, but there were decks, equipment, the reactor room, the missiles, everything. I don't recall the scale, but I think the finished model was something like two feet long.

Here's one:

https://t.ly/qgoI2

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at August 17, 2024 07:01 PM (63Dwl)

85 Beckoning Chasm I like it

Posted by: Skip at August 17, 2024 07:01 PM (fwDg9)

86 80 "Even a minion knows: with ham radio, you can talk to the world—Banana frequency not included!"

Posted by: HappyFun at August 17, 2024 06:58 PM (aIURK)
***
Minion mayhem is international.

Posted by: TRex at August 17, 2024 07:02 PM (IQ6Gq)

87 Revell has a new tool 1/72 Type IXc U-boat. Trumpeter has a 1/200 scale Gato class sub that comes with an OS2U if you want to make a diorama.

There has been an explosion of 1/350 or 1/200 ship kits recently.

You can still find the Lindberg I-401 kit, if you are a glutton for punishment to fix all the errors.

Posted by: Anna Puma at August 17, 2024 07:03 PM (TZjxi)

88 Lurking on pop's 2 meter repeater set, like a party line, during some back roads rescue, one "contributer" kept insisting patient have a catheter before being flown out. Pops and everyone else on line thought "are you kidding?"

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle at August 17, 2024 07:04 PM (7PlRe)

89 Nothing much to add to this thread - as I am not a ham radio op ... but back in the day, when I was a broadcast tech for Armed Forces Radio, we would occasionally receive letter requests from enthusiasts in far-distant locations, asking for us to confirm that yes, we were the radio station that they had received. They would usually quote the station ID, and a bit of whatever they had heard ... in Greenland we got a few from a guy on Jan Mayen Island, and in Greece and Spain, requests from people in Poland, and other places in Eastern Europe - which because those letters came from the far side of the Iron Curtain, we would have to report to the local OSI agent...

Posted by: Sgt. Mom at August 17, 2024 07:06 PM (Ew3fm)

90 Good evening to all you talented and creative Horde.

Posted by: Ben Had at August 17, 2024 07:07 PM (nvZes)

91 Ben Had, did you get your pickup repaired after the hood mishap?

Posted by: Ronster at August 17, 2024 07:09 PM (TC1qA)

92 Rallycross tomorrow. I fixed a bunch of stuff on the car and put on some bigger front tires. Had to get the saw out to trim the fenders about 3".

Posted by: fd at August 17, 2024 07:10 PM (vFG9F)

93 How popular are the solar powerstations in the portable radio community? Sounds like a good match for enthusiasts, because the nearly all the inverters have pure sinewave performance.

Posted by: mrp at August 17, 2024 07:10 PM (rj6Yv)

94 Ronster. I did and they did a great job. I do the hood latch all the time now though

Posted by: Ben Had at August 17, 2024 07:11 PM (nvZes)

95 89 but back in the day, when I was a broadcast tech for Armed Forces Radio, we would occasionally receive letter requests from enthusiasts in far-distant locations, asking for us to confirm that yes, we were the radio station that they had received.

Posted by: Sgt. Mom at August 17, 2024 07:06 PM
***
Thanks for posting. I get all the science, but still hard to wrap my brain around the idea of sitting in a room talking and people around the world pick up the signal.

Posted by: TRex at August 17, 2024 07:12 PM (IQ6Gq)

96 Damn, Meant I check the hood latch.

Posted by: Ben Had at August 17, 2024 07:13 PM (nvZes)

97 92 Rallycross tomorrow.

Posted by: fd at August 17, 2024 07:10 PM
***
Good luck. Channel your inner Walter Rohrl.

Posted by: TRex at August 17, 2024 07:13 PM (IQ6Gq)

98 "Channel your inner Walter Rohrl"

Does his car break a lot too?

Posted by: fd at August 17, 2024 07:14 PM (vFG9F)

99 Good news, Ben Had

Posted by: Ronster at August 17, 2024 07:15 PM (TC1qA)

100
The Radio Boys was a series of juvenile fiction books from the Stratemeyer Syndicate, also known for Tom Swift and Nancy Drew.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at August 17, 2024 07:16 PM (1Nxff)

101 fd, must be a racing thing. My dad built racing boats and engines and some thing was always needing fixing g

Posted by: Ben Had at August 17, 2024 07:17 PM (nvZes)

102 Ronster. Hope you are well

Posted by: Ben Had at August 17, 2024 07:18 PM (nvZes)

103 If it's not breaking, you must not be going fast enough.

Posted by: fd at August 17, 2024 07:20 PM (vFG9F)

104 The screwdriver bits are hex bits. I was trying to coax my corded drill bits into it, and they obviously don't work, no chuck key like a standard drill.
I looked up hex drill bits and I can get totally kitted out for about $20 tops.

Posted by: gourmand du jour at August 17, 2024 07:20 PM (MeG8a)

105
I have a shortwave radio I haven't turned on in many years. Sorry to hear there's little on the air any longer.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at August 17, 2024 07:20 PM (1Nxff)

106 Ben Had, I'm as well as can be expected at my age. Hope you are doing well also.

Posted by: Ronster at August 17, 2024 07:21 PM (TC1qA)

107 98 Does his car break a lot too?

Posted by: fd at August 17, 2024 07:14 PM (vFG9F)
***
He had a crew and funding, but I also presume that anything associated with rally walks a line between incredibly fragile and unbelievably strong.

Posted by: TRex at August 17, 2024 07:21 PM (IQ6Gq)

108 93 How popular are the solar powerstations in the portable radio community? Sounds like a good match for enthusiasts, because the nearly all the inverters have pure sinewave performance.
Posted by: mrp at August 17, 2024 07:10 PM (rj6Yv)
---------------

Some of those powerstations like the ones from Jackery are pretty cool looking, but they also look kind of bulky. I have a small panel setup that I can use to charge a LiFePO4 battery, and I use that for portable.

Posted by: Pennsyltucky at August 17, 2024 07:24 PM (QdGJh)

109 Combination radio and prepper item. For emergency communications, I think a QRP rig, a rechargeable deep cycle battery, and a wire antenna is portable and long lasting. Having voice capability as well as CW would be helpful since many people don't know Morse code. You could operate for many days with that setup. If conditions are right you could easily reach several states away or more.

On the non-emergency side, it is fun and amazing how far you can reach with such a simple rig.

Posted by: JTB at August 17, 2024 07:25 PM (zudum)

110
The HAM licensing ordeal is one of the reasons why I don't have a license. Seems silly.

In this day and age, why?

Posted by: Martini Farmer at August 17, 2024 06:06 PM

I don't think its as onerous as it once was...you no longer have to know Morse code

the entry level license (Technician?) is a couple of hours of book study and a 100 question test

Posted by: AltonJackson at August 17, 2024 07:26 PM (tljrc)

111 "He had a crew and funding, but I also presume that anything associated with rally walks a line between incredibly fragile and unbelievably strong.
Posted by: TRex"

That's some high dollar stuff. This variety of Rallycross is solo on a closed course. 8 runs and your times are added up. Classes run from street cars to full modified. My car is a stripped down ugly ass street car with a hot motor and a loose suspension, but it only cost about what one full blown fer sure rally car wheel costs.

Posted by: fd at August 17, 2024 07:29 PM (vFG9F)

112 Is a license a tax or another govt. list?

Posted by: Braenyard at August 17, 2024 07:29 PM (mdzTB)

113 The HAM licensing ordeal is one of the reasons why I don't have a license. Seems silly.

In this day and age, why?

Posted by: Martini Farmer at August 17, 2024 06:06 PM

I don't think its as onerous as it once was...you no longer have to know Morse code

the entry level license (Technician?) is a couple of hours of book study and a 100 question test

Posted by: AltonJackson at August 17, 2024 07:26 PM

Plus some local communities or Counties will reimburse you the test fee if you pass the test and sign up with them for emergency contact stuff. We have a few people in our County on the list for emergency contact stuff, mainly for when the cell phone towers go down after longish power outages.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at August 17, 2024 07:29 PM (QNSds)

114
Is a license a tax or another govt. list?

Posted by: Braenyard at August 17, 2024 07:29 PM

it's both...just like your fishing license

Posted by: AltonJackson at August 17, 2024 07:32 PM (tljrc)

115 fd, I hope you do well. Sounds like a lot of fun.

Posted by: Ronster at August 17, 2024 07:32 PM (TC1qA)

116 I've a large trunk full of Kodachrome slides from the 1940s thru 1970s. Auntie was a world traveler. I need to go through them all to be sure there aren't at least some collector items. I should try Shutterstock maybe, or (cross fingers) Getty and see if any our worthy.

Kodachrome was a great color film, and it is archival. Very stable colors that don't wash out over time. I know she went to Moscow in the early 70s, I'd like to think she took some Kodachromes of that.

Posted by: Common Tater at August 17, 2024 07:33 PM (pGHwW)

117 Do truckers still use CB 's

Posted by: Ben Had at August 17, 2024 07:33 PM (nvZes)

118 Good night time. Thanks to PabloD for the topic inspiration and thanks to all for participating. The hobby thread will reconvene next week with a different theme. Movie thread inbound shortly...

Posted by: TRex at August 17, 2024 07:35 PM (IQ6Gq)

119 Ben as said out of blue listened to CW McCall Convoy video yesterday, with cell phones I doubt it

Posted by: Skip at August 17, 2024 07:35 PM (fwDg9)

120 Hi, horde! Just got here.

When I was in high school, we hosted an exchange student from Mexico. He was a ham radio operator. We lived in the country, and had a giant antenna for tv reception, so he was able to use that to enjoy his radio while he lived with us. It was pretty cool. That was 1979.

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at August 17, 2024 07:36 PM (OX9vb)

121 Thank you for all your work on the hobby threads, TRex.

I was hoping for a music thread, so I will drop this here
https://tinyurl.com/mwrfvz4u

Cheers!

Posted by: nurse ratched at August 17, 2024 07:36 PM (4t1fl)

122 I'm not exactly sure why, but I found looking online that vintage Seoul, South Korea photos, at least from the 1950s - at least slides - can sell for a few hundred dollars a piece. Not bad work if you can get it.

If my Auntie took a whole crapload of downtown Seoul pics that would be very helpful, for a small, but useful profit. It didn't hurt that she was an excellent photographer, I must say. Almost every single shot is well composed, focused, and the rest of it. They look magazine covers. Lots of fun to see what's next. Conversely everyone else (there are some other folks slides in there) has the customary blurry, half-head amateur looking photos. Like mine.

Posted by: Common Tater at August 17, 2024 07:37 PM (pGHwW)

123 I think a lot of truckers still use CBs but this would be a good question for Robert.

Posted by: fd at August 17, 2024 07:38 PM (vFG9F)

124
Do truckers still use CB 's

Posted by: Ben Had at August 17, 2024 07:33 PM

g'evenin', Ben Had

short answer is yes, but not like it was back in the day

I have a walkie CB in the truck that I break out when there's traffic or other catastrophes; it's good hear first hand reports on what's going on

Posted by: AltonJackson at August 17, 2024 07:39 PM (tljrc)

125 Thanks, TRex! You did a great job navigating a difficult subject, and you shared some very good videos.

Posted by: PabloD at August 17, 2024 07:41 PM (HSwo3)

126 TRex, thank you. Can't wait to see what the hobby wheel comes up with for next week.

61 days to MoMe.

Posted by: Ben Had at August 17, 2024 07:41 PM (nvZes)

127 125 Thanks, TRex! You did a great job navigating a difficult subject, and you shared some very good videos.

Posted by: PabloD at August 17, 2024 07:41 PM
***
Thank YOU!

Posted by: TRex at August 17, 2024 07:43 PM (IQ6Gq)

128 Nood movies (not that kind, you perverts).

Posted by: PabloD at August 17, 2024 07:44 PM (HSwo3)

129 Nood

Posted by: Thanatopsis at August 17, 2024 07:44 PM (ZUxK6)

130 126 TRex, thank you. Can't wait to see what the hobby wheel comes up with for next week.

61 days to MoMe.

Posted by: Ben Had at August 17, 2024 07:41 PM
***
Good to "see" you. The wheel o hobbies has a mind of its own! We're looking forward to MoMe!! **clink**

Posted by: TRex at August 17, 2024 07:44 PM (IQ6Gq)

131 How do you get traffic conditions and smokey reports on a cell phone? Is there an app for that?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at August 17, 2024 07:45 PM (63Dwl)

132 Back in the day there were a few who were so ludicrous in their commenting style, as in well over the top with the depictions that it made you shake your head and laugh.

Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at August 17, 2024 07:46 PM (hKoQL)

133 Now I'm getting inspired to get back into model building. I always enjoyed the 1/35 scale kits from Tamiya.
Posted by: PA Dutchman at August 17, 2024
*****
Our home is filled with 1:24 models of racing cars, and my favorite manufacturer was always Tamiya. Never did any tanks, though...

Posted by: Grateful at August 17, 2024 07:47 PM (IQ6Gq)

134 Don Lemon interviewing folks in New Jersey. They think the economy sucks and are voting Trump (goes to X)

https://tinyurl.com/32jkz4t7

Posted by: Notsothoreau at August 17, 2024 07:48 PM (dDSBl)

135 Late to the thread but intrigued by the modeling comments. Back in the 50s, growing up, I did a lot of scale models, primarily ships and airplanes from Revell and Aurora, among others. I remember that I had the Arizona, the Missouri, the Shang-ri La, and the Yamato, as well as other ships. The airplanes, Zeroes, Spitfires, and Hellcats, were hung from the ceiling with thread. Then we moved, and I have no idea where any of those models went.

Posted by: Retired, thank God! at August 17, 2024 07:54 PM (9BIt9)

136 > the entry level license (Technician?) is a couple of hours of book study and a 100 question test
------
100 questions too many to be able to yack on the air.

Zero questions to drive.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at August 17, 2024 08:32 PM (Q4IgG)

137 Got my HAM technician license about 14 years ago (KJ6CPR)— and have never broadcast a single time, sorry to say.
The test is very easy to pass if you get one of the books dedicated to the subject and spend a few hours on it.

Posted by: EyeSurgeon at August 17, 2024 10:03 PM (JNdE+)

138 Hi all you loves!

Yeah, I sure miss the Hum....

Posted by: COMountainMarie at August 17, 2024 10:21 PM (tQk2q)

139 Hi mh. Hardly making it here tonight....bad times, but not too bad.sometimes good! Others well....ya know...

Good to be here....love you guys😛

Posted by: COMountainMarie at August 17, 2024 10:50 PM (tQk2q)

140 Super glad to see Ham Radio on the Hobby Thread!

KL7IS here and also AFMARS and CAP Comms.

Posted by: Mudshark at August 18, 2024 09:45 PM (6Qyal)

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