985 Workbench: 2025-08-25

My Weeks in Radio

  • new callsign a couple weeks ago: KC3WWC -> KD3EE
    • spent a day updating callsign everywhere
      • websites
      • local software
      • radio gear
      • still finding updates to make today
  • all POTA activations
    • travel and local
    • mostly FT8/FT4, but also some CW and SSB
    • new callsign proved quick to key and understood right away
    • tried small magnetic loop and EFHW
    • usually 2W
    • almost ruined one activation
      • sweat on the laptop touchpad caused it to be flake out may want to bring a backup mouse or be more careful

Others

  • WA3VEE, Ron:
    • troubleshooting his AllStar node with Joe’s help
    • suspecting the network beyond the hotspot
    • diagnosing which tower he’s using with software on iphone
    • replacing his van
  • NA3CW, Chuck:
    • congrats KD3EE on new callsign
    • AMPM pre-net
    • working on trailer project
  • W3FES, Fred:
    • building small antennas for scanner listening
  • W3QP, Tim:
    • back from a week in VA
    • SOTA
    • lots of bugs
    • encountered a mother bear and cubs on one summit. they left on their own accord
    • when near sugar grove (government)
      • he thought his radio was malfunctioning
  • WA3KFT, John:
    • net control and participant on various 6m and 2m nets
  • KB3ILS, Keith:
    • 30M CW contact to
      • ZL (New Zealand)
      • Netherlands
      • both QRP EF wire
    • wire in a tree
      • smooth CW on a bug to operator in west virginia
  • KC3OOK, Bill:
    • hosted the roundtable last thursday
    • hosted welfare net on sunday
    • Joe’s tower tomorrow
  • W3JAM, Jeff:
    • adding desks to “studio a”
    • 45-degree antenna mounts to work both horizontal and vertical
  • KC3SQI, Wayne:
    • working on antenna mast

Questions

  • KC3SQI, Wayne:
    • What’s the best plug to seal up a 3/8-inch hole on the wrong side of a weatherized box?
    • WA3KFT, John:
      • 2 flat plates and a bolt through the middle
      • plus some caulk
    • WA3VEE, Ron:
      • there may be a rubber gasket plug, but those may be too big.
        • hubble wideman for plugs
    • KC3NZT, Harvey:
      • bulkhead blanking plugs
    • W8CRW, CR:
      • epoxy and a backer
  • KV3JGB, Matt:
    • For an antenna running into the tree and a feed line are on the ground, how can he run it to be out of the way, so he doesn’t need to move it to mow?
    • WA3VEE, Ron:
      • could it be buried?
      • could you run a “messenger wire” to keep it overhead to the tree?
    • W3QP, Tim:
      • ran a bit of conduit underground
    • KC3NZT, Harvey:
      • temporary becomes permanent
      • shallow bury when ground was soft
    • NA3CW, Chuck:
      • if you do bury it, rope in the conduit, and exposed can wick moisture out.
      • conduit is never wide enough after a while
    • KC3SQI, Wayne:
      • has buried line for 6 years now, no trouble.
      • existing feed line can be used to pull the next line.
    • KV3JGB, Matt:
      • thanks for the suggestion underground and in the air

See also