HF withdrawal symptoms

[ridgescan]

Short Wave Withdrawal Syndrome. Where are my friends? I don't know what to do-the roof of my building is being redone tomorrow and they forced me to totally remove all antennas, feedlines and weather station. I have everything laying across my livingroom floor with foil shoved into the pipe holes in case spidees I hate spiders.
How long does a roof (tar&gravel) take to cure before I can get 'em back up there?
Good chance to clean the discone and the loop and I need to drill out one of the 3 screws that hold the d130j to the mast that snapped off inside a while back.
I asked them if I could leave them up but move them around as needed but got a big NO. Hey counting my blessings that they are fine with me putting them back! I am truly lucky in that respect. I read a lot of guys who cannot even think of even a simple whip antenna for a scanner outside.
Anyways just ranting-thanks for listening.
I miss HF already

 

[majoco]

I wondered why you've been so quiet! I've had some good catches while you've been away!

 

[ridgescan]

You certainly have! Nice catches Marty. Stop rubbing it in j/k they are saying this is going to take "at least 1 week" and then I don't know how long after that before I can get back up there. This sucks.

 

[PrimeNumber]

Grrr, the extended dry weather has let the pigeon poop pile up on the power pole do-dads here, and the RFI levels are through the roof until we get some rain. This all kicked in right after the ionosphere decided to start working again. It. Is. Frustrating. No SW, no HF ham either. Well, maybe a little PSK31, I can slide that in through the noise. It happens this time every year.

I'm taking to the woods with a tent and some solar panels to do some SWLing and 160m talking this weekend. A week without SWLing... that's bad, but I wish I knew when this fall's RFI-fest would end!

 

[ridgescan]

Grrr, the extended dry weather has let the pigeon poop pile up on the power pole do-dads here, and the RFI levels are through the roof until we get some rain. This all kicked in right after the ionosphere decided to start working again. It. Is. Frustrating. No SW, no HF ham either. Well, maybe a little PSK31, I can slide that in through the noise. It happens this time every year.

I'm taking to the woods with a tent and some solar panels to do some SWLing and 160m talking this weekend. A week without SWLing... that's bad, but I wish I knew when this fall's RFI-fest would end!

Mike should change the title of this thread to "Post Your SWL Rants and Tribulations Here"
I swear, just prior to this roof job, the HF bands were finally behaving themselves here in SFO. Watch, the MOMENT I get my systems set back up 20 sodium streetlights will start failing and 3 growhouses will crop up next door.

 

[HopperD]

ridgescan sorry you're having withdrawals. You'll be back up and running pretty soon. In the mean time have a beer or two to calm your nerves. lol

 

[ridgescan]

ridgescan sorry you're having withdrawals. You'll be back up and running pretty soon. In the mean time have a beer or two to calm your nerves. lol

Yeah I'll live I guess All I have right now is my Delmonico Novum out in the kitchen hooked to a CCrane Justice twin coil for MWDX but no HF unless I string out my tape measure across the room which-I don't want it that bad lol. Although I posted this thread with a bit of tongue in cheek, there actually is a little withdrawal due to having comm receivers at the desk, near the bed, and in the livingroom plus the scanner too, all waiting in limbo. I do run power to the r71a daily though just to maintain the internal battery.
Lucky I can at least get San Francisco PD FD 800 off the feedline if I want.

 

[majoco]

Hey, Ridgy, have a play with the SDR at...

http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/

...might alleviate the symptoms a bit.....

OOPS - it appears not to run being blocked by Java which we know is a crock of cr@p......

 

[ka3jjz]

OK I changed the thread title to be a bit more - well, correct anyway...carry on...Mike

 

[ridgescan]

Hey, Ridgy, have a play with the SDR at...

http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/

...might alleviate the symptoms a bit.....

OOPS - it appears not to run being blocked by Java which we know is a crock of cr@p......

Oh I forgot about that one-they are in trouble again I see. Oh well thanks though Marty. I brought out the old Transoceanic 3000-1. It'll at least get me some decent AM BCs off its whip.

OK I changed the thread title to be a bit more - well, correct anyway...carry on...Mike

Thanks Mike the original was kinda goofy

 

[N5XTC]

i too would miss HF. HF is the reason I got into ham radio, not to use repeaters and talk from the local McDonalds as I bought my daily tea. U can use the WebSDR receivers on the internet in the mean time. Yes, you are lucky you can get them back up on the roof. I notice a lot of that on QRZ pages from places other than the US. People with antennas on the roofs of apartment buildings. Most in the US wont let you do that. everything here is a "liability" and potential lawsuit. lol

 

[KC4RAF]

Sorry to hear of your withdrawal symptoms

'ridgescan'. I know it can get pretty rough, the shakes, dry/wet palms, trembling fingers, but with a little time, a year or two, you'll get better! lol
The rock and tar will take some time. In the cooler months of winter, usually a couple of weeks is enough time. Hot summer months can take a looonnngg time though. And that depends on how much rocks they put over the tar. You could remount your antennas with in a week or so, but your best bet would be to buy a couple of cheap sneakers. You don't want to have tar on the soles and walk in your home.

 

[ridgescan]

i too would miss HF. HF is the reason I got into ham radio, not to use repeaters and talk from the local McDonalds as I bought my daily tea. U can use the WebSDR receivers on the internet in the mean time. Yes, you are lucky you can get them back up on the roof. I notice a lot of that on QRZ pages from places other than the US. People with antennas on the roofs of apartment buildings. Most in the US wont let you do that. everything here is a "liability" and potential lawsuit. lol

Yeah I read in Eham all the time about these guys who live under HOAs and even others in condos apts. etc who are restricted to "only satellite dishes" WTF?? That is antenna-racist

'ridgescan'. I know it can get pretty rough, the shakes, dry/wet palms, trembling fingers, but with a little time, a year or two, you'll get better! lol
The rock and tar will take some time. In the cooler months of winter, usually a couple of weeks is enough time. Hot summer months can take a looonnngg time though. And that depends on how much rocks they put over the tar. You could remount your antennas with in a week or so, but your best bet would be to buy a couple of cheap sneakers. You don't want to have tar on the soles and walk in your home.

I actually have an old pair of shoes just for the roof because of what you mentioned. Even the old roof material stuck to me sometimes-not to mention airbornes, bird stuff, residual from the drain aerators etc. There are a ton of potential bad contaminants especially on a flat roof. So dedicated shoes and an old car towel at the entry point are a must. I have blonde carpet in here and it's like new.
BTW this whole thing was hard on me due to my disability (hardened permanent blood clot near top of heart) when I was ok this would have been a piece of cake. I am lucky to have my girl's son to help me but he is a busy new dad and I hate to bug him.

 

[KC4RAF]

Yeah, you know the drill for sure. lol

And make sure you have help like you posted. You don't need to be placing yourself at risk.
Hopefully things will happen, like lots of stone on top of the tar.

 

[ka3jjz]

There are several online radios besides the well known one in Holland - we have a few of them listed here...

Live Tunable Receivers - The RadioReference Wiki

Mike

 

[ridgescan]

Thank you Mike! Thank you Roger-I hear ya but I know for sure I cannot do it without help anymore. Too dangerous. Hey speaking of sickness,
I will leave to your imagination, the run of feedline running across my livingroom floor, back into the bedroom to the Wellbrook loop's interface feeding the two coax switches there. Now all my rigs have their loop back temporarily, albeit indoors, and I have somewhat of a FIX of HF too lol


sick sick sick. But happy.

 

[N8IAA]

Desperate times, require creative ideas:lol::lol::lol:
Larry

 

[HopperD]

I agree with the other guys, make sure you get some help and not try to it by yourself if you are sick. Maybe you can find someone else in your area who has the same hobby or even a cheap handyman from Craigslist. You're in a big city so I'm sure there are a lot of handymen.

If we lived in the same area I would help you out without a doubt.

 

[ridgescan]

Desperate times, require creative ideas:lol::lol::lol:
Larry

especially in the radio hobby. Tons of fabbing too!

I agree with the other guys, make sure you get some help and not try to it by yourself if you are sick. Maybe you can find someone else in your area who has the same hobby or even a cheap handyman from Craigslist. You're in a big city so I'm sure there are a lot of handymen.

If we lived in the same area I would help you out without a doubt.

That is kind of you thanks. It would be cool to know at least ONE other person in this town who appreciates this hobby. All I know of are a couple maybe three HF HAMs the rest are on repeaters.
Don't get me wrong, when it's time to get 'em back up there, Rick (my girl's son) will be here to get them back onto the roof-the rest of the non-physical stuff I can handle myself.

 

[ridgescan]

I am back in business. I was up there for 7 hours. I look like a lobster. I am going to pay for it over the next few days. But it was worth it because everything is working great.
I was wrong about the tar and gravel-they laid down this stuff in sections of 3 by 8' that looks like shingle material. So it is seemingly a simpler job. The roof has that small white stuff like large sand and it's nice. Easy to work on that stuff. Time to settle back with a tea and twirl VFOs