Well, I’m anxiously awaiting the return of the UPS delivery driver… (He stopped by today while I was at work. For some reason the UPS on-line signature release authorization didn’t work and he didn’t leave me my new toys!)
I had been thinking of being an active rogue CB operator ( I can already hear the gasps from the RR audience!) but after some thought I have decided to move forward from my Technician’s license and study for my General class license. Others on this forum are saying the skip is unbelievable and in the past I’ve always enjoyed DXing on the AM broadcast band. Meanwhile, I can play with the 28.3-28.5 MHz segment.
I will be able to continue to passively monitor CB in my travels but with some real gear and also easy access to the wx band. On my previous trips I was listening to my Pro-96 with a cheap VHF antenna expecting to hear CB – needless to say that has been an exercise in futility – I was lucky if I could hear a big rig 20 feet away in the next lane.
I’ll let the group know how it goes after tomorrow – maybe a temporary setup on my 3rd floor balcony but I doubt it will be anything to write about without a ground plane.
DX SSB
Skip on 11M is a real thing.
Many devotees. LSB-38, then 28 & 20.
Sixteen on Saturday.
Freeband is its own world, too.
Performance on either during
Skip an acid test of a mobile unit.
Good to go on that side means Well Tested for normal operations.
One needn’t be rogue,
per se, to have taken his radio rig performance out to the most challenging in operations.
When sailors talk about
rig for weather is a way to think of it. Ones gear choices are crucial, but it’s attention to all details of systems which put one over the top.
Skip is bad enough that success in local comms is real gratification against paid bad actors working 365. The addition of the above is confirmation in right choices and practices.
Essentially, there’s no difference for a mobile
except radio + antenna type to operate across HF.
An example is to remove the new AT6666-Pro & SIRIO 5000 and a swap with YAESU ft891 plus Texas Bugcatcher, gets underway.
The rest is GTG.
I may have little interest and no ability much less the gear for HF past 11M.
But what of the use of my pickup by my son, who does?
While I haven't added a House Battery system, that’s the missing link for lengthy ops given alternator amp output at extended high idle.
Stationary, not just Mobile.
Amateur Mobile Installation
I benefit in 11M by widest range of abilities in the normal courses of life.
My pickup is family leverage against a world going dark given suitable prep. (Service to my neighbors is prophylactic against sudden, unwanted change with a heads-up).
.