You know you want it.

[Lauri-CoyoteFrostbite]

Hummpff.....

Is it ok if I take the other side ?

I don't care if it is, I'll go there anyway

I have a dear friend who is a public school teacher. She basically gets paid S*** and has a disabled daughter that requires all her extra income to take care of.
Ok, no sob story- she is one remarkably able single mom with a beautiful girl-- and they are doing just fine-- tho there is no money for winter vacations to Aspen.

..................Get to point Lauri


Anyway, this young lady, to make ends meet will use her leave time and summer vacations to "Flag" for the highway department.
She is the one of those (at least here in the West) with that Stop-Go sign and an HT- traffic controlling as rocks are dynamited off cliffs over hangings etc. She has told me (over cold beers) -that dealing with (in her words) - "that Fricken radio all day " (Fricken wasn't quite the word she used, but it doesn't matter) -- "that radio" and balancing her sign for 8 hours a day is exhausting at best.

My guess is since she has to wear a safety vest anyway she might like this one. I'll pass it on and maybe her contractor- boss will buy her one.

__________________________________________________________

Sorry, Did I ruin a good rant... ?


Lauri
.



.

 

[mmckenna]

She has told me (over cold beers) -that dealing with (in her words) - "that Fricken radio all day " (Fricken wasn't quite the word she used, but it doesn't matter) -- "that radio" and balancing her sign for 8 hours a day is exhausting at best.

I've driven around enough of the western USA to see ladies like her out there on the steaming hot blacktop, in the middle of summer, in the middle of Arizona, to have a lot of respect for them. I know they get screamed at by those frustrated in the wait.

I'll always wave as I pass the flaggers. Spent about 10 minutes sitting talking to one while waiting, nice guy. I had to do it periodically when running cable underground in my younger years. No way I'd want that job.

The joke was for the hamwackers (-NOT- to be confused with regular hams) that love the hi-viz vests, not those that legitimately need them.

 

[mmckenna]

It’s sad that you guys know that.

Wait, I was right? That was a total guess, I don't think I've been in an IHOP in 20+ years. The last time I was at one my sleeve stuck to the table from the accumulation of syrup (God, I hope it was just syrup).

Can't tell much from the picture, but it looks like it could be useful in certain applications.
Like disaster aid, or search and rescue, etc.

It's intended for construction use, as Ms. Laurie suggested, highway flagger crews.

And no, I don't even know the seller.

Sti-Co is a well respected company that makes some nice mobile antennas for very specific applications.

Not sure where all the negative comments are coming from, unless just following the OPs lead.
Maybe I'm missing something?

The negative comments are NOT at the company. It was aimed at the hamwhackers (not to be confused with regular hams) that enjoy the high-viz vests, hard hats with call signs, badges, and several hand held radios all cranked to 11.

I'll buy a case if you catch them coming out of an old crown vic with antennas and amber lights.

I would bet more on the wife's minivan. Mag mount antennas, mag mount strobes, and a magnetic "when all else fails" sign on the back (wife won't let him drill a hole in her van…)


And before anyone starts, I've been a ham for decades. Sometimes poking fun at our hobby is needed, lest we take ourselves too seriously.
(Translation: Lighten up, Francis!)

 

[mmckenna]

OK, seriously now, take a look at this thing:

Getting the antenna up away from the sack of meat/water is going to improve performance.

Getting something that provides a decent counterpoise, as compared to a compact radio, is going to improve performance.

Getting the antenna actually vertical, rather than held at an angle by an untrained user, is going to improve performance.

The military knows this and uses similar ideas for "tactical" applications: Tactical Vest Antenna Bracket - Tan - BNC Male / SMA-Female

It might prevent long term damage to the radio/antenna by not having it bent up against the truck seat.

It's designed for 150-174MHz, so obviously not intended for the amateur radio/hobby market.

Stico makes good products, in my experience.


On the other hand:
Radiating element a few inches from your brain/eyes. Might be why there isn't a UHF or 7/800 version.

Expensive.

Dork factor.

Which is where the Whacker jokes come in. Let's face it, we probably have all met at least one or two hobbyists that tend to take things a little too far. The "tactical operator" guys. The ones that like to really stand out with the orange vests. Again, it's good to laugh at ourselves now and then.

But it -is- a hobby, and some hams like to push the envelope in various and sundry ways. Getting that little extra bit of signal is really worth it to some. Having a unique product appeals to those that have the budget. To some it is a gimmick, and that's OK.

No way I'd wear one of these, IHOP or anywhere else. Others may enjoy it. That's all good with me, whatever floats your boat.

The post certainly got some attention, and most get the humor behind it. If you don't get the humor, maybe your orange vest is on a bit too tight.

 

[iMONITOR]

I find the First Responder Orange color attracts too much unwanted attention and prefer one of these so as not to draw too much attention to myself!

 

[mmckenna]

I'm sure that helps, a lot.

 

[mmckenna]

Tacticool is a whole 'nuther tributary of the Mighty Whacker River rolling on to the sea of insanity.

 

[APX8000]

I find the First Responder Orange color attracts too much unwanted attention and prefer one of these so as not to draw too much attention to myself!

I have to inspect your beard to make sure its of proper Operator length prior to approval.

 

[W2JEL]

I find the First Responder Orange color attracts too much unwanted attention and prefer one of these so as not to draw too much attention to myself!

If this is yours then thats a nice bit of kit. Not my speed but still nice.

 

[W2JEL]

Tacticool is a whole 'nuther tributary of the Mighty Whacker River rolling on to the sea of insanity.

The armed Whacker is not just a tributary , they are their own river.

 

[AK9R]

In spite of the ham-whacker insinuations blatant insults, when I'm helping with an organized bike ride on public roads, which I do on occasion, I'll be wearing a reflective vest. If I'm standing on the side of the road helping a rider with a flat tire or loading their bike onto my bike rack, I would prefer to not get hit by some local yay-hoo rolling coal among the riders with his Dodge pickup (complete with Confederate flag). If the reflective vest allows Mr. Yay-hoo, or his common law wife driving the minivan with 6 kids, to see me 1 second earlier, maybe I'll live 1 minute longer.

That said, I wouldn't be caught dead wearing my reflective vest to a hamfest, ham club meeting, or the local IHOP.

 

[Echo4Thirty]

WTF????

I saw you doing coverage testing on 1A7 with this on, dont lie! lol

 

[KevinC]

I saw you doing coverage testing on 1A7 with this on, dont lie! lol

Actually that was Todd…so he’d be an easier target to see.

 

[Echo4Thirty]

Actually that was Todd…so he’d be an easier target to see.

I think besides the Motorola radios, the first radio I put on the network for CoH was Todd's Astro Saber.
I do miss Tom Sorely playing James Brown on Friday afternoons. RIP

 

[AB4BF]

OK, seriously now, take a look at this thing:

Getting the antenna up away from the sack of meat/water is going to improve performance.

Getting something that provides a decent counterpoise, as compared to a compact radio, is going to improve performance.

Getting the antenna actually vertical, rather than held at an angle by an untrained user, is going to improve performance.

The military knows this and uses similar ideas for "tactical" applications: Tactical Vest Antenna Bracket - Tan - BNC Male / SMA-Female

It might prevent long term damage to the radio/antenna by not having it bent up against the truck seat.

It's designed for 150-174MHz, so obviously not intended for the amateur radio/hobby market.

Stico makes good products, in my experience.


On the other hand:
Radiating element a few inches from your brain/eyes. Might be why there isn't a UHF or 7/800 version.

Expensive.

Dork factor.

Which is where the Whacker jokes come in. Let's face it, we probably have all met at least one or two hobbyists that tend to take things a little too far. The "tactical operator" guys. The ones that like to really stand out with the orange vests. Again, it's good to laugh at ourselves now and then.

But it -is- a hobby, and some hams like to push the envelope in various and sundry ways. Getting that little extra bit of signal is really worth it to some. Having a unique product appeals to those that have the budget. To some it is a gimmick, and that's OK.

No way I'd wear one of these, IHOP or anywhere else. Others may enjoy it. That's all good with me, whatever floats your boat.

The post certainly got some attention, and most get the humor behind it. If you don't get the humor, maybe your orange vest is on a bit too tight.

I'm definitely no RF engineer, but wouldn't the antenna mounted perpendicular to the body be a lot more safer? I mean that mounting the antenna on, let's say, the belt in the rear 90 degrees from the back sticking straight out, be safer? Never mind that it would make one look like a catalpa worm especially with a yellow vest...

I suddenly got the urge to go fishing.

 

[mmckenna]

In spite of the ham-whacker insinuations blatant insults, when I'm helping with an organized bike ride on public roads, which I do on occasion, I'll be wearing a reflective vest. If I'm standing on the side of the road helping a rider with a flat tire or loading their bike onto my bike rack, I would prefer to not get hit by some local yay-hoo rolling coal among the riders with his Dodge pickup (complete with Confederate flag). If the reflective vest allows Mr. Yay-hoo, or his common law wife driving the minivan with 6 kids, to see me 1 second earlier, maybe I'll live 1 minute longer.

That said, I wouldn't be caught dead wearing my reflective vest to a hamfest, ham club meeting, or the local IHOP.

You are assuming that they would avoid you?
Maybe Tacticool camo would be a better choice, then they wouldn't know you were there and would roll on looking for an easier target.
Or, they'd assume you were "one of them" and spare you.

 

[mmckenna]

I'm definitely no RF engineer, but wouldn't the antenna mounted perpendicular to the body be a lot more safer? I mean that mounting the antenna on, let's say, the belt in the rear 90 degrees from the back sticking straight out, be safer? Never mind that it would make one look like a catalpa worm especially with a yellow vest...

I suddenly got the urge to go fishing.

1. Would work better when laying down taking a nap.
2. Could cover it with fur. Everyone loves a furry. They'd fit right in when directing traffic at the comic conventions.

 

[iMONITOR]

If this is yours then thats a nice bit of kit. Not my speed but still nice.

Nope not mine. But I see all kinds of guys geared up like that at some of the local shooting ranges!

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Can't tell much from the picture, but it looks like it could be useful in certain applications.
Like disaster aid, or search and rescue, etc.

And no, I don't even know the seller.

Not sure where all the negative comments are coming from, unless just following the OPs lead.
Maybe I'm missing something?

There is a certain subset of humanity who wear yellow reflective vests, carry multiple radios and wave traffic. These are the unpaid heroes of the "if all else fails-call the ARRL" crowd.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

1. Would work better when laying down taking a nap.
2. Could cover it with fur. Everyone loves a furry. They'd fit right in when directing traffic at the comic conventions.

I saw a "furry" at the mall this week. What is the world coming to?