More antenna preparations
Almost as if I’d had word from down the road that snow is imminent (actually, I did) there’s been a frenzy of activity around here since the start of the weekend. My winter tires are now installed. I know, it’s early, but with the passage of a law that makes them compulsory for everyone in the province, we’ve been warned to expect lineups and shortages. Makes me think of gasoline. Anyhow, the job is done before the first real slippery stretch appears.
My antenna infrastructure also received time (and money) with a decision to bury my coax. Not that I have expensive new stuff (eBay and a hamfest both gave me some coils of RG-8/U that had been “broken in”. However, a trip to the local hardware store and some careful questioning of one of the guys that seem to know everything led me to a dark corner with lengths of PVC. One inch by ten feet, with a flute on one end to allow easy joining. Much more practical than last time, where I learned the trick to feed a length of wire through a garden hose. This time, I had the cable passed and buried in under an hour.
I’ve decided to try for a better window passthrough, and after purchasing some cheap shelf board and some stove bolts, I’ve constructed a “thingie” that is insulated, mechanically solid and in place with only minor team activity. Son #3 was on duty today. My coax for HF and VHF are now in place, and the new 2 meter rig has been running happily through the afternoon. I managed to recycle an old power supply and make up some power cables using Anderson Powerpole connectors ordered last weekend from one of the few ham radio stores left in the known world, near Toronto.
By the time the evening ended, I’d also made up some extra RF patch cables, from some RG-58/U and a bag of PL-259s with inserts that I found on eBay. Just like a war surplus store, except with higher prices. My new station is taking shape, and I’m very satisfied.
