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A big brown truck showed up with a little box...

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Joshua Gould, K8WXA

A big brown truck showed up with a little box...

Well, my wait is over. My KX3 is in my hands. So far, I've gone to a park and stung some wire up (in response I saw a very confused old man drive by...) and tried to make some contacts off the internal batteries. It didn't help that I was in a valley as well. My wire was at most 6 feet off the ground, I'm sure that didn't help either. I can't wait to get home and hook the radio to the G5RV on the roof and the power supply and see what I can work.

See you on the bands

Joshua Gould
K8WXA

Sent from my iPhone
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NK7Z

Re: A big brown truck showed up with a little box...

Ha! Finally talked my friend into a K3... It should be at his home
today, or tomorrow! ;)
--
Thanks and 73's,
For equipment, and software setups and reviews see:
www.nk7z.net
for MixW support see;
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/mixw/info
for Dopplergram information see:
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/dopplergram/info
for MM-SSTV see:
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MM-SSTV/info

On Mon, 2015-02-09 at 13:00 -0500, Joshua Gould, K8WXA wrote:

> Well, my wait is over. My KX3 is in my hands. So far, I've gone to a park and stung some wire up (in response I saw a very confused old man drive by...) and tried to make some contacts off the internal batteries. It didn't help that I was in a valley as well. My wire was at most 6 feet off the ground, I'm sure that didn't help either. I can't wait to get home and hook the radio to the G5RV on the roof and the power supply and see what I can work.
>
> See you on the bands
>
> Joshua Gould
> K8WXA
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
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Vic Rosenthal

Re: A big brown truck showed up with a little box...

Lucky friend! Here is how it goes in the Middle East: I ordered a pair
of filters from Elecraft. It took

2 days from Watsonville CA to New York,

1 day to Tel Aviv,

10 days to get through customs,

4 days -- and counting -- for the post office to notify me to come and
find out how much the duty and VAT will be.

I still don't have my filters! Next time I'll try UPS.

On 9 Feb 2015 21:36, David Cole wrote:
> Ha! Finally talked my friend into a K3... It should be at his home
> today, or tomorrow! ;)
>

--
73,
Vic, 4X6GP/K2VCO
Rehovot, Israel
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/
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Gary Smith-2

Re: A big brown truck showed up with a little box...

In reply to this post by Joshua Gould, K8WXA

Congratulations on the KX3!

To get a wire over the tallest tree on the first attempt and that
includes a Redwood, look at what I do at the bottom of my QRZ page. I
got the idea from a QST article a few years ago and then built on the
idea.

It will make the setup much faster than you could ever hope to do.

73,

Gary
KA1J

> Well, my wait is over. My KX3 is in my hands. So far, I've gone to
a park and stung some wire up (in response I saw a very confused old
man drive by...) and tried to make some contacts off the internal
batteries. It didn't help that I was in a valley as well. My wire was
at most 6 feet off the ground, I'm sure that didn't help either. I
can't wait to get home and hook the radio to the G5RV on the roof and
the power supply and see what I can work.

>
> See you on the bands
>
> Joshua Gould
> K8WXA
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

Joshua Gould, K8WXA

Re: A big brown truck showed up with a little box...

Gary,

I discovered that my throwing arm isn't worth anything when I had a spool
of 14 gauge wire hit me in the head... I'll need to come up with a way to
lob something over a high branch and go from there...

73,
Joshua Gould
K8WXA
EM89pn

On Mon, Feb 9, 2015 at 3:07 PM, Gary Smith <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Congratulations on the KX3!
>
> To get a wire over the tallest tree on the first attempt and that
> includes a Redwood, look at what I do at the bottom of my QRZ page. I
> got the idea from a QST article a few years ago and then built on the
> idea.
>
> It will make the setup much faster than you could ever hope to do.
>
> 73,
>
> Gary
> KA1J
>
>
> > Well, my wait is over. My KX3 is in my hands. So far, I've gone to
> a park and stung some wire up (in response I saw a very confused old
> man drive by...) and tried to make some contacts off the internal
> batteries. It didn't help that I was in a valley as well. My wire was
> at most 6 feet off the ground, I'm sure that didn't help either. I
> can't wait to get home and hook the radio to the G5RV on the roof and
> the power supply and see what I can work.
> >
> > See you on the bands
> >
> > Joshua Gould
> > K8WXA
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > Message delivered to [hidden email]
> >
>
>
>
>
> ---
> This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus
> protection is active.
> http://www.avast.com
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
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>
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>

Jim Brown-10

Re: A big brown truck showed up with a little box...

In reply to this post by Gary Smith-2

On Mon,2/9/2015 12:07 PM, Gary Smith wrote:
> To get a wire over the tallest tree on the first attempt and that
> includes a Redwood, look at what I do at the bottom of my QRZ page. I
> got the idea from a QST article a few years ago and then built on the
> idea.

http://www.antennalaunchers.com/antlaunching.html

When I first moved to CA in 2006, K2RD brought one of these over to rig
my 80M dipole. His first shot cleared the tallest redwood on my property
by at least 25 ft. That tree is about 180 ft tall.

Here's another useful launcher for lower heights -- up to about 100 ft.
Buy it with the Zebco reel and attachment, and 10-12 oz throw weights.
You could use your own weights (fishing sinkers, for example), but these
throw weights are brightly colored cordura bags that make it much easier
to find on the ground after you've thrown them. My Chicago club owns one
that we used on Field Day and that was loaned to members to rig their
antennas.

http://www.sherrilltree.com/Big-Shot-Standard-Kit#.VNkWwCvF_wk

73, Jim K9YC
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Bill Wilkins

Re: A big brown truck showed up with a little box...

In reply to this post by Joshua Gould, K8WXA

Congrats on the new rig Josh. You'll have lot of fun with it.
Also I think I may have figured out the posting on the reflector. Sorry I sent you that email when it was not the way to do it. We'll see with this one.
73, Bill, WD8JWJ

Gary Smith-2

Re: [Antenna launcher

In reply to this post by Jim Brown-10

Nice web pages.

I discovered a couple of things that to me are important when it came
to launching these projectiles to get wires over the tops of trees:

- A heavier weight is better than a lighter one such as a tennis ball
when a 50 pound fishing line is attached, because a light weight
object will get hung up on branches and the inertia from a heavy
object falling to earth will bore its way straight through the
branches and leaves. I painted the white PVC with red spray and on
one I used red/white reflective tape. This makes it easy to find
where it's landed in both summer and winter.

I ended up using 50 pound test monofilament line because the amount
of branches I have to contend with end up being enough friction
resistance that I was breaking lighter line. With the 50 pound test
line I can bring my WD 1A telephone wire up and through the branches
in one attempt.

- a long barrel is far preferable to a short barrel because the
addition of the eye on the end of the barrel prevents the line from
flailing as it is being expended. If you try throwing a fishing line
without a pole & the eyes to guide the line coherently as it's being
expended, you will not throw it far. Attach eyes to a broomstick &
lightly toss & it will go much farther. The eye is a must if you want
distance.

- In addition, a longer barrel will give you a greater distance, just
like a rifle will shoot farther than a pistol with both using the
same ammunition.

- When putting the PVC spud in the barrel, the line & swivel end goes
in first, otherwise the drag from the line will make the projectile
and invert on the way up spin like a top. That can be problematic
when coming down as you don't want it to get hung up on top branches
and if it's spinning like a propeller, it will hang up sooner than
later.

FWIW, With no line attached I can shoot a 4" long projectile well
over 1/4 mile of water without touching water. With the line attached
such distance is quite impossible thanks to the drag, even with the
eye in place.

I figured I'd mention this tool here because of so many people on the
Elecraft reflector enjoying remote operations with their QRP gear,
this will help tremendously with the antenna end of things.

73,

Gary
KA1J

> On Mon,2/9/2015 12:07 PM, Gary Smith wrote:
> > To get a wire over the tallest tree on the first attempt and that
> > includes a Redwood, look at what I do at the bottom of my QRZ page. I
> > got the idea from a QST article a few years ago and then built on the
> > idea.
>
> http://www.antennalaunchers.com/antlaunching.html
>
> When I first moved to CA in 2006, K2RD brought one of these over to rig
> my 80M dipole. His first shot cleared the tallest redwood on my property
> by at least 25 ft. That tree is about 180 ft tall.
>
> Here's another useful launcher for lower heights -- up to about 100 ft.
> Buy it with the Zebco reel and attachment, and 10-12 oz throw weights.
> You could use your own weights (fishing sinkers, for example), but these
> throw weights are brightly colored cordura bags that make it much easier
> to find on the ground after you've thrown them. My Chicago club owns one
> that we used on Field Day and that was loaned to members to rig their
> antennas.
>
> http://www.sherrilltree.com/Big-Shot-Standard-Kit#.VNkWwCvF_wk
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

Rich Ardolino

Re: A big brown truck showed up with a little box...

In reply to this post by Joshua Gould, K8WXA

Hello Joshua & Elecrafters,

My throwing arm also is no good after a shoulder separation and torn rotator cuff some years ago, so I sometimes use a pneumatic launcher, which I purchased as a kit from the Joplin Amateur Radio Club ( see video clip here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2MO0N4cewo&feature=channel&list=UL ).

However, using it in public places such as a park, etc. can sometimes bring unwanted scrutiny from wary public officials and may even be considered illegal (being considered a "firearm") in some places. And, a pneumatic launcher and tire pump is a bit much to bring along if you are hiking/backpacking.

So, if I don't need to get my support line up more than approx 25-30', I use a simpler (and cheaper) method. I tie a light support line ( paracord or mason's twine) to the neck of a 1/2 liter plastic water bottle and swing it in a vertical plane circle and let fly. You can empty (or drink) some of the water to get the best result. I find that approx 1/2 full (8 oz.) is a good compromise between light enough to get it up a reasonable height and enough weight to pull the bottle/line down to where you can reach it to tie on and pull up your wire and tie off the line. You will need to practice a bit to get a feel for aim and when to let go. You can swing it either overhand or underhand, whichever works best for you. May take a bit of practice and a few tries, but it works for me and can't get any less expensive. And the plastic bottle is soft enough not to cause damage or injury to anyone (or yourself) in case you miss. Less dangerous than using a rock and qrp hikers will likely
be carrying a water bottle so you can "kill two birds with one water bottle" as the saying goes. When the weather moderates I'll get a friend to do a video clip of me demonstrating this method and put it on youtube. Hope this helps.

72 & regards,

Rich K2CPE
K2 # 1102

----- Original Message -----

From: "Joshua Gould" <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Cc: "Elecraft" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Monday, February 9, 2015 3:13:46 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] A big brown truck showed up with a little box...

Gary,

I discovered that my throwing arm isn't worth anything when I had a spool
of 14 gauge wire hit me in the head... I'll need to come up with a way to
lob something over a high branch and go from there...

73,
Joshua Gould
K8WXA
EM89pn

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Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Alan. G4GNX

Re: A big brown truck showed up with a little box...

In reply to this post by Vic Rosenthal

I think I can beat that.

I ordered a CW filter and an I/F module for my K3, back in November (my
Christmas present to me). 2 days (I think) to travel across the USA, 2 more
days to arrive in the UK. 2 WEEKS in UK customs, then it was released to
Parcel Force (the UK box shifter) who then managed to lose it for a week and
finally after several phone calls and a threat of court action, they
suddenly 'found' it again and it was delivered almost a month late and well
after Christmas! Grrrrr.................

73,

Alan. G4GNX

-----Original Message-----
From: Vic Rosenthal 4X6GP/K2VCO
Sent: Monday, February 09, 2015 7:45 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] A big brown truck showed up with a little box...

Lucky friend! Here is how it goes in the Middle East: I ordered a pair
of filters from Elecraft. It took

2 days from Watsonville CA to New York,

1 day to Tel Aviv,

10 days to get through customs,

4 days -- and counting -- for the post office to notify me to come and
find out how much the duty and VAT will be.

I still don't have my filters! Next time I'll try UPS.

______________________________________________________________
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Gary Gregory-2

Re: A big brown truck showed up with a little box...

Look here:

Sherrilltree.com

One shot job done. I get as high as i need/want first time every time with
no injury....:-)

I believe this originated in the USA

73

Gary
Vk1ZZ
K3, KX3, KPA500-FT, KAT500-FT,P3.
On 10/02/2015 9:42 AM, "G4GNX" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I think I can beat that.
>
> I ordered a CW filter and an I/F module for my K3, back in November (my
> Christmas present to me). 2 days (I think) to travel across the USA, 2 more
> days to arrive in the UK. 2 WEEKS in UK customs, then it was released to
> Parcel Force (the UK box shifter) who then managed to lose it for a week
> and finally after several phone calls and a threat of court action, they
> suddenly 'found' it again and it was delivered almost a month late and well
> after Christmas! Grrrrr.................
>
> 73,
>
> Alan. G4GNX
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Vic Rosenthal 4X6GP/K2VCO
> Sent: Monday, February 09, 2015 7:45 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] A big brown truck showed up with a little box...
>
> Lucky friend! Here is how it goes in the Middle East: I ordered a pair
> of filters from Elecraft. It took
>
> 2 days from Watsonville CA to New York,
>
> 1 day to Tel Aviv,
>
> 10 days to get through customs,
>
> 4 days -- and counting -- for the post office to notify me to come and
> find out how much the duty and VAT will be.
>
> I still don't have my filters! Next time I'll try UPS.
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

Fred Townsend-2

Re: [Antenna launcher

In reply to this post by Gary Smith-2

Gary I'd like to 2nd your comments and add a few of my own.

Re tennis balls I add sand and it's easy and cheap.

You can always bore-sight your target but I added a sight to my blaster. Now
I am one shot, one kill.

If I have to shoot very close to my target tree, because of nearby real
estate like a power line or fence, I lay on my back and shoot near vertical
over a 100' tree.

I have found, for fun and games, a filled 8 oz plastic water battle works
well. It's the same diameter as a tennis ball. It makes big splash on
impact. Gets rid of annoying dogs too. You don't need to hit them. Just
close enough to splash.

73,
Fred, AE6QL
-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Gary
Smith
Sent: Monday, February 09, 2015 1:54 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [Antenna launcher

Nice web pages.

I discovered a couple of things that to me are important when it came to
launching these projectiles to get wires over the tops of trees:

- A heavier weight is better than a lighter one such as a tennis ball when a
50 pound fishing line is attached, because a light weight object will get
hung up on branches and the inertia from a heavy object falling to earth
will bore its way straight through the branches and leaves. I painted the
white PVC with red spray and on one I used red/white reflective tape. This
makes it easy to find where it's landed in both summer and winter.

I ended up using 50 pound test monofilament line because the amount of
branches I have to contend with end up being enough friction resistance that
I was breaking lighter line. With the 50 pound test line I can bring my WD
1A telephone wire up and through the branches in one attempt.

- a long barrel is far preferable to a short barrel because the addition of
the eye on the end of the barrel prevents the line from flailing as it is
being expended. If you try throwing a fishing line without a pole & the eyes
to guide the line coherently as it's being expended, you will not throw it
far. Attach eyes to a broomstick & lightly toss & it will go much farther.
The eye is a must if you want distance.

- In addition, a longer barrel will give you a greater distance, just like a
rifle will shoot farther than a pistol with both using the same ammunition.

- When putting the PVC spud in the barrel, the line & swivel end goes in
first, otherwise the drag from the line will make the projectile and invert
on the way up spin like a top. That can be problematic when coming down as
you don't want it to get hung up on top branches and if it's spinning like a
propeller, it will hang up sooner than later.

FWIW, With no line attached I can shoot a 4" long projectile well over 1/4
mile of water without touching water. With the line attached such distance
is quite impossible thanks to the drag, even with the eye in place.

I figured I'd mention this tool here because of so many people on the
Elecraft reflector enjoying remote operations with their QRP gear, this will
help tremendously with the antenna end of things.

73,

Gary
KA1J

> On Mon,2/9/2015 12:07 PM, Gary Smith wrote:
> > To get a wire over the tallest tree on the first attempt and that
> > includes a Redwood, look at what I do at the bottom of my QRZ page.
> > I got the idea from a QST article a few years ago and then built on
> > the idea.
>
> http://www.antennalaunchers.com/antlaunching.html
>
> When I first moved to CA in 2006, K2RD brought one of these over to
> rig my 80M dipole. His first shot cleared the tallest redwood on my
> property by at least 25 ft. That tree is about 180 ft tall.
>
> Here's another useful launcher for lower heights -- up to about 100 ft.
> Buy it with the Zebco reel and attachment, and 10-12 oz throw weights.
> You could use your own weights (fishing sinkers, for example), but
> these throw weights are brightly colored cordura bags that make it
> much easier to find on the ground after you've thrown them. My Chicago
> club owns one that we used on Field Day and that was loaned to members
> to rig their antennas.
>
> http://www.sherrilltree.com/Big-Shot-Standard-Kit#.VNkWwCvF_wk
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email
> list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to
> [hidden email]
>

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