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WX4QZ > ALL 23.03.21 18:00l 312 Lines 11251 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 15739_NS2B
Read: GUEST
Subj: PCL NET SCRIBE MAR 22 2021
Path: IW8PGT<I3XTY<I0OJJ<EA2RCF<LU9DCE<EC5W<KD8FMR<N3IP<NS2B
Sent: 210323/1648Z 15739@NS2B.#WNY.NY.USA.NOAM BPQ6.0.20
PCL Net Scribe for Mar. 22, 2021
WX4QZ, Daryl, Arkansas (Net Control And Scribe)
NS2B, Bob, New York
KF5TVG, Bob, Missouri
VA7RBP, Rick, Canada
NT5R, Charley, Missouri
***
WX4QZ:
It has been a horrible 61st birthday, and the days
leading up to it. This is mostly a bad news report.
I think I'm having a breakdown, as I feel like I'm
cursed...not to mention I've been crying much of
today. I was sobbing so bad when my cousing called,
that I nearly hung up on her. If the next COVID-19
stimulus doesn't arrive by April 1, it means major
changes in my life...read that downsizing.
This is a Readers Digest Version of what happened
in the last week:
1) The guy who was at fault in the car wreck over
2 months ago had only minimal coverage. They paid
the $9100 chiropractor bill, but I only got $817
for pain and suffering and Uber transportation. Had
I not taken that, I'd be overdrawn now, and having
to pay overdraft fees...never mind risking being
arrested for insufficient funds.
2) The toilet tank device in the other bathroom
malfunctioned, causing an overflow, that flooded
both bathrooms. It cost $250 to get that fixed,
but I have a $1000 deductible on repairs, which
I don't have, because the COVID-19 stimulus hasn't
arrived yet. I'll have to set up a payment plan if
the COVID-19 stimulus doesn't come in Wednesday.
3) I had to pay $125 to a guy to cut up and remove
an uprooted small tree that was dead (a branch
nearly gouged out my right eye). Then, I had to pay
$165 to a locksmith when the battery in my keyless
door lock failed (I was locked out of the house). As
noted, still no COVID-19 stimulus check. I may have
to postpone the colonoscopy next month. At least the
tax deadline was extended to May 17. I can't afford
to go to the eye doctor to get it checked out.
4) I'm likely sell the car back to the dealership in
early April, and just take Uber out once in a blue
moon to medical appointments. I also will shut down
the Post Office Box, my BBS, my D-Rats station, my
HamShack Hotline, the T-Mobile line, and downgrade
the Verizon phone. I'll still have the Mi-Fi for when
I need to use the internet, which will be very
sparingly...but I may get rid of that as well. That
would cut me off from the outside world, and mean no
more ham radio work (nets or otherwise), website
updating, or Facebook. I had to format both phones
today. If I downgrade, very few will get my new
number.
5) I had a gray blonde moment at an intersection. I
was stopped at a red light, and the left turn signal
went green. I thought the main light had changed as
well, and I went right through the red light. Usually
I end up going through the light, as I'm too close to
stop when it changes. Well, if I sell the car, I will
not have to worry about that anymore.
6) The Queen Of D-Star, Connie Ballantyne, KB0ZSG,
became a Silent Key over a year ago. But, several
nefarious idiots on Facebook have either hacked or
cloned her account. If one gets a Facebook request
from Connie Ballantyne, they should ignore, mute,
delete, decline, and report it...and spread the word
on this on D-Star and related nets.
7) The $35 cost for US Ham Radio Licenses is in the
Federal Register, but according to Maria Somma,
AB1FM, of ARRL/VEC...it has to go through Congress,
and the FCC has to update things. Examinees, or
hams wanting a callsign change, will have to pay
the VEC Fee, then pay the $35 to the FCC, via the
website...or it'll be as if they failed the exam.
UPDATE: March 23, 2021 - a bulletin came out from
W1AW on this.
8) We're entering the heart of tornado season...
the ground is already waterlogged...as portions of
Austrailia and other areas of the US are. Yet, other
areas can't even buy a drop of rain. Portions of
the Rockies got a record snowstorm last week, and
another one is on the horizon for them. Strong to
severe storms are forecast here Wednesday night
into Friday, with tornadoes, large hail, flooding
rain, damaging winds, and intense lightning.
9) The ONLY good news this week is that I got a
fellow ham set up on D-Rats via Team Viewer...he's
as happy as a ham in a candy store. There is a new
version of Echolink for Windows (first one in 14
years), and you can call CQ on Echolink now. Also,
the Multimode Digital Voice Net on the QuadNet
Array (https://openquad.net) on Saturday is an
excellent net, but it runs LONG, with many helpful
topics discussed. So, I've MOVED the monthly Food
Net to 4pm US Eastern Time on the 3rd Saturday (it
meets once a month only). I am supposed to be
contacted by Amateur Radio Newsline sometime this
week for a story on it...that'll give more details
on that net.
10) Speaking of food, a local Girl Scout troop was
selling Girl Scout cookies next to my Post Office
Saturday morning...so, I bought 5 boxes of thin
mint cookies. I scarfed a whole box of them Sunday,
and that was all I ate all day...and that was in
lieu of any birthday cake or much else for several
days. It's not the most nutritious, but right now,
I'm too depressed to have an appetite. I cried much
of the day...and as noted earlier, I nearly hung up
on my cousin who called, as I was sobbing
uncontrollably.
11) UPDATE March 23, 2021: BlueDV for Windows has
been upgraded to 1.0.0.9604 -- you can do D-Star,
DMR, and Fusion, with just a soundcard...no rig or
hotspot is needed. That's what I use with the
ThumbDV from Northwest Digital Radio. It's $125,
but it might be back ordered. Yet, it's far cheaper
than a D-Star Radio.
12) UPDATE March 23, 2021: As noted, the Icom ID-52
is in production again, but there's such a backlog
of orders, it might take 3 months or so to get yours
delivered. I'd be surprised if it was under $500.
Enough of my belly-aching...I'll bet no one can
top my bad week. However, I do want to thank
everyone for the birthday wishes. I hope my next
one is better.
Bob (NS2B), my vacation anymore is stepping away
from the computer, and going to the restroom,
kitchen, or to lie down in bed...when my eyes get
tired. We were to have storms tonight, so I was
not going to post the scribe until March 23.
Bob (KF5TVG), I won't have time to worry about
working KA6LMS...with all the other crap that I
mentioned. At least I'm not the only one dealing
with flooding issues at their QTH. But, living
alone makes it rough. My late wife and I never
had kids, I never remarried, and my brother is in
worse shape than I am...off in his own little
world.
Rick, I had to unplug and replugin the USB deals for
my mouse and keyboard the other night, as the Windows
10 laptop got funky. It kept wanting to bring up the
Cortana deal, which I had no interest or use for. After
a reboot, I uninstalled Cortana, Microsoft Solitaire
Suite, Candy Crush, Xbox, Skype, and some other junk.
I'll bet when the next Windows update comes out, it'll
discover all that is gone, and put it back on the
system.
I guess flooding isn't limited to just QTH's -- that
could've been a major electrocution hazard.
I've used those Hamsticks before...you have to switch
them out obviously, but they're nice for single band
portable operation...when the band cooperates.
Charley, I've seen snow in Little Rock as late as
April 19 on 2 occasions. It didn't stick, but the
freeze killed the budding flowers, trees, etc.
that weren't protected.
***
NS2B:
Sounds like a good week to go on vacation Daryl.
Here's been a more peaceful story. Weather has been
running in the 60s - even made 70 today. So I've been
getting the deck ready for summer. Got a new grill as
the old one had all but rusted away. Put the cushions
and canopy on the porch swing - cooked a hotdog and
hung out on the swing - it was nice.
On the radio front finally figured out this week how
to get to Fusion from my DMR radio without giving
up DMR! It's cool - like having 2 radios in one!
***
KF5TVG:
Daryl, So sorry to hear all the troubles you've had.
Glad you have an extended Ham family to visit with
and talk with. I'm sure it helps.
I don't have much news, other than to say we are
back in Branson for the first time in a year. We
used to be here about 2 weeks out of every month.
Only here for a few days this time, to check on
condo. It was flooded a month ago from a burst
sprinkler pipe. Ours is one of 15 units that got
flooded. Building manager was on top of it
immediately, so no mildew/mold, but we are still
waiting to see what the insurance is going to pay.
I'm sure everyone knows about Last Man Standing
show. There is going to be a big event from
3/24-3/30. Should be fun to get some contacts.
Charley, Would like eyeball QSO! Can't this visit,
but next time in town, will try to give you a
call. Thx for the phone number!
Nothing more to add tonight, so 73 and hope all have
a great week! Happy birthday and BTU Daryl.
***
VA7RBP:
I missed last week due to my internet being down
for a couple of days, actually our whole mobile
complex was down.
When the Shaw Cable guy finally showed up, he said
that distribution box was totally flooded, and took
out all the equipment.
Well, I wouldn't have had much to say anyway...the
past two weeks have sailed past in a flash, without
a lot accomplished.
I have been playing with PACTOR on 40M and 17M a bit,
and made up a few TNC to radio cables.
I have been going to the PREOC on Wednesday evenings
to check out the radios, had a SAT PHONE that would
not work, fixed that by unplugging it and plugging
it back in.
Today I ordered 3 ft of 3/8 x 24 brass rod to make
connecting bolts for all the hamstick antennas.
Steel bolts corrode, and then antennas don't work.
Yesterday and today, I played around with my old SDR
dongle, trying to get it to work as a panadapter.
Getting ready for spring repairs, I picked up a ball
valve for the sprinkler system. Will have to wait a
few weeks until the ground thaws to install it. Temp
this morning was 36F, and got up to 46F today, we
had some snow last night but the snow line was about
50 ft above us.
Charley, I had to order the brass threaded rod
through a machine shop, and it's costing me $46 for
a 3 ft length.
Daryl, my antenna array is three sets of 80M, 40M,
and 30M Hustlers mounted on MFJ347 mini-dipole
mounts, oriented vertically on a six ft boom at
about 18 ft AGL, I run individual lengths of coax
to each mount. (LMR400) I tried to make it a center
fed fan arrangement, but the cheap Ts I used kept
falling apart when it got cold.
OK, that's it for me for tonight, Everyone have a
great week. Happy Birthday Daryl. And thanks to Bob
for the use of the node. 73, until next time.
***
NT5R:
Just in from 10 days in Oklahoma late yesterday.
Playing there some with DMR and Fusion.
Rick, wonder where you find the 3/8 x 24 brass rods?
Have difficulties local to find steel ones
Bob, TVG if you have some spare time in Branson,
holler for eyeball qso phone 417-365-5882 text or
voice.
Planned to ride bike today but cooled off all day.
Daryl, sounds like tough time going on now for you.
Hang in there is all I know to say, and Birthday
Greetings to you.
Have an awesome week everyone. Thank you Daryl and
Bob for being here with the net operations. Good to
type at everyone.
***
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