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WX4QZ > ALL 05.12.23 05:07l 250 Lines 8950 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 58878_NS2B
Read: GUEST
Subj: PCL NET SCRIBE DEC 4 2023
Path: IW8PGT<I3XTY<I0OJJ<LU4ECL<LU9DCE<KD6MTU<VE3CGR<KF5JRV<NS2B
Sent: 231205/0350Z 58878@NS2B.#WNY.NY.USA.NOAM BPQ6.0.24
PCL NET SCRIBE DEC 4 2023
WX4QZ, Daryl, Arkansas (Net Control/Scribe)
NT5R, Charley, Missouri
NS2B, Bob, New York (Sysop)
KX4AC, Carl, Florida
KF5TVG, Bob, Oklahoma
VA7RBP, Rick, Canada
**
WX4QZ:
The PCL Net will take the nights of Dec. 25
and Jan. 1 OFF -- we wish everyone a safe and
happy holiday season. So, Dec. 18 (2 weeks
from tonight) will be our last net for 2023.
As Mark Twain noted "the rumors of my demise
have been greatly exaggerated" (hi hi). I've
been QRT since Nov. 13 from left hip replacement
surgery; and yesterday was the first day I had
been on the air in 3 weeks...the withdrawl was
as bad as the pain after the surgery. Several
square dancers came by over the weekend to help
with major cleanup and organization, as there
was no way I could do it; but I'm grateful for
their help this time of year.
Thankfully, the pain has decreased, but I'm
still on mobility restrictions until early 2024.
When the nurse removed the bandage, the attached
sticky surgical tape pulled on unremoved hair on
my hip and butt...I didn't know I was going to
get a free mini wax job (hi hi). At least the
incision is healing nicely...but, I saw it last
night, and it still has a ways to go (they really
sliced my hip open, cutting me like a chicken!!).
I spent 2 nights in the hospital, and 3 nights at
a friends home, before coming home. I'm still using
a walker, but I'm able to move more each day, with
lessening pain. But, the pain increases at night,
where I have to take a strong pain medication. At
least now, I can lay my left leg flat while on my
back (I couldn't do that before the surgery).
After I told Santa "define naughty" (hi hi), he
felt sorry for me, and decided to give me a SharkRF
OpenSpot 4 Pro Hotspot as a Christmas present (he's
doing this for several other hams as well). I'll be
able to use it with my Android phone and the computer,
and several have told me that "you'll have fun with
that". I got a note that it should arrive here on
Wednesday (fast shipping!!), and they have extended
the sale into Christmas for 60 Euros off (my cost
was $285 with FedEx shipping). If you want one, you
had better hurry and order it, as they noted "while
supplies last"!!
I just finished the 2023 Family Christmas Letter,
and I'll print and mail that out later this week,
as I have to order groceries, and get them delivered
on the same day as the SharkRF OpenSpot 4 Pro arrives.
I'll be able to program it via the computer and home
Wi-Fi.
We're supposed to get rain and storms late this week
into the weekend...and unfortunately, it may bring
tornadoes. We've had severe weather in meteorological
winter before, so it's not unheard of, but it's still
not wanted. Some model runs are forecasting heavy snow
in portions of the region, but I've seen some models
where one run is warning of a massive storm...then on
the next run, there's nothing. The wishcasters are
going nuts on social media right now.
I'm going back to my original callsign likely after
the Dec. 18 PCL Net, as I was into square dancing 5
years before I got my license. There is a possibility
I'll get to do a forum at the 2025 National Convention
in Shreveport, showing the comparisons between square
dancing and ham radio, plus how easy it is to become
a ham...not to mention I've used ham radio at 2 square
dance events over the years to save the lives of
individuals. My first call, N5VLZ, has the same rhythm
as K-R-A-F-T -- for mayo on ham sandwiches (here I go,
talking about food again). Yet, what are the holidays
without food?? (hi hi).
**
NT5R:
GE Daryl and everyone
Been on road and out of loop, wondered what going on
with you. Sound like feeling better. Did hear you
yesterday on DStar net, you sounded REAL GOOD
Anyhow be in area for couple weeks so try check in
again next week. Hope everyone surviving holidays well,
busy time of year for many
Daryl, interested how you like the Megastick, hotspot
could come in handy. You sounded real good audio yesterday.
Have used Peanut App on android phone and works well.
Believe the BlueDV is same author
Bob OK the weather balloon chasing sounds like fun.
Went to presentation at hamfest in Tennessee this summer
about balloon chasing, they have some dedicated chasers
and was interesting.
**
NS2B:
GE All.
A reasonably uneventful week. Last week I think I was
complaining that Raspberry Pi 2W's were nowhere to be
found. Over the weekend I noticed Adafruit has a few
in stock, so I ordered one. Going to upgrade the Pi
in my D*Star hotspot.
If it really does improve performance, I'll order
another, and upgrade the DMR hotspot too.
Spent my Christmas money today on new tires for my
truck. That might be Christmas Birthday, next Christmas...
We were supposed to go get a Christmas tree this past
weekend, but MaryJo's mom needed help, so we spent the
weekend in Syracuse instead. I think we'll get a tree
Friday. I'll let you know next week!
Rick, I've had one of those copper j-poles up for 15 years -
lashed to a mast with hose clamps - seems to work fine -
and even though it was made for 2m, it seems to be ok on
440 as well!
**
KX4AC:
Good evening all,
Glad to hear Daryl's on the mend.
Well, the week after Thanksgiving has mostly been quiet.
I am back at work and plugging along. I did spend some
time last weekend on my packet radio automation scripts,
mostly fighting with "expect" and "cron."
I also explored some of the local packet nodes and found
one that can reach this net! So tonight I am connected
through my packet radio; it feels more like ham radio now
:-)
This weekend I am planning on a trip back to Disney.
There is a young fellow at work that has never been there
and we will go to the parks together. I want to see the
Christmas decorations and he pretty much wants to see
everything. You can't do everything in one day, but we
will try to see both Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, with a stop
at the Grand Floridian hotel to see their gingerbread house
and tree. We are not driving together, because I want to
stay overnight, and he just wants to go for Saturday. So,
I will drive out Friday afternoon and we will meet in the
morning at my hotel before heading to the parks. I sure
hope I can avoid getting sick this time!
**
KF5TVG:
GE ALL!
I'm sure we will all agree: We're glad Daryl is back on
the air...and still has his great sense of humor!!
My 60M ft8 effort for Worked All States is *so* close.
Just need confirmation on DE and WY to have all 50.
We had a great time with family in Ft Worth for Thanksgiving.
The "cajun" Thanksgiving that son's girlfriend was going to
do was not much different that what I was used to. She put
the turkey in a salt brine for awhile before cooking and it
tasted delightful, as well as everything else.
The grandkids are growing like weeds, so was glad to see them.
They are coming to Norman for a few days after Christmas, and
if the upper winds are favorable, I'll drag them out to chase
some weather balloons/radiosondes that are launched a few miles
from my house.
**
VA7RBP:
Good evening Daryl and all on the NET, and welcome back Daryl!
It was a good week...got Christmas lights up, finished the copper
pipe J-pole 2M antenna tuned and tested great. Now I want to build
a couple more...as $$$ permits. Copper pipe is expensive. I still
have to figure out where and how I'm going to mount it.
We had a couple inches of snow over the past few days, about two
inches accummulated. Now they are forcasting heavy rains for the
next few days, so don't know what we'll get.
**
Replies from WX4QZ:
Charley, it felt good to be back on the air after a 3 week
medical hiatus. I really like the DV MegaStick 30 with the
BlueDV program, but Microsoft did something to the Windows
11 audio drivers, so I can only work that under Windows 10.
I'm hoping that the SharkRF OpenSpot 4 Pro will allow me to
run it on the Windows 11 laptop, with dual monitors during
nets. You are right; David, PA7LIM, did BlueDV, Peanut, and
Doozy...all of them are excellent programs.
Bob (NY), FB on the RPi 2W, but bummer on the Christmas money
going for truck tires. As for the Christmas trees, it reminds
me of the blooper where it noted "60% prefer man-made Christmas
trees, and 40% prefer artificial Christmas trees". <scratching
my head on that one>.
Carl, FB on the packet node connect, and the trip to Disney.
The prices though are enough to make anyone ill!!
Bob (OK), I need to have the humor...I did plenty of crying
while I couldn't do any of my hobbies. GL on getting those
last 2 states on FT8 for 60m...so close, but so far away.
FB on the holiday meal, the grandkids, and the radiosondes.
Rick, FB on the Christmas lights and the 2m J-Pole, but I
would be concerned at the theft of the copper. If you get
heavy rain on top of the snow, flooding will be an issue.
**
Daryl, WX4QZ
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