Teotwaki's comms ramblings...

SP Jon M3

Observer
SWITAWI, Jim,

If you're looking for a good mast kit (ore replacement), check out the kit below. It's easy enough to setup solo and there's no need for trying to raise a fully erected mast. Instead you feed mast sections through the center of the tripod to raise the mast.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTENNA-TRI...pt=US_Radio_Comm_Antennas&hash=item2327261f5d

Here's a video of the mast being setup:
[video]http://www.arrl.org/files/file/QST%20Binaries/Jun2011/QS0611Dixon.mp4[/video]
 

teotwaki

Excelsior!
You inspired me, so I now have a telescopic 8m mast, I just need a tripod or I'll make a mount that will use the rear ladder to the roof rack.
Thanks for posting, don't be shy of adding more.

There are some guys who sell telescoping poles and have all sorts of mounts for hitches and things.

Flag Pole Buddy : http://www.flagpolebuddy.com/

I used a telescoping flagpole from Harbor Freight for my trailer.
Death+Valley+080.jpg


I put a 2' section of PVC on the nose box that the pole drops into.
Death_Valley+137.jpg


Death+Valley+077.jpg



Trailer build thread: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/47614-I-joined-the-Cult?highlight=cult
 

GREENI

Adventurer
Love the tube.....the simplest things.
I am not allowed to look at trailers though..... Too many unfinished projects already.
 

Zam15

Explorer
NKN_3024-1.jpg

Nice setup as always, but I have to say that has to be one of the better views I have seen from a toilet :coffeedrink:
 
Last edited:

Mack4

Adventurer
These fiberglass masts are pretty slick. Not as rigid as an aluminum or steel but with proper guying can be a great inexpensive alternative.

This Cat makes some fantastic mounts for the aforementioned masts as well as some great hitch mount and flip up mounts. One of my best vendors, I highly recommend his products.

-Mack
 

teotwaki

Excelsior!
These fiberglass masts are pretty slick. Not as rigid as an aluminum or steel but with proper guying can be a great inexpensive alternative.

This Cat makes some fantastic mounts for the aforementioned masts as well as some great hitch mount and flip up mounts. One of my best vendors, I highly recommend his products.

-Mack

EXCELLENT information. That would be good to have in a sticky about mast systems.
 

teotwaki

Excelsior!
Attention Military Radio Scanner Enthusiasts

Someone on a scanner list/group just took a trip out to the China Lake area and posted up his list of active and interesting frequencies. Useful when you see things zooming through the sky above Death Valley!

Day Trip: China Lake Posted by: Mike

Spent a few hours in Ridgecrest on Wednesday May 1st. These are my logs,
mostly from Ridgecrest but a few enroute to & from Riverside.

118.35 Southern CA Logistical AP tower (didn't get an a/c ID but as I drove by I watched a CA ANG C-130 do a touch & go).
120.15 China Lake tower (340.2)
120.25 unid user, FAA notice of 2012 ID's this as China Control initial contact. I previously logged this as Joshua A/D.
120.7 EDW tower
123.2 unid base L&C
123.375 NASA 804 w/ Sport, flight test near Isabella/ NASA 2
126.55 Joshua A/D
133.65 Joshua A/D & SABRE 6-0 25m s/o InyoKern
139.525 (FM) unid user
140.1 (FM) China lake tower & airfield units
140.2 unid a/c
141.95 a/a (COBRA?)
143.5 (FM) PL123.7 unid user
235.1 RATTS 3-1
240.175 DOGS & RAZOR a/a (CA ANG)
251.3 unid a/c
261.2 unid a/a
263.0 ZLA
264.1 unid a/c
266.3 unid a/c
267.075 (random search) unid a/a L&C
269.8 (random search) SATAN & WIZARD/ base to base L&C/ a/c
271.55 unid a/c
274.7 China Lake CD > 360.2 China lake ground
276.65 a/a TORCH & CHASE a/c 2m w/o Cuddleback
278.1 unid user
279.6 ZLA
284.025 discrete freq given to VAMPIRE a/c from China Control on 313.9
279.6 ZLA
284.7 ZLA
291.6 Joshua A/D w/ VIPER 4 @ Eagle Mountain
298.3 unid a/c
299.5 unid a/a
301.0 China Control w/ unid a/c
309.05 freq given as dep on China Lake CD
309.8 a/a VAMPIRE a/c
310.725 unid a/c
317.375 unid a/c
317.7 ZLA from 348.7 Joshua A/D
313.9 China Control
318.1 EDW tower
322.375 China Lake ATIS
336.45 China Control w/ COSO 1-1/ VAMPIRE 5-1/ COUGAR 1-1 flight for Superior Vally & R-2505/ DOGS flight, also talking to Superior Vally
tower on this freq/ 10m w/o Owens Lake, Pilot Knob is ref point/ SAVAGE a/c
340.2 China Lake tower (120.15) > 348.7 Joshua A/D
342.75 unid a/c reporting ordinance w/ a base or range
346.45 unid a/c
348.7 Joshua A/D w/ FIST rtb Lemoore/ China Lake dep
351.4 Sport Control
351.9 ZLA
360.2 China Lake ground
360.65 ZLA
367.35 (random search) unid a/c
369.3 COSO a/c w/ China Control > Microspeech tower
375.4 (random search) unid user
376.075 unid a/c
380.475 unid a/c
381.9 China Control w/ VIPER a/c > 291.6 Joshua A/D

<>< Mike
 

teotwaki

Excelsior!
I finally sold off my PRC-70 HF manpack!
prc70.jpg

It served me well as a highly portable radio for disaster comms and other HF applications. I replaced it with a brand new Elecraft KX-3.
KX3_small1.jpg

http://www.elecraft.com/KX3/kx3.htm

The PRC-70 had twice the transmit power of the KX-3 but at 20 times the weight. The KX-3 is superior in every other way and a small external power amp and battery can easily boost the output power yet still weigh less. An excellent and very portable radio.
 

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