Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in Radio Furs' LiveJournal:

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Friday, June 26th, 2009
6:31 pm [jimfoxyboy]	J-Pole woes Field day is this weekend for us out here. I figured I'd try my hand at making a 2 meter J-pole for myself tonight to take with me. One version in particular that I was interested in doing needed only a length of 300 ohm flat twin lead cable. But, even before I could get started, I hit a bit of a snag; no one seems to be selling the flat lead anymore.. /anywhere/. (at least not locally anyways. Turns out it isn't even a seller anymore since digital became a big thing for tv.) One suggestion that was given to me, is to make make the J-Pole out of copper piping. At the moment, I can't exactly invest in the tools needed to solider piping together. A 1/4 wave ground plane is simple enough for me to make but it isn't exactly portable and doesn't have any gain on it (I'm not so worried too much about the lack of gain part). I could make one real fast, if it came down to it tomorrow. In the mean time, I don't suppose anyone has an alternative method of making a J-Pole. Or perhaps some place that still sells the 300 ohm twin lead besides Ebay, which I could take a look into at a later date? UPDATE: Ok, found a store that has what I'm looking for with some help finally. Two rolls, 50' length each of the ribbon. They are on discount because once they are gone, that is it. Now I just have to wait till the store is open again in the morning. (6 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009
5:26 pm [nius]	Portable Repeater at Anthrocon Head over here for the scoop on the repeater freqs. (Comment on this)
Monday, June 15th, 2009
5:10 pm [electropaw]	Talkaround freq at AC? First of all, who's going? If you are, are you going to bring an HT? I don't remember what the talkaround frequency was last year..but if it worked fine should we all use it again? (9 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, June 9th, 2009
12:54 pm [moth_wingthane]	Yaesu Does anyone here use a Yaesu vx-170(/E) 2m HT? I'm contemplating a purchase so I can get going on 2m as 70c is dead at my QTH. I'm also on a tight budget. However, I want to get some user reviews first. Thanks :) (6 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, June 4th, 2009
9:43 pm [megadog]	The 'Russian Woodpecker' Anyone who listened to HF radio during the 1970s and 1980s would be familiar with the sound of the "Russian Woodpecker" over=the-horizon radar pulse-station whose car-with-a-failed-sparkplug interference was both frequency-agile and extremely annoying. The transmitter site and vast antenna array now lies abandoned not far from Chernobyl. (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, May 27th, 2009
12:20 am [jimfoxyboy]	WR-155B found in working condition An unwanted Western Radio, model WR-155B, was basically handed to me during the last weekend while inspecting an old shed. A mounting bracket, mic, and antenna mount minus the aerial element was also included. In the internal inspection, I found only a single Tx and Rx crystal pair made for 166.320mhz set into the first of the four channel slots. Research found that, locally in my area, 166.320 was set aside for the Crime Prevention Society of Surrey. Though it may currently be defunct given the age of the radio. I'd like to thank Tanks 'Trapa' Winters (VA7TLK) for helping me test the set out and finding it to be in still working order and on frequency for the crystal set that was in it. We found it had a draw of 7.5ampes, and output of 20watts. Currently, I was wondering if anyone else has experience with this radio, or if I could get a copy of the manual for it. I did a search online, which didn't really turn up much, perhaps due to the age of the radio itself. Though I did turn up one site that was selling a manual for it. And a mention of someone using it for packet radio in one setup. I was also wondering what one could use such a radio for with only four preset frequencies on it. (outside ARPS and hopefully I could get someone to tune it once I figure out what I'll do with it.) (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, May 22nd, 2009
9:43 pm [swampy]	10m is OPEN If anyone has the capability, 10m is WIDE open. I've worked Greece, Cyprus, Isreal, Portugal, France, Croatia, Italy and Martinique with QRP CW. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, May 7th, 2009
11:20 am [tigerpaw]	Dayton Hamvention 2009 So who's going to Dayton this year? My plans are going on Saturday as a day trip with my local club. *cross posted on radiofurs & furryhams* 73 de KT1GER (Comment on this)
Wednesday, May 6th, 2009
3:53 pm [moth_wingthane]	Radar monitors Hi all, Does anybody here monitor mode-s radar that covers the English channel, know anyone who does or know of a central repository for logs? Thanks. Moth. (Comment on this)
Monday, May 4th, 2009
6:42 pm [megadog]	Unexpected fun. There's something really rather satisfying about working UK-Israel on 80-meters portable - using 30 watts from my little PRC320 into the standard 8.5-foot whip antenna - and having a 40-minute-long chat with someone in Tel Aviv. The conversation could have lasted longer but alas my set of gel-cells ran down and the PRC320 really needs its full 24-volts. (Comment on this)
Thursday, April 30th, 2009
11:46 am [graywolf769]	Hamvention Anyone? With the Dayton Hamvention coming up soon, any furs planning on going and/or want to organize some kind of meetup, furry talk in channel, dinner, etc some night in Dayton? (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, April 29th, 2009
8:25 pm [aerofox]	Tube-Talk: Cardon 686 Here is a unique tube. The Cardon 686. This is the battery set version of the Cardon 484/485. It is a beautiful blue tube not unlike the blue tubes Arcturus made. Though, I think Arcturus' tubes were a deeper blue. This is a product of the Sparks-Withington Co. in Jackson, Michigan. Otherwise known as Sparton. When Sparton adopted the McCullough/Kellogg tube for their radios, they were sufficiently worried about the possibility that the Kellogg company would go under and the tube would no longer be manufactured as it was NOT an RCA type. So, they formed the Cardon tube company to manufacture their own tubes. Then Sparton did another move away from RCA and got a Technidyne license to manufacture radios with this unique circuit which was not supposed to infringe on RCA's patents. This circuit required tubes with tightly controlled grid-plate capacitances and since Sparton made its own tubes, the 484/485 and the 686 was born. It is a simple triode with a 3.0 volt filament and the radios which used them had 6. Sadly, these were not produced in large numbers and they are quite rare. I have one radio with these tubes and I have never seen extras for sale. The 484/485 however, are quite plentiful as other manufacturers made replacements available. Unfortunately, you can see me, my camera, the house and the barn in the reflection of this shiny tube :P (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009
9:52 pm [moth_wingthane]	Mobile/Portable antenna mounts. Hi everyone, Looking for some advice on this. Living in a rented apartment, I'm not able to erect an external antenna for VHF/UHF tx and rx. What I'm trying to find is some mobile system of mounting an antenna that I can put out on to my balcony when I really need to have something outside. It would need to be free standing (no guy ropes) and have a fairly small footprint, I can use ballast weights if necessary. I've had a hunt around but so far the only devices I've come across are the sort of thing you use under a car wheel. If anyone has any suggestions I'm open to ideas :) Is there such a thing as a collapsible pole that I can slip into brackets on the balcony rail? (7 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, April 27th, 2009
10:56 pm [sparkybluefox]	Furry Connection North 2009 radio Foxhunt ! Howdy everybody! Oh my gosh! My body aches!  those darn raves are to much for my 1957 chassis! But..on to the Furry Connection North radio Foxhunting results.  I'm happy to report that at least 8 fox trackers took chase to the Fox this year.  Three hunts were conducted on Sunday morning and despite some technical problems, we all had fun running around Furry Connection North  poking and prodding at everything that looked like a hidden fox! Here's a composite list of the trackers (in alphabetical order) BJButtons           N9WEB Freddy                 KPBY8411 Horsehaire Lolindir Fox         KD8HQK Lounx                   KAJA2994 Morbain TigerPaw             KT1GER Valrejn                  N4OHP I conducted three quick fox hunts and the last one was a paw mobile hunt with Dunkan the Dog as the mobile 'fox' !      I freaked out when I was told that the the fox was off frequency on the mobile hunt and I had to visually track down Dunkan and 'adjust' his left foot paw transmitter to get everything legal again....   ooops! Much joking and fun was had by all...     Ahh... what the heck... life is inperfect    Just roll with it and have fun! 73 from AB8B aka: SparkyBlueFox (8 Comments |Comment on this)
1:01 pm [moth_wingthane]	Raynet Are there any UK RAYNET members here? (Comment on this)
Tuesday, April 21st, 2009
9:53 pm [aerofox]	Random radio I This is a 1934 Capehart radio/phono combination. Capehart was a Ft Wayne, Indiana company which ended up getting absorbed by Magnavox which was absorbed by North American Philips. They made exquisite high dollar radios many with the automatic record changer seen here which is a complex mechanism. It has the ability to play one side of a record, then flip it over to play the other side. One record after another. These things are so heavy and complex and I have yet to attempt to restore the beast to see exactly how this crazy mechanism works. Needless to say, Commander McDonald (President of Zenith Radio Corp.) wanted this changer to be installed in Zenith sets. For whatever reason, Capehart wasn't interested in selling this changer to Zenith, and McDonald could not find any other company who made such a device. Strangely enough, there is a Zenith Stratosphere in a unique cabinet with one of these changers in existence. A prototype perhaps? (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, April 20th, 2009
12:12 pm [tigerpaw]	FCN 09 Just wondering is there any plans for any Radio activities at FCN 09 next weekend. Last year sparkybluefox had a few fox hunts one afternoon and was wondering if was any possibly this year. Because if not, then i'm not going to be bring any extra gear along, hunting antenna etc.. *EDIT* Question answered. *cross-posted to furryhams* de KT1GER (Comment on this)
Sunday, April 19th, 2009
2:19 am [jimfoxyboy]	Homemade Tube Reciever Project I was wondering if anyone knew of any good resources and plans for making a single tube, (or maybe twin tube), wide band or multi band shortwave receiver. I believe there is a local supplier for tubes, I'm just not familiar with which ones are more readily available these days. I have a little, cheep pocket AM/FM/SW radio that I used to carry around with me. But lately, its been showing it's age after having been packing it around for the past year or so. As a project, I would like to make a set for use at home, that uses a tube. Just for something interesting and fun. (3 Comments |Comment on this)
9:18 am [moth_wingthane]	ATUs Me again :) Is anyone able to tell me what the controls do on a Lake TU4 ATU? I recently acquired this and it came without any sort of instructions. I'm sure I could work it out but it would be easier if anyone here already knows :) Moth. (Comment on this)
Saturday, April 18th, 2009
1:41 pm [moth_wingthane]	Airband Hi all, I'm looking for a base station receiver primarily aimed at civil airband monitoring, particularly for ACARS, so it needs to be stable over a long period. It'll sit on frequency more or less 24/7 so it doesn't need to be big on features but I'm working on a budget. Just wondered if anyone has any recommendations? Thanks :) (8 Comments |Comment on this)