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Radio upgrades?

Now that I’ve had my VX-8DR for a couple of months (and even used it a few times), I think it’s time for some upgrades.

After a recent road trip, I’m thinking it needs more antenna because getting a signal from another handheld radio that was more than a mile away just wasn’t happening. Being inside a big metal box on wheels probably didn’t help things much either. There aren’t too many quad-band antennas out there, but I did find a Diamond SRH-999 that would probably work. I’ve seen mixed reviews about it, but generally favourable.

I’ve also been researching making my own antenna and looking at different Yagi designs. Small portable ones are pretty easy to make and there are a lot of plans for them out on the web. I think building my own Yagi will be my first radio project. If I do it right (by which I mean if I remember), I’ll even make it so that I can use my monopod as a stand for it.

I’ll also probably need to build some kind of wall mount to hold all the portable Yagi’s I’m eventually going to build.

Then there are the radio accessories that I’m deciding I want now, like the handheld speaker/mic and the GPS attachment, because it’s always nice to know where you are.

Soon I’ll be ready to upgrade myself to Extra class, and then it will be time to start thinking “ham shack”.

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Inexpensive camera monopod

Monopod01.JPGEvery now and then you’ll see a photographer walking around with a monopod for their camera, instead of or in addition to their tripod. There are even some tripods that turn into monopods, or where you can remove the central pole to use as a monopod. You can even find collapsible monopods that are light and easy to carry around. There are inexpensive monopods and some more pricey monopods around.
Monopods don’t give you as stable a platform as tripods do, but they do come in handy when your regular tripod is too heavy or bulky to carry around, or you’re just out walking around and don’t want or need to have a super solid platform. They’re easy to carry around and quick to set up. Monopods can also be used to get some pretty neat shots from high up because you can hold it up in the air and give the camera some extra elevation for your shot.
Volume 31 of Make Magazine has super simple project for making your own monopod for really cheap, or free if you already have the components.
All you need is a wooden broomstick (around $7 from Lowe’s if you don’t already have an old broom you can cannibalize), a 1/4″x20 bolt, a couple of nuts for the bolt and a drill. The project calls for a hanger bolt, which I couldn’t find so I just used a 3″ bolt. I used a 7/32″ bit to drill a hole in one end of the broomstick for the bolt, put the two nuts on the bolt and tightened them against each other and then screwed the bolt into the hole. Make sure to leave enough room so that you can mount your camera.
Monopod03.JPG
The bolt is a little off center because the drill bit walked a little when I started drilling. It doesn’t affect the use of the monopod though.
The project also suggests a spike for the other end so that you can stick it into the ground but I figured with the way I am, the probability of accidentally impaling myself (or someone else) was too high. Instead I got one of those rubber chair leg caps to fit on the end. This also lets my camera monopod double as a walking stick.
Monopod04.JPG
My little Sony camera mounted on the monopod. It holds my Rebel XT pretty well too.
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Total cost was less than $9 including sales tax.

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Saturn V Immensity

I’ve mentioned it before. The Saturn V is a big big rocket. Until you see it in person though, it’s really hard to imagine just how big it is. Then, when you do see it, your mind is boggled that they actually worked and sent people into Earth/lunar orbit and to land on the moon.
Eleven times.

And then you wonder why we haven’t kept doing it.

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Rocket Garden

This is the kind of garden I’d like to grow.
Saturn I-B
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The rocket garden at Kennedy Space Center
KSCRocketGarden.JPG

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Lagging enthusiasm

The summer heat has been sapping my enthusiasm for running a lot more than I expected.

eing busy with other things and some out-of-town trips has poked a few holes in my regular routine too, but it’s mostly been the heat. I’m ready for cooler weather, but that’s still a couple months away.

Even though this morning was a relatively less hot 23°C (still a pretty warm summer day compared to back home) it was tough to get started and to keep going.

At this rate, I may not reach the running goal I set for myself.