Author: admin

Antenna Mast Disaster! Why My Tower Came Down (Not What You Think)

Post author By admin
Post date March 27, 2026

Antenna Mast Disaster! Why My Tower Came Down (Not What You Think)

The mast came down… but not for the reason I expected. In ~50 mph winds I was convinced something structural would fail – aluminium, couplers, shackles. No. Instead, everything survived. The real issue? Rope stretch!

It turns out poly rope can elongate far more than you think under load (22%). Once the top guy stretched far enough, the geometry flipped and the mast effectively pulled itself over. No snap, no bang – just a slow, graceful failure.

In this video I strip it back, work out what actually happened, and start the rebuild properly. We look at guy tension, stretch vs stability, and why temporary rope is useful for prototyping before moving to Dyneema.

A great reminder that in antenna building, the weak point isn’t always where you expect — and sometimes failure is the best teacher.

Rebuild Part 2 coming next week. Stay tuned!

Temporarily Offline Youtube

This HS4 Arrived In a Plastic Bag…

Post author By admin
Post date March 27, 2026

This HS4 Arrived In a Plastic Bag…

This one didn’t even have the decency to show up in a box. No foam. No packaging. No dignity.

Just a plastic bag with a radio in it… like somebody grabbed it off the shelf and tossed it in with the produce. This is HS4 #3 from the returns pile. Marked defective. Sent back by a customer. Arrived in what can only be described as a “bag o radio.”

Another resident checking into the KM9G Returns Witness Protection Program.

👉 My Constantly Updated For Sale List: https://temporarilyoffline.com/blogs/tos-blog/revolving-list-of-for-sale-items
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1. 12ga solid wire: https://geni.us/kOAGLr
(NOTE: Trim it exact!)
2. Anderson Power Poles w/Crinper: https://geni.us/bqfprDt
3. Lever Nuts: https://geni.us/nE412y3
4. Wire Strippers: https://geni.us/LejLm
(NOTE: They cut wire too…)
5. Glue Lined Heat Shrink Tubing: https://geni.us/7kUwOL

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Temporarily Offline Youtube

PAPA System Radio: First Power-Up & Repeater Test! #shorts

Post author By admin
Post date March 27, 2026

PAPA System Radio: First Power-Up & Repeater Test! #shorts

Assembling an amateur radio repeater from PAPA System Group parts. Testing for fan noise and runaway transmit modes before faceplate swap. Ready to power on!

👉 Full Video: https://youtu.be/wMUwT9DaeTs

👉 Find this radio on eBay: https://geni.us/V3nci9
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👉 3d Printed Case: https://hamradiolife.shop/KM9G (5% off with code KM9G)
👉 Surecom SW-102 Meter: https://geni.us/IAKUo
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👉 100w Dummy Load: https://geni.us/eTZ18Uh
👉 DC Power Meter: https://geni.us/mt4hG

#AmateurRadio #HamRadio #PAPACHARS #Repeaters

Dave Cassler Youtube

Ionosphere Websites (Short #147)

Post author By admin
Post date March 26, 2026

Ionosphere Websites (Short #147)

@charlesneal4603 is wondering if there is an ionosphere activity level website. Does NASA provide this data? Ionospheres exist, so where can the data be found?

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Videographed and Edited by Teagan Kulbeth, KF0UTR

#amateur radio
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Digital Analogue Ham Youtube

Radioddity qt80, it shouldn’t be this good!

Post author By admin
Post date March 26, 2026

Radioddity qt80, it shouldn't be this good!

https://www.radioddity.com/blogs/all/radioddity-qt80-review

DX Commander Youtube

How Raising Your Antenna Affects SWR (Yagi Tune Fix)

Post author By admin
Post date March 26, 2026

How Raising Your Antenna Affects SWR (Yagi Tune Fix)

Today I’m tuning the Yagi after raising it another 6–7 metres on the upgraded mast. As expected, the resonant frequency has shifted higher, so the job is to bring it back down into the right part of the band. Rather than starting again, I’m extending the elements slightly and trying a simple little loop on the ends – partly for RF behaviour, partly because it just feels like a neater way of doing it. This "loop fix" is not about current heating the ends – it’s voltage trying to escape. A sharp tip concentrates it like a lightning rod. Add a loop and suddenly nothing to see. Another way of looking at this is that at high power, a sharp element tip is basically trying to turn into a tiny plasma ball (corona discharge). If we round it off, it never gets to form = lot less heat.

This video covers:

dropping the tower again (of course…)
measuring and extending the driven element and reflector
a quick-and-dirty field method using an SWR calculator
checking and correcting alignment on the beam
dealing with wind, rope stretch and the realities of working at height
and a first check of the new resonance once it’s back up

There’s also a bit of discussion around:

why height changes tuning
why every part of a mast system is effectively a single point of failure
and how small gains (a few dB here and there) all add up to a noticeably better station

I’ve slightly overcooked the length – but it’s close enough for now and easily trimmed later.

Next job will be building a proper choke to replace the temporary one, and squeezing a bit more performance out of the system.

Thanks for watching – see you on the next one.

PS : the "loop fix"… It’s not current heating the ends – it’s voltage trying to escape. A sharp tip concentrates it like a lightning rod. Add a loop and suddenly nothing to see. Another way of looking at this is that at high power, a sharp element tip is basically trying to turn into a tiny plasma ball. If we round it off, it never gets to form. Easy. Callum.

Tank Radio Youtube

V/U HF GoKit Challenge Winner

Post author By admin
Post date March 26, 2026

V/U HF GoKit Challenge Winner

V/U HF GoKit Challenge Winner G Kit Walkthrough

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Hoodies – https://grapevineamateurradio.com/products/tank-radio-hoodie-limited-time
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Temporarily Offline Youtube

Amateur Radio Power: Testing Transmit Wattage on 2 Meters #shorts

Post author By admin
Post date March 26, 2026

Amateur Radio Power: Testing Transmit Wattage on 2 Meters #shorts

Curious about radio power consumption? See the idle draw (0.29A, 3.9W) and then key up: low power (3.26A), mid-power (5.4A), and full power (11.04A, 139.6W).

👉 Full Video: https://youtu.be/wMUwT9DaeTs

#RadioPower #HamRadio #Electronics #TechExplained

Dave Cassler Youtube

Height Helps! (#1395)

Post author By admin
Post date March 25, 2026

Height Helps! (#1395)

Noel, VK3AL, describes their antenna setup and asks for Dave’s opinion. Between a steel fence, close houses, and other antennas, is it possible for Noel to setup another antenna?

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Videographed and Edited by Teagan Kulbeth, KF0UTR

Thanks to my sweet wife, Loretta, KBØVWW, for both audio and video assistance! (Her website is www.aldea-art.com.)

Tank Radio Youtube

2026 Go Kit Challenge: Winner Portable Setups Tour

Post author By admin
Post date March 25, 2026

2026 Go Kit Challenge: Winner Portable Setups Tour

Ham radio enthusiasts at the 2026 Go Kit Challenge in Texas display ingenious portable stations, including solar-powered Xiegu G90 and VHF/UHF combos with vertical antennas transported via wagon and shielded containers for efficient POTA activations. Brandon honors his father’s legacy by completing a modular, multi-box system with high-capacity batteries, inverters, and computer integration for versatile field use from parks to overnighters. Greg shares a club-oriented, 12V-optimized rig with digital mode support, homemade mast extensions, and flexible power options to encourage new operators in monthly POTA outings and Field Day.

Links:
Beach Sun Shelters,Instant – https://amzn.to/4sZrxlU
Beelink Mini S12 Mini PC – https://amzn.to/4uF75Zj
70cm Yagi – https://www.gigaparts.com/chameleon-antennas-cha-tacyagi-70-tactical-foldable-yagi.html

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