Category: Dave Cassler

Linwood writes with a difficult question. Where can he put his HF antenna?
We take an in-depth look at his situation and make some suggestions that might be helpful to anyone looking to put up an HF antenna in a real-world environment. I don’t use Linwood’s last name or callsign to preserve his privacy.

Subscribe: https://youtube.com/user/davecasler. Ask Dave Playlist: https://goo.gl/inaQeB. Tip Jar: http://ke0og.net/tip-jar

To learn more about me, visit: http://www.dcasler.com/about/
Tip jar (on my website): http://www.dcasler.com/tip-jar/ (provides a method to use your credit card via PayPal, Also describes Patreon)
To pose an Ask Dave question: http://www.dcasler.com/ask-dave/ or http://www.ke0og.net/ask-dave/
To order the most recent and up-to-date Amateur Extra videos on a thumb drive: http://dcasler.com/aevids-on-stick/

Theme music is "Sour Tennessee Red," by John Deley and the 41 Players, courtesy YouTube Music Library.
I use drawings from OpenClipArt.org, including the "walking man"
Technician training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/training/
General training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/general/
Amateur Extra training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/extra/
List of the Ask Dave videos, see http://dcasler.com/ask-dave/#askdavelist
Thanks to my sweet wife, Loretta, KBØVWW, for both audio and video assistance! (Her website is www.aldea-art.com.)

My primary website: http://www.dcasler.com
The ham radio part of my website (direct link): http://www.ke0og.net
My publishing website: http://www.mtsneffelspress.com, where you can find my fantasy and science fiction books, as well as some local history books I publish for the Ridgway Railroad Museum and the Ouray County Historical Society
My Amazon author page, which lists my print and Kindle books: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00471I0Q4.

I’m often asked what equipment I use to create the videos. The devices include the Panasonic DMC-G7 camera, Panasonic HDC-TM90 video camera, GoPro Hero2 HD camera, Tascam DR-05 audio recorder, Audio-Technica ATR-3350 lapel microphone, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560 digital camera, the Kodak Zi-8 video camera, my iPhone 5S. Software used: CyberLink PowerDirector 17 on an HP Gaming Pavilion, also using Smoothdraw 4.0.5.0, FastStone Image Viewer 5.3, FastStone Capture 8.0, Audacity 2.1.1, LibreOffice 5.0.4.2, and Ink2Go 1.7.2. You can see how my studio is set up by viewing https://youtu.be/wFSQ8vtNA5A.

Twitter: @dcasler

An Oggie (subscriber) and new Tech asked if I could make a really basic video about dealing with a brand new, first time handheld radio. I have a Radioddity GS-5B FM-only dual-band handheld that I haven’t done anything with, so I use that as the example. I show the things that come in the box, how they go together, how the charger works, how to use push-to-talk, how to install the programming cable driver, the programming software, and I program the radio with a nearby repeater. I also show repeaterbook.com and how to use it to find repeaters.

Subscribe: https://youtube.com/user/davecasler. Ask Dave Playlist: https://goo.gl/inaQeB. Tip Jar: http://ke0og.net/tip-jar

To learn more about me, visit: http://www.dcasler.com/about/
Tip jar (on my website): http://www.dcasler.com/tip-jar/ (provides a method to use your credit card via PayPal, Also describes Patreon)
To pose an Ask Dave question: http://www.dcasler.com/ask-dave/ or http://www.ke0og.net/ask-dave/
To order the most recent and up-to-date Amateur Extra videos on a thumb drive: http://dcasler.com/aevids-on-stick/

Theme music is "Sour Tennessee Red," by John Deley and the 41 Players, courtesy YouTube Music Library.
I use drawings from OpenClipArt.org, including the "walking man"
Technician training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/training/
General training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/general/
Amateur Extra training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/extra/
List of the Ask Dave videos, see http://dcasler.com/ask-dave/#askdavelist
Thanks to my sweet wife, Loretta, KBØVWW, for both audio and video assistance! (Her website is www.aldea-art.com.)

My primary website: http://www.dcasler.com
The ham radio part of my website (direct link): http://www.ke0og.net
My publishing website: http://www.mtsneffelspress.com, where you can find my fantasy and science fiction books, as well as some local history books I publish for the Ridgway Railroad Museum and the Ouray County Historical Society
My Amazon author page, which lists my print and Kindle books: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00471I0Q4.

I’m often asked what equipment I use to create the videos. The devices include the Panasonic DMC-G7 camera, Panasonic HDC-TM90 video camera, GoPro Hero2 HD camera, Tascam DR-05 audio recorder, Audio-Technica ATR-3350 lapel microphone, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560 digital camera, the Kodak Zi-8 video camera, my iPhone 5S. Software used: CyberLink PowerDirector 17 on an HP Gaming Pavilion, also using Smoothdraw 4.0.5.0, FastStone Image Viewer 5.3, FastStone Capture 8.0, Audacity 2.1.1, LibreOffice 5.0.4.2, and Ink2Go 1.7.2. You can see how my studio is set up by viewing https://youtu.be/wFSQ8vtNA5A.

Twitter: @dcasler

Let’s look at both lead-acid batteries and lithium-ion batteries. Both are in wide use. We explore the two battery types, including charging methods.

Subscribe: https://youtube.com/user/davecasler. Ask Dave Playlist: https://goo.gl/inaQeB. Tip Jar: http://ke0og.net/tip-jar

To learn more about me, visit: http://www.dcasler.com/about/
Tip jar (on my website): http://www.dcasler.com/tip-jar/ (provides a method to use your credit card via PayPal, Also describes Patreon)
To pose an Ask Dave question: http://www.dcasler.com/ask-dave/ or http://www.ke0og.net/ask-dave/
To order the most recent and up-to-date Amateur Extra videos on a thumb drive: http://dcasler.com/aevids-on-stick/

Theme music is "Sour Tennessee Red," by John Deley and the 41 Players, courtesy YouTube Music Library.
I use drawings from OpenClipArt.org, including the "walking man"
Technician training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/training/
General training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/general/
Amateur Extra training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/extra/
List of the Ask Dave videos, see http://dcasler.com/ask-dave/#askdavelist
Thanks to my sweet wife, Loretta, KBØVWW, for both audio and video assistance! (Her website is www.aldea-art.com.)

My primary website: http://www.dcasler.com
The ham radio part of my website (direct link): http://www.ke0og.net
My publishing website: http://www.mtsneffelspress.com, where you can find my fantasy and science fiction books, as well as some local history books I publish for the Ridgway Railroad Museum and the Ouray County Historical Society
My Amazon author page, which lists my print and Kindle books: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00471I0Q4.

I’m often asked what equipment I use to create the videos. The devices include the Panasonic DMC-G7 camera, Panasonic HDC-TM90 video camera, GoPro Hero2 HD camera, Tascam DR-05 audio recorder, Audio-Technica ATR-3350 lapel microphone, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560 digital camera, the Kodak Zi-8 video camera, my iPhone 5S. Software used: CyberLink PowerDirector 17 on an HP Gaming Pavilion, also using Smoothdraw 4.0.5.0, FastStone Image Viewer 5.3, FastStone Capture 8.0, Audacity 2.1.1, LibreOffice 5.0.4.2, and Ink2Go 1.7.2. You can see how my studio is set up by viewing https://youtu.be/wFSQ8vtNA5A.

Twitter: @dcasler

To learn more about me, visit: http://www.dcasler.com/about/
Tip jar (on my website): http://www.dcasler.com/tip-jar/ (provides a method to use your credit card via PayPal, Also describes Patreon)
To pose an Ask Dave question: http://www.dcasler.com/ask-dave/ or http://www.ke0og.net/ask-dave/
To order the most recent and up-to-date Amateur Extra videos on a thumb drive: http://dcasler.com/aevids-on-stick/

Theme music is "Sour Tennessee Red," by John Deley and the 41 Players, courtesy YouTube Music Library.
I use drawings from OpenClipArt.org, including the "walking man"
Technician training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/training/
General training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/general/
Amateur Extra training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/extra/
List of the Ask Dave videos, see http://dcasler.com/ask-dave/#askdavelist
Thanks to my sweet wife, Loretta, KBØVWW, for both audio and video assistance! (Her website is www.aldea-art.com.)

My primary website: http://www.dcasler.com
The ham radio part of my website (direct link): http://www.ke0og.net
My publishing website: http://www.mtsneffelspress.com, where you can find my fantasy and science fiction books, as well as some local history books I publish for the Ridgway Railroad Museum and the Ouray County Historical Society
My Amazon author page, which lists my print and Kindle books: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00471I0Q4.

I’m often asked what equipment I use to create the videos. The devices include the Panasonic DMC-G7 camera, Panasonic HDC-TM90 video camera, GoPro Hero2 HD camera, Tascam DR-05 audio recorder, Audio-Technica ATR-3350 lapel microphone, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560 digital camera, the Kodak Zi-8 video camera, my iPhone 5S. Software used: CyberLink PowerDirector 17 on an HP Gaming Pavilion, also using Smoothdraw 4.0.5.0, FastStone Image Viewer 5.3, FastStone Capture 8.0, Audacity 2.1.1, LibreOffice 5.0.4.2, and Ink2Go 1.7.2. You can see how my studio is set up by viewing https://youtu.be/wFSQ8vtNA5A.

Twitter: @dcasler

A dipole covers some entire bands, like 20 and 40, very nicely. But no simple wire dipole can cover all of 80 meters. Let’s find out why. BTW, I mention West Mountain Radio. Their URL is http://www.westmountainradio.com/.

Subscribe: https://youtube.com/user/davecasler. Ask Dave Playlist: https://goo.gl/inaQeB. Tip Jar: http://ke0og.net/tip-jar

To learn more about me, visit: http://www.dcasler.com/about/
Tip jar (on my website): http://www.dcasler.com/tip-jar/ (provides a method to use your credit card via PayPal, Also describes Patreon)
To pose an Ask Dave question: http://www.dcasler.com/ask-dave/ or http://www.ke0og.net/ask-dave/
To order the most recent and up-to-date Amateur Extra videos on a thumb drive: http://dcasler.com/aevids-on-stick/

Theme music is "Sour Tennessee Red," by John Deley and the 41 Players, courtesy YouTube Music Library.
I use drawings from OpenClipArt.org, including the "walking man"
Technician training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/training/
General training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/general/
Amateur Extra training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/extra/
List of the Ask Dave videos, see http://dcasler.com/ask-dave/#askdavelist
Thanks to my sweet wife, Loretta, KBØVWW, for both audio and video assistance! (Her website is www.aldea-art.com.)

My primary website: http://www.dcasler.com
The ham radio part of my website (direct link): http://www.ke0og.net
My publishing website: http://www.mtsneffelspress.com, where you can find my fantasy and science fiction books, as well as some local history books I publish for the Ridgway Railroad Museum and the Ouray County Historical Society
My Amazon author page, which lists my print and Kindle books: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00471I0Q4.

I’m often asked what equipment I use to create the videos. The devices include the Panasonic DMC-G7 camera, Panasonic HDC-TM90 video camera, GoPro Hero2 HD camera, Tascam DR-05 audio recorder, Audio-Technica ATR-3350 lapel microphone, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560 digital camera, the Kodak Zi-8 video camera, my iPhone 5S. Software used: CyberLink PowerDirector 17 on an HP Gaming Pavilion, also using Smoothdraw 4.0.5.0, FastStone Image Viewer 5.3, FastStone Capture 8.0, Audacity 2.1.1, LibreOffice 5.0.4.2, and Ink2Go 1.7.2. You can see how my studio is set up by viewing https://youtu.be/wFSQ8vtNA5A.

Twitter: @dcasler

I’ve often warned new hams away from used equipment. Here I talk about my experience with a used aircraft (all I could afford) which has caused me lots of trouble since then.

Subscribe: https://youtube.com/user/davecasler. Ask Dave Playlist: https://goo.gl/inaQeB. Tip Jar: http://ke0og.net/tip-jar

To learn more about me, visit: http://www.dcasler.com/about/
Tip jar (on my website): http://www.dcasler.com/tip-jar/ (provides a method to use your credit card via PayPal, Also describes Patreon)
To pose an Ask Dave question: http://www.dcasler.com/ask-dave/ or http://www.ke0og.net/ask-dave/
To order the most recent and up-to-date Amateur Extra videos on a thumb drive: http://dcasler.com/aevids-on-stick/

Theme music is "Sour Tennessee Red," by John Deley and the 41 Players, courtesy YouTube Music Library.
I use drawings from OpenClipArt.org, including the "walking man"
Technician training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/training/
General training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/general/
Amateur Extra training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/extra/
List of the Ask Dave videos, see http://dcasler.com/ask-dave/#askdavelist
Thanks to my sweet wife, Loretta, KBØVWW, for both audio and video assistance! (Her website is www.aldea-art.com.)

My primary website: http://www.dcasler.com
The ham radio part of my website (direct link): http://www.ke0og.net
My publishing website: http://www.mtsneffelspress.com, where you can find my fantasy and science fiction books, as well as some local history books I publish for the Ridgway Railroad Museum and the Ouray County Historical Society
My Amazon author page, which lists my print and Kindle books: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00471I0Q4.

I’m often asked what equipment I use to create the videos. The devices include the Panasonic DMC-G7 camera, Panasonic HDC-TM90 video camera, GoPro Hero2 HD camera, Tascam DR-05 audio recorder, Audio-Technica ATR-3350 lapel microphone, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560 digital camera, the Kodak Zi-8 video camera, my iPhone 5S. Software used: CyberLink PowerDirector 17 on an HP Gaming Pavilion, also using Smoothdraw 4.0.5.0, FastStone Image Viewer 5.3, FastStone Capture 8.0, Audacity 2.1.1, LibreOffice 5.0.4.2, and Ink2Go 1.7.2. You can see how my studio is set up by viewing https://youtu.be/wFSQ8vtNA5A.

Twitter: @dcasler

So, when are you ready to take your Tech, General, or Amateur Extra exam? Here’s a bit of a rambling answer, but I hope the advice helps. Thanks to Al Wilson for posing the question.

Subscribe: https://youtube.com/user/davecasler. Ask Dave Playlist: https://goo.gl/inaQeB. Tip Jar: http://ke0og.net/tip-jar

To learn more about me, visit: http://www.dcasler.com/about/
Tip jar (on my website): http://www.dcasler.com/tip-jar/ (provides a method to use your credit card via PayPal, Also describes Patreon)
To pose an Ask Dave question: http://www.dcasler.com/ask-dave/ or http://www.ke0og.net/ask-dave/
To order the most recent and up-to-date Amateur Extra videos on a thumb drive: http://dcasler.com/aevids-on-stick/

Theme music is "Sour Tennessee Red," by John Deley and the 41 Players, courtesy YouTube Music Library.
I use drawings from OpenClipArt.org, including the "walking man"
Technician training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/training/
General training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/general/
Amateur Extra training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/extra/
List of the Ask Dave videos, see http://dcasler.com/ask-dave/#askdavelist
Thanks to my sweet wife, Loretta, KBØVWW, for both audio and video assistance! (Her website is www.aldea-art.com.)

My primary website: http://www.dcasler.com
The ham radio part of my website (direct link): http://www.ke0og.net
My publishing website: http://www.mtsneffelspress.com, where you can find my fantasy and science fiction books, as well as some local history books I publish for the Ridgway Railroad Museum and the Ouray County Historical Society
My Amazon author page, which lists my print and Kindle books: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00471I0Q4.

I’m often asked what equipment I use to create the videos. The devices include the Panasonic DMC-G7 camera, Panasonic HDC-TM90 video camera, GoPro Hero2 HD camera, Tascam DR-05 audio recorder, Audio-Technica ATR-3350 lapel microphone, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560 digital camera, the Kodak Zi-8 video camera, my iPhone 5S. Software used: CyberLink PowerDirector 17 on an HP Gaming Pavilion, also using Smoothdraw 4.0.5.0, FastStone Image Viewer 5.3, FastStone Capture 8.0, Audacity 2.1.1, LibreOffice 5.0.4.2, and Ink2Go 1.7.2. You can see how my studio is set up by viewing https://youtu.be/wFSQ8vtNA5A.

Twitter: @dcasler

Craig, KC3PEZ, has a sloping back yard. Can he still lay radials down for a vertical he’s planning? Yes! (but…)

Subscribe: https://youtube.com/user/davecasler. Ask Dave Playlist: https://goo.gl/inaQeB. Tip Jar: http://ke0og.net/tip-jar

To learn more about me, visit: http://www.dcasler.com/about/
Tip jar (on my website): http://www.dcasler.com/tip-jar/ (provides a method to use your credit card via PayPal, Also describes Patreon)
To pose an Ask Dave question: http://www.dcasler.com/ask-dave/ or http://www.ke0og.net/ask-dave/
To order the most recent and up-to-date Amateur Extra videos on a thumb drive: http://dcasler.com/aevids-on-stick/

Theme music is "Sour Tennessee Red," by John Deley and the 41 Players, courtesy YouTube Music Library.
I use drawings from OpenClipArt.org, including the "walking man"
Technician training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/training/
General training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/general/
Amateur Extra training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/extra/
List of the Ask Dave videos, see http://dcasler.com/ask-dave/#askdavelist
Thanks to my sweet wife, Loretta, KBØVWW, for both audio and video assistance! (Her website is www.aldea-art.com.)

My primary website: http://www.dcasler.com
The ham radio part of my website (direct link): http://www.ke0og.net
My publishing website: http://www.mtsneffelspress.com, where you can find my fantasy and science fiction books, as well as some local history books I publish for the Ridgway Railroad Museum and the Ouray County Historical Society
My Amazon author page, which lists my print and Kindle books: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00471I0Q4.

I’m often asked what equipment I use to create the videos. The devices include the Panasonic DMC-G7 camera, Panasonic HDC-TM90 video camera, GoPro Hero2 HD camera, Tascam DR-05 audio recorder, Audio-Technica ATR-3350 lapel microphone, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560 digital camera, the Kodak Zi-8 video camera, my iPhone 5S. Software used: CyberLink PowerDirector 17 on an HP Gaming Pavilion, also using Smoothdraw 4.0.5.0, FastStone Image Viewer 5.3, FastStone Capture 8.0, Audacity 2.1.1, LibreOffice 5.0.4.2, and Ink2Go 1.7.2. You can see how my studio is set up by viewing https://youtu.be/wFSQ8vtNA5A.

Twitter: @dcasler

The QCX-mini from www.QRP-Labs.com is now finished. The last sep was to adjust the toroid coils by spreading and contracting the turns to gain a full 5 watts out. Nice little unit!

Subscribe: https://youtube.com/user/davecasler. Ask Dave Playlist: https://goo.gl/inaQeB. Tip Jar: http://ke0og.net/tip-jar

To learn more about me, visit: http://www.dcasler.com/about/
Tip jar (on my website): http://www.dcasler.com/tip-jar/ (provides a method to use your credit card via PayPal, Also describes Patreon)
To pose an Ask Dave question: http://www.dcasler.com/ask-dave/ or http://www.ke0og.net/ask-dave/
To order the most recent and up-to-date Amateur Extra videos on a thumb drive: http://dcasler.com/aevids-on-stick/

Theme music is "Sour Tennessee Red," by John Deley and the 41 Players, courtesy YouTube Music Library.
I use drawings from OpenClipArt.org, including the "walking man"
Technician training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/training/
General training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/general/
Amateur Extra training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/extra/
List of the Ask Dave videos, see http://dcasler.com/ask-dave/#askdavelist
Thanks to my sweet wife, Loretta, KBØVWW, for both audio and video assistance! (Her website is www.aldea-art.com.)

My primary website: http://www.dcasler.com
The ham radio part of my website (direct link): http://www.ke0og.net
My publishing website: http://www.mtsneffelspress.com, where you can find my fantasy and science fiction books, as well as some local history books I publish for the Ridgway Railroad Museum and the Ouray County Historical Society
My Amazon author page, which lists my print and Kindle books: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00471I0Q4.

I’m often asked what equipment I use to create the videos. The devices include the Panasonic DMC-G7 camera, Panasonic HDC-TM90 video camera, GoPro Hero2 HD camera, Tascam DR-05 audio recorder, Audio-Technica ATR-3350 lapel microphone, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560 digital camera, the Kodak Zi-8 video camera, my iPhone 5S. Software used: CyberLink PowerDirector 17 on an HP Gaming Pavilion, also using Smoothdraw 4.0.5.0, FastStone Image Viewer 5.3, FastStone Capture 8.0, Audacity 2.1.1, LibreOffice 5.0.4.2, and Ink2Go 1.7.2. You can see how my studio is set up by viewing https://youtu.be/wFSQ8vtNA5A.

Twitter: @dcasler

Answers a viewer question about how frequency and wavelength relate. The answer lies in the speed of light! A little history and a simple derivation of the classic dipole formula. (I mention at one point that light takes 8 seconds to get from the sun to the earth. Actually it is 8 minutes.)

Subscribe: https://youtube.com/user/davecasler. Ask Dave Playlist: https://goo.gl/inaQeB. Tip Jar: http://ke0og.net/tip-jar

To learn more about me, visit: http://www.dcasler.com/about/
Tip jar (on my website): http://www.dcasler.com/tip-jar/ (provides a method to use your credit card via PayPal, Also describes Patreon)
To pose an Ask Dave question: http://www.dcasler.com/ask-dave/ or http://www.ke0og.net/ask-dave/
To order the most recent and up-to-date Amateur Extra videos on a thumb drive: http://dcasler.com/aevids-on-stick/

Theme music is "Sour Tennessee Red," by John Deley and the 41 Players, courtesy YouTube Music Library.
I use drawings from OpenClipArt.org, including the "walking man"
Technician training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/training/
General training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/general/
Amateur Extra training videos, see http://www.ke0og.net/extra/
List of the Ask Dave videos, see http://dcasler.com/ask-dave/#askdavelist
Thanks to my sweet wife, Loretta, KBØVWW, for both audio and video assistance! (Her website is www.aldea-art.com.)

My primary website: http://www.dcasler.com
The ham radio part of my website (direct link): http://www.ke0og.net
My publishing website: http://www.mtsneffelspress.com, where you can find my fantasy and science fiction books, as well as some local history books I publish for the Ridgway Railroad Museum and the Ouray County Historical Society
My Amazon author page, which lists my print and Kindle books: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00471I0Q4.

I’m often asked what equipment I use to create the videos. The devices include the Panasonic DMC-G7 camera, Panasonic HDC-TM90 video camera, GoPro Hero2 HD camera, Tascam DR-05 audio recorder, Audio-Technica ATR-3350 lapel microphone, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560 digital camera, the Kodak Zi-8 video camera, my iPhone 5S. Software used: CyberLink PowerDirector 17 on an HP Gaming Pavilion, also using Smoothdraw 4.0.5.0, FastStone Image Viewer 5.3, FastStone Capture 8.0, Audacity 2.1.1, LibreOffice 5.0.4.2, and Ink2Go 1.7.2. You can see how my studio is set up by viewing https://youtu.be/wFSQ8vtNA5A.

Twitter: @dcasler