Kf4rws-actual - KF4RWS

Apparently my son's radio still thinks it's Christmas

The radio frames made by Tony G on printables.com truly are well designed and if anyone is thinking about building meshtastic radios I would highly suggest downloading any of his designs that suits your needs.

I would have only one fix for this radio frame though, it's this blasted lip/shelf where the heltec v3 is supposed to sit. The design prohibits the connections for the hot and ground wires to the GNSS radio to sit. Granted, I'm not good at soldering but I was good enough to ruin my radio trying to find a way to get the wires soldered in a way that would work. But I think I have a solution.

MARS modding my FT-897 hoping to fix the TX Error on VHF and UHF. I was unsuccessful, not because of an error on my part, but I learned that it's a Japanese version and is hard wired to prohibit transmission on U.S. various U.S. frequencies.

Once I got the radial elements reattached I weaved some electrical tape around them and the main element for added stability before wrapping the main element with some coax-seal. I remounted the antenna back onto the mast and called for a radio check. Not getting a reply, I keyed up a couple of repeaters, so at least I know I'm putting out a signal.

The Yaesu FTM-150 is a 55w VHF (2 meter) / 50w UHF (70 cm) dual band, mobile radio that features a Super DX function that increases the rig's receiver sensitivity and improves weak signal (sounds like a built-in pre-amp). It has a data port in the back and an MicroSD card slot. Price? $380 +/- Run over to X and follow this guy if you haven't already.

Ruined one of my Heltec V3's by soldering and resoldering the connections for the hot and ground wires trying to get it to fit into the radio frame.

... --- ... We've all heard the dits and dahs of the morse code signal for S.O.S. ... --- ... It's been used in every type of entertainment medium. It's also the name of steel wool cleaning pads. ... --- ... S.O.S. wasn't formally adopted by the International Telecommunications Union until around 1908, so did no one need help before then? Before the ITU adopted ... --- ... there was -.-. --.- -.., or CQD. Come Quick Danger was the common call for help prior to the S.O.S. ... --- ... The radio operator aboard the Titanic had sent out various calls for help over morse code with CQD DE MGY, MGY being the callsign of the ship, before alternating between CQD and S.O.S. ... --- ... Alot folks have thought the meaning of the S.O.S. is "save our ship," or "save our souls," but the letters have no real meaning. The meaning can be found in the simplistic and easily remembered dit dit dit dah dah dah dit dit dit tones. The ITU believed that operators and listeners alike would better hear and understand the call for help. CQD lives on in amateur radio though. A general call of CQ can be heard over the airwaves for other stations to hear and respond. And now, ... --- ... you know ... --- ... the rest of the story, --. --- --- -.. -.. .- -.--!

73

Artwork by F. Allen Gilbert, 1909

I crimped thr coupler over the main element and the contact of the SO-239 connector before using some heat shrink for a bit of added structural support. I'm not like all the other high class and fanciful hams, so I used my daughter's hair dryer on high heat to shrink the heat shrink. It worked like a charm!

I was about to order a shelf so I could upgrade my station but remembered I had a kitchen rack I wasn't using. It'll do for now. The station is a work in progress.