Comments for VA3QV's Weblog http://va3qv.wordpress.com My view on the world of AMATEUR RADIO- "Rambling on" so to speak Sat, 26 Dec 2009 22:12:51 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on A HECK of a good question… by va3qv http://va3qv.wordpress.com/2009/12/26/a-heck-of-a-good-question/#comment-1217 va3qv Sat, 26 Dec 2009 22:12:51 +0000 http://va3qv.wordpress.com/?p=3022#comment-1217 In the ice storm of 1998 I lost two trees and the dipole that was strung between them... It was the one and only time I have had a proper antenna up here... Trees have finally grown over roof height again and I have plans for a new dipole in the spring 73bob In the ice storm of 1998 I lost two trees and the dipole that was strung between them… It was the one and only time I have had a proper antenna up here…

Trees have finally grown over roof height again and I have plans for a new dipole in the spring

73bob

]]> Comment on A HECK of a good question… by va3qv http://va3qv.wordpress.com/2009/12/26/a-heck-of-a-good-question/#comment-1216 va3qv Sat, 26 Dec 2009 22:10:13 +0000 http://va3qv.wordpress.com/?p=3022#comment-1216 Tim you are right...Your family does have to come first... I just assumed that as we had the toys...they would be fine... I did not realize they would not be comfortable operating the toys.... Good thing we found out now rather than when it was needed... Tim you are right…Your family does have to come first… I just assumed that as we had the toys…they would be fine… I did not realize they would not be comfortable operating the toys….

Good thing we found out now rather than when it was needed…

]]> Comment on A HECK of a good question… by Tim VE3UO http://va3qv.wordpress.com/2009/12/26/a-heck-of-a-good-question/#comment-1215 Tim VE3UO Sat, 26 Dec 2009 22:02:50 +0000 http://va3qv.wordpress.com/?p=3022#comment-1215 One more thing to add is that I'm in Belleville in the 'banana belt' where we had a bit of freezing rain overnight, and mostly rain today. And we *just* missed the Ice Storm of '98 by about 30 km or so. One more thing to add is that I’m in Belleville in the ‘banana belt’ where we had a bit of freezing rain overnight, and mostly rain today. And we *just* missed the Ice Storm of ‘98 by about 30 km or so.

]]> Comment on A HECK of a good question… by Tim VE3UO http://va3qv.wordpress.com/2009/12/26/a-heck-of-a-good-question/#comment-1214 Tim VE3UO Sat, 26 Dec 2009 21:59:37 +0000 http://va3qv.wordpress.com/?p=3022#comment-1214 Everyone's family situation is different, so you have to determine how comfortable you and your family are if you were called away to provide emergency communications. I've always been told that your family comes first, and I personally wouldn't fault anyone who says that they have to look after things on the homefront first. Besides in some instances one might be of more assistance at home running on batteries and using your base antennas to relay traffic in and out of the affected areas. Everyone’s family situation is different, so you have to determine how comfortable you and your family are if you were called away to provide emergency communications. I’ve always been told that your family comes first, and I personally wouldn’t fault anyone who says that they have to look after things on the homefront first.

Besides in some instances one might be of more assistance at home running on batteries and using your base antennas to relay traffic in and out of the affected areas.

]]> Comment on A HECK of a good question… by va3qv http://va3qv.wordpress.com/2009/12/26/a-heck-of-a-good-question/#comment-1213 va3qv Sat, 26 Dec 2009 21:19:24 +0000 http://va3qv.wordpress.com/?p=3022#comment-1213 Hi Bob, Hope Santa was good to you and yours.... Right now I am worried about one branch on the tree in my front yard. If it goes ... it takes my W3EDP antenna with it and its starting to bow a bit... Masting with the VHF/UHF vertical is holding its own and the 6m vertical is in excellent shape.... Hoping it stops soon though.... Happy New Year 73bob Hi Bob, Hope Santa was good to you and yours…. Right now I am worried about one branch on the tree in my front yard. If it goes … it takes my W3EDP antenna with it and its starting to bow a bit…

Masting with the VHF/UHF vertical is holding its own and the 6m vertical is in excellent shape….

Hoping it stops soon though….

Happy New Year

73bob

]]> Comment on A HECK of a good question… by VE3MPG http://va3qv.wordpress.com/2009/12/26/a-heck-of-a-good-question/#comment-1212 VE3MPG Sat, 26 Dec 2009 20:24:52 +0000 http://va3qv.wordpress.com/?p=3022#comment-1212 Things are hanging heavy out this way Bob. A good coating of ice on everything - not sure how bad it will get but have all emergency batteries ready to go. Fired up the Honda gen set the day before Christmas and made sure all was in order on that front. I'm located in rural Ottawa and we have to worry about sump pumps to keep our basements dry - the Honda carried the day during the big 2003 blackout - it was the last generator on the shelves of a local Honda dealer in Manotick so I was lucky. Good post and hope nobody has to deploy on a day like this. Merry Christmas to your family! Things are hanging heavy out this way Bob. A good coating of ice on everything – not sure how bad it will get but have all emergency batteries ready to go. Fired up the Honda gen set the day before Christmas and made sure all was in order on that front. I’m located in rural Ottawa and we have to worry about sump pumps to keep our basements dry – the Honda carried the day during the big 2003 blackout – it was the last generator on the shelves of a local Honda dealer in Manotick so I was lucky.

Good post and hope nobody has to deploy on a day like this.

Merry Christmas to your family!

]]> Comment on Driving while distracted- what happened?? by va3qv http://va3qv.wordpress.com/2009/12/23/driving-while-distracted-what-happened/#comment-1209 va3qv Sat, 26 Dec 2009 16:51:03 +0000 http://va3qv.wordpress.com/?p=3006#comment-1209 Thanks for the info Tim.... From what I can find out I think he might be the first one charged anywhere in Ontario... THANK GAWD IT WAS A CELL PHONE AND NOT AN AMATEUR RADIO!!! Hope Christmas was good for you and yours and Happy New Year 73bob Thanks for the info Tim…. From what I can find out I think he might be the first one charged anywhere in Ontario…

THANK GAWD IT WAS A CELL PHONE AND NOT AN AMATEUR RADIO!!!

Hope Christmas was good for you and yours and Happy New Year

73bob

]]> Comment on Driving while distracted- what happened?? by Tim VE3UO http://va3qv.wordpress.com/2009/12/23/driving-while-distracted-what-happened/#comment-1208 Tim VE3UO Sat, 26 Dec 2009 15:48:58 +0000 http://va3qv.wordpress.com/?p=3006#comment-1208 Police charge teen under new driving/cell phone law An 18-year-old Adjala-Tosorontio teen was charged under Ontario's new distracted driving law last week. He is the first to be charged by Nottawasaga OPP under the new law. Police said while they were on routine patrol on the 14th Line of New Tecumseth at the 10th Sideroad, they spotted a car driving 110 km/h in a posted 80 km/h zone. Police said they then observed the vehicle weave from side to side and make a right turn to head northbound on the 10th Sideroad, failing to stop for the stop sign. Police said the driver had answered his cell phone, which was in his pocket. Checking for a text message resulted in his careless driving, they said. The 18-year-old was charged with careless driving and holding a device capable of receiving a wireless communication signal. Police charge teen under new driving/cell phone law

An 18-year-old Adjala-Tosorontio teen was charged under Ontario’s new distracted driving law last week.

He is the first to be charged by Nottawasaga OPP under the new law.

Police said while they were on routine patrol on the 14th Line of New Tecumseth at the 10th Sideroad, they spotted a car driving 110 km/h in a posted 80 km/h zone.

Police said they then observed the vehicle weave from side to side and make a right turn to head northbound on the 10th Sideroad, failing to stop for the stop sign.

Police said the driver had answered his cell phone, which was in his pocket. Checking for a text message resulted in his careless driving, they said.

The 18-year-old was charged with careless driving and holding a device capable of receiving a wireless communication signal.

]]> Comment on UPDATED- YaesuVX8-r is now VX8-DR by va3qv http://va3qv.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/updated-yaesuvx8-r-is-now-vx8-dr/#comment-1207 va3qv Sat, 26 Dec 2009 15:03:33 +0000 http://va3qv.wordpress.com/?p=2851#comment-1207 Steve... I tend to agree with you on this one. If the radio has the option for programming via computer then they should have a way to upgrade the operating system that could be done at home. If for some silly reason it can't be done at home via the internet then the upgrade should be free... As long as its only a software upgrade like they offer for the FT 950 and FT 2000 radios.... Although I am a BIG Yaesu Fan I would be really ticked if they wanted to charge me for an operating system upgrade less than a year after I had bought the radio... Although I want one I might wait a bit longer before the purchase just for this reason... 73bob Steve… I tend to agree with you on this one. If the radio has the option for programming via computer then they should have a way to upgrade the operating system that could be done at home. If for some silly reason it can’t be done at home via the internet then the upgrade should be free… As long as its only a software upgrade like they offer for the FT 950 and FT 2000 radios….
Although I am a BIG Yaesu Fan I would be really ticked if they wanted to charge me for an operating system upgrade less than a year after I had bought the radio…
Although I want one I might wait a bit longer before the purchase just for this reason…
73bob

]]> Comment on UPDATED- YaesuVX8-r is now VX8-DR by Steve http://va3qv.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/updated-yaesuvx8-r-is-now-vx8-dr/#comment-1206 Steve Sat, 26 Dec 2009 14:29:49 +0000 http://va3qv.wordpress.com/?p=2851#comment-1206 It should be free. It sounds like motorla found a new way to get more money. It should be free. It sounds like motorla found a new way to get more money.

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