It’s hard to believe it’s been 3 months since I last posted – which roughly coincides with my return to work post-Christmas. It should therefore come as no surprise that I am on leave from work and am now trying to catch up.
I’ve had many projects happening, but the problem with having many projects is that you get less time to focus on each one. Here’s what been going on:
Radio Club Website
My local radio club, REAST, has a website that I maintain. With the need to migrate web hosting providers it was time to, as part of the process to give the site some TLC, with much of it’s platform code having been neglected for 5 years or more. Fixing the site theme, replacing plugins that were no longer developed and adding functionality for editors have been just some of the things being worked on.
Packet Radio
I definitely have not forgotten about my packet radio project, though it has taken a back seat in recent times. I now can re-welcome an MFJ-1720B back into the fray with the help of another hobbyist and might post on that again shortly. I still need to do some more work on trying to understand how to connect my node to the greater 44Net.
Portable Operations
As I have discovered, summer has not been particularly good to attempt portable radio operations in the general Hobart area, with strong sea breezes making the nearby POTA locations impossible to operate from. While we are now seeing more moderate conditions, we’re also seeing a loss of daylight much earlier again now, with daylight savings ending next week which will make it dark by 6pm, and then in a couple of months it will be dark by 4.45pm. Realistically POTA on weekdays probably will not start up again until September/October.
Outdoor Upgrades
Outside, it’s time to replace coax. Most of my coax was originally gifted to me when I started in the Hobby – 20 years ago, which an expectation it is at least that old again. There are signs of water ingress, so it’s time to replace.
I recently bought some aluminium poles to assemble a second fence-mounted mast at home, with the plan that the packet radio node can get a dedicated antenna.
Also mulling the idea of retiring my Bushcomm antenna from service, which while it has performed admirably, I feel like a 80m EFHW may now be a better option for my changing antenna setup and coax placement.
Indoor Upgrades
Frustratingly Microsoft in their infinite wisdom have decided that Windows 11 cannot run on the CPU of my existing ham radio computer, despite being more than adequate for its needs. Along with the stagnation of development of Ham Radio Deluxe, this has left me agonising over what the upgrade/replacement path, given the choice of running Win10 without security patches, purchasing a second-hand Win11 capable laptop, or switching to Linux and using alternate ham radio applications.
Anyway, I am sure there will be more posts in the coming weeks as I make my way through my backlog!