Horror story

Tue May 7 09:37:55 EDT 1996

Bill: You should drop a copy of your story to Rob Ludlow VE3YE, the editor of
TCA, complete with the response from IC.  It would make good reading in TCA.
Rob's e-mail address is rdl2 at igs.net

What a puffed-up twit that mountie was.  And they give self-righteous nuts like
that a gun?  Make his life a little miserable, Bill.  Write a letter to the
RCMP Commissioner complaining of his high-handedness and ignorance of the law. 
It's the least you can do to balance off the horror of your story.

73, Dave VE2ZP/VE9CB
Packet: VE2ZP at VA3TCP.#EON.ON.CAN.NOAM
InterNet: ve2zp at va3tcp.ampr.org

>From Gerard Lynch - GI0RTN <U9556982 at Queens-Belfast.AC.UK>  Tue May  7 17:28:50 1996
From: Gerard Lynch - GI0RTN <U9556982 at Queens-Belfast.AC.UK> (Gerard Lynch - GI0RTN)
Date: Tue, 07 May 96 12:28:50 EDT
Subject: Horror story involving large erection and automatic weapons
Message-ID: <9605071128.AA04330 at ash34.causeway.qub.ac.uk>

I remember something similar happened to me when I was first
licenced!

Picture it: Inner City Belfast, Summer 1992 (Conflict Zone)

In the midst of a QSO with a UA9 my door is knocked by a man in a
big green unifiorm carrying a BIG submachine gun.  He tells my
mother that he has called about my 'CB antenna'.  I sign 73s and
arrive downstairs.  He informs me that he is very sorry but I am not
allowed to have all those big wires (radials, unbeknownst to him)
from the bottom of my 'CB aerial'.

At this point I, with all the authoriy of my 14years, inform him
that I have been licenced by the Secretary of State to build
whatever I liked in terms of equipment as long as it complied with
the terms of my licence "which you MAY inspect if you wish" and told
him to contact the Radio Investigation Service if he had a problem.

Stunned by this, he sweetly apologised and retreated back to his
landrover.

Of course, I didn't tell him that the 'Secretary of State' was not
the SoS for Northern Ireland (virtual colonial governor) but the SoS
for Trade and Industry in London (unimportant junior minister).

For some reason, ever since then I haven't had any problems at all -
even in one of the worst parts of Belfast!

Gerard Lynch
u9556982 at qub.ac.uk		+44 1232 755818		GI0RTN
Belfast, N.Ireland

Need GI on WARC bands???????
Call me on either 10.101 or 10.115MHz CW - most evenings after 2200 UTC!

'Nothing is real' - John Lennon

'A woman is just a woman - but a good cigar is a smoke!' - WC Field

>From Lee Buller <k0wa at southwind.net>  Tue May  7 14:32:35 1996
From: Lee Buller <k0wa at southwind.net> (Lee Buller)
Date: Tue, 07 May 1996 08:32:35 -0500
Subject: SB220
Message-ID: <1.5.4.32.19960507133235.0068e690 at southwind.net>

I hope this is appropriate on the reflector.  Please forgive me if it isn't

I'm selling my SB220 and I would like it to go to a good contest home.  The
amp is well trained and is still very active with a pair of good tubes.

Contact me if your interested.

Lee Buller
k0wa at southwind.net
Lee Buller
k0wa at southwind.net

>From Natan Huffman" <force12e at lightlink.com  Tue May  7 14:38:34 1996
From: Natan Huffman" <force12e at lightlink.com (Natan Huffman)
Date: Tue, 7 May 1996 09:38:34 -0400
Subject: Dayton Room
Message-ID: <199605071342.JAA10813 at light.lightlink.com>

I am looking for a room at Dayton for myself preferably at Stauffers so
that I may bond with fellow CONTESTERS.

If you have one available, please let me know so that my CONTESTING
prowess may be enhanced by my first pilgrimage to Dayton in 24 years.

Thanks,

Natan W6XR/2
--
Regards,

Natan 

>From Pete Smith <n4zr at contesting.com>  Tue May  7 14:58:09 1996
From: Pete Smith <n4zr at contesting.com> (Pete Smith)
Date: Tue, 7 May 1996 06:58:09 -0700
Subject: Ground Rods Made Easy
Message-ID: <199605071358.GAA01941 at dfw-ix12.ix.netcom.com>

At 05:30 PM 5/6/96 -0400, Bill Coleman AA4LR wrote:
(stuff deleted)
>I've pounded in rods with a hammer and a sledge. Biggest problem with using
>a sledgehammer is missing the small rod tip. Invariably, you'll hit on the
>sledge handle, which is $7 at your nearest hardware store. Trying to
>install one rod, I went through two and a half handles.
>
>Here in Georgia, much of the soil is hard clay, and getting a ground rod in
>can be quite a chore, with lots of pounding and little progress. To help
>out (and to save money on sledgehammer handles), I built a special tool.

Home Depot sells a gadget that consists of a 2-foot length of 2 1/2" ID
pipe, closed at one end, with handles at the closed end.  Costs $15 or so.
It weighs about 15 pounds, too, and you can drop it 18 inches onto the top
of a ground rod with "perfect" accuracy.  Drives ground rods in clay like
nobody's business.  Only drawback is you have to use your sledge for the
last 18 inches, by which time at least the ground rod isn't flexing and
bouncing around with each hit.

73,

Pete Smith N4ZR (n4zr at contesting.com)

>From barry at w2up.wells.com (barry)  Tue May  7 13:27:45 1996
From: barry at w2up.wells.com (barry) (barry)
Date: Tue, 07 May 96 08:27:45 EDT
Subject: Minor horror story (more amusing than horror)
Message-ID: <ys6JND2w165w at w2up.wells.com>

After putting up an 80 m dipole at the ripe old age of 15, I got 
complaints from a neighbor about telephone interference (back in the days 
of REAL telephones). Conveninetly, there was an article in QST just a 
month or two earlier discussing this and referencing the Bell Series 
Practice numbers of how Ma Bell was to fix it, and it even gave the Bell 
part numbers.
The local phone repairman comes out, eyes my wire and eyes the tap off 
the pole, which is parallel and about 40 feet away. I then start quoting 
him the Bell Series Practices and part numbers he needs to fix the 
problem. He then says "I think the problem is your antenna is parallel to 
our phone lines, why don't you just reinstall your antenna perpendicular 
to the lines?" There really wasn't enough room for this on a small 
suburban lot. My answer to him was "I think your manuals are clear enough 
on what steps to take. If, for some reason, you don't wish to follow 
them, you can try rotating your telephone poles perpendicular to my 
antenna."  Never heard from him again, and the neghbors phones were fixed 
a few days later.

--

Barry N. Kutner, W2UP       Internet: barry at w2up.wells.com
Newtown, PA                 Packet Radio: W2UP @ WB3JOE.#EPA.PA.USA.NA
                            Packet Cluster: W2UP >WB2R (FRC)
.......................................................................

>From John Brosnahan <broz at csn.net>  Tue May  7 15:51:40 1996
From: John Brosnahan <broz at csn.net> (John Brosnahan)
Date: Tue, 7 May 1996 08:51:40 -0600
Subject: Ground Rods Made Easy
Message-ID: <199605071451.IAA14896 at lynx.csn.net>

>Home Depot sells a gadget that consists of a 2-foot length of 2 1/2" ID
>pipe, closed at one end, with handles at the closed end.  Costs $15 or so.
>It weighs about 15 pounds, too, and you can drop it 18 inches onto the top
>of a ground rod with "perfect" accuracy.  Drives ground rods in clay like
>nobody's business.  Only drawback is you have to use your sledge for the
>last 18 inches, by which time at least the ground rod isn't flexing and
>bouncing around with each hit.

For driving ground rods I normally use a fence post driver as
described above, but that leaves quite a bit left over to manually
drive in the ground.  Sometimes expediency rules and I just
turn it over and bash on the top with it.  But there is a better
way, requiring only a drill press to make.  I picked up a piece
cold rolled steel 4 inches in diameter and  about 5 or six inches 
long and drilled a 1" hole into one end about 4 inches deep.

Setting this on top of the ground rod or on top of lengths of
rebar driven into the ground (that I use to hold ends of inverted
Vees, etc) makes for a much bigger target and the mass slows
down the oscillation speed of the rod.

I also pre-tape my sledge hammer handles with whatever
bulky tape I can find.  Usually just some duct (no, not duck) 
tape for a few layers, then anything I can find to add some
absorption such as an old wash cloth or dish rag or shop towel
and then wrap some more duct tape over the top.  Looks a 
little funny but I don't break sledge hammer handles anymore,
even with a direct hit on the handle.  Saves money on new 
handles and eliminates the aggravation of stopping in the 
middle of the job to go buy another handle.

73 John  W0UN

John Brosnahan  
La Salle Research Corp      24115 WCR 40     La Salle, CO 80645  USA
voice 970-284-6602            fax 970-284-0979           email broz at csn.net

>From Brian K. Short" <ke7gh at primenet.com  Tue May  7 16:50:27 1996
From: Brian K. Short" <ke7gh at primenet.com (Brian K. Short)
Date: Tue, 7 May 1996 15:50:27 +-100
Subject: Minor horror story (more amusing than horror)
Message-ID: <01BB3C2C.EBC1E100 at ip164.phx.primenet.com>

MAJOR HORROR STORY(more horror than humor):

I moved into a nice neighborhood in Tempe, AZ where I 
decided to put up HF antennas again after a few years
working only satellite due to excessive noise living
next to a power generating station.  

My interest in HF grew and I forgot about satellites.
I entered a couple VHF and HF contests and earned a
couple certificates, so I was hooked on contesting.

I operate RTTY and CW contests mostly, but also the 
June VHF contest etc.  I have a lot of fun and amaze
myself when I do well with my modest antenna array:
40M2, KT34, 6M5, 80m inv vee, half sloper all mounted 
on a "crank-down" tower due to height restrictions in
the city

My troubles really started when a neighbor lady told
me "You don't deserve to live in the neighborhood."  She
was having minor telephone interference, but objected in
general to my having antennas.  She ranted, raved and 
threatened me at my door as I tried to explain how to 
cure the problem, possibly.

Our neighborhood has buried cables, old ones.  US West
replaced the cables running through the alley near her
home.  She has not been back since I called the local 
police and asked them to tell her not to come back as
it was quite upsetting listening to her screaming.

Now, our house is consistently vandalized, our mail is
stolen, rubbish is thrown in our yard etc.  To make it
all worse, this "lady" has gone to a neighbor on another
block (where we have a rental property) and complained.
This person is active in local politics and at one time
had gotten the local civil judge and constable elected
as their campaign manager.  They were voted out of office
later, but as you can imagine she has "connections" in
the city and is a neighborhood "busy-body" in general.

Our tennants (who are moving) are now also receiving 
harrassment of a subtle nature.  I am growing very 
disenchanted with the whole affair, but went through 
with purchasing a QRO amplifier and intend to get smoke 
on 6m, also.

I have seen CB and even ham antennas that I thought
were eyesores, but mine are in no way an eyesore.  
In fact, a guy down a few doors has taken to working
on a junk car in his front yard.  He has 2 campers,
stacks of old tires, boats, old trucks etc.  I am
tired of being the neighborhood punching bag!

Any words of sympathy or advice?  I don't need flames
since my neighbors already do that.  This is no laughing
matter as my family and I are thoroughly disgusted and
have even used the 4-letter "M" word.  Antennas are NOT
permitted most places and would new neighbors be better?

What do I need to do to keep my posterior region covered?

73 de Brian

BTW: We installed a courtyard (locking) gate at our front entry
along with a "Keep Out" sign.  All other entries to the property 
are posted for trespassing with padlocks.  I intend on locking 
it up during the next contest.

PS: I have NO telephone interference in my house.  I listen to FM
broadcast during RTTY contests sometimes.  No TVI in our house, we
have satellite.  I can even use my cheap cordless phone in my shack
while on the air!  I have ICE filters, Dunestar filters, etc etc.

----------
From: 	barry[SMTP:barry at w2up.wells.com]
Sent: 	Tuesday, May 07, 1996 13:27 PM
To: 	cq-contest at tgv.com
Subject: 	Minor horror story (more amusing than horror)

After putting up an 80 m dipole at the ripe old age of 15, I got 
complaints from a neighbor about telephone interference (back in the days 
of REAL telephones). Conveninetly, there was an article in QST just a 
month or two earlier discussing this and referencing the Bell Series 
Practice numbers of how Ma Bell was to fix it, and it even gave the Bell 
part numbers.
<snip>

>From sawyers" <sawyers at cacd.rockwell.com  Tue May  7 21:26:29 1996
From: sawyers" <sawyers at cacd.rockwell.com (sawyers)
Date: Tue, 07 May 96 14:26:29 cst
Subject: Re[2]: Elevated cable runs
Message-ID: <9604078314.AA831497268 at ccmgw1.cacd.rockwell.com>

In response to the responses I have received.

>this seems like overkill to me.

Yes - but that is what engineers are good for. hihi 

Actually, I am doing this rather than direct burial (one spool is neoprene 
jacketed for direct burial) because I want to do a lot antenna 
experimentation, and this way I can just flip a cap block and pull a line 
out in the middle if I need to. 

>How do you keep the thing from becoming a nice, dry, home for various 
critters?

Critters are very hard on feedline stuff. Critter urine does a nice job on 
aluminum jacketed hardline, and the RG whatever makes nice chew toys for 
them. So I take a dim view of "critters".

Some possible solutions:

1. I have some large red bricks with holes in them that I can thread the 
coax and lines through as they come out of the concrete trough.

2. Keep the dog chained so that she can reach the ends.

3. Put poison inside 

Note 2 and 3 are mutually exclusive. And 3 can be somewhat smelly in the 
intermediate term.

de n0yvy steve

>From sawyers" <sawyers at cacd.rockwell.com  Tue May  7 21:42:11 1996
From: sawyers" <sawyers at cacd.rockwell.com (sawyers)
Date: Tue, 07 May 96 14:42:11 cst
Subject: Re[2]: Ground Rods Made Easy
Message-ID: <9604078314.AA831498177 at ccmgw1.cacd.rockwell.com>

Rather than buy one, I welded one up from junk under my bench. The one 
useful trick I did was to weld a 3 inch piece of pipe on top that is open 
upward. Then when I get the ground rod in to where the driver is hitting 
the ground, I just turn it over and use the short "cup" to hit it and drive 
it home.

Beats carrying a sledge hammer and all of those replacement handles. 

But then maybe you need the firewood.

de n0yvy steve

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Ground Rods Made Easy
Author:  Pete Smith <n4zr at contesting.com> at ccmgw1
Date:    05/07/96 09:30 AM

At 05:30 PM 5/6/96 -0400, Bill Coleman AA4LR wrote: 
(stuff deleted)
>I've pounded in rods with a hammer and a sledge. Biggest problem with using 
>a sledgehammer is missing the small rod tip. Invariably, you'll hit on the 
>sledge handle, which is $7 at your nearest hardware store. Trying to 
>install one rod, I went through two and a half handles.
>
>Here in Georgia, much of the soil is hard clay, and getting a ground rod in 
>can be quite a chore, with lots of pounding and little progress. To help 
>out (and to save money on sledgehammer handles), I built a special tool.

Home Depot sells a gadget that consists of a 2-foot length of 2 1/2" ID 
pipe, closed at one end, with handles at the closed end.  Costs $15 or so. 
It weighs about 15 pounds, too, and you can drop it 18 inches onto the top 
of a ground rod with "perfect" accuracy.  Drives ground rods in clay like 
nobody's business.  Only drawback is you have to use your sledge for the 
last 18 inches, by which time at least the ground rod isn't flexing and 
bouncing around with each hit.

73,

Pete Smith N4ZR (n4zr at contesting.com)