The Yaesu FTM-150 Is A 55w VHF (2 Meter) / 50w UHF (70 Cm) Dual Band, Mobile Radio That Features A Super

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

I bought this soldering iron at Harbor Freight and have only done some light soldering and the tip looks like it's been buried in the dirt on Mars for a millennia. I guess I need to upgrade before continuing my projects.

... --- ... 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 apparently live in a soldering replacement tip black hole, so when I need a new tip I have to buy a new iron. The Chicago Electric soldering iron ($3.99 @ Harbor Freight) and the Weller soldering iron ($19.99 @ Ace Hardware) appear to be the exact same, aside from color. I've looked online and haven't found any specific manufacturer for thr Chicago Electric iron aside from "various Chinese" production companies, while the Weller is produced by Apex Tool Group, LLC out of Apex, NC. Still yet, the packaging for the Weller says it's made in China. Here's to hoping that the tip on the Weller is a bit better quality and doesn't deteriorate as quickly as the Chicago Electric one.

All parts printed and assembled to check for accuracy. Again, there's no license required for this one. Stay tuned!

Not wanting to try to fool with the solder again, i decided to go a different route and instead of soldering the main, copper element onto it, I opted to use an electronics coupler, minus the plastic sleeve.

Home brew 1/4 wave vertical 2 meter antenna. These are one of the easiest antennas to make yourself, and my very first home brewed antenna.

I bought this Yaesu FT-897 as a gift to myself for passing the General Class exam last month. I was going to buy an antenna but decided to make one myself to learn more about them, so I made a field expedient, 1/4 wave end-fed. I had gooten into amateur radio with my dad who became a silent key nearly three years ago. After hearing the radio crackle to life with the sounds of a 40 meter net I forgot about how I wouldn't be able to use it on all amateur bands (because it's a Japanese model), and I wanted to run and tell my dad all about it. I wanted to throw my call out but I figured I'd better just listen for now. I was as excited as a boy on Christmas.

Layer separation using the new direct drive. This is a new learning curve and I may have to change some settings.