TV swapping.

For a few months now the family and I have been changing around who gets what TV around. I think what started all this is, one of the older TV's picture progressively got worse. So after buying a newer to us; LCD flatscreen TV for my moms room I do believe that was the reason for all the changing around. It was probably a week or two and my mom couldn't stand watching the new TV; she just didn't like it. I think she said it was too big and bright for our room. This is a Sony 27 inch LCD. She made a decision to give it to dad and she would use his; TV he had in the living room. And at some point my older sister got involved which led to my dads bedroom TV changing and the kitchen getting a newer TV, a 13 inch from my sister.

Hold on the saga continues ha ha. My sister came back eventually sometime later and we did some more TV changing around. By the way this saga has not directly affected me yet but I'll get to that because that is why I am doing this blog entry. With my sisters last involvement in this TV venture momma lost her little 13 inch kitchen TV. And I think it was two weeks ago a decision was made that involves my niece and another TV. That's where I come in to this little saga. For five years now I have had the Toshiba 20'' MV20P2 TV; a 20 inch. Pictured below. This is been a fabulous TV and believe it or not it only cost my mother $100 back then. I think there is no way these days you can buy a TV for that; that will last years.





This past Monday night my niece and her husband are over there unused RCA 27 inch, pictured below. The picture on this TV is phenomenal; not to mention for years now I've never had a TV that had two working speakers. I rather like that feature. Having poor vision I've never been able to read the cable box display on any of the TVs I've used in 12 years, and live in or not on this RCA I can read them sitting in my bed a few feet away. For five years I've had a Toshiba and now I am still not used to having seven more inches of screen to see. Now I have to lean back further in my chair to watch TV ha ha. I guess I'm going to have to get used to watching TV in bed.

Quickie Ford VS Quickie Ferrari

A few months after I arrived in the Portland metro area, I had to have a wheelchair to get around. I definitely needed it when I started college in the fall of 2002 because of the large campus and for a large amount books I need to carry around. So I ended up getting the Quickie II Breezy. The first picture seen below. I jokingly; for years now called this my Quickie Ford for two reasons. First because it weighs about 40 pounds without me and my gear on it or in it.

Throughout junior high and high school I played wheelchair sports and had many opportunities to use quickie chairs. Even today I can't see myself using any other brand.

As we all know it sucks getting old not to mention having to push a 40 pound chair around for eight to ten hours a day; isn't the least little bit pleasant. For six years now I injured my back a number of times, to the point that the first chair tins to aggravate me more now than it did even seven or eight years ago.

So I think it was about two months ago I had a conversation with my primary doctor about an upgrade of my wheels. The steps after that and a couple of phone calls as well as a little bit of waiting. Yesterday this process began. The fitting need for a chair, so after a couple of hours of talking and measuring along with a test drive, I will soon have what I will be calling my quickie Ferrari. This is the latest technology Quickie has out today. See the second picture below.



Quickie II Breezy
Click on the picture to see larger view

After 12 years of use I am sick of pushing around 35 to 40 pounds of weight, and mag wheels that are heavy. Now it's time for some better back support. oh yeah I did forget to tell you over the years the first chair above that I've done a whole lot of modifications just to make it work a little better for me.



Quickie Q7
Click on the picture to see larger view

For the most part this is my new chair; that I should get in about two months. I was even allowed to pick at a new seat cushion as well as the paint color that's known as Root Beer Brown. I chose this color because dark colors I believe it won't show scratches or any other damage as much, nor much dirt. Black is just a little too plain. The flashy colors like yellow, green, orange, and even pink just aren't me. There will be a few minor differences on mind than there is on this one. One better back support. Two different back wheels and front forks and casters. In addition to frame adjustments and measurements.

After just a few minutes of a test drive I was thrilled and even asked if I could take it home; to break in for a week. ha ha!!! This thing amazingly moves around so smoothly and turned on a dime, meaning I can do 360s in very tight spaces. My arms and shoulders had no idea they were moving a chair.

I consider myself somewhat of a patient guy but after 12 years I just can't wait; I'll just have to I guess. I'll keep you up to speed as to when my quickie Ferrari arrives.

Radio Trouble VS Antenna Trouble.

Well darn it the saga continues and it gets worse. What I thought might just be a radio problem wound up being that and more. Not only did I harm my radio; the one I just bought three weeks ago. I have discovered the following; with more help from two more people earlier today. This afternoon the two guys checked out my antennas and their connections.

All is well on the VHF/UHF font, meaning all connections are good at both ends. As far as my 706 goes; it's in capable hands on its way to be fixed. There is bad news to report though, on the HF side of things. after taking my Solarcon Antron 99 antenna down; that's made entirely of fiberglass. It had water at the base of the antenna; which then made its way down the coax. Once the intent was down the guys pointed out the fact that not only was the coax full of water but that they could see water running down the entire length of the antenna. So no HF for now.

I don't how old the antenna actually was; probably first used in the mid 80s. But at least I got five years out of it. I'm not too terribly worried about my antennas at this point, considering that I have bigger troubles to concern myself with right now. Meaning I have two radios to repair. I guess when it rains it pours; I have never had the best radio luck in the world and why not include antennas these days.

Radio Trouble # 3.

Earlier today yet another ham; spent a few hours with me to help double check a few things regarding my VHF/UHF radio and antenna. This now makes the third guy; who has come by to help out. There is good news and bad news in this adventure. The first thing we tried was to check the antenna. We pulled my antenna off then connecting his mag mount antenna to my radio; with the same bad results.

After some more checking of my antenna; which turned out to be okay. We disconnected my radio and then connected his radio to my antenna, and proof all of my VHF/UHF problems went away. I will be using a Yaesu FT 8500; VHF/UHF mobile while my ICOM IC- 706mkIIg will soon be repaired.

At this point the only work that has been done was within the shack and all those who have helped as well as those who have heard of the situation are in agreement with me that things on the outside need to be checked as well. in the coming days I will make plans to do so and I hope things aren't severe but I'm not holding my breath ha ha!

Radio Trouble # 2.

Well at this point what I can say is that one problem was resolved yet another was discovered. while fixing my VHF/UHF coaxial cable; that may have affected my ICOM IC- 706mkIIg. We found out that my HF coaxial cable needed work as well. Yet again the tools we had were not working properly and that meant job number two was incomplete. This coaxial problem that was connected to the radio that I just bought; a few weeks ago did indeed affect to the radio. The radio no longer transmits properly, and I have plans in the next few days to have a look at.

Radio Trouble.

Today I realize what my trouble was; with the new radio I just bought recently. With some help from a couple of ham friends the problem was discovered to be a bad soldering job on a coax cable connector. After a while is determined that I did not have the right tools to do the job properly hand that in the future I must do my own soldering.

The saga continues tomorrow. One of the guys that came over today will be here tomorrow; for his second attempt in fixing the bad connection. Is unclear at this time whether are not I damaged the radio; I'll just have to wait and see.

Out of the amateur radio stone age!

For a few months now I have been wanting badly to get back on the HF bands but with my old dinosaur gear and manual tuner; as well as having to sit on the end of my bed, to talk all over the world has been difficult to say the least. So out with the old and in came the new; after a month and a half or so searching and comparing of the icom brand of radios.; I found what I wanted. In addition I really wanted to go to an automatic antenna tuner so after a few different brands and several models of tuners and radios, these two new pieces of gear were an easy decision to settle upon.

The radio hams might say is icom's flagship mobile radio. This is probably because the original version of the radio was released in the mid-to-late 80s, I think. I now have a one person owned four year old radio and this is a good thing because I plan on getting a few more years out of it. The radio is an ICOM ic-706MKIIG pictured below/w the HM-154 t DTMF microphone. In my opinion it is a shame to have this high caliber of radio; that covers every frequency known to man and it comes standard with a severely limited microphone. honestly that's as nice as I can put it ha ha!

For decades now I have been tuning antennas the old-fashioned way slowly and by hand. for me this can taking up to a half an hour to do so. Today was the day I no longer have to do this! You also see below LDG Z-11 proII. I have only had this a few hours and I am already madly in love with it because when you have this radio and an automatic antenna tuner connected together properly; your antenna can be tuned in less than two minutes just by pushing a button.

So far this radio and tuner have been an excellent combo. The excellent reviews from others on the website eham.com of both the radio and the tuner as well as comments from others locally, the decision to have both of these together was incredibly easy and a must-have.