2012--GONE! Hello 2013!

I guess I went a FULL YEAR without blogging anything here!

Well, I'll start using this some more again.  I think I can DL a app for my phone as well, I'll look into that.

I ordered a MFJ-9475X 75m QRP SSB transceiver, and a MFJ-971 matching antenna tuner.  Something fun to mess around with this winter.  I'll be using it to check into the APRN nets on Sunday nights at 8:00pm local on 3.818.  See how that works out.  I love these little MFJ QRP rigs, they are low power, only 10 watts out, but seem to wok really well.  They have low current draw making them perfect for a portable station that can run from solar, wind, and battery power.

Well, check back often for updates, hopefully I'll have some.....

Prepper HF Net

MFJ-9475X QRP SSB HF Rig

MFJ-971 HF Tuner

7R Ranch

Well we have moved to a new ranch in the country!  It's called 7R.  Short for Old #7 Ranch!

I love it so far.  Got a nice 3 bedroom 2 bath place on 2.5 acres.  Have a barn, and about to get a carport installed.  Been building fence around the yard for the dog.  Will have a electric gate opener.  

The chickens are here, and still in shock I think.  Hef has never heard another rooster, and our neighbors to the South raise fighting cocks, so he has been pretty laid back and keeping a low profile!  Plus its been cold and windy since we moved them.  

Getting back into ham radio a little this winter.  Putting up a couple antennas and a weather station again.  Will have a Yaesu VX-7R for 6/2/440 with a tri-band vertical.  Built a 20 meter dipole this evening I'll be putting on soon, as well as a 20 meter vertical for DX.  Will be running a MFJ-9420 QRP SSB 20 meter rig with matching tuner and power supply.  Looking forward to getting back on the air on HF.  May get the MFJ-9440 or 9480 soon if I like this little rig.  

Still have several hundred feet of chain link fence to stretch, and a double drive way gate to install.  Then it's off to the perimeter, 1320' of fencing.  I'll be field fencing it, 4' of field fence, with 1 strand barb wire on top.  Will be putting a electric gate at the road also.  

Stilling moving from the old house, will be damn glad when that's all done and over with.  Gotta drop off the Harley to get the 30K service done and a brake recall taken care of.  Haven't rode it much at all lately due to moving.  Will be glad to sell the other house ASAP!

Well here is a shot of my home brew 20 meter dipole about ready to put up.....

  

GoPro Hero HD Video Camera

Here are some shots of my new GoPro Hero HD Video camera set-up.  Works GREAT!  Looking forward to riding the Million $ Highway and Pike's Peak in a couple weeks!

That's a Tri-pod base mount with a 1/4" stud treaded into the base and thread locked.  I use another nut to lock it against the fairing tight.

Waterproof, shockproof, crashproof.  Uses a SD card for storage.  Has built-in image stabilization.  Very happy so far!  Hope it works for the ride. 

Trailer Test Ride

Test rode the new trailer, Tara, and all went well!  Pulled easy, tracks great.

Put about 25 miles on total, in town and highway.  Pulled it up to 90 miles an hour without any trouble.

Downtown Ponca City OK

Here are a couple of the cool places I saw today in Ponca City....

Shotgun Bed Mount

I built a PVC rack for my side of the bed, keeps my 12 ga. handy all the time....

MC Trailer Update....

About finished!  Still have a few finishing touches, but its about ready to roll!

MC Trailer Update

It's 146lbs and almost finished.  I am adding a couple LED interior lights, and maybe carpet.

Bartlesville Train Depot

MC Trailer

Started painting the frame tonight....

Motorcycle Trailer Build

It all started with a Harbor Freight light duty trailer frame and a Pepboys Aluminum truck toolbox.  I also purchased a spare tire.  The following pictures will pretty much cover everything. 

I cut the Harbor Freight trailer down to fit the size of the box.  I also moved the tongue 1 notch forward from the instructions to make the tongue a little longer out front for the cooler mount.

I removed the helper spring per several posts on the internet.  Everyone says they ride better that way, since it won't ever be loaded as heavy as designed for....

Bicycle kick stand from Wal-Mart for a tongue jack.....

I will cut and weld the axle to fit the new width soon.....

Should match the bike good.....

Cooler mount, which cost about 6 times what the cooler did!!!

About ready for final assembly and painting/powder coating....

Everything has worked great so far.  I'm looking for a hitch for the bike and wiring kit now.  Everything except for the Diamond plate box will be painted or powder coated Black.  I'm using the light kit that came with the trailer kit.