Blog purposes

 This blog was created December 28, 2020, for two purposes:

1. Describe my equipment

2. Describe signal strength in connections with various repeaters

The blog is operated by John Parsons, KF7OTE, a Snow Bird

who lives in Rimrock, Arizona during the winter and Idaho Falls during the summer

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FCC License renewal

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 I received my Tech license on March 24, 2011.  The FCC says you can't submit a renewal of the 10-year license more than 90 days before its expiration.  So, today was the day to "git 'er dun"  Fortunately, the FCC has made the renewal process a virtual no-brainer.  It's all online and EZPZ! We're going to spend a LOT more time documenting which 2 meter repeaters we can contact with our ICOM IC-V8.
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ICOM IC-V8

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I am using an old ICOM IC-V8 hand held.  It was once in service with the Verde Valley SAR members.  I obtained it in 2011 via a Dear Friend who has a member of VVSAR.  When VVSAR upgraded their hand held radios, the old ICOM's were distributed to SAR members.  I use a Long Ranger antenna. Here are the radio specs: http://icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/handheld/v8/default.aspx The Long Ranger 2 Meter 1/2 wave. For long range this MFJ end-fed 1/2 wave is hard to beat. Outperforms a 5/8 wave on an HT because the 5/8 wave needs a ground plane. It's shorter, lighter, has more gain and places less stress on your antenna connector. When collapsed it performs like a rubber duck. 40 in. extended.  See: https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-001013
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PVC Antenna Mast

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