Author: n4mqu

How do you know you are talking to God?

My Testimony, Prayer

How does a person know if you are talking to God?  I hear people say pray about that.  What is the difference between praying about it and things working itself out?  I just got some wisdom.  When you pray about stuff like I prayed about my telescope problem. I could not focus the image. I thought my astronomy career was over. I thought I would have to pay a couple of hundred dollars for shipping in addition to the repair and I didn’t think I would be successful in the repair.  I tried searching the problem and found the same problem but that solution didn’t help. I asked a friend if it is ok to pray about mechanical stuff and he said yes it was and gave me the scripture. I will edit this when I find it.  Finally another friend I told about the problem found a company that repaired telescopes and I emailed them.  He called me very quickly and we discussed the problem and he offered to do a zoom meeting to see if he could walk me thru to repair it for a fee.  I interviewed him about his background and based on his response I agreed and we set a date.  When the call came the video came up and the guy was wearing a cross.  Now I know a cross does not have to mean you are a Christian so I asked him if a testimony came with the cross.  He said he was in the music ministry of 3 churches.  So we went thru several steps and behold I was able to focus my telescope on trees after following his instructions.  In another problem I had is trying come up with a schedule for a group I have.  If I change from the first Saturday to the second Saturday a couple of people couldn’t make it but my meeting comes the same day as another group so they could attend that meeting if I changed the week.  So I am in the process of seeing if the other place is available.  If it is not available does that mean God doesn’t want me to change or thru a little more effort I could get another place to hold my meeting?  When does circumstances change based on one owns effort versus intervention?  I think the answer is when you pray about a problem power comes from God but when you do it own your own initiative things may work out but just by your skill set you learned over the years. I don’t have any scripture to quote  today but if you would like to send me some I will look at it and edit this blog. Email:markgibson6822@gmail.com.   

 My Testimony

Parks on the Air Activity February 2022

Amateur Radio, Portable, POTA

I just signed up for POTA in September 2021 and was surprised when I received the credits for the contacts I had made previously. I enjoyed activating five parks last month and I learned a lot. I’ve been a licensed amateur for almost 40 years and really enjoy this new activity.

Please check out this video I edited on What is POTA at  KI4CFS – Ham Radio – Martin Brossman

My basic radio setup

Icom 7100
Chameleon Portable HF Antenna CHA   
HYBRID Micro 
Cha Spike Mount 
Bioenno Power 12V 20Ah 240 Watt-hours Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery 
Bioenno Power 28 Watt Foldable Solar Panel 
Bioenno Power 12V/24V 30A Solar Charge Controller 
MFJ Model MFJ-969 Deluxe Versa Tuner II antenna tuner 
3 ring spiral notebook 
Ball point pen


February 8, 2022 K-3854 Flower Hill State Nature Preserve

Flower Hill Contacts

Trailer hitch mount

Solar power

Operating from car


February 9, 2022 K-8007 Edenton National Fish Hatchery

Fish hatchery contacts

 

Spike mounted configuration

Don’t forget to learn a little history while you are activating parks.

Charles Kuralt Trail


February 10, 2022 K-6842 Historic Edenton State Historic Site  

Historic Edenton contacts

Edenton

Spike mounted antenna


February 22, 2022 K-0707 Petersburg National Battlefield 

Hitch Mounted

Luggage Rack Mount

 

So I can keep an eye on it



February 25, 2022 K-7793 Dameron Marsh State Natural Area

Dameron Contact list

MPAS Mil Extension and Cap Hat

Table set up

Radio Propagation Test Over the Potomac

Amateur Radio, Equipment, Propagation

 

This beautiful estate is available for rental.

Chesapeake Bay Potomac Estate guest house avai

 

This experiment consisted of using a Chameleon Hybrid Portable HF Antenna the counterpoise was placed in the Potomac River for the in water experiment and taken out of the out of the water experiment. ** update apparently I connected the counterpoise to the radiator of the antenna** I will have to redo this experiment again.  I made a quick internet search on water propagation experiments and found this document Radio-Wave Propagation Measurements over Sea Water

40 meter out of water SDR in Pennsylvania 

40 meter in water SDR in Pennsylvania 

20 meter out of water SDR in Utah

20 meter in water SDR in Utah

I haven’t used the record feature of the Icom 7100 too much but it wants to separate the transmit and receiver signals so hear is the unedited record

Galapagos Island Contact

I worked a POTA station with two parks

 And I was able to get up with N4AED in Wendell and he had a nice strong signal on 40 meters

The equipment I use for portable operation includes the following:

  1. Icom 7100
  2. Chameleon Portable HF Antenna CHA HYBRID Micro
  3. Cha Spike Mount
  4. Bioenno Power 12V 20Ah 240 Watt-hours Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery
  5. Bioenno Power 28 Watt Foldable Solar Panel
  6. Bioenno Power 12V/24V 30A Solar Charge Controller
  7. MFJ Model MFJ-969 Deluxe Versa Tuner II antenna tuner
  8. 3 ring spiral notebook
  9. Ball point pen

I am able to carry all the equipment in a backpack and a Apache case. I do have to carry the tuner in my other free hand.

Backpack with antenna and solar panel, Apache case with radio.

One Amateur’s Solution to HOA’s Restrictions

Amateur Radio, Outreach, Portable

By Mark Gibson (N4MQU)

When I first moved to North Carolina I upgraded to my amateur radio general class license and spent time on the road.  I started out with a  Tarheel Antenna on my Chevrolet van. After I wore that car out I purchased a Ford Tempo. I don’t have a picture of the antenna on the van but do have a picture of the antenna on the Tempo.  For some reason we had my wives call on the Tempo.

 

 

N4MQU’s Tarheel amateur radio antenna. KD4JMJ (XYL) call sign on car.

 

 

Fast forward I removed my radio from the car and put it in storage. My friend Doug Williams (KS4TI) expressed interest in it and I unloaded the antenna on him.  I mean he purchased this fine antenna from me at a bargain price.

Fast forward Doug decided that a amateur radio operator should move into a development that had restrictions on what you could have on your own property.  I have known Doug to call this antenna a gaudy antenna. I guess at some point he took it off his vehicle and decided to use it on his homes restricted neighborhood. Here is a couple of images of his antenna.

KS4TI’s Tarheel Antenna in stealth position

KS4TI Tarheel antenna tuned for 80 meters

I’ve known Doug for many years and he conducts the JARS Prep Net amateurs may check in and talk about topics related to keeping you safe and healthy during an emergency every Tuesday night at 9:00 PM on the AK4H repeater in Johnston County.

Add These Activities to Your Camping Experience

Astronomy, Camping, Metal Detecting, Photography, Portable

By: Mark Gibson(N4MQU)

Staunton River State Park entrance sign

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What activities can you do while you are camping?   There are the usual things you do, hiking, exploring, bird watching, singing around the campfire, playing board games, listening shortwave radio… ? Metal detecting…? Watching satellites..? Astronomy.? How about seeing how many other people you can talk to in other parks or states. That’s exactly what I did Labor Day weekend 2021. 

Tips on Using Non Automatic Lenses

Photography

equipment 

Cannon T5i body

Use auto for ISO. Why it seemed to work.  Trying to switch from the ISO did not work but when I switched to auto it worked. I learned from a retired professional photographer current with the new technology on cameras, using  the older lenses with the camera the camera will still be able detect the proper ISO. 

I will also be working on taking pictures of small cities at night.  This will make me use my limited photography skills to the max.

SWL at the Local Park

SWL

I am taking a look at the hobby of Short Wave Radio Listening (SWL) with fresh perspective and a new radio.  

Tecsun H-501x

So far I have enjoyed the features of the radio.  Rich stereo sound, direct digital entry of frequencies two tuning knobs one for regular tuning the other for fine tuning. I heard radio Cuba on 15140 kHz. I also heard I think was FT8 on 14075. I also heard someone preaching on several different frequencies along with non English stations throughout the bands. I will enjoy learning more about this radio.  Be careful where you order it from to make sure you get the rechargeable batteries and charger.  I ordered mine from https://www.anon-co.com/product/tecsun-h501x-radio for $298 plus about $20 shipping.  I ordered it Sunday night and received it Wednesday.  Be sure to check out the YouTube reviews.