KH6JRM's Amateur Radio Blog

Another exciting week is almost in the can--and none
too soon.  What a mess--The federal government is
nearly broke, our state is hoping a bond sale will under-
write an ambitious capital improvements program, and
the cauldron known as the Middle East is driving fuel
prices higher.  Who could ask for more?  For news
people, all this confusion, mass ignorance, and sheer
incompetence displayed by world-wide governments
is a virtual gold mine of stories, op-ed pieces, and
blog entries.  Too bad, the end result of this will further
cripple our already weakened economy.  So, once this
news shift is done at KKBG-FM/KHLO-AM, I'll be
glad to leave this madness and return to the relative
calm of the amateur radio bands.  Today's activity may
be a bit restricted since the weather service is calling for
thunderstorms later today.  Everything is disconnected--
so that worry is reduced.  All I have to do is swivel the
40-meter vertical to ground level.  All feedlines have been
disconnected and grounded.  Same goes for all the electronics
at the qth.  While the front passes, I'll catch up on some
antenna topics.  The March 2011 issue of "QST" is
dedicated to antennas, and some of the articles look
interesting.  Once the weather clears, I will do some
maintenance on the under-the-house 40-meter loop.
It appears as if some rodent (most likely a roof rat)
got the munchies for the RG-6 leading from the 4:1
balun.  And I thought people in Africa were starving.
Our local rodents (including the mongoose) have
done a number on several of my antennas over the
past few years.  One year I accidently fried a rat
when I keyed down on an old Swan Cygnet 260.
That poor critter never knew what hit him. Such is
life on the fringe of empire.  Have a good weekend.
Aloha es 73 de KH6JRM.