Just had my first HF (actually MF)QSO (on-air conversation) with Dan WB6FWS.

This is the configuration for my mobile station for now. My Kenwood TM-D700A is mounted on the left. My brand new Kenwood TS-480HX is on the right. In the middle is a Keyspan 4 port serial-to-USB adaptor. On top you can see the power cable. Top middle is an antenna switch to easily allow me to physically disconnect the antenna when not in use. Hitting a sign, light fixture, or low-hanging wire is a real possibility in this installation. Bottom middle is a 7-port USB hub. Bottom right is a RigBlaster for HF digital modes. Bottom left is the major ground connection, 16 18 gauge wires going to a single point on the chassis. Skin effect makes multiple small conductors better at RF (Radio Frequency) than one large conductor. The whole setup is designed to be quickly & cleanly removed from the truck. Everything must be firmly tied down to avoid problems from vibration. That's also why I used rivets instead of screws.

I finally got my new ham radio working. It and all it's accessories are mounted on a piece of 1/4" Plexiglas. This allows me to properly mount & secure everything, while still making it all easily removable from the truck when I go home. The Plexiglas mounts on 6 studs I installed in the truck.

Now I have to learn how to use it.

Ever since he was in diapers Luke has been my little buddy. Kinda like The Skipper & Gilligan. He used to fall asleep riding around on my shoulders at church. We don't talk too often now, as he's off in college up in Portland. I found out today that he's getting married!

The kid I used to buy ice cream has grown into a man to be proud of.

Wow, time flies...

Luke was the ringbearer at my wedding:

Heading down to Rancho Cucamonga with 43,419 Lbs of Wendy's Chili Base. I get Wendy's chili all the time, I had some yesterday. They wouldn't miss a few cans....

Had to chain up this morning to get through Donner Pass. Wasn't as bad as last time. We weren't parked in 10" of snow this time. Also, last time was the first time either of us had chained up a truck. They taught us in class, but that's not the same as doing it on the side of the road in the snow. At least this time we actually needed the chains. Donner Pass was BAD!
We put on 4 chains, we only took off 3.

My radio is here!
It's here, but I'm not. Be home in a few hours.

Fresno, CA

I had to upgrade my plan the other day at my web hosting provider. Not too painful, $10.00 more a month. As the cam gets more popular it puts more of a load on the web server. I was reaching the limit of 16 minutes per day of CPU time.

The average daily traffic is almost 6 Gigabytes per day. That's more than most websites do in a month! Not a problem, though. I'm allowed 2 Terabytes (2048 Gigabytes) per month.


Sorry, the laptop that runs the cam is still overheating. Need a new air duster to clean it out. Ron SM7WDL wanted me to hold it out the window and step on the gas. Don't think that'll work.

The truck cam has been crashing regularly today. Kinda acting like the laptop is overheating. Time to blow the dust out again.

Speaking of being flaky, I called up Universal Radio to see if my new ham rig had shipped yet, as they hadn't charged my card yet. They said they were out of stock, the next one would be in on March 5th. So I cancelled the order and called up Art at AES (Amateur Electronic Supply) in Lost Wages, NV. It will be at my house tomorrow. AND they had all the options I wanted in stock, AND they gave me free shipping, AND their price was lower.

If I had waited till I got home and bought the radio at the San Diego HRO (Ham Radio Outlet), I would have paid more than $100.00 in sales tax

We're picking up a load here in Kansas City for Elk Grove, CA, then a load in Modesto, CA for Rancho Cucamonga, then HOME!

It's been about 7 weeks

They estimated he was doing about 120 MPH when he rear-ended the Yellow Freight truck. The truck driver thought he had been rear-ended by another truck.

If you got the email I forwarded yesterday, it was wrong. The helmet didn't help, he's dead.

Trucks are required to have red & white reflective tape on the sides & rear of a semi trailer and 3 identification lights and 2 marker lights (amber in front, red in rear) on each end of a tractor-trailer. There is also a white 'picture frame' reflective tape on the top rear corners of a semi trailer. These are the conspicuity regulations intended to increase safety by making trucks more visible.

It's a little disconcerting when you're driving along on a dark night and the hillside along the side of the road moves. That's what it's like sometimes when you suddenly realize you are driving along side a train. Trains have no conspicuity regulations. Though most use a FRED (Flashing Rear End Device), they are not required.

I wonder how many people, late on a moonless night at a rural grade crossing, have driven (or almost) right into the side of a moving freight train?

I received my tax refund yesterday. It's already gone.

I finally ordered my new radio from Universal Radio!


Check this out:
Kenwood TS-480HX 160-6M Transceiver
SO-3 High stability temperature compensated crystal oscillator
YF-107SN 1.8 kHz SSB Filter
VGS-1 Digital Voice Unit
SP-50B Mobile speaker

It should be waiting for me when I get home

OK, get your minds out of the gutter and click on THIS!
Gotta love the writer's choice of words.

If you still have some time to waste, this guy is amazing! (Thanks, Bucky)

I'll be getting back to Fontana sometime on the 22nd. Hitting the road again on March 2nd.

My favorite song right now:

Don't take it too seriously, I'll still be on the road for a little while.

This guy is pretty good.

The Canonical List of Banjo Jokes

What's the best thing to play on a banjo?
A flame-thrower.

Where do banjo players play best?
In traffic.

How is playing the banjo a lot like throwing a javelin blindfolded?
You don't have to be very good to get people's attention.

What's the best way to tune a banjo?
With wirecutters.

How is lightning like a banjo player's fingers?
Neither one strikes in the same place twice.

Mark Twian's definition of a gentleman: A man that can play the banjo and don't.

"The banjo is such a happy instrument--you can't play a sad song on the banjo, it always comes out so cheerful. Doom, dispair, & agony on high...see you just can't do it." --Steve Martin

When the say 'Keep on rolling', They don't mean rolling over