Just when I thought the bands were changing for the worse with the vertical..

I've been thinking that the vertical has been awfully quiet of late. Not seeing much FT8 on 40m, especially in the morning when it's usually packed.

I did recently re-terminate the shack side of the feed line given the screw on PL259 was a little loose and I've since discovered there is a fine art to using screw on plugs on thick cable like RG213. There's also some plugs that are a lot easier to work with than others. Where ever the last batch came from, I'm buying them again.

I'd seem some traffic on FT8. Mostly VK.

It dawned on me last night to move to a different port on the switch that connects the antenna to the radio (this also links to a second switch so I can divert the vertical over to the IC706 from the G90). 

I noticed when I connected the antenna to the next port.. without moving the switch, that I was still seeing the same VK traffic and nothing else. The ground is common on that switch.. 

As expected, selecting the correct port, and bam! Waterfall changes colour. 

Much better. 

It's always the cheap bits in the middle that break down first.

I might get to do some more FT8 again after all.

The IC706 has been left parked on 7.171 MHz attempting SSTV on occasions. 

I still have much to do. The MiniWhip hasn't yet made it outside, even if I have only enough cable to run it through the window for the moment. I also still need to make something that works better with the NOAA satellites. I'll need more RG213 for that. 

I'd also like to smoke a brisket and have a cloud free night so I can venture out with the telescope, but we don't always get what we want! 😄😄😄