Arrived

My First Heathkit ― The HR-10B Receiver

Yesterday, UPS delivered the Elecraft KX3 transceiver kit that I ordered at Hamvention. UPS also delivered an anti-static mat and wrist-strap that I ordered to use while assembling the KX3.

I have built plenty of Heathkits in the past and did not need any stinkin' anti-static devices. However, the KX3 kit is not your father's Heathkit.

The KX3 kit is a no soldering needed kit. Basically, I build the KX3 enclosure and plug-in various preassembled and tested pc boards. Those boards contain sensitive components that may be damaged by Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) simply by touching them, thus the need for the anti-static devices.

Last night, I unpacked the box from Elecraft and checked that everything I ordered had been delivered (it had). Then I began reading the kit assembly manual and plan to build the radio this weekend (3 to 4 hours are required to build it).

Hamvention

I had a great time at Hamvention this year. 

Our booth (TAPR) had more visitors and more sales than in the recent past and my guess is that Hamvention's overall attendance topped last year's 24,873.

In anticipation of Hamvention, I sold some ham hardware earlier this year to fund my shopping list and I bought an Elecraft KX3 at the show. Actually, they were out of stock by time I got to the Elecraft booth, but they offered an incentive to order the equipment for post-Hamvention delivery: no sales tax and no shipping charges. So I placed the order and expect delivery next week.

(In addition to the KX3 kit, I am also getting the optional PX3 panadapter, as shown above, KXFL3 dual passband roofing filter, KXAT3 automatic antenna tuner, KX3-2M 2-meter module and assorted optional connectors and cables.)   

By the way, the roadtrip to Hamvention this year convinced me that I am getting too old for the Hamvention roadtrip and this year's trip is probably my swan song. 

Next year, I fly.

A Visit from the Bing Maps Streetside Car

About 4:30 PM today, the Bing Maps Streetside car came through our neighborhood. 

My daughter saw the car go down the street and we knew it would have to come back our way because we live in a neighborhood of dead ends. About 5 minutes later, it came by again. We waved as it passed and the driver honked at us, but it remains to be seen if we will be on the map! 

The Google Maps car has yet to make a visit in our neighborhood, so it was nice to see the Microsoft-mobile!

Hello from Hamvention

I will be at Hamvention in Dayton, Ohio, this Friday and Saturday. When I am not attending forums, roaming the halls, and buying stuff, I will be staffing the TAPR booths (451-454)  in the Ball Arena of the HARA complex, so stop by and say, "Hello."

During my commute to and from and around Dayton, I will be running OpenAPRS from my iPhone, so watch for me on your APRS maps.

Oliver and Shaq

Oliver and Shaq

Our family lost a member Thursday morning: our first cat, Oliver. 

As a kitten nearly 16 years ago, he followed my wife home when she was walking our first dog QT-Pie and he moved in after some pushback from me. Turns out, Oliver and me hit it off and he became my best buddy, my "Big O" and always greeted me when I came home from work.

Oliver and QT-Pie were the only males in our menagerie and they became best friends. After QT-Pie died three years ago, one of our female cats, Shaq, seemed to replace QT-Pie in Oliver's life. The two cleaned each other and usually slept with each other.

After Oliver died, Shaq seemed to be lost looking all around the house for her friend. Friday night, when I took our second dog, Pumpkin Pie, out for last call, Shaq got out. She seldom gets out, but must have thought her friend was outside, so she went looking for him. Shaq was out until nearly 3 AM. 

I think Shaq found Oliver because the next day, I found a dead mouse neatly placed right in the middle of Oliver's grave!