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Could be, you didn't have a CTCSS sub-audible tone set on your transmitted signal and you were not making the repeater?

I had a similar problem once, I used a simple crystal style radio with a sensitive meter on the output, biased with a battery. Basically a powered field strength meter.
Will have a rummage round and...

You have built a transformer?

Check your mains cabling is not running parallel to the metalwork!

[edit] I had a similar problem, run a metal tube over the last few feet of mains, isolated,...

You might have to go to the top of a hill to pick up some repeaters, but you should be able to hear/work several even on a small antenna.

This repeater coverage map, might help...

Personally, I would go with metallised Mylar, it's far cheaper and filling it with a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen produced by electrolysis of water from solar power is as free as it gets.

You...

They usually burst at high altitude due to extreme internal gas pressure, I think they are permeable, so the gas will eventually leak out and not have enough lift.

Mylar balloons are not gas...

Yes, the quality of most manufactured parts has declined, have a look on ebay for a replacement, you should find something adequate, if not the same quality.
Take notice of the mounting point type...

I use a blowtorch for through-hole components, do it outside and forget about the board but the components come off double-time...

Did you say something about not over-complicating things?

The "UI" could be as simple as a "galvometer" style needle for tuning and its backlight flashing in time with the tuned frequency.

Every recycling shack should have something like this. They're so cheap now, I think I paid £8 for mine, I feel ripped off :)

That's going to be a lot of email.


That's going to be a lot of money.

To summarise, yes, you have a valid point, but I think what you're proposing is unfair (to yourself).

I'm guilty of...

If you have a callsign already, you could try Echolink to get some operating practise in. Some hams will tell you it's not real radio and to some extent it's true, but it really is just an evolution...

Its not really necessary for receiving, it may reduce a bit of noise if your antenna is already tuned...

Check out "This old Tony"'s attempt on youtube...

The software reads the radio state when you log a callsign, eliminating the need for you to enter frequency/mode etc.

As far as I know, a CI-V interface is pretty easy to homebrew and there's tons...

When you get your Amateur License, you can transmit to another licensed amateur between 144 and 146 MHz (might be 148 now).

Nowhere else is amateur frequencies on that radio.

I think humidity is the main issue here, my shack gets very hot in the summer and consequently, humid at night, even with small (pc) extractor fans running 24h...

You might get away with it since the fridge is a fairly low load, try it and see what the noise level is like...

The A/C panel should have its own earth rod - if you do have to connect them together, try using a fusible resistor in series (1W) of, say 1MΩ.

Nothing is going to protect you from a direct...

You raise an interesting question - capacitor at top or bottom?

I didn't notice any difference, mine was at the bottom inside and at the top outside.

Can someone model the difference?

Multiple earth points will naturally generate a small Voltage between them, which your radio will pick up.

If the R.F. field density is high, the induced Voltage is higher meaning more noise to...

It may work better.

There are a lot of factors to consider for an R.F. earth.

Try loosening/softening the ground with a hosepipe for a few days before you try inserting it.

I used 1" copper...

They look like they use the same kind of technology.

A P.C. power supply may be more inclined to have a better Voltage tolerance, however, switch-mode type supplies always have some kind of...

The Yaesu can be bought for less than £100 in working condition, the other stuff is really of interest to collectors/restorers. Modern kit can fit into a shirt pocket if you know what I mean...

if your motherboard has a display output, try using that as one of the monitor outputs and the second on the card?