DELARANEWS

Club News

The trials and perils of the hobby!

I know not where it landed. Wally, W8WLK My first launcher I bought from a Ham Club down south somewhere and it shot a lead filled tube...no way Jose! So I built one. What you see is probably the fourth or fifth iteration of it and is probably...all things considered... the most expensive magnum tennis ball launcher in the world. I wear a hard hat because the first time I fired a launcher the ball flew out, the line got caught and the ball swung back and hit me in the head! The launcher is heavy so I shoot from the ground. A lot of members have launchers but K8MP Joe and Ed Jones have small launchers that work really really well. Ed's fits in a case or bag, I forget which. I had at one time 300yds of Spiderwire® on my tennis ball launcher. Over the years I have lost maybe 100yds do to different reasons but there still was a lot left on the reel. My 40m loop wire is shedding it's UV protective cover. Probably because of UV. Plus, three of the four paracords holding it up from trees started at the top of the tree and sawed it's way threw the branches so the whole thing is a lot lower. It still works OK but it would be nice to get it back up where it belongs. And, I used large white plastic pulleys in the corners and they just look bad because they are so big so I'm going to end up replacing everything but the BALUN. The first step which is the most fun to launch three lines for the higher paracords. I pulled out the launcher , charged it with air, opened the bail , took aim, yelled "fire in the hole" and hit the trigger. Whoosh...the shot was perfect but I didn't see the ball land. I set the launcher down and was going to raise and lower the ball with the fishing line...but it was gone!!! There was plenty of line on the real but it looked like the line had rotted. Pretty weird for never being in any water. I tried to find the broken end but the Spiderwire® is so small you almost can't see it. So, my antenna plans are on hold once again until the Amazon delivers my new braided fishing line. I had to wait until after Field Day because if something could have gone wrong it would have...kinda like it did anyway. Wally P.S. I want my ball back...

July Meeting: My signal’s bigger than

yours!

There’s a competitive streak in most of us, and there’s a competitive side to most hobbies. It might be submitting a photograph to be judged, it might be participating in a run or bike ride, or it might just be running a ham radio contest. Before you wave it off, “Aw, I’m not into contesting- those guys are crazy to operate 24 hours with no sleep, no food…” take a listen to our speaker this month and find there’s often a contest or two that you might just enjoy! Our own Joe Papworth, K8MP, functions as the designated contest team manager (yes, DELARA still has a contest team!). Joe’s accomplishments go pretty high up the totem pole, but he can tell us that as beginning or mid-level operators, there are contests and a lot of fun to be had! If you want to brush up your operating skills, get on the air, and have fun- this might be something to ad to your hobby! Our meeting will be held at the Red Cross, and Ken has promised to bring his considerable video expertise to putting it on Zoom if you are shying away from meetings. Hope to see you there!!
DELARANews

Club News

The trials and perils of the hobby!

I know not where it landed. Wally, W8WLK My first launcher I bought from a Ham Club down south somewhere and it shot a lead filled tube...no way Jose! So I built one. What you see is probably the fourth or fifth iteration of it and is probably...all things considered... the most expensive magnum tennis ball launcher in the world. I wear a hard hat because the first time I fired a launcher the ball flew out, the line got caught and the ball swung back and hit me in the head! The launcher is heavy so I shoot from the ground. A lot of members have launchers but K8MP Joe and Ed Jones have small launchers that work really really well. Ed's fits in a case or bag, I forget which. I had at one time 300yds of Spiderwire® on my tennis ball launcher. Over the years I have lost maybe 100yds do to different reasons but there still was a lot left on the reel. My 40m loop wire is shedding it's UV protective cover. Probably because of UV. Plus, three of the four paracords holding it up from trees started at the top of the tree and sawed it's way threw the branches so the whole thing is a lot lower. It still works OK but it would be nice to get it back up where it belongs. And, I used large white plastic pulleys in the corners and they just look bad because they are so big so I'm going to end up replacing everything but the BALUN. The first step which is the most fun to launch three lines for the higher paracords. I pulled out the launcher , charged it with air, opened the bail , took aim, yelled "fire in the hole" and hit the trigger. Whoosh...the shot was perfect but I didn't see the ball land. I set the launcher down and was going to raise and lower the ball with the fishing line...but it was gone!!! There was plenty of line on the real but it looked like the line had rotted. Pretty weird for never being in any water. I tried to find the broken end but the Spiderwire® is so small you almost can't see it. So, my antenna plans are on hold once again until the Amazon delivers my new braided fishing line. I had to wait until after Field Day because if something could have gone wrong it would have...kinda like it did anyway. Wally P.S. I want my ball back...

Holiday Party 2019

(Click picture for larger view)