SteveShannon

I don’t know if I would even try to tune it below 1.2:1 or 1.4:1. You’ll never hear a difference. It’s just not worth chasing. I thought you said the ratio was 1:2, not 1.2:1.

In the metals section of well stocked hardware stores there are sometimes small brass tubes. If you buy a piece that just slides onto the wire you’re using you can slide it longer or shorter to tune your antenna.

This is very important.

Because the beginning and ending of the digital bit patterns are synchronized to your clock.

MURS would also be a good unlicensed option for a church.

Yes, if you hear the signals your radio is receiving them, but it appears unable to decode them. If you’re not seeing anything in the decoded messages, check your computer clock. It has to be set precisely. You’ll want to link it to an internet time source. Also, what does the waterfall in the secondary screen of WSJT-X look like? If it’s busy you should see it light up all the way across. If not, check your filter width. I make sure I have no filters on when receiving FT8. Then, what does it look like in the list of heard stations on the left side pane in WSJT-X? You should see a relatively steady scrolling list of messages. Depending on how you have your colors set up you should see CQ calls in the left pane. Double clicking on a CQ should result in your station responding to that particular CQ. Finally, how is your transmit power set up? I set my output power on the radio fairly high, but then I use the Power slider on the right hand side of WSJT-X to limit my output power to something like 45 watts.

Use Messi and Paloni connectors. They aren’t inexpensive but they don’t require solder for the braid. The center conductor is still soldered. Or switch to crimped or crimp/solder connectors. If you do this you must have a good ratcheting crimper and the right crimp die. I use a Klein brand crimper and die set. This has become my preferred method:

Unlike a home based ham station you do not need to bond a battery powered mobile or portable station to the service ground. If lightning appears, do just what you did, pack up and leave. If it surprises you and is close by, leave your radio and antenna and get in your car, better to let the radio and antenna be destroyed than risk injury or death by attempting to save it.

There’s no such exception in the current rules. Church members may not operate under a non-relative’s license, unless the church has a grandfathered license.

I can’t take any credit; I just googled it.

160 m is 1.840 MHz.

It was local, the Butte-Silver Bow Community Foundation. We have several local foundations. One requirement that’s common for all of them is that we must be a 501(c)3, with the IRS letter to show for it.

Ahhhh, I see. Yeah, I have to set up my Digirig for my ft891 someday also. When you do get to the ic7300 this site has some written settings that might help: https://k5tmt.com/2019/09/07/wsjt-x-settings-for-the-ic-7300/

Yes! We applied and received a nice grant for our repeater last year and the foundation told us to be sure and put in for another this year.

Just wait until you get some long path stations!!!