Lost Island DX Society

The Typewriter

The Receiver

Microwaves

Winter is arriving on the beach as afternoon salty air succumbs to the scent of burning oak. My wireless set is tuned to a Morse code station located somewhere in Japan.

Our search for the Lost Island DX Society continues as the team sifts through an age of forgotten relics. I want to introduce typewriter, receiver, and microwaves as potential clues or equipment actually operated by society membership?

Imagine, the physical effort it took to depress each key on the mechanical typewriter and the clanking sound as the typebars rose into the air striking the bottom of the platen? Perhaps, the society can credit itself with the invention of the term, fat fingers as well.

Too, it is hotly contested inside shackadelic whether or not members pounded out Morse code on a straight key or opted for the bug? Consensus is leading us down the trail of a bug instead of a straight key. The movement of one's fingers is like a fine motor muscle ballet and Lost Island membership doesn't evoke brutish tendencies according to the investigative team.

On the other hand, a straight key is pure Morse code savagery in its motion, unlike the refinement of the bug swing.

We did agree however anyone associated with the Lost Island DX Society must prefer tubes instead of solid state circuitry. The team believes society membership has a passion for the glow. I cannot imagine them coming within the near field of a software defined radio now or then? There is something to be said about the projected eternal warmth and romance of tube based wireless sets. I'm smitten by the vision of owning a rather famous line of wireless radios manufactured by a Mister Rockwell and/or Mister Collins.

Additionally, the investigative team is firm, the Lost Island DX Society does not wear their shack on the belt.

The investigative team agreed a potential might exist that early manufacturers of such high technology could possibly be founding members of the society, itself. Currently, there is 'no' evidence suggesting otherwise or to the contrary, it is purely garbage.

The modern term for this speculation is conspiracy theory therefore maintaining plausibility in today's age of fast food facts.

Lastly, the odd ball in our evidence pool, is the military microwave dish that operates at 10 Gigahertz. The team is hedging that the Lost Island DX Society foresaw the proliferation of digital devices operating at or near the same frequency range. One might connect them as the Nostradamus' of ultra high frequency wireless radio. Can they see the future in the glow? Have they abandoned this frequency range? What about the bug swing?

We have not concluded our study into whether or not membership is now operating their wireless sets in the dark matter frequency range. More to follow on this topic in the near future.

73 from the shackadelic on the beach.          

DXing With Buddipole And More

Buddipole Off Center Fed Dipole In Front Of Shackadelic Listening  East

Shackadelic Sky In Shell Beach, California

Buddipole T-Fitting With Feedline

Buddipole At Ground Level With Tapped Coils On 18 Foot Push Up Mast

Buddipole Prior To Stowing For The Next Adventure

Antenna Components Stowed

Good afternoon from the shackadelic #hamr zone and, wow, a sensational day with beach blue sky and a temperature more like summer less like fall going into winter. I'm listening to Sweepstakes off the vertical antenna system while writing this posting. As of yet, I have not completed a signal comparison between the vertical and Buddipole, that's schedule for the future. On the other hand, I wanted to share 'why' like those Elecraft groupies that I have morphed into a Buddipole groupie.

First, the Buddipole antenna system is temporary, easily deployed, and flexible.

Luxury
I watched super storm Sandy from the comfort of my own shack. I enjoyed the civilized luxury of uninterrupted power. I drove a highway between home and work without much disruption. Our petrol stations are operating at full capacity. Our refrigerator is working without interruption and our home is still intact. My wireless set is connected and operating.

Super Storms
The super storm devastation one cannot imagine even with real time media coverage. One has to be in the situation to firmly understand that everything of normalcy on the eastern seaboard between New York and New Jersey is forever changed. Super storm Sandy forced me to think about our living arrangements. Furthermore, it made me face reality, that disaster preparedness is now a part of life.

I did not pay much attention to emergency communications and the need for emergency preparedness until super storm Sandy. Basically, living like this cliche, "It could never happen to me."

Upheaval
For me, it could never happen to me, is a recipe for self disaster especially in a time when basic survival trumps the seemingly important frustrations of 21st Century living.

Whatever one's perspective, something is going on with our climate, it is something major and this change is going to rearrange my self perspective about disaster preparedness. First, having energy and the capacity to deploy energy at the home level is absolutely paramount because energy is everything to survival.

Beginning To Prepare
Our Honda 2,000 watt EU2000i generator is scheduled to arrive on Friday. The salesmen said they shipped over 5,000 units since super storm Sandy. Electricity is not fundamental instead it is a civilized achievement that I can enjoy drying my clothes, cooling our food, and charging my electric razor.

Additionally, I have at least one portable antenna system like the Buddipole capable of meeting wireless needs, if a disaster rearranges my life and that of my neighbor. One might joke about health and welfare checks however the morale of one's neighborhood might depend on knowing family, relatives, and friends are safe and sound as well.

Furthermore, there is one wireless set capable of deployment in the field, my Yaesu FT100 is now stowed in a Pelican case with Bencher paddles. Additionally, support hardware is stored in readily accessible containers, in the event of immediate evacuation.

In Conclusion
I have sat on the fence for a number of years living the cliche, "It could never happen to me."

Perhaps, I may never need emergency energy, emergency communications, or anything related to disaster preparedness. However, super storm Sandy taught me a valuable lesson, I want to be prepared instead of I need to be prepared.

73 from the shackadelic on the beach.