{"id":41447,"date":"2020-01-05T11:07:51","date_gmt":"2020-01-05T15:07:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=41447"},"modified":"2020-01-05T12:22:47","modified_gmt":"2020-01-05T16:22:47","slug":"a-ubitx-v6-winter-weather-and-power-outages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/a-ubitx-v6-winter-weather-and-power-outages\/","title":{"rendered":"The uBITX V6, winter weather and power outages"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Yesterday, a weather front moved through the area that dropped temperatures from an unseasonably high of 50F to 25F in the space of a couple of hours.\u00a0 Fronts like this always equate to high winds here at our altitude. This time, it packed a little snow as well.<\/p>\n

Last night, around 22:00 local, our power went out due to a fallen tree further down the road.<\/p>\n

Here at SWLing Post<\/em> HQ, we don’t panic about power outages. As I’ve mentioned before, our refrigerator, freezer and some of our home lighting is solar-powered and off-grid–we also rely on passive solar heating and a good wood stove to keep us warm and cozy.<\/p>\n

Without fail, I always use power outages as an excuse to play radio on battery power.<\/p>\n

This morning, the uBITX V6 transceiver<\/a> was already hooked up to a LiFePo battery on my desktop, so I simply turned it on and started tuning around the 40 meter band, where I had recently logged a few POTA<\/a> contacts. Problem was, the band was absolutely dead<\/em>, save a couple weak stations. After thinking about it a few seconds (keep in mind this was pre-coffee)<\/em> I put on my boots and coat, walked outside and confirmed my suspicions: the antenna feedline had become detached from my external ATU box.<\/p>\n

The winds were strong enough last night, that the ladder line pulled itself out of the banana connector jacks on the side of the ATU box. This happens quite often during periods of high winds and is a bit annoying. Of course, I could secure the feedline in such a way that it would easily survive high winds without disconnecting, but frankly this is an intentional design choice. You see, when a black bear walks into my feedline, it easily disconnects before the bear gets tangled, up, frustrated and yanks my antenna out of the tree!<\/p>\n

Trust me on this: bears and antennas don’t mix. I speak from experience.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

After re-connecting the antenna, I fired up my portable alcohol stove (the one you might have seen in this post<\/a>), boiled water, and made a fresh cup of coffee to take back to the shack.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I turned on the uBITX once again and found that the 40 meter band was chock-full of strong signals.<\/p>\n

It’s time to go chase a few more parks today and plot my next POTA activation.<\/p>\n

Frankly, I’m in no hurry for the power to be restored.\u00a0 It’s a wonderful excuse to play radio.<\/p>\n

Readers:<\/strong><\/em> Anyone else enjoy radio time when the grid goes down? Please comment!<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Do you enjoy the SWLing Post?<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

Please consider supporting us via\u00a0Patreon<\/span><\/a>\u00a0or our\u00a0Coffee<\/span>\u00a0Fund<\/span><\/a>! <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Your support makes articles like this one possible. Thank you!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Yesterday, a weather front moved through the area that dropped temperatures from an unseasonably high of 50F to 25F in the space of a couple of hours.\u00a0 Fronts like this always equate to high winds here at our altitude. This time, it packed a little snow as well. Last night, around 22:00 local, our power […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[836,3,5099,43],"tags":[7476,4102,8236,1303,6681,6682,8200],"class_list":["post-41447","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-new-products","category-news","category-qrp","category-shortwave-radio","tag-external-battery-packs","tag-ham-radio","tag-power-outages","tag-qrp","tag-ubitx","tag-ubitx-transceiver","tag-ubitx-v-6-0"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-aMv","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":41379,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/assembling-the-ubitx-v6-qrp-transceiver\/","url_meta":{"origin":41447,"position":0},"title":"Assembling the uBITX V6 QRP transceiver","author":"Thomas","date":"December 31, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Last Friday, after returning from holiday travel, I found a belated Christmas gift on my doorstep: the new uBITX V6 QRP transceiver. In the spirit of full disclosure, this package wasn't delivered by Santa, rather by DHL in record time from India. As I mentioned in a previous post, I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/uBITX-V6-Front-Panel.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/uBITX-V6-Front-Panel.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/uBITX-V6-Front-Panel.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/uBITX-V6-Front-Panel.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":34890,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/11\/robert-talks-ubitx-and-navigating-the-world-of-used-radio-gear\/","url_meta":{"origin":41447,"position":1},"title":"Robert talks uBITX and navigating the world of used radio gear","author":"Thomas","date":"November 17, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0Robert Gulley (AK3Q), who shares the following announcement from his blog All Things Radio: I have posted two new articles in the\u00a0Reviews and How-Tos\u00a0section. These were both previously published in\u00a0The Spectrum Monitor\u00a0magazine earlier this year. The first article deals with buying used and new equipment,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/uBITX.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/uBITX.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/uBITX.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/uBITX.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":29594,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/12\/the-ubitx-transceiver-pricing-and-more-details\/","url_meta":{"origin":41447,"position":2},"title":"The uBITX Transceiver: Pricing and more details","author":"Thomas","date":"December 11, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Pete Eaton (WB9FLW), who shares pricing and additional information about the uBITX general coverage QRP transceiver: Here are the details, if purchased before Christmas $109 delivered! http:\/\/www.hfsignals.com\/ From uBITX creator, Ashhar Farhan: 1. The ubitx is now available for sale, for $109 dollars (includes\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/uBITX-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/uBITX-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/uBITX-1024x576.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":41202,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/just-ordered-the-new-149-199-ubitx-v-6-0-qrp-transceiver\/","url_meta":{"origin":41447,"position":3},"title":"Just ordered the new $149\/$199 uBITX v 6.0 QRP transceiver","author":"Thomas","date":"December 15, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Pete (WB9FLW), who notes that Ashhar Farhan (VU2ESE) has recently announced the availability of the uBITX v 6.0--as Pete notes, \"just in time for the Holidays!\" Pete shared the following message from Farhan: Here is what [the uBITx v 6.0] looks like : https:\/\/youtu.be\/XdnXn5oibpg\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/ubitx_v6_big-1024x600.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/ubitx_v6_big-1024x600.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/ubitx_v6_big-1024x600.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":29521,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/12\/pete-reports-new-developments-with-the-ubitx-transceiver\/","url_meta":{"origin":41447,"position":4},"title":"Pete reports new developments with the uBITX transceiver","author":"Thomas","date":"December 8, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Pete\u00a0Eaton (WB9FLW), who writes: Last March, Ashhar Farhan (VU2ESE) the designer of the very popular BITX20 and BITX40 series of mono-band HF Transceivers announced a new low cost rig called the uBITX (micro BITX) a full blown 80-10m 10 Watt SSB\/CW Transceiver. Now comes\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/qrper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_20171204_131821-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/qrper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_20171204_131821-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/qrper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_20171204_131821-1024x576.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":35131,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/12\/winter-radio-life-and-preparing-for-power-outages\/","url_meta":{"origin":41447,"position":5},"title":"Winter radio life and preparing for power outages","author":"Thomas","date":"December 9, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Here at SWLing Post HQ we've been under a Winter Storm Warning since yesterday--it's not set to expire until sometime tomorrow. This storm hasn't been all snow--it's a mixture of snow and ice. If this continues, I fully expect to lose power at some point today. In general, we're prepared\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/CommRadio-CTX-10-Startup.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/CommRadio-CTX-10-Startup.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/CommRadio-CTX-10-Startup.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/CommRadio-CTX-10-Startup.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41447","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41447"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41447\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41447"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41447"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41447"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}