VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
Daniel Brinneman (KG4DNI)
on
December 1, 2004
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Hello Everyone!
I started learning how to unicycle about 3 years ago. Although lately I have been extremely lazy about getting back on it and riding it great distances. My interests for riding a unicycle were merely for transportation's sake and the hobby seemed very challenging.
Well two summers ago I decided to take the challenge seriously and start learning. The basics that I seem to only want to keep are forward, left and right moving directions. Occasionally I sum up the fearless notion of trying to ride backwards and/or stalling. Stalling is rocking back and forth in one place without loosing balance, which is helpful at traffic lights. I have been able to get on the unicycle after 5 tries without holding onto anything else around me, this is called mounting.
So in the past I took along my VHF handheld and operated Unicycle Mobile. One more challenge is to operate HF Unicycle Mobile. Now most of you know that this could be impossible due to lack of a ground point for the radio and antenna. Well I found a way.
I wanted to be able to operate and still keep my balance; and since I don't know how to stall yet, I am going to rig up a VOR (Voice-Operated-Record unit) digital voice recorder. Also I would like to use a HEIL Traveler for more hands-free operation. For CW, if I ever convince myself to get in shape, I will use the method described in the QST March 2004 article "Build a Puff-and-Sip Keyer" (p.31) with probably 5WPM speed, until someday I may learn to copy code in my head. For 2 years I mentally set preferences to look for a chestpack that could do the job and hold an extra battery, using the Elecraft basic K2. Well after much looking I decided to use my own skills and sew together a pack. Since it is my first one and I have not sewn in a long time, it is not exactly how I envisioned it. Well that chestpack still needs some adjustments done to it, so that it will rugged and strong.
My concept is to operate hands free and no attachments at all to the Unicycle, in case I fall.
The antenna is a top-loaded vertical. Primarily I use 40m and 20m. For 40m I do not need a dragging ground plane wire. On 20m I will have to probably add some capacitance, to get it to resonate and use the Radio itself as the ground. I have the homemade version of this antenna that I talk about; it is called the PAC-12, first designed by KA5DVS. He sells commercially-made versions of it on his website. I think I first saw it on the NJQRP website and had fun making it.
Please visit my website to see the slow progress of my imagination on one wheel. Select the Unicycle link. Sometimes during the year the QSL.net server is down for maintenance so my page may not load at all. Feel free to use anything you see and send me an email if you commence or succeed with Unicycle Mobile. Expect 2-3 years before you hear me on the air. I am slowly working on other projects that consume my time. Mostly taking classes at UNCC this coming Spring 2005 for Electronic Engineering and working full-time.
In case you might wonder: I don't dress up as a clown and juggle bowling pins in a parade, or anywhere. My farthest ride has been 2 miles without getting off or falling off. This sport takes determination and forgetting about frustrations.
Thanks for reading this and making any comments to this article.
Daniel Brinneman
KG4DNI
webmaster of::
www.qsl.net/kg4dni and www.qsl.net/k4wbt
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VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by KC9GJC on December 1, 2004
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I guess the next step after this is to do offroad unicycle HF.
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VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by KB7LYM on December 1, 2004
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DANGEROUS HAM AT WORK
Unicycler Ham found dead on Highway 66
While trying to communicate on his Unicycle
Ham radio K ---------- ( CALLSIGN ) hidden
for next of kin, Peter Mentalstick was hit by
an Eighteen Wheeler.
On his wooden Tombstone
marker will be carved
I rode the center line
Communicating just fine
On a Unicycle made from steel
Came in contact with a Truck wheel
So here I lay under an old Oak tree
Saying a farewell to my friends 73
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RE: VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by K5FZ on December 1, 2004
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ummmm now we just need a cup of coffee, a cell phone, a box of makeup and a rear view mirror.....
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VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by N8BOA on December 1, 2004
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If your good you would be running CW. I couldn't help myself
Sean
N8BOA
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RE: VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by N6AJR on December 1, 2004
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some of us have just tooooo much freeeee time on our hands..
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RE: VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by W2DUG on December 1, 2004
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Uh, yeah...good luck with that. And make sure you submit an article with lots of pictures to the ham magazines when you get it all together. I'm sure there are lots of OMs out there just waiting for the plans so they can do it themselves.
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VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by W3DCG on December 1, 2004
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Dangerously fun, or dangerously foolish?
Depends on how good you are on that thing.
I'd sure be interested in that top loaded vertical mount,
I can only imagine- all the gear mounted on you, the back-pack mounted antenna, etc.
Anyway I'm thinking you must be begging to break stuff, including possibly some bones! Those will heal, but will your K-2?
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VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by G0GQK on December 1, 2004
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That made me smile ! Never ever, have I ever thought that someone would ride a unicycle while having a bit of a chat on 2 metres ! Do you live in California ?
What about another challenge ? The first unicycle CW HF trans Atlantic contact with a radio amateur riding a penny farthing ?
73, Mel
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VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by KG4DNI on December 1, 2004
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Great responses!
If you visit my website, I have some BW pictures there on the unicycle pack that I am sewing together. Some pictures I will have to redo to make them load quicker.
It is a bit wobbly if I don't keep everything in the pack tight and there is a possibility of hitting powerlines "like a bumper car".
I got inspired to do this for 3 reasons:
1. Have fun on the radio and loose weight at the same time.
2. I was going post myself on the unicyle for the Elecraft website, but Eric Swartz stated that the picture had to be related in someway to Elecraft.
3. Be the first or second to append "/UM" to my callsign.
I don't plan to ride on the busy roads, just backroads.
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RE: VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by KD5ZEQ on December 1, 2004
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Unicycling should not be done
with ham radio just for fun!
I was once a one-wheel wonder,
until I made this one big blunder
On the road I got mashed
I did a “dit’ when I should have ‘dashed’
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VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by KD4HRI on December 1, 2004
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I used to play tuba and ride a Unicycle. I don't see any reason you should not be abke to do Unicycle HF.
K4ed - ex kd4hri
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VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by N4ZOU on December 1, 2004
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I thought this was 12-1-2004, not 4-1-2005!
Am I confused about dates again?
Should I go see my neurologist?
Where am I? Did I slip into an alternative
Universe or did my brain surgeon leave
Something in my head…AAAHHHHHH
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RE: VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by WA6BFH on December 1, 2004
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G0GQK, such thinking is NOT REALLY dominent in California! Many more conservative (and rational) Ham's live in this state too!
I also wondered about the comments about a counterpoise
for the antenna. A quarter wavelength on 40 Meters is about 33 feet long, of course, 20 Meters is only about half of that.
Maybe though he should use the "Ground Stake" as offered on the antenna manufacturers web page. I recommend though that he also bury the wheel of the bike. It might be easier to "stall", provide better 'ground surface conductivity' for the counterpoise; and most importantly KEEP HIM OUT OF TROUBLE!
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RE: VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by K4JSR on December 1, 2004
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At last! A wheel mobile ham!
Just one question; Where do you mount the Bug Catcher antenna?
73, Cal K4JSR
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RE: VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by OZ8AGB on December 2, 2004
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Yes! Hanggliding! How to make a log periodic into a hangglider......
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VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by VA3DXV on December 2, 2004
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Ham radio PLUS a unicycle.... nice. As if ham radio alone isn't already nerdy enough! Have fun :)
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RE: VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by KC8VWM on December 2, 2004
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Hmmm.. ARPS Equipped Unicycle?
I liked the idea about strapping the radio pack to your chest. Perhaps one could build an portable APRS tracking device in a similar fashion...?
Thanks Daniel for getting "my wheels turning." :)
Looks like i'm off to the workbench. Very creative article, thanks again.
Charles - KC8VWM
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RE: VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by KC8VWM on December 2, 2004
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"How to make a log periodic into a hangglider."
Another interesting thought..
I like it!
73
Charles - KC8VWM
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RE: VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by WA6BFH on December 2, 2004
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OZ8AGB, Michael your Hang Glider idea is actually quite intriguing! I'm a little old "long of tooth and fat of gut" for such activities but, I would love to encourage some young Ham in such an endeavor!
A Delta winged Hang Glider would make a very easy platform assembly for a 6 Meter through say 23 cM Log Periodic antenna constructed using small gauge wire. A small hand held transceiver, such as the VX7, would make a good low power easily portable signal source to study upper atmosphere propagation on several wavelength bands.
A truly spirited young guy or gal could easily carry such a rig up to several thousand feet, and have full freedom of flight to go down to more reasonable point to point elevation. This would I think be a very cool way to study Tropospheric Ducting, Knife Edge Refraction, Thermal Inversion, and maybe even VHF/UHF Back-Scatter!
If such an aviator/Ham is out there and interested in such a scheme, I'm available to help design the antenna, and as a 'Ground Station' for data logging!
73! de John WA6BFH
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RE: VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by K4JSR on December 3, 2004
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Charles, KC8VWM, said, ""How to make a log periodic into a hang glider.
Another interesting thought.."
I guess having a log periodic hang glider would be
nicer than wearing a sign saying, "YAGI GO HOME!"
But then you could call it an "UDA-CYCLE".
I am going to phase array now!
73, Cal K4JSR
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RE: VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by K4JSR on December 3, 2004
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N6PEH, we can't stop! It hurts soooo good!
:-) :-P :-D
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VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by WA1RNE on December 3, 2004
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"Build a Puff-and-Sip Keyer" with probably 5WPM speed, until someday I may learn to copy code in my head."
Sounds like CW with a smoke and a beer in between, which would account for the slow code speed, right??
I know what you're up to: you use one of those Bud light hats with a beer on each side with plastic tubing; the cig goes on one hand, the key in the other.
.....say it isn't so.......
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RE: VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by KC8VWM on December 3, 2004
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I was going to suggest wiring an index finger and nose in combination. The rider then simply rides around tapping their nose sending CW.
This would leave "puff & sip" options open for other related activities.
KC8VWM /UN
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VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by WA2JJH on December 4, 2004
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hEY TO EACH HIS OWN.
You would not last 5 minutes in some area's, like the South Bronx or the lower east side.
Well, make sure you photograph/videograph the event.
I would like to think of my self as an honest person.
If I saw you spill out on a unicycle, I would give you first aid. The elecraft K-2........Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
HI_HI
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VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by W3DCG on December 4, 2004
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KG4DNI/UM.
cool.
I was thinking about mounting a TX Bug Catcher on the platform of my kids' side-by-side 2 seater bicycle trailer when they out grow it, wire mesh in the flooring, and yeah- even sometimes trailing some 1/4 wave counterpoises.
But then the idea of "W3DCG/4BM" kinda turned me off of it... 8-}
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RE: VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by KC8VWM on December 4, 2004
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You haven't lived until you have tried operating a CW station in the Bronx using mobile stilts.
It beats a unicycle mobile legs down.
It incorporates the use of ladder line on my left leg reflector element in my mobile stilt operation.
NVIS characteristics are optimized as antenna elevation is achieved using this method. In addition, line of sight over the horizon is optimal for the inclusion of the VHF/UHF CW bands in this particular installation.
However, the mobile APRS proponent wasn't taken into consideration or necessary as most cases demonstrated they will simply see you coming.
Power is supplied for the entire stilts mobile operation by means of a NASA solar panel that is deployed from a special motorized hat similar to a space satellite array. It simply folds back into a square on your head when not in use. I tried using a remote controlled Canada Arm for adjusting the VFO but found you are better off changing the VFO manually than by remote control.
Special pepper spray canisters were strategically installed and located on the stilts for the purpose of operating while in the Bronx.
So far the project is in the up and up.
73
KC8VWM /SM
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RE: VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by VE7NGR on December 6, 2004
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> How about hand gliding with a key strapped to the knee
I have operated 2 metre FM "parachute mobile".
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VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by W0RW on December 7, 2004
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Good Job Daniel.
Please join us HF Bike and Pedestrian Mobiles on the
HF Pack frequencies: 18157.5 and 14342.5 KHz.
Go to http://www.hfpack.com/
for more information
Paul w0rw
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RE: VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by KG6ILU on December 7, 2004
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> I used to play tuba and ride a Unicycle.
A metal tuba? Sounds like a ground plane to me.
Tune that sucker up!
Phil
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RE: VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by K4RAF on December 9, 2004
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How about 2.4GHz unicycle?
http://www.dailywireless.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2919
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VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?James bond mod!
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by WA2JJH on December 10, 2004
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Well I have to admit, it would be a hoot to see!
VFW-lets not make the dude paranoid. Besides I use pepper spay as mouth wash.
Lets be real creative. Total James Bond!
1)EJECTION SEAT!
2)A flame thrower can be made out of a can of LYSOLE
3)BREITLING EMERGENCY WATCH. Tuned to 243MHZ not 121.5!
Yup they do make a watch with a 50 mw emergency beacon in it.
4)Special antitheft. If you finger print does not match up, a huge bayonnete is activated on the ejection seat, THE CAN OF LYSOL IS IGNIGHTED... HOLY flying SHISH-BE-BOB!
5)MODIFIED 500MW GREEN YAG LASER. Remove the IR filter you get 500mw of green + 4 Watts of IR from the YAG PUMP DIODE.
6)the beam can be diffused. It will make you inviable to any CCD camera!!! It only works in the dark and is solar powered.
7)Just a few R.P.G.'S
8)a bag filled with cockroaches, suger, and anabolic steroids will break open. Nobody will touch the k2!!!!
9)It will pick up doggie doo. Press a button the combo of 100% METHANOL, DOGGIE DOO, and epoxy resin...
The dude will have a hard time explaining why he is encased in dog crap.
10)EMERGENCY EJECTION FOR THE K-2. THE K-2 will have a reward, if fowarded to my mail box!
SRI dude, just having some fun. Creativity is important.
Also build a mini SRB. Make sure you eject the k-2!
I do not think the K-2 will survive 5G's of thrust!
73 and holiday greatings--MIKE
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VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone? Hmmmmmmm
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by WA2JJH on December 10, 2004
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Actually Daniel, ham radio needs more publicty stunts.
GOTO WWW.EXTREME_VIDEO.com. You can get a FREE subscription.
They got dudes that use 2.4 gig links on skate boards
or just about anything to get that Ultra unique camera angle.
2.4 gig free links are popping up everywhere.
I have seen people get top dollar for getting a certain shot. a certain perspective.
You might be able to emulate a shacky falling helicopter. The cameras and tx/rx's are dirt cheap.
So called specialty shot camermen can make up to $1500/DAY.
I hope you got a chuckle out of the james bond mod.
You could go sub-s incorperated. Just remember to stay off of channel 6 or 7 because that is shared with ham.
If you go commercial, you got new rules to learn.
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VHF/UHF/HF Unicycle Mobile Anyone?
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by XE1UFO on December 13, 2004
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To the two poets (KB7LYM and KD5ZEQ) who added their comments in prose:
You're a poet
and didn't know it,
but your feet tell it:
they're Longfellows
and smell like the Dickens!
XE1UFO
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