On Sun, 29 Apr 2012 16:24:52 -0600, "Irv Finkleman"
wrote:

I have an MFJ-259B -- couldn't live without it, and with all the
stuff I gave away this was the one thing that I just couldn't part with.

For when you transmit into it by accident...
http://802.11junk.com/jeffl/pics/2011-12-03-Storm/
The MJF-259B is similar to the MFJ-269B, except that it lacks the
440MHz section. It's a very handy instrument, but is rather fragile
in that the detector diodes are connected directly to the RF
connector. One blast of too much RF, too much static electricity, or
even too much DC, and the diodes go poof.

Good move! I've always maintained that if you give me any old
piece of metal almost anywhere, I'd find a way to load it and get
on the air!

There's also the rain gutters.

This case now though, is the first time I ever went into a place
that seemed impervious to signals. I've often operated from
indoors with no problem, and here, the first time I flashed up the
receiver, thought it had gone dead -- that's how bad it was. The
first thing I did was checked the protective diodes on the
antenna connector and as soon as I found them OK, opened
the window and strung a short wire outside -- then everything
was 5/9 plus!

Welcome to the joys of modern energy efficient construction. The
walls are full of aluminum foil backed insulation for both thermal and
acoustic insulation. The windows are coated with Low-E Titanium
Nitride IR reflective coatings (40 ohms per square), which also blocks
RF. The roofing material is carbon doped (instead of asbestos) which
absorbs RF. The foundation is concrete, which also absorbs RF.
Meanwhile, the proliferation of microprocessors, switching power
supplies, and BPL like devices, offers multiple sources of QRN. You
had it easy at previous locations.

As per another sailor many years ago said, 'I have not
yet begun to fight!'

Fighting is easy. It's negotiation that drives me nuts.

--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558