PlanetNet.org

Upgrade from Sarge to Etch

PlanetNet.org is currently getting upgraded from Sarge to Etch. I hope that this will be a seamless upgrade, but with every upgrade I have seen in the past, there is always problems. So, please be patient while I work through any problems that might arise. Thank you.

The Jeepin Gallery!

Due to recent political issues, I have made most of my Jeep gallery private. If you would like full access to this gallery please email me requesting access to this gallery. I will be more than happy to give you a log in so that you can view this gallery.

New Amateur Radio call sign KØVX

After passing my Extra exam, I figured it is only right to take advantage of some of the benefits of having a 4 letter call sign. In my earlier post you can see that had already submitted the request to get a new call sign. So today I just wanted to state that the FCC issued me my new vanity call sign (K�VX).

Callsign Rant

Ok, I have to post something about this. A few weeks back, my wife desided on a new call sign, WE8GRL. Now since my past experence with the FCC site was, well difficult, I thought I would take the easy route and try one of those websites that does it for you. In this case we tried W5YI. At the start everything went well, but after a few days had gone by I hadn't heard anything, and I thought this was pretty strange. I sent and email to him asking if they got my request. The response I got back was strangly rude telling me that I need to call him right away. So when I had a chance I gave him a call and he immediately went off on me saying, why don't you answer your phones, don't you listen to your messages, are you not getting my emails? Taken away for a second I didn't know how to respond. Quickly coming back to my senses and thinking to myself, I didn't recieve any emails from him..., I had to prove my self. FYI, i run my own mail server for my domain. I quickly check my logs for his domain while we are still on the phone, and find that his email is being blocked by SORBS. Now any self respecting service provider / domain owner knows this is a bad thing. Most ISPs will block your email because of this. And that is why I never got any of his messages. I immediately told him this and he blew it off like it was not big deal. I then start remember for the past couple of days we have been getting strange phone calls durning all times of the day including 7am in the morning to as late as 11pm all with caller ID blocked. Yep, as far as I can figure it, that was W5YI trying to get ahold of me. But think about this, how many of you anwer the phone if the caller id is blocked? I sure don't, 99% of those calls are telemarketers. And as far as voice mail goes... we just don't check it that much. We both have cell phones and our friends and family know how to get ahold of us. The voice mail is only checked every few days.

Anyways, the point of this is story is, if you run a business, don't block your caller id, let people know who you are. Make sure your email is not blocked on any RBL's. And the number one rule, do not chew out the customer, no matter what the reason!

To top this story off, a couple weeks later I got my Extra license and wanted to get a 4 letter call sign... Um... do I go back to W5YI where I will just get chewed out again? Nope, I go to the source, the FCC. And I have to tell you, the FCC site was easier than using W5YI's site, and I wasn't over charged for it either. LOL, it only costs $20 for a vanity call sign at the FCC where W5YI charges twice that much.

Now I know some people out there like working with W5YI, and that is good for you. But I had what would be called the worse experence with anyone I have ever done business with. For any of you thinking about getting a vanity call sign, or updating your address, or any maintenance to you call sign, just go to the FCC site and do it there. It is cheaper, easier, and much less hasle.

Thank you for listening to my rant.

KC9BIW

I passed my Amateur Extra!

Well I was able to pull it off. After 2 months of intense studying, I was able to pass my Amateur Extra on the first try. I have to say, of all the Amateur Radio tests, the Extra is defiantly the hardest one. Now that it is done though, I can finally enjoy my new privileges. On a side note, a friend of mine also went in to get his Amateur radio license and passed both his Technician and his General today.

Amateur Radio Morse Code requirement dropped!

As many of you may already may know the FCC morse code requirement for amateur radio has been officially dropped. Today marks that day. As of today, you will no longer need to pass a morse code test to get your Amateur radio license. If you are interested in either upgrading your current Amateur radio license or getting your license for the first time, feel free to check out my site about Amateur Radio. 73's

Passed! My General amateur radio license.

Today I took, and passed my general element 3 amateur radio license. This was done in lieu of the code drop by the FCC. I currently hold my Technician license with a General CSCE. When the FCC make the code drop law, I can submit my General CSCE and upgrade my privs to the HF bands. If you would like to get your amateur radio license, check out my ham radio links. Now it is time to study for my extra!

Phase 2 on the Jeep Project is complete!

Yes, that is right another major phase is done with the Jeep. Phase 2 included a 4 inch short arm lift, 33" tires, and new wheel with correct back spacing, a dana 44 for the front, rear disc bresks, new gearing (4.55), and ARB lockers for the front and rear. Today marked the day that I finished installing all the above. Now it is time to ride the jeep and stop building it for a while. Feel free to check out my Jeep Project site to see a complete list of upgrades.

New Montana License Plate

Families for Outdoor Recreation just release a new License plate available in Montana. This plate and the proceeds from it are used to support our public lands, and to keep them open for the public to use them. So if you are planning on getting a new plate or renewing an old one, order one of these for you car or truck. The money goes to a good cause and it will benefits us all in the long run.

Northwoods Jeep Jamboree

Came back from a great trip in Crandon, Wisconsin. My Dad and I went to the Northwoods Jeep Jamboree with Chris and his wife. We took the trails nick named CannonBall and SOB. Both were rated a 7 out of 10, and were damn fun. These trails were probably the most difficult trails I have done yet. Between the 2 rigs, Chris and I had a bent fender, broken axle, bent transfer case skid, bent gas tank skid. And I only had the bent fender. :) Anyways I have posted some pictures of the ride at, http://www.planetnet.org/site.php?file=gallery&g2_itemId=5277 I would highly recommend this Jamboree to anyone who is thinking about going. The trail guides were great, the food was good, and the trails were awesome. They have trails for the stock jeep all the way up to the well built jeep.