We have been in La Paz for bout 5 day now and they have been very busy with Boat Projects and friends both newly made and from past years. I'm sitting here having taco's so I'll have to come back and post the pictures in a later post.
One of the boat projects was setting up a hotspot on WIZ that utilized a Banda Ancha USB stick. We used a TP-Link 3G router for this and I wired it all right into the main panel. All we do now is flip the switch and we can all share network and internet. We also have a Wilson cell booster and antenna mounted on the radar pole that effectively quadruples our cellular range.
I have also knocked a fair number of projects off my list by working each morning before it gets too hot. Mounted mini turning blocks and cleats to the mas to upgrade the lazy-jacks. (super smooth now). The generator shredded an impeller and the temp alarm sounded. Luckily I had the spare for this and it was pretty easy to rectify.
The large project was replacing our backstay. It was 3/8 SS with an insulated section for the HF radio. It was pretty old and i was getting uncomfortable with the state of the plastic in the insulators. I brought down a 75' piece of 11mm Dynex Dux. Which is like Amsteel, but has been stretched under heat. I spliced in Colligio thimbles, strung a 14gauge tinned and insulated wire alongside and covered the entire length with heat shrink. The tricks were getting the splice at exactly the correct length accounting for the slice "setting" under load. I was very happy with the antenna this morning listening to the sonrisa net. It's only one day but it seemed to work better than the replaced backstay. This whole setup cost less than having a rigger replace the 3/8SS and insulators. It's also got no conectors and is much easier to inspect for damage. The 11mm synthetic wire is about 4 times stronger than the 3/8 SS wire and has similar stretch. I'm quite happy with this, we will see how it holds up. I'll be adding another length and fittings to replace my spare emergency stay kit.
One of the boat projects was setting up a hotspot on WIZ that utilized a Banda Ancha USB stick. We used a TP-Link 3G router for this and I wired it all right into the main panel. All we do now is flip the switch and we can all share network and internet. We also have a Wilson cell booster and antenna mounted on the radar pole that effectively quadruples our cellular range.
I have also knocked a fair number of projects off my list by working each morning before it gets too hot. Mounted mini turning blocks and cleats to the mas to upgrade the lazy-jacks. (super smooth now). The generator shredded an impeller and the temp alarm sounded. Luckily I had the spare for this and it was pretty easy to rectify.
The large project was replacing our backstay. It was 3/8 SS with an insulated section for the HF radio. It was pretty old and i was getting uncomfortable with the state of the plastic in the insulators. I brought down a 75' piece of 11mm Dynex Dux. Which is like Amsteel, but has been stretched under heat. I spliced in Colligio thimbles, strung a 14gauge tinned and insulated wire alongside and covered the entire length with heat shrink. The tricks were getting the splice at exactly the correct length accounting for the slice "setting" under load. I was very happy with the antenna this morning listening to the sonrisa net. It's only one day but it seemed to work better than the replaced backstay. This whole setup cost less than having a rigger replace the 3/8SS and insulators. It's also got no conectors and is much easier to inspect for damage. The 11mm synthetic wire is about 4 times stronger than the 3/8 SS wire and has similar stretch. I'm quite happy with this, we will see how it holds up. I'll be adding another length and fittings to replace my spare emergency stay kit.
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