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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: CB radio Jacks?
There are several ways that RF can get into the jack control system.
For example there may be a wire just the right length to act as an antenna
ARRL
The link is to a few books on the topic.. I actually have read one or two of 'em.
But basically you use filters or chokes or bypass condensers on every lead into/out of the control board.
Yet another options is a poor connection (often the ground) on the radio or on the power to the radio putting RF on the entire coach electrical system.
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wa8yxm
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11/24/09 12:50pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: clorox in black tank?
MY prefered black tank chemical is Hydrogen Hydroxide (If you don't know the joke.. it's water)
However.. If I were going to change the valve I might well dump in a gallon of bleach first... (Actualy I'd flush well and wear gloves)
Now... What to do.. Dump and flush the tank well.. Instead of Tetford odor control get one of the waste digester products. And add it (or some Riddex)
You may need to clean via the GEO method.. In fact I'd suggest it.
Here is how
Dump tanks.. Add 1/2 cup each Calgon Water Softerner (Liquid or powder) and DAWN dishwashing liquid, Original. NOT anti-bacterial.
Optional add bag of ice but I'd not do that.
DRIVE.. at least 50 miles
Dump .. NOTE sensors will show a full tank (And when you unhook the hose you will very likely see what it is full of... bubbles)
Once the bubbles pop you should be good.. but again add the Waste Digester product.
Once you use up the rest of your expensive chemicals.. Don't replace.
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wa8yxm
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11/24/09 12:42pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Please clear up Kindle question
With a Kindle:
(a) Can I download e-books from Amazon VIA THE INTERNET to my computer and then transfer them to the reader?
Well I do not have a Kindle.. Just Kindle forPC. But I believe you can from reading the documentation on the PC
(b) Can e-books in non Kindle formats be purchased from non Amazon sources and then be converted (on my computer) to Kindle format?
No clue.. But you can download the free Kindle for PC so you can read 'em for free on your Poor Comptuers.
(c) Must e-books in Kindle format be purchased from Amazon?
NO, Project Gutenburg (A free book service) gives away books in the "Mobi" format (Moblie) and those are compatable with the Kindle (at least with Kindle for PC that I have and others with the hand held say it works with theirs too)
I do not have cell service so must be able to use the Internet. Would like to buy a reader for my wife. Process must be easy.
I do not believe you need cell service.. I believe the Kindle kind of has it 'Built in' and the cost is included in the price.
However.. You will need to verify that (other posters please comment)
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wa8yxm
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11/24/09 12:35pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: What is wrong with my wireless router?
You said you have 44% when it is working and nothing when it quits
44% is a bit low.. I like at least 60% or more to insure a good connection
It might be as simple as your spouse moving about the house and getting between the router and the computer's Wi-Fi client.
Hawking technologies make some "Directional" adapters.. (they look like a mini-radar dish or sat tv dish) might work better, or one of the "high gain" adapters that you will find about a thousand threads on here.
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wa8yxm
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11/24/09 12:30pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: setting up home hook up
First: as to your question: Should I install outlet on house or run underground and put in a post? Depends.. How far from house to trailer?
The advantage of underground cabling is security.. Those 30 amp cables are heavy duty copper.. I know folks who prowl for copper they can snag and sell to the local recyclers.... And they have been known to cut a cord off an RV (not the ones I know) just to get the copper.
So underground is not so easy to "Hack" (as in hatchet)
Now: a suggestion:
Put in a 50 amp outlet.. not a 30 but a 50.
Why? (you ask)
I have read story after story after story of a professional electrician putting in a 30 amp outlet for an RV and, since the outlet is identical to a common 30 amp dryer outlet, he wired it up for 240 volts and flash fried somebody's rig.
If you have him put in a 50 amp RV outlet..... And then use a dogbone adapter.
You won't be having that problem.
Plus.. If you ever upgrade to a 50 amp rig.... The house electrical upgrade will take about zero seconds and since time is money cost zero dollars.
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wa8yxm
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11/24/09 12:27pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Need to Replace Plug on 50Amp Shore Cord
Step one UNPLUG!!!!!
Now take a hacksaw, I'd go about a foot up the wire from the plug.. And cut it like it was a piece of pipe or rod stock
Follow the instructions often embossed in the cover of the new plug (I used a Camco Power Pull from Camping World) and
CAREFULLY!!! Trim the outer jacket (Try to not nick the inner wires) then cut any fiber or paper that is inside back
Now trim the wires.. again as instructed in/on the cover or instructions.
Tinning the ends of the wire (Applying solder) is optional.. I did not,.
Tighten wire screws WELL. make sure all strands of wire are in the clamp and non are wandering about where they can touch what they should not.. Assemble plug.. Tape or sealant is optional prior to putting the cover on and may interfear with the cover.
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wa8yxm
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11/24/09 12:23pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Love's no more
Gee... I just got gas for my towed.. Pulled into a Speedway. Big sign said 2.59
Handed young lady 12 bucks and my Speedy Rewards card
Pump said 2.49
(Membership has it's advantages)
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wa8yxm
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11/23/09 12:59pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: New Trailer / Love's Truck Stops
Generally Loves, Flying-J, TA and other truck stops with big lots do not mind overnighters.. HOWEVER.... Some cities/counties/states have responded to the habit of some RVers parking in a Wall-mart overnight by passing "No overnight parking" laws.. Frankly I think poorly of these communities... but they do exist.
NOTE: where this happens PLEASE DO NOT BLAME THE STORE.
Who should you blame? Well, the local Campground Owner's assoication.. Good Sam's, Coast 2 Coast. And the like.. They lobby for these laws cause every night you spend in a parking lot you are not paying them campground fees.
That said.... There are a few decent reasons for limiting parking.. But I'd limit to "one night" if I were writing the laws. That way if you are tired, and thus dangerous.. You can park for the night.
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wa8yxm
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11/23/09 12:58pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Solving the Antenna Crank Problem??
Remove screw.. Holding handle in place take a small drill and insert in the hole.. Tap the switch to just mark the shaft of the antenna (on the flat please)
now remove handle and switching to a larger drill (The proper drill for the screw) drill shaft
Tap shaft
Insert screw all the way into the shaft... Locktite GREEN please on the threads
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wa8yxm
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11/23/09 12:53pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Dual Battery Chargers
Personally.. In that configuration I'd use the Xantrex.. IN another post I mentioned that the Progressive 9100 with wizard, or 9200 (Which has it built in) are among my Top Picks, I implied that there are others... XANTREX.. is also a Top Pick for me. You have over 400 amp (In fact about 500 amp hours) of AGM battery.. Depending on who made 'em they can take a charge rate of between 150 amps and 1500 amps (initial charge) (lifeline is the high rate battery) and since the Xantrex is the faster charger (And if it's like the Prosine (I do not know off hand) you can configure it for AGM... That's the one to use.
BY the way.. The Programmability of my Prosine 2.0's charger section, and the inclusion of a remote temp sensor and compensation... That's what put Xantrex on the "Best List"
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wa8yxm
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11/23/09 12:47pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Run a seperate 20A circuit?
Well. let me give you a part's list for what I did
Sears, K-mart, Lowes and Home Depot (I really like the Sears/K-Mart cords with locking outlets) sell 12ga extension cords.. Very good for this kind of thing.
Now: I got one of those round electrical inlet hatches.. you know the kind, it has a large round door big enough to hide a 30 amp plug. a small "Slot" in the door with a sliding cover passes a 30 amp cord. and at the back are a bunch of plastic "Fingures"
Mine is installed in the Wardrobe slide out.. The cord goes into the wardrobe's drawer area. and lies curled in the bottom "Dresser Drawer"
I pull the cord out... Uncoil the rest. and plug in the heater.
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wa8yxm
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11/23/09 12:41pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Where do you keep your portable generator?
Back when I had a portable generator (long story) I had a custom drop hitch on the back of the motor home.. It was really 3 different receivers mounted on the drop
A 1 1/4 inch a 2" and a second 2" the small one held an adapter that held the bicycle carrier.. The 2nd 2" (top one) held a "hitch Hauler" tray and the bottom one towed the car.
Alas... I swapped out that drop for a smaller drop.. This one is also custom built (By Blue-OX no less) and has only the 2" 4 inches down, and a "Tong" that is designed to take a ball hitch on top, but which actually holds.. The Draw-Tite bicycle carrier.. No room for the hitch hauler tray.
And the generators grew a pair of legs and walked off too.. I know who's legs they grew but am unable to prove it.
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wa8yxm
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11/22/09 01:18pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: More WIFI...
Thank you.. Have been wondering how much I download as well.
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wa8yxm
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11/22/09 01:12pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: What is wrong with my wireless router?
Linksys, and in fact most all router manufactures ship their routers on channel six
Try this... Turn it off. Then on your Garage machine right click on the computer with the ))) and choose "VIEW Available Wireless Networks" (Or if you are using software that comes with your Wi-Fi adapter open it and do a search or survey)
NOTE the channels that are in use by OTHERS Odds are several are on six.
See if anyone is using 11.. In fact map what others are using.
now.. Back indoors, hook up with Cat-5 or the laptop (Either will work but it's easier with cat-5)
Go to http://192.168.1.1 User name blank (if you have not changed it) and password: admin (again if you have not changed it)
First go to Wireless or Wi-Fi (i am not sure what Linksys calls it..) and change the channel to one that is A: Not 1 (one is a problem channel) and 2: As far from the other in-use channels as you can get.
Then go to ADMINISTRATION and change your user name and password
You may also wish to change your SSID and add WEP-PSA encryption phrase but if you do this you will have to re-connect each wireless device you use.
DO NOT FORGET YOUR PASSWORD
However if you do.. On the router is a hardware RESET hole. Insert the old un-bent paper clip and start over.
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wa8yxm
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11/22/09 01:11pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Kindle Free Books --- Any Catch?
I must admit I miss the feel of paper books when I use Kindle for PC
But I don't miss the price of paper.. Not at all.
The catch on the free Kindle books is that most of 'em are older books where copyright has expired.
Modern books. if lobbyists have their way.. Copyright may never expire as congress extends copyright far beyond the original duration (This last line is a rant)
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wa8yxm
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11/22/09 01:04pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: 6 volt battery setup - discharge/charge
Three suggestions IF YOU HAVE A SOURCE OF SHORE POWER.. One if you do not
First. when you take two six volt batteries and hook 'em up like this
-{Bat}+t-{ery}+ what you get is one 12 volt -{Battery}+ for all purposes.
Think of it that way Makes it way easier for me to type the rest of the message
So if you lift the negative lead (the one marked - before the B in Battery) after fully charging the battery up.. You should be good till spring.
or.. If you have 120 volts avaibale and a good 3-stage converter such as an Xantrex True Charge XADC or a Progressive Dynamics 9200 or 9100 WITH wizard.
Hook that wire back up and plug in
Option 3 is a BatteryMinder or Battery Tender (Both TM) or equvilent.
The BatteryMinder/Tender PLUS is supposed to charge the battery fully, then enter a "Desulfacation" cycle which may actually improve battery life and performance.. NOTE the word MAY.. I'm not sold on 'em but I'm not against 'em either.. I am very much "Middle of the road" on the plus feature.
REQUEST:
if anyone here has done testing and/or has good solid INDEPENDENT of the company info on that.. I'd love to read it.
Folks wonder sometimes question how I can know as much as I claim to know...
Answer: I ask questions like the above. and others ask them as well. and I read the answers.
And I have been doing it for many years.
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wa8yxm
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11/22/09 12:17pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Converter upgrade or not?
I see a lot of good information in this thread and I happen to be a fan of the Progress Dynamcs Intella Power 9200 line or the 9100 line WITH the optional charge wizard.. It just does not get better than those.
However I will ask the one question nobody seems to ahve ask.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE NOW.. I mean.. Some converters the improvement is not that great.
If you already have a decent 3-stage than keep it.
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wa8yxm
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11/22/09 12:09pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Video, How would you like to have this Toy?
Though that does indeed look like a cool toy
Be just my luck that the first time I sent it up I'd fly a Figure "9" with it.
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wa8yxm
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11/22/09 12:01pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: How does the US Gear Toad Brake System Work?
The US gear system consists of a few major parts... First on the tow vehicle you have the control module.. This is a small box that hooks up with just a few wires. Works exactly like most every other quality trailer brake controller. IT is a progressive controller.. That is it contains an accelerometer and thus the harder your push on the Motor Home pedal.. The harder it commands the slave to pull.
In the car you have basically 4 units (Counting the break away switch) This switch is like every other switch of it's type and in fact they make universal replacements that work just fine.. I should know
The second module is the command box.. IT can be hidden under the dash and tells the other boxes what to do (save for the above switch)
next comes a vacuum assist pump.. This vacuum pump, along with the companion check valve and T fitting, supply vacuum to the brake booster on the towed car to assist brake operation
Finally we have the brake solenoid, This is a variable strength solenoid that normally mounts under the driver's seat.. This is a permanent mount. You do not remove it to drive the car.. It can be mounted elsewhere.. In my towed it's on the factory passenger firewall covered by a fake firewall I installed to cover it (Lots of leg room on my ride)
This connects by a cable. not unlike a parking brake cable. to a bracket on the brake pedal arm.
How does it work... Very well
A few weekes ago a driver passed me and got my attention (The word FIRE! is very attention getting, trust me) he preceded it with "The back tire on your bicycle is on"
Well.. I pulled off and stopped. Did the walk around and found a few things of interest
1: The car.. Right where I expected it to be.
2: The hitch..... No longer connected to the motor home .. The receiver on the MH is mounted on a cross bar that is bolted at each end to the frame rails.. The brackets had both broken and dropped the bar, completly on the ground, The only thing connecting the car to the MH was the control wires for the hitch.
The US-Gear decelerator... Stopped the car before it hit the coach.
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wa8yxm
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11/21/09 10:35am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Can you use the leveling jacks for tire removal?
I have a 20 ton air/hydraulic bottle jack.. works great for tire removal
I have also used the leveling jacks
That said: 1: The leveling jacks on my rig are a bit.. er.. Anemic for tire removal (They will do it if I lighten the house a thousand pounds or so) and 2: The manual clearly says DO NOT
However when I did it I had tire chocks on the low side. A level floor and a host of professional truck tire guys if something went to..... you know where.
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wa8yxm
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11/21/09 10:27am |
Class A Motorhomes
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