Went to the ham radio swap meet this morning - since I am a member of the club that is hosting it, I was needed to work the event. Got some great deals on parts so very happy. It was well attended with 64 vendors represented and about 200 attendees wandering about in the Stanwood Middle School gym:
I picked up three feed-through insulators similar to this one:
Five bucks for three of them was a screamin' deal - the split part in the center is designed to fit into a hole in a weatherproof box with the half on the inside connected to the transmitter circuitry and the other half on the outside feeding your antenna. Glazed ceramic stands up to a lot of radio energy - you can make these from plastic but plastic will absorb moisture from the air and you will get losses and heating. Ceramic is perfect. Like I said, screamin' deal.
I also picked up a digital picture frame - next winter I plan to start scanning a bunch of older family photos and it will be nice to have them on display. Five bucks for that too.
Spent the rest of the afternoon taking photographs of the Studio Tour - volunteered to take them this year. 32 Studios and a lot of really wonderful art and wonderful people.
Had the prime rib dinner at the Legion Hall (Second Saturday) so stuffed and feeling tired.
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