McLarenblog • Page 51 of 136 • Evaluate products and politics for you.

Comet SBB5 2M / 70cm Dualband Mobile Antenna Review

04/26/2018 Score Card Comments 0 Comment

I really recommend the Comet SBB5. This is a 2 meter and 440 antenna. It does not require a ground plane. It is almost double the length of the SBB2 which is an awful antenna. My SWR analyzer showed a near perfect SWR for 2 meters using the SBB5. Typically this antenna is attached to a vehicle. I volunteered to provide communications for a walk and run event at a local university. From past experience working this event, I found that the tall cement and steel buildings that stand like mountains between me and the event control operator posed attenuated signal strength. Using an improved antenna is one solution to ensure clear communications. You can not walk around using the antenna. Typically each operator is assigned a fix position along the walk run walk routes. The event starts at 7am and finishes at 11am. I am not going to stand for 4 hours. I decided to bring a beach chair. I also took the ProLine MS220CR microphone stand and attached a TRAM Model 3270 to the end of the mic stand so I could screw in my antenna. I also had a ABR Industries 6 foot RG316/U with SMA Male connector to allow me to use my HT radio with this antenna. I can thus sit in my chair and transmit using a superior antenna at a raised elevation.

Antenna is Recommended.

Comet SBB2 Dual Band Antenna: 146/446 MHz Review

04/26/2018 Score Card Comments 0 Comment

This review is for ham radio licensed individuals:

Like an idiot, I assumed the Comet SBB2 antenna was resonant for 2 meters when I purchased it. The package shows “146/446MHz”. After having this antenna for years, I decided to test it with my MFJ HF/VHF SWR Analyzer, model MFJ-249. The results were awful. My MFJ unit only tests 2 meters and not 440. The 2 meter test results shows the antenna to be resonant close to 160 MHz. I have two of these antennas. By looking at the two antennas, it was obvious that I had one older and one newer version. Both antennas gave the same results. The SWR reading was in the red for 2 meter operation. This antenna has Allen wrench locking screws that makes one believe this antenna can be tuned. I could not adjust this antenna. Comet should do a recall or offer a repair kit. Not Recommended.

I really recommend the Comet SBB5. It is almost double the length of the SBB2 but my SWR analyzer showed a near perfect SWR for 2 meters. Recommended.

I hope to soon buy a MFJ SWR tester that will cover 440 and update this report for that band.

Product Warning: Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Cream Cleanser

04/05/2018 Score Card Comments 0 Comment

September 6, 2017, my daughter used Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Cream Cleanser. Soon after applying this her face became red and felt hot. Her face looked like she had been out in the sun with no sun block for way too long. Not recommended.

Checked and updated: April 7, 2018

US Navy To Eliminate Two Navy Combat Camera Units. Why?

04/04/2018 Score Card Comments 0 Comment

Something seems rather odd with the recent decision to eliminate two US Navy combat camera units as reported at Navy Times.

“The Navy will eliminate it’s two combat camera units by Oct. 1 in an effort to cut costs and eliminate billets, Navy Times has learned.”

“… the communities they served have found alternative ways to meet their needs.”

“Between the two combat camera units, one of which is based in Norfolk and one in San Diego, the cuts will eliminate four active-duty officer, 50 active-duty enlisted and 31 reserve enlisted billets.”

What seems odd with this decision:
For years I have heard that combat camera persons were not being given up to date digital cameras. Cameras also seemed hard to get in the soldiers hands to use. The training for operating digital cameras appeared, to me, to be inadequate.

Is this a case of making a unit look like it can be done away by not providing the training and tools? The rational that this cutback “is an effort to cut costs” seems suspicious when you realize that the US spends more on defense than the next eight countries added together. This is obviously a priorities issue as outlined in The Balance’s article: U.S. Military Budget: Components, Challenges, Growth. Why Military Spending Is Bigger Than You Think.

As priorities go, procurement and modernization of weapons system does feed the vastly influential corporate beast.

Avast Problem

03/31/2018 Score Card Comments 0 Comment

When trying to log on using Firefox, I keep getting error messages:

I then found out that this message appeared for EVERY web site I tried! It was obvious that the problem was at MY computer. I checked every setting for Firefox and Avast.

I deleted Firefox and reinstalled it again, thinking that it was the root of the problem. When I tried to launch Firefox again, I still got the SAME error. I recently had to reinstall Avast because I could not open scan reports. As soon as Avast was deleted and I did a restart, Firefox worked perfectly. The offending program was Avast. I decided to NOT to use that program again! My computer has worked perfectly ever since.

Extreme Deficiencies In The United States

03/29/2018 Score Card Comments 0 Comment

A recent (December 15, 2017) United Nations report reveals a shocking measurement of how the United States has fallen in a whole host of categories. This report shows how the United States political system has really screwed the country, almost in total. The citizens, in particular have been shafted. The report really measures how far the United States has fallen in a long list of measurements.

Statement on Visit to the USA, by Professor Philip Alston, United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights*

Here are just a few examples:

US infant mortality rates in 2013 were the highest in the developed world.
In terms of access to water and sanitation the US ranks 36th in the world.
US ranks 35th out of 37 in terms of poverty and inequality.
America has the highest incarceration rate in the world.
U.S. placed 28th in voter turnout.

When reading the report one should think about how this current catastrophe took place. Who is responsible for diminishing this country almost to ruin?

Notice how the news organizations in the United States seem to have avoided this subject. Why? Are they complicit?