27 July 2026 Maker Net Summary
Title: UVARC Maker Net Recap
Net Host: K0WLY
Net Open Time: 19:00 Local Time
Website / Resources: #MakerNet)
Check-ins: NV9N (Andrew), N7RW, KK7RRW (Wade, Lehi), N7BEB (Bruce, Salt Lake City), KM7BLA (Spencer, Salt Lake City), KM7CSJ (Colin), K7SJC (Sherman), KM7GQN (Doug), K0WLY (Carl), KM0JI (Norm), KB0YD (Boyd, Highland), and KI7SJC (Jeff, Orem) all checked in over the course of the net.
Bench Reports:
- Carl (K0WLY): Light week — mostly out of town, ordered some parts, and accidentally fried the data lines on a USB-A port by jamming a USB-C plug into it.
- Andrew (NV9N): Modified a Yaesu FT3D handheld and an FTM-300 mobile rig with MARS-cap mods to open up out-of-band transmit (GMRS/FRS). Has been running two Creality printers (an Ender 5 Pro and newer Ender 3) non-stop making Gridfinity storage boxes for his bench. Also wrote a "POTA Hunter" program that watches WSJT-X's frequency and cross-references the POTA app to flag hunted stations automatically.
- Wade (KK7RRW): Reprogrammed all radios to a new frequency set and raved about switching everything over to Anderson Powerpole connectors, including a distribution block on the bench and a 3D-printed USB Powerpole adapter used while camping.
Group Discussion / Ideation (See transcript link below for full details):
- Interest in getting together for a group kit-build (a "QRP-Labs"-style kit, transcribed as "gearback"), possibly starting first part of August, with a Slack coordinator organizing it; Carl may run a second round in September/October.
- A member shared experience building a WSPR (multi-band "whisper") transmitter kit from an April QST article — programmable to hop 80–10m — and discussed propagation results.
- Discussion of using the Orem Library Maker Lab (which has Bambu 3D printers) as a possible meeting space for builds; confirmed meeting rooms can be reserved there.
- A running list of favorite 3D-printed ham radio accessories: dog-bone antenna insulators, pulleys for raising dipoles/masts, truck cup-holder radio head mounts, mic holders, PVC "Yagi" cross connectors (printed in ASA carbon-fiber composite), a paracord line winder shaped like a "K" instead of an "X," camera-pole antenna mast adapters, NanoVNA terminator holders with a wrist strap, an RG8X cable winder, and a rope-launching "rope guide tool" / slingshot-style "wrist rocket" for getting lines into trees.
Magic Smoke Award: No submissions this week.
Closing: Net closed at 7:41 PM local time. Carl reminded participants to send write-ups, links, or photos to k0wly.ham@gmail.com for the blog (uvarcmakernet.blogspot.com) and to join the UVARC Slack's MakerNet channel.
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