When running 5w on an antenna like that, you're gonna have to get used to that. Running QRP is fun, but only when you get a good signal path.
Here's a tip, try calling out "CQ QRP" and try to seek out contesting stations. I've had contesting stations actually stop everyone to pull me out of...
Let's see, $300/yr to keep my LLC, $200 in property taxes yearly, $50/5yrs, and $250/5yrs for training.
$2800/5yrs works out to about $550 a year.
If you guys think they're not already doing it, you're wrong. They just found a legal way to do it.
I wasn't aware there was a law prohibiting me from discharging a firearm during certain times of the year. I shoot year-round, day/night.
I don't mind when the deer hear gunshots. It just increases my chances to get more than one when rifle season opens, because they ignore the gunshot noise...
I've seen guys use RC Aircraft camera setups similarly. Personally, I use this https://www.rcplanet.com/fpv-cameras/fpv-cameras/spektrum-fpv-ultra-micro-camera-spmva1100 because I'm afraid someone would shoot my camera.
A 5.8GHz camera is going to cost more if you don't already have all the gear.
Jim is an avid pilot, has built a couple kit planes, and is a contributor to the kit aicraft community. I've never met him personally, but I've run in the same circles. He always sounded like a good guy based on what everyone said about him. That's his cell phone number listed. If I was worried...
It was a pistol in the beginning, but then I SBR'd it.
As a pistol it only cost about $440 to build. Then you get into the grey area where specialty parts caused it to rack up quick. As it sits in the safe, I've got $1950 or so into it with the can, stamps, folding stock, and 2-stage trigger.
My wife has essentially the same gun, but she built hers from an 80%.
We used a carbine spring and a YHM 9mm Buffer.
Hers runs fine with whatever ammo we feed it.
EDIT: I'm out. I can't do it that day. I've got a contractor coming to the house. If anyone wants to drive to cecil county, I can tig weld anything for you, and I've got most of the tooling to build an AK.
If my wife isn't in labor, and is in a state where I can leave for a couple hours:
I...
They cost about the same as their non-machinegun counterparts, but you had to order it specially, then file a $200 stamp, and wait a couple months to get it.
Hence the reason most people didn't go for it.