Taking Antennas Into Your Own Hands

https://preview.redd.it/qknb1t5tnt8e1.jpg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ad5ed35a9db5a60b321f66c84241638a28915544

https://preview.redd.it/qm5l1fltnt8e1.jpg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cc769cca9add9629a09377a1ab09ef9390d79432

I was having trouble getting messages out with this baby stubby antenna that came with my Heltec V3. The obvious solution was to climb up on the roof of the garage and hold it up for 5 min like a crazy person! I did successfully make contact 10km away though! I am just starting at this and am getting a new antenna that should be a bit more adequate.

Any tips for newbies? Any etiquette things I should know? I set myself to client_mute so I don't mess up the mesh with my crappy hardware lol.