@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social avatar

kc2ihx

@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social

Been a novice at this hobby since 2001, never a Novice. Aspiring homebrew radio builder. Parent to a kindergartner. Lefty. Also https://vis.social/@eheisman, with occasional cross-posting

other interests: #birds #bicycles #woodworking

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ai6yr, to random

Seeking eggplant recipe ideas, as I have one limp eggplant in the fridge and 8 eggplants growing in hydroponics (which may produce a massive amount of eggplant).

So far my repertoire includes 2 dishes:

  1. Eggplant Parmesan (Italian)
  2. Eggplant in Garlic Sauce (Chinese)

(the family hates eggplant, except me, so we never eat it ๐Ÿค” )

kc2ihx,
@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social avatar

@ai6yr @BakerRL75

I need to know more about this high from eggplant leaves for the squirrels... our yard is home to a big family of them.

But recipe suggestions:

ai6yr, to hamradio

Hmm, Gigaparts selling a $900 "mystery box" all-band (UHF/VHF/50/HF) radio. ๐Ÿค”

kc2ihx,
@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social avatar

@N9DRB @bud_t @ai6yr

I mean, the advertisement image is distinctively a stylized 7100...

kc2ihx,
@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social avatar

@va3db @ai6yr

I didn't order a mystery box (and kinda hate the idea) but I'm going to be so disappointed if it's a NOS TS2000.

kc2ihx,
@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social avatar

@bud_t @N9DRB @ai6yr

I just noticed it's even tuned to "7.100?"

Icom 7100 stock image from another ham store, also tuned to 7.100

kc2ihx,
@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social avatar

@bud_t @N9DRB @ai6yr

Besides, I already have a 706MkIIG, I don't think there are any D-STAR systems I can hit from my shack, and that angled head unit just looks difficult to mount in my vehicle.

But I'd really love to see a new radios in the "DC to daylight" mobile sector.

ai6yr, to random

Realized I am not geeky enough to own a light saber or a Star Wars shirt. ๐Ÿค”

kc2ihx,
@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social avatar

@ai6yr

I realized half way through the grocery trip this afternoon that I was kinda wearing a star wars shirt. (Just happened to be top of the clean pile)

https://www.trollart.com/product/return-of-the-sockeye/

Geojoek, to random
@Geojoek@mastodon.hams.social avatar

"$200+ for an arborist throw line launcher!?!? I can make my own for $20".

It.... kind of works? (Video in thread).

The surgical tubing I bought isn't quite robust enough and it turns out pouches to hold the throw bag are a whole school of engineering unto themselves. I ended up spending $35 on a replacement pouch + tubing from an actual arborist throw line launcher. So am in $55 but that's still a lot cheaper than buying one.

kc2ihx,
@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social avatar

@Geojoek

Is that your shed up the hill? You said it was way up the hill but I hadn't realized quite how steep.

kc2ihx, to random
@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social avatar

Finally got a chance to prove to myself that the $60 Eliminator I bought actually does something. Tuned to a local broadcast station with a harmonic on 3.960 that comes in S9+20, turning on the device, it completely disappears down to the S4 noise level that I am picking up across the band.

Only concern is that other than the power button, it seems completely insensitive to other settings.

kc2ihx,
@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social avatar

@ai6yr

Kind of hard to tell with these band conditions...

The gain knob on the primary antenna (not the noise antenna) seems to have an effect on my background noise levels.

NanoRaptor, to random
@NanoRaptor@bitbang.social avatar

If I were to go hunt down an old ThinkPad as the one ThinkPad for my collection, given the Wallstreet PowerBook is one of my ever-favourites, what year & model should I be hovering around?

kc2ihx,
@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social avatar

@uliwitness @cstross @guffo @NanoRaptor

I've never heard of them courting Apple for a Mac OS license fee but that doesn't seem that far fetched.

I think this is the thinkpad in question:
https://www.os2museum.com/wp/ibm-thinkpad-power-series-850/

ai6yr, to random

Anyone need a water cooled supercomputer? Maybe put it in your villain's lair? https://gsaauctions.gov/auctions/preview/282996

kc2ihx,
@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social avatar

@ai6yr somewhere in the ad I thought I read that all the cables were removed and in boxes, but carefully labeled for reassembly.

That almost sounds worse...

ai6yr, to cycling

Ran some errands by bicycle today... surprised how easy it actually is to get to the store here without running into ANY traffic, if you know the back route. A lot more people could bicycle to the store, if there were a culture change (living in car-driven SoCal).

kc2ihx,
@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social avatar

@meganL @doskel @ai6yr

My dentist's office keeps offering to let me bring my bike inside, as they don't have a rack, and the receptionist thinks "it's a rough neighborhood". Bringing it inside seems like a big hassle, so I usually just lock it to a lamp post or tree.

But yes, I try to carry my bike helmet in places to subtly signal that I rode my bike there. And I'd love to see the city or someone offer grants to businesses to install usable racks.

kc2ihx, to random
@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social avatar

But my wood scrap pile goes in a container, and if I can't fit a piece in it, I have a rule that something else has to come out. In theory that ensures my scrap pile will just get better and not bigger.

ve3qbz, to random
@ve3qbz@mastodon.radio avatar

Inspired by late night mastodon.radio conversations, I put in a low-ball best offer on a TRS-80 Model 102, not expecting it to be accepted, but it was. So I guess TNC field packet is a go? What have I done? ๐Ÿ˜œ ๐Ÿค 

Looks minty. I will order a replacement RAM backup battery and a re-cap kit just in case (battery certainly needs to be replaced), that's like $20 in parts. And a DB-25 to DB-9 RS-232 cable.

TRS-80 model 100 and that glorious RS-232 port
TRS-80 model 100 closeup of the monochrome screen

kc2ihx,
@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social avatar

@croyle @Stormgren @ve3qbz

I have been much more selective in what junk I keep after having to clean out my dad's garage. (which was also full of stuff that came from my grandpa's garage.)

After you find the fourth or fifth 2ft bit of telephone or segment of hose, you start to wonder if there was ever a plan for it.

kc2ihx,
@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social avatar

@croyle @Stormgren @ve3qbz

But my wood scrap pile goes in a container, and if I can't fit a piece in it, I have a rule that something else has to come out. In theory that ensures my scrap pile will just get better and not bigger.

ai6yr, to random

The Mainichi: "Hippo-larious mistake: DNA test reveals Osaka zoo hippo 'Gen-chan' actually female" https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240422/p2a/00m/0na/034000c

kc2ihx,
@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social avatar

@ai6yr

This is one of those posts of yours where I have to go read the thread to find out if this is related to a project of yours or something in the news...

kc2ihx, to hamradio
@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social avatar

Got a bunch of adapters from my SK neighbor's estate. A small sample pictured below, some of them are in better shape than others, quite a few are tarnished (see examples in middle and on the right). Is it worth cleaning these up, and with what?

Also, what is that one on the lower right? I have about a half dozen of them.

kc2ihx,
@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social avatar

@ai6yr

I just grabbed a handful from one. Sorting them is tonight's project for after chores are done.

kc2ihx,
@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social avatar

@ai6yr

Maybe I found your barrel connectors... There's at least a dozen here. Haven't seen your sock though.

kc2ihx,
@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social avatar

@ai6yr

And yes, I have totally found UHF barrel connectors in the place where my pockets get emptied before I do laundry.

vees, to random
@vees@epistolary.org avatar

I just realized my kids put clean glassware away in the cupboard right side up. I always put them upside down so that dust settles on the outside and not the bottom. Now Iโ€™m not sure if thatโ€™s weird or not.

kc2ihx,
@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social avatar

@vees

We definitely do this in my house, at least for our regular drinking glasses.

Geojoek, to amateurradio
@Geojoek@mastodon.hams.social avatar

So what's a cheap, small, light plastic container folks might use as an enclosure for a balun / unun for portable ops than one might have lying around the house or could get at a hardware store?

Outdoor junction boxes are too big and bulky / not great to throw in a backpack.

kc2ihx,
@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social avatar

@Geojoek

Altoids tins are the classic choice, although I could see the metallic case potentially presenting a problem with some designs.

kc2ihx,
@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social avatar

@Geojoek

Also, some other food containers ...

Scene: my kitchen
Spouse: why has this (round plastic) corn starch container been sitting out on the counter near the back door for two weeks?
Me: radio...
S: what about this (round plastic, smaller, baking powder) one?
Me: radio...?
S: ๐Ÿ™„

kc2ihx,
@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social avatar

@ai6yr @Geojoek

"It's for a thing called a balun, you use it to connect an antenna to..."

"I am sorry I asked."

ai6yr, to random

I am short ten yen coins in my disaster supply kit. Also, wow! You can touch a fire extinguisher! ๐Ÿ˜…

kc2ihx,
@kc2ihx@mastodon.hams.social avatar

@ai6yr

I keep spare glasses in the glovebox of the car. Not that I'm always traveling with my car, but it's a place that's not inside my house, and good in case something happens on a road trip.

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