@g7vkq@mastodon.radio avatar

g7vkq

@g7vkq@mastodon.radio

Full time husband & dad, chess parent, IT professional, all-round technogeek & amateur radio enthusiast (G7VKQ). LIDS G-QRP 13104. ❤️ all things Hallyu

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arstechnica, to random
@arstechnica@mastodon.social avatar

What I learned when I replaced my cheap Pi 5 PC with a no-name Amazon mini desktop

Pi 5 is still an odd fit for day-to-day desktop use; cheap mini PCs come closer.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/04/what-i-learned-when-i-replaced-my-cheap-pi-5-pc-with-a-no-name-amazon-mini-desktop/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

g7vkq,
@g7vkq@mastodon.radio avatar

@peter @arstechnica there are some excellent mini-PCs for good prices…but go to the next tier of pricing, and there are even server class options - the Minis Forums MS01 is great - 13900H CPU with 6P core & 8E cores, Proxmox works really well on it, 2.5 & 10Gb network capacity, plenty of SSD slots, DDR5 memory. What’s not to like…except it’s uses a bit more power than my small Asus PN51 boxes with Ryzen CPUs (…but still well under 100W most of the time)

g7vkq,
@g7vkq@mastodon.radio avatar

@peter @arstechnica my Asus boxes run around 12-20W…and with today’s electricity pricing, they make great Proxmox servers

M0CUV, to random
@M0CUV@mastodon.radio avatar

Crikey, only a few days ago I was on holiday in Reykjavik- drove past the road that has “Grindavik” crossed out. Missed the eruption, and didn’t see aurora either… but what a fantastic place! 35% of the Icelandic economy is from tourism.. it’s pricey there, but definitely worth visiting.

g7vkq,
@g7vkq@mastodon.radio avatar

@M0CUV 😔 that’s a real pity. One of the things on my bucket list is to see a spectacular display of aurora. Still…just being in Iceland would be awesome! My son is going there for a geology field trip in a few months and I know he’s really looking forward to it.

g7vkq,
@g7vkq@mastodon.radio avatar

@M0CUV did you see any aurora?

g7vkq,
@g7vkq@mastodon.radio avatar

@M0CUV the urban glow in London washes out pretty much any chance of seeing any…but some of the darker locations around the country probably have a much better chance

ON4CDJ, to shortwave Dutch
@ON4CDJ@mastodon.radio avatar

DWD barometric prediction chart received this morning on 3855 kHz

g7vkq,
@g7vkq@mastodon.radio avatar

@ON4CDJ any hobby is a good thing - it’s the passion and interest that keeps people motivated and gives them extra energy…irrespective of the subject. I have Meshtastic bits being delivered…just waiting on a case now!

g7vkq,
@g7vkq@mastodon.radio avatar

@ON4CDJ At least we live in a wonderful age for the availability of data - amateur science, meteorology etc are all enriched by our ability to collect our own data😊

g7vkq,
@g7vkq@mastodon.radio avatar

@ON4CDJ oh absolutely! My wife is constantly amazed at the diversity and obscurity of items that get delivered to our home…geophones, data collection devices, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, particulate and CO2 sensors, antennas, radios, etc! A real smorgasbord of toys 😂😊

g7vkq,
@g7vkq@mastodon.radio avatar

@ON4CDJ pressure seems to be dropping here…

g7vkq,
@g7vkq@mastodon.radio avatar

@M0CUV @ON4CDJ I bought a small vertical from McGill Microwave https://www.mcgillmicrowave.com/product/6-dbi-tuned-antenna-eu-868-2/ (they have loads of LoRa antennas). I did think about home brewing a Moxon as well

revk, to random
@revk@toot.me.uk avatar

This is one I don’t know…

JLC say one component, a tiny LED (1x1 m with 4 pads) has to be soldered within 24 hours of opening package, and if not (which JLC say they cannot guarantee) they have to be baked first, as susceptible to moisture.

I assumed it was the pads and would lead to a dry joint.

JLC are saying it’s not, and some aspect of the component itself! Surely that makes no sense as reflow would bake it anyway and moisture is a risk after soldering, if so.

Are they bullshitting me?

g7vkq,
@g7vkq@mastodon.radio avatar

@revk Mouser and Digikey have the same warning for a number of components…and frequently seal a moisture indicator in the bag too. I’ve not worried about it (as I’m hand soldering components) - but I understand it’s more critical for reflow work https://ferroxcube.home.pl/envir/info/J-STD-020C%20Proposed%20Std%20Jan04.pdf k

M0CUV, to random
@M0CUV@mastodon.radio avatar

Wow, prefixing cooked.wiki/ to the start of recipe pages is great!

https://cooked.wiki/new?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indianhealthyrecipes.com%2Fvegetable-jalfrezi%2F

g7vkq,
@g7vkq@mastodon.radio avatar

@M0CUV Even if you just use red lentils, it’s a lovely dish. We normally swap some of the herbs out for a jar of curry paste as a short cut and to add even more spice and flavour. This one works really well https://karimix.com/products/km0024

g7vkq,
@g7vkq@mastodon.radio avatar

@M0CUV Lol! We can absolutely understand where you are coming from. That paste is from a Kentish company; we tried their pastes at Macknades farm shop in Faversham (worth a visit if you’ve never been before). Quite impressed with the pastes…and we really like the vindaloo one (which is spicy, but not as hot as we expected). They are a life saver when you just want to rustle up food without the hassle in the week.

g7vkq,
@g7vkq@mastodon.radio avatar

@M0CUV Ha! Nice https://cooked.wiki/new?url=https://rupal-bhatikar.com/rice-lentil-khichdi

g7vkq, to random
@g7vkq@mastodon.radio avatar

Ooow…new radio day😊. Yu BG2FX has sent me one of his lovely little FX4CR rigs. It comes in a nice protective case, along with a small instruction pamphlet, custom mic, fused power cable and phono/usb adapter

FX4CR protective enclosure to show contents of transceiver, microphone, fused power cable, spare fuses and USB cable (3.5mm phono to USB-A)

coldclimate, (edited ) to random
@coldclimate@hachyderm.io avatar

Anybody know how to submit a GDPR request to PayPal? Can't find anything on their site (as expected)

Updated: I've not got an account with them any more. I wish to make a right of deletion request.

g7vkq,
@g7vkq@mastodon.radio avatar

@coldclimate @neil Looks like Section 18 of their Data Privacy agreement has contact details to raise a DSAR https://www.paypal.com/uk/legalhub/privacy-full#18

g7vkq, to random
@g7vkq@mastodon.radio avatar

A beautiful and relaxing video showing French radio amateur Claude Paillard’s (F2FO) skills making his own vacuum tubes (valves). Awesome skills harking back to the pre-solid state electronics era https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzyXMEpq4qw

g7vkq,
@g7vkq@mastodon.radio avatar

@M0CUV I’ll have to take a look at that channel. The artistry in making the French guy making those tubes was exquisite…a real joy to watch. I’ve also been following a Japanese guy on Twitter who’s been making tubes - also stunning! https://twitter.com/murabi10_c1815/status/1755937756147294585?s=46&t=CKKxsyuqHpOcefa99sYscw

g7vkq,
@g7vkq@mastodon.radio avatar

@M0CUV omg - I just checked their clocks - wow!

g7vkq, to random
@g7vkq@mastodon.radio avatar

I hear a new iOS app for FT8 (&FT4) is going to appear soon - called iFTx. Not sure how it will connect to rigs…but apparently it will be available soon… Author is called Christoph Nadig. The screenshots look like it will be an FT8CN alternative for iOS

M0CUV, to random
@M0CUV@mastodon.radio avatar

Looks like I’ll be yeeting Windows 11 into the Sun quite soon. AI Explorer - total surveillance nightmare. https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/windows-11/what-is-windows-11-ai-explorer-everything-you-need-to-know-about-microsofts-upcoming-defining-ai-pc-feature

g7vkq,
@g7vkq@mastodon.radio avatar

@M0CUV Yeez…I wish we could eject all this AI crap into our nearest star to combust…it’s just shit🤬

M0CUV, to random
@M0CUV@mastodon.radio avatar

Oh that Apple ad, crushing all the creative things that bring joy, replacing them with an iPad…. I’ve used and enjoyed Apple systems from the Apple ][ onwards, but how the hell did that appalling monstrosity ever get approved? Someone has clearly lost touch with human creativity - perhaps they should move on?

g7vkq,
@g7vkq@mastodon.radio avatar

@M0CUV I would not turn down the new iPad though…looks pretty interesting…but ever so expensive!

gilester45, to EyeHealth
@gilester45@twit.social avatar

I just got back from the opticians with my first ever pairs of (apparently I have reached "that age".)

$Child loudly proclaims "Daddy you look SO WEIRD".

Wife looks like she's trying very hard not to laugh.

I, uh, think that's a success?

g7vkq,
@g7vkq@mastodon.radio avatar

@gilester45 @revk This age malarkey is a real learning journey! I went to the opticians recently with an eye issue…and the optician declared that I’d reached that age when you achieve the next eye related milestone… https://www.rnib.org.uk/your-eyes/eye-conditions-az/posterior-vitreous-detachment/ Growing old doesn’t come gracefully!

Unixbigot, to random
@Unixbigot@aus.social avatar

I've implemented a KiCad footprint that provides an "oh fuck I got tx/rx backwards again" crossover box. Not my idea but I forget where I first saw it (I think it was here on Fedi). Fit two resistors (or solder bridges) horizontally and it's straight through; fit them vertically and it's a cross-over.

https://github.com/accelerando-consulting/Kicad-Libraries/tree/master/Accelerando.pretty

A kicad footprint that is two resistor footprints, where the resistors can be fitted vertically to swap two lines, or horizontally for straight through
3D render of the crossover footprint, showing that it conceals the fact that you are a doofus who often gets data lines bass-ackwards.

g7vkq,
@g7vkq@mastodon.radio avatar

@Unixbigot @revk I saw this a few years ago…but there’s a similar post on an NXP forum from 2014 (and I guess there are earlier references before that). I like the whole pokayoke approach

ben, to random
@ben@mastodon.bentasker.co.uk avatar

deleted_by_author

    •
    g7vkq,
    @g7vkq@mastodon.radio avatar

    @ben Oh that’s so cruel! What sort of father would do that😂. I do hope you relent and share those chocolates later 👍

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