Anything and everything Amateur Radio and beyond. Heavily into Open Source and SDR, working on a multi band monitor and transmitter.
#geek #nerd #hamradio VK6FLAB #podcaster #australia #ITProfessional #voiceover #opentowork
My gender goal is that we build a society where your gender matters less than your hair colour and that your hair colour is a matter of personal preference.
Here's a better question:
Scientists. . how many laws have been gazetted that completely ignore or contradict actual science?
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof. This particular claim appears to be nothing more than "we're as good as Google".
Consider for a moment the hundreds of thousands of Microsoft employees over 50 years who have been churning out code and contrast that with how long the current crop of LLMs have been able to even begin to generate something vaguely resembling code, let alone actual code that compiles, let alone works, first time.
In my opinion, this is (and very likely Google's statement) yet another marketing claim with nothing but smoke and mirrors to complete the illusion.
Cue the LLM fans ...
I get the sense that this list is constantly growing and acts as an incentive to invent new words that end up on the list.
By that measure, Emma is a rockstar and Darius is being bullied by their classmates and the teacher.
Be kind to yourself.
Here's an idea
Cook double the rice you need for a meal and put half in the fridge for the next day.
Convenient, cheap and available from your own fridge.
So, what prompted this?
It succeeded.
If you're lucky you can pull the power cord and restore balance to the world.
I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic, observant, or something else. There have been many a meal where I was asked what I wanted to eat and it's rare that I go beyond the words "surprise me", knowing full well that the person asking would eat the same as I was offered, making the "surprise", less of a risk and more of an adventure.
In this case, OP asked a completely unanswerable question to which there was absolutely no reasonable answer, since we know nothing about the person, their interests, their experience, the hardware they have access to, or anything remotely resembling a needs analysis.
So, even my answer, generic and random as it might appear, was based on how I use a computer, namely, to be productive. I've been using them for over 40 years, mostly like that, with some sojourns into art and personal expression, not nearly worthy of public scrutiny, but not specifically "productive" as such.
So .. what were you attempting to say?
It's interesting that you use the phrase widow maker. In Australia that's used to describe gum trees that are notorious for dropping branches without any warning.
In times of drought and stress, the trees survive by shedding branches.
Not just the animals in Australia that are out to get you 😇
After you uninstall the app, the icon will be entirely invisible.
Whatever you need to be productive.
Only downside is that the 1080p monitor that's currently got a full screen digital clock on it, facilitated by a recently dying Chromecast, will still be dying and the analogue clock attached to the hole in the Apple TV won't allow me to see the time from the other side of the room in the dark.
I suppose I could strategically drill the hole and do both, but my hands aren't that stable and my eyesight is fading, so other suggestions welcome.
As an aside, I just went hunting for the old Apple TV and haven't yet found it, so there's plenty of time before I have to commit either way.
You just reminded me that I have one. I'm going to see if I can repurpose it into a clock.
Foundations of Amateur Radio - Being an amateur without either radio or antenna #podcast
A recent comment by a fellow amateur sparked a train of thought that made me wonder why there is a pervasive idea within our community that you need a radio transmitter and antenna to be a radio amateur, moreover that for some reason, if you don't have either, you're not a real amateur.
I suppose it's related to the often repeated trope that the internet enabled modes like Allstar Link, Echolink and even IRLP, are not real radio, despite evidence to the contrary.
Instead of fighting this weird notion, I figured I'd get on with it and find a way to play even if you don't currently have the ability to erect an antenna or key a transmitter for whatever reason.
Before I dig in, a WebSDR is a Software Defined Radio connected to the Internet. It allows a user to open a web browser, pick from a massive collection of receivers around the world and listen in. Some of these also have the ability to transmit, but more on that later.
Here's the idea.
Have you ever considered tuning to a WebSD
Australia Post blames the increase in online shopping and have done so for decades.
They keep making "normal" mail more expensive, keep reducing delivery routes and increase time for post to arrive.
Parcels regularly travel across the globe in hours, sit at Australia Post for a week, get shipped across the country in a process that takes days, then sits in a warehouse 17 km away for 10 business days before a delivery is even attempted.
As far as I can tell, they're in a self induced death spiral and they managed to get the one person who was actually turning it around, fired.
She now runs Team Global Express (formerly known as Toll Global Express), you might have heard of her, the first female CEO of the Year in 2015, Christine Holgate.
Given their past performance and processes .. it's entirely possible for this to actually happen.
Foundations of Amateur Radio - Becoming Mode Agile #podcast
Over the years I've talked about different ways of using our license to transmit. I've discussed things like modes such as voice AM, FM, and SSB, and digital modes like FT8, WSPR, RTTY, FreeDV, Hellschreiber, Olivia and even Morse code.
Recently it occurred to me that there is something odd about how we do this as a community. Now that I've realised this it's hard to unsee. Let me see if I can get you to the same place of wonder.
Why is it that we as amateurs only use one such mode at a time?
Let me say that again. With all the modes we have available to us, why do we only use one mode at a time, why do we get our brain into the mindset of one activity, stop doing that in order to move to another mode?
It's weird. Amateur radio is what's called "frequency agile". What I mean by that is we are not restricted to a fixed number of channels like most, if not all other radio users. We can set our transmission frequency to whatever we want, within the restrictions imposed by our license
The regulator in #Australia, the #ACMA, is looking for submissions on updating the Amateur Radio Licence Conditions Determination
Foundations of Amateur Radio - Playing Games On-Air #podcast
One of the basic aspects of being human and growing up is the process of learning. From a young age we explore our environment, play with others, have fun, fall over and bruise our knees, get up and try again. The playing aspect of this is often discussed as a way to keep things interesting. We add a competition element as an added incentive, so much so that we formaulate it into global competitions and call it sport.
As a species it might surprise you that we spend about 1% of all Gross Domestic Product on sport, compared to science, which is about 2% of Global GDP. To give you some context, Agriculture accounts for about 4%, Manufacturing is 15%, Industry is about 26%, and Services account for roughly 62%. If you noticed that this is more than 100%, take it up with the World Bank, I'm a radio amateur, not an economist.
Over the years I've explored different aspects of our chosen hobby of amateur radio. Time and again I return to experimentation, learning and having fun. Now I absol
At its meeting on March 27, 2025, the Board of Directors of Radio Amateurs of Canada voted unanimously to cancel RAC’s plans to operate a booth at Hamvention (Dayton) in Xenia, Ohio in May. Lors de sa réunion du 27 mars 2025, le Conseil d'administration de Radio Amateurs du Canada a voté à l'unanimi...
Foundations of Amateur Radio - What is Amateur Radio really about? #podcast
When you join the community of radio amateurs, or when you briefly look over the shoulder of the nearest devotee, you're likely to discover that this is a hobby about a great many different ideas. Over the years I've discussed this aspect of our community repeatedly, talked about the rewards it brings you, about the camaraderie, about communication, learning, research, soldering, disaster recovery, public service, and all the other thousands of activities that this hobby represents to the world.
While all those things might be true for some, they're not true for everyone. Many amateurs get excited about antennas, some immediately, some eventually. The same can be said for all the other points of what we think of when we discuss our hobby with others.
Recently I saw a random comment on social media from a person who was having issues with their mobile phone on their property. I considered and ventured an opinion about what might be the cause and how they might go about discovering wha
We refer to jeans as "a pair of jeans", but the only thing that there are two of is the legs, it's still only one item of clothing.
You can't wear one leg each from two different pairs of jeans and go about your daily business, like you could for two pairs of shoes or socks, each of which is independent from the other, albeit left and right specific in various cases.
The same is true for a pair of reading glasses.
Whilst it's obvious that both glasses and jeans (and pants in general) are referred to as being a pair, due to the two legs and eyes aspect, we don't refer to a jumper as a pair of jumpers, unless there's physically four sleeves attached to two bodies.
Why is that and where else does this occur?
Why do we continue to treat Death as an exception?
Death is inevitable but we still seem flummoxed by it happening. We have all kinds of End of Life policies and procedures which do everything possible to make life difficult for those left behind.
Our language is around loss and unexpected, and grief and being bereft.
Why do we make Death so hard to process in our community and what can we do to normalise it across society?
Foundations of Amateur Radio - What is the difference between a Dummy Load and an Antenna? #podcast
Recently I started an experiment I plan to run for a year. Using a WSPR beacon and a dummy load I'm transmitting 200 mW, 24 hours a day across all bands supported by my hardware, in this case it covers 80m, 40m, 30m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m, and 10m. The aim of the experiment is to determine if, and to what extent my dummy load can be heard outside my shack. Why? Because I've not seen anyone do this and because a dummy load is widely believed to not radiate, despite evidence to the contrary.
Together with the transmission side, I've also configured an RTL-SDR dongle, initially with the telescopic antenna it came with, now, since my HF antenna isn't being used by the beacon, I'm using it instead. It's about five metres away from the beacon, outside. It's a helically wound whip resonant on the 40m band built by Walter VK6BCP (SK). It's what I've been using as my main antenna for the past seven years or so.
While I'm telling you this, my beacon has been heard by my dongle 1,182 times across
Foundations of Amateur Radio - Echos from the past, 150 ms ago #podcast
Recently Glynn VK6PAW and I had the opportunity to play radio. This isn't something that happens often so we try to make the most of it. For our efforts we had plenty of frustrations, to the point where we were joking that I should rename this to "Frustrations of Amateur Radio".
That was until we heard something weird on-air. All setup shenanigans forgotten, we marvelled at the experience.
I was playing around on the 10m band, trying to hear people making noise and potentially our first contact for the field day we were participating in, when I heard something odd. Two stations talking to each other, but the audio was strange. It was like they were doubling up, the same audio played a fraction of a second later, until that moment, something I've only ever heard in a radio studio whilst editing using a reel-to-reel tape machine with separate recording and playback heads.
Having just started using a digital only radio, at first I thought this was an artefact of the radio. I took note
Privacy-Respecting European Tech Alternatives
There is a growing sentiment that the US shouldn't be relied upon for the technologies that many people and businesses use every day. These privacy-centric recommendations come from a variety of European-based companies and organizations, that you should definitely consider checking out!
cross-posted from: https://infosec.pub/post/25342439
Amateur needs to regain access to their Google account without access to their recovery mobile phone
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.radio/post/6473282
One of our fellow amateurs needs help to recover their Google account. They have the credentials, but no longer have access to their recovery phone number.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to proceed? My Google-fu is only unearthing unhelpful forum posts without any firm process described by Google.
Anyone have any links or contacts?
Amateur needs to regain access to their Google account without access to their recovery mobile phone
One of our fellow amateurs needs help to recover their Google account. They have the credentials, but no longer have access to their recovery phone number.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to proceed? My Google-fu is only unearthing unhelpful forum posts without any firm process described by Google.
Anyone have any links or contacts?
Foundations of Amateur Radio - Bald Yak 11, the goo between hardware and software #podcast
Recently I received a question in relation to the Bald Yak project. If you're not familiar, "The Bald Yak project aims to create a modular, bidirectional and distributed signal processing and control system that leverages GNU Radio."
I know that I've said that several times now and I suspect I'm going to say it several more times before we're done. I was asked about a specific radio and if this project could make it use a frequency that the supplied software didn't cover.
The answer is deceptively simple and if you know me at all, you know what's coming: "It depends". As with many things, what it depends on is not fixed. I'll come back to the question, but I'm making a diversion past a magical place, the local hardware store. You can buy everything you need to build a house with the caveat that some assembly is required. GNU Radio is similar for building a signal processing system, but, wait for it, some assembly is required.
In the context of GNU Radio this means that you'll need t
Undocumented "backdoor" found in Bluetooth chip used by a billion devices
Undocumented "backdoor" found in Bluetooth chip used by a billion devices
Foundations of Amateur Radio - DX on a dummy load? #podcast
Recently I made a joke about operating your station with a dummy load in response to John VA3KOT operating their station with the craziest antenna they ever used.
It got me thinking about the ubiquitous "dummy load" as an antenna.
Since becoming licensed I've spoken with several amateurs who tell a similar story, one comes to mind immediately, Lance VK6LR, now SK, who told me that they managed an unexpected 2m contact with another station using a dummy load, across the city. There's various versions of this doing the rounds, incandescent light bulbs used as both dummy load and antenna, coiled up roll of coax, everyone has a story to tell.
Having spent several years proving that you can in fact use 10 mW and be heard on the other side of the planet, 13,945 km away, it tickled my fancy to think about what would happen if I replaced my antenna with a dummy load on purpose, as a test.
For the past two or so months my WSPR beacon has been transmitting every ten minutes on the 15m band.
What is the end game?
What kind of world are the Orange and his puppet master billionaires building?
Are we headed for slavery, extinction, the matrix or some other post apocalyptic future?
How do these despots think that food arrives?
At the moment it seems they're hell bent on global destruction.
Foundations of Amateur Radio - What's the story you'd like to tell yourself? #podcast
When you joined the global community of radio amateurs you did so with a perspective that represented, at the time, what you thought the hobby was and how it operated. Since then, years, months, even days ago, that perspective has shifted in both subtle and obvious ways.
One of my local amateur radio clubs, Ham College, was specifically formed to provide amateur radio education and license exams. It's where I went to get my Foundation license in 2010 and it's where many of the local amateurs have been taught over the years.
For years I've been semi-regularly visiting Ham College during their Foundation course sessions. The purpose of my visit is to share what it's like to be an amateur, what things you don't really know about before you get licensed, and what things to look out for when you are.
In general I talk about how to find the rest of the community, what you can expect and what to do with your license once you pass the exam. I try to cover the highlights without overwhelming
Foundations of Amateur Radio - Bald Yak, universe 10, how does all fit together? #podcast
Recently I received a lovely email from Michele IU4TBF asking some pertinent questions about the Bald Yak project. If you're unfamiliar, the Bald Yak project aims to create a modular, bidirectional and distributed signal processing and control system that leverages GNU Radio.
The short answer to how I'm doing getting GNU Radio to play nice with my computer is that I have bruises on my forehead from banging my head against the wall. When I get to success I'll document it. To be clear, I'm not sure what the root cause is. I suspect it lies between the GNU Radio developers, the people making packages and the manufacturer of my computer. I'm the lucky one stuck in the middle.
A more interesting question that Michele asked was, for Bald Yak, what is the A/D and D/A requirement for making GNU Radio talk to an antenna?
This is a much deeper question that meets the eye and I think it serves as a way to discuss what I think that this project looks like.
Ultimately in the digital realm, to r