Mastodawn

OE1RFC May 28, 2025

Some time ago this Yaesu VX8 of a friend of mine died while transmitting, no display, no LEDs, no charging light.

Last week I took it apart to see if it could be fixed.
I traced the voltage rails in the service manual, the micro controller voltage was completely dead. I suspected the LDO regulator, but it turned out to be a reverse protection diode. I don't have SMD diodes, but there was enough space to fit a similar DO diode 🎉
The VX8 is still a great radio, I also have one
#vx8 #yaesu #repair

OE1RFC Oct 2, 2024

Hmm, APRS coverage in central London seems to be basically nonexistent, also no stations at all my Vx8 could decode on 2m.

OE1RFC Sep 24, 2024

Ars Technica Sep 24, 2024

False memories planted in ChatGPT give hacker persistent exfiltration channel

Emails, documents, and other untrusted content can plant malicious memories.

https://arstechnica.com/security/2024/09/false-memories-planted-in-chatgpt-give-hacker-persistent-exfiltration-channel/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Hacker plants false memories in ChatGPT to steal user data in perpetuity

Emails, documents, and other untrusted content can plant malicious memories.

Ars Technica

OE1RFC Sep 22, 2024

Hello UK hams, we're visiting the UK (London, Cambridge, Canterbury) the first two weeks of October. I'm planning to bring an FT817 if luggage allows, are there any things to visit we should not miss?

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OE1RFC Jul 25, 2024

Switched to 40m, that's what I mainly designed the loop for (eg. tuneable up to 10m but somewhat useful efficiency on the lower bands)
The main thing I don't like on the #sbitx display is that if there's enough going on, stations calling you just scroll away. I don't need most of the (left) spectrum display, but a list of calling/called stations would really be nice.
But I have to say, that's a bit nitpicking and I could implement it myself ;)

OE1RFC Jul 25, 2024

So last weekend I built a quick&dirty 1.3/4m magnetic loop out of some old Cisco/Amphenol coax I had lying around and never used because its so stiff, a pair of wago clamps and a variable capacitor I had.
Now sitting on the balcony doing FT8 on 20m with my new #sbitx, and although I don't fully like the UI, its really working surprisingly well.
Especially that you just have plug in coax and power and are ready to go is really nice.