Some things I'm into:
#books (I read a bunch of them, publish a few)
organically propelled boats
#ham radio
Python
homebrew electronics. Radios , micro-controllers, melting solder
Ham radio stuff:
I like #QRP #MorseCode and that's 95% of my operating.
Interested in digital communication modes
POTA, SOTA, NAQCC, SKCC
Radios I use:
#FT-817 ND
LNR MTR-4B v2 (won in NAQCC drawing!)
QDX
on the shelf:
μBitx (lots of hacking to do)
Ten-Tec 544
Foxx-3 (need to get it away from BCI and try)
I like banging out #MorseCode with a straight key and logging on paper, but #POTA and #SOTA hunting pretty much require a computer for the spots.
So I wrote a #python script to filter data from the API to just CW. Then I color coded for new parks and QRT, then added SOTA. Recently I got crazy and had it ID letters I needed for the #NAQCC challenge. I should stop before I create a logger.
The April NAQCC #QRP #MorseCode #hamradio Newsletter is out, with my trip report about hiking up a 500' ridge with a minimalist rig and a big chair, breaking things, and making a lot of contacts for POTA and the NC QSO Party.
Anyone figure out a way to get image generators to make plausible #hamradio drawings? I can't make them quit putting VHF whips all over every HF radio, and I've never been able to get one to render anything remotely like a straight key.
The third time I beg it to get rid of the aerials, it tells me to hire an illustrator. Which yeah, if I knew one who wanted to work for the the non-profit radio club casual newsletter illustration budget of... exposure? Not even gonna ask!
Playing around with this setup for #POTA. Sewed a piece of 2mm Lexan in as a work surface. Magnets hold the (straight/single lever combo) #MorseCode key in place, but let me move it around. Green bag is an #EFHW, throw line, and weight. Some springiness, but eraser under the key helps a lot and I can hold it firm w/ left hand. Put loose items in the right pockets side to the empty antenna bag while operating.
#hamradioworkbench guys would be appalled at how cheap the bag was!
Overseeing an election to fill a club vacancy using #RankedChoiceVoting and I'm seeing some patterns that make me wonder about scoring it. I'd planned on the Hare quota method as a way to determine top picks (one position to fill, but membership is a significant time commitment so we often need a list).
This method seems to bring some more controversial nominees with lots of high & low ranks to the top. That's not necessarily who you want. Is a simple average rank better for this application?
The haul from this morning's hamfest flea market. Paid $5 for 1 or 2 things, but mostly $1–2. Mostly resisted buying things I didn't know what to do with. The only thing I have no idea what it is, the BNC connectors were worth it.
What do you look for at a hamfest?
MTR-4B on the beach at Tybee Island last week. Forgot my homebrew mini-key, but had the old JJ-38 in the spares bag.
Several people stopped to ask about the "biggest fishing pole" they'd ever seen. 12m Spiderpole, not even all the way up. Sign is warning about waves from passing ships.
Here's my first attempt at Manhattan construction from a while back. A #homebrewRadio version of the QRP Club of New England NESCAF adjustable audio filter. Knobs for bandwidth and center. Makes my #FT817 useful on CW even w/o an IF filter.
Issues: The frequency knob doubles as an AM broadcast tuner, plus some related sidetone oscillations. May have had low audio out of the filter and cranked the LM386 gain to compensate, so I ought to examine that instead of just steering between AM stations
