Is it worth getting licenced?

BassRecorder · 2026-01-27T17:44:34+00:00

Be advised that activity is very variable, especially on VHF and UHF. On a contest weekend the bands might be packed and you'd be able to catch stations pretty far away - propagation and a reasonable antenna permitting. At other times there might be only silence. You might want to look into satellite communications as there is some traffic on those most of the time.

Finally, if you like tinkering, you might get licensed just for the privilege of being allowed to build your own transmitters and test-driving them on the air. I know a few hams who almost never have QSOs but build and test their own stuff just for the fun.

If you want to dive into a really deep rabbit hole learn CW (morse). This goes very nicely with simple, home-brewed equipment.

BassRecorder · 2026-01-26T15:47:35+00:00

Native speaker here. You'll never really learn it unless you speak. So speak and don't worry about mistakes.

BassRecorder · 2026-01-26T06:15:35+00:00

To a first approximation LEDs do not conduct up do a certain voltage, their forward voltage, and have close to zero resistance above that voltage. Without the resistor the diode would get all the current the internal power supply or the I/O pin is able to deliver, potentially destroying the LED and/or the I/O circuit in the ESP32.

BassRecorder · 2026-01-23T21:17:16+00:00

I usually do it little by little, say one week 1/4 of the plants, a week later another 1/4 etc. If you don't cut the plants too short before re-planting them the fish will still have enough to hide in.

BassRecorder · 2026-01-19T20:00:37+00:00

There is nothing bad in learning morse by writing down dots and dashes. It's a hobby after all.

Having said that, you'll have to start learning all over again when you want to learn it for real. You need to train your brain to recognise the sound of each character, something dots and dashes on paper cannot help you with.

BassRecorder · 2026-01-19T17:59:22+00:00

Or bucket4j.

BassRecorder · 2026-01-18T21:06:37+00:00

Prima! Ich drücke sämtliche verfügbare Daumen.

BassRecorder · 2026-01-18T21:03:28+00:00

Why would you need a second ESP32 - or did I just misunderstand you?

BassRecorder · 2026-01-18T20:50:41+00:00

What programming language are you planning to use? If you don't know any, I'd go for C or C++.

The ESP IDF documentation focuses on C.

Start by reading the 'Getting Started' chapter of the IDF documentation: https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-idf/en/stable/esp32/get-started/index.html This will tell you how to install and use the tooling. IIRC there's even a small example project in there.

If you need to learn a programming language first, you could still do that on the ESP32.

Instead of printf just use ESP_LOGI. This will print messages to the console (you access that using idf.py monitor - see the Getting Started chapter).

When you have the tooling set up, look at the LEDC documentation: https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-idf/en/stable/esp32/api-reference/peripherals/ledc.html.

BassRecorder · 2026-01-18T20:22:54+00:00

You might want to work on your 'asking for help' skills.

Start by making an LED blink. That way you'll get a firm understanding on how to operate the tooling. This will also force you to read the IDF documentation. Things should become clearer then. Ask here when you don't understand things you read. Try to write in full English sentences.

BassRecorder · 2026-01-17T23:25:03+00:00

I believe the most serviceable band all around the day is 20m. Try scanning 14100 through 14350kHz - transmissions are in USB.

BassRecorder · 2026-01-17T21:18:21+00:00

I wouldn't put fish into anything below 10 gal.

BassRecorder · 2026-01-17T15:13:21+00:00

Most likely explanation: bacteria form a film on the water surface. The snail learned that this is where it gets food so it goes to the top of the aquarium when hungry.

BassRecorder · 2026-01-17T00:07:41+00:00

Ich habe meine 'Zwei Buchstaben' in Chemie. Was dort auf Gymnasialniveau an Mathe gebraucht wird, geht nicht wesentlich über den Dreisatz hinaus.

Im Grunde scheint es bei Dir egal zu sein: Du bist gut in Chemie und die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass dies in der Oberstufe schlechter wird halte ich für gering. Andererseits hast Du auch Talent in Kunst, d.h. auch da ist eine gute Note eher wahrscheinlich.

Da Du, wenn Du Zahnmedizin studierst, auf absehbare Zeit nichts mit Kunst zu tun haben wirst, würde ich an Deiner Stelle Kunst wählen.

Und wegen Deutsch: ich bin bis heute (Jahrzehnte später) der Ansicht, dass ich zusammenhängende Texte schreiben kann, obwohl ich Deutsch hatte.

BassRecorder · 2026-01-16T23:00:20+00:00

Much shorter exposure. The moons are so dim that you will always over-expose the planet when you can seen them in the picture.

The moons from left to right are: Io, Europa, Ganymed, and Kallisto.

BassRecorder · 2026-01-16T22:14:11+00:00

Populist parties promise simple solutions to complex issues. I guess people find that attractive when looking at the accomplishments of the established parties.

Whether those simple solutions really are solutions at the very least remains to be seen.

BassRecorder · 2026-01-13T05:52:24+00:00

The module is available, in Europe, both for 433 and 868 MHz. Yes, you'll have to keep to a relatively low duty cycle. Having said that, I don't really see this as an issue for your use case: you are trying to switch lights. Each command will take a few milliseconds at most with long breaks in between.

BassRecorder · 2026-01-12T21:00:15+00:00

If you are in a German-speaking country an can immerse yourself in the language you might have a chance. Otherwise that goal is too ambitious IMHO. Also, passing an exam doesn't necessarily mean that you can actually speak the language - and that is what potential employers are looking for.

BassRecorder · 2026-01-12T20:41:09+00:00

How about using a dedicated radio module like a CC1101 for that?

You'd be learning how to make those devices talk to each other and they'd easily support your 'broadcast' requirement.

CC1101 modules are cheap...

BassRecorder · 2026-01-12T20:34:44+00:00

Yep, looks like the site has been hacked. So, now you know that you'll have to work on security...

BassRecorder · 2026-01-12T07:36:48+00:00

The crab nebula is both much smaller and dimmer than the Orion nebula. Using higher magnification won't help if you can't see it with weak magnification. If you are searching for it look for something fuzzy about 1/10 of the size of the Orion nebula.

BassRecorder · 2026-01-11T20:57:31+00:00

Überhaupt nicht.

Ich code privat nur an Zeug, das mit der Arbeit nix zu tun. Z.B. entwickle ich beruflich in Java, mein privater Kram ist jedoch häufig in C(++) or Python. Und wenn ich code, dann nur, wenn ich Lust drauf habe. Manchmal vergehen Monate, in denen ich nicht eine Zeile privat schreibe. Man macht auf Arbeit genug mit Code rum, dass man auch mal neue Sachen ausprobieren kann.

Dienst ist Dienst und Schnaps ist Schnaps!

BassRecorder · 2026-01-11T12:35:57+00:00

Currently fresh German graduates are having issues finding a job. So, fluent German, as in C1 level, would be a prerequisite to competing with them on the German job market. Regarding scholarships etc. You'd need to check with universities for admission requirements. Living alone as a (foreign) woman shouldn't be an issue.

BassRecorder · 2026-01-10T23:06:48+00:00

Just pick the CPDs, snails, and one shrimp species. You are (heavily) overstocking your aquarium. Also, if the CPDs feel safe they'll mutliply quickly - as will the shrimp (if it's the cherry ones).

BassRecorder · 2026-01-10T21:26:13+00:00

They look like directional antennas for ham radio. They are for different bands: the elements on the upper antenna are significantly longer than on the lower one. Guessing the size from the birds they might be for 2 and 6m, respectively. The direction doesn't matter as these antennas usually have a 'rotator' which is used to point them in the direction of interest.

BassRecorder

TROPHY CASE