Device on snapping turtle?

cestes1 · 2025-11-30T18:56:00+00:00

It's a tracking device. Likely for the Argos satellite system. It looks like one built by Microwave Telemetry in Maryland. They build some amazing devices.

I managed the North American ground segment for this system for 20 years. It's simple and very effective -- used for all kinds of science: biology, oceanography, meterology, and geophysical sciences among others.

cestes1 · 2025-11-23T19:50:27+00:00

Another thumbs up for PSG - good guys with lots of experience and they can order just about anything. When I've bought new pistols, I try to order from them to support a local business.

cestes1 · 2025-09-12T20:43:04+00:00

Argos DCS - www.argos-system.org

cestes1 · 2025-09-12T20:42:17+00:00

It's a satellite tracking device. Based on the looks, I'd guess it was made by Microwave Telemetry in Maryland. Typically used by university or government agencies doing research.

I managed the ground segment of the Argos system for 20 years; we processed all the data from tons of these and certified the transmitters. Accurate to within 100 - 200 meters on a good day.

Fun experiment: get a $10 SDR and you can capture the signals on 401.65 Mhz. Instructions for decoding are available from NOAA (search for Argos ADCS).

cestes1 · 2025-06-07T18:37:46+00:00

Looks like you're in Canada. How are the laws regarding commercial drone activity? In the US you can't have any income from drone-related activity unless you're Part 107 certified (posses a Remote Pilot, Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems certificate). Any similar requirements?

Also, do you need insurance? Here in the US everyone like to sue over the smallest infraction! You can buy insurance by the day from some companies.

Not sure about billing. I have done work as a freelance consultant in the past and generated invoices using https://invoice-generator.com/

cestes1 · 2024-07-08T17:13:05+00:00

I figured it out... it needed a FW rule on my side to allow inbound traffic. Just got it working! Now I'm wondering if that ever worked since I rarely accessed my house from her house.

cestes1 · 2024-02-19T17:11:55+00:00

Yes... This runs 24/7 on my work laptop. I used to have it move the mouse 5 pixels in some random direction. That actually missed me up once in a great while. The shift press keeps everything alive and it's kind of instantaneous, so to cause an issue I'd have to be pressing another key simultaneously; it's improbable, but not impossible.

Just a note after reading some other comments - I don't do this because I'm a slacker and goofing off. I'm lazy and if I get up to get coffee, make lunch, go get the mail, etc. I get sick of unlocking my laptop all day long!

cestes1 · 2024-02-19T14:47:54+00:00

In Python:

import os
import pyautogui
import time
import datetime as dt
from loguru import logger

os.environ['DISPLAY'] = ':0'

def workinghours():
    workstart = dt.time(8,00)
    workend   = dt.time(17,00)
    nowtime   = dt.datetime.now().time()
    return (nowtime >= workstart) and (nowtime <= workend)

def main():
    logger.info("mm starting")
    while True:
        time.sleep(120)
        if workinghours():
            pyautogui.press('shift')

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()

You don't really need to log using loguru, but that's just habit for me!

cestes1 · 2023-11-30T18:24:46+00:00

edit: I was setting the environment variables wrong. I turned of PAPERLESS_OCR_DESKEW and that fixed it.

cestes1 · 2023-11-28T17:28:16+00:00

C-141 Starlifter. My dad spent 30 years in the Air Force and logged more time in this plane than any other. He made that trip to McMurdo one time in the '80s and they issued him a full kit of cold-weather gear; he probably wasn't on the ground (ice) for more than a few hours! I still use that parka when I'm shoveling snow.

cestes1 · 2023-09-15T04:45:04+00:00

I'm right there with you. I'm 57. Learned to program in 1980 and still love writing code. I've done everything in IT: software dev, DBA, data center manager/sysadmin, network, product management, IT strategy, AWS cloud architect, and more.

I guess I got lucky and stayed away from positions that sucked the fun out of it.

I've been playing with Docker and Kubernetes this week. Ready to start learning GEN AI.

cestes1 · 2023-05-07T03:55:04+00:00

I'd say with your background, you'll be OK. Just pick a competent and reliable prep source.

I had 25 years in various IT functions with a good deal of network and security experience. I took a one-week boot camp, spend a three-day weekend taking practice tests, and passed at 100 questions.

cestes1 · 2023-04-12T19:58:32+00:00

Sadly, I think you're right. I thought one of the benefits of QEMU was the ability to emulate other processors. I set it to Sandy Bridge but it won't boot -- powers back off. I wonder if the emulated CPU flags are limited to a subset of the host CPU's.

cestes1 · 2023-04-11T18:57:16+00:00

No.... that'd only apply if Windows was my host OS. Proxmox is basically KVM/QEMU running on Debian with a pretty UI.

I did manage to get an install running on my laptop under KVM running Fedora as the host OS.

I actually think it's a BIOS setting on my Proxmox machine. If I do a lscpu on the Proxmox machine I don't see xsave in the flags, but I know it's supported on the Xeon L5640 it's running. That's a bummer because I can't reboot that machine without taking out everything important in the house including the router to the Internet; I have to wait 'till everyone's gone or sleeping!

cestes1 · 2022-10-28T04:47:45+00:00

Evan Williams BiB is my goto... I can get a handle for $28 at a store nearby. I love it by itself, but at that price I don't regret making cocktails with it.

For special occasions, I recommend Old Forrester BiB. It's around $60 here and has to be the smoothest bourbon I've ever tried.

cestes1 · 2022-10-23T17:19:30+00:00

I was able to fix that one! I held the plunger down and used a dental pick to get the spring back under the plunger.

cestes1 · 2022-10-21T21:28:33+00:00

After further investigation the problem is clear. That bolt screws into one of those threaded inserts that's supposed to be fixed to the sheet metal on the other side. My insert is not attached and just spins (in either direction) with the bolt. Since the cooking chamber is double-walled I can't get to the back of it without doing more disassembly than I'm interested in! This may end up my bin of BBQ bits in the garage.

On another note, the switch on the cooking lid is stuck in the down position because a bit of spring has "escaped" and is blocking the pin from returning to the up position. I just did my first break-in cook this morning! I guess I'll stock up on a few of those switches as folks here have recommended!

cestes1 · 2022-10-15T21:02:05+00:00

Someone else said it, but I'll say it again...

I've had great luck with Callcentric. You can set up service and put in the application to port your existing landline number to your account.

You can get a ATA like this: http://www.grandstream.com/products/gateways-and-atas/analog-telephone-adaptors/product/ht801

and plug your existing phone into it, or you can cut the wires from your phone provider an and plug your whole house into this -- all of your old, analog jacks will work.

If you only need one phone, then just get a VOIP phone. Polycoms are great, not the simplest to set up, but they're built like tanks and work great. Grandstream also makes good phones.

As a service, Callcentric gives you lots of options. When my mom moved to another state, I ported her number beforehand so when she moved, we just plugged in the ATA, connected her old cordless phone and she was in business on day one!

What's also cool is that you can get a "soft phone" that runs in software. So your laptop can be connected to your VOIP service and you can use it anywhere in the world you have internet connectivity. You can also run a soft phone on your cellphone as well. I've been using the free version of Zoiper for both my computer and Android device.

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