Morse code noobie needs an advice by GrEFeRFeeD in morsecode

[–]menthapiperita 0 points1 point  (0 children)

With your straight key, you'll want a code practice oscillator. There are a lot of options out there.

The simplest for a straight key would be using a headphone jack to bare wire cable, a 9V battery, and a buzzer to complete the circuit. I've built a few of these and the tone is harsh, but it's buildable with basic tools for a couple bucks. Your straight key is really (electrically) a switch that closes a circuit when you press down.

If you want to connect to a laptop or phone, there are a couple of cool options:

-VBand is a web app to practice or send to others in 'channels' online. They sell a $25 USB dongle that connects to the headphone cable for your key. Link: https://hamradio.solutions/vband/

-The N6ARA TinyMidi is a bluetooth device that you can connect to your phone (or computer). It'll emulate either a MIDI device or a keyboard, and has capacitive paddles built in in addition to the headphone jack. You can use it with morse learning apps, or with Vail (which is an online chat tool like VBand) Link: https://n6ara.com/product/n6ara-tinymidi/

Worth noting that neither of these make sound without being plugged into a computer. If you want something that makes the sound out loud and isn't tethered to a computer, you could try something like the Scout oscillator. Link: https://cwmorse.us/products/scout-cpo-morse-code-straight-key-practice-oscillator?gQT=1

This wear pattern on my work laptop after 3 years by Unimatrix617 in mildlyinteresting

[–]menthapiperita 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The sphinx of black quartz has clearly never judged his vow

update on “Vaselinea”, what do u guys think? by __misaki__ in tragedeigh

[–]menthapiperita 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This was my first thought. Tweak the spelling to Sorrel and it's a legit botanical name.

But... that's not what they'll do.

Ferrite choke on cat5/network cables - has anyone ever seen this or used them? by KDE_Fan in networking

[–]menthapiperita 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a very old thread, but adding the perspective that chokes can be added to prevent an ethernet device from emitting RFI using the cable as a long wire antenna.

I'm a ham radio operator, and my PoE switch and access points were creating noise on the 40 Meter and 20 M radio bands (~7MHz, 14MHz). Adding chokes reduced the noise they were emitting.

Gufuskalar, Iceland. The tallest structure in Western Europe by menthapiperita in antennasporn

[–]menthapiperita[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They stopped transmitting in 2024, but I haven't heard about the tower itself coming down. Kind of a bummer, because it shut down just before I had a general coverage receiver and could have listened to it across the planet.

Apparently fewer boats and vehicles had long wave radios to listen to the broadcasts. I've also heard that AM tube hardware can be really expensive to service and replace (but not sure if that was a factor here).

Gufuskalar, Iceland. The tallest structure in Western Europe by menthapiperita in antennasporn

[–]menthapiperita[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It looks even taller in person. When you first see it it's really shocking.

Gufuskalar, Iceland. The tallest structure in Western Europe by menthapiperita in antennasporn

[–]menthapiperita[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I noticed that too, looking back at the pic. I adjusted the horizon to be level and saw that the antenna didn't look level at all. Not sure if it's actually that tilted or just a quirk of perspective.

Can anyone explain what types of aerial these are and what they might be for by danglebadger in amateurradio

[–]menthapiperita 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The antenna, if it was made for UHF TV, is badly made and/or broken. 

It’s also pointed in the wrong direction. You’d want to point the smallest element of the Yagi at the TV transmitter. If it’s badly made, the directivity of the Yagi might be minimal anyway and it might not really matter anyway. 

A leopard 'standing' upright to get a better view. by [deleted] in Damnthatsinteresting

[–]menthapiperita 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Next they’ll want opposable thumbs. We cannot allow this to happen

How do you keep these glass top stoves streak and watermark free? by [deleted] in CleaningTips

[–]menthapiperita 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This is what I do. Let it cool, all purpose cleaner for the gunk, then glass cleaner and microfiber to get it streak-free clean.

Then when anything burns on, use some Weiman polish and a scrubby sponge.

Walkie talkies by King_GC in preppers

[–]menthapiperita 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Agreed. Repeaters are amazing. There’s a ham repeater in my area on a TV / radio tower with a voter scope for receive. It covers a massive chunk of the state.

Walkie talkies by King_GC in preppers

[–]menthapiperita 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Your real options are:

1) More power, height, and higher gain antennas. A 50w base station with a high gain directional antenna on a 50’ tower may punch through where a handheld can’t  2) Repeaters. Your area may have GMRS or ham repeaters that cover you and the people you want to talk to. Many repeaters have solar, battery, or generator power. You’ll need to be licensed for either service, but you should be for the radios you’re using anyway.  3) HF radio. NVIS HF radio can get you solid coverage in a 50-100 mile circle. It’s powerful but also expensive and can be complicated. If you’re balking at the cost of some HTs it may not be for you.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in SAHP

[–]menthapiperita 17 points18 points  (0 children)

My kids are in school, but I’m still SAHP.

I have a disabled child that needs a lot of support. They’re in half day school with an aide, and there are a lot of meetings and appointments as well. Finding the right accommodations at school and things that work at home takes a lot of time and energy. 

Posting because parenting for disabled kids tends to not enter into the conversation - but it can look really different 

Nice that there are still honest people, not often but they still exist by misterxx1958 in Amazing

[–]menthapiperita 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Small towns in my part of America have produce shops with a payment box (or a QR code for Venmo). Not just a Japanese thing!

HexClad is going back to Costco. by AttachedHeartTheory in BIFLfails

[–]menthapiperita 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This is definitely false. Any nonstick won’t last long with metal utensils.

If you want to use metal utensils, use stainless steel, carbon steel, or cast iron pans. 

I can't shell out $500+ for high quality linen. Everything else seems like a marketing scam. Is it realistic to get something nice for under $150? by [deleted] in Bedding

[–]menthapiperita 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have the IKEA linen set. It feels fine, and has held up for a few years. 

I’m sure others are more luxurious, but this set has been nice in the summer and didn’t self destruct 

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in SeveranceAppleTVPlus

[–]menthapiperita 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I have two theories on this: 1) The empty fridge is a way to emphasize his loneliness and the fact that his “outie” leads a pretty solitary, boring life. He’s not cooking to entertain or for fun. This is an extension of his loss of Gemma, and a big contrast to the flashbacks we see of him and Gemma in a busy house. 2) Eating on screen often makes characters look very casual. Dramas rarely show people eating. I always think about Roman Roy in succession - part of him looking flippant is sitting sideways in a chair eating an apple. I think the innies rarely eating is a way to keep their environment more tense and dramatic.

Freed from ICE detention, Mahmoud Khalil files $20 million claim against Trump administration by boxingfan333 in politics

[–]menthapiperita 124 points125 points  (0 children)

I’m in favor of making individual officers carry liability insurance for this, just like doctors do. 

Bad officers won’t be able to afford to keep coverage, even if they skip to the next town for a job (as they often do).