Wednesday, May 30, 2012

looks like fun


I'm going to try this.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Early tape recorders



The first Video recorder I ever seen was at the Cincinnati Ham Radio Fest, this was in the early 60s. I thought how neat it would be to have one to record TV shows from your home. Not long you could own one. There was two formats, Bata and VHS. Bata was the best but the power of advertising made the VHS format the standard. As I remember, the cost of these early machines was about $300. DVD recorders have taken the VCRs just about out of the market. If you can find a VHS recorder they are selling for under $50. Here is a little history of audio and video recorders from Ampex:

Ampex Model 200, revolutionized the radio and recording industries. In 1948, ABC used an Ampex Model 200 audio recorder using 3MScotch 111 gamma ferric oxide coated acetate tape for the first-ever U.S. broadcast delayed radio broadcast of The Bing Crosby Show.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

James Collinsworth





He died at age 19 during WWII, fighting for our freedom.
He died at the Normandy invasion in France.
He was my brother.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Indiana QSO Party - WB9OTX wins again


Jack Demaree WB9OTX wins for the 3rd year in a row.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Watch the sun rise and set


Watch the sun rise and set all over the world on this real-time, computer-generated illustration of the earth's patterns of sunlight and darkness. The clouds are updated every 3 hours with current weather satellite imagery.
Also see the Moon Phases

PC Decrapifier

If you buy a new computer with OEM Windows no matter what brand you will get all kinds of trial software loaded on it. All this software slows down your boot time and ties up memory. I for one want a clean install and waste much time removing this garbage. Here is a free program to remove this stuff. I have not tried it yet but it looks to be one I will on my next install.

http://pcdecrapifier.com/

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Let there be light


I bought a halogen security light for the wind turbine tower and wired a photo cell in to have it turn on at dark and off at daylight. The thing never worked for me after screwing with it for an hour. I looked for a 12 volt timer but could only find ones that shipped from Hong Kong. I remembered having a 120 volt unit but I had not seen it for years. I have so much stuff it takes hours of searching to find anything. After about an hour I found it in the over full desk drawer. It is a digital one and no docs for it. I went on line and I couldn't believe it but I found the directions on how to program it. (very complicated) I hooked the batteries to a 400 watt inverter then to the timer. and a wire to the light. A quick test with the bypass button and the light lit. I set it to auto and buttoned everything back up in the waterproof box. Tonight at 9:15 I will see if it comes on. I have a square wave inverter and found out that floesant lights do not work well with them. A pure sine wave is much more costly but would work with the normal security lights I'm sure. Poor people have poor ways. Make do with what you've got and you won't need what you have not. Keep your fingers crossed tonight at 9:15.
Update:
Low & Behold it works !

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

New Google Drive

It's never too early to backup, but it's often too late

Read about it here:

Google Drive is everywhere you are—on the web, in your home, at the office and on the go. So wherever you are, your stuff is just...there. Ready to go, ready to share. Get started with 5 GB free.

I tried it and I like it.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

A few words over morning coffee


After a long break from this blog I am back posting a few listings. Just a little time killing as I have my morning coffee.

All good things must come to an end. Yesterday Saturday May 12th W8KT Bob travailed a great distance to help disassemble my EME (moon bounce) antenna system. After two hours of hard work Bob pulled out of my driveway on his way home to his new EME adventure. I hope he can enjoy the great fun that I experienced making contacts via the moon.

Also yesterday I taught a traffic handling class to ARES members local and surrounding counties. The class went very well and I'm sure we (including myself) all learned a few things. It was fun.