Almost a week later, how has the ban been faring? We've heard some stories of kids getting around the ban, but overall has it been effective?
A summary of recent AI news including SuperHuman hearing aids for the wealthy.
Peter Marks, mobile software developer and technology commentator from Access Informatics, joined Philip Clark and listeners to Nightlife. Listen here: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/nightlife/nightlife-tech-talk-with-peter-marks/106151168
A record rollup this morning although NVIS (local) propagation was poor. The best signals for me were from Sydney - Melbourne but South Australia was good too. Again we had some new stations and there was mention of the article in the latest Amateur Radio magazine and a new video from Peter VK3YE.
Stations on frequency, not all transmitting, included VK2AWJ (John first time on the net), VK2BLQ, VK2DWG, VK2JAB, VK2KNC, VK2SPB, VK2SPD, VK2VCO, VK3CKY, VK3CRY, VK3FFB, VK3GTP, VK3KEZ, VK3SRC, VK3PWG, VK3VB, VK3VKL, VK3YE, VK4XYZ, VK5COL, VK5KFG, VK5KVA, VK5UR, VK6KR and me VK3TPM.
As an aside.. it's wonderful to see so much FreeDV activity here in Australia. Here's the list just for one frequency on 40m today, a Monday.
FreeDV has really taken off in recent weeks.
I'm the acting secretary of the Macedon Ranges Amateur Radio club and this morning we were contacted by a twelve year old who is interested in getting in to Ham Radio. Here in Australia the social media ban on under sixteens came in just yesterday and I think we can safely say that this is just the beginning of a dramatic migration over to the first social media: Ham Radio. ;-)
This lets you compare WSPR reception between two stations. My version finds transmissions that were received by both stations and displays the SNR for each of them. (wspr.rocks averages all spot reception which I think is not the best evalation of relative receive performance).
WSPR has always been a useful way to compare reception and for things like comparing antenna performance.
Head2Head requests all bands and the time range is whatever is set elsewhere in settings.
A good net this morning with 19 stations seen - not everyone was transmitting, but I'll count them anyway. Of note was a first check in from well known local ham Peter VK3YE who was using an FT817 and has been experimenting with very low power transmissions - 30mW and lower!
Stations seen included: VK3CKY, VK3GTP, VK3NAR, VK3SRC (away), VK3YE, VK5AG, VK5KFG, VK5KVA, VK5LN, VK2TTL, VK3PCC, VK2DWG, VK5AV, VK2BLQ, VK3BAL, VK5LA, VK6POP, VK5KVG and me, VK3TPM.
Here's a snippet of VK3YE running 5W.
It's certainly a very power efficient mode. Thanks everyone for joining in and don't forget the net run by VK5KVA Jack from 8:30pm eastern time.
How can software be affected by solar activity and how could a downgrade possibly help? Also we talk about inauthentic accounts revealed on X and the good news that those annoying cookie permission buttons may soon disappear.
Peter Marks, mobile software developer and technology commentator from Access Informatics, joined Philip Clark and listeners to Nightlife. Listen at: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/nightlife/nightlife-tech-talk-with-peter-marks/106093718
Previously I mentioned building a QRP-Labs QMX kit but when I came to put it in a 3D printed case I found that I'd failed to follow the instructions and put the display on the front of the board instead of through the opening from the back. In removing the display I damaged the board.
QRP-Labs sold me a new display board and it's just arrived. The QMX in a 3D printed case is even more compact that in the official metal case. The top PCB is actually sandwiched between the front and back printed pieces.
Also I used a rather nice blue display rather than the supplied green one. The 3D case has a hole for adjusting the LCD contrast which is handy. As you probably know, these transceivers work brilliantly not only on SSB but on FSK digital modes. I'm running WSPR on 40m into a rather poor vertical antenna but it's doing well.
QRP-Labs has a link to a listing of 3D designs for useful cases and accessories.
New version of WSPR watch coming soon that no longer starts the audio session on launch by the way. Good feedback on the new "globe" style spot display.
