I hope that everyone understands that my blog isn't all that interesting and that's kind of the point.

I'll say more about that later. But seriously, it's OK to slow down and just have fun with something. That's what I'm peddling here.

#hobbies #hamradio #relaxation

What does "happy to jump on a call" mean?

Finally bought what seems to be the bible on #radioastronomy - Kraus. I have several other books which seem to defer to Kraus on some of the “basics”. Good to have all of the essential information in one place. Seems this book is only currently available as ring bound or a cheap paperback. One specific goal I have here for 2024 is to properly understand wave polarisation & Stokes parameters.

@pid_eins I'm using the Akkoma web client which allows quoting, amazingly.

RE: https://mastodon.social/users/pid_eins/statuses/111884637480503142

The video of the 2nd of my FOSDEM talks is online now. (The 1st one not yet) It's from the boot loader MC and about systemd-boot, systemd-stub, UKIs, and that stuff. I.e. hopefully providing some explanations on why we think distros should consider switching to these and away from their current boot loader choices.

It's a lot of information, packed in a short 20min time slot. Enjoy → https://mirrors.dotsrc.org/fosdem/2024/aw1126/fosdem-2024-1987-systemd-boot-systemd-stub-ukis.av1.webm

My 1st FOSDEM talk is now online, too. An exciting hour of me rambling about our TPM future, with a focus on what's in store for distributions:

https://video.fosdem.org/2024/ua2118/fosdem-2024-1985-ukis-tpms-immutable-initrds-and-full-disk-encryption-what-distributions-should-keep-in-mind-when-hopping-onto-the-system-integrity-train.av1.webm

Enjoy!

I'm done writing groff.
https://github.com/brauner/man-pages-md

It's been a while since I looked into different #fediverse clients. Is there a good threaded web based client, or cross-platform app?

@kellylepo great story, which I'm assuming is getting very well known now

RE: https://astrodon.social/users/kellylepo/statuses/111881078696230611

#electronics Pro Tip: do not apply -30V DC across the Vin+ and Vin- pins of INA169 current sensor chips. They don't like it.

Great high-side alternative to low-side digital current meters, fwiw:
https://www.adafruit.com/product/1164

@g4dbn decent antenna setup

RE: https://mastodon.radio/users/g4dbn/statuses/111865540448497761

Finished making a thing. This is a power supply for the 30W 10 GHz amplifier I’m working on. It should also be able to power the transverter, IF radio, & relays. I’m resisting the temptation to add an MCU and display. For now.

(Note: the 50 Hz label should say 60 Hz)

#hamradio #electronics #amateurradio #microwave #qro #sspa

Not sure if this microwave power sensor is repairable. It’s an HP P486A waveguide thermistor mount for 12.4 to 18 GHz. It was bugging out, and I’ve rejuvenated one of these before (using the guidelines in the manual) but it didn’t work this time. I’m puzzled by the mechanics of this, what the adjustment screw actually does, and why is it attached to a small metal block which is maybe held with conductive paste? It’s supposed to finely match the inner and outer thermistors: one is in the waveguide and the other is inside the housing as a reference. The waveguide thermistor is heated by the RF signal, and the power meter detects this, via a bridge circuit which tries to balance the current in each thermistor.

The wonders of 1960s microwave tech. We explored space with this stuff.

#hamradio #amateurradio #microwave #electronics

Crazy read: detecting positions of players in Counterstrike by *listening to their GPU over a microphone*

https://faculty.cc.gatech.edu/~genkin/papers/lendear.pdf

Released picolibc version 1.8.6 today.
Highlights: ctype avoids a static array, fenv functions are inlined (except on x86).
Full release notes here: https://github.com/picolibc/picolibc/releases/tag/1.8.6

❕ 📢 Note: The LSS-NA 2024 CfP has been EXTENDED ❕

🐧 The new CfP deadline is: Sunday, February 4 at 11:59 PM PST

🐧 For full details, see
https://events.linuxfoundation.org/linux-security-summit-north-america/program/cfp/

RE: https://social.kernel.org/objects/a91fa775-15d9-4ee0-bc99-f9b40cad10c5

Announcing the acquisition of Evil Mad Scientist by Bantam Tools.

Dr. Windell Oskay & Lenore Edman will be joining as CTO and COO of Bantam Tools in Peekskill NY.

Pen plotter enthusiasts can look forward to a new generation of art machines in Spring 2024.

More at: https://www.evilmadscientist.com/2024/bantam-tools/

SELint, a linter for SELinux policy sources, released a new version yesterday: SELint v1.5.

https://github.com/SELinuxProject/selint

#selinux

Working on a 10 GHz power amp. #hamradio #amateurradio #electronics #microwave