Random notes and stuff
There’s been no weather to speak of around here lately… so just some random updates.
Picked up a new computer at the University of Wisconsin’s SWAP store. $55.00 bought me a 1ghz pc w/512mb of ram & a 20gig hd, a Sony Trinitron monitor, keyboard and mouse. SWAP sells most of their machines without an operating system, so I had to get a variant of Ubuntu installed (which is what’s running as I type). I’ll probably ditch this distro and install something nicer, but it’s pretty functional now. Anyway, UW SWAP sells loads of useful stuff; keyboards, mice, computers, network hardware, office supplies, furniture, etc. The chair I’m sitting on is from SWAP, too.
I have voice privs on 10m, and haven’t done squat with ‘em. Still looking for a used microphone that’ll work on my Icom IC-735. I’ve said before that someday I’ll learn the code, but I haven’t yet and I see no free time on the horizon… so part of the getting things running on this computer may be getting some Morse software running. I like the idea that low power with CW can get you places. It’s also been run-the-air-conditioning weather here, so I keep my window shut; meaning my coax can’t get outside to the dipole hanging on my patio.
Looking at a couple of equipment additions later this year; very strongly considering a dualband 2m/70cm amplifier for the car, and a wideband receive antenna for at home. Possibly considering a 2m antenna for the car (in addition to the dualband that’s already there), thinking it would be nice to have both the 2m and 2m/70cm radios available at once.
And I’ve made a couple of tweaks to the site; nothing major enough to talk much about. I’ll likely be posting more once I get this machine (hereafter referred to by her hostname Drew) set up properly and get the audio and such interfaced to the radios.
Rock on. \m/ oo \m/
