Category: Geeky Stuff

Getting Started with JS8Call – One of best things going in Digital HF!

Today we’re going to talk about JS8Call. What’s JS8Call? If you’re a ham radio operator on HF, then you likely know all about FT8 and what it’s done for (or to, depending on your perspective…) amateur radio. It’s made a simple 5 watt QRP station capable of truly worldwide contacts! Here in Washington State, I …

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The QRP Labs U3S WSPR Beacon

In September of 2017 I built a QRP Labs U3S and posted my initial review of it on This Blog.  That was over a year ago though, and since then a lot has changed. So lets catch up and re-review the U3S and talk about what it can do, and how you can get the …

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QRP Labs QSX: Will You Be Able to Build It?

QSX Construction

With the release of the QRP Labs QSX just around the corner, some folks are wondering if building it will be within their capability. In this post my goal is to dispel some of the fears that people have when it comes to building such a kit, and talk about some of the tools needed. …

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HF Antenna 80-10m, no tuner needed.

One of the amazing things about Amateur Radio is that you can turn the hobby into whatever you want it to be. You can  spend thousands of dollars on all the latest gear with a 130 foot tower with giant beams atop it. OR…. you can spend as little as possible and have at least …

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Misc Dot Welder Part 1

I posted last about a giant recumbent bicycle build. In that post I mentioned that I built a welder. Well, I’m ramping up to build another recumbent. So that means we need another welder. And at first I was going to build another welder, but then I discovered Offerup.com. Offerup is how I got some …

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DIY Recumbent Bicycle Build

I used to ride bicycle. A lot. Between 2005 and 2008, I commuted to work by bicycle in Reno, NV. It was an 11 mile round trip along a major thoroughfare. While I eventually rode a recumbent bicycle, I started out on a walmart full suspension mountain bike. That lasted a month or less.  Then, …

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Diagnosing Car Battery Trouble, the Geek Way

On a recent trip to go see Weird Al’s Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour (which was amazing by the way!) I had some car trouble. My Corolla just would not start. Sometimes it did fine, but other times, it simply refused to turn over fast enough to start. Getting Home with a dead battery Being 250 miles …

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A One Man Mission to Restore a Historic Sailing Yacht

Imagine for a moment that you were somebody who’s been building and crewing boats as a career for some time. Now, you have the opportunity to buy a boat that needs some work. But it’s not just any boat that needs work. It’s a hundred and eight year old sailing vessel called “Tally Ho”. What’s …

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Matlock Old Timer’s Fair 2018

On May 6, 2018 I attended the Matlock Old Timers Fair. Situated about 30 minutes from my current home in the tiny town of Matlock, Washington, I have to admit that I wasn’t expecting a whole lot, but I am glad to say that my expectations were exceeded.  My friend Donnie and I left our …

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Time Lapse Camera with the Raspberry Pi Zero W: Part 1

Today we’ll talk about using the Raspberry Pi Zero W to make a Time Lapse camera that can also be used for home security.  But first, I’m going to get a little meta with The Blog. I haven’t been posting a lot on The Blog lately, mostly because I’ve been quite busy with Real Life. My …

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