Random Wire℠ Reflections

The NotebookLM AI hallucinated a few things that made me chuckle. One was working satellites by connecting your radio to your computer. I didn’t write that. The AI pulled that from some source I neither used nor named. The other was something about requiring manufacturers to include the ST-Link v2 dongle to “democratize” electronics. Nope, I didn’t say that, either. Nevertheless, there is some val...

This Random Wire issue 182 podcast is AI generated for those who would rather listen than read. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.randomwire.us

Issue 117 of the Random Wire Review publishes on Friday, January 3, 2025. Contents for issue 117 include: * ALLSTARLINK: Version upgrade of AllStarLink cloud node * RADIO: Radios organized and stored * RADIO: Updated homemade YSF hotspot * COMPUTING: Added utility to bash shell * COMPUTING: New antivirus software installed * TECH: NVMe storage gadget with USB-C * CATCH-ALL = little things * CLOSIN...

As an experiment, I pasted all of Random Wire Review issue 115 into Google’s NotebookLM AI system. It spit out an audio rendition of issue 115 in the form of a podcast which is published here. I have to say: the Random Wire review described by the two voices sounds pretty interesting! Honestly, I was really surprised at the insights and conclusions offered by the AI. Did it get everything exactly...

Topics in Issue 109 1. Following Up on Thrift Purchases      1.1 Grundig AM/FM/SW Table Radio      1.2 Heathkit HM-11 Reflected Power Meter      1.3 Heathkit Hybrid Radio Patch HD-15       1.4 Audio-Technica AT2020 Microphone 2. Following Up on New Devices      2.1 TD-H3 handheld radio      2.2 muziWORKS H2T Meshtastic device 3. Gear for the Wichita trip      3.1 Mount adapter      3.2 Tri-mag mou...

Topics in this issue 1. Featured: Heltec T114 Arrived, Easy Config      1.1 Assembly      1.2 Installing Meshtastic      1.3 Running on a power bank      1.4 Changing the antenna 2. Flashing Meshtastic 3. Radxa E20C Router/Computer Arrived 4. BEARS Meeting Winlink Presentation 5. WIRES-X Error (Again) 6. Old Power Station Power Supply 7. “Trials and Errors” Blog 8. Interesting Links 9. Closing .-....

Featured content in this edition of the Random Wire Reflections podcast focuses on choosing the radio package for a long road trip, information about a new microphone-preamplifier setup for podcasting, a new AllStarLink audio board underdevelopment, and the ASL “restomod” audio interface project. Topics in Issue 105 1. What Radio(s) for Upcoming Road Trip? 2. Podcast Recording Combination 3. News:...

Featured content in this edition of the Random Wire Reflections podcast focuses on AllStarlink and includes the audio interface project being built into a Kenwood PC-1A phone patch controller box and how to determine what you just upgraded in your AllStarLink node. Following are the topics currently planned for The Random Wire issue 104 publishing early on Friday, August 23, 2024. TOPICS IN ISSUE...

This is the audio preview of the Random Wire Review issue #103 that will be published on Friday, August 16, 2024. The topics in issue 103 look to be shaping up like this: 1. AllStarLink Audio Interface “Restomod”      1.1 What is a restomod?      1.2 Parts 2. Tools      2.1 Two inexpensive multimeters purchased      2.2 Comparing the two multimeters 3. XHDATA Radios 4. Random Observations 5. Secur...

This is the audio preview of the Random Wire Review issue #102 that will be published on Friday, August 9, 2024. The topics in issue 102 look to be shaping up like this: 1. AllStarLink Build Progress      1.1 Parts and supplies      1.2 Wiring notes      1.3 Plan 2. Tools & LInks      2.1 BeeStation backup and cloud service      2.2 Adding telemetry to a Meshtastic node      2.3 Desk microphone fo...

This is the audio preview of the Random Wire Review issue #101 that will be published on Friday, August 2, 2024. The topics in issue 101 look to be shaping up like this: * Featured Content: Climate Change and Amateur Radio * Radio Every Day * Tools * Bookmarking content * Where are the radios with assistive systems? * On The Bench * Parts for AllStarLink build * Two consumer radios received for re...

This is the audio preview of the Random Wire Review for Issue 100 publishing on Friday, July 26, 2024. Credits * Intro and outro music by RedhatMike on Pixabay * Morse Code clips from the Morse Code Translator * The cover art for the podcast stream is by Wallace Chuck * The other cover: If you see a photo of a person with a headset, that is a selfie of Tom Salzer KJ7T using a Heil headset This is...

This is the audio preview of the Random Wire Review for Issue 99 publishing on Friday, July 19, 2024. Credits * Intro music: Positive Uplifting Music For YouTube Videos by UNIVERSFIELD — https://freesound.org/s/702873/ — License: Attribution 4.0 * Fades between segments: Atmospheric, ambient fade by waveplaySFX — https://freesound.org/s/384695/ — License: Attribution 4.0 * Closing music: Unforgett...

Credits * Intro music: Positive Uplifting Music For YouTube Videos by UNIVERSFIELD — https://freesound.org/s/702873/ — License: Attribution 4.0 * Fades between segments: Atmospheric, ambient fade by waveplaySFX — https://freesound.org/s/384695/ — License: Attribution 4.0 * Closing music: Unforgettable Moments by UNIVERSFIELD — https://freesound.org/people/UNIVERSFIELD/sounds/698550/ — License: Att...

Good afternoon. KJ7T is in the booth! This is Tom Salzer with some Random Wire Reflections for Issue 97 of the Random Wire Review that will publish on Friday, July 5th. And I have to laugh a bit when I saw I'm in the booth, because the reality is I'm at my messy sit-stand workstation at home, early in the morning when it is quiet, and just pretending that I have a recording booth! I actually recor...

KJ7T is in the booth! This is Tom Salzer with some Random Wire Reflections for Issue 96 of the Random Wire Review. Condenser microphone this week This week, I’m using the Blue Yeti Nano condenser microphone. It is more sensitive. I’m trying to talk across the mic rather than in it to help reduce the sibilants (the hissy “S” sounds) that are normal to my speech. I’m also recording into Zoom instead...

The audio intro is Unforgettable Moments by UNIVERSFIELD -- https://freesound.org/s/698550/ -- License: Attribution 4.0. The cover photo for the podcast is by Wallace Chuck: https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-headset-on-condenser-microphone-3587478/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.randomwire.us