A Crummy Commercial

I asked Bing and Google: in the nfl is it possible to  kick a field goal on the kickoff ? Google said: Bing replied (a little more emphatically): So basically asking AI is like flipping a coin or asking a friend ?  Would you trust AI to generate code for something important ?  Would you invest driving control or weapon control to AI ? I wouldn't, not yet anyway. BTW, intuitively the answer is no because otherwise with kickers today the whole game could be (especially with indoor or sunbelt stadiums) just a series of field goals - no one is excited to see that alone without the rest of the game. Best Regards, Chuck, WB9KZY http://wb9kzy.com/ham.htm 

At first I saw this circuit from a Youtube video: and thought: "that's interesting, I should try it" source:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw6L5w4TDxw But then after doing a blog search (which is handy) I found this: https://wb9kzy.blogspot.com/2024/07/led-flasher-circuit-from-sprat-199.html BLINKIN' ECK (from SPRAT 199 & 201) is basically the same circuit except the 330 ohm resistor has been "Muntzed"  see:  https://www.electronicdesign.com/technologies/boards/article/21771148/whats-all-this-muntzing-stuff-anyhow I also saw a different LED flasher circuit using a MOSFET and two LEDs with one resistor: source:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc6aLoFsQkg but really it's kind of a cheat because one of the LEDs is a blinking LED by itself, so if the idea is to blink an LED just go with the blinking LED and a resistor, why add another LED and a transistor ? So I didn't bother to build either of the Youtube circuits, better to stick with SPRAT :) ...

More data on a Sony IR remote control, this one is RM-SGP5 for the EP313 stereo: The codes are similar to the previous Sony remote measured: https://wb9kzy.blogspot.com/2025/10/sony-tv-remote-codes.html except that in addition to 12 bits, some of the buttons use 15 bit while others are 20 bits: Power button, 12 bits Treble + button  15 bits repeat  button 20 bits   Also noticed that if the remote is positioned too close to the IR decoder the first long sync pulse will be shortened.  I don't plan to try to decode this remote rather the idea will be to create a duplicate remote but only with a few buttons used the most like: power, volume up and down, tuner select and CD or Tape.  And of course it would have some kind of timed mute. Here are the codes: button        binary                    hex ------        ------                ...

I have found it !  I finally came across this box today while putting away the fan (the island has cooled off): The box was cleverly hidden in a small Rubbermaid tote with old Nikon cameras and lenses which I had also forgotten about.  I have been looking for this silly box for a couple of years !  see: https://wb9kzy.blogspot.com/2023/11/andromeda.html Here is the Telescoper  right angle eyepiece: Here it is mounted on the old 500 mm mirror lens: It transforms a Nikon F mount lens into a telescope or monocular.  I suspect the results may be disappointing but at least it wasn't thrown out !  Now to find the other umpty-ump things I have misplaced !  This makes me so happy :) Update: I looked on Ebay and found this:  Unfortunately this is the best quality photo I found from that listing :(  But it was from Porter's Camera in Iowa and cost less than $10 (looks like $8.99).   Best Regards, Chuck, WB9KZY http://wb9kzy.com/ham.htm 

I bought one of these: Unlike the ceramic lamp holder I used for my light bulb dummy load for the HW-16, this is plastic.  It's also "keyless" which means no switch: I'm thinking of mounting it in a coffee can.  I'll mount the enlarger diffuser on top of the can and use it as a light source for my negative to positive idea: https://wb9kzy.blogspot.com/2025/09/lightbox.html The slanted top lightbox was kinda awkward as a light source. Best Regards, Chuck, WB9KZY http://wb9kzy.com/ham.htm 

In game 4 of the NLCS, Shohei happened: 6 scoreless innings pitched with 10 strikeouts: 3 home runs: Maybe if he applies himself he can hit 4 home runs and pitch a perfect game in the world series ?  :) I guess the Brewers peaked too early in 2025 with the various win streaks including 14 in a row.  Also the Brewers won 97 games, the best record in MLB.  And they swept the Dodgers in the regular season.  But the Dodgers won the post season. Even if it was sunny today it would still be a gloomy day here. Best Regards, Chuck, WB9KZY http://wb9kzy.com/ham.htm       

someone should clean stuff off before photographing ! I finally found where I had put the "problem" IR decoder module, mentioned previously here: https://wb9kzy.blogspot.com/2025/08/more-ir-remote-stuff.html I soldered wires to the module this time and it seems to be OK now: So I used the module to decode all the buttons of the Sony RM-756: remote power button, the long pulses at zero volts are ones, the short pulses are zeroes . As mentioned before, the Sony TV remote sends 12 bits but the last 4 bits are always 0 so I just ignore them and tabulated the first 8 bits, 2 hex digits.  Here they are, row by row: button       binary      hex ------       --------    --- mute         00101001    29 sleep        01101101    6D power        10101001    A9 1             00000001    01 2...

I changed my mind and decided to button up the AADE LC Meter IIb as it is (see previous post): https://wb9kzy.blogspot.com/2025/10/working-on-aade-lc-meter-iib.html   First, I bent some caps a little to allow clearance for the 16x2 LCD module.  Second, instead of hunting up the correct vertical trimpot I just unsoldered the wiper arm of the stock trimpot.  Then bent the trimpot over 90 degrees so that it could be adjusted even when the LCD is in place.  Finally soldered a wire from the trimpot wiper lead to the circuit board.  It works just fine, contrast wise: picture taken in north light, is that why the panel looks that blue ? Also, I used a little solder wick to try unsoldering the connector from the stock LCD: I wasn't able to get the connector off but as can be seen the connector the 14 pins don't stand proud of the LCD board, they either were too short or the builder cut them flush.  In any case I'm not sure about what is wrong with the display....

I've been fooling with the AADE LC Meter IIb which was bought from Ebay, mentioned here: https://wb9kzy.blogspot.com/2025/10/just-because-i-could.html Unfortunately the LC meter was DOA.  It seemed to have been a kit so possibly it never worked ?  I reheated all the solder joints but no help: the display is blank no matter what the contrast pot setting Here is one item I may mod: the orange Panasonic pot marked 103 is impossible to adjust if the LCD is in place The contrast pot for the LCD is under the LCD and inaccessible.  So I had to horse the LCD on and off just to adjust it.  The AADE manual shows a vertical trim pot so I will see if I have one that might fit or possibly order one.  One mod I did make was to add an BAT85 reverse polarity diode in series with the red wire. I do have a spare 16x2 backlit LCD module, so I tried it.  It sorta works ?  The LC meter uses a 16x1 LCD module (a one chip module) so this 16x2 module displays weirdly: Al...

I listened to the Brewers - Dodgers game last night.  Quite a game but unfortunately the Brewers lost 2-1.  The Brewers had the bases loaded, 2 outs in the 9th, down 2-1.  Turang dodges a pitch that would have walked in the tying run.  He then strikes out swinging on the next pitch, game over. .   But for 8 innings the Brewers were 1 hit by:  Blake Snell: That's how he always looks: before, during and after a game.  But the miracle ?  He actually smiled talking to the TNT reporter, Lauren Shehadi: At least if Snell is an AI / robot he is one that can smile, sorta. Maybe he has permanent heartburn ?   Brewers got to win tonight or it's going to be tough trip out to LA. Update: the Brewers lost the second game 5-1.  After the first pitch homer to Chourio, Yamamoto mowed the Brewers down for a complete game victory.  Quite a difference from the last time he pitched in Milwaukee when Yamamoto only got 2 outs in the 1st inning and I...

I love this video: source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep9PQEb5-7U Made by these folks: Even the music is weirdly appropriate for the night :) I love how they shout out the important places: And near the start the lightning strikes remind me of the Beatles concert at Shea Stadium, all the flashbulbs popping in the grandstands, amazing ! I betcha those snapshots are all in picture albums somewhere :)  You can see the pink light in the middle of this: It's from a flash bulb. source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzF1hTWpUWE I suppose it gets boring for the astronauts, especially since it's a much slower transition in real time but still it must be cool to see.  Semi-obligatory ham / Field Day content: I do remember seeing a spacecraft passing by on a Field Day evening but it must have been Skylab because the ISS wasn't a thing until 1998 - Skylab was more of a 1970s thing. Here is a closeup of the Door peninsula with the island at the top of the thumb and Green Bay dow...