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#1
General ham topics / LOTW is a PITA
Last post by zero - December 02, 2024, 11:57:12 PM
That's pretty much it. Needed to get that off my chest.
#2
Tips and tricks / SDRplay on Linux
Last post by zero - December 02, 2024, 10:01:26 PM
I'm old school. I'm talking TUBES! Or at least, discrete solid state components. To say that I am not a fan of Chinese made crap would be an understatement. Be that as it may, given the many benefits and flexibility, I decided to dip my toes onto the SDR waters and bought a SDRplay. Seemed to be the best bang for the buck. BUT, getting it to work on a Linux computer, well, that was a WHOLE LOT OF PAIN that I hope to help others avoid.

After a long struggle trying to get a SDRplay to play nice on Ubuntu/Xubuntu with SDR++, I finally found the answer on a SDRangel forum. The OS tries to load MSI drivers which conflict with the SDRplay API. They must be added to /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf (or create a new .conf in that same directory. I called mine /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-msi.conf) and add to it these three lines:

blacklist sdr_msi3101
blacklist msi001
blacklist msi2500

Without doing this, even though it appears in the device list, SDRplay device will not start. With it, life is good.

So, here's my complete setup list to install SDR++ and get a SDRplay device to play nice on Linux.

1) Ensure your SDRPlay module disconnected.
2) Install the SDRPlay API (SDRplay_RSP_API-Linux-3.15.2.run)
3) Connect SDRPlay.
4) lsusb to ensure the device is seen.
5) Copy blacklist-msi.conf to /etc/modprobe.d (The missing puzzle piece)
6) Download the latest release from [the Releases page](https://github.com/AlexandreRouma/SDRPlusPlus/releases) and extract to the directory of your choice. Mine is sdrpp_ubuntu_jammy_amd64.deb. You may have Noble of some other. Just be aware.

Then, from that directory, in terminal run:

sudo apt install libfftw3-dev libglfw3-dev libvolk2-dev libzstd-dev libsoapysdr-dev libairspyhf-dev libiio-dev libad9361-dev librtaudio-dev libhackrf-dev
If `libvolk2-dev` is not available, use `libvolk1-dev`.

sudo dpkg -i sdrpp_ubuntu_[your ubuntu flavor]_amd64.deb

Start SDR++, select SDRPlay from device list, configure and enjoy.


73'
Z
#3
Tips and tricks / Brief intro
Last post by zero - December 02, 2024, 09:41:16 PM
It's long overdue that I add this thread to my forum, considering that it is also one of my other parseions in life. I hope to generate some interest in this hobby as it relates to some of the experiments demonstrated by Eric Dollard, N1KPH. You remember him, don't you? ;-)
#4
Hydro / Re: Schauberger vortex
Last post by zero - March 23, 2024, 02:00:09 PM
Yo, Turtle! Remember this? Still one of my favorites!
#5
Hydro / Re: Schauberger vortex
Last post by keithturtle - December 30, 2022, 01:54:56 AM
The hydropower project is on hold for a while, major financial setback.  I sank a rented backhoe in the deepest part of the creek, costing five figures for repair, damage waiver only covered 20% 

That broke the bank, so the focus is now exclusively on tank stoves. 

Gotta find a way to shield liability on the stoves so when some clown burns down his house and family, they can't come after me and get what little is left

Oh well, at least I lived to tell the tale

Turtle
#6
Wood burning / Re: 20# tanks stove
Last post by keithturtle - December 30, 2022, 01:46:11 AM
(Z, I never even considered a stacking arrangement for the rocket tank.  Now you've got me to thinking...)

I thought being retired from full time work would make for real progress on this project, but it just ain't so.  Still, this rocket burner from a single 20# tank is coming along.   Since there is so much heat generated at the point where sticks burn, I radiused a couple thin firebricks and cemented them into the base of the tank.

I used a "sort of" refractory blend of  1 portland cemment, 1/2 fireclay, 2 fine perlite, 2 mason sand.  This holds up really well in the two-tank vertical woodstove. 

The first rocket tank design had a tremendous burnback, with the sticks burning up the feed chute.  I think I can address this by sleeving it with an air transfer parseage... quite simply, a 3" square pipe inside a 4" square pipe.  Still gotta arseemble and test,  but this oughta work real well feeding pellets, once I get the flame grating figured out.

Dear God, this stuff takes so much time, but I'll get there eventually

Turtle
#7
Hydro / Re: Schauberger vortex
Last post by zero - December 10, 2022, 01:06:46 PM
If you haven't seen this one yet, this is 30 minutes well spent.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f62o9SNwmEU
#8
Hydro / Re: Schauberger vortex
Last post by zero - October 17, 2022, 08:34:12 PM
Anxiously awaiting......
#9
Wood burning / Re: 20# tanks stove
Last post by zero - October 17, 2022, 08:32:21 PM
From only one 20# cylinder? Or stacked?
#10
Wood burning / Re: 20# tanks stove
Last post by keithturtle - September 27, 2022, 02:12:38 PM
I've covered a fair bit of ground since the last post.  I found a way to make a rocket heater from the 20# cylinder.   The radiant heat is great, but directed heat is proving to be a challenge.  More when I find the pics, of get the next version done

Turtle