Being in a relationship obviously includes sharing her passion for weird stuff – gathered in the best places of all: the kitchen.
I love my DE1103
I’ve already mentioned the arrival of this sweet gadget on my posterous blog earlier this week, but I am so pleasantly surprised by the qualities of this world receiver that I decided to mention it on my main blog.
For technical details, pls see this full review or google for “Degen DE1103”. The Degen DE1103 is a Chinese world receiver that covers the 76.0 – 108.0 MHz range in FM and 100 – 29999 KHz in AM & SSB. It sells for about 50,- EUR including shipping, directly from eBay / China, and comes with a cord, a charger (!), rechargable batteries, headphones, an external wire antenna and a pouch.
I am a bit late to the party as this model has already been introduced in ~ 2005 and every serious SWL and radio ham probably already had his hands on the Degen – for comparison reasons or because they couldn’t resist the offer like me – but this little DX goddess beats my other receivers (Commtel COM610 and Sony ICF-7600 DA + some home built equipment) hands down.
If you are looking for a good & light radio receiver with SSB & a new FM station every 150-200 kHz (yes, it’s that good) – this is the one to buy. Seriously. Highly recommended.
Kommentare Werktags nur von 8 bis 19 Uhr.
Zwei Artikel unter vielen, die mich im Oktober unterhalten haben und die ich gerne teilen möchte:
23 Thesen zur Zukunft der Medien – von Jochen Wegner
Digitales Leben – oder: Eine Frage der Lehre
Wie gerne hätte ich auch hier kommentiert, jedoch:
“Wir wollen die Qualität der Nutzerdiskussionen stärker moderieren. Bitte haben Sie deshalb Verständnis, dass wir die Kommentare ab 19 Uhr bis 8 Uhr des Folgetages einfrieren. In dieser Zeit können keine Kommentare geschrieben werden. Dieser “Freeze” gilt auch für Wochenenden (Freitag 19 Uhr bis Montag 8 Uhr) und für Feiertage.”
Bei einer derartigen Betrachtungsweise – nicht nur bei der sueddeutschen.de, die Zensurversuche gibt es auch beim Spon & Co. – sowie der selten gelebten Diskussionskultur (in Deutschland meinem Empfinden nach nicht wirklich existent bzw. zu faschistoid oder zu schwarz-weiß), spare ich mir viele Kommentare und denke an den Spruch meiner Mutter: “Junge, wer soll das alles lesen?”.
Am Wochenende zumindest niemand.
my first magnetic loop
Yay!
I’ve just completed building my first magnetic loop – a special antenna that’s supposed to catch some short wave signals in this LAN-infested electric smog environment. Popular with a lot of SWLs and radio hams since many many years, so with my powerline network plug and no space for a proper antenna on the roof, the magnetic loop is my only option.
The antenna is so jua kali, built from used parts – far away from an optimal setup, but I was longing for a quick win and an answer to the question if this is doable without much further ado.
It consists of a ~ 3,5m long copper pipe that’s supposed to be (bended) circular (= loop). I guess I’ll still need to optimise the shape fo this …. egg? :-)
The feed / cable to my receiver should actually be 1/5 of the diameter of the big loop and placed somewhere near the loop, but I ended up using these alligator clips which do the job for the moment. Obviously, lots of room for some improvements – starting by the shape of the loop. The alligator clips also helped in avoiding soldered cables which would probably attenuate the signal(s) even further. The knob I am using on the rotary capacitor is a bottle cap. It’s cheap, it works, it wins!
This setup is so primitive – but I am pleasantly surprised that it really works, hence the need to blog about it. Uhmm… building antennas is like a virus – once you’re infected, you won’t stop.
“the Africans”
Why are there books (like the selection pictured above) & online publications on post & neo-coloniaslim in Africa as well as important recent developments on the African continent on one hand IF on the other hand I am still terribly at unease writing about “the Africans”?
It’s not just the term “the Africans”, but also my arrogance to write about a third party.
I just found myself deleting an e-mail I had written to a client explainig the use of social media platforms by “the Africans”, because: who am I to explain e.g. what motivates “the Africans” in using social media tools (unless we are talking about Facebook Zero and other free stuff / communities)?
Would my reader be prepared enough to spot the difference between the stuff I know (facts), I assume (observations) and define as a conclusion?
Could the term “the Africans” only be possible when we’re also using “the Europeans”? Are these terms only used outside their initial territory?
My passport says I am German and I often also act that way, but to be honest: I know more about “the Africans” than about “the Europeans”. Does this qualify me to write an e-mail about “the Africans” – if instead I am maybe only talking about a certain age group from a region or about common user behaviour that’s rooted deep down in a historical context (like the lack of Intellectual Property Rights as argued by J.Shikwati & others)?
And: is this self-criticism a typical German thing?
September Hochzeit
Mr. Leaves bei der Hochzeit von Cedric und Anni.
Musik, so schön wie die ganze Hochzeit. Schön wars nämlich, sehr schön!
Aus aktuellem Anlass
Die hier verlinkte Spiegel Anzeige, für die gerade Spenden gesammelt wird, empfinde ich zwar als nicht so gelungen, aber dennoch: irgendwo in Europa müssen wir mit dem Atomwahnsinn aufhören. Ich möchte damit aber auch nicht behaupten, dass ich AKWs ausserhalb Deutschlands als betriebssicherer und weniger gefährlich empfinde.
Alleine schon die Nicht-Verfügbarkeit eines geologisch sicheren Endlagers für Sondermüll, wie ihn Atommüll darstellt, sollte Grund genug zur schnellstmöglichen Abschaltung sein. Und natürlich aus vielen anderen guten Gründen. Bald. Nicht erst in 20 Jahren.
Das oben verlinkte Bild entstand vor fast genau einem Jahr und wurde seinerzeit um Westerwilli und Smithers ergänzt.
hibernation mode explained to non-geeks
I’d like to go into hibernation mode like this bunny and wake up when the temperatures are above 20°C.