In May 2024, I needed to overhaul my engine. It wasn’t entirely unexpected and I even purchased Lycon prepared cylinders to have them on-hand. I was still hoping I will get a few hundred more hours out of it.

Yesterday, I took my in-annual 1947 Cessna 140, with an overhauled Continental O-200A engine for a series of engine break-in flights. Everything went very well, engine makes great power and runs very smoothly. Temps were good and after three hours of flying, I still have another 22 to complete the break-in process :)

#aviation #c140

This year I finally attended the Vintage Computer Festival West at Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA.

My own computing roots are in the Atari 8-bit, which during my childhood was the most popular machine in Poland. Today my vintage interests revolve around nostalgia and working on small hardware/software projects recreating some of the 8-bit feel.

#computers #diy

I’m still producing CWMouse Iambic Keys based on mouse micro-switches and pivots supported by four ball bearing for exceptional precision and smoothness.

The process of on-boarding Amazon took much more time and patience than anticipated, and almost two months!!

Since I had to send out a large batch to get started, all my stock at this time is on Amazon. Until it mostly sells, I’m not motivated to make more, hence eBay may be out of stock for a while.

Do note that Amazon price is very competitive, as Prime members get free shipping!

I hope you try it and share a review with #cwmouse tag :) 73!

#cwmouse #hamradio #3dprinting

I made the right choice of setting up a personal web page with rss and using “social media” only to re-share content and exchange comments.

ActivityPub turned out to be a set of feudal (but federated) warring fiefdoms, blocking, spamming and moderating each other. BlueSky is slowly spiraling down while FB and legacies are ever more infested with AI agents and slop.

My previous ActivityPub home started malfunctioning, so I decided to jump ship while I still can and let the server migration process run its course.

#web

Amateur Radio’s Field Day ¹ is the last weekend of June. And this year it was my deadline to build and get my HF QRP station on the air. I’ve been working towards this goal on and off, slowly but surely for over two years. While SSB and digital modes are interesting, I found the basic low power CW and minimal equipment to be fascinating.

#hamradio #diy

Microsoft Windows 10 will be unsupported as of October 2025. The upgrade requirements will effectively obsolete a lot of older still performant machines OR expose their users to security vulnerabilities.

While the upgrade from Windows 10 to 11 is free, Microsoft is forcing unreasonable requirements. I go over the important ones and work around others to upgrade my living room SteamPowered gaming computer.

#diy #computers

CWMouse is a precise, lightweight, micro-switch based and affordable Iambic CW Paddle.

In previous posts Refining CWMouse and Coverage and E-Commerce Changes, I explored design changes to ease assembly, keeping costs down and noted efforts to diversity Sales.

Below I share what worked, what didn’t and provide project updates.

#cwmouse #hamradio #3dprinting

Our Family lives in San Jose, CA. which is one of the more expensive housing markets in the country. We cannot afford to buy our own home, hence we rent.

Everything in the state of California is expensive including Fuel, Electricity and Gas. While we continue to live here, we are mindful of our energy usage and save where we can.

The local Electricity and Gas PG&E monopoly in their infinite wisdom sends guilt emails every month pointing out how inefficient the house we rent is.

#politics

We recently made a week long trip to Charleston in South Carolina and Oklahoma City in Oklahoma. Both were full of surprises and great destinations we visited for the first time.

From Midwestern+West_Coast perspective, these locations were different and in all the best ways!!

#family #travel

When getting coffee at lunch today, while running an errand to the post office, I noticed there is a new¹ Hobby Shop downtown - Sheldon’s Hobbies! In 2025! With RC² Nitro³ airplanes hanging from the ceiling for sale on consignment :) It offers kits and supplies for builders, ARFs⁴, lots of RC car items, and scale plastic models. Even includes an indoor car drifting track. I was impressed - it reminded me of Venture Hobbies in Wheeling, IL :)

#rc

I haven’t ridden the Grom since I got ABS faults¹ caused by my non-OEM final drive ratio. To resolve it, I ordered the 12oClockLabs SpeedoDRD Healer.

While the unit is well made, well priced and simple to configure with a single button and a single dual color LED - the instructions were lacking.

#motorcycles

I did an EAA thing this week. I made a small contribution to help revive EAA¹ Chapter 241 in DeKalb, IL.

I was the web master of EAA241 chapter website from 2008 to 2012. The setup was a freebie wordpress site which our chapter secretary could easily edit and add content. It worked well and I can still remember editing the banner image from various photos of our events.

#aviation #eaa

The online store where I sold the CWMouse Iambic Paddle blocked my listing this Sunday morning. They didn’t like that I was answering questions from a potential buyer and interpreted our conversation using their own messaging system as me funnelling people to a competing online store.

#cwmouse #hamradio #web

I checked the calendar - the last time I rode was at the end of October 2024 when I installed new different ratio front and rear sprockets on my Honda Grom. I only test rode it and afterwards put it on trickle charger, added fuel stabilator and the weather rolled in. The KTM (Baby) Duke 390 was treated similarly for the winter.

Fast forward to today.

#motorcycles

Since Jan 2025 when I started CWMouse, I sold enough units to print and manufacture a number of batches. The reviews are good and folks are starting to post YouTube videos mentioning it! 😁

Now I’m exploring how to reduce my time needed to assemble CWMice and making them even more price competitive.

#hamradio #cwmouse #3dprinting

Three federated social media protocols are vying for users. They are ActivityPub (Mastodon), ATproto (Bluesky) and Nostr.

Nostr is the simplest with best data ownership story, ATproto is most sophisticated and scalable, while ActivityPub is most mature, but also most complex.

I explore and think about their approaches, features and limitations from the point of view of an individual user considering sharing one’s own content.

#web

The filament spool roller on FLSUN SR 3d-printer (their base-model) is nothing more than a simple metal tray against which the spool will loudly overcome the friction and skid around.

During one cold evening I designed and printed a replacement roller using supplies I already had in my workshop.

#3dprinting #diy

• Smtp - federated¹ good old reliable email
• Http - federated¹ web content sharing
• ActivityPub - federated¹ social media (fediverse)
• AT - federated¹ social media (bsky)
• RF - federated¹ radio-waves, mostly on 40m CW
• LinkedIn - resume and carrer contacts
• Phone <redacted> - federated¹ voice and sms communications
• Signal <redacted> - strongly encrypted messaging

#info

Our family car has a roll-up trunk cover which protects its contents from prying eyes. The sliding mechanism relies on two pins, protruding from brackets in the cover, to slide forward and backward within the trunk.

Recently one of the pins broke and I replaced it with a 3d printed part.

#3dprinting #diy #cars

I’m making available my CWmouse iambic paddle for purchase.

I designed it for my own use as a lightweight, hand-held, portable paddle based on micro-switches. Use of these switches gives it a crisp action not unlike that of a mouse button or a mechanical keyboard.

I’m so happy with the final result, that I decided sell them.

For more information, high resolution pictures and to order one, visit cwmouse.com.

#hamradio #3dprinting #diy #cwmouse

I returned back to Internet’s roots, to a personal web server.

Back to the basics from the world of centralized, controlled and censored platforms.

Decision

Instead of running Mastodon, or any of alternative ActivityPub servers, I elected to stand up (again) my own personal web site. Requirements are: control, simplicity and ability to integrate with ActivityPub and other future open protocols.

#web

Family

I’m a father of two and a husband - our family is my world. We live in San Jose, CA.

#info

Last day of 2024, 22:46 and I just launched #cwmouse This is my high precision 3d printed #iambic #paddle . It is based on mouse micro-switches, magnets, quad ball bearings and 3d printed case along with integrated 3ft cable. All comfortably fitting in a palm of your hand and weighting only 2.1oz (60g). If interested, drop by my web page and order one! #amateurradio #cw #cwkey #ham #hamradio https://cwmouse.com/ cwmouse.com/

#cwmouse #hamradio #cw #masto2hugo

#Merry #Christmas and Happy New Year! Good health, prosperity and peace for everyone.

#family #masto2hugo

Year is ending and we all make end year summaries. Here is a great presentation on personal #project #priorities , choices and #finishing . Make #2025 projects finish!! #diy #engineering https://youtu.be/4jgTCayWlwc?si=AiufutZmCuLV19pv

#devel #diy #masto2hugo

Great summary of where the old school #rc #aircraft #hobby is at. I’ve been #ama member for 15 of last ~30 years but now see them as mostly hindrance but Im agreeing with authors that they still provide some value to the hobby. The #flitetest and various #fpv #racing organizations are taking over initiative to get new people into the hobby. #radiocontrol #drones #aviation https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iT5GEMxR0Jk

#rc #masto2hugo

With Meshtastic radios emitting at most 100mW, line-of-sight frequency and the protocol being robust ONLY when mesh density and node reachability is at an IDEAL sweet spot - it wasn’t very usable beyond experimentation. In my area I couldn’t reliably exchange messages 20mi away :/ I ended up taking down my Meshtastic node and selling all equipment to another ham wishing to get a head start :)

#hamradio #cwmouse #meshtastic

#cwmorse aluminium #cw key feels great, but I’m not happy with missed symbols. I suspect it is sensitive to debris in contacts. I decided to design my own using #3dprinting . Four ball bearings for paddles, magnetic tension and top secret switching components :) I intend to make more of these if youtube key reviewers give it favorable feedback.It is designed for quick no post processing assembly. I learned a lot to go from “one time piece” to no-post processing.

#3dprinting #hamradio #cw #masto2hugo

My budget 3d printer is ready for duty. To me it is a tool and I expect reliable printing. Speed & finish are secondary, but it needs to make strong prints which are dimensionally accurate. #FLSun SR #upgrades to make it that: - Capricorn bowden tube - PEI magnetic build plate - upgraded fan shrouds (printed) - filament roller (printed) - LED lights (mounts printed) - tripod webcam adapter (printed) - #octoprint setup - lots of calibration and tuning

#3dprinting #diy #masto2hugo

Another pilot year and another great Christmas Party in the Aerodynamic Aviation hangar :) Food was great, beverages were adult and everybody was awesome! Here to another safe and merry aviation year :)

#aviation #masto2hugo

#fbi #cisa #calea programs admitted to be some of the vectors for #salttyphoon compromise of US telecommunications infrastructure. FBI is advising people to use encrypted messengers for text and voice communications!! Same FBI (+other three letter agencies) which forever advocated for backdoors, now admit this compromise is in part their doing!!! #signal and others for the win! #security https://www.virtru.com/blog/file-encryption/salt-typhoon-fbi-cisa

#politics #computers #masto2hugo

Got my FLSun SR, set it up and now working on getting reliable, repeatable and very dimensionally correct prints. I’m using the Vector3D Califlower mk2 test print and calculator to adjust for dimensional accuracy. It is well worth the $13, see: https://vector3d.shop/products/califlower-calibration-tool-mk2 Given low price tag, I would say the only low point is rough spool holder which can be quickly corrected with this spool roller: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6856884 thingiverse.com/thing:6856884

#3dprinting #masto2hugo

#diy #engine #dehumidifier . Even when hangared, aircraft engines will go through temperature cycles and ingest humid air which condenses on metal parts causing corrosion. A solution is a closed loop system pumping dry air through oil filler neck and collecting “exhaust” via the breather. Instead of paying hundreds $ I built my own for $50. The 6lb of dessicant will require reconditioning every few months - TBD.

#diy #aviation #c140 #masto2hugo

To maximize longevity of my #generator I prepared 1Gal of ethanol free gasoline. Since ethanol will bind with water, all that is needed is some #chemtrails liquid!! I used a clear fuel resistant container, fabricated a drain nipple and used 0.2Gal of dyed chemtrails. Add 0.5Gal gasoline, mix well and settle for 12 hours. With 10% ethanol, 0.25Gal dyed water will settle and can be drained. That + fuel stabilizer + marvel oil is good for at least 12 months.

#diy #mechanic #masto2hugo

Nice clear post-frontal #weather after the “Bomb Cyclone” passed with rain and reasonable wind. Beforehand, I got the generator out for a 6mo run, it fired right up and I ran it for 20min to flush the carb. As a test, I tried operating the fridge on #generator . This “1800W” Pulsar can run in non-power saving medium rpm mode & governs up as load increases, BUT! not fast enough for fridge compressor to not stall. I would see 1000W for 3sec and then fridge would give up :/ #diy …continued…

#diy #masto2hugo

Imagine Christmas 1989 and you got this high end desktop air-band scanner from Radio-Shack for $179 ($455 in 2024 money). Wood grain, digital keypad, back-lit lcd display and 20, I say TWENTY memories!! Receives your airport ATIS in your kitchen 10mi away and has excellent selectivity and sensitivity. Now move 35 years later. $20 on eBay and 20 min cleaning gets you the same excitement and performance and you even remember programming :)

#aviation #hamradio #masto2hugo

Mountain diving a quad in Austria - I haven’t seen Mr. Steele video in a long time!! #fpv #quad #rc #radiocontrol https://youtu.be/IHEsv5XS8QQ youtu.be/IHEsv5XS8QQ

#rc #masto2hugo

Flsun Super Racer is on sale for $199 - I’ve been eyeing their products for a few years, but made do with my upgraded MP Mini Delta. I’m excited to be able to print larger models in one piece and directly via USB (MP has 8-bit processor and is too slow to receive on usb and print reliably - must use memory cards). #flsun #3dprinting #3dp #deals https://us.store.flsun3d.com/products/super-racer-sr

#3dprinting #masto2hugo

Interesting introduction of bluesky “decentralized” approach and feasibility of self hosting for individual users. #federated #activitypub #bluesky #selfhosting https://anderegg.ca/2024/11/15/maybe-bluesky-has-won?utm_source=tldrnewsletter

#computers #socialmedia #masto2hugo