Michael K Johnson
@mcdanlj.social.makerforums.info.ap.brid.gy
1st Fedora Project Lead. Co-author Linux Application Development. Pendo Distinguished Engineer. Ex-{Linux Journal, Red Hat, rPath, SAS}. Christian. Father [β¦]
π bridged from β https://social.makerforums.info/@mcdanlj, follow @ap.brid.gy to interact
π bridged from β https://social.makerforums.info/@mcdanlj, follow @ap.brid.gy to interact
After sleeping on this, I'm very torn here, in two ways.
I enjoy machining projects. On the other hand, machining stainless is less fun than many other metals, and this project would end up actually taking a couple of hours. Probably the smart thing is to take the replacements that GigaParts is [β¦]
I enjoy machining projects. On the other hand, machining stainless is less fun than many other metals, and this project would end up actually taking a couple of hours. Probably the smart thing is to take the replacements that GigaParts is [β¦]
Original post on social.makerforums.info
social.makerforums.info
January 17, 2026 at 1:55 PM
After sleeping on this, I'm very torn here, in two ways.
I enjoy machining projects. On the other hand, machining stainless is less fun than many other metals, and this project would end up actually taking a couple of hours. Probably the smart thing is to take the replacements that GigaParts is [β¦]
I enjoy machining projects. On the other hand, machining stainless is less fun than many other metals, and this project would end up actually taking a couple of hours. Probably the smart thing is to take the replacements that GigaParts is [β¦]
Their response was interesting:
> Generally, the reviews are processed every couple week or so. Reviews are posted once reviewed/resolved. If the customer has concerns/issues with a product it may take longer as the issue is reviewed and investigated.
As far as I can tell, that means in [β¦]
> Generally, the reviews are processed every couple week or so. Reviews are posted once reviewed/resolved. If the customer has concerns/issues with a product it may take longer as the issue is reviewed and investigated.
As far as I can tell, that means in [β¦]
Original post on social.makerforums.info
social.makerforums.info
January 17, 2026 at 12:14 AM
Their response was interesting:
> Generally, the reviews are processed every couple week or so. Reviews are posted once reviewed/resolved. If the customer has concerns/issues with a product it may take longer as the issue is reviewed and investigated.
As far as I can tell, that means in [β¦]
> Generally, the reviews are processed every couple week or so. Reviews are posted once reviewed/resolved. If the customer has concerns/issues with a product it may take longer as the issue is reviewed and investigated.
As far as I can tell, that means in [β¦]
The 21mm x 25mm stainless "capillary" tube is indeed a close match. It's a tighter fit than the finished base but it's within lapping range. This plan has legs.
Meanwhile, GigaParts **still** haven't approved my review (nor told me that they have rejected it), and today spammed me with a CTA [β¦]
Meanwhile, GigaParts **still** haven't approved my review (nor told me that they have rejected it), and today spammed me with a CTA [β¦]
Original post on social.makerforums.info
social.makerforums.info
January 16, 2026 at 6:41 PM
The 21mm x 25mm stainless "capillary" tube is indeed a close match. It's a tighter fit than the finished base but it's within lapping range. This plan has legs.
Meanwhile, GigaParts **still** haven't approved my review (nor told me that they have rejected it), and today spammed me with a CTA [β¦]
Meanwhile, GigaParts **still** haven't approved my review (nor told me that they have rejected it), and today spammed me with a CTA [β¦]
Today at work, hamalert went off on my phone. @qrper was activating the state capital, two blocks away from me, on 20m. For once, not in my skip! I grabbed my QMX, ran up three flights of stairs out onto the patio, pulled all the parts together, and...
_silence._
I looked off the balcony at [β¦]
_silence._
I looked off the balcony at [β¦]
Original post on social.makerforums.info
social.makerforums.info
January 16, 2026 at 3:44 AM
Today at work, hamalert went off on my phone. @qrper was activating the state capital, two blocks away from me, on 20m. For once, not in my skip! I grabbed my QMX, ran up three flights of stairs out onto the patio, pulled all the parts together, and...
_silence._
I looked off the balcony at [β¦]
_silence._
I looked off the balcony at [β¦]
This evening, Brad KK4PWJ presented Open Ham Prep at our local ham club, where he's currently the education director. One of the things I heard afterwards from someone was that Hamstudy got annoying because it focused deeply on weak areas, to the point that it did not show the whole question set [β¦]
Original post on social.makerforums.info
social.makerforums.info
January 14, 2026 at 3:17 AM
This evening, Brad KK4PWJ presented Open Ham Prep at our local ham club, where he's currently the education director. One of the things I heard afterwards from someone was that Hamstudy got annoying because it focused deeply on weak areas, to the point that it did not show the whole question set [β¦]
@redjives FreeCAD 1.1RC now has direct modeling in Part Design, where you can click and drag things like lengths and angles. I'm a fairly enthusiastic FreeCAD user myself.
It's probably good to work with something with proper constraints and STEP output to have something CNCed, and FreeCAD [β¦]
It's probably good to work with something with proper constraints and STEP output to have something CNCed, and FreeCAD [β¦]
Original post on social.makerforums.info
social.makerforums.info
January 13, 2026 at 4:51 PM
@redjives FreeCAD 1.1RC now has direct modeling in Part Design, where you can click and drag things like lengths and angles. I'm a fairly enthusiastic FreeCAD user myself.
It's probably good to work with something with proper constraints and STEP output to have something CNCed, and FreeCAD [β¦]
It's probably good to work with something with proper constraints and STEP output to have something CNCed, and FreeCAD [β¦]
I bought a pair of 25' Intellitron stainless steel whip antennas from GigaParts while they were on sale ("two is one and one is none" and the second one tipped me me into "free shipping" making its marginal cost pretty low). On removing them from the [β¦]
[Original post on social.makerforums.info]
[Original post on social.makerforums.info]
January 13, 2026 at 3:03 AM
I bought a pair of 25' Intellitron stainless steel whip antennas from GigaParts while they were on sale ("two is one and one is none" and the second one tipped me me into "free shipping" making its marginal cost pretty low). On removing them from the [β¦]
[Original post on social.makerforums.info]
[Original post on social.makerforums.info]
Reposted by Michael K Johnson
Dunking on people and companies is more popular than saying anything positive, but, #mozilla with #firefox created the web as we have it today.
Without them, without Gecko, we might be trying to run Internet Explorer 6.1 service pack 15.
Y'all don't remember how broken the web was with ie6 as [β¦]
Without them, without Gecko, we might be trying to run Internet Explorer 6.1 service pack 15.
Y'all don't remember how broken the web was with ie6 as [β¦]
Original post on mastodon.tmm.cx
mastodon.tmm.cx
January 11, 2026 at 2:18 AM
RE: https://social.makerforums.info/@mcdanlj/115834722555775922
This morning, I heard the first report of someone passing their US ham radio exam by using Open Ham Prep to study! π
Brad added two huge new features over the past week!
A [β¦]
[Original post on social.makerforums.info]
This morning, I heard the first report of someone passing their US ham radio exam by using Open Ham Prep to study! π
Brad added two huge new features over the past week!
A [β¦]
[Original post on social.makerforums.info]
January 10, 2026 at 6:20 PM
RE: https://social.makerforums.info/@mcdanlj/115834722555775922
This morning, I heard the first report of someone passing their US ham radio exam by using Open Ham Prep to study! π
Brad added two huge new features over the past week!
A [β¦]
[Original post on social.makerforums.info]
This morning, I heard the first report of someone passing their US ham radio exam by using Open Ham Prep to study! π
Brad added two huge new features over the past week!
A [β¦]
[Original post on social.makerforums.info]
I spent quite a few evening hours this past week modeling the production Morserino M32 Pocket case in FreeCAD. The original had basically been forked in a mesh editor, which made it hard to work from. Hans (of QRP Labs) kindly released his STLs, which made this work easier and the resulting [β¦]
Original post on social.makerforums.info
social.makerforums.info
January 10, 2026 at 3:51 PM
I spent quite a few evening hours this past week modeling the production Morserino M32 Pocket case in FreeCAD. The original had basically been forked in a mesh editor, which made it hard to work from. Hans (of QRP Labs) kindly released his STLs, which made this work easier and the resulting [β¦]
Reposted by Michael K Johnson
I'm watching people in my feed screaming at each other over Firefox's "AI kill switch" this morning with some trepidation.
As far as I'm concerned, Firefox already has an AI kill switch. It's called `browser.ml.chat.enabled`, I set it to `false` more or less the day it appeared, it hasn't [β¦]
As far as I'm concerned, Firefox already has an AI kill switch. It's called `browser.ml.chat.enabled`, I set it to `false` more or less the day it appeared, it hasn't [β¦]
Original post on social.treehouse.systems
social.treehouse.systems
January 7, 2026 at 10:55 AM
I'm watching people in my feed screaming at each other over Firefox's "AI kill switch" this morning with some trepidation.
As far as I'm concerned, Firefox already has an AI kill switch. It's called `browser.ml.chat.enabled`, I set it to `false` more or less the day it appeared, it hasn't [β¦]
As far as I'm concerned, Firefox already has an AI kill switch. It's called `browser.ml.chat.enabled`, I set it to `false` more or less the day it appeared, it hasn't [β¦]
Happy #freecadfriday! This week I've been working on re-modelling the case for the Morserino M32 Pocket. At least four different people had worked on the case. It was initially made in FreeCAD, but then was modified with other software, and the [β¦]
[Original post on social.makerforums.info]
[Original post on social.makerforums.info]
January 9, 2026 at 1:38 PM
Happy #freecadfriday! This week I've been working on re-modelling the case for the Morserino M32 Pocket. At least four different people had worked on the case. It was initially made in FreeCAD, but then was modified with other software, and the [β¦]
[Original post on social.makerforums.info]
[Original post on social.makerforums.info]
I just finishedΒΉ building a QRP Labs QMX this weekend, and after a few tests, tonight I got on the air with it and made my first QSO with it. All the way to the Kansas City, MO area, with AK0A Ken. Using a radio about the size of a deck of playing cards. The radio is smaller than the USB power [β¦]
Original post on social.makerforums.info
social.makerforums.info
January 6, 2026 at 12:23 AM
I just finishedΒΉ building a QRP Labs QMX this weekend, and after a few tests, tonight I got on the air with it and made my first QSO with it. All the way to the Kansas City, MO area, with AK0A Ken. Using a radio about the size of a deck of playing cards. The radio is smaller than the USB power [β¦]
Here's the latest announcement from Open Ham Prep. It's had keyboard controls since right near the beginning, about a month ago. Brad told me he was committed to accessibility the first day he mentioned his prototype, when I asked him pretty [β¦]
[Original post on social.makerforums.info]
[Original post on social.makerforums.info]
![Image of web site notification from the Open Ham Prep app:
Feature Announcement
Accessibility for everyone!
Our belief is ham radio is for everyone. So we've just added accessibility throughout the app enabling screen readers and keyboard navigation. So no matter who you are you can learn to become a ham!
73
Button: [Okay, got it!]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:gsmbuhrdotriuabdosjhpta7/bafkreiflwpg7eaqf7rtwei3dj6w7xtvlgsw6ljq4byuvgl46d7ocvlqsza@jpeg)
January 4, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Here's the latest announcement from Open Ham Prep. It's had keyboard controls since right near the beginning, about a month ago. Brad told me he was committed to accessibility the first day he mentioned his prototype, when I asked him pretty [β¦]
[Original post on social.makerforums.info]
[Original post on social.makerforums.info]
I was initially skeptical when Brad first proposed yet another ham study app. But when I saw his results so far, I was convinced enough to volunteer to maintain the Discourse forum for it. I also linked up questions to the ARRL chapters. He has a lot of other ideas to keep improving it, too! [β¦]
Original post on social.makerforums.info
social.makerforums.info
January 4, 2026 at 8:43 PM
I was initially skeptical when Brad first proposed yet another ham study app. But when I saw his results so far, I was convinced enough to volunteer to maintain the Discourse forum for it. I also linked up questions to the ARRL chapters. He has a lot of other ideas to keep improving it, too! [β¦]
Reposted by Michael K Johnson
My friend Brad Bazemore KK4PWJ wanted a totally free β **zero cost, 100% open source** β comprehensive US Amateur Radio study app. His day job is in testing, and he _really knows his stuff_.
So he built Open Ham Prep.
I'm _super grateful_ for [β¦]
[Original post on social.makerforums.info]
So he built Open Ham Prep.
I'm _super grateful_ for [β¦]
[Original post on social.makerforums.info]
January 4, 2026 at 3:34 AM
My friend Brad Bazemore KK4PWJ wanted a totally free β **zero cost, 100% open source** β comprehensive US Amateur Radio study app. His day job is in testing, and he _really knows his stuff_.
So he built Open Ham Prep.
I'm _super grateful_ for [β¦]
[Original post on social.makerforums.info]
So he built Open Ham Prep.
I'm _super grateful_ for [β¦]
[Original post on social.makerforums.info]
My friend Brad Bazemore KK4PWJ wanted a totally free β **zero cost, 100% open source** β comprehensive US Amateur Radio study app. His day job is in testing, and he _really knows his stuff_.
So he built Open Ham Prep.
I'm _super grateful_ for [β¦]
[Original post on social.makerforums.info]
So he built Open Ham Prep.
I'm _super grateful_ for [β¦]
[Original post on social.makerforums.info]
January 4, 2026 at 3:34 AM
My friend Brad Bazemore KK4PWJ wanted a totally free β **zero cost, 100% open source** β comprehensive US Amateur Radio study app. His day job is in testing, and he _really knows his stuff_.
So he built Open Ham Prep.
I'm _super grateful_ for [β¦]
[Original post on social.makerforums.info]
So he built Open Ham Prep.
I'm _super grateful_ for [β¦]
[Original post on social.makerforums.info]
@kd0cov I'm a bit of an oddity; I own George MacDonald's complete works on paper. For a while, there was a family that hand-made books of his complete works, and I splurged and bought the entire set late in the last millennium; I'm so glad I did, because it is no longer in print. So much better [β¦]
Original post on social.makerforums.info
social.makerforums.info
January 3, 2026 at 7:41 PM
@kd0cov I'm a bit of an oddity; I own George MacDonald's complete works on paper. For a while, there was a family that hand-made books of his complete works, and I splurged and bought the entire set late in the last millennium; I'm so glad I did, because it is no longer in print. So much better [β¦]
@kd0cov It's great to see great authors show up here so that new generations can easily experience them. β₯οΈ
I think Sayers would have supported limits on copyright lifetime. I mean, imagine if she had been required to secure translation rights from a permanent assignee of the Dante estate [β¦]
I think Sayers would have supported limits on copyright lifetime. I mean, imagine if she had been required to secure translation rights from a permanent assignee of the Dante estate [β¦]
Original post on social.makerforums.info
social.makerforums.info
January 3, 2026 at 1:01 PM
@kd0cov It's great to see great authors show up here so that new generations can easily experience them. β₯οΈ
I think Sayers would have supported limits on copyright lifetime. I mean, imagine if she had been required to secure translation rights from a permanent assignee of the Dante estate [β¦]
I think Sayers would have supported limits on copyright lifetime. I mean, imagine if she had been required to secure translation rights from a permanent assignee of the Dante estate [β¦]
@dcz OK, that's unbalanced. TRS (tip-ring-sleeve) which is one ground reference, and two signals referenced to ground.
Balanced means that each signal is sent on two wires at the same time, but with opposite polarity. This normally cancels out the coupled noise you are seeing. The devices are [β¦]
Balanced means that each signal is sent on two wires at the same time, but with opposite polarity. This normally cancels out the coupled noise you are seeing. The devices are [β¦]
Original post on social.makerforums.info
social.makerforums.info
January 1, 2026 at 7:29 PM
@dcz OK, that's unbalanced. TRS (tip-ring-sleeve) which is one ground reference, and two signals referenced to ground.
Balanced means that each signal is sent on two wires at the same time, but with opposite polarity. This normally cancels out the coupled noise you are seeing. The devices are [β¦]
Balanced means that each signal is sent on two wires at the same time, but with opposite polarity. This normally cancels out the coupled noise you are seeing. The devices are [β¦]
@dcz Are you using balanced cable or unbalanced? If unbalanced, you could try an audio balun on each end, and use ethernet cable Ββ there are commercially-available audio baluns with RJ45 jacks so that you can use ethernet cables for balanced audio.
That might solve your problem without [β¦]
That might solve your problem without [β¦]
Original post on social.makerforums.info
social.makerforums.info
January 1, 2026 at 7:10 PM
@dcz Are you using balanced cable or unbalanced? If unbalanced, you could try an audio balun on each end, and use ethernet cable Ββ there are commercially-available audio baluns with RJ45 jacks so that you can use ethernet cables for balanced audio.
That might solve your problem without [β¦]
That might solve your problem without [β¦]
RE: https://fosstodon.org/@paulox/115819064042518517
Happy Public Domain Day 2026!
I see some favorites in here, that I already own in print but am glad to see in electrons, such as.
* Dorothy Sayers' _Strong Poison_
* Arthur Ransome's _Swallows and Amazons_
And books I haven't read [β¦]
Happy Public Domain Day 2026!
I see some favorites in here, that I already own in print but am glad to see in electrons, such as.
* Dorothy Sayers' _Strong Poison_
* Arthur Ransome's _Swallows and Amazons_
And books I haven't read [β¦]
January 1, 2026 at 1:08 PM
RE: https://fosstodon.org/@paulox/115819064042518517
Happy Public Domain Day 2026!
I see some favorites in here, that I already own in print but am glad to see in electrons, such as.
* Dorothy Sayers' _Strong Poison_
* Arthur Ransome's _Swallows and Amazons_
And books I haven't read [β¦]
Happy Public Domain Day 2026!
I see some favorites in here, that I already own in print but am glad to see in electrons, such as.
* Dorothy Sayers' _Strong Poison_
* Arthur Ransome's _Swallows and Amazons_
And books I haven't read [β¦]
This might explain why I keep thinking "I could have sworn I took more pictures than that" when I'm trying to take a lot of pictures to document a build in order to create illustrated instructions. π¦ [β¦]
Original post on social.makerforums.info
social.makerforums.info
December 29, 2025 at 3:41 PM
This might explain why I keep thinking "I could have sworn I took more pictures than that" when I'm trying to take a lot of pictures to document a build in order to create illustrated instructions. π¦ [β¦]