The First 100 Years Are The Hardest

 I've been running a node on the Reverse Beacon Network - RBN - for the past several years and recently had to rebuild my Win11 workstation that serves as the host.  Unfortunately some of the configuration settings for RBN didn't carry over, so this time I've decided to document for future reference. My setup is pretty simple, as I use my FlexRadio 6600 as the spotter SDR when I'm not using it on the air.  CW Skimmer is the workhorse.  It gets IQ Signals via SmartSDR DAX, and forwards decoded spots to Aggegator 6.7 to post on the RBN Network.    Since I leave the flex running all of the time anyway, so I figure I'm not "using it up" for the RBN work (hi hi).   The only limitation is that I typically run 1 slice, and 1 skimmer, which means spotting on the band I'm currently listening too on the OCF Dipole for the lower bands, and the HexBeam for the upper bands.    Note:  I do plan to set up a dedicated SDR and a magnetic loop antenn...

After installing Windows 11 cumulative update KB5079473, my station entered a failure state that broke multiple layers of the OS — and completely crippled SmartSDR, DAX, and CAT. This was not a typical “DAX driver didn’t install” situation. This was a deep Windows subsystem failure involving: DAX audio endpoint enumeration SmartSDR installation CAT virtual serial ports Windows AppX provisioning Microsoft Store Snipping Tool Audio endpoint registration (MMDevice) Add-AppxPackage / Remove-AppxPackage failures Root Cause: camsvc (Capability Access Manager Service) was disabled and corrupted This service is responsible for: App capability registration AppX manifest processing System app initialization Store app provisioning Capability extensions used by audio and device registration When camsvc is broken, Windows cannot: Register DAX endpoints Install SmartSDR cleanly Register system apps Install Store apps Rebuild AppX ...

  Technical Notes: Secure Remote Station Integration via WireGuard Today we (Gemini, and I) implemented a new VPN configuration to establish a secure, low-latency "network pipe" between my remote operating location in Dallas and the station hardware at the lake.   We converted my existing WireGuard VPN into a split-tunnel configuration, creating a virtual LAN environment where remote software behaves as if it were locally connected.  This avoids opening ports and exposing the internal network to the public internet Optimization: Moving from Full Tunnel to Split Tunnel Initially, the WireGuard configuration was set for a "Full Tunnel" (AllowedIPs = 0.0.0.0/0 ). While secure, this forced every bit of Dallas internet traffic—including web browsing and 4K video streaming—to travel to the Lakehouse before heading out to the internet. This created unnecessary latency and consumed the Lakehouse's limited upload bandwidth. ...

  Quick Start Guide: Setting Up Fedora 43 for Media & Performance If you've just installed Fedora 43 and need to get your multimedia codecs and hardware acceleration working, follow these 5 essential steps. This guide is optimized for users with AMD (Ryzen/Radeon) or Intel graphics. Step 1: Speed Up DNF & Fix the System Clock First, we make the package manager faster and fix the "Time War" common in Windows dual-boots to avoid SSL errors. # Open DNF config to increase download speed sudo nano /etc/dnf/dnf.conf # Add this line at the bottom: max_parallel_downloads=10 # Sync your clock to prevent SSL connect errors timedatectl set-local-rtc 1 --adjust-system-clock sudo chronyc -a makestep Step 2: Enable RPM Fusion Repositories Unlock the ability to install patent-encumbered codecs and non-free drivers. sudo dnf install https://mirrors.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm https://mirrors.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedo...

When I first ran Fedora Core 1 (20+ years ago) I created notes with various Tips and Tricks (especially with regards to mutlimedia drivers and codecs) and posted them here on this blog.   Today, using Gemini I was able to recreate some of the old magic on my Windows/Fedora dual boot workstation In the world of AI, Gemini is your Friend!  In the past I'd spend hours googling the output of terminal error messages, now all you have to do is start a conversation with Gemini, follow the steps, and share the intermittent errors and terminal output a long the way.   Now if I can  only find a pack of unused punch cards.... :) How to Fix Multimedia & Hardware Acceleration on Fedora 43 (Dual-Boot Guide) If you are coming back to Linux after a long hiatus or dual-booting with Windows, you’ll notice Fedora is faster than ever but still lacks proprietary codecs out of the box. Use this guide to enable full hardware acceleration (VA-API) and fix common dual-boot ...

The Straight Key Century Club (SKCC) is an organization dedicated to promoting the use of straight keys, bugs, and side-swipers for CW (Morse Code) communication in amateur radio.  This year marks the clubs 20th anniversary of dedicated to "old-school" radio operations, focusing on manual keys rather than automated or electronic keyers. Club members volunteer to operate as K3Y, the clubs special event station where the "3" in K3Y is a nod to the letter "E," making the callsign look like "KEY."  The goal for many participants is to achieve a "Sweep" by contacting K3Y stations across different regions. I operated the K3Y/5 for 29 shifts this month, making a personal best record of 548 QSOs with members.  More than 250 SKCC members signed up as Operators and logged well over 50,000 QSOs.  All 50 US States were activated, plus 19 DX Entities and 4 Canadian Provinces. Many thanks to all the dedicated Club members who volunteered as Coordinat...

 One of my goals over the last year was to crack the Top 25 activity position for the RBN Network.  I got close - back in September as low as position 28.   This equates to being 'active' ie spotted by the RBN network on as many bands and as many hours as possible in a each 24 hour period.    I cracked the Top 50 in December 2024, and was Amazed.   7 months later I cracked the Top 30 in July, averaging 8.9 hours with at least 1 RBN spot each day for the last 356 days.  I got to #28 but I don't remember taking a screenshot so sharing #29.   Its a small thing, and I was able to "game the game" as they say.  It filled the time, gave me something to do in my off hours.   Notice this doesn't mean I was active for a solid 9 hours a day.  I could call CQ right before the top of the hour, get spotted by RBN, change bands, and continue calling a a few minutes right after the hour changed.  2 hours credit for 5 minute...

 A trip to Marfa Texas wouldn't be complete without a day trip up to the Fort Davis National Historic site.   Located in the foothills of the Davis Mountain range, Fort Davis is one of the best surviving examples of an Indian Wars' frontier military post in the Southwest. From 1854 to 1891, Fort Davis was strategically located to protect emigrants, mail coaches, and freight wagons on the Trans-Pecos portion of the San Antonio-El Paso Road and on the Chihuahua Trail. I was able to get 25 solid CW contacts in about 45 minutes.   This trip was a great way to close out my 54th birthday!   73,  Chris de WX7V

 The XYL and I took a trip to West Texas. Marfa, that is.  We stopped along the way for a few POTA activations.   We stayed overnight in San Angelo, home of Angelo State University, my mothers Alma Mater from back in the late 1970s.   We activated US-3053 San Angelo State Park on Thursday morning and got 20 QSOs in an hour, mostly CW.  The wife wanted to hear a few QSOs beyond the DITs and DAHs so I squeezed in a few SSB contacts to keep the peace.  We got to see the state bison herd on the way out, a highlight of the park and everyone left happy!   We reached Marfa late Thursday afternoon in time for some good food and checked into the Hotel Paisano, where they filmed parts of the movie Giant which starred Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean.  I headed out Friday morning to activate US-11900 Blackwell School National Historic Site.  Not much to see but an important part of our state's history that marked the end of se...

 I took a rental car on this week's work trip along with my KX3 in hopes of getting a few QRP POTA activations under my belt after work.   The trip did not disappoint, but operating QRP with a compromise antenna (ok, don't call it a compromise) is a really tricky challenge. My first activation on Monday evening was US-0746 Morristown National Historical Park, specifically the Jockey Hollow area of the park.   This site has been on my list for several years, and its less than 10 minutes from the corporate office in Basking Ridge NJ.  Ironically there is no cell service in the park, lots of areas my phone had SOS or barely 1 bar of service which added to the QRP challenge.  I activated the park as second time on Tuesday, for a combined 23 QSOs and about 90 minutes of operating time across both days!  Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to Jun...