Topic: Hobbies

So, Let’s consider: Getting and staying Tech Savvy 0

Posted by on in Health, Hobbies, How To, Internet, Laptops and Tablet PC's, Life, Living, Making Life Better, Self Improvement, Technology Trends And Directions



So, Let’s consider: Getting and staying Tech Savvy

As the old addage goes: The only thing constant is change. The days of pencil, paper and protractor are quickly being replaced by every day tools the likes of which we first saw in Dick Tracy in the comics decades ago. The little toys that Diet Smith Industries came up with back then were the tools which we’re finding to be becoming standard and indispenseable items of today and tomorrow.

Now I have to confess, I’ve been in computers for over 45 years, and I still learn stuff every day. So, I’m writing this basically directed towards those of my generation and the one before as many of us now have to use these new toys as requisites to getting through our daily lives!

Once one learns what’s out there, where it is and how to use it, you’ll find your life can be very positively impacted. For many that are retired, living alone, etc., it is also a great way of rebuilding your life social and communication structure. The factors that lead to isolation for many can be replaced by the simple tools like FaceTime, Facebook, and other video and social applications. Even though you’re several time zones away, you’re basically in the same room. But, you don’t have to be retired to use and want to use these resources!

Learning about and how to use basic consumer technologies can help you keep current on events. You will no longer have to depend on Tom Brokaw, Huntley, Brinkley or any of the rest. It’s there for you to just got get and very current if not in real time. Your biggest challenge will be in selecting from the crowd!

This also lets you connect with other people that share your hobbies and interests. Explore new hobbies, places to go, and many other things of interest. The educational resources are amazing and many of them are free – and these are everything from simple how to’s to MIT and other university classes. They’re just a web browser or google(www.google.com) away! Had a nagging question that you just can’t find the answer to? Google it!

So how can you find and learn of these resources if you don’t know what, where or how?

Well, ask someone else or ask a kid. Kids are totally immersed in this world. Have them show you what they’re finding and using. And, by “kid” that also applies to high school, college and adult “kids” as well. Don’t feel you have to reinvent the wheel as chances are someone has done that already!

Get your feet wet! Take a class on basics. Libraries are a great resource for this and they can also tell you who are the good resources in your area to learn from. Sometimes this is a local civic group, club, community college, church group or university.

Don’t be afraid the ask the “dumb questions”. Many of us have found that they’re the best kinds of questions to ask. You’ll also find that Coursera and Udemy classes are really great places to start on many topics.

Use online resources like YouTube (www.youtube.com). This resource is loaded with how-to’s on most anything you’d ever want to know about or how to do. It’s also loaded with music and videos to just watch. And it’s free just for the browsing.

Search for it. Using search engines like google can make your life so much easier. Just go to the search line and ask you question. Keep it simple and then refine it details as you learn and see your options. For example you could enter “beekeeping” on the search line, and sit back as you get back and get inundated with responses. Then you’ll learn things like using “beekeeping mite control” and other ways to refine your search questions. And a “How do I…” is always a good way to start. If you’re looking for more advanced responses, try scholar.google.com.

As with the other parts of life, crawl before your walk, before you run. So, start small. Don’t feel you have to conquer the world with your first google search! Buy do get in there and play. The more you play, the more you learn. The more you learn the better your life will be.

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.

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So, Let’s consider: National Park Passports 0

Posted by on in Family, Hobbies, National Parks, Travel



So, Let’s consider: National Park Passports

Several years ago, the National Park System(NPS) started a really nice hobby item for those that like to travel and visit parks. It’s referred to as the “passport”. (You can find more info at https://shop.americasnationalparks.org/store/department/30/Passport-Program/).

A set of additional stamps honoring specific parks is issued every year, and every year I order the year’s new passport stamp set for my National Park “passports”. Now before you go getting confused on me, these passports aren’t the kind that are issue by the state department that you need to travel between countries, or to New Jersey. They’re actually more like a scrap book of stamps that are issued for parks in the NPS system. A new stamp set is issued each year. And, yes, some parks have yet to get their stamp, but you can still get the passport “stamped” when you visit them. When you visit a park and their visitor’s center, you can get the “cancelation” stamp for you passport stamp. And if there’s not one yet issued, you can still collect the cancelations. It’s a really nice scrapbook log of your trips and visits. And it makes for a nice consolidation of memories to look back on later.

I started this with my kid back when she was young as a fun side item when our family traveled as a way for her to have a book of memories of our trips. And each year when I order my new set I still get her a copy as well.

I just got my new set of stamps for next year and this morning I updated my passports with them. I’ve been doing this long enough that I’ve had to expand to 2 volumes with several sets of additional inserts.

Our family has changed in recent years, but even still, as I add the new stamps and flip through the pages of trips gone by, the memories come back like the noon day sun.

If you’re looking for a fun memory building hobby for your kid(s) and family, I really recommend that you check out this little known fun part of traveling the national park system. It’s affordable and something that grows as they do.

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.

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So, you need to sell something. 0

Posted by on in Consumer Electronics, Customer Service, Family, Hobbies, Point(s) To Ponder





So, you need to sell something.

OK, so, you’re finally getting around to all that fall/spring cleaning that you told yourself for the last several life times that you were going to do.
Now, you have a pile of stuff you need to get rid of, but you think there’s a few buck$ in it and you don’t want to throw it out.
What to do? Well, here’s a few ideas to consider:
eBay and Craigslist: Granted you will pay a fee and you may want to give serious consideration to meeting the prospective buyers in a neutral location like post office parking lot of police station, but eveyone knows they exist and looks there.
5Miles (www.5miles.com): In theory they attempt to weed out potential theives and you should be able to verify the potential buyers by phone, facebook, etc. By the way, ALWAYS use your cell phone – NEVER use your land line.
Varagesale (www.varagesale.com): Safety is a primary priority on this site and buyers and sellers contact each other via facebook prior to meeting.
Poshmark (www.poshmark.com): Touts itself as the venu to buy and sell fashion. Be careful for the fees they charge and like all sites, make sure you read the fine print before using them.
The Trove Market Place (www.usetrove.com): If you want to unload things like furniture, artwork, antiques, etc., then this may be a place to look at. They charge a fee for using credit cards and you, like Amazon, you have a way of reviewing the seller’s ratings before buying.
Amazon (www.amazon.com): If you can’t find it or sell it on amazon, it doesn’t exit. It’s an easy place to unload books or if you want to start an online junk store then you’ve possibly found your nirvana.
Kiiboo (www.kiiboo.com): you can find more tech centric items here. Also, cameras, laptops, and other things many of which you’d find on ebay, amazon, craigslist, etc. It’s always nice to have options.
As always, buyer and seller beware. There’s a crook born every minute and it’s up to you to protect yourself and your best interests.
Good luck and good shopping…

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand…



Time To Spring clean your smart phone 0

Posted by on in Cell Phone Stuff, Family, Hobbies, PC Stuff








Time To Spring clean your smart phone
OK, so, when you’re making your spring cleaning list it’s important to add your cell phone to it. Face it, through
the year’s worth of use your phone’s memory is full, apps are running slower, so it’s time to refresh that phone and clean/tune it up a bit.
Here’s a few ideas:
Make sure it’s backed up
Check your phone’s manual or just google for your phone type and backup. You can backup to the cloud (if you trust it) or to you local PC. Connect and follow the instructions and away you go. Do this first to avoid losing anything that may be of some importance. Actually, you should be doing this periodically anyway.
Delete unused apps
If you’re not using them, you don’t need them. And, you could use the memory for something else.
Close all open apps
Open apps take memory. They also reduce performance on your phone. Frankly, you should periodically be closing all your open apps anyway and periodically doing a power cycle (off/on) of your phone just to give it the chance to clean up its act.
Make sure your apps are up to date
Chances are you’ve been hounded by your phone already about apps needing updating, but you could be like many folks that just don’t update their apps…and since some apps need connection to a higher speed source (wifi, etc) you may have had to delay doing your updates. Do it now. If you’re low on memory you may have to stagger the updates and do only a few at a time.
Frankly, it’s best to keep current on your apps. What I like to do is open my app update icon, then select update all. I generally do this in the evening before hitting the shower or pillow…and when I get up everything is generally updated, charged and ready to go.
Transfer your pictures, etc
OK, so you’ve been using your phone as a camera and a repository for all kinds of pictures, documents and
whatever your needs are. It’s time to move them off the phone and onto some form of external storage. This can be your PC, cloud(if you trust it), or whatever devices work best for you. The process varies by phone type but generally just plug your phone into the USB port of your PC and follow the software/manufacturer’s instructions and you’re gold.
Delete old emails and text message
Again, if you don’t need it, don’t keep it. Memory on a cell phone is expensive. And, chances are that ping you did to the friend you’ve not seen since 3rd grade isn’t a high priority item to be keeping.
Delete old histories
Many of your apps, especially your internet browswers, are potentially keeping massive amounts of historical data that not only do you not need to keep having around, you may not want some others knowing it’s out there. So, delete it. The methods will vary based on the apps…but start with your internet browsers, etc., and work from there. Frankly you should be doing this periodically anyway as these apps and their history logs are generally just a waste of space.
Give it an external wipe down
OK, you’ve cleaned up the insides, now it’s time to clean up the outside. Over short periods of time you’d be surprised how much stuff gets in the cracks of your phone…all kinds of bugs, viruses, bacteria, etc., and frankly, you don’t need to be exposing yourself to that kinda stuff every day anyway. Again, this is something that you really should be considering doing periodically. Don’t soak your phone in a solution as this will trash your phone and your warranty, but a damp cloth carefully used will work wonders!
Good luck and safe phoning!
I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.



FCC Frequency Allocations for Amateurs – aka Hams 0

Posted by on in Hobbies, Radio, Scanners, Technology Trends And Directions







FCC Frequency Allocations for Amateurs – aka Hams

One of annoying things about life is the “use it or lose it” properties. If you don’t use it, you tend to lose it. Generally this applies to things learned or perhaps memorized at one time.

I used to be semi-fluent in several languages – even translated for my parents when we traveled as I picked it up faster than they did. I also lost it faster than they did.

When I got my Amateur Radio (Ham) license I tried to remember all the frequencies I could play on and what I was allowed to do on them, and NOT to do on them. Frankly, I gave up.

To make life easier for me I consolidated a few frequency lists from good Ham sources and reorganized them into a form that I could use alot easier. I broke it down by license class then frequency
and frequency use restrictions.

Here it is in order of license class progression. Just print and take a pair of scissors and chop off what’s not relevant to you and tack it up in your ham shack. If you see any fat fingers or if the laws change and I’ve not caught it, please let me know for an update.

Enjoy.

NOVICE:

80 Meters
3.525-3.600 MHz: CW Only
40 Meters
7.025-7.125 MHz : CW only
15 Meters
21.025-21.200 MHz: CW Only
10 Meters
28.000-28.300 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data–Maximum power 200 watts PEP
28.300-28.500 MHz: CW, Phone–Maximum power 200 watts PEP
1.25 Meters – limited to 25 watts PEP output
222.00-225.00 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data
23 Centimeters
1270-1295 MHz: CW, phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data (maximum power, 5 watts PEP)

TECHNICIAN:

80 Meters
3.525-3.600 MHz: CW Only
40 Meters
7.025-7.125 MHz : CW only
15 Meters
21.025-21.200 MHz: CW Only
10 Meters
28.000-28.300 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data–Maximum power 200 watts PEP
28.300-28.500 MHz: CW, Phone–Maximum power 200 watts PEP
6 Meters
50.0-50.1 MHz: CW Only
50.1-54.0 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data
2 Meters
144.0-144.1 MHz: CW Only
144.1-148.0 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data
1.25 Meters
222.00-225.00 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data
70 Centimeters
420.0-450.0 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data
33 Centimeters
902.0-928.0 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data
23 Centimeters
1240-1300 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data
 
Higher Frequencies:
2300-2310 MHz
2390-2450 MHz
3300-3500 MHz
5650-5925 MHz
10.0-10.5 GHz
24.0-24.25 GHz
47.0-47.2 GHz
76.0-81.0 GHz – Amateur operation at 76-77 GHz has been suspended
122.25 -123.00 GHz
134-141 GHz
241-250 GHz
All above 300 GHz

GENERAL:

160 Meters
1.800-2.000 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, RTTY/Data
80 Meters
3.525-3.600 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data
3.800-4.000 MHz: CW, Phone, Image
60 Meters – 100w ERP
5330.5 Khz – USB phone1 and CW/RTTY/data
5346.5 Khz – USB phone1 and CW/RTTY/data
5357.0 Khz – USB phone1 and CW/RTTY/data
5371.5 Khz – USB phone1 and CW/RTTY/data
5403.5 Khz – USB phone1 and CW/RTTY/data

Amateurs are permitted to operate on five frequency channels, each having an
effective bandwidth of 2.8 kHz.

These frequencies are available for use by stations having a control
operator holding a General, Advanced or Amateur Extra class license. It is
important to note that the frequencies shown above are suppressed carrier
frequencies – the frequencies that appear in your transceiver’s tuning
display when your transceiver is in the USB mode.

Amateurs may transmit with an effective radiated power of 100 W or less,
relative to a half-wave dipole. If you’re using a commercial directional
antenna, FCC Rules require you to keep a copy of the manufacturer’s gain
specifications in your station records. If you built the directional antenna
yourself, you must calculate the gain and keep the results in your station
records.

40 Meters

7.025-7.125 MHz : CW, RTTY/Data
7.175-7.300 MHz:: CW, Phone, Image
30 Meters – Maximum power, 200 watts PEP
10.100-10.150 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data
20 Meters
14.025 -14.150 MHz CW, RTTY/Data
14.225 -14.350 MHz: CW, Phone, Image
17 Meters
18.068-18.110 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data
18.110-18.168 MHz: CW, Phone, Image
15 Meters
21.025-21.200 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data
21.275-21.450 MHz: CW, Phone, Image
12 Meters
4.890-24.930 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data
24.930-24.990 MHz: CW, Phone, Image
10 Meters
28.000-28.300 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data
28.300-29.700 MHz: CW, Phone, Image
6 Meters
50.0-50.1 MHz: CW Only
50.1-54.0 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data
2 Meters
144.0-144.1 MHz: CW Only
144.1-148.0 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data
 
1.25 Meters
219-220 MHz amateur use on a secondary basis.
222.00-225.00 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data
70 Centimeters
420.0-450.0 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data
33 Centimeters
902.0-928.0 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data
23 Centimeters
1240-1300 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data
 
Higher Frequencies:
2300-2310 MHz
2390-2450 MHz
3300-3500 MHz
5650-5925 MHz
10.0-10.5 GHz
24.0-24.25 GHz
47.0-47.2 GHz
76.0-81.0 GHz – 76-77 GHz has been suspended
122.25 -123.00 GHz
134-141 GHz
241-250 GHz
All above 300 GHz

ADVANCED CLASS:

160 Meters
1.800-2.000 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, RTTY/Data
80 Meters
3.525-3.600 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data
3.700-4.000 MHz: CW, Phone, Image
60 Meters – 100w ERP
5330.5 Khz – USB phone1 and CW/RTTY/data
5346.5 Khz – USB phone1 and CW/RTTY/data
5357.0 Khz – USB phone1 and CW/RTTY/data
5371.5 Khz – USB phone1 and CW/RTTY/data
5403.5 Khz – USB phone1 and CW/RTTY/data

Amateurs are permitted to operate on five frequency channels, each having an
effective bandwidth of 2.8 kHz.

These frequencies are available for use by stations having a control
operator holding a General, Advanced or Amateur Extra class license. It is
important to note that the frequencies shown above are suppressed carrier
frequencies – the frequencies that appear in your transceiver’s tuning
display when your transceiver is in the USB mode.

Amateurs may transmit with an effective radiated power of 100 W or less,
relative to a half-wave dipole. If you’re using a commercial directional
antenna, FCC Rules require you to keep a copy of the manufacturer’s gain
specifications in your station records. If you built the directional antenna
yourself, you must calculate the gain and keep the results in your station
records.

40 Meters
7.025-7.125 MHz : CW, RTTY/Data
7.125-7.300 MHz:: CW, Phone, Image
30 Meters – Maximum power, 200 watts PEP
10.100-10.150 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data
20 Meters
14.025 -14.150 MHz CW, RTTY/Data
14.175 -14.350 MHz: CW, Phone, Image
 
17 Meters
18.068-18.110 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data
18.110-18.168 MHz: CW, Phone, Image
15 Meters
21.025-21.200 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data
21.225-21.450 MHz: CW, Phone, Image
12 Meters
24.890-24.930 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data
24.930-24.990 MHz: CW, Phone, Image
10 Meters
28.000-28.300 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data
28.300-29.700 MHz: CW, Phone, Image
6 Meters
50.0-50.1 MHz: CW Only
50.1-54.0 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data
2 Meters
144.0-144.1 MHz: CW Only
144.1-148.0 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data
 
1.25 Meters
219-220 MHz to amateur use on a secondary basis.
222.00-225.00 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data
70 Centimeters
420.0-450.0 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data
33 Centimeters
902.0-928.0 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data
23 Centimeters
1240-1300 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data
 
Higher Frequencies:
2300-2310 MHz
2390-2450 MHz
3300-3500 MHz
5650-5925 MHz
10.0-10.5 GHz
24.0-24.25 GHz
47.0-47.2 GHz
76.0-81.0 GHz – 76-77 GHz has been suspended
122.25 -123.00 GHz
134-141 GHz
241-250 GHz
All above 300 GHz

AMATEUR EXTRA CLASS:

160 Meters
1.800-2.000 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, RTTY/Data
 
80 Meters
3.500-3.600 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data
3.600-4.000 MHz: CW, Phone, Image
60 Meters – 100w ERP
5330.5 Khz – USB phone1 and CW/RTTY/data
5346.5 Khz – USB phone1 and CW/RTTY/data
5357.0 Khz – USB phone1 and CW/RTTY/data
5371.5 Khz – USB phone1 and CW/RTTY/data
5403.5 Khz – USB phone1 and CW/RTTY/data

Amateurs are permitted to operate on five frequency channels, each having an
effective bandwidth of 2.8 kHz.

These frequencies are available for use by stations having a control
operator holding a General, Advanced or Amateur Extra class license. It is
important to note that the frequencies shown above are suppressed carrier
frequencies – the frequencies that appear in your transceiver’s tuning
display when your transceiver is in the USB mode.

Amateurs may transmit with an effective radiated power of 100 W or less,
relative to a half-wave dipole. If you’re using a commercial directional
antenna, FCC Rules require you to keep a copy of the manufacturer’s gain
specifications in your station records. If you built the directional antenna
yourself, you must calculate the gain and keep the results in your station
records.
 
40 Meters
7.000-7.125 MHz : CW, RTTY/Data
7.125-7.300 MHz:: CW, Phone, Image
30 Meters – 200 watts PEP.
10.100-10.150 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data
 
20 Meters
14.000 – 14.150 MHz CW, RTTY/Data
14.150 -14.350 MHz: CW, Phone, Image
 
17 Meters
18.068-18.110 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data
18.110-18.168 MHz: CW, Phone, Image
15 Meters
21.000-21.200 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data
21.200-21.450 MHz: CW, Phone, Image
12 Meters
24.890-24.930 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data
24.930-24.990 MHz: CW, Phone, Image
10 Meters
28.000-28.300 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data
28.300-29.700 MHz: CW, Phone, Image
6 Meters
50.0-50.1 MHz: CW Only
50.1-54.0 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data
2 Meters
144.0-144.1 MHz: CW Only
144.1-148.0 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data
 
1.25 Meters
219-220 MHz to amateur use on a secondary basis.
222.00-225.00 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data
70 Centimeters
420.0-450.0 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data
33 Centimeters
902.0-928.0 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data
23 Centimeters
1240-1300 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data
 
Higher Frequencies:
2300-2310 MHz
2390-2450 MHz
3300-3500 MHz
5650-5925 MHz
10.0-10.5 GHz
24.0-24.25 GHz
47.0-47.2 GHz
76.0-81.0 GHz – 76-77 GHz has been suspended
122.25 -123.00 GHz
134-141 GHz
241-250 GHz
All above 300 GHz

73 🙂

I’m Don Rima and that’s the way I see it, from where I stand…