Scratch That SDR!

When you think of a software defined radio, what language might you consider reaching for to create the software part of the equation? C? C++, maybe?

How about Scratch?

“What, Scratch as in the visual programming language aimed at young people?”, we hear you cry incredulously. It’s not exactly the answer you’d expect for an SDR, but thanks to [Andrew Back]’s work there is now ScratchRadio, a set of Scratch extensions for software defined radio. Why on earth do this? The aim is to lower the barrier to entry for software defined radio as far as possible, and to place it in a learning environment such as Scratch seems an ideal way to achieve that.

Of course, Scratch itself isn’t powerful enough for the heaviest of heavy lifting, so in reality this is a Scratch wrapper for a LuaRadio backend. It was created with the LimeSDR Mini in mind, but given that LuaRadio is not specific to that hardware we’d expect it to work with other SDRs such as the ever-popular RTL chipset TV sticks. It gives an owner of a Raspberry Pi 3 the ability to experiment with SDR coding without the need for a huge level of experience, and that to our mind can only be a good thing.

If you fancy trying ScratchRadio, you can find the code in its GitHub repository, and take it from there. Meanwhile we covered LuaRadio last year, so if Scratch is a little basic for you and GNU Radio too advanced, give it a try.

Radio icon: [Sakurambo], (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Scratch cat logo: MIT Media Lab.

Filed under: radio hacks

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Lucid Dreaming | Effective Lucid Dreaming Techniques According to Peer Reviewed Study

Dr. Denholm Aspy out of Australia had a study recently published investigating the effectiveness of RCs, WBTB and MILD on lucid dreaming. The study was covered in a good number of different news outlets in the last week, including the magazine Newsweek.

From the abstract:

Quote:

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Results showed that the combination of reality testing, WBTB and the MILD technique was effective at inducing lucid dreams. Several factors that influenced the effectiveness of the MILD technique were identified, including general dream recall and the amount of time taken to fall asleep after finishing the technique.

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Those of us who use the MILD along with WBTB can attest to the effectiveness, but it is great to see scientific research to back it up.

I see he also has several other studies including one on the SSILD technique (my favorite) which showed it to be effective but the study is still under peer review according to his website. Other studies cover dream recall as well as the effect of "B" vitamins on sleep and dreams.

You can do a 'news.google' search for 'denholm aspy lucid' which finds some of the articles that the study inspired or a regular google search of websites to find more info about him including his website outlining his research. I don't have any connection to him but I am happy to see actual peer reviewed research on lucid dreaming techniques.

If anyone finds a free, legal copy of the full study, please post where you found it. I'd love to read it in it's entirety.

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3D Printed Dashboard CB Mount is Convoy Ready

Some may be surprised to hear that CB radio is alive and well in the 21st century. From disaster response to operating in areas without reliable communication infrastructure, there are plenty of reasons people are still reaching for their radio and not their smartphone. Unfortunately, modern automotive interior design doesn’t have such an enlightened view. It’s hard enough to get decent cup holders in some cars, let alone a spot to hang your microphone.

When presented with this problem in his Subaru Forester, [Alex Loizou] did what any modern hacker would, he 3D printed a mount that snaps into the stock dash. No drilling was required to attach his radio mount, it simply replaces a decorative trim piece that wasn’t doing anything anyway. Obviously this particular mount would only really work on the same year and make of vehicle as [Alex] has, but this is a good demonstration of how 3D printing can be used to adapt to existing hardware.

As is often the case when trying to print something to match perfectly with an existing object, there was a fair amount of trial and error required. It took a few attempts before [Alex] got the proper shape, and things weren’t made any easier by the fact he was doing his designing in TinkerCAD. While we appreciate the fact that TinkerCAD provides a web-based CAD tool that is easy enough for anyone to use, using a parametric design tool like OpenSCAD is generally preferred when you need to make slight adjustments to your model.

Software limitations aside, [Alex] managed to come up with a mount that not only holds his CB microphone, but also his handheld transmitter. All while looking about as close to stock hardware as something like this could. We especially like that he switched to a darker filament color for his final version to blend it into the dashes color scheme a bit better.

If your radio interest is a little full-fat for CB, take a look at what keeps ham radio alive and well in 2017, and if you’re a radio amateur with a hankering for the CB days we’ve got you covered.

Filed under: 3d Printer hacks, car hacks, radio hacks

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Lucid Dreaming | This youtube MP3 helped me get back to back lucid dreams

Just played this youtube MP3 last night and had several back to back lucid dreams (at the end of my sleep cycle).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDX8QrcDI_o

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Lucid Dreaming | Possibly Succeeded???

OK, So last night I did what I always do. I drank my bed time tea and hit the bed very tired.
I pictured in my head the words I am dreaming and let them swirl around my head for about 5 minutes.
I tried to attempt WILD and failed miserably again which made me restless and so tired but I
couldn't sleep. Eventually I got this rushing noise in my left ear and was a cool feeling breeze.
I went with it and concentrated on the rushing noise. Eventually I felt my body lift up off of the bed
and a force pulling on my legs. I wasn't scared because I read about this before and was more excited than
anything. So after I feel like I have been pulled into the air I start to think about a naked planet full of naked women LOL.
Unfortunately I feel my brother walk into the room and kind of messes with my concentration. Then I thought to myself
wait I don't live with my brother (I am married with kids) and then did the RC breathing through nose. It worked! I was able to breathe through my nose!
But I said to everyone in the room it worked I can breathe through my nose and my mom, my brother, and my daughter all laughed at me. So I did the RC again and yes I could breathe through my nose! I said I am dreaming! I am dreaming! I am dreaming! They just kept laughing. So I punched my mom in the butt to see what would happen and she laughed. So I kept saying I am dreaming take me to my naked dream I want LOL> All the time not realizing I was already in the dream and I couldn't change where I was in the dream. I bounced around the room just laughing and being funny then got frustrated because it didn't take me anywhere LOL. Then I woke up...

So was I actually Lucid dreaming or was I dreaming about having a Lucid dream?

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Snazzy Balun Lets Ham Use Off-The-Shelf Coax

It’s a dilemma many hams face: it’s easy to find yourself with a big spool of RG-11 coax cable, usually after a big cable TV wiring project. It can be tempting to use it in antenna projects, but the characteristic impedance of RG-11 is 75 Ω, whereas the ham world is geared to 50 Ω. Not willing to waste a bounty of free coax, one ham built a custom 1:1 current balun for a 75 Ω dipole.

Converting between balanced and unbalanced signals is the job of a balun, and it’s where the device derives its name. For hams, baluns are particularly useful to connect a dipole antenna, which is naturally balanced, to an unbalanced coax feedline. The balun [NV2K] built is a bifilar 1:1 design, with two parallel wires wound onto a ferrite core. To tweak the characteristic impedance to the 75 Ω needed for his antenna and feedline, [NV2K] added short lengths of Teflon insulation to one of the conductors, which is as fussy a bit of work as we’ve seen in a while. We appreciate the careful winding of the choke and the care taken to make this both mechanically and electrically sound, and not letting that RG-11 go to waste is a plus.

With as much effort as hams put into antenna design, there’s a surprising dearth of Hackaday articles on the subject. We’ve talked a bit about the Yagi-Uda antenna, and we’ve showcased a cool magnetic loop antenna, but there’s precious little about the humble dipole.

[via r/amateurradio]

Filed under: radio hacks

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Preppers and the Primitive Life

by Megan

The majority of preppers view bugging out to live a primitive life in the woods as a last resort option. In fact, I would venture a guess that most preppers have planned or are planning a strategic relocation to make bugging in more sustainable. Others know they must endure a short-term bug out from their homes to a shelter or retreat location. But you may have also heard quite a few preppers say something like “I’ve got a permanent reservation at Mother Nature’s hotel”.

This category of primitive life preppers intend to bug out to the woods and live off the land at the first sign of trouble. There’s nothing outright wrong with this tactic. Our ancestors did it. And there are scores of avid outdoorsmen, experienced campers, and backpackers who can live off the land for short periods. At first glance, relying on the primitive life following a SHTF situation seems a logical solution to the problem of more gear and supplies than you can carry.

There’s no doubt that having some primitive survival skills will come in handy in a SHTF situation. In truth, there are scores of preppers, such as Mors Kochanski, Cody Lundin, Dave Canterbury, and Lofty Wiseman, who teach primitive skills as a career and make a good living from it. Many of these experts practice what they preach at least part-time. Some of them even routinely rely on primitive skills to survive day to day.

What Are Primitive Skills?

The term primitive skills or bushcraft skills refers to someone who can live off the land and make the best of whatever situation mother nature may throw at them, without relying on manufactured gear and supplies. Living the primitive life centers around using the resources available in whatever environment you find yourself in, to survive.

But is primitive living for preppers really the best strategy? Is the primitive life a feasible way for people to survive long-term today? If you’re considering a reservation with Mother Nature when SHTF, we’ll give you some things to think about first.

Benefits of Primitive Living for Preppers

• the more primitive skills you have the less gear and supplies you need to carry
• your knowledge and experience can save your life if gear fails
• resources are plentiful if you know where to look and how to use them
• very inexpensive way to live; no need for much cash
• become more connected to nature
• easier to stay on the move to avoid hordes
• no danger of looters stealing your gear and supplies
• very skilled survivalists could stay alive indefinitely
• improve your use of gear when it is available
• Sense of pride and accomplishment in doing things yourself
• Skilled survivalists will have best chance of procuring food ahead of others

Problems with living a Primitive Life

• More labor intensive to accomplish daily tasks
• Requires more physical strength and stamina
• Time can work against you frequently(storm coming, getting dark, etc.)
• More difficult to learn and perfect skills, especially in the moment
• The number of primitive skills you need to learn is almost never ending
• Knowledge doesn’t equal experience
• Learning primitive skills to a level where you can rely on them to work every time regardless of conditions takes much time and practice.
• During a SHTF situation, your stress level is high, your energy level and mental functioning may suffer so not the best time to learn or be practicing new skills.

So what’s the verdict on living the primitive life for preppers? There’s no denying that preppers who stockpile gear and supplies may one day find that it’s still not enough. Yet, even survival experts with the greatest amount of knowledge and experience admit anything can go wrong in a survival situation. Do you really want to bet your life and your loved ones lives solely on your primitive skills?

It seems to me, a better survival strategy is to strategically relocate and plan to bug in or to set up a survival retreat where you can go when you bug out. AND learn and practice as many primitive skills as you can in the coming months and years. If your gear fails, your supplies run out, are stolen by looters, or something else goes awry, you’ll be at peace knowing that Mother Nature is your backup plan and not your sole option.

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