radio.McDougallsHome.net

I’ve been hacked! My web sites have been hacked.  Fortunately, the hack was so bad that it just broke the web site and I noticed it right away.  It looks as if they came in through my hosting company some how, but I have not received any notice that a server at the hosting company has been compromised.  I deleted the web site and restored it all from a reliable backup.  It was a learning experience; and I am glad that I am fanatical about backups!

73,
John – K7JM

After I installed Ubuntu 9.04 – Jaunty Jackalope, I posted a lengthy list of problems I encountered during and after the process. You can read it by clicking HERE.

I received a great reply from Rob laying out some important facts about updating a major distribution of most any variety.  I encourage you to read Rob’s reply Here: May 9th, 2009 at 11:25 am.

It seems, however, that my experience with Jaunty was not unique.  My blog post has been ready by many other users looking for solutions.  Here is a partial list of search entries that resulted in finding and reading my post.

• solution gdesklets jaunty

• menu bar missing gnome ubuntu 9.04

• jaunty jackalope install/upgrade experie

• install kept back upgrade brasero jaunty

• desktop effects could not be enabled

• ubuntu 9.04 partial upgrade brasero

• error gdesklets ubuntu 904

• partial upgrade ubuntu 9.04

• tracker jackalope reindex

• ubuntu alternate install +grub boot load

• +nvidia +drivers +jaunty +not +loaded

• jaunty partial upgrade problem

• jaunty jackalope partial upgrade

• ubuntu 9.04 no menu bar

• ubuntu 9.04 failed to open gdesklets

• ubuntu 9.04 sansa not connecting

• missing menu bars jaunty

• 9.4 jackalope indexing error

• downloading files from sansamp3 player t

• ubuntu 9.04 tracker applet missing

• jaunty jackalope menu bar disappear

• ubuntu jackalope tracker reindex

• ubuntu 9.04 missing password

• ubuntu jaunty not detecting sansa

• upgrading to jaunty jackalope partial up

• gdesklets jaunty fix

• desktop effects could not be enabled

• ubuntu jaunty sansa

• tracker indexing error jaunty

• how to start the compiz gui in ubuntu 9.

• ubuntu 9.04 recovery menu

• menu bar missing in ubuntu 9.04

• applet is not loading ubuntu jaunty jack

• ubuntu update manager icon disappeared

• jaunty jackalope recovery menu

• “open movie editor” ubuntu 9.04 mp3

• ubuntu 9.04 problem hp laserjet printer

• ubuntu 9.04 sansa not connecting

• how to install gdesklets in ubuntu 9.04

• compiz buggy since upgrade to jaunty

• kernel failed install when updating to 9

• partial upgrade jaunty error open office

• sandisk jaunty

• nvidia picked up during live not after I

• missing 9.04 from grub

• jaunty install software failed

• ubuntu 9.04 missing compiz menu

• ubuntu 9.04 tracker “what is”

• how do i fix a failed ubuntu 9.04 instal

• sansa clip not working on ubuntu 9.04

• reindex ubuntu 9.04

• not work tracker ubuntu 9.04

• ubuntu 9.04 gdesklets

• tracker ubuntu 9.04 “re-index”

• jaunty disable tracker

• ubuntu 9.04 partial upgrade cannot resta

• jaunty compiz startup

• ubuntu 9.04 + update error

• ubuntu 9.04 nvidia not detected

• power button missing from ubuntu 9.04

• sansa not connecting in jaunty

• kino ubuntu 9.04

• ubuntu partial upgrade jaunty

• some of the menus are missing on ubuntu

• ubuntu 9.04 reindex

• tracker applet missing ubuntu jaunty

• ubuntu 9.04 gdesklets

• ubuntu jaunty auto detect sandisk sansa

• ubuntu 9.04 vlc media player error

• xbmc failed to detect distribution jaunt

• upgrade ubuntu jaunty jackalope gui err

It is obvious that there were too many errors, many of the same ones I encountered, while installing Jaunty.  I (and others) would love to hear about your experience installing Jaunty.  Good or bad.

John – K7JM

I love CW (That is: Morse Code).  On the Ham Radio bands, I operate almost exclusively CW.  It is fun and rewarding.  It is a challenge.  It is an easy way to get those DX contacts in the middle of the lowest part of the sun spot cycle.

There seems to be a resergence of interest in CW.  Eliminating CW as a requirement to get a Ham Radio license hasn’t done much to bolster our numbers.  CW is not the reason that our hobby has declining numbers.

Enter LCWO.net .  LCWO.net  is a web site I just discovered that will help you learn, or improve your CW skills.  LCWO stands for “Learn CW Online”.   I fiddled around  a bit on the site and found it very interesting; and it will even track your progress.  Give LCWO.net a try, it just might be the ticket to help you learn, or improve your CW.

CW is FUN!

John – K7JM

My Leap Second Capture Setup. Click the picture to see a larger view.

A “Leap Second” was added to our clocks at 12:59:60 on Dec. 31, 2008 (12:59:60 is not a typo).  Leap Seconds are added or subtracted every so many years, to keep our clocks in sync with the actual orbit of Earth around the sun.  There are several different methods to capture the leap second, and I took the opportunity yesterday to see if I could do the same without fancy or expensive equipment.

HERE is a good web site about the “Leap Second”.

And, HERE is a page about how to watch a “Leap Second”.

This is how I did it.  I tuned into WWV on my Ham Radio receiver, and set up a camera to record the time on my GPS.  After looking at the Leap Second web site, I should also have connected my computer to my GPS to capture the NMEA output from it.  Click on the picture to the left to see my setup. View the video below, and you will see that 12:59:59 lasted for two seconds on the GPS.

John – K7JM

I have recently stumbled across a new podcast that has peaked my interest.

I am a Ham Radio operator, and my computers run on Ubuntu Linux.  So, when I came across a new podcast called “Linux in the HAM Shack“, I knew I had to check it out.  So far, they have five episodes out, so it is not too late to download them and get caught up easily.

Two Hams, Richard - KB5JBV and Russ – K5TUX, produce “Linux in the HAM Shack“.  Check it out and let them know what you think.  For now, they are specifically targeting new Hams, or new Linux users who are Hams, or both.  It sounds like it is going to be a great netcast (podcast).

John. K7JM

Tux

It is very rare that I delete a post after it is published. I made this rare exception yesterday.

The post was about a school teacher that reprimanded a student after he shared Linux disks with his fellow students.

The computers at my house run under Ubuntu Linux, NOT Windows.  Many Many people believe that computers only run on Windows or Mac OS/X.  These people also believe that all software costs something and if you give it to someone, you are doing an illegal activity.  Linux operating systems are almost always FREE, and many times out perform Windows.  If you want to see a computer desktop that puts Windows Aero to shame, let me show you Ubuntu Linux with Compiz.  WOW! And VERY cool!  Most of the applications that run on Linux are free also, and the process of installing the applications is usually a matter of  a click or two.

Here is a link to the original article.

You must read this follow up article also to make a fair analysis of the whole deal; and that is why I deleted my post about the whole bit.

In short, it is PERFECTLY LEGAL to copy and share Linux Operating System disks AND ENCOURAGED.

The heavy and large (but inexpensive) HP Laserjet 4Si

Up to this point, our main computer printer has been a HP Photosmart D5360 inkjet. It is a very nice printer, but as you probably know, the price of ink is outrageous. I refill my own ink cartridges, which helps; but, that is a pain, and the whole deal is still expensive.

99 percent of what we print, does not need to be done with color. My boss bought an old laser printer from the state surplus, and it works great to print those everyday things that don’t have to be in color. Yesterday, I went to the monthly state surplus garage sale and picked up a huge behemoth old HP Laserjet 4Si laser printer for twenty bucks. It also included a new toner cartridge that was still in the box. I figured, if it happened to work, it was a steal with the extra cartridge included. I found prices for used Laserjet 4Si’s on the Internet for $400 to $550 dollars refurbished, depending on what accessories were included. This printer has the duplex module, and high speed parallel interface modules included, along with 8 megabytes of RAM.

I got some help putting it into my car. When I got home, I used a hand truck to haul it into the house, and into our “library” where our family compter is located. I dug around my junk box and found a centronics style parallel printer cable (since this computer interfaced with a parallel port), and plugged it in. The printer seemed to power up correctly, and my hope rose.

I do not run the Windows operating system on our home computers. They run on Ubuntu Linux. I ran the printer configuration utility on Ubuntu, and it immediately recognized the printer as an HP Laserjet 4Si, and downloaded the proper driver for it. Wow, “it just worked”!

I ran some test pages, and the printer ran perfectly. Other than the paper cost, now my kids can print the stuff they want to print, and we have enough toner to last the life time of the printer.

I found the user manual on the Internet. This printer prints on both sides, has slots for two paper trays. I have two “letter” size trays and a “legal” size tray that will fit in it. It has a slot for hand fed items like envelopes. What a deal! We have a small table with a lamp on it next to our computer operating desk. The printer fit nicely on the floor under the table.

Our HP Laserjet 4Si in our Library

Now, we can print all the stuff we want to, and use the more expensive inkjet printer when we need a nice color report or photo. If you need an inexpensive printer for day to day printing, consider one of those old laser printers you see at that garage sale or auction. If you can get it working, it will be well worth it. John.