App Review: Challonge

Well, I haven't been the best about posting app reviews like I started, but I found an app today that I just have to share: Challonge.

This week I'm leading a chess camp at my son's school.  We've covered basics, opening move strategies, various techniques, and today we started a championship tournament - which led me to this awesome find...

I really needed to create a bracket, but have you ever create a double-elimination tournament bracket for 11 people?  Well, it's not easy.  So I turned to Google, and that's when I found Challonge (www.challonge.com): a free web-based bracket generator with some nice features that are really unexpected and make this more of a full-featured web application.

It took me two minutes (2:00) to create this fantastic looking bracket.  I entered all of their names, then selected a random seeding option.  I was then able to put in up on the projector so the kids could track the standings as we went along using the app's full-screen view.. perfect!  Later I was able to email a URL to the kids' parents so they an see the bracket online.  They loved it!

There are a lot of features that I didn't use this time, but will probably use in the future (Cub Scout pinewood derby) such as displaying seeds, photos of participants, different types of tournaments (single elimination, round robin, Swiss), public sign-up page, maximum number of participants, allow participants to report their own scores and more!

This is obviously an app with a specific niche, but as you can tell I'm a big fan.

Piece, part and scrounge...

This story will likely make several of you Elmers cringe... you've been warned.

My HF radio is an Icom 720a, the old kind that requires a mic with a pre-amp.  For the duration of the time it took me to complete Worked All States, I was using an IC-HM12 microphone - those familiar with that microphone will know that it does not have a pre-amp.  This made for several awkward moments in the house: I would be working a station on the other side of the country and having to talk EXTREMELY LOUDLY INTO THE MICROPHONE JUST SO THE OTHER STATION COULD BARELY HEAR ME.  Things would get awkward when my nine-year-old would wander into my radio shack (my home office) around 9 pm with the ever-present, "Daddy, you're too loud.  I can't sleep." Click.  Off goes the radio for the night.  (Dang, right in the middle of a nice pile-up...)

My dad (N5GC) and I had a great time at the Russellville Hamfest again this year.  We both walked away with some cool new trinkets.  But the one thing that I was very excited to find, was a General Electric desk mic, that someone had installed a homebrew pre-amp in.  Here's the catch: The only plug it has is a quarter inch audio plug.  Here's the other catch: The PTT button was disconnected by the previous owner (why?).

Now, before I go further, I need to explain: I am extremely impatient. Also important to know, I am not the best with a soldering iron.  I just had  to get that mic on the air, but I didn't want to cut the plug off and figure out how to connect it properly.  (I'm sure I don't have the right mic plug for this Icom anyway.)  So, I remembered what the inside of my Rigblaster looked like: well labeled pins with jumpers between the input and output.. BINGO!... and out come the alligator clips.

[There it was.  Did you hear the collective groans and gasps from every old ham everywhere?]

So, let me paint a picture for you: The GE desktop mic has two clips connected to the mic and mic-ground.  Those clips run to the output side of the mic and mic-ground on the Rigblaster.  To run the PTT, I have my original IC-HM12 mic plugged-in to the front of the Rigblaster.  So, yes, all-in-all I'm operating with two microphones.

I know it's crazy: CRAZY AWESOME!  I've been blasting through the recent QRM with my full 200 watts with no problem... and most importantly: no more screaming!

1. Yes, I know this isn't a permanent solution.
2. No, I do not recommend that anyone else try this.

Signed,
The Ham That's Now a Ham
Joshua Carroll, N5JLC
about.me/joshuacarroll
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PS - You may be wondering how I know that my signal improved so well.  Sometime last year I was surfing the web and came across websdr.org.  It is exactly what the name implies: it is several Software Defined Radios that you can control over the web.  They are for receiving only (no transmitting), but that's perfect for those times you're tuning your rig (or have a new pre-amp'd mic jury-rigged through a Rigblaster into a 200 watt HF transceiver) and it would really help if you could just hear yourself!  I like using the W4AX in Atlanta, Georgia because I don't have to wait long for the gray-line to assist with propagation.

73!

Personal Log: I'ma gonna kill that-a wash-a!!

Ok, so this is really more for me than anyone.  Our washing machine is on the fritz, and being the house-handyman... it's my problem.  And since I'm cheap and stubborn, I'm intent on fixing it myself.

The victim: Estate (Whirlpool) washing machine, circa 2003
The crime: Upon entering the spin or agitation cycles, the tub won't move and it makes a horrible noise.

So, as I read more about this washing machine I'm going to add to this article.  Feel free to follow along.

After some initial study, these are the problem areas that can cause this problem that I'll be looking into:

• motor coupler
• transmission
• brake (hasn't released?)
• belt
• pump (obstruction)
• motor pivot
• trunk bearings
• basket drive block
• brake and drive tube
• clutch

Now.. to figure out what those are and how to check them.

---

Motor coupler: After removing the housing, pump and motor, I inspected the three parts that make up the coupler between the motor and transmission.  There were no cracks or visible defects.

Transmission: Watched this video:


Using the method described in the video, I put the washer into the spin cycle and tried to move the tub by hand.  It would not move easily at all.  Based on this information and the video, I am assuming the transmission is alright.

Update 12/26/2011 2:00 pm
Alright, so now that the holiday has past I'm back to the honey-do list.  So far today I found an article by Dave Harnish where he describes a quick fix for Whirlpool & Kenmore washer brake lockup problems.  So I followed his tip, which involves adding high-temp grease to the inside of the brake drum, and the tub moves easier but it still won't spin and still sounds terrible.

Ugh...

Update 12/26/2011 5:00 pm
Although I probably should have done this a bit sooner, I checked the pump for obstructions.



Unfortunately I found no socks or thongs. Double ugh...

Ok, so let's just recap where we stand with the possible culprits:

• motor coupler - no visible defects
• transmission - tub does not move freely in spin cycle
• brake (hasn't released?) - greased brake drum
• belt - direct drive model (no belt)
• pump (obstruction) - no obstructions in pump or in visible area of drain hose
• motor pivot
• trunk bearings
• basket drive block
• brake and drive tube
• clutch

Update 12/28/2011 6:55 pm
After reassembling the machine from the front, I drained it and laid it on its back. This allowed me to remove the motor/clutch/gearbox assembly. After some more study I decided that the problem was indeed with the clutch. So after a quick run to the local appliance parts store... I ended up replacing a perfectly good clutch. At least I can scratch "piss away $52" off my to-do list. Consequently, I can also scratch off the problem being with the clutch.

So, here we go again:

• motor coupler - no visible defects
• transmission - tub does not move freely in spin cycle
• brake (hasn't released?) - greased brake drum
• belt - direct drive model (no belt)
• pump (obstruction) - no obstructions in pump or in visible area of drain hose
• motor pivot
• trunk bearings
• basket drive block
• brake and drive tube
• clutch - replaced (new clutch)

App Review: Wishlistr

It's time again for another app review. Last time, I reviewed Sobees (a social network aggregator that makes life easier for eSocial butterflies). This time I thought that with the Christmas season upon us, it would be appropriate to review Wishlistr (www.wishlistr.com).

Wishlistr's website describes it fairly well:

Wishlistr is an easy to use web-based application that will help you collect, organize and keep track of the things you want. It also lets you share those things with friends and family.

As with most of my favorite apps, this one is free. And it's simple, non-intrusive design makes it idyllic for keeping your list of Christmas wishes. For those who are more tech-savvy: Wishlistr even includes an RSS feed, which could be helpful if you want to subscribe to someone's list.

Try out Wishlistr this Christmas and avoid getting another tie or calendar this year.

PS - If this article was just super-helpful, feel free to peruse my wishlist at wishlistr.com/joshuacarroll/ and send me something cool!

The start of a series / Sobees app review

After having a couple of people ask me for my favorite web-app that does _______, I've decided to review several of my overall favorite web apps right here. These apps will range from unique utilities to sites that may only interest a certain demographic - but in each site I think there is a lot to learn: design, application layout, typography, etc. Starting right here I'll review one app at a time in a blog-style format. If this sounds interesting to you, then follow me down this primrose path and let's begin...

Of all the online tools I use, the oldest in my repertoire is Sobees (sobees.com). Sobees touts itself as a "social desktop aggregator". This tool will be extremely interesting to all of the social [media] butterflies out there.

Sobees allows you to view your LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter feeds all on one screen. You can even add multiple accounts from each service. So if you want to monitor your personal and business Twitter accounts... you can! They also offer a couple of iPad apps, one for Android, as well as a traditional desktop application for your PC (if you're into that sort of thing).

When you visit the site the first time, you'll notice one of my favorite features: no login. All of your settings are stored in cookies on your computer. Of course this means if you visit the site from another computer, you'll have to set everything up again. But there are options to backup and restore your settings, so you could simply backup your settings on one computer, then restore them on a second computer and… viola… you have the identical setup. The site’s design is simple, sleek and unobtrusive: what more could you ask more in a web app?

While you’re checking it out, don’t overlook the “Search feed” option. In addition to the various supported social media networks, you can also create a custom - near live - search feed. This is especially useful if you really want to stay on top of a certain trending topic. I’ve used this in the past during severe weather (#arwx) and when iOS 5 was about to be released (#ios5).

If you use multiple social networks, check out Sobees at Sobees.com.

(... and just because I realized this sounds like an advertisement, I just wanted to point out that this is an unsponsored review. However, if someone wants to pay me for it, I'm ok with that too.)

No more frames!

If you have been following the development of the HTML5 standard at all, then you're probably ahead of me on this one.  This is my first week that I'm not teaching in a while, so I'm getting caught up with a little "light reading" (pr: reading web standards and specifications).

After a rather assertive student argued with me the merits of using frames in web pages a couple of weeks ago, I found it rather pleasing to learn that it looks like the W3C will be removing the frame, frameset and noframes tags with the release of the HTML5 specification.  These elements specifically are being removed,

"because their usage affected usability and accessibility for the end user in a negative way."

Hmm.  That sounds rather familiar.

Keep in mind that HTML5 is a working draft and may (probably will) change before it is released.  You can read about these and the other currently absent elements at www.w3.org/TR/2010/WD-html5-diff-20100304/#absent-elements.

National Weather Service changes forecasting XML data

Sometime between 4:30 pm yesterday and 8:00 am this morning (central time), the National Weather Service changed the format of their XML feed for forecast data.  I don't yet know all of the details, but I know that the "time-layout" element no longer has a "period-name" attribute.  If I can find any more information, I'll follow up on this post.

Sample XML feed
Schema