For cleaning out Windows systems, the very first thing I do is to boot the computer to an AVG rescue disk. (found here: http://www.avg.com/us-en/avg-rescue-cd)

This boots to a Linux OS, so Windows malware doesn't get the chance to load and hide; the rescue disk has a version of AVG anti-virus which runs under Linux and looks for Windows-based malware on the computer's hard disk(s).  Once the computer has booted, the anti-virus software looks to the AVG website for the latest virus definition files (I've seen AVG update as many as 3 times a day, so the files will be quite current).

AVG has both CD and USB based boot images available; the user guide is here: http://free.avg.com/us-en/226162 . Among other goodies, the rescue disk has a registry editor, so you can manually remove unwanted registry entries once the av software has removed the offending files.

There are some great browser plug-ins that help a lot...  Running NoScript will block unapproved Java scripts from running; one of those I block is from googleadservices.com - if the script doesn't run, it can't deliver targeted ads.

Between NoScript, AdBlockPlus, and DoNotTrackMe, I don't see ads and generally protect my privacy.  I'm running OpenSuSE 11.3 and Firefox 3.6.24; overall, I have much less to worry about regarding viruses, malware, and general privacy.

Different venues give different results - I've had better responses selling on eBay than posting here.  If I had any of Martyn's eBay IDs, I would be putting them on my blocked bidders list as mentioned by VHK.

However, I've decided to start here with my latest item for sale; if it doesn't sell here, it goes on eBay next week.

Anyone know what ID(s) he is using to purchase on eBay?

I may be putting some stuff up there in the next few weeks, and (to avoid potential problems) would just as soon not sell to him.

An old classic is the GE SuperRadio III - excellent MW & FM tuners, very good sound, but no digital readout.

Under $100, I'd suggest the Kaito / Degen 1103; it has shortwave in addition to MW & FM, but otherwise meets all your requirements.  I've got one which I use for travel and as a loaner to interest people in shortwave, and it serves quite well (despite the quirky ergonomics...).

I stand corrected; comes from thinking in CAT6 terms when dealing with twisted-pair wiring... [grin]

Sounds like an interesting experiment; effectively, an end-fed twisted-pair wire antenna.  I'd expect that standard formulas for element length wouldn't apply, as there would be some slight capacitance between the two wires... I doubt the inductance imparted by the twist would be more than miniscule, though.  Then again, it might be slightly more broadbanded than a single wire of similar electrical length.

Here's a thought - make one up using neon bulbs in place of the incandescent ones; perhaps with practice, you could determine the state of tune by the light patterns on the antenna!

I use Firefox with Adblock Plus and Do Not Track Plus; the combination works wonders.

Ditto!!!

My son got hit by PP that way - sold something through eBay, the buyer tried to get it for free by filing a complaint with PP - they froze his account, were completely non-responsive to all attempts to find out what was going on, and only restored his money after receiving a letter from his lawyer.  Took almost three months to get it resolved.

For a real challenge, try to find a phone number where you can call & talk to a real, live Paypal employee who can tell you what's happening and can correct a problem...  They don't make it easy at all.

Paypal is not subject to any banking regulations, as they are not a bank - this gives them great leeway to do what they want without oversight or any sort of govt. controls.  Paypal looks out for themselves, first & foremost; any consumer protection will go right out the window if they decide it's in their best interest.  A quick search will turn up entire web sites dedicated to Paypal horror stories...

The ONLY way I would register with Paypal & give them unfettered access to a bank account would be to have a dedicated account for PP only, with a bare minimum of funds in it, and transfer any incoming monies out of it immediately to another account they do not have access to.

some more things that are helpful...

- a 24 hour clock, set to UTC / GMT

- maps:
   azimuthal centered on your location
   US map with Maidenhead grid squares
   regular US & world maps

- frequency bandplan guide:
   ARRL http://www.arrl.org/graphical-frequency-allocations or
   Icom http://www.icomamerica.com/en/downloads/Default.aspx?Category=181

- create your own shack reference book, with printouts of the above downloads, reference sheets regarding your setup, notes on tuner settings, equipment descriptions & serial numbers, pertinent extracts from your equipment manuals, and whatever else you might want at hand.

Here's an extract from Computerworld.com on the topic - [emphasis mine]


Although the EO is ostensibly intended to provide for & facilitate emergency communications, something like this has great potential for misuse.  I wouldn't expect to see governmental "jack-booted thugs" kicking in hamshack doors, but this certainly could provide an interpretation permitting exactly that.

The policy-makers haven't been blind to the effects of technology & how it's enabling people to bypass governmental oversight of their communications and spread information that those in charge would prefer not to be disseminated - look at the effects of cell phones, Twitter, YouTube, etc. in the Arab Spring revolutions.

Actually, training a cat can be simple - the guiding principle is that you have to set the situation up so that the cat thinks it's his idea and is the easiest way to go about it...  As an example, yelling at a cat for getting up on the kitchen counter only makes sure he doesn't get on it while you are around.  If, however, he finds that he doesn't like it up there because he gets little bits of masking tape all over his paws every time he jumps up, he'll quickly decide that there's nothing worth his time up there anyway, and he will quit jumping up there at all.

Come to think of it, the same philosophy works on kids, too...

Check eBay - there's a vendor there selling replacement cables for the MH-36.  Better quality than new, reasonable pricing.  It has the same internal connectors as the original, so it's an easy installation.

Bought one from him about a year or so ago, no problems.

I'm at work so I don't have any particulars, however; I can check home e-mails this evening if need be to get a name & address for you (provided I haven't cleared it out in one of my periodic e-mail purges...).

Heard this years ago - "Dogs have owners, cats have staff."

My cat leaves the room whenever he senses the soldering iron warming up...  A few years ago, I was recapping an old boatanchor (SBE34, to be precise); followed the schematic I had regarding polarity, only to find that it was wrong when it came to a power supply filter cap. About 15 seconds after applying power, the capacitor blew up - the cat went from "Zen nap" to "War Emergency power" in milliseconds, made a 90 degree turn in mid-air, landed 20 feet away at a dead run, and has never forgiven me...

This may be one of those regional convention questions...  (What's accepted one place may get you branded a lid in another place...)

That caveat given, I usually give my call sign and "test transmission" or just "testing".