How's everyone going? I guess you've all been busy with stuff.

I haven't had to fix anything lately. Someone gave me a Kenwood combo unit (Radio/Cassette/CD player) with stereo speakers, and I've been using it instead of the old radios.

The electricity meter continues to cause mass interference, so there's not much use in trying to listen to AM (outside of my house station) any more.

Is Fred still inventing new ways of using valves?

It has been a bit quiet of late. I haven't heard much about the next RadioFest either and am hoping there will be one in 2027. I don't mind where it is either - happy to travel.

Adelaide's HRSA was offered to host it I believe - we couldn't do it, so I think Melbourne is. Perhaps I have RadioFest mixed up with another event..

No, back at the start of the year I think the HRSA said "who wants to do it?" however it is a fairly large undertaking for anyone that hasn't done it before which is why it has mostly been held in Melbourne. It's a two day event for most people but three days for the organiser, as on the Friday everything has to be set up, but there's other matters like a suitable large venue, parking, accomodation for a few hundred people, catering, guest speakers, an auctioneer, volunteers to set tables up and security.

One wonders with the meter if it being non-compliant with regs has to be replaced. It usually only hams that get chased for RFI.

Internet equipment here is a symphony orchestra and you have to shut it off to calibrate.

^^^ wrong thread?

Hi Rob, hi all.

I'm still doing rehab after "a bit of a turn".
The ED at Westmead hospital was very fast thorough and efficient.
I have no idea what the nonsense is you see on the TV stations.
I left with CT scans and a full run down for my GP and Specialist.

In the workshop I'll try to pick up where I left off with the prac work.
At the moment i'm concentrating on Vintage Electronic articles.

Cheers, Fred.

G'day Fred,

It's great to see that you are still with us.

Regarding the telly, it's the least used appliance in my house I think. I rarely turn it on because what is transmitted most of the time is just unwatchable. I'm not young or old but I do come from a different era to the fools who think what they broadcast is entertaining.

Back in the 1990s I remember being offered just two channels in the area I lived and it's fair to say that the TV was used more then than it is now with something like 50 channels available. If it isn't a cooking show, marriage/failed marriage show or politically-loaded waffle being passed off as news, the five major networks won't touch it these days.

I am hoping there is a RadioFest soon. It would be a shame to see such a key event fall by the wayside, though as I said before, I can appreciate the effort needed to organise this and get everyone interested. It's a tough gig. My favourite one, I think, was the one held at Kingston Town Hall - it was just huge.

Hi Fred, hopefully you'll get over the medical issues soon.

As for the TV, I also rarely use it, only the occasional watch of the news and live cricket. The rest is a total waste. My main TV no longer produces sound on channel 7, and recently channel 9 went the same way, except that channel 91 still works. At least they are giving good excuses why I shouldn't bother with them.

When the TV eventually dies, as they do, I'm not planning on getting a replacement. I don't do online streaming, nothing worthwhile there either.

I stopped watching TV years ago (Gillard era). I still have a TV but it is only used for watching DVDs.

My TV aerial cable broke over a year ago meaning no more free-to-air viewing.

Doesn't really matter though as being a smart telly I can watch YouTube to my heart's content for $17 a month (ad free) on a 50" screen.