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Monday, July 22, 2013
Earth as seen from Saturn
Look closely. We're the little dot. Photo taken July 19 2013 by the Cassini probe. People were waving! Really: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn23914-shiny-happy-earth-photobombs-saturn-snapshot.html?cmpid=RSS|NSNS|2012-GLOBAL|online-news#.Ue2_i2DD-ic
Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics" http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20
Labels:
Saturn,
space program
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Tour of WLW 500,000 Watt Transmitter (video)
Well, you know that you are really in the high power big leagues when your transmitter requires a cooling pond, and you have to put on welding goggles before you examine your tubes! I especially liked the bit about how they built the transmitter BUILDING from the packing materials used to ship the transmitter (my operating desk is made from a box used to ship my HT-37!).
This is all really amazing. They built this thing less than ten years after the initial launch of commercial broadcast radio in the U.S.
Thanks a lot to Randy for doing this video and to the guys who gave the really excellent tour.
My apologies to the QRP purists who I know will have been deeply disturbed by this presentation.
Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics" http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20
Labels:
Old radio,
radio history,
Tubes,
video
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Oldest Drake 2B? (now with pictures)
Bill and
Soldersmoke readers,
One of the earliest and still surviving Drake 2Bs is owned by
Paul Brock (K4MSG) of Hamilton, Virginia.
Paul is very much into Boat Anchor
Ownership and Restoration.
If you are
interested, look at his write-up titled “The Magic of Boatanchors” http://www.k4lrg.org/Projects/Magic_of_Boatanchors/index.html
K4MSG’s
Drake 2B Receiver s/n 2052
In my perspective,
this receiver is still an absolute “Keeper.”
If anyone has
a Drake 2B older than Paul’s, we’d love to see it.
We have all
surmised that the first 2B was serial number 2000, from the first
production run back in April 1961.
Paul’s radio
could have easily been one of the first receivers to hit the market.
Interesting sidebar; The early 2B and 2As do not have the red scale
log scale adjustor button.
I remember these when they first hit the
market. They seemed so small compared to the Hammarlund, Hallicrafters and
National triple conversion receivers from the same era.
Most Old Timers felt they were not going
to get their monies worth with a tiny receiver sitting next to their big 60 to
100 Lb. transmitter.
In 1962, this was a very modern radio
both in style and performance. Coupled with the Q-Multiplier/Speaker you
had a superb receiver which worked extremely well on C.W., A.M. and S.S.B.
My first
experience with the Drake 2 B came at Skyview Radio Club near the
Pittsburgh, Pa area back in 1965.
Here is one
of those early ads that show the Drake 2B without the Red Scale Slider
Button.
Happy building and melting solder everyone.
73’s De
-=WA3EIB=- Harv. Albq., NM
Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics"
http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm
Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke
Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
SolderSmoke book for $16
QST gave the book a very nice review in their August edition. But they got the price of the paper edition wrong -- it is definitely not $45! The normal price is $20, but with the coupon code SOCIUS you can get it for $16 through 19 July.
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/soldersmoke
Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics" http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/soldersmoke
Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics" http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20
Labels:
book
Monday, July 15, 2013
Grayson's Thermatron Timeline
Our friend Grayson put a lot of effort into this very interesting timeline of tubes (aka valves, or thermatrons). Thanks Grayson!
http://hollowstatedesign.tumblr.com/
Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics" http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20
http://hollowstatedesign.tumblr.com/
Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics" http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20
Labels:
Old radio
Friday, July 12, 2013
book review in qst? GOT IT
Thanks to those who sent me the review. Got it.
I heard the August qst has a review of the soldersmoke book. I'm away
from home. Could someone email me the review? Thanks 73
I heard the August qst has a review of the soldersmoke book. I'm away
from home. Could someone email me the review? Thanks 73
Friday, July 5, 2013
"I Make Stuff" Chuck Stottlemyer (video)
More about Chuck Stottlemyer here:
http://makezine.com/2013/07/02/movers-and-makers-charles-chuck-stottlemyer/
Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics" http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20
Thursday, July 4, 2013
A Visit to the Arduino Factory (video)
Named for an Italian bar, produced by cool people in Ivrea who wield soldering irons and wear T-shirts that say "Make it Simple." You gotta love Arduino!
Today I will finish connecting my Arduino Uno to my Doug Demaw Lil' Slugger 10 Beacon rig. Code (computer code!) by K6HX.
Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics" http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20
Labels:
Arduino,
beacon,
DeMaw--Doug,
Italy,
microcontrollers,
video
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Knack Book News: New Blog, 25% off Sale
Our friend Grayson has launched a blog related to his new book Hollow-State Design:
http://hollowstatedesign.tumblr.com/
Over the 4th of July holiday you can save 25% on two of Lulu's GREATEST Knack-related books. Just use the coupon code FIREWORKS when making your payment.
For SolderSmoke: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/soldersmoke
For Hollow-State Design: http://www.lulu.com/shop/grayson-evans/hollow-state-design/paperback/product-20987562.html
Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics" http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
The Society for Model and Experimental Engineers
Wow. Stop what you are doing and take a look at the four short films about a group of intrepid British knack victims. Very nicely done. Really captures the allure of the shack/workshop.
http://makezine.com/2013/06/28/the-makers-of-things-2/
Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics" http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20
Labels:
Clubs,
Knack Stories,
UK,
workbench
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