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Sunday, September 30, 2018
Back to Mr. Carlson's Lab
I like the Vedolyzer in the wooden box.
Labels:
Old radio,
test gear,
troubleshooting
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
The Triple Scratch-Built BITX Club -- Do you qualify for membership?
OK, so how many of you guys can join Steve M0KOV and me in the Triple Scratch-Built BITX Club?
Bill
Below are my three Bitx builds.
1st build.
Closely follows Farhan's original 20m design but I soon changed the VFO for an arduino/ad9850. It was a fast, get me on the air build, it worked, but not well.
The output amp was built on a separate board as part of its exorcism.
2nd build.
This was to be my two band Hill Topper, we don't have mountains in Yorkshire. Built with separate stages slotting into the eddystone box to save space and to help with shielding. The receiver worked very nicely, the output kept blowing irf510's. I later found that they were a hopeless batch. Very hard to work on.
3rd build. Big is beautiful. Arduino/si5351 straight into the modulator and into the mini-circuit mixer through a driver as discussed. Norton feedback RF preamp and a ne5532/lm386 AF amp. At the moment it's on 80m but it did start on 40m. It's still a work in progress and I will have to sort that soldering iron band change.
73 Steve M0KOV
Sunday, September 23, 2018
Freethink YouTube Channel
Lots of really nice, inspirational videos here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UConJDkGk921yT9hISzFqpzw
Labels:
video
Farhan's Satellite
The launch is set for November 24, 2018 from California. It will be in a polar orbit. The beacon will be on 145.90 MHz. Farhan says an RTL-SDR Dongle should do the trick. I plan on building several receive systems and an appropriate antenna.
https://telanganatoday.com/a-blessing-for-the-small-guys
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/odisha-man-team-builds-private-satellite/article24963338.ece
https://www.timesnownews.com/technology-science/article/instagram-now-lets-you-shop-directly-from-stories-explore-tab-heres-how/286276
I don't think Farhan's group is connected to this group, but this short video does a nice job of explaining the potential of CubeSats.
FROM Prasad VU3YFD:
Hi my friend's information to all about a man's " A DREAM COME'S TRUE " in " VU " LAND with his hard work & to the whole team.. we can say ......FANTASTIC ..... no other words to express from my side but i ENVY on their hard work's.. hi hi .de vu3yfd,prasad
AMSAT-UK
IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination
List of Sats formally submitted
ExseedSat Updated: 10 Aug 2018 Responsible
Operator Ashar Farhan VU2ESE
Supporting Organisation Exseed Space Innovations Pvt Ltd
Contact Person afarhan@gmail.com.nospam
Headline Details: The ExseedSat is a 1U cubesat that will provide a multifunction UHF/VHF NBFM amateur communication satellite. It will have various configurable modes, including: • UHF to VHF, single channel, narrow band FM transponder with CTCSS, 67 Hz squelch • Power output selectable between 1 watt and 0.5 watt • Digipeat feature with APRS on UHF uplink nd VHF downlink • Melody mode : It will play a simple melody of a few notes on special occasions or events. This will interest students outreach. • We expect this satellite to have a life of two years, depending upon how long the battery lasts and when the satellite de-orbits naturally. Planning a SpaceX launch from Vandenberg in October 2018 **The request has now been updated to include only a U/V transponder/digipeater** **The following frequencies have been coordinated: 145.900 MHz for repeater and digipeater downlink and for telemetry and 435.340 MHz for repeater and digipeater uplink**
Application Date: 19 Jul 2018 Freq coordination completed on 10 Aug 2018
Operator Ashar Farhan VU2ESE
Supporting Organisation Exseed Space Innovations Pvt Ltd
Contact Person afarhan@gmail.com.nospam
Headline Details: The ExseedSat is a 1U cubesat that will provide a multifunction UHF/VHF NBFM amateur communication satellite. It will have various configurable modes, including: • UHF to VHF, single channel, narrow band FM transponder with CTCSS, 67 Hz squelch • Power output selectable between 1 watt and 0.5 watt • Digipeat feature with APRS on UHF uplink nd VHF downlink • Melody mode : It will play a simple melody of a few notes on special occasions or events. This will interest students outreach. • We expect this satellite to have a life of two years, depending upon how long the battery lasts and when the satellite de-orbits naturally. Planning a SpaceX launch from Vandenberg in October 2018 **The request has now been updated to include only a U/V transponder/digipeater** **The following frequencies have been coordinated: 145.900 MHz for repeater and digipeater downlink and for telemetry and 435.340 MHz for repeater and digipeater uplink**
Application Date: 19 Jul 2018 Freq coordination completed on 10 Aug 2018
Read The Hindu story at https://www.thehindu.com/…/odisha-man-t…/article24963338.ece
IARU information http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/formal_detail.php…
Gurudatta Panda VU3GDP http://gurudattabam.blogspot.com/
Ashhar Farhan VU2ESE http://hfsignals.blogspot.com/
Tnx cu agn de vu3yfd,prasad
Labels:
Farhan,
India,
satellites
Saturday, September 22, 2018
Pete's New Sudden Transceiver
Check it out! Note the Juli-yellow front panel color. Featuring FT-8 and WSPR capability. Go Pete!
http://n6qw.blogspot.com/2018/09/2018-year-of-ssb-transceivers_14.html
Labels:
40 meters,
digital modes,
GQRP,
Juliano -- Pete,
SPRAT,
SSB
Sunday, September 16, 2018
Nightfire Electronics
Some interesting items in their catalog. I ordered their NP0 capacitor kit. I have to stock up in order to avoid being forced into the digital oscillator morass.
http://vakits.com/about-nightfire-electronics
They also have crystals for the ham frequencies.
Please tell them that SolderSmoke sent you.
http://vakits.com/about-nightfire-electronics
They also have crystals for the ham frequencies.
Please tell them that SolderSmoke sent you.
Labels:
Parts suppliers
WB8VGE on QSO Today -- QRP, HB, Boatanchors, Drift, Solar Power
Eric 4Z1UG has a really good interview with Mike Bryce, WB8VGE.
Listen here:
https://www.qsotoday.com/podcasts/WB8VGE
I've been a big fan of Mike's for many years. I've talked to him on the air a couple of times. I liked his QRP column in 73 magazine. I share his enthusiasm for Boatanchor rigs. He is a fellow member of the QRP Hall of Fame (who, like Pete and me, at times seems to be pushing the QRO envelope). I like his approach to solar power. He too has been bothered by appliance ops who complain that his boatanchor rigs are 150 hertz "too low."
His attitude toward contesting is similar to mine -- I may be more opposed than he is. I think contesting encourages a kind of harshness and competitiveness that runs contrary to the spirit of the Radio Amateur's code.
I got a chuckle about Mike's claim that he almost Worked All States in RECEIVED Official Observer reports. And that he at one point owned THIRTY 104s.
Mike's observations on the dumbing down of ham radio and on the social (psychological?) problems of 75 meters ("net starting in 5 minutes!" "QRP not allowed on 75") are sadly on the mark.
Mike's hint about using a white-out pen to spruce up the front panel of an old Drake radio adds a new household/office material to our rig-fixing arsenal.
Eric's comment on the Lafayette Catalog resonated with me. I used to read it too.
I hope Mike decides to get on the air more frequently. Just avoid 75 meters and 7.200 MHz Mike.
Labels:
Guth -- Eric,
magazines,
Old radio,
QRP,
Solar power
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