On the Election

This time around, in an effort to keep this blog focused on radio and electronics, I have decided to move my election recommendations to my other blog site.  So check it out there: 

https://tahplu.blogspot.com/2024/11/election-2024-vote-against-trump.html

More Background on the Mythbuster II Rig (and a short video)

Above is a short clip of me hearing an old friend on the new receiver.  TRGHS. 

A couple of guys on Facebook asked for a schematic for this rig.  I don't really have one -- as you will see it is a collection of different circuits from lots of different sources.  I was also thinking that if you need a schematic for a rig like this, you probably shouldn't try to build a rig like this.  But in an effort to be nice, I supply here some background info on some of the circuitry and parts sources.  And no, I don't have BOMs nor Gerber files.   

More info on the Yaesu VFO is here:

https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2021/07/mythbuster-video-3-using-vfo-from-yaesu.html

The VFO is kind of high in frequency. But it is very stable. I can't really take credit for this -- the credit goes to Yaesu. But I like the circuit because it is all analog and all discrete component. It even has a split stator temperature compensation variable cap! At Pete's recommendation, I originally bought these boxes thinking that I'd just get the anti-backlash gears and the reduction drives. But the sellers always sent the entire VFO boxes. They even come with a "clarifier" circuit which I now use as an "up 5-10" feature that lets me work the DX-peditions on 20.

As for the tape, I got mine from Amazon. It has conductive adhesive:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QQJ4MX1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The boards for the IF Termination Insensitive Amplifiers come from Todd K7 TFC at Mostly DIY RF:  https://mostlydiyrf.com/tia/

The little LM386 boards that I have been using are available here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LNACGTY?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title  I recede it with one stage of AF amplification from the original BITX 20 sechematic.  I put a 10K oit between this stage and the LM386 board. 

Here is the Amazon source for the 1/8 inch plywood that I will use for the case (I have used up all the pandemic treadmill packing material):  

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D5VCBBP4?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

More on How the AI Deep Dive Podcasts Were Made -- Soon: PeteGPT!

 

So, soon we may actually have these kinds of AI products using voices and even video images that are known to us, but, with the dialogue completely artificial.  Soon, we may hear and see N6QW badmouthing the Si5351, and singing the praises of LC VFOs.   Just a year ago this was the subject of an April 1 SolderSmoke joke.  Now it is becoming a real possibility.   We are living in the future my friends.  

Here is the new article on how they are doing this: 

https://deepmind.google/discover/blog/pushing-the-frontiers-of-audio-generation/

And here are our first two experimental uses of this AI technology: 

https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2024/09/a-new-experimental-podcast-about.html

https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2024/09/here-is-another-short-podcast-about.html

Bill N2CQR Builds Yet Another Mythbuster Transceiver

 This one is for 20 meters (no need for 75) and will go to the Dominican Republic.

6 crystal filter at 5.2 MHz. VFO from old Yaesu FT-101 Termination Insensitive IF amplifiers using boards from Mostly DIY RF No RF amp ahead of the mixer. First mixer is homebrew diode ring. Bandpass filter has 4 LC circuits. Steep skirts. Low insertion loss. Bal Mod/Product detector has two diodes (singly balanced) Carrier osc is crystal controlled and homebrew. Audio amp starts with a 2N3904 amplifier followed by an LM386 board. Transmitter portion will be done next.

The crystal filteras seen on the Antuio

Filter on the blank board. 

Bandpass filter (-20 db = 0)

VFO box, carrier osc, Bal Mod/Product Detector, AF amps

The Antuino looks at the Crystal Filter

Mike WU2D Does a CCC Camp POTA with 1930's Gear

FB Mike.  CW without sidetone is not for the faint of heart.  

Walter KA4KXX saw Mike on the Reverse Beacon Network. 

Mike's QSO with KN4RRQ was especially interesting.  Tom was running a 1929 breadboard-style transmitter: https://www.qrz.com/db/KN4RRQ 

A Solar Energy Workshop in Hawaii

I include this because I am interested in workshops and solar power.  

Thanks to Bill AH6FC for sending this.  Mahlo Bill!  

KA1MUQ's Amazing Homebrew Hybrid Rig

 

Nate KA1MUQ is still working on this rig and so has not yet produced any detailed schematics, but he sent this to us to show that true homebrewing is NOT dead.  Indeed, his magnificent work shows that it is not!  This is a 5 band SSB transmitter using both transistors and Thermatrons. I see a crystal filter from Mostly DIY RF in there.  FB!   And Nate tapped into Pete Juliano's tribal wisdom on homebrewing and hybrid rigs.  Pete commented that the three 6146s in the final reminded him of a Yaesu FT-102.  

Click on images for a better view. 

Thanks Nate! 

Mike WU2D POTA CCC Camp Activation (21 October 2024) with 1930s-era Station -- See If You Can Contact Mike!

Frank Jones lives!  See if you can work Mike on Monday.  Let us know if you do! 

--------------------------------

Bill,

 

I’m scheduled to tour the Civilian Conservation Corps. Camp at Bear Brook State Park here in NH on Monday. This is the largest totally intact camp in the country.

I will be activating POTA with the 1930s portable Station. The POTA CCC Camp event is scheduled for Monday around 2:30 ET (if I get everything setup after the camp tour). Primary 7057 kHz Sec 7054 kHz.

 

The station is an internal battery powered, push-pull Jones Oscillator Transmitter at around 3 Watts out, and a two-tube regenerative receiver that is a period ham artifact. So, four type 30 battery tubes in total.

The antenna is a single wire feed Windom with suspended counterpoise so basically an Off Center Fed Hertz (OCFH).

 

Between the weather, running the station, logging, and doing camera work, and of course, MURPHY - this should be nuts.

1930s Regen with Transmitter – Fully Self-Contained Portable. Note Charger that is attached to top off the internal battery on transmitter. I did not buy the proscribed 25 9V Batteries and make a TX HV pack up! I used a DC-DC converter and a LiPO drone battery! The Receiver is 100% Dry Cells However.

 

73’s Mike WU2D

----------------------------

More info here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2Pdprx0ItY

And many other great videos on Mike's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MIKROWAVE1

How to Organize a Small Shack

A YouTube comment from Paul VK3HN sent me back to "The Spirited Man" YouTube channel, and one of the first things I found was this video about how to organize a small space.  This is very relevant to my shacks in Virginia and in the Dominican Republic. 

Lots of good ideas here, but that propane heater kind of scared me.  And it seemed inconsistent with concerns behind the fire-preventing garbage can.  What do you folks think? 

Thanks Paul. 

 

SolderSmoke Podcast #253 AUDIO VERSION: NYC, SF, DR, PC, DSC, PODCAST IN DANGER, SPRAT, sBITX, CW, IMD, AI, PNP, MAILBAG

SolderSmoke Podcast #253 is available:  

 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke253.mp3

October 16, 2024

Sponsor!  Parts Candy is back!  Handmade in Chicago!  Standard test leads,  Hook clips, alligator clips in 12" and 32" and multimeter leads

Travelouge/Intro

Bill's trip to NYC -- The Empire State Building

Dean goes to the Bay area. 

Harry Caul,  Marty Klein W3VCG , "The Conversation" and THE KNACK.https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2024/08/harry-caul-had-knack-movie-review.html

Joe Piscopo in Bell System video! https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2024/08/soldersmoke-quiz-question-who-is-actor.html

Bill's Bench 

Bill's report from SolderSmoke Shack South: The tropics:  What this means.  Guapo wouldn't  go out when the sun was overhead. 

 Skies not great for astronomy now.  But we see a lot of satellites, and meteors.

Antenna developments:   1/4 vertical on a fishing pole.  

Lightning suppression coming for the building. Lightning suppressors.  Got 2.  Good video from the IMSAI guy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EyABPuNDMA Argon gas suppresion tubes.Need to crimp! 

Hurricane prevention. Metal storm curtains. 

Thinking of solar panels. 12 panels, 5 kW system.  Probably without batteries.  What do you think? 

A golf cart. 

New PC.  BeeLink.  Very tiny! (palm of your hand)   24 inch screen. Works well https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVFKN7ZL?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

A very satisfying fix on the 15/10 rig -- loose connection to RF amp.  The highly suspect Ramsey Kit Amp was NOT the culprit!  Got to use the new Rigol DS-1102.  A fun fix. Will build a second CCI amp. 

Digital Selective Calling -- listening to ships and shore stations on HF.  https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2024/10/monitoring-maritime-radio-messages-with.html

SHAMELESS COMMERCE:  Our blogs and the podcast are in danger!  Pete is already on a permanent  blog hiatus.  I have seen a big decline in readership.  Frankly, if no one is reading or listening, we just may decide not to do it anymore.  We don't want to do this.  So please, link to the blogs.  Talk up the blog and podcast on your own blogs and social media.  

Parts Candy Test Leads are back as our sponsor.  Pete has them.  Dean has them, I have them in two different countries!     DON'T SCRIMP WITH A CRIMP!  

SPRAT Summer 2O24 Special EXTRA 50th Anniversary issue! https://www.gqrp.com/sales.htm

Dean's Bench

First CW contact:  With KK4DAS on his HB sBITX  and  Alan W2AEW POTA.  TRGHS. 

Dean fixes the sBITX problems. Again.  SUB-THRESHOLD CONDUCTION!    Lots of patience and stick-to-it-ivness. LPF leakage!  https://kk4das.blogspot.com/2024/08/homebrew-sbitx-lpf-leak-stopped.html

IMD IMD IMD and the Tiny SA Ultra https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2024/09/sherwood-its-time-to-clean-up-our.html

AI  AI   AI -- Experimental AI Podcasts about SolderSmoke (no kidding -- (NOT April 1) Where they came from https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2024/09/where-ai-podcasts-came-from.html 

AI Podcast #2 https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2024/09/here-is-another-short-podcast-about.html

AI Podcast #1  https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2024/09/a-new-experimental-podcast-about.html

Pete's Bench

 An all PNP rig -- A notional look, https://n6qw.blogspot.com/2024/08/august-30-2024-pnp-20m-ssb-transceiver.html 

Videos on old Boatanchors. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnboJ75NCmY&t=1s

MAILBAG:  

Lex PH2LB making some new stickers.  Look out San Francisco!  

Rogier PA1ZZ sending lots of good ideas and links. 

Todd K7TFC  great idea on SS readersip decline 

Todd VE7BPO  aka Vasily -- great info on how to stabilize LC oscillators. https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2024/09/qrp-homebuilder-shows-us-how-to-build.html

Eric 4Z1UG  Welcome words of encouragement on the blog and podcast 

Dave W2DAB says that AI just can't replace the Tappit Brothers of ham radio.  Now the Tappit Triplets. 

Michael AA1TJ  Thoughtfully skeptical about AI. 

Grayson K7JUM on the cleanliness of the 32S-3. Also amazing video on Thermatron MMM. 

Mike WN2A working on DC receivers and hum! 

Floran OE7FTI building Farhan's JBOT amp! 

Mike Murphy WU2D building 1930 replica rigs using a Frank Jones circuit 

Dave K8WPE always great to hear from such a strong SolderSmoke supporter. 

Walter KA4KXX  Great ideas from the Wizard of Orlando. 

Paul G0OER -- Reacting to the 1970s Ham Radio video. Didn't remember being so cool. 

Thomas K4SWL -- Struggling with the hurricane in NC.  Hang in there OM. 

Nick M0NTZ building another Direct Conversion receiver -- with videos about it.

Michael AG5VG building a Mythbustrer-style 20 meter rig.  FT-101 VFO.  FB

Tony G4WIF -- Readership problem advice 

John AB2XT sent us 6000 47 pf NP0 capacitors.  So we are now good for caps!   Thanks John. 

Paul VK3HN Was suitably impresses by the AI podcasts we put on the blog. Thanks Paul. 

SolderSmoke Podcast #253 VIDEO VERSION : NYC, SF, DR, PC, DSC, PODCAST IN DANGER, SPRAT, sBITX, CW, IMD, AI, PNP, MAILBAG

SolderSmoke #253 is available in video form.  See above or: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQBojTLL7VY

The audio version is available in the post immediately above this one, here: 

https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2024/10/soldersmoke-podcast-253-audio-version.html

Two Great (but Old) Videos about Waves

I've had both of these videos on the SolderSmoke blog already, but an e-mail from Farhan reminded me how good they both are. If you are averse to older material you might not want to watch -- but you would be missing out on some wisdom.