SolderSmoke Podcast #258 is available:
Video Version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75ewswI7CcA
Audio Version: http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke258.mp3
Travelogue: I am back from the DR. Trying to get a real HI7 call. Lots of science and nature: Earthquake (5.9) . Falcon 9. But no Starship. Two possible Starlink de-orbits. Whales. Hawks. A drone. (Pictures on Patreon.) A total lunar eclipse. A 10 meter CW beacon, with an LED, thanks to WN2A. Lots of great people. But it is good to be back. Planning for a better antenna for DR.
Pete's bench: Pete is building a seismograph! CL Stong had several in his book "The Amateur Scientist." The MHST. Help from Oliver KI3P of VWS.
Shameless Commerce Division: Please continue to use the Amazon link on the right. Mostly DIY RF! Link on the blog page. And please become a Patreon sponsor. People have asked, what is happening to the blog and podcast. Well, listen to this one for a sobering description of what is happening on the internet to things like SolderSmoke: https://share.fireside.fm/episode/2YAGasSP+_rbTJaWN Patreon might be the answer for us too.
Dean/Bill: Lessons learned from the SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver Build project: -- 45 successful builds! Wow. See: https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/search/label/DC%20RX%20Hall%20of%20Fame -- Differences between kit-build and true homebrew. -- Discord, Questions, Mods, Creativity vs. Build it our way the first time. Dean and the trials and tribulations of being the electronic problem go-to-guy. HRWB (what happened?) We used copper clad boards and Manhattan technique with no fatalities. DSB TX seems the most popular next step -- some have already been done.
Dean's Bench: The VWS SDR receiver build. The 20 meter Yaesu VFO transceiver build (ANOTHER one?). Why is this Yaesu VFO different? Filter building Balloons!
Bill's Bench: Checking into "The Old Military Radio Net." South Pacific and Australia on 20 SSB in the morning. Approaching "Worked all Rarotonga." Makes me think I need a directional antenna for the DR... Beacon left on in the DR. A 10 meter AM QSO using the converted GE rig. G3YPZ! Dean has the JC Penny. Hamfest report heard on the OMRN: DX60s stacked like cordwood. Buy one and get one free.
MAILBAG:
Bob: Software for SSB on the QMX.
Roy WN3F new stickers
Rogier PA1ZZ- Capacitors replace batteries in French electric bikes.
Walter KA4KXX -- Lots of help on the DC RX project
Aaron ZL1AUN Doing an article for Break-in (NZ) about the DC RX
Farhan VU2ESE On DC RX: "They have mastered the Alchemy of turning lifeless components into living and breathing radios. May the tribe grow!"
Ramakrishnan VU2JXN -- We need an Indian DC receiver Ramakrishnan!
Grayson KJ7UM -- Discord gang discovering Hollow State Design for the Radio Amateur
Mike WN2A Sent keyer for beacon and good advice on diplexer.
Alan W2AEW JOO, but we are hoping for more!
Mike WU2D FT-101 videos. Son is making coils! https://www.ebay.com/usr/
Buzz W3EMD One guy complained of the noise of his Dynamotor. Pete knows a guy...
Dave W2DAB We NEED an upper east side DC Receiver
Phil W1PJE We need an MIT DC receiver. But we understand the delay.
Wes W7ZOI A nice email from Wes.
Jeff WA7MLH Homebrewing and the number of homebrewers.
Dave AA7EE put a nice comment out about Armand WA1UQO's regen.
Great Show and condolences to Pete.
ReplyDeleteI had a good laugh at the oscilloscope intervention, but a main goal in my life has always been to have more fun than anybody else, and I have found that avoiding unnecessary complications such as scopes and digital stuff as much as possible (I do not own a smartphone either) increases my fun factor tremendously.
ReplyDeleteTo me the essence of ham radio is simply to transmit or receive either voice or code, and the most important aspect of transmitting
is to have the person you are communicating with understand you readily, so their judgement of my signal quality is more important and potentially exciting than me eyeballing an oscilloscope.
Nor will I break my lifetime vow never to buy a ham radio!
Plus I have seven grandchildren, so I would like to leave behind every dollar I can.
Homebrew Always!
--Walter KA4KXX
Superb podcast as usual solder smoke legends! Thoughts with Pete at this time. I have to love the “ spontaneous construction”, I relate tho this. VY 73 to you all and keep up the great work. Josh, G3MOT
ReplyDeleteAlso Bill, what is the frequency your beacon transmits on 10m?
DeleteThe beacon is crystal controlled at 28,233.45 kHz. It is off now, but will be on in a couple of weeks. Thanks for asking. 73 Bill
DeleteThanks Bill, it’s amazing what beacons you can hear on 10m. Let us know when it’s back on and will listen out for it. 73
DeleteThe beacon is now ON! It is being picked up regularly in the US, Costa Rica, and Germany. Please let me know if you hear it. It would be best to send an email to the address provided in the beacon transmission. Thanks and 73 Bill
ReplyDelete