tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75901766491681854282024-03-18T11:00:22.489-04:00SolderSmoke Daily NewsServing the worldwide community of radio-electronic homebrewers.
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http://soldersmoke.comBill Mearahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662500663603350847noreply@blogger.comBlogger3543125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590176649168185428.post-14399342077740671762024-03-18T06:09:00.010-04:002024-03-18T10:59:50.011-04:00Listen to me talking to Jean Shepherd in 1976. I was 18 years-old. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5qJamFzfHFcyOKMUVgKHQow8-dBahGS022HmV24atz7dAZ6o3B9xcQbfscHGDf6nombwDB7rRR5O3F4179Y2I94OZJ_fEA4N93VQVj_LzYesWc_dbSwG7rsjVy-YTKO-3x0a_suyHessUD15G_TthqyjDhZUhWOv93U-zm33B2_JJ7qZDLaONOXX6jo/s720/jean-shepherd%20arms%20up.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="720" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5qJamFzfHFcyOKMUVgKHQow8-dBahGS022HmV24atz7dAZ6o3B9xcQbfscHGDf6nombwDB7rRR5O3F4179Y2I94OZJ_fEA4N93VQVj_LzYesWc_dbSwG7rsjVy-YTKO-3x0a_suyHessUD15G_TthqyjDhZUhWOv93U-zm33B2_JJ7qZDLaONOXX6jo/w384-h181/jean-shepherd%20arms%20up.jpg" width="384" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Wow, here is a blast from the past. I recently read a good article about Shepherd by A. David Wunsch in the Spring 2022 issue of the AWA Journal. David correctly focused on Shep's obsession with the Heising modulator, and the very negative impact ("Your mother should take you to a doctor!") that this had on his dating life. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>I was telling my wife about this article, and I commented that I had once spoken to Shep during an early morning call-in show on WMCA New York. I told her that someone had sent me a recording of this brief conversation. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>The call took place in 1976. Shep was appaearing as a guest on the late-night radio show of Long John Nebel and Candy Jones. I was 18 years old. My callsign was WB2QHL. The recording was sent to me by Matt KC8COM in 2006. Thanks Matt! In 2008 I played the recording during SolderSmoke Podcast #90. But I think this call merits a post on the SoldedSmoke blog, so here it is. You can jump forward to about 3 minutes, 49 seconds. </b></div><p><a href="http://soldersmoke.com/JeanShepherd1976WMCA.mp3"><b>http://soldersmoke.com/JeanShepherd1976WMCA.mp3</b></a></p><p><b>One side note. I told my wife that some time after the broadcast, I was once again up early in the morning, kind of absent-mindedly getting ready for work when I heard Shepherd talking on WMCA to some guy about ham radio. It took me a moment to realize that this was a re-run, and that that guy was me! </b></p><p><b>When I first listened to this I didn't realize that later in the recording (around 9:30) another fellow calls in an asks Shep about why he uses CW. Shep is kind of short with him and ends up advising him to "go back to CB." I should note that in my conversation with Shep earlier in the program, I told him that I was usually on "40 sideband." He was nice to me, but said that he was mostly on 20 CW. </b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMZYWHj9crABvE8bbgEGr040zFBR45IR0Q21CchSJjzT0U9cC3Rp_-9-2osDfOouZr41PHxEnSKso7Gu1wmqkEQAfPangZraKKXfjFOsLXHZtUxFj0kpxLadNFTJ4XZxu3cJS3_a3jPBZpyi6HXXUBsgGUpwOdmAfqw9GguWnITQ_vKksnYNEEIERtUk/s341/Long%20John%20Nebel.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="231" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMZYWHj9crABvE8bbgEGr040zFBR45IR0Q21CchSJjzT0U9cC3Rp_-9-2osDfOouZr41PHxEnSKso7Gu1wmqkEQAfPangZraKKXfjFOsLXHZtUxFj0kpxLadNFTJ4XZxu3cJS3_a3jPBZpyi6HXXUBsgGUpwOdmAfqw9GguWnITQ_vKksnYNEEIERtUk/w310-h458/Long%20John%20Nebel.png" width="310" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Here is a good Wikipedia article on Long John Nebel: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_John_Nebel">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_John_Nebel</a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>And here's one on his wife and WMCA co-host Candy Jones: </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candy_Jones"><b>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candy_Jones</b></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4h2Lvna0xgvbWc5tn-OM_HrchYzOJJ6uNk22Ktrmc6qVvfhD79yMnJT8FRBbKHkHRjprFWU3ornzKr5Pkp3iX3fcecUbUpNjTDLv8lnlolsRD4D7NoFJ_hg-8-V0vO-_rOqFKwPSJ03HL2OLhCMk-onAJ3qjkgJFKgicF3oMz4hQMijcKitxZR1NLc1I/s296/Candy_Jones_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="220" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4h2Lvna0xgvbWc5tn-OM_HrchYzOJJ6uNk22Ktrmc6qVvfhD79yMnJT8FRBbKHkHRjprFWU3ornzKr5Pkp3iX3fcecUbUpNjTDLv8lnlolsRD4D7NoFJ_hg-8-V0vO-_rOqFKwPSJ03HL2OLhCMk-onAJ3qjkgJFKgicF3oMz4hQMijcKitxZR1NLc1I/w293-h394/Candy_Jones_2.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>Bill Mearahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662500663603350847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590176649168185428.post-33822974276335159672024-03-15T05:49:00.004-04:002024-03-17T06:18:19.614-04:00Finishing up (?) Version 2 of my 15-10 Transceiver (Video) -- An Annoying Residual Carrier Problem<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P0FNh_Z5TuM?si=FrQxM6gwtXjhBUEU?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="440"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05); color: #0f0f0f; font-size: 14px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Front panel is on. RF PA is installed. Balanced Modulator problem fixed (?) Rig is on the air with about 3 watts, working lots of DX. </b></span></div><div><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05); color: #0f0f0f; font-size: 14px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05); color: #0f0f0f; font-size: 14px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>But there is an annoying amount of carrier that is still getting through. It is only about .5 watts with sidebands of 100 watts PEP, but it annoys me, and it makes the setting of the carrier frequency in relation to the filter passband very critical: If I set the carrier a bit too far from the passband I get improved carrier rejection (from the filter), but I also lose the lows in both received and transmitted signals -- the RX just doesn't sound as good. I see it in both of the 15-10 rigs (IF of 25 MHz). There is less of it in the 17-12 meter rig (IF of 21.4 MHZ), and none of it in the Mythbuster (75-20 meters) (IF of 5.2 MHz). I am now wondering if this might be a consequence of my using a very high (25 MHz) single conversion IF in the 15-10 rigs. What do you folks think? </b></span></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05); color: #0f0f0f; font-size: 14px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>From my log:
March 7, 2024 PUT VERSION 2 of the 15-10 RIG ON THE AIR!
10S 1528 OK2RZ Jiri – said I was 57!
15S 1539 S52WW 58 Damian.
15S 1602 SP1NQH Stev said I am big signal!
10S S58N 1726Z
10S S58N 1726Z
10S S57S 1728Z
10S IK4GRO Lauro 1735Z
10S W0CJV 1825Z Ft. Collins Gary
10s 2000Zish KK7TV Gary in Randy. Asked what software/microcontroller I was using.
10S KJ5MFF 2015Zish a middle school in New Mexico. KI5MFF control op sent picture</b></span><br /><p> </p></div>Bill Mearahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662500663603350847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590176649168185428.post-260801681591142392024-03-14T05:53:00.002-04:002024-03-14T05:53:49.852-04:00"The New Essential Guide to Electronics in Shenzhen" A Book Review by Jenny List (with a video from Shenzhen) <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="247" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bsj3nkLmPsI?si=fBekhWqEwCNJgL7t?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="440"></iframe><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>This new book looks really good. Great electronics info, with lots of cultural and linguistic wisdom. </b><p></p><p><b><a href="https://hackaday.com/2024/03/13/review-the-new-essential-guide-to-electronics-in-shenzhen/#more-668397">https://hackaday.com/2024/03/13/review-the-new-essential-guide-to-electronics-in-shenzhen/#more-668397</a> </b></p><p><b>Jenny's review brought to mind an older SolderSmoke blog post about Shenzhen. In this 2012 video Bunnie Huang in Singapore talks about getting parts in that city: <a href="https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2012/08/singapore-knack.html">https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2012/08/singapore-knack.html</a></b></p><p><b>Thanks to Jenny, Naomi, and Bunnie. </b></p>Bill Mearahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662500663603350847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590176649168185428.post-21762400937850732652024-03-13T14:55:00.009-04:002024-03-14T04:24:32.154-04:00Using the RF Power Amplifier of the BITX40 Module<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3DlIBc6maBhrNlHeHVkj9XqOmq9CHMs_Xe3ZXeMzxu82hd7QRhKuKtvuURaJuJp_Qoz976xGsmKl3N-GGZBml5yMxPNnSsy6kwxmtJejAvh7nd3t7Xrw-5C1RJXjhT3cU5xh_f8hIPUrF5WWlaGxQ6V7ITDKeIjVTqWN8WpINZhm5uh7Gls2G6YESok/s1093/BITX%2040%20RF%20PA%20High%20Def.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="1093" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3DlIBc6maBhrNlHeHVkj9XqOmq9CHMs_Xe3ZXeMzxu82hd7QRhKuKtvuURaJuJp_Qoz976xGsmKl3N-GGZBml5yMxPNnSsy6kwxmtJejAvh7nd3t7Xrw-5C1RJXjhT3cU5xh_f8hIPUrF5WWlaGxQ6V7ITDKeIjVTqWN8WpINZhm5uh7Gls2G6YESok/w420-h137/BITX%2040%20RF%20PA%20High%20Def.png" width="420" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">PA shematic from the BITX 40 Module</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Click on the diagram for a better view</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;">C.F. Rockey W9SCH (who alerted us in SPRAT 22 to the chicken sacrifice option) spoke of transistors that exhibit "quantum mechanical necromancy." Rockey explained that when this happens, "The transistor simply turns up its toes and dies. Not even an Atomic Physicist can tell you why!" </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;">This often (very often!) happens with homebrew power amplifiers. So when we find a good one, many of us stick with it, using the same power amp circuit in rig after rig. I have done this with the power amplifier from the BITX40 Module. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZwET5ojqG5EUkYA1StxBVtDUlF--qajjeoGMWruu1tEPfWFWx33IQBEwCftpH2327Tg2iVmCQDoxpsX67leTAvyDcQMMJMCO6V-zc3UblBp0amzohx0rA9m97BIl4UNgucV2KDvEo5n-VICrxzswvHCei38dcQx-QkbBd2y8c_Dfdh6Hhj3mxFpluyJQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="443" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZwET5ojqG5EUkYA1StxBVtDUlF--qajjeoGMWruu1tEPfWFWx33IQBEwCftpH2327Tg2iVmCQDoxpsX67leTAvyDcQMMJMCO6V-zc3UblBp0amzohx0rA9m97BIl4UNgucV2KDvEo5n-VICrxzswvHCei38dcQx-QkbBd2y8c_Dfdh6Hhj3mxFpluyJQ=w382-h191" width="382" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mythbuster (75 & 20 Meter) version (early) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Click on image for a better view. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration-line: underline;">https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2021/08/mythbuster-video-13-rf-power-amplifier.html</span></div><div><span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVX71Cz2VdtKAVBc6MVLnAjYGnN_ptJpXVPiaWiudtHvE0ndoAkv992lryOcDkweDlnHOoA2z6CF7xzkMWSn1pG5U6T16mlWyK5-8A-lWh8gn4_Oj3bOJv-Im0K8b6IqbmMlh3jTKHhvIsufjeUiD_mm5zhAUaXTte9KsztRNvDt7sy4eCnZFi9uA3wQ4/s3762/BITX%2040%20PA%20in%2015-10%20Version%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1433" data-original-width="3762" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVX71Cz2VdtKAVBc6MVLnAjYGnN_ptJpXVPiaWiudtHvE0ndoAkv992lryOcDkweDlnHOoA2z6CF7xzkMWSn1pG5U6T16mlWyK5-8A-lWh8gn4_Oj3bOJv-Im0K8b6IqbmMlh3jTKHhvIsufjeUiD_mm5zhAUaXTte9KsztRNvDt7sy4eCnZFi9uA3wQ4/w380-h145/BITX%2040%20PA%20in%2015-10%20Version%202.jpg" width="380" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Same amplifier built into Version 2 of the 15-10 Transceiver </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Click on image for a better view. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>In the build for the 15-10 transceiver you can see some changes. I used an RD06HHF1 instead of an IRF-510. I used an 8.1 volt zener diode instead of the regulator chip. I set the bias at around 5.5 volts DC on the gate of the RD06. I used a smaller, metal can driver transistor (it works fine). I changed the input/output physical configuration between the pre-driver and the driver stages (I think it was kind of goofy the way I had it in the Mythbuster). Finally, you can see how I used a small piece of copper tape (with conductive adhesive) to shield the line going from the driver transformer to the gate of the RD06. The wire was too small to use a bit of shielded coax, but I think the copper tape and the copper clad board beneath it work just as well. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Farhan provided me with some fascinating background on this circuit: </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Bill,</b></i></span><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>I just saw your post on the bitx40 power amp. The credit must go to Wes for this, it is from the Lichen transceiver described in 6.9 of the EMRFD. I merely copied it with some modifications for it to work with junkbox components.</b></i></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>It bears mentioning that at that time I didn't have a way of generating two tone signal or measuring the IMDR. Those came later when I built my own spectrum analyzer based on Wes and Terry White's spectrum analyzer. It was sheer luck that I picked this power chain that already had careful gain distribution.</b></i></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>For the output, the original build used and LPF with inductors wound on a ballpen shell and TV baluns cores instead of toroids. Again, it was incredibly lucky that they worked at all. </b></i></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div dir="auto"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div dir="auto"><i><b>- f</b></i></div></span></div><p></p>Bill Mearahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662500663603350847noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590176649168185428.post-62104625141171911732024-03-12T07:50:00.002-04:002024-03-12T07:57:09.329-04:00Justin's Receiver -- A 40 meter Superhet from AC8LV <p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8GZ058kI691m1-kPQOBlMYZrHaTwLzZpd9aLQh_SnGF4HUSmXHrGUqC7nSYC9zxdAdckkqzFvuWoG-LhswBLEL-v16G-PcIX-gFl-uzppSWUH53M4mgM_7Vwy4qVKgYk3QgbGf6ZFWwu7SfTDB4PM3nGrh2VUFYY2eGSuIOXPgSWFn9UOqEZz6_hRgE/s2016/AC8LV%20Justin%20Receiver.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8GZ058kI691m1-kPQOBlMYZrHaTwLzZpd9aLQh_SnGF4HUSmXHrGUqC7nSYC9zxdAdckkqzFvuWoG-LhswBLEL-v16G-PcIX-gFl-uzppSWUH53M4mgM_7Vwy4qVKgYk3QgbGf6ZFWwu7SfTDB4PM3nGrh2VUFYY2eGSuIOXPgSWFn9UOqEZz6_hRgE/w369-h277/AC8LV%20Justin%20Receiver.jpeg" width="369" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>FB Justin! I really like the board that you are using as a base for the project. And you have some great mentors in Nick and Loren. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>It is wonderful that you have that receiver working. But I would tweak and peak quite a bit before taking on the transmitter. Get a decent outside antenna -- even a dipole or a 1/4 wave with counterpoise would be a big improvment. Like this one: </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2023/03/an-antenna-for-high-school-direct.html">https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2023/03/an-antenna-for-high-school-direct.html</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>And try to square away the grounding on the board (maybe some copper tape from Amazon) and the power supply you are using (I hope it is not one of those noisy wall warts). When you are experimenting, it can be useful to power varous stages with 9V batteries -- this is a good way to find out where noise is coming from. If your AF amp is squealing at 12 volts, you need to break the feedback loop that is leading to oscillation. Often the feedback is through the power supply. Finally, try to get that homewbrew crystal filter working -- if the bandpass is uneven, you just need some impedance matching at the input and output. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Great work Justin! Keep at it. 73 Bill </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><b>Bill,<br /><br />I am sending video and pictures of my 40m superhet that I built. I have it on the floor in an extra room in the house. The antenna is a stock vhf dipole that came with my rtl sdr which I use as a spectrum analyzer. In one of the clips I am receiving RW7K. I have been working on the station for the past year with help from Loren Moline, WA7SKT through texts when I have a problem. The LO / VFO is from Nick Woods Videos.<br /><br />Next, I will build an outdoor antenna and the transmitter section. I first started homebrewing at the beginning of the pandemic, but this is by far my largest accomplishment. I would like to thank you and Pete for the soldersmoke videos which have been a great inspiration.<br /><br />I will send more updates when the transmitter section is finish along with a much longer description of the projects<br /><br />Thank you<br /><br />Justin Elliott<br />AC8LZ</b></blockquote></div></div></div></blockquote><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"><b>Bill, Pete, and Dean </b></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Thank you for the compliment. Pete, I want you to know, I’m a huge fan and I enjoy the one-liner jokes. I enjoy your contributions to the videos when you’re on Dean. </b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Here are pics / videos of my superhet. </b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>The bandpass filter is a homebrew version of qrp labs design for 40m, I had to add an extra capacitor to get the bandpass where I wanted it. It is 6.9mhz to 7.32mhz. </b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Mixer / demods are ade-ask.</b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>The rf amps are kits i bought online, assembled, then used the schematics to replicate. They are the W7OI created and which have been mentioned on the channel</b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>The LO/VFO are arduino driven from Nick Woods (M0NTV) YouTube channel. I believe episode 26</b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>The crystal filter was built for 9MHz, but when I swept it I found the bandpass was saw toothed, so I used a commercial filter that Loren Moline WA7SKT sent. </b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>The audio amplifiers are a Common Emitter Amp I found on YouTube, I can’t recall the channel and a commercial amplifier, which I can now reproduce as I have the schematics. </b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>The speaker is a 2W 8 ohm speaker. </b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>...</b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Justin Elliott</b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>AC8LZ</b></div>Bill Mearahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662500663603350847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590176649168185428.post-58110856564368826002024-03-11T10:23:00.004-04:002024-03-11T10:23:50.087-04:00Radio Items Picked-up at VWS Winterfest 2024 Hamfest<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QjpkBXF_6sqQl7xXyIpHGTds4PB8NfKPgxuQBW0xUEJj46Le2JuWnXim2WlGxbUx9-_b-lzIrhaV6W87zNW1VuOs4sk-_6_A63VJo0kc3jLthkXArBgLbOwYBg7RFjMJxa_3pzichIX-lSvZ6KBn6n29Ik-b3QF-1cjdqYqaEqZVxkUpSWAIb5S9Ah8/s4032/IMG_7389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QjpkBXF_6sqQl7xXyIpHGTds4PB8NfKPgxuQBW0xUEJj46Le2JuWnXim2WlGxbUx9-_b-lzIrhaV6W87zNW1VuOs4sk-_6_A63VJo0kc3jLthkXArBgLbOwYBg7RFjMJxa_3pzichIX-lSvZ6KBn6n29Ik-b3QF-1cjdqYqaEqZVxkUpSWAIb5S9Ah8/w363-h272/IMG_7389.jpg" width="363" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">As always, click on image for a better view</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Above you can see what I picked up at the Vienna Wireless Society's 2024 Winterfest Hamfest. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>-- On the left in the blue box is an MXM Industries SuperRX/TX 40 transceiver. It is a kit from a Texas company. Superhet receiver with IF at 455 kHz. Crystal controlled CW transmitter on 7040 kHz. The oscillator works, but so far no receive signals. I will have to troubleshoot. Does anyone have a schematic? </b></div><b><br />-- Behind the MXM there is a nice box marked "Diode Detector" I opened it up and there is just a solid state diode and a 50 ohm resistor to ground. Box may be useful. </b><p></p><p><b>-- I got a couple of books: "Weekend Projects" 1979 from ARRL, and "A History of QST -- Volume 1 Amateur Radio Technology 1915 - 2013" 2013 from ARRL. </b></p><p><b>-- On top of the Weekend Projects book you see a "Crystal Holder" from Gross Radio of New York City. W1UJR has some good history on this company: <a href="https://w1ujr.com/written-word/gross-radio-company-circa-1931/">https://w1ujr.com/written-word/gross-radio-company-circa-1931/</a> This device seem to be intended to hold in place a raw piece of quartz! Cool. </b></p><p><b>-- To the right of the books there is a serious-looking VFO. One dollar! Deal! It is a CB VFO, but the markings say it puts out 5.44 to 5.99 MHz. So it should be useful. The dual speed dial is very nice. </b></p><p><b>-- Above the VFO is a nice step attenuator from the "Arrow Antenna" company of Loveland Colorado. </b></p><p><b>-- Further to the right are some Electric Radio and Antique Wireless Association magazines that Armand WA1UQO gave me. Really nice. The AWA mags have a very thoughtful piece (warts and all) on Jean Shepherd. And the ER pile has an article by Scott WA9WFA that mentions my work on the Mate for the Mighty Midget receiver. Thanks again Armand! </b></p><p><b>-- I also got some ADE6+ surface mount mixers. The price was right! </b></p><p><b>Thanks to VWS for putting on this great hamfest! </b></p>Bill Mearahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662500663603350847noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590176649168185428.post-32413621920593863412024-03-07T04:17:00.002-05:002024-03-08T06:44:33.627-05:00The Wizard of Schenectady -- Charles Proteus Steinmetz<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtBUKh6vjqhQYJKQG0rI4VbLv6yW9W39jLHLNm8pWeRbZEYJdD7vRyFiyEChhqVh4vldHZohJZavCfx2TdbQcthGYzcqviKtMchKklsah3yN0u3Gc7s0MystfUWNxXKgV5vOev1WleT5AREBrL-aFOj9HIKWGap41sFTtGReGrF4RLbmOIwJ32tZrmVCo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtBUKh6vjqhQYJKQG0rI4VbLv6yW9W39jLHLNm8pWeRbZEYJdD7vRyFiyEChhqVh4vldHZohJZavCfx2TdbQcthGYzcqviKtMchKklsah3yN0u3Gc7s0MystfUWNxXKgV5vOev1WleT5AREBrL-aFOj9HIKWGap41sFTtGReGrF4RLbmOIwJ32tZrmVCo=w419-h236" width="419" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>Such a beautiful article. Ramakrishnan VU2JXN sent it to me. It reminded me of how puzzeled we were when we found "Schenectady" on old shortwave receiver dials, amidst truly exotic locations. Rangoon! Peking! Cape Town! Schenectady? Obviously this was due to General Electric's location in that New York State city. But reading this article, I am thinking that the presence of Charles Proteus Steinmetz had something to do with it. His informal title (The Wizard of Schenectady) confirmed that we have been right in awarding similar titles to impressive homebrewers. </b></p><p><b>Here is the Smithsonian article that Ramakrishnan sent. </b></p><p><a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/charles-proteus-steinmetz-the-wizard-of-schenectady-51912022/#ixzz2lRMjrfit"><b>https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/charles-proteus-steinmetz-the-wizard-of-schenectady-51912022/#ixzz2lRMjrfit</b></a></p><p><b>And here is a link to a PBS video on Steinmetz: </b></p><p><a href="https://www.pbs.org/video/wmht-specials-divine-discontent-charles-proteus-steinmetz/"><b>https://www.pbs.org/video/wmht-specials-divine-discontent-charles-proteus-steinmetz/</b></a></p><p><b>Here is a SolderSmoke blog post about "Radio Schenectady":</b></p><p><a href="https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2020/07/radio-schenectady.html"><b>https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2020/07/radio-schenectady.html</b></a></p><p><br /></p>Bill Mearahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662500663603350847noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590176649168185428.post-1310721625674404382024-03-06T07:46:00.002-05:002024-03-07T05:08:48.685-05:00N6ASD Builds a Zinc-Oxide Negative Resistance Transmitter (and a Spark/Coherer rig)<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="247" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LfUABN_HGwU?si=xXO-3RA-roZ_KQ9l?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="440"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I saw this video and post on Hackaday this morning:</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><a href="https://hackaday.com/2024/03/05/making-a-crystodyne-radio-with-zinc-oxide-and-cats-whiskers/"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>https://hackaday.com/2024/03/05/making-a-crystodyne-radio-with-zinc-oxide-and-cats-whiskers/</b></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I got the fellow's callsign from his Morse CQ. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>It is N6ASD in San Francisco. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Check this out from his QRZ page:<a href="https://www.qrz.com/db/N6ASD"> https://www.qrz.com/db/N6ASD</a></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">My journey into the world of amateur radio began in a very primitive way. My first "rig" comprised of a spark-gap transmitter and a coherer based receiver. A coherer is a primitive radio signal detector that consists of iron filings placed between two electrodes. It was popular in the early days of wireless telegraphy.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">Spark transmitter (using a car's ignition coil to generate high-voltage sparks):</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;"><input alt="Spark transmitter" src="https://cdn-bio.qrz.com/d/n6asd/spark_transmitter.png?p=059bf76e5f7534ce3681f9310f07bdc9" style="height: 225px; width: 400px;" type="image" /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">Coherer based receiver (using a doorbell for the "decoherer" mechanism):</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;"><input alt="Coherer receiver" src="https://cdn-bio.qrz.com/d/n6asd/coherer_receiver.JPG?p=059bf76e5f7534ce3681f9310f07bdc9" style="height: 267px; width: 400px;" type="image" /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">When I keyed the transmitter, a high voltage arc would appear at the spark-gap and this produced (noisy) radio waves. The signal would be received by the iron-filings coherer on the other side of the room. A coherer is (usually) a one-shot receiver. You have to physically hit it to shake the filings and bring the detector back to its original state. That's what the doorbell hammer did. It would hit the coherer every time it received a signal. It amazed me to no end. A spark created in one room of my house could make the hammer move in another room. Magic!</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">Soon after this project, I started experimenting with *slightly more refined* crystal detectors and crystal radio circuits. As most of you would know, these amazing radios don't require any batteries and work by harnessing energy from radio waves. I guess these simple experiments instilled a sense of awe and wonder regarding electromagnetic waves, and eventually, this brought me into the world of amateur radio in 2015.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">My main HF rig is an old ICOM IC-735. The only modification on this is radio is that it uses LED backlights (instead of bulbs):</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;"><img alt="Icom IC 735" src="https://cdn-bio.qrz.com/d/n6asd/icom_735.jpg?p=059bf76e5f7534ce3681f9310f07bdc9" style="height: 282px; width: 500px;" /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;"><img src="https://cdn-bio.qrz.com/d/n6asd/shack_png.jpg?p=059bf76e5f7534ce3681f9310f07bdc9" style="height: 282px; width: 500px;" /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">With space at a premium in San Francisco, the antenna that I have settled for is an inverted vee installed in my backyard (and it just barely fits). I made the mast by lashing together wooden planks. For this city dweller, it works FB:</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;"><img src="https://cdn-bio.qrz.com/d/n6asd/ant1.png?p=059bf76e5f7534ce3681f9310f07bdc9" style="height: 711px; width: 400px;" /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">I have recently gotten into CW, and it has definitely become my mode of choice.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">I'm a self-taught electronics enthusiast and I love homebrewing radio circuits. I'll be sharing more info about them soon.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">Thanks for checking out my page. I hope to meet you on the air!</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">73,<br />N6ASD</p><p> </p></div>Bill Mearahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662500663603350847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590176649168185428.post-70883435115872899782024-03-05T05:36:00.006-05:002024-03-05T19:50:18.392-05:00A Contact with my Old Azorean DSB Transceiver<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="247" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XBNKnhSbisM?si=1SVA6IHY-9vjEPAA?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="440"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><b>I've been thinking about balanced modulators, and I wanted to see how some of my early circuits performed. So I pulled this OLD Double Sideband rig off the shelf and fired it up. The balanced modulator -- and everything else! - worked fine, and I soon made contact on 17 meter SSB with Gene, AB9GK. </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>This was the first DSB transceiver that I ever built. I made this out in the Azores, probably in 2000 or 2001. Years later I had replaced the RF power amplifier with a "JBOT" (Just a Bunch of Transistors) designed by Farhan. </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Over on my YouTube channel a comment came in from my friend Jack: </b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@dhakajack"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;">@dhakajack</span></a></span></b></div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt;"><b style="font-family: Roboto;">"Looking inside and seeing the o-scope probe in place while
the radio was on the air reminded me of neurosurgery where the patient is awake
and talking while the surgeon probes different brain regions soliciting
feedback. Sure, ham radio isn't neurosurgery, but it's not too far at times.
Also, you already have rocket science covered."</b></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.61px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpnHec6TeZaflFTL2igr6NwK_HilfckHzV9erZsjDQ0TFwcSHGkrpC6tfKw9bdIlPDI3DBrWSMa5kPLDxXtBXhgKes8U0q5daMkHfveV6hzK95nTlxWJWTD08woTRgB089KTuqs_MhBasJmejBQu6r5OIHu5pawtMLvbHOImk1DjosAhGbSwpir--IK74" style="color: #0066cc; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="422" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpnHec6TeZaflFTL2igr6NwK_HilfckHzV9erZsjDQ0TFwcSHGkrpC6tfKw9bdIlPDI3DBrWSMa5kPLDxXtBXhgKes8U0q5daMkHfveV6hzK95nTlxWJWTD08woTRgB089KTuqs_MhBasJmejBQu6r5OIHu5pawtMLvbHOImk1DjosAhGbSwpir--IK74=w350-h284" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 102, 204); margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 4px;" width="350" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.61px; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.61px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;">Here is an article about my build of that first rig:</b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.61px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.61px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.gadgeteer.us/17METER.HTM" style="color: #6131bd; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.61px; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.gadgeteer.us/17METER.HTM</a></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.61px;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.61px;"><b>I think the article captures well the trials and tribulations faced by new homebrewers, perhaps with the twist that comes from being out in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. </b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.61px;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.61px;"><b>Mike WU2D is having similar fun with his homebrew 10 meter DSB transceiver: </b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.61px;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZt1LTGyoHc" style="color: #0066cc; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZt1LTGyoHc</b></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.61px;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.61px;"><b>I was struck by how similar Mike's early QSO experiences were with mine. We both put our DSB transmitters on the air before they made their way into real cabinets or boxes. </b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.61px;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.61px;"><b>Here's mine from 2001 in the Azores: </b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.61px;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.61px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-0BbRZAIMIjEdx3ax7xE4s4Kap6PZatxVUZxD1X3M0bXohg4Re7wIhB4_p3Xz1Je-2FZyGMk5SBZqzPU5KKAtsCwsryFYqkJknGOSnMK-OdT6VSH6HRIgmrrH1Cu8X19slyAZVqKkZCOhOfgOZWUWlQfLzGa2buHjb5nIsQ_IGYycqb37hNhYoPa0Zlc" style="color: #6131bd; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="377" height="445" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-0BbRZAIMIjEdx3ax7xE4s4Kap6PZatxVUZxD1X3M0bXohg4Re7wIhB4_p3Xz1Je-2FZyGMk5SBZqzPU5KKAtsCwsryFYqkJknGOSnMK-OdT6VSH6HRIgmrrH1Cu8X19slyAZVqKkZCOhOfgOZWUWlQfLzGa2buHjb5nIsQ_IGYycqb37hNhYoPa0Zlc=w333-h445" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 102, 204); margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 4px;" width="333" /></a></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p></div>Bill Mearahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662500663603350847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590176649168185428.post-1951739441942387472024-02-25T12:29:00.002-05:002024-02-25T12:29:52.721-05:00Innovation and a Dual Band Sweep with Version 2 of the 15-10 Transceiver<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="247" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dFYA87FPZNQ?si=PmjK7u_qzHTErzJS?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="440"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><b>Here are a couple of videos on Version 2 of my 15-10 SSB transceiver. In the video above I try to show the advances and innovations that have been made since the start of my BITX construction adventure back in 2013. <br /></b><p><b> The video below shows the receiver in action this morning on 15 and 10 meter SSB. I think it sounds pretty good. </b></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="247" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uWWZzEPdCSY?si=hH7x5wa7lNFefw_H?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="440"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDL35PAqLPjdwod64htXGDKUS2XT5tlyUgAgi4CxmchHklDIE45tCmV8QTHCuuVO31QIJ5BruGVDRtsIBSOLXmt5Jw0NH0ItLSRjwDM16seLFqwb1W_aZmnjC0L7a-5QdANfINnU3B3Ti-jgp8rj0L_Nlddc51MTMVq5oNwi9TjQNuLN8VgRUZ5THDzXQ/s4032/25%20MHz%20filter%20on%20NanoVNA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDL35PAqLPjdwod64htXGDKUS2XT5tlyUgAgi4CxmchHklDIE45tCmV8QTHCuuVO31QIJ5BruGVDRtsIBSOLXmt5Jw0NH0ItLSRjwDM16seLFqwb1W_aZmnjC0L7a-5QdANfINnU3B3Ti-jgp8rj0L_Nlddc51MTMVq5oNwi9TjQNuLN8VgRUZ5THDzXQ/w357-h267/25%20MHz%20filter%20on%20NanoVNA.jpg" width="357" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Click on the image for a better look</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Farhan asked what the passband of the 25 MHz crystal filter looked like. I sent him this. I think it looks very good, and shows that it is possible to use an IF this high. This permits us to not only set up the transceiver for dual band coverage (in this case 15 and 10 meters), but it also allows for a lower frequency VFO (in this case around 3.5 MHz) with a resulting increase in VFO stability. </b></div><b><br /></b><div><br /></div>Bill Mearahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662500663603350847noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590176649168185428.post-78546463101848145162024-02-24T16:37:00.001-05:002024-02-24T16:37:18.429-05:00More on "Kludge" -- Merriam-Webster's Pronunciation Guide<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizZhCoIYbHT4SYM0irHXeW5LLEcUv0DO_Hbkzc8F-IR60wzhIs9ZZONfiH9vZFLrpWXw-bxiF2GN5tTjvrbfjh7gGqFJe--u9xjHv1ada6b3sgWa5_Qj0SFh7b5RfA5vVOYN_Vv9QPiDaty6I2hGsuIuqoNUeEGZswUKfJ36nwYbmBxuEpozN1VEhVwx0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="747" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizZhCoIYbHT4SYM0irHXeW5LLEcUv0DO_Hbkzc8F-IR60wzhIs9ZZONfiH9vZFLrpWXw-bxiF2GN5tTjvrbfjh7gGqFJe--u9xjHv1ada6b3sgWa5_Qj0SFh7b5RfA5vVOYN_Vv9QPiDaty6I2hGsuIuqoNUeEGZswUKfJ36nwYbmBxuEpozN1VEhVwx0=w392-h111" width="392" /></a></div><p></p><p><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kludge"> https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kludge</a></p><p>What say our British cousins? How do you pronounce the word? </p><p>Kluge as in huge? </p><p>Kludge as in fudge? </p><p><br /></p>Bill Mearahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662500663603350847noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590176649168185428.post-71700626650953753062024-02-24T10:15:00.001-05:002024-02-24T10:15:22.685-05:00Innovations and Inventions in Garages and Basements<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSycgemf16X7GEUhLNMgRrhFfEhGQ93eTUULKZnc3Zeg5RXAkFlUMoit1a-_WgTUyFiiYXivnNLwtkiHzgsLglCwqWXcwJfi5_pGtM_8ac0gN6vKMpDASwW2tJrN8VowjMg6txGlUAG6U51YsdxDrv3jIpeUlF69SO59YgWfMSJCu922Ro2GP2UyGqHOA/s723/HP%20Garage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="723" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSycgemf16X7GEUhLNMgRrhFfEhGQ93eTUULKZnc3Zeg5RXAkFlUMoit1a-_WgTUyFiiYXivnNLwtkiHzgsLglCwqWXcwJfi5_pGtM_8ac0gN6vKMpDASwW2tJrN8VowjMg6txGlUAG6U51YsdxDrv3jIpeUlF69SO59YgWfMSJCu922Ro2GP2UyGqHOA/w341-h224/HP%20Garage.png" width="341" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Hewlett-Packard garage</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>There is a lot of inspirational stuff in this blog post, especially for those of us who work in home workshops, often in garages or basements. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.strangeloopcanon.com/p/the-mystery-of-the-garage"><b>https://www.strangeloopcanon.com/p/the-mystery-of-the-garage</b></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Thanks to HackaDay for alerting us to this. </b></div><p></p>Bill Mearahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662500663603350847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590176649168185428.post-8126812443704449032024-02-22T06:53:00.003-05:002024-02-22T07:28:23.312-05:00Some of my Double Sideband Rigs: Azores, Virginia, Dominican Republic<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="247" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/psJsV3-xEhg?si=HgMVMrxYmeuSN8_1?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="440"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><b>The above video describe a round of mods to the much modded DSB rig. And my alleged winning of the ARRL Sweepstakes (in a very elite category). </b></div><div><br /></div><div><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="247" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_mCQHUpx51U?si=IjpxmGpgd9v9N-M0?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="440"></iframe></p><p><b>The video above shows where I took the rig in 2014. Bahia Rincon, Samana peninsula, Dominican Republic. You can also see my power supply. </b></p><p><b>Here is an article on the first DSB rig that I built, out in the Azores: </b></p><p><a href="https://www.gadgeteer.us/17METER.HTM"><b>https://www.gadgeteer.us/17METER.HTM</b></a></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpnHec6TeZaflFTL2igr6NwK_HilfckHzV9erZsjDQ0TFwcSHGkrpC6tfKw9bdIlPDI3DBrWSMa5kPLDxXtBXhgKes8U0q5daMkHfveV6hzK95nTlxWJWTD08woTRgB089KTuqs_MhBasJmejBQu6r5OIHu5pawtMLvbHOImk1DjosAhGbSwpir--IK74" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="422" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpnHec6TeZaflFTL2igr6NwK_HilfckHzV9erZsjDQ0TFwcSHGkrpC6tfKw9bdIlPDI3DBrWSMa5kPLDxXtBXhgKes8U0q5daMkHfveV6hzK95nTlxWJWTD08woTRgB089KTuqs_MhBasJmejBQu6r5OIHu5pawtMLvbHOImk1DjosAhGbSwpir--IK74=w350-h284" width="350" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>I think the article captures well the trials and tribulations faced by new homebrewers, perhaps with the twist that comes from being out in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Mike WU2D is having similar fun with his homebrew 10 meter DSB transceiver: </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZt1LTGyoHc"><b>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZt1LTGyoHc</b></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>I was struck by how similar Mike's early QSO experiences were with mine. We both put our DSB transmitters on the air before they made their way into real cabinets or boxes. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Here's mine from 2001 in the Azores: </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-0BbRZAIMIjEdx3ax7xE4s4Kap6PZatxVUZxD1X3M0bXohg4Re7wIhB4_p3Xz1Je-2FZyGMk5SBZqzPU5KKAtsCwsryFYqkJknGOSnMK-OdT6VSH6HRIgmrrH1Cu8X19slyAZVqKkZCOhOfgOZWUWlQfLzGa2buHjb5nIsQ_IGYycqb37hNhYoPa0Zlc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="377" height="445" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-0BbRZAIMIjEdx3ax7xE4s4Kap6PZatxVUZxD1X3M0bXohg4Re7wIhB4_p3Xz1Je-2FZyGMk5SBZqzPU5KKAtsCwsryFYqkJknGOSnMK-OdT6VSH6HRIgmrrH1Cu8X19slyAZVqKkZCOhOfgOZWUWlQfLzGa2buHjb5nIsQ_IGYycqb37hNhYoPa0Zlc=w333-h445" width="333" /></a></div></div><p></p></div>Bill Mearahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662500663603350847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590176649168185428.post-12599309667587050792024-02-22T06:22:00.001-05:002024-02-22T06:22:30.369-05:00The Mars Helicopter and its CO2 Insulation<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="247" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GhsZUZmJvaM?si=zRxFQfe-oa3T8Gb4?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="440"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><b>This video isn't about homebrew ham gear, but nonetheless I found it very interesting. Of particular interest is the bit about their need to find a very low-weight insulator to protect the instruments from the cold of the Martian night. Aerogel would have been too heavy. So they just filled the instrument chamber with Carbon Dioxide. That was their insulator. Think about that, especially those of you who still deny CO2's ability to heat up the atmosphere. </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>There is a lot of great stuff on Veritasium's YouTube channel: </b></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@veritasium"><b>https://www.youtube.com/@veritasium</b></a></div>Bill Mearahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662500663603350847noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590176649168185428.post-42350574566162467802024-02-19T16:49:00.005-05:002024-02-19T16:49:39.103-05:00Grayson Evans KJ7UM Video on Homebrewing with Thermatrons<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="247" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XFDndEsyQzA?si=7yTxydkG4T6hpHDH?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="440"></iframe><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Grayson Evans KJ7UM is the author of Hollow-State Design for the Radio Amateur, a wonderful book about using Thermatrons (aka tubes, or valves) in radio projects. Buy it here: </b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.lulu.com/shop/grayson-evans/hollow-state-design-3nd-edition/paperback/product-5mpzqr.html?page=1&pageSize=4"><b>https://www.lulu.com/shop/grayson-evans/hollow-state-design-3nd-edition/paperback/product-5mpzqr.html?page=1&pageSize=4</b></a></span></p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>More info on the book is here:
<a href="Grayson KJ7UM is the author of Hollow-State Design for the Radio Amateur, a wonderful book about using Thermatrons (aka tubes, or valves) in radio projects. Buy it here: https://www.lulu.com/shop/grayson-evans/hollow-state-design-3nd-edition/paperback/product-5mpzqr.html?page=1&pageSize=4 More info on the book is here: https://kj7um.wordpress.com/2020/12/02/hollow-state-design/ In this video, Grayson talks about construction techniques (including the use of Thermatron Me-Pads), and Manhattan construction for Thermatron projects. FB! Visit Grayson's blog: https://kj7um.wordpress.com/">https://kj7um.wordpress.com/2020/12/02/hollow-state-design/</a>
In this video, Grayson talks about construction techniques (including the use of Thermatron Me-Pads), and Manhattan construction for Thermatron projects. FB!
Visit Grayson's blog: <a href="https://kj7um.wordpress.com/">https://kj7um.wordpress.com/</a></b></span>Bill Mearahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662500663603350847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590176649168185428.post-45072217745899299112024-02-19T09:38:00.003-05:002024-02-23T15:50:12.560-05:00Jean Shepherd has Trouble with his Heising Modulator (and his date) <p><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.61px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjE3iqcJIqxbr6M5GbwYOo5qj5aExQpVY2FOKvZU_Ar7gmZVQ-n9PVG-HIG1ltFbHQO13QGwjodbOFKkeyzuoMz7ifE6IOdFcghdH3AIwyNaCN-8pM9L3Nt8hPHm4Q6Ob-YIZBKieSPO1bDH1oOq7hz03P5A-R2jmO97O6dog12baRKqX1SbifzPIeQfYY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="138" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjE3iqcJIqxbr6M5GbwYOo5qj5aExQpVY2FOKvZU_Ar7gmZVQ-n9PVG-HIG1ltFbHQO13QGwjodbOFKkeyzuoMz7ifE6IOdFcghdH3AIwyNaCN-8pM9L3Nt8hPHm4Q6Ob-YIZBKieSPO1bDH1oOq7hz03P5A-R2jmO97O6dog12baRKqX1SbifzPIeQfYY=w305-h276" width="305" /></a></div><br /><b>This is probably Jean Shepherd's best program about homebrew ham radio. It is about how we can become obsessed with the problems that arise with equipment that we have built ourselves, and how normal people cannot understand our obsessions. </b><p></p><p><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><b>I posted about this back in 2008, but I was listening to it again today, and quickly realized that it is worth re-posting. Realize that Shepherd's Heising modulation problems happened almost 90 years ago. But the same kind of obsession affect the homebrewers of today. </b></span></p><p><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><b>Note too how Shepherd talks about "Heising" in Heising modulation. Heising has an entire circuit named for him, just like Hartley, Colpitts, and Pierce of oscillator fame. Sometimes, when I tell another ham that my rig is homebrew, I get a kind of snide, snarky, loaded question: "Well, did you DESIGN it yourself?" This seems to be a way for appliance operators to deal with the fact that while they never build anything, someone else out there does melt solder. They seem to think that the fact that you did not design the rig yourself makes your accomplishment less impressive, less threatening. This week I responded to this question with Shepherd's observation -- I told the enquiring ham that my rig is in fact homebrewed, but that I had not invented the Colpitts oscillator, nor the common emitter amplifier, not the diode ring mixer, nor the low-pass filter. But yes, the rig is homebrew, as was Shepherd's Heising modulator. </b></span></p><p><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><b>Guys, stop what you are doing. Put down that soldering iron, or that cold Miller High Life ("the champagne of bottled beer") and click on the link below. You will be transported back to 1965 (and 1934!), and will hear master story-teller Jean Shepherd (K2ORS) describing his teenage case of The Knack. He discusses his efforts to build a Heising modulated transmitter for 160 meters. He had trouble getting it working, and became obsessed with the problem, obsessed to the point that a girl he was dating concluded that there was "something wrong with him" and that his mother "should take him to a doctor."</b></span></p><b><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">This one is REALLY good. It takes him a few minutes to get to the radio stuff, but it is worth the wait. More to follow. EXCELSIOR! FLICK LIVES!</span></b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Listen here: <br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;" /><a href="http://ia310115.us.archive.org/2/items/JeanShepherd1965Pt1/1965_01_29_Ham_Radio.mp3" style="background-color: white; color: #0066cc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;">http://ia310115.us.archive.org/2/items/JeanShepherd1965Pt1/1965_01_29_Ham_Radio.mp3</a></b></div>Bill Mearahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662500663603350847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590176649168185428.post-54415452181426985452024-02-17T06:05:00.006-05:002024-02-17T06:06:31.190-05:00Nate KA1MUQ's Amazing Thermatron Receiver<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="247" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kTQY4x8Vz7g?si=r9weT66kvMdHleW8?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="440"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://natesbasement123.blogspot.com/2024/02/thank-you-bill-dean-grayson-pete-and.html"><b>https://natesbasement123.blogspot.com/2024/02/thank-you-bill-dean-grayson-pete-and.html</b></a></div><div><a href="https://natesbasement123.blogspot.com/2024/02/thank-you-bill-dean-grayson-pete-and.html"><b><br /></b></a><p><b>Wow, some really wonderful work is taking place in Nate KA1MUQ's basement in California. </b></p><p><b>-- I really like the pill bottle coil forms. I wonder if Nate faced suspicion (and possible arrest) in the pharmacy when he asked for the pill bottles. (I got some suspicious looks when I went I asked for empty pill bottles while building my thermatron Mate for the Mighty Midget receiver back in 1998.) </b></p><p><b>-- The variable capacitors are also quite cool, as is the big rotary switch. Is that for band switching? </b></p><p><b>-- Oh man, all on a plywood board. Frank Jones would approve! </b></p><p><b>-- Indeed Nate, that beautiful receiver NEEDS an analog VFO. And we need to hear it inhaling phone sigs, not that FT8 stuff. </b></p><p><b>-- Please keep us posted on your progress. And of course, one hand behind your back OM. Lots of high voltage on those thermatrons. </b></p><p><b>Thanks Nate! </b></p></div>Bill Mearahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662500663603350847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590176649168185428.post-79157943638056793782024-02-16T04:58:00.000-05:002024-02-16T04:58:58.630-05:00Shuji Nakamora and his (Juliano) Blue Gallium Nitride LED<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="247" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AF8d72mA41M?si=mLawV3Hlj04g4716?rel-0" title="YouTube video player" width="440"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><b>Lots of great stuff in this video: </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>-- They get the charge carrier thing right: contrary to many presentations, holes don't really move in a semiconductor. Electrons move to fill holes, making it appear that the holes are moving. </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>-- Interesting that Nakamura was so willing to defy company orders for so long. </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>-- The description of the discipline that powered his inventiveness is inspiring. </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>-- The way he was treated (badly) in Florida because he lacked a PhD is sadly illuminating. <br /></b><p><b>-- The discussion of corporate infighting is interesting. </b></p><p><b>We wrote about Nakamura before: <a href="https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2021/02/shuji-nakamura-inventor-of-juliano-blue.html">https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2021/02/shuji-nakamura-inventor-of-juliano-blue.html</a></b></p><p><br /></p></div>Bill Mearahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662500663603350847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590176649168185428.post-72613853425521334562024-02-15T05:36:00.001-05:002024-02-15T05:36:58.734-05:00More Inspiring Mail! Another "First Ever Receiver was Homebrew"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIG7WLbzg14RJ3SbC4OFs5-VB3dX2CcFBKavD7I0KPnkgteQVoMKZVU005jA6d6Gz-Oi2yl0xsZ3Bvx6-8aEpYeijFz2ijBev1acKLsYSXGqXev1p1QaSTNM94FYCbR7b61sKUhboBXA4BlJh_5rQTSz2ycro6rF_YkjvRBGkFFsQ3PugSvcvH9DIZfw/s720/277993444_5179441288783355_5307230754188645699_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIG7WLbzg14RJ3SbC4OFs5-VB3dX2CcFBKavD7I0KPnkgteQVoMKZVU005jA6d6Gz-Oi2yl0xsZ3Bvx6-8aEpYeijFz2ijBev1acKLsYSXGqXev1p1QaSTNM94FYCbR7b61sKUhboBXA4BlJh_5rQTSz2ycro6rF_YkjvRBGkFFsQ3PugSvcvH9DIZfw/w289-h216/277993444_5179441288783355_5307230754188645699_n.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Frank's Lowfer Beacon Receiver</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><b><i>It was great to hear from someone else who, like Scott KQ4AOP, heard his very first signals on a homebrew receiver. That is a really wonderful way to start. Frank's first receiver was built around the NE602 chip. I had trouble understanding this IC but I finally cracked the code: </i></b></p><p><b><a href="https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2021/11/how-to-understand-ne-602-and-gilbert.html"><i>https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2021/11/how-to-understand-ne-602-and-gilbert.html </i></a></b></p><p><b><i>The picture that Frank sent is of a more recent project, this one a Lowfer receiver that picks up signals from beacons. </i></b></p><p><b>-------------------------</b></p><p><b>Hello Bill, </b></p><p><b>I just wanted to message you and tell you I really enjoyed your book Soldersmoke. I've been listening to the podcast as well. On the latest one you mentioned a fellow who heard his first ham radio signals on a homebrew receiver, and that's how it was for me as well! There were lots of articles about using the NE602 in the electronics magazines back in the day. I put one of the circuits together and it worked pretty smoothly... I eventually got my ham radio licence (KC8JJL) sometime in the 90's. The first time I met a ham was when I showed up to take the test! </b></p><div style="outline: none !important;"><b>I don't do much transmitting these days but I still love to listen and tinker. Here's a picture of a direct conversion LF receiver I put together... It uses an NE602 and is varactor tuned. It only covers from around 300Khz to just over 400khz but there are still a few beacons I can hear in MI and WI. </b></div><div style="outline: none !important;"><br style="outline: none !important;" /></div><div style="outline: none !important;"><div class="yiv0782149167gmail_signature" dir="ltr" style="outline: none !important;"><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none !important;"><div style="outline: none !important;"><b>Frank James</b></div><div style="outline: none !important;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none !important;" /></div></div></div></div>Bill Mearahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662500663603350847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590176649168185428.post-81247287375763651402024-02-14T11:19:00.005-05:002024-02-14T11:21:00.828-05:00We Get Mail! Red Poster? Really a Tapestry from Ecuador<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhzpWELcHpjV-0-jRWhPjOW3ev7AD8L2_s7z1qMrql8fZaIYAoXGge6ryY-KpSmi9UXiocVu7XbvayR-g4STDlttIfiD4ulj8P_AhJQLgqT0xY_7OEY6-nDGinXMniWzQTJNTVbJmUA_H7DCYzVeGnbrM4CKdaepHxJAlXCSIJGbk4w-Shj7OByAAjmc/s4032/IMG_7281.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1655" height="619" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhzpWELcHpjV-0-jRWhPjOW3ev7AD8L2_s7z1qMrql8fZaIYAoXGge6ryY-KpSmi9UXiocVu7XbvayR-g4STDlttIfiD4ulj8P_AhJQLgqT0xY_7OEY6-nDGinXMniWzQTJNTVbJmUA_H7DCYzVeGnbrM4CKdaepHxJAlXCSIJGbk4w-Shj7OByAAjmc/w253-h619/IMG_7281.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><br /><b>Listener Tobias was laid up yesterday, following the extraction of wisdom teeth. (This seems like an appropriate follow-up to our talk in SolderSmoke Podcast #250 of sBITX "wisdom files" to correct FFT "hallucinations.") Tobias does not appear to have been hallucinating, but he was having trouble seeing what he thought to be a "red poster" in my shack. </b><p></p><p><b>In fact, what he was seeing was a red tapestry from Ecuador that was sent to me by Galo Constante HC1GC way back in 1993. I was in the Dominican Republic, running my first ever real homebrew transmitter. Here is an article about this project: <a href="https://www.gadgeteer.us/TXHB.HTM">https://www.gadgeteer.us/TXHB.HTM</a> I think Galo was also QRP homebrew. My log shows that I worked him eight times from the DR. </b></p><p><b>Mitad del Mundo = Middle of the World (a reference to the equator). </b></p><p><b>Here is the QSL I got from Galo: </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XRUoXC3pa4pgxmCYMoTnayIIh8amnJo6Hf9AiBT5ZQ8QYjy6Fcb3mpz5NWmOvtCtWbLuXBsA7Ue9DRA2HG8LhwleApFkFCKR5WtC8pQ6DUgAVjYDCGpgczU12MQ0iVUYRDc_QvpY0tlrd91XksE42HqBv7ebTwn71qkiKN9RZmtmKTAiDl2msQG5fZg/s3825/IMG_7282.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2795" data-original-width="3825" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XRUoXC3pa4pgxmCYMoTnayIIh8amnJo6Hf9AiBT5ZQ8QYjy6Fcb3mpz5NWmOvtCtWbLuXBsA7Ue9DRA2HG8LhwleApFkFCKR5WtC8pQ6DUgAVjYDCGpgczU12MQ0iVUYRDc_QvpY0tlrd91XksE42HqBv7ebTwn71qkiKN9RZmtmKTAiDl2msQG5fZg/w289-h211/IMG_7282.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Here's a 2022 blog post about a resurrection of this old rig: </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2022/09/fixing-up-old-homebrew-rig-barebones.html"><b>https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2022/09/fixing-up-old-homebrew-rig-barebones.html</b></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Thanks Tobias for spotting the HC1GC tapestry and reminding me of some great QRP contacts. I hope you feel better OM. 73 Bill </b></div>Bill Mearahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662500663603350847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590176649168185428.post-75666911077394962482024-02-13T12:34:00.003-05:002024-02-13T17:20:32.561-05:00Ferdy HB9DSP's 5 band Moxon -- The Moxhorn! <p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiww0tS6S9LCZvVkNsnxqccFAc9q04aaZBNkMQVszF0a5b1WNtLiomnsqCCKUVjrwkdsjDydWaup2U2eCEdKBfqSpacfAfrT2F1gHdU8viQw5D981-XavrQ4weN8HsyLKa8xNSirApZ1uMaAGg80QZ0jRrkgYke1Dp3z8kWOPyXIBGQzjTP1zeJK0T_YfU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1199" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiww0tS6S9LCZvVkNsnxqccFAc9q04aaZBNkMQVszF0a5b1WNtLiomnsqCCKUVjrwkdsjDydWaup2U2eCEdKBfqSpacfAfrT2F1gHdU8viQw5D981-XavrQ4weN8HsyLKa8xNSirApZ1uMaAGg80QZ0jRrkgYke1Dp3z8kWOPyXIBGQzjTP1zeJK0T_YfU=w401-h302" width="401" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click on the image for a clearer view</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Wow, I couldn't even build a 2 band Moxon, but Ferdy has built a 5 band version. He told me that he had to tweak the elements a lot to get acceptable SWR's on all the bands. 20 and 17 are especially tough, because they are so close in frequency. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>More info on his great QRZ page: <a href="https://www.qrz.com/db/HB9DSP">https://www.qrz.com/db/HB9DSP</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Thanks Ferdy! </b></div><br /><p></p>Bill Mearahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662500663603350847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590176649168185428.post-60491133833540914432024-02-12T06:15:00.000-05:002024-02-12T06:15:12.439-05:00Dean's Amazing Homebrew sBITX<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisd-MeiXz8m_tlKPJiSks83c6SljMb3lksE2VybVTy-ATxq3DSKJ0hUTPr1KsB0A_AJ4c4bHJnb4mvdrLvMFfon1GdKqHFdAkRBqfnevNAY3mKvlVeF6khpfb5fHBeYp2lKyT3boZdugR2-ADNTpyP5UaQGzbXAdcwZ8VfxFtl71lDjYTiDZ05HNFxiP4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisd-MeiXz8m_tlKPJiSks83c6SljMb3lksE2VybVTy-ATxq3DSKJ0hUTPr1KsB0A_AJ4c4bHJnb4mvdrLvMFfon1GdKqHFdAkRBqfnevNAY3mKvlVeF6khpfb5fHBeYp2lKyT3boZdugR2-ADNTpyP5UaQGzbXAdcwZ8VfxFtl71lDjYTiDZ05HNFxiP4=w331-h250" width="331" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>I was kind of making fun of it during <a href="https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2024/02/soldersmoke-podcast-250-dean-kk4das.html">SolderSmoke podcast #250</a>, but later that same morning I had a chance to watch the KK4DAS homebrew sBITX in action, in person, and I must say, it was very impressive. This may be the only homebrew sBITX in the world (please correct me if I'm wrong). </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>In the picture above you can see the amalgamation of traditional superhet with modern DSP. Even for an HDR guy like me, the result is really cool. Once again, I experienced waterfall envy. And the sBITX receiver sounds great. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Dean has written up his experiences with this rig in a blog post. Check it out for more info: </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://kk4das.blogspot.com/2024/02/homebrew-sbitx-receiver-gound-bounce.html"><b>https://kk4das.blogspot.com/2024/02/homebrew-sbitx-receiver-gound-bounce.html</b></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Thanks Dean! </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Bill Mearahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662500663603350847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590176649168185428.post-83596361000722945752024-02-10T16:23:00.002-05:002024-02-11T05:32:36.010-05:00SolderSmoke Podcast #250 Dean KK4DAS joins Pete N6QW and Bill N2CQR<p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnMOwhr5RUtKTsGG7yPObGGu7qpONLx2D4JaJBSe0LwQcMt6fJ5gOCx0zyb9BUVkscl_wlWE7UFum_6qjsx6pYFAEbd4eqWZLSL9w8HxsOWZQMzmUVJYMqy_HF6RKNtVnGbcyPSgEZKuxJCEEZKVNxY6HbsP4mCCAn6VnDtxrezEEPDQVVEirQ_JrDBnU" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="1267" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnMOwhr5RUtKTsGG7yPObGGu7qpONLx2D4JaJBSe0LwQcMt6fJ5gOCx0zyb9BUVkscl_wlWE7UFum_6qjsx6pYFAEbd4eqWZLSL9w8HxsOWZQMzmUVJYMqy_HF6RKNtVnGbcyPSgEZKuxJCEEZKVNxY6HbsP4mCCAn6VnDtxrezEEPDQVVEirQ_JrDBnU=w342-h193" width="342" /></a></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>SolderSmoke Podcast # 250 is ready for download: </b><p></p><p><a href="http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke250.mp3">http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke250.mp3</a></p><p>VIDEO VERSION: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffsfn9ufmnc">(1707) SolderSmoke Podcast #250 -- With Pete N6QW, Dean KK4DAS, and Bill N2CQR - YouTube</a></p><p><b><u>Intro</u></b>: Welcome to Dean KK4DAS. For 2024 Pete and I hope to jazz things up a bit by bringing in fellow homebrewers to talk about their projects. Dean is our first victim. Welcome Dean. </p><p>Some good news: Several new homebrew receivers are inhaling: Armand WA1UQO in Richmond has an amazing looking regen. Scott KQ4AOP in Tennessee got his DC RX working. Mike AG5VG in Texas has been homebrewing BITX 20s and BITX 40s. All are on the blog. </p><p><b><u>Pete's report:</u></b> </p><p>-- Recent blog entries on filters, SSB rig architecture, and of course digital VFOs. </p><p><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">-- Phasing measurements, quadrature, and the Seeed Xiao RP2040 </span></p><p>-- Error in QST article on early SSB transceiver. ANOTHER ERROR!</p><p>--LC VFO on blog! FB Pete! </p><p><b><u>Dean's report:</u></b> </p><p>-- Tales of woe on the homebrew sBITX</p><p>-- Help from Farhan. </p><p>-- Ground Bounce. FFT Hallucinations. Wisdom files.</p><p><b><u>SHAMELESS COMMERCE DIVISION: </u></b> </p><p>-- Whenever you are tempted to buy something from AMAZON, just start at the Amazon symbol on the right side of the page. We get a cut from Bezos, and it doesn't cost you anything. </p><p>-- You can try to do the same thing with E-bay. We are finding a lot of great parts there. </p><p>-- If you see a SolderSmoke post on Facebook, please Like and forward. </p><p>-- Become a patron! Go to the Patreon page. We put the money to good SolderSmoke use. </p><p>-- Visit Mostly DIY RF and buy a PSSST kit! </p><p><b><u>Bill's bench: </u></b></p><p>-- Building yet another BITX dual bander. 15-10 again. Tried to use a 25 MHz filter left over from the earlier project, but I had to build another. Built a new VFO using the variable cap and anti-backlash gear recommended by Pete. Was a bit tough to get the receiver sounding good. Had a diode ring as the second mixer, but went back to a singly balanced mixer. </p><p>-- 10 meter AM -- Thanks to Jerry Coffman K5JC for mod. </p><p><b><u>Other topics: </u></b></p><p>--Counterfeit chips. Why? </p><p><b><u>MAILBAG:</u></b> </p><p>Wes W7ZOI </p><p>Jim Cook W8NSA Transoceanic BFO</p><p>Grayson KJ7UM -- Vintage Computer Museum</p><p>Chuck Adams --Glad to hear that Chuck is doing well. </p><p>Frank Harris K0IYE -- NO CHIPS!!!! </p><p>ED DD5LP Antenna software</p><p>Eldon KC5U 10 AM We made a contact</p><p>Joh DL6ID 10 AM </p><p>Phil W1PJE of MIT 10AM Where is L5? </p><p>Bob WP4BQV now in UK </p><p>Dino Papas KL0S in Wilmington Reverse Polarity protection. </p><p>AA7EE Dave Richards Liked Armand's receiver</p><p>Rogier PA1ZZ </p><p>Jonathan-san W0XO Listened to my ET-2 CW Whoop,whoop</p><p>Nick M0NTV Great videos from Nick the Vic</p><p>Will KI4POV Working on his own SSB rigs. </p><p>John West -- Who is the South American ham who made his capacitors and heat sinks? </p><p>Ed KC8SBV Working on DC receiver, experimenting with FETs </p><p>Mike WN2A great contributions. Si5351 sole source danger! </p><p>Nick N3FJZ -- watch out for dead bands when testing receivers! </p><p>Don KM4UDX encouragement from new Prez of VWS</p><p>Dave K8WPE Likes QF1 Cap backlash. Says I'm getting soft! </p><p>Dave WA1LBP My fellow Hambassador, from Okinawa USMC Sergeant with a workshop. </p></div>Bill Mearahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662500663603350847noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590176649168185428.post-84810671235508583562024-02-07T05:48:00.001-05:002024-02-07T06:18:33.414-05:00Videos from Mike AG5VG -- His Homebrew BITX Rigs <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="247" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hzVpyAN1tt4?si=DSAy4kSpH2fHy5wn?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="440"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><b>Here are two great videos from Mike AG5VG showing his two homebrew receivers in action. (The transmitter portions of Farhan's circuit will come later.) See yesterday's post for more details. </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>On the video above (40 meters) </b></div><div><b>-- I love that speaker. </b></div><div><b>-- The enclosure and the reduction drive for the VFO is really great. FB OM. </b></div><div><b>-- Very cool that Mike captures a 40 meter QSO with "Wild Bill" ZS6CCY in South Africa, someone who we've spoken to many times, often on the long path, sometimes from Mozambique. </b></div><div><b>-- I like how Mike demonstrates the effect of removing the antenna. You can definitely see what we mean when we say you should be able to "hear the band noise." </b></div><div><b> </b></div><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="247" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1_2ApJCP9gQ?si=DDPEUKc_UD5mUe_q?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="440"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Above you see the 20 meter receiver in action. You can see one of the physical benefits of using a wooden base: You can easily mount connectors, switches and tuning controls using just pieces of copper-clad board screwed into the wood. This is what I am doing with my latest BITX 15-10 rig. </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>For the tuning of the VFO, it looks to me as if Mike has a large "main tuning" control in the center, with a smaller "fine tuning" or "bandspread" control off to the left. Does that smaller control work with a varactor diode or with a smaller variable cap? Also, to the right of the main tuning control we see a 3 pole switch. Is that switch putting additional L or C into the VFO circuit to move the frequency around? These techniques would all be quite valid; Mike demonstrates that there are many ways to skin a cat (or tune a VFO!) </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Mike: Please send more info. </b></div>Bill Mearahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662500663603350847noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590176649168185428.post-48141862890410397732024-02-06T05:16:00.002-05:002024-02-06T05:20:09.863-05:00Pine Boards, Analog VFOs, and Homebrew BITX Transceivers -- AG5VG's Magnificent Creations<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqssZm2piAxiOZZw9I4OhbwcRwTvgKgnoxVFYw09w9h7cFvzkqysKAsJ1nlGj0rgeddxvYuQoO36bP_DseQv6jRjl55uWlroeHiZYbFiM687zWCA1iT-AMvcyHJofTT-to1NomAT7eIQpkzy8_NYWMTK5IX5xPPtF8vfS0c21la0tuE1k0FBK5abLEzT0/s2856/image2%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2142" data-original-width="2856" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqssZm2piAxiOZZw9I4OhbwcRwTvgKgnoxVFYw09w9h7cFvzkqysKAsJ1nlGj0rgeddxvYuQoO36bP_DseQv6jRjl55uWlroeHiZYbFiM687zWCA1iT-AMvcyHJofTT-to1NomAT7eIQpkzy8_NYWMTK5IX5xPPtF8vfS0c21la0tuE1k0FBK5abLEzT0/w416-h312/image2%20(1).jpeg" width="416" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click in image for a better view</span></div><br /><span face="Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b style="font-size: 13px;">This is amazingly cool. WE ARE NOT ALONE! There are others out there breaking the tyranny of the Si5351, building BITXs with analog LC VFOs. And using copper clad boards </b><span style="font-size: 13px;"><b>affixed</b></span></span></i><b style="font-size: 13px;"><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> to pine boards. Plywood cabinetry! And medicine bottle coil forms. Really great. And what a wonderful workshop. Thanks Michael. </span></i><span style="color: #1d2228;"> </span></b></span></span><p></p><p><b style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Good Afternoon Bill,</b></p><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none;"><b><br style="outline: none;" /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none;"><b>This is Michael Sahn, AG5VG.<br style="outline: none;" /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none;"><b><br style="outline: none;" /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none;"><b>I hope your doing well, all is well here in south Texas. I have recently built a bitx20 receiver and bitx20 for 40 meters receiver.<br style="outline: none;" /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none;"><b><br style="outline: none;" /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none;"><b>I built it using the analog VFO and both of mine are stable. What an awesome feeling it is to have a stable homebrew VFO. I have attached pictures .<br style="outline: none;" /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none;"><b><br style="outline: none;" /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none;"><b>It’s been a fun journey to get to this step. I have just been enjoying the receiver as Farhan instructed us. Then I’m going to go through the transmit side.<br style="outline: none;" /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none;"><b><br style="outline: none;" /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none;"><b>Air core coils are great for VFO. On my bitx40 I used a medicine bottle bottom but I put the VFO in a tin can as you will see in the pictures.<br style="outline: none;" /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none;"><b><br style="outline: none;" /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none;"><b>The bitx20 is all out, hand capacitance is a slight issue but it’s all learning experience.<br style="outline: none;" /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none;"><b>Going to be adjusting the pvc coil bandpass filter inductors, I think the value is a bit off so it’s not as loud as it should be, but everything else is set good.<br style="outline: none;" /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none;"><b><br style="outline: none;" /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none;"><b>Just wanted to check in and great job on the videos and podcasts. I really enjoy them<br style="outline: none;" /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none;"><b><br style="outline: none;" /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none;"><b>73s<br style="outline: none;" /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none;"><b>Michael</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWaIVYvAb5Hfq046BB_4nvTAKhnkXO9rAHBR6pGQxDW5CiRLuej1nFqXfpIxr7iVP6Ib3FGPVVZF43zcgBJBoX7b2Fv56JeF6RYai7RtFQREOE6VyC2peHh0ST3Mvn8StxI1oq7_71lQHCTTB-fYq8z9uqtxgYXQhQZfErNUK_KsTiU-y_Sm41BBq5bo/s2856/image1%20(2).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2142" data-original-width="2856" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWaIVYvAb5Hfq046BB_4nvTAKhnkXO9rAHBR6pGQxDW5CiRLuej1nFqXfpIxr7iVP6Ib3FGPVVZF43zcgBJBoX7b2Fv56JeF6RYai7RtFQREOE6VyC2peHh0ST3Mvn8StxI1oq7_71lQHCTTB-fYq8z9uqtxgYXQhQZfErNUK_KsTiU-y_Sm41BBq5bo/w397-h298/image1%20(2).jpeg" width="397" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click on image for a better view</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVuvFmu1yh1Q_vbMa41hIVNGRUy3k_VWudSVKKg3fXUBI2jrDU6M6sLg3rHhPnci-bTeijs4IUfGtXhqAGbmBicq_SqUDdgxQ-FDrZK76Pq6qnfDOUOv9tU5oD26YiydUpwkvQ8P9jn1IRQvHW5IGldh_jZN11ChFNLqaHTfWlxJo1t55mep3jD8y1Xo/s2856/image0%20(3).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2142" data-original-width="2856" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVuvFmu1yh1Q_vbMa41hIVNGRUy3k_VWudSVKKg3fXUBI2jrDU6M6sLg3rHhPnci-bTeijs4IUfGtXhqAGbmBicq_SqUDdgxQ-FDrZK76Pq6qnfDOUOv9tU5oD26YiydUpwkvQ8P9jn1IRQvHW5IGldh_jZN11ChFNLqaHTfWlxJo1t55mep3jD8y1Xo/w397-h298/image0%20(3).jpeg" width="397" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click on image for a better view</span></div>Bill Mearahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07662500663603350847noreply@blogger.com3