SolderSmoke Podcast #265: AI Pete, WSPR, sBITX, San Diego, Last Ditcher, NYC, 17-12 Fix, MMM Blasphemy, 6T9er, MAILBAG

SolderSmoke Podcast #265 is ready for download. 

Video Version:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jWYe6NxnJA

Audio Version:  http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke265.mp3

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Travelogue:  Pete to San Diego,  Dean to NYC,  Bill stays home. 

Field Day Report!   Dean?  Pete?  I had a bad back.  Really. 

The importance of "taking a break" discussed on "Hidden Brain" podcast. 

We need new chapters for the FMLA series.  Time to add the CBLA? 

 AI Pete? http://soldersmoke.com/AIPete.mp3

Dean:  WSPR success -- Report

Back on the air with the homebrew sBITX. 

VWS WSPR TX and AMP

KK4DAS WSPR Map

Pete:   Visit to surplus store in San Diego.

The Last Ditcher CW rig.  Frank Jones would approve!  Construction technique combining wooden slats and copper clad boards is FB. 

Homebrew CW rigs -- update. 

Schematics and Co-Pilot

Shameless Commerce Division:   

Mostly DIY RF

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Please comment on the Podcast (on YouTube or on the blog) and about blog posts (on the blog page). Comments let us know that we are not speaking into the Google void!  

Bill:   Fixing the receiver in my 17-12 rig.  Adding 12 db to the TIA. 

The Open Circuits book.  Eric is the Eric from CuriousMarc.  And he is a ham! 

Blasphemy?  Bill redraws schematic for Michigan Mighty Mite. 

I have 6T9 tube.  I don't really want to build a CW transmitter.  But I may have to. 

Gemini explains "Low Value Content" They see 10,000 posts and assume it is AI Slop.  

Mailbag:  

Wes:  Nice email from W7ZOI. 

Peter Marks VK3TPM fixed the index file (with help from Claude). 

Peter VK3TPM and Paul VK3HN -- Great comments on AI. 

Also Dean KK4DAS and Bob KD4EBM

VK3HN sent FB AI QSL from ZL2BNE (see mine!) 

Bruce KK0S sent two FB AI QSL cards. 

Rogier PA1ZZ -- Sends "The World of El - AI"   IDK. 

Ryan KJ7KVD building a Michigan Mighty Mite (I sent parts) 

Robert W8MOX heard my beacon from the DR to Annandale Va. 

Kirk NTOZ -- The future of ham radio and what went wrong. 

Paul KL7FLR -- The Wizard of Wasila -- Finally 3D  printed a Toroid winder

Charlie NJ7V -- Doing great work over at Red Summit RF.  

Podstatus reports that we are #2 in Ghana!  Hooray for us! 

Farhan VU2ESE -- LARCSet CW mods! 

Walter KA4KXX Homebrew POTA proposal. 

Grayson KJ7UM: Likes Helge's Norwegian paraset

Gerald VA2GJ:  Including DC RX in Canadian license study materials. 

Ron WA6YOU: Spy radios RT-6 and RR-6

Scott K6AUS: https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2026/06/update-how-many-drake-2-b-receivers.html We need to send him a 2B! 

Bob W8SX:  FDIM interview with Hans G0UPL.  More to follow.

The RT-6 and RR-6 Motorola "Spy Set"

I don't know if this rig really qualifies as a "spy set" but it nevertheless is very interesting.   It is a tube rig, designed for use by B-47 bomber crews who could not make it back from the Soviet Union after dropping their nuclear bombs.  Supposedly they would bail out, then use these radios to call for help. Good luck with that!  Note the fold-out CW key. 

This rig was also reportedly hidden in European countries as "stay behind" assets to be used in the event of a Soviet invasion. 

 Here is a web site with more info: https://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamhf/rs6.html

First QSO by Chris (aka Morny) G7LQX and it was Homebrew CW!

I must have missed this five months ago, but better late than never: Congratulations to Chris G7LQX for his first ham radio contact.  And he was using a homebrew CW transceiver. 

Details here: https://www.qrz.com/db/G7LQX  

Chris has a very nice fist, and he is one of the only YouTubers I have seen who holds the straight key properly, with his forearm resting on the table.  All of the others seem to keep the forearm floating in the air, above the key. 

Pete N6QW's "Last Ditcher" CW Thermatron Rig -- Frank Jones would approve. A new installment of the FMLA series?

I like this rig.  Perhaps I like it too much.  I find myself plotting to build it myself.  I mean, I have tubes.  I have a bunch of old parts (many sent to me by Pete himself).  

Alas, I have to fight the temptation.  I have to tell myself that this is for CW (a mode that I have come to be impatient with).  And it is a thermatron rig that requires potentially lethal voltages. 

Still, Pete's construction technique is really neat.   It combines old style slat-board construction with modern copper clad boards.  Frank Jones would approve.  

I think we need someone to write another episode of the FMLA series, this one using Pete's build.  And maybe featuring Pete himself. 

Here is some needed background info on Frank Jones and the FMLA articles: 

https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2021/07/summer-reading-for-homebrewers-frank.html

I look forward to hearing from protential authors.  If the new articles are good,  I will put them on the SolderSmoke blog.

Helge LA6NCA's Norwegian Paraset

This is a very cool video.  I even liked Helge's creative use of AI for the narration.  It was amazing that this old rig still works.  

Thanks you Helge.  And thank you to all the brave members of XU, who so valiantly risked it all in the fight against Fascism. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XU 

School for Danger -- the SOE, and Radio, in Nazi Occupied France

Hack-a-Day had a link to this film.  It is really good.  There is some stuff about radio, and especially the S-Phone system.  But the bigger message of the film is the danger faced by the heroic teams who parachuted into occupied France.  As shown in the film, many of these people were young women who risked it all in the most dangerous of airborne operations.  It is a reminder of how ridiculous the focus on masculine valor in airborne and special operations really is.  Three cheers for the SOE. For all of them. 

SolderSmoke 264: CW TX, Repair of 17-12 Rig, AI and Repair, Back on 40m, HB for 2m, VWS WSPR Makers Project , MAILBAG

QSO May 8, 2026 with Lou EA3JE.  I was using my Mythbuster

May 12, 2026

SolderSmoke Podcast #264 is available for download: 

Audio:   http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke264.mp3

Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9FcfuqjZxA

We had a small recording glitch at the beginning of this video. But we didn't lose much. We had talked about the success of the SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver Project. We talked about the receivers built by Nader Omer ST2NH and Chuck Adams AA7FO. We had also gloated a bit about our April 1 post -- you know, the (bogus! ) story about how the Administration is "Supporting Homebrew Radio." (Let us know if you were taken in by this, even for just a few seconds.) At that point, we were just beginning Pete's section; that is where the recording began. Here are the notes for the rest of the podcast:

Pete: 

Three CW transmitter projects featuring low parts counts.  Good results from Reverse Beacon Network. 

The goal in these projects is to raid the junk box and severely limit any new purchases of components.  Pete had no idea of the depth of parts he bought and just stashed away.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YLZ7aZpmxQ&t=30s

Bill: 

Fixing the 17-12 Rig.  Parasitic VHF Oscillations with the SK3050.  Good advice from Gemini. Killing NE602s. Fat Finger Syndrome -- hard to work with ICs.   Different freq when on transmit -- need for .1 uF cap on pin 8. Worked South Korea -- TRGHS. 

Putting the DIGI-TIA back on the air. On 40! And SW listening with the Q-31. 

Hard to homebrew for 2 meters.  Did some beacon experiments to Puerto Rico on last day in DR. 

SHAMELESS COMMERCE DIVISION: 

The importance of Patreon!  Thanks!  patreon.com/SolderSmoke

Mostly DIY RF!  https://mostlydiyrf.com/

Universe Today Podcast with Fraser Cain.  No Ads.  Great stuff.  Listen!   https://www.patreon.com/public-rss/75186?show=1744036

Dean: 

The VWS WSPR project.  

Mailbag:  

Ed N3EML  Heard me on 40 with my Digi-Tia

Grayson KJ7UM  Liked WWII training video: https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2026/05/radio-receivers-1942-training-film.html

Mike WN2A  -- Pete Juliano is our Shifu! (Lexicographer Steve Silverman KB3SII approves,)

Todd K7TFC Thoughtful comments on ARRL "Clean Signal Initiative."

Danny ON1MWS's regen with unusual variable capacitors. 

Mike WU2D  S-38, Nearfest,  Mu Metal.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUQ4xml1dSY

Charlie NJ7V  Interviews Mitch NK3H who homebrewed an SSB transceiver. 

Charlie also had Don KM4UDX, President of the Vienna Wireless Society on the podcast. 

Bob KD4EBM -- El Cilindro. Radioactive Hospital Waste -- basis for a Ruben Blades song.  It was 1987 in Brasil.  Cesium 137 left in hospital waste.  

Hamilton  KD0FNR   Big fans of "The most interesting man in the world."https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2026/04/background-from-maine-on-most.html

Rhett KB4HG -- TW-100! Used on the OMRN. https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-tw-100-fly-away-transceiver-cw-ssb.html

What happened to Glenn KU4NO's homebrew rig? https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2018/07/a-rig-with-maximum-soul-5-band.html

Ryan KJ7KVD is listening to OLD SolderSmoke podcasts.  He will build a Michigan Mighty Mite. 

Will N5OLA restored a Heath SB rig.  We now know why they went to HW rigs.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt2d1Ia8lqQ 

Paul G0OER -- Thanks us for PTOing the HB world, but sends us a video of a unique Eddystone receiver with 39 permeability tuned coils!  https://www.youtube.com/shorts/L4oQHU5_kQk?feature=share

Rick N3FJZ -- A very cool video today on his homebrew HF power amplifiers:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CUVAF4HyfY

Farhan VU2ESE -- I heard from him yesterday as he was landing in Chicago. 

The TW-100 "Fly Away Transceiver" --- A CW-SSB Rig I Never Heard of Until Today

I was listening to the Old Military Radio Net this morning.  Rhett KB4HG checked in on Upper Sideband.  He was using a loaner TransWorld TW-100 "Fly Away" CW-SSB transceiver.   I had never heard of this rig.  It is very interesting.  See the W7UUU YouTube video above for more details. 

OM John W3JN called into the net and commented on Rhett's rig.  John noted that the State Department had sold at auction a number of these rigs.  John reported that the ROM had been removed from MOST of these rigs.  But one of them still had the memory.  This allowed all the other TW-100s to be put back on the air.  FB.  

BTW:  W7UUU has a very FB YouTube channel.  Check it out: 

https://www.youtube.com/@davesradioshack

U.S. Administration Supports Ham Radio Homebrew

 

In a decision that puzzled many analysts, the Federal Communications Commission has come out with a new policy that seems to support the at-home construction ("homebrew") of amateur radio equipment.  The commission outlined a series of new requirements (see below) that, collectively, seem intended to breathe new life into what many considered a dying art.  

Commission spokesman Brian Cox tied the move to recent efforts by the Administration to bring industry back to the United States:  "For too long we have stood by and watched foreign manufacturers take larger and larger portions of the electronics market in the United States.  Part of this seems to be the unwillingness of many Americans to do what their grandfathers did and actually build their own electronic equipment. These steps are intended to help reverse that trend." Greene's comments may have been undercut by the fact that they were sent from his FCC-provided Iphone (which allegedly was not homebrewed in the USA) and then disseminated via Tik-Tok.  

Sources in the Administration also point to recent tariff moves by the government that will have the effect of removing the incentive of cheap foreign-made equipment.  "Just wait until those 1000 percent tariffs kick in.  You can almost feel those soldering irons warming up!" 

Collectively, this initiative seems tied to the political effort known as MAGA.  An anonymous White House spokesman explained: "First there was MAGA (calling for a return to GREATNESS).  Then came MAHA (HEALTH!).  Now we see MASA:  MAKE AMERICA SOLDER AGAIN.  We think this will be a real winner.  There will be so much winning, American hams will soon get tired of winning."  

The emphasis, a spokesman explained, will be on DOMESTIC production of radio equipment.  "We see the Michigan Mighty Mite as a good example.  I mean it just oozes domesticity!  MICHIGAN!  Why can't we go back to the day when millions of MMM rigs dotted our fruited plains, and people happily conversed via Morse Code using homemade transmitters?  Well we can.  And dammit we will, whether people like it or not!" 

Construction techniques will also be closely regulated, and the naming of these techniques has become an issue:  "We like the 'Manhattan' style of construction, but the name is too, well, too 'New York City.'  So we are re-naming the technique:  From now on it will be known as the 'Mississippi Technique.'  We also discovered that all of the Crazy Glue used in the Manhattan -- I mean Mississippi -- Technique comes from overseas.  So from now on, only good-old Elmer's Glue can be used.  MASA!" 

In a related move, the FCC announced that henceforth, only American Morse will be permitted in the United States. The use of International Morse Code will be banned, and masked ICE agents will destroy any equipment found to be using it.  "I mean, we invented it right?   So when did we go all 'woke globalist international'?  Enough of that."  It is hoped that this move will reduce the number of radio contacts with foreigners, something the FCC finds "highly woke suspicious."  "Americans should  be talking only to other Americans, right? "  An exception seems to have been made for one country: contacts with Russia will be allowed to continue.  No explanation for this exception was provided. 

SolderSmoke Podcast 263: DR-PR, UM, DCRX, SKN, Design, PSSST, W7ZOI, FT-101, HW32A, VK, HST, AMP, MAILBAG

Pete Juliano N6QW

February 23, 2026

SolderSmoke Podcast #263 is available for download: 

Audio:  http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke263.mp3

Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn164glxQ6s

Opening 

May 26, 2014, coming up on 12 years! That was the 1^st podcast where Pete N6QW was interviewed by Bill in Podcast #161,  which means 102 podcasts ago. 12 Years of Julian-ismo.  Thanks Pete!  

What to build?  Question faced by VWS Makers Group and by Charlie of RedSummit RF.   Regen?  Test Gear?  Simple oscillator?  

But did you DESIGN it yourself?  What does that even really mean? Barrie Gilbert in Jim Williams' book:  https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2025/12/homebrew-you-say-but-did-you-design-it.html

Grayson KJ7UM on a podcast -- Make it your own way.  Copper Clad and Glue!  Manhattan style! "BUILD SOMETHING!:  Tube testers not necessary.  OK to call thermatrons "vacuum tubes."  No ruling on calling them "valves" yet. 

Pete:  

-- When hams were hams -- Turning a Heath monobander into a tribander

-- Simple SSB

-- W7ZOI rigs

-- The Yaesu FT-101

SHAMELESS COMMERCE DIVISION:   Mostly DIY RF!   Patreon!   But no more Amazon.  We do not want to help Bezos make more money. Even if this will cost us.   So please,  consider a donation or a Patreon sponsorship instead.  But no more Amazon through SolderSmoke.  

Bill:   

-- Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico on 2 meters -- status report. 

-- Working Australia on 20 meter SSB in the morning. 

-- The SpiderWeb net. 

-- The Hubble Space Telescope -- an old friend

-- One contact on Straight Key Night (Dean reminded me).  I worked NB1U on 20 meters with QCX from KD4EBM. 

Dean: 

-- The University of Michigan ant the Direct Conversion receiver project.  

-- Boxing up the amplifier.  A tale of woe.  Identifying oscillations.  A QSO with the Dominican Republic: https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2026/02/a-qso-with-dean-kk4das-northern.html 

 Travails with other homebrew gear... Trying to find a working transceiver.

AI assisted repair of Bitx40 PA in my Mythbuster 

VWS club station update, tendency of Flex and other SDR makers to not release even basic technical information.

MAILBAG: 

Ian VK3MO  Huge antennas, big signal, friendship with WA3O https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2025/11/vk3mo-and-wa3o-brotherhood-of-ham-radio.html

Bob KD4EBM  2 meter propagation info

Todd K7TFC  -- Mostly DIY RF

Mike K6STR  Worked Pete on 40, building for CW and SSB on 2 meters

Grayson KJ7UM    German Avionics,  MMM Origin.  Old Steampunk Homebrew rig: https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2025/12/a-very-interesting-old-steam-punk.html   

Phil  W1PJE   Forrest Mims III     Mims's sad denial on climate change. 

Ciprian  YO2DXE         Heard the SAQ Alternator  see: https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2025/12/alexanderson-alternator-on-172-khz.html

Tom NS6T:  Very useful azimuth map with grey lines: https://ns6t.net/AzShadowMap/experimental.html

Walter KA4KXX -- 20 meter Direct Conversion Receiver.  FB Walter! 

WN2A Mike   Dos Equis man is BACK! https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2026/01/hes-back-dos-equis-man-most-interesting.html

KB4HG Rhett:  On USB on the Old Military Radio Net with a PRC-74.  Want one! 

Puneit Singh VU2TUM's FB Homebrew 40 meter SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver

It was really good to see Puneit Singh finish this receiver project.  He overcame many difficulties, including a lot of travel and an acute shortage of time, but he got it done. Congratulations Puneit Singh and welcome to the Hall of Fame. 

Puneit is also a CW man -- we hope he pairs this receiver up with a simple CW transmitter and makes some "fully homebrew" contacts. 

 

"Rig Here is Homebrew" -- The Joys and Sorrows of Building your own Rigs

This is kind of a re-run.  I came across it today on YouTube and thought it was pretty good.  So here it is again.  

 -------------------

Dean KK4DAS asked me to speak to our local radio club, the Vienna Wireless Society.   It was a lot of fun.  I talked about my evolution as a homebrewer, some of the rigs I made, the moments of joy, and the tales of woe.   You can watch the presentation in the video above. 

I was really glad to be able to explain in the presentation the importance of people like Pete, Dex, Farhan, Wes, Shep and even Dilbert. 

I was also pleased to get into the presentation the N2CQR sign that Peter VK2EMU made for me.  Thanks Peter! 

Here is the URL to the YouTube video (also above): 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3414&v=VHSr-v4QO7Q&feature=emb_logo

And here are the PowerPoint slides I used: 
https://viennawireless.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/VWS-presentation-Rig-here-is-homebrew.pdf

SolderSmoke Podcast 261: Travel, AI-Apocalypse, ARRL Award, Amplifiers (with Claude) , Transcoms, Smoke released in DR, QRP, CW, MAILBAG

SolderSmoke Podcast #261 is available for download: 

Audio:  http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke261.mp3

Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rzw8lxBzRo

Alaska, Colorado, Dominican Republic

Opening:   Travel notes:    Pete to Denver.  Dean to Alaska.  Bill in the Dominican Republic. 

The future of the podcast.  We will embrace our NIMCEL status and fight on in spite of the AI Apocalypse.   Thanks to Peter VK3TPM, Hamilton KD0FNR, Sam AI7PR, Todd K7TFC  and the WayBackMachine for providing backup and transfer options for the blog. Google could end Blogspot at any time.    

Dean and Bill win the 2025 ARRL Technical Service Award.  Thanks to Bruce KC1FSZ for the nomination. And thanks to Bill Morine N2COP for letting us know.  91 receivers completed so far!  

SolderSmoke East was pleased to host Phil W1PJE, a distinguished MIT radio astronomer AND member of the SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver Hall of Fame.   

Dean:   Amplifier design,  woes, triumphs, tribal knowledge.  And help from Claude. 

KK4DAS 100W MOSFET AMP

Pete:  Project X  -- The Transcom SBT-3,  Crossroads and Decisions. 

Transcom SBT-3

SHAMELESS COMMERCE DIVISION:   FIGHT THE AI-APOCALYPSE -- BECOME A PATREON SPONSOR.

GET BEZOS TO SEND US BEZOS BUCKS!  Use the Amazon link on the upper right.   

BUY PARTS AND STUFF FROM MOSTLY DIY RF. 

Bill: 

-- Smoke released in TWO RD06 finals.  Scrounged IRF-510s to the rescue.   

-- Working VK6 on 20 SSB.  

-- My old HW-101 -- inspired by Pete and by Will N5OLA.   

-- High frequency hearing loss and direct conversion receivers. 

-- Eleven contacts on 40 with the DC RX and a Tuna Tin 2. Mike Bryce WB8VGE came back to my CQ! First ever QSO with SolderSmoke DC receivers on both sides:  K1OA-N2CQR.  

-- Do real hams use ALC? Do we really NEED ALC? 

Mailbag: 

Who is the Project 326 Guy?  A British engineer resident in China for last 20 years. 

Steve EI5DD  Ham Radio Ireland magazine.  Hey -- Why no Irish DC RX builders? 

Paul K9ARF -- Thanks for the very kind e-mail about SolderSmoke. 

Rogier PA1ZZ -- Many nice videos and suggestions on blog backup. 

Grayson KJ7UM on the EF-50 valve (thermatron!) 

Bruce KC1FSZ  Four DC RX builders at the Wellesley Mass radio club. 

Chris KD4PBJ -- Long trip to pick up two directional beacons possibly for 630m or 2200m bands! 

Alan W2AEW did a Minimum Discernible Signal test on the DC RX.  FB! 

Mike WN2A  -- Many great comments on MDS in its various forms. 

Philippe F6GUH is a FB homebrewer.  

Mike EIOCL -- Always great to talk on the air with an old friend. 

Walter KA4KXX -- I checked into the Sunrise net!  With my HW-101!  Thanks Walter. 

Farhan VU2ESE -- Watched our interview with Phil W1PJE

Phil W1PJE was an SWL with an old Halli receiver.  VOA?  Boo!  But Radio Marti is BACK! Also, the hydrogen line from the cosmic dark ages has red shifted to... 7.1 MEGA hertz!  So LISTEN UP! 

Phil W1PJE with a Halli and the Haystack Observatory Dome

WD4CFN Makes Contact Using the SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver and a Michigan Mighty Mite

 

Hall of Fame member Steve WD4CFN in Tennessee fired up his 40 meter Mchigan Mighty Mite (above) and made contact with ND4K in Georgia. FB Steve.  Congratulations OM! 

My Eleven Contacts using the SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver -- It is NOT a toy!

I have made 11 contacts using the SolderSmoke Direct Conversion receiver.  Ten of the 11 were after June 3, 2025. This was in very casual operation, operating with less than 1 watt with a dipole antenna.

Alan W4AMV

1. The first of course was back in February 2023 with W4AMV.   On this one I was using a simple "10 Minute Transmitter" that I threw together thinking that I would use it to demonstrate the receiver to our high school students.  "Wait a minute," I thought.  I called CQ and W4AMV answered.  I was running about 100 mW. He too was using homebrew gear.  https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2023/02/first-qso-with-high-school-receiver-100.html

2, 3, 4.  On June 4, 2025 I again fired up the 10 minute transmitter.  My T/R scheme was VERY simple: I have an MFJ coax switch that I use to select the rigs that will connect to my various antennas.  On the antenna switch I selected my 40 meter dipole.  I ran two pieces of coax from two different positions on the MFJ switch.  One I marked RX, the other TX.  The transmitter and the receiver were working off 9 volt batteries. I quickly worked N2WJW. Gil in New Jersey.  But I noticed that the 10 Minute rig was drifting.  So I pulled out my trusty old Tuna Tin 2 transmitter and used it to heartlessly replace the 10 Minute Transmitter.  Now with SEVERAL HUNDRED milliwatts, I worked W2XS, John in New York on June 5, 2025.  Later that same day I worked N9FGC in Indiana.

 

K1OA's Rig

5. My most amazing contact came on June 7, 2025. Here is my log entry: 40CW K1OA First 2 way contact with station also using a SolderSmoke DC Receiver!At around 0630 EDT on June 7, 2025 I heard K1OA calling CQ on 7030 kHz CW. This was exactly where I had a crystal.  I called him, but he didn't hear me.  I sent him an e-mail.  We tried again -- he heard me calling him and I heard him responding by calling me, but I don't think we succeeded in exchanging signal reports. It was close, but no cigar.  I had to walk the dog. Scott and I agreed to meet on 7030 kHz at 0730 EDT.  Arggh.  There was a QSO there.  I thought we might have to try to change frequency, but this would have been tough because both of us were crystal controlled on transmit.   Fortunately, the contact on 7030 kHz wrapped up.   Scott called me, I responded, and we were able to exchange signal reports.  I was so excited that I almost forgot to hit the record button on my phone.   But I caught the last minute or so.This was really something.  This really goes to prove what Dean and I have been saying all along:  this receiver is not a toy!  It can be used for real ham radio contacts.  And now we have had these receivers on both ends of a contact.  For transmit, Scott was using a KA4KXX transmitter with about 3 watts output.  I was on my Tuna Tin 2 at about half a watt output.

Jim W1PID

6, 7, 8.  Later on June 7, 2025 I worked an old friend, Jim W1PID.  Jim is a friend of Homebrew Hero Mike AA1TJ, and was involved in Mike's effort to cross the Atlantic with a voice-powered rig.  Jim also was one of my contacts with the ET-2 QRPppp rig. I also worked WZ2J  Vin in NJ. I also worked John W2XS again. 

Mike WB8VGE

9.   June 11, 2025  (Really evening of 10 June 2025) Famous homebrewer, Anchorologist, Heatkit authority and fellow member of the QRP Hall of Fame Mike Bryce called me!  40CW 0034 WB8VGE Mike Bryce came back to my CQ! Mike wrote: Nothing like quartz locked frequency control!You know it sounded pretty damn good at 500mW. You were holding your own until QSB would take you out in a deep fade. But all in all, one hell of great QRP QSO.I was running my Ten Tec Scout that I had just put back together a couple of days ago.  Got around to putting the case back on it tonight, and had it cooking in the back ground just listening to the stations come and go. I had worked a few POTA stations near by and found a quite spot. I was working on a project when I heard your CQ through the din of the 40M band. Glad I took a break and worked your QRPp signalbest 73  QRP # 4816 You get a QSL for that QSO!

Here's my post about Mike, WB8VGE:  https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2018/09/wb8vge-on-qso-today-qrp-hb-boatanchors.html

10. Around June 11, 2025 I worked W4MY in a contest. 

11.   On June 12, 2925 I worked some DX with the rig.  It was VA3ICC, Ian in Ontario. 

Ian VA3ICC

All of this reinforces something that Dean KK4DAS and I have been saying all through this build process:  this little DC receiver is not a toy.  It can be used as a serious ham radio receiver and it can -- even when paired up with a very low-power crystal-controlled transmitter and a simple antenna -- make some great ham radio contacts. 

Britain's Secret Listeners

Today Hack-A-Day has an unsually good report on Britain's Voluntary Interceptors. I was especially touched by the story of the guy who provided reports while still bedridden from devastating wounds received in World War I. 

https://hackaday.com/2025/06/12/crowdsourcing-sigint-ham-radio-at-war/#more-786810

I've had the video on the SolderSmoke blog several times.  It is so good that it warrants inclusion yet again: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwbzV2Jx5Qo&t=228s

That regen looks a lot like the one I bought at the Kempton Park rally (London) so long ago.  I still have it.  And those headphones found in the old "radar" station look a lot like some that I have in my shack today.   And of course there is that HRO dial.  I build a whole receiver around that gem from Armand WA1UQO.  

I thought the comments on the ability to detect the nationality of the enemy operator from his Morse Code "fist" (sending style) was very interesting.  

Three cheers for the Voluntary Interceptors!  

A FIRST! K1OA Contact with N2CQR -- All Homebrew with SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receivers on Both Ends

At around 0630 EDT on June 7, 2025 I heard K1OA calling CQ on 7030 kHz CW. This was exactly where I had a crystal.  I called him, but he didn't hear me.  I sent him an e-mail.  We tried again -- he heard me calling him and I heard him responding by calling me, but I don't think we succeeded in exchanging signal reports. It was close, but no cigar.  

I had to walk the dog. Scott and I agreed to meet on 7030 kHz at 0730 EDT.  Arggh.  There was a QSO there.  I thought we might have to try to change frequency, but this would have been tough because both of us were crystal controlled on transmit.   Fortunately, the contact on 7030 kHz wrapped up.   Scott called me, I responded, and we were able to exchange signal reports.  I was so excited that I almost forgot to hit the record button on my phone.   But I caught the last minute or so.  See above.  

This was really something.  This really goes to prove what Dean and I have been saying all along:  this receiver is not a toy!  It can be used for real ham radio contacts.  And now we have had these receivers on both ends of a contact.  For transmit, Scott was using a KA4KXX transmitter with about 3 watts output.  I was on my Tuna Tin 2 at about half a watt output.   

Thanks Scott! And thank you Walter!  

A Tale of "Ten Minute Transmitters" and "Tuna Tin Twos": N2CQR Goes Back to CW QRP!

Inspired by K1OA and KA4KXX, I put the SolderSmoke DC receiver to work on the CW portion of 40 meters. At first I used a very (perhaps overly) simple "Ten Minute" transmitter. On June 4, 2025 I worked N2WJW in New Jersey. But the transmitter drifted as it got hot. So I switched to the more robust Tuna Tin 2 (TWO transistors!) and worked W2XS in NY and N9FGC in Indiana on June 5. With both transmitters I was "rock bound" -- crystal controlled. Power out was always less than 200 milliwatts. Antenna was a low to the ground dipole. The receiver was powered by our beloved 9V battery. The transmitter had a second 9V battery. Some observations: First, even if you CAN hear other signals, the different tones allow your brain to seperate them out (this has long been known to CW operators, but might not be readily apparent to newcomers). So even if the DC receiver is broad in frequency response and even though it IS also receiving the other side of zero beat, you can make CW contacts (unless, of course, another station is on a frequency that produces exactly the same tone as the one you are trying to work), even at very low power . Second, you don't always really have to be right on the other station's frequency. Here's why: If he is looking he can see you in his waterfall! So that SDR waterfall is now a friend to crystal-controlled HDR operators. Who would have thought? Above is a picture of the my station with the Ten Minute transmitter. See the notes I wrote on the QSO with N2WJW.

Ten Minute Transmitter (the gray thing is a CW key)

Direct Conversion Receiver

Tuna Tin 2 that replaced the Ten Minute Transmitter

Note battery and crystal

Not a Toy! K1OA Making Contacts with the SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver and a KA4KXX Transmitter

This goes to prove what we have been saying all along:  this receiver is not a toy!  It is capable of operating as part of a real 2-way ham radio station. Hall of Fame member Scott K1OA has paired his receiver up with a Merry Christmas transmitter designed by Walter KA4KXX and has been making CW contacts with it (see above).  Walter supplied the crystal and many of the needed parts.  Scott has already worked WA9RNE, N4HAY and W3RJ, and has tried making contact with Walter but no luck yet. He has gotten RBN reports from Germany and New Zealand. All that with just 3 watts.

This is not the first time this receiver has been out to use.   I made one contact with it using a "Ten Minute" QRPp transmitter that I had intended only to use for test purposes: 

https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2023/02/first-qso-with-high-school-receiver-100.html 

HoF member Aaron ZL1AUN used his receiver with an SSB transmitter to make contact using his receiver:

https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2025/02/soldersmoke-direct-conversion-receiver_23.html  We understand Aaron's article about the receiver has been published in "Break-In" magazine -- we hope to get a copy (electronic would be fine!) 

And who can forget HoF member Nate KA1MUQ who turned his "frying pan"  direct conversion receiver into a double sideband transceiver and used it to make phone contact with Idaho from California: 

https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2025/03/nate-ka1muq-turns-his-frying-pan-dc.html 

If anyone is aware of other contacts made using this receiver, please let me know.  

The Copasteic Flow Blog -- German UHF Mobile CW Through a Geostationary Satellite, Agent Sonya's Homebrewing, More

It is always good to be reminded that someone out there is listening and reading,  especially when it is nice folks like Hamilton and his family. These are the people who built the TouCans rig that was (is?) suspended above San Francisco at the center of a dipole antenna.  

Following posts on the SolderSmoke blog, Hamilton has been monitoring the CW activites of a German ham who sends UHF CW signals through the sunroof of his car to the QO-100 satellite in geostationary orbit.  See above.  Very cool.  Listen live to the satellite here: 

https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

Also cool is Hamilton's analysis of Agent Sonya's ability to homebrew a 1930s era CW station that could be used to communiate with Moscow Center.  Hamilton believes she could do it.  I have my doubts.  But the discussion is a lot of fun. 

Check our their blog: 

https://copaseticflow.blogspot.com/

Thanks to Hamilton and his kids!