The Solar Eclipse in Spain, Balloons, and Veritasium

This was all pretty cool.  There was a lot of good scientific info.  I had noticed the crescent shapes on the ground during earlier solar eclipses (from tree leaves!), but I never knew WHY we were seeing them. Thanks for the explanation Veritasium.   

There was also a cool balloon launch and recovery, and some great video recovered from the balloon. 

It looked like everyone had a great eclipse in Spain. 

Is the Veritasium Guy Retiring? Google says SolderSmoke is "Low Value Content."

I have been a fan for many years.  His comments on the vile influence of the algorithm and AI are right on target.  

Google recently informed me that the SolderSmoke blog has "Low Value Content."  Well, consider the source! 

Click for a better view (better than the one provided above by GOOGLE!)

I think Veritasium has made a good choice.  

Three cheers for Veritasium!  

AI Apocalypse: How Google is Changing the Internet-- Implications for SolderSmoke

Here's what happened in a nutshell:  During the spring of this year Google rolled out an automatic AI search feature.  So now, when you have a question, Google's AI looks at websites across the web and writes up a nice, specific answer to your question.  Good for you, but disastrous for those who built blogs and websites on the assumption that Google searches would be sending a lot of people to our sites.  Why go to the sites if the nice AI has already given you the answer?  Many of us have seen precipitous drops in the numbers of visitors.  I have noticed an especially large drop in the number of comments on my blog posts.   And I have noticed that many of the other blogs listed on my blog site are no longer posting regularly. 

This is not imaginary. 

Here is a BBC article on what has happened: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250611-ai-mode-is-google-about-to-change-the-internet-forever

Here is TWiT TV talking about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDdLw1ubLaY&t=86s

Andreas Speiss (White gloves, Swiss accent, motorcycle hat) talks about the YouTube trends that are causing him to stop regular video production: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTerwIniB24

Leo Sampson talks about the pressure to get high hit numbers on YouTube (scroll forward to the 3 minute 20 second mark): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4tSOQO3kxY

Fraser Cain of Universe Today talks about the Google ""AI apocalypse" (scroll ahead to the 18 minute mark): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/universe-today-podcast/id794058155?i=1000714736434

This is unfortunate, and it does seem unfair.  The AI is essentially taking our content, repackaging it, and serving it up for readers.  The AI site gets to monetize the visits -- the blog owners that the AI gets the information from do not.  

But what should we do in response?

Well, we will resist the forces that seem to be pushing us into oblivion.  We know we are a very niche operation.  At best we are NIMCELS:  "Niche Internet Micro-Celebrities."  We are content with our NIMCEL status.  We know that our posts and podcasts about homebrew rigs will never go viral nor rival the hit counts of Taylor Swift or Arianna Grande.  And we are not in this for the money (!).   Some additional comments would be encouraging -- these comments let us know that we are not blogging/podcasting into the abyss. 

So,  just keep reading the blog, listening to the podcast, perhaps become a Patreon sponsor  and -- perhaps above all -- put comments on the blog site and the YouTube channel. Help spread the word about our efforts. 

An old fashioned RSS reader may help.  Feedly works well:  Here are some recent recommendations: 

https://zapier.com/blog/best-rss-feed-reader-apps/

Here is the RSS feed for the SolderSmoke Blog: http://feeds.feedburner.com/SoldersmokeDailyNews

And here is the RSS feed for the podcast: http://www.soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke.rss

Here is the ID for the SolderSmoke YouTube channel.  Please subscribe and comment!  https://youtube.com/@soldersmoke?si=mYMzMNtsPyKot7q4

Become a Patreon sponsor for SolderSmoke: https://www.patreon.com/c/SolderSmoke

We thank you for your support. 

Popcorn Electronics is BACK! Yea!

 

https://qrp-popcorn.blogspot.com/

Check it out at the URL above.  FB!  Thanks Todd!  And thanks Vasily!  

I never knew that Mike KL7R (the co-creator and first co-host of SolderSmoke) was responsible for the Popcorn nickname.  FB!

Coffee with Farhan VU2ESE (video)

Early morning in the N2CQR shack, May 16, 2023

-- Propagation

-- Web sites (RBN, PSK Reporter, others)

-- CW

-- Homebrew rigs

-- VFOs

Homebrew Variable Capacitors -- VU2NIL's Antenna Tuner (and other projects from Basanta)

 

OM Basanta VU2NIL  built a very nice antenna tuner using homebrew variable capacitors (above).  After seeing this, I feel unworthy -- I used FACTORY-MADE variable capacitors. I feel like such an appliance operator.  I hang my head in shame.  

Details on Basanta's tuner are here: https://www.qsl.net/vu2nil/projects/20210/20210.html

More project from him here: https://www.qsl.net/vu2nil/

And more here (his blog): https://vu2nil.blogspot.com/

Basanta has obviously made great contributions to the radio art.  Thanks Basanta.  And thanks to Alain F4IET for alerting me to Basanta's work. 

Australian Homebrew: Owen Duffy ex VK1OD now VK2OMD. Are Hams Makers?

This week I stumbled upon this amazing blog from Australia.  I had to check with Australian friends to find out more about the author.  Owen Duffy has for many years been a rigorous homebrewer who has documented his findings on his blog:  https://owenduffy.net/blog/

For example, Owen asks the question, "Are hams makers?" https://owenduffy.net/blog/?p=122

There is a lot of great material on this blog.  It goes back to 2013.  Peter Parker notes that an earlier version of the blog (before Owen was forced to change his callsign from VK1OD to VK2OMD) goes back even further and is accessible via the Way-Back Machine:  https://web.archive.org/web/*/vk1od.net

Check it out.  Lots of really useful and interesting material there.   Thanks Owen.  And thanks to the Australian friends who provided background info. 

NanoVNA, Millen Dip Meter, Kilo-Megacycles, and Measuring the Speed of Light (Video)

Yesterday my NanoVNA arrived.  This morning I was looking for info on how to use it and I found this really wonderful video from Joe Smith.  

Wow.  Joe gives a really useful intro to the capabilities of this amazing little device. He even reaches back in time and compares NanoVNA results with those obtained by a Millen Grid Dip Meter.  He pulls out of his junk box an attenuator that is so old that it is marked in "Kilo-Megacycles."  (Shouldn't we revive terms like that?)

Joe also gives us a taste of what it is like to live and work in the GHz range.  He warns us never to touch the SMA connectors on our NanoVNAs (too late Joe).  And -- get this -- he uses a torque wrench to connect the little SMA coax connectors to the NanoVNA.  I'm not kidding.  A torque wrench.   Joe connects surface mount capacitors and inductors that have their values specified not only in picofarads and microhenries, but also at the specific frequency at which they were measured.  

My understanding of the Smith Chart was greatly improved by watching Joe's video. 

Icing on the cake:  Joe wraps up the video by using the NanoVNA to MEASURE THE SPEED OF LIGHT.  Great stuff.  Thanks Joe.  

Here is Joe Smith's YouTube channel:  
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsK99WXk9VhcghnAauTBsbg

Now I have to get the software to use the NanoVNA with my computer. 

An Amazing Catalog of Circuits from HA5KHC

HA5KHC is a club station in Budapest, Hungary.  The photo above shows a portion of their worshop.  The link below is for their really amazing collection of links to ham radio circuits. 

http://konstruktor.ha5khc.hu/linkgyujtemeny/linkgyujtemeny.htm

Emilio's Mirror of JF1OZL's Site

JF1OZL's site was for many years a real treasure trove and source of inspiration for homebrewers around the world.  It recently disappeared from the internet.  And I find no listing for JF1OZL on QRZ.com.   I hope Kazuhiro is OK.  

Emilio in Mexico has put up a mirror site.  Thanks Emilio.  We need to protect and preserve JF1OZL's work. 

https://www.emilio.com.mx/jf10zl/

Here is a SolderSmoke blog post on Kazuhiro from 2011: 

https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2011/12/homebrew-hero-kazuhiro-sunamura-jf1ozl.html

SolderSmoke on Ham Radio Workbench Podcast

It was great fun talking to George and Jeremy of the Ham Radio Workbench Podcast last week.  You can listen to the episode here: 

https://www.hamradioworkbench.com/podcast/bill-meara-from-the-soldersmoke-podcast

Thanks to George and Jeremy.  

For Inspiration and Education: Dean's Radio Blog (with video)

Be sure to check out the blog of Dean KK4DAS.   He is a new homebrewer who is having great success with one of Pete Juliano's ingenious SSB designs. Dean has a video of his receiver working -- AL FRESCO -- as construction on the full transceiver proceeds.   

This is amazing.   Just a short time ago Dean was taking his first steps as a homebrewer with his version of the Michigan Mighty Mite.  He has followed the advice of the Tribal Wizards and has proceeded slowly, step by step, stage by stage, gaining the experience that has allowed him to actually build a superhet receiver and be on the verge of completing a full SSB transceiver. 

Lots of inspiration to be found on Dean's blog.   Check it out: 

https://kk4das.blogspot.com/2020/03/dean-kk4dass-furlough-40-ssb-rig.html

TRGHS: Hearing K5HCT Through a Single 12AU7 Tube with 12 Volts on the Plate (Video)

The lower portion of the column on the right-hand side of this blog is where I put links to interesting blogs, YouTube channels, and web sites.  Yesterday one of the links there led me to the above video. It presents a regen receiver using one 12AU7 tube and a 12 volt power supply.   Wow! I have many of those tubes.  And at 12 volts I am unlikely to electrocute myself.  Count me in.  

In the final minute or so of the video, the builder tunes around the 40 meter phone band.  Suddenly I heard a familiar voice.  It wasn't recorded long enough for the callsign to be heard, but I was pretty sure it was our old friend August, K5HCT (Here Comes Texas) from Odessa. 

Odessa, Texas is a good skip distance from both California and Virginia, so Pete and I have both talked to August many times. When I was testing out new homebrew contraptions, August was often there to help me out.  

I was pretty sure it was August in the video.  I checked with Pete -- he too recognized the voice.  Then I got an e-mail response from August -- yea, it was him.  

On the air, I often recognize a voice before I hear a callsign.  In this case it happened via a somewhat wobbly regen and the internet.  

THE RADIO GODS HAVE SPOKEN. 

Now where did I leave those 12AU7s? 

Mr. Carlson's Lab Attacked by Dangerous Canadian Snow Static! (Video)

Even when describing something as simple and basic as snow, Mr. Carlson is electronically awesome.   This video made me realize that in the event of an EMP, his will probably be the only lab to survive.

The SolderSmoke Daily News took up the topic of snow static back in 2011.  Be sure to read the comments, especially the one from KC7IT about the QUARTER INCH ARCS that woke him up in the dorm at MIT.  Check it out: 

https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2011/10/snow-static.html#comment-form

I've got to get one of Mr. Carlson's 2020 calendars! 

  

SV3ORA's Amazing Homebrew Web Site

Kostas Giannopoulos has  a lot of really great homebrew information on his QRP web site.  It is reminiscent of the JF1OZL site. Check it out:  http://www.qrp.gr/index.htm 

For an example that his apropos of recent ET-2 discussions, Kostas has an extensive page with  many, many versions of his hyper-minimalist rig:  

Link to this project: http://qrp.gr/allbandtrx/

Thanks to Kostas for putting together such a great site.  And I really like the name of the site: Discrete Electronics.  FB. 

Mike KL7R's Web site on Way Back Machine

Thanks to Karl K5KHK for digging this up.  Excellent.  Three cheers for the WayBack Machine.

And thanks again to Walt K3ASW for voicing concern about the disappearance of Mike's site.  Good to know that all is not lost.

https://web.archive.org/web/20131126190933/http://kl7r.ham-radio.ch/

Stop what you are doing! Go to the Radio Garden!

This is really fantastic.  The screen display is like Google Earth, but all the green dots are local broadcast radio stations.  Put your cursor on the dot and listen to that radio station live.  And it works very well.  If there are several stations in the same town, just zoom in.  

In the course of a few minutes this morning I was listening to stations in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Getxo Spain, and Bengaluru India.  

Go to the radio garden: 

https://radio.garden/

Very Useful Toroid Info Web Site

This site provides the kind of info we need when working with toroids.  It even tells you the length of wire to cut. It links to the W8DIZ "Toroid King" website, but I can't really tell if this site is the work of DIZ himself.   In any case, very useful.  We award this site our coveted rating of "Five Soldering Irons."

http://toroids.info/FT37-43.php

Pete has a Blog!

Check out the new blog from Pete, N6QW.   We hope he continues to post.   Please link to his blog and help spread the word.    Here it is:

http://n6qw.blogspot.com/

Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics" http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20

Interview on "QSO TODAY" Podcast with Eric 4Z1UG

Last week I was interviewed by Eric 4Z1UG for his podcast "QSO Today."  I was at first reluctant to do this, simply because of time constraints: I already have difficulty finding the time to record SolderSmoke.  But when I listened to Eric's interview with Wayne Burdick N6KR of Elecraft, and learned that they had been teenage ham radio friends, I wanted in!  Our interview was a lot of fun.  You can listen to it here:
http://www.qsotoday.com/podcasts/n2cqr  or via ITunes.

Please help Eric out by subscribing to his podcast and by linking to his site.   I'm sure he'd appreciate comments on our interview. 

Thanks Eric!  And as Shep would say: EXCELSIOR! 

Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics" http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20