Hall of Fame Update: 96 Completed SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receivers, and 7 Honorable Mentions. Total: 103 receivers as of October 19, 2025 1649Z. More receivers are being built.

Please let us know if you spot any errors, or if we have inadvertently missed anyone.  Don't worry about being late to the game -- the challenge continues.  All of the info is still available (see below). 

As of October 19, 2025 1649Z:

So far 96 completed receivers, and 7 honorable mentions.  Total Count:  103.       Receivers built in 17 countries.   

NE3U (KY4EOD)  Matt 

KQ4AOP       First ham signals ever heard! 

N9TD             Derek

AC3NG          Ryan

VK3TPM       Peter Marks  

W4KAC         Ken 

W4KAC         Ken built a second one! 

N2EPE           Erik

VA3NCA        Wayde    

KI5SRY          Mark -- Gears on PTO screw

 

KA1MUQ       Frying pan receiver

AA1N              Adam

ZL1AUN         Aaron -- Using SSB transmitter -- New Zealand

W8UC             Never before homebrewed. 

VK4PG           Phil -- Nice case, "really pleased"

G7LQX           Working well, video of CW and SSB.  -- England

KE2AMP        John     Spring on PTO screw -- great

N9SZ              Steve  nice receiver

KD9NHZ        Piotr  Nice one

KE8ICE          Calvin, Very cool receiver. 

 

WV3V              Jayson!  Got it done!

GM5JDG         Martin.   -- Scotland 

KF8BOG          Jim:  A long struggle, but success.  

Chris Wales    Fantastic video.  -- Wales

YD9BAX         Wayan! Homebrew transformer!  Indonesia

N0NQD         Jeff 

WN3F              Roy -- Made new stickers! 

AB5XQ            Bill  

KB7ZUT          Andy  

AA1OF            Jer

VictorKees        Holland

KC9OJV           John -- Manhattan-style convert

WZ5M              1, 2 or maybe even 3 receivers!

K1KJW             Jim in Vermont

KC5DI              Dallas -- friend of WZ5M

Gary                 Australian -- Wooden PTO form

LU2VJM          Juan in Argentina  -- Argentina

K1OA               Scott "Most fun in 50 years"

KC9DLM         Ben -- Had EFHW problems

PH2LB             Lex  Yellow, Glue Stick -- Netherlands

AI6WR             David

G6GEV            Dave (It was a blast!) 

KC1ONM        Wayne  MakerLabs NH

KB1OIQ          Andy    MakerLabs NH

KA1PQK         Jay       MakerLabs NH

W1TKO           Mike    MakerLabs NH

K5KHK            Karl

SM0TPW         Mikael  -- Sweden

KI7LKB           Brian (coat hanger tube)

M6CRD            Chris

W2DAB           Dave in NYC

W4JYK            Wes of VWS

KA4CDN          Mike of VWS

M7EFO             Adrian 

VK5RC             Rob

KD8KHP          Dave

VK1CHW         Chris

KA0PHJ           Brian

W0IT                Louis

W1PJE             Phil

W2AEW           Alan

KN6FVK          John (Barkhausen-Be-Gone Spray) 

VU2JXN           Ramakrishnan -- India

AA0MS            Doug 

9V1/KM7ABZ   Paul  --  Singapore

VK2BLQ          Stephen -- Australia

N3FJZ              Rick

Daniel               VE5DLD  -- Canada

Student 1          Student of VE5DLD

Student 2          Student of VE5DLD

Student 3         Student of VE5DLD

K7WXW          Bill 

NK3H               Mitch

KN4ZXG         Ted

WA1MAC        Paul

N4AVC             Chuck 

K3IY                 Kevin

N6ASD             Ashish in Bangalore

W1DSP             Rick

WD4CFN         Steve

KM5Z             Mike

KF5DAN         Dan

Fritz                 Fritz

N9OK              Joe

WA5DSS         Bill 

K0GDB           Grant

G0JNR            Shane Glow-in-Dark Coil Form

KK7BCO        Tobias

K2BVR            Bob

Robert              Sutton

K5YFO           Dave (Texas) 

KD4PBJ          Chris

KN4GAH        Chris -- EE perspective

F1GMA           Philippe  -- France

W2TEF            Todd

EI9ITB            Karl  -- Ireland

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

Honorable Mentions: 

*AA7U            Steve No PTO

*VK7IAN        Ian -- No Manhattan boards -- Tasmania

*KC1FSZ        Bruce's build on a PC board

*CT7AXD       Graham -- different AF amp -- Portugal

* DL1AJG      Andreas -- Germany

* Matthew      Student of DL1AJG

* Arash           Student of DL1AJG 

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

Candidates for the Hall of Fame: 

SA5RJS              Rasmus

KA9TII               James

AA7FO              Chuck 

VA3ZOT           Tony  Surface Mount -- Honorable Mention? 

AB2XT             John (Done, just need the video)

KO7M              Jeff (Piper Cub)

VU2TUM         Puneit Singh

For more information on how you too can build the receiver: 

Join the discussion - SolderSmoke Discord Server:

https://discord.gg/Fu6B7yGxx2

 

Documentation on Hackaday:

https://hackaday.io/project/190327-high-schoolers-build-a-radio-receiver

 

SolderSmoke YouTube channel:

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

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

Hall of Fame Update: 87 Completed SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receivers, with 7 Honorable Mentions. More receivers are being built. As of August 29, 2025 1945Z

Please let us know if you spot any errors, or if we have inadvertently missed anyone.  Don't worry about being late to the game -- the challenge continues.  All of the info is still available (see below). 

As of August 29, 2025  1945Z:

So far 87 completed receivers, with 7 honorable mentions.  Receivers built in 15 countries.   

NE3U (KY4EOD)  Matt 

KQ4AOP       First ham signals ever heard! 

N9TD             Derek

AC3NG          Ryan

VK3TPM       Peter Marks  

W4KAC         Ken 

W4KAC         Ken built a second one! 

N2EPE           Erik

VA3NCA        Wayde    

KI5SRY          Mark -- Gears on PTO screw

 

KA1MUQ       Frying pan receiver

AA1N              Adam

ZL1AUN         Aaron -- Using SSB transmitter

W8UC             Never before homebrewed. 

VK4PG           Phil -- Nice case, "really pleased"

G7LQX           Working well, video of CW and SSB. 

KE2AMP        John     Spring on PTO screw -- great

N9SZ              Steve  nice receiver

KD9NHZ        Piotr  Nice one

KE8ICE          Calvin, Very cool receiver. 

 

WV3V              Jayson!  Got it done!

GM5JDG         Martin.    

KF8BOG          Jim:  A long struggle, but success.  

Chris Wales    Fantastic video.  

YD9BAX         Wayan! Homebrew transformer! 

N0NQD         Jeff 

WN3F              Roy -- Made new stickers! 

AB5XQ            Bill  

KB7ZUT          Andy  

AA1OF            Jer

VictorKees        Holland

KC9OJV           John -- Manhattan-style convert

WZ5M              1, 2 or maybe even 3 receivers!

K1KJW             Jim in Vermont

KC5DI              Dallas -- friend of WZ5M

Gary                 Australian -- Wooden PTO form

LU2VJM          Juan in Argentina

K1OA               Scott "Most fun in 50 years"

KC9DLM         Ben -- Had EFHW problems

PH2LB             Lex  Yellow, Glue Stick

AI6WR             David

G6GEV            Dave (It was a blast!) 

KC1ONM        Wayne  MakerLabs NH

KB1OIQ          Andy    MakerLabs NH

KA1PQK         Jay       MakerLabs NH

W1TKO           Mike    MakerLabs NH

K5KHK            Karl

SM0TPW         Mikael

KI7LKB           Brian (coat hanger tube)

M6CRD            Chris

W2DAB           Dave in NYC

W4JYK            Wes of VWS

KA4CDN          Mike of VWS

M7EFO             Adrian 

VK5RC             Rob

KD8KHP          Dave

VK1CHW         Chris

KA0PHJ           Brian

W0IT                Louis

W1PJE             Phil

W2AEW           Alan

KN6FVK          John (Barkhausen-Be-Gone Spray) 

VU2JXN           Ramakrishnan

AA0MS            Doug 

9V1/KM7ABZ   Paul in Singapore

VK2BLQ          Stephen

N3FJZ              Rick

Daniel               VE5DLD

Student 1          Student of VE5DLD

Student 2          Student of VE5DLD

Student 3         Student of VE5DLD

K7WXW          Bill 

NK3H               Mitch

KN4ZXG         Ted

WA1MAC        Paul

N4AVC             Chuck 

K3IY                 Kevin

N6ASD             Ashish in Bangalore

W1DSP             Rick

WD4CFN         Steve

KM5Z             Mike

KF5DAN         Dan

Fritz                 Fritz

N9OK              Joe

WA5DSS         Bill 

K0GDB           Grant

G0JNR            Shane

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

Honorable Mentions: 

*AA7U            Steve No PTO

*VK7IAN        Ian -- No Manhattan boards 

*KC1FSZ        Bruce's build on a PC board

*CT7AXD       Graham -- different AF amp

* DL1AJG      Andreas 

* Matthew      Student of DL1AJG

* Arash           Student of DL1AJG 

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

Candidates for the Hall of Fame: 

SA5RJS              Rasmus

KA9TII               James

AA7FO              Chuck 

VA3ZOT           Tony  Surface Mount -- Honorable Mention? 

AB2XT             John (Done, just need the video)

KO7M              Jeff (Piper Cub)

KD4PBJ           Chris

VU2TUM         Puneit Singh

For more information on how you too can build the receiver: 

Join the discussion - SolderSmoke Discord Server:

https://discord.gg/Fu6B7yGxx2

 

Documentation on Hackaday:

https://hackaday.io/project/190327-high-schoolers-build-a-radio-receiver

 

SolderSmoke YouTube channel:

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

Hall of Fame: The SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver -- 80 Completed Receivers, 7 Honorable Mentions, Built in 15 Countries -- Many More Receivers Being Built.

WA1MAC's Receiver

Please let us know if you spot any errors, or if we have inadvertently missed anyone.  Don't worry about being late to the game -- the challenge continues.  All of the info is still available (see below). 

As of June 18, 2025  1049Z:

So far 80 completed receivers, with 7 honorable mentions.  Receivers built in 15 countries.   

NE3U (KY4EOD)  Matt 

KQ4AOP       First ham signals ever heard! 

N9TD             Derek

AC3NG          Ryan

VK3TPM       Peter Marks  

W4KAC         Ken 

W4KAC         Ken built a second one! 

N2EPE           Erik

VA3NCA        Wayde    

KI5SRY          Mark -- Gears on PTO screw

 

KA1MUQ       Frying pan receiver

AA1N              Adam

ZL1AUN         Aaron -- Using SSB transmitter

W8UC             Never before homebrewed. 

VK4PG           Phil -- Nice case, "really pleased"

G7LQX           Working well, video of CW and SSB. 

KE2AMP        John     Spring on PTO screw -- great

N9SZ              Steve  nice receiver

KD9NHZ        Piotr  Nice one

KE8ICE          Calvin, Very cool receiver. 

 

WV3V              Jayson!  Got it done!

GM5JDG         Martin.    

KF8BOG          Jim:  A long struggle, but success.  

Chris Wales    Fantastic video.  

YD9BAX        Wayan! Homebrew transformer! 

N0NQD        Jeff 

WN3F              Roy -- Made new stickers! 

AB5XQ            Bill  

KB7ZUT          Andy  

AA1OF            Jer

VictorKees        Holland

KC9OJV           John -- Manhattan-style convert

WZ5M              1, 2 or maybe even 3 receivers!

K1KJW             Jim in Vermont

KC5DI              Dallas -- friend of WZ5M

Gary                 Australian -- Wooden PTO form

LU2VJM          Juan in Argentina

K1OA               Scott "Most fun in 50 years"

KC9DLM         Ben -- Had EFHW problems

PH2LB             Lex  Yellow, Glue Stick

AI6WR             David

G6GEV            Dave (It was a blast!) 

KC1ONM        Wayne  MakerLabs NH

KB1OIQ          Andy    MakerLabs NH

KA1PQK         Jay       MakerLabs NH

W1TKO           Mike    MakerLabs NH

K5KHK            Karl

SM0TPW         Mikael

KI7LKB           Brian (coat hanger tube)

M6CRD            Chris

W2DAB           Dave in NYC

W4JYK            Wes of VWS

KA4CDN          Mike of VWS

M7EFO             Adrian 

VK5RC             Rob

KD8KHP          Dave

VK1CHW         Chris

KA0PHJ           Brian

W0IT                Louis

W1PJE             Phil

W2AEW           Alan

KN6FVK          John (Barkhausen-Be-Gone Spray) 

VU2JXN           Ramakrishnan

AA0MS            Doug 

9V1/KM7ABZ   Paul in Singapore

VK2BLQ          Stephen

N3FJZ              Rick

Daniel               VE5DLD

Student 1          Student of VE5DLD

Student 2          Student of VE5DLD

Student 3         Student of VE5DLD

K7WXW          Bill 

NK3H               Mitch

KN4ZXG         Ted

WA1MAC        Paul

N4AVC             Chuck 

K3IY                 Kevin

N6ASD             Ashish in Bangalore

W1DSP             Rick

WD4CFN         Steve

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

Honorable Mentions: 

*AA7U            Steve No PTO

*VK7IAN        Ian -- No Manhattan boards 

*KC1FSZ        Bruce's build on a PC board

*CT7AXD       Graham -- different AF amp

* DL1AJG      Andreas 

* Matthew      Student of DL1AJG

* Arash           Student of DL1AJG 

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

Candidates for the Hall of Fame: 

SA5RJS              Rasmus

KA9TII               James

AA7FO              Chuck 

VA3ZOT           Tony  Surface Mount -- Honorable Mention? 

KM5Z              Mike Yancey

AB2XT             John (Done, just need the video)

KO7M              Jeff (Piper Cub)

KD4PBJ           Chris

VU2TUM         Puneit Singh

For more information on how you too can build the receiver: 

Join the discussion - SolderSmoke Discord Server:

https://discord.gg/Fu6B7yGxx2

 

Documentation on Hackaday:

https://hackaday.io/project/190327-high-schoolers-build-a-radio-receiver

 

SolderSmoke YouTube channel:

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

The Hall of Fame: 71 Direct Conversion Receivers Completed (so far) with 7 Honorable Mentions. More coming. Update.

Dean KK4DAS's Receiver

Please let us know if you spot any errors, or if we have inadvertently missed anyone.  Don't worry about being late to the game -- the challenge continues.  All of the info is still available (see below). 

As of May 19, 2025  1717Z:

So far 71 completed receivers, with 7 honorable mentions:  

NE3U (KY4EOD)  Matt 

KQ4AOP       First ham signals ever heard! 

N9TD             Derek

AC3NG          Ryan

VK3TPM       Peter Marks  

W4KAC         Ken 

W4KAC         Ken built a second one! 

N2EPE           Erik

VA3NCA        Wayde    

KI5SRY          Mark -- Gears on PTO screw

 

KA1MUQ       Frying pan receiver

AA1N              Adam

ZL1AUN         Aaron -- Using SSB transmitter

W8UC             Never before homebrewed. 

VK4PG           Phil -- Nice case, "really pleased"

G7LQX           Working well, video of CW and SSB. 

KE2AMP        John     Spring on PTO screw -- great

N9SZ              Steve  nice receiver

KD9NHZ        Piotr  Nice one

KE8ICE          Calvin, Very cool receiver. 

 

WV3V              Jayson!  Got it done!

GM5JDG         Martin.    

KF8BOG          Jim:  A long struggle, but success.  

Chris Wales    Fantastic video.  

YD9BAX        Wayan! Homebrew transformer! 

N0NQD        Jeff 

WN3F              Roy -- Made new stickers! 

AB5XQ            Bill  

KB7ZUT          Andy  

AA1OF            Jer

VictorKees        Holland

KC9OJV           John -- Manhattan-style convert

WZ5M              1, 2 or maybe even 3 receivers!

K1KJW             Jim in Vermont

KC5DI              Dallas -- friend of WZ5M

Gary                 Australian -- Wooden PTO form

LU2VJM          Juan in Argentina

K1OA               Scott "Most fun in 50 years"

KC9DLM         Ben -- Had EFHW problems

PH2LB             Lex  Yellow, Glue Stick

AI6WR             David

G6GEV            Dave (It was a blast!) 

KC1ONM        Wayne  MakerLabs NH

KB1OIQ          Andy    MakerLabs NH

KA1PQK         Jay       MakerLabs NH

W1TKO           Mike    MakerLabs NH

K5KHK            Karl

SM0TPW         Mikael

KI7LKB           Brian (coat hanger tube)

M6CRD            Chris

W2DAB           Dave in NYC

W4JYK            Wes of VWS

KA4CDN          Mike of VWS

M7EFO             Adrian 

VK5RC             Rob

KD8KHP          Dave

VK1CHW         Chris

KA0PHJ           Brian

W0IT                Louis

W1PJE             Phil

W2AEW           Alan

KN6FVK          John (Barkhausen-Be-Gone Spray) 

VU2JXN           Ramakrishnan

AA0MS            Doug 

9V1/KM7ABZ   Paul in Singapore

VK2BLQ          Stephen

N3FJZ              Rick

Daniel               VE5DLD

Student 1          Student of VE5DLD

Student 2          Student of VE5DLD

Student 3         Student of VE5DLD

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

Honorable Mentions: 

*AA7U            Steve No PTO

*VK7IAN        Ian -- No Manhattan boards 

*KC1FSZ        Bruce's build on a PC board

*CT7AXD       Graham -- different AF amp

* DL1AJG      Andreas 

* Student 1     Student of DL1AJG

* Student 2     Student of DL1AJG 

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

Candidates for the Hall of Fame: 

SA5RJS              Rasmus

KA9TII               James

AA7FO              Chuck 

K7WXW            Bill 

VA3ZOT           Tony  Surface Mount -- Honorable Mention? 

KM5Z              Mike Yancey

AB2XT             John (Done, just need the video)

KO7M              Jeff (Piper Cub)

KD4PBJ           Chris

VU2TUM         Puneit Singh

N6ASD             Ashish in Bangalore

For more information on how you too can build the receiver: 

Join the discussion - SolderSmoke Discord Server:

https://discord.gg/Fu6B7yGxx2

 

Documentation on Hackaday:

https://hackaday.io/project/190327-high-schoolers-build-a-radio-receiver

 

SolderSmoke YouTube channel:

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

SolderSmoke Podcast #259 FCC ban of DC Receivers. Pete and Stickers, Mouse Knob, MHST. DC RX Update. Dean and SDR RX, Mythbuster Transceiver, Frequency Counter. Bill's Shack -- Suburban Renewal, Boatanchor Removal, DJI Drone . MAILBAG

Dean KK4DAS's 20 Meter Transceiver

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

Audio Version: http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke259.mp3

Reports of FCC action against Direct Conversion receivers. Outrageous!  They are going to prosecute Dean and Bill.  The 85th harmonic was apparently interfereing with Starlink satellites over Melbourne Australia, Bali, New Zealand's North Island, the UK, Sweden, Holland and Argentina. Who knew? 

Here's the question:  How many paragraphs of this post did you read before you realized this was an April 1 thing?  C'mon, please let us know.  Bill falls for one or two every year.  This year he believed that Warren Buffet really had bought Tesla. So, don't feel alone.  Fess up.  

Travelogue:  Pete's trip to Los Olivos.  DMV Real ID Blues.  Going back to San Francisco? Pete, we have some new stickers... 

Pete's Bench:  MHST progress. Raspberry Pi.  VWS.  Transceiver.     K7TFC's Mouse Knob. 

Dean and Bill update on the SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Challenge:  56 receivers built.  And 56 is a lot! Info and especially Dean's videos are still up on the Discord server and on YouTube.  Not to late to build!  All builders should try to encourage at least one other person to build this receiver.  In this way, builders become Elmers and homebrewing can spread.  Others have already done this -- you can do it too!  W4KAC built a second one for a friend.  WZ5M built one, helped a friend do a second, and a third one may be on the way.  MakeIt Labs in Nashua, NH is responsible for 4 DC receivers.  See all the completed receivers here: 

https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/search/label/DC%20RX%20Hall%20of%20Fame

Once you have the receiver going, start the mods!  Front panels!  Antennas! Better tuning!  Si5351s! DSB transmitters! Tell us about your mods. 

SHAMELESS COMMERCE DIVISION:   Become a Patreon Sponsor!  MostlyDIYRF.  Buy Amazon stuff through the Amazon link on our blog site.  Subscribe to our video YouTube channel. 

Dean's Bench:  SDR Receiver project.  20 meter Mythbuster build (a thing of beauty).  Homebrew Frequency Counter.  Balloons!  

Bill's Bench:  Suburban renewal.  New floor, new paint, got rid of a lot of junk.  New operating table from Husky.  DX-60, DX-40, VF-1, and maybe even the Lafayette HA-600A receiver have to go. Many books and magazines too.   Lightening the load!   But keeping the DX-100, HQ-100, HT-37 and, of course, the Drake 2-B.  Boatanchors station. Beacon operations. 

N2CQR's new operating table

Boatanchor Corner at N2CQR

Bought a new DJI Drone, but will use it in the Dominican Republic (not here!).  And I got my Drone TRUST Certificate. 

Mailbag:  

Dave W2DAB doing Manhattan building on the island of Manhattan!  

Rich K2GJ (ex WA0CGM) -- Nice ham radio memories of his HT-37.  Thanks Rich. 

Wes W4JYK -- A VWS DC receiver. 

A nice note from Farhan VU2ESE. 

Todd K7TFC -- Simple vs. Complex

Paul WA1MAC Gluestick 80 meter QRP

Armand WA1UQO Regen receiver highlighted by AA7EE

Dave AA7EE -- FIGHT BACK AGAINST THE FCC!  Build the DC Receiver! 

Rogier PA1ZZ Many great videos, including one on Heathkit

Bruce KC1FSZ --  Nominated us for ARRL award.  Thanks Bruce. 

Bob KD4EBM--  Looking into Polar Modulation. https://qrp-labs.com/qmxp/ssbbeta.html

Peter VK2EMU -- Thought of Peter when I briefly took down the N2CQR sign he made. 

Victor HI7S -- 46 km away from my place in the DR.  Says I won the lottery...  He is right. 

Jim KI4THC        Got his Extra ticket.  Congratulations Jim. 

Kirk NT0Z    -- On Kits, Hombrew,  and the influence of Russian Homebrewers. 

Were Russian spies taught how to homebrew their own spy radios? 

Rich K2GJ with his 2B, and Heath GR-91

Inside Dean's Transceiver

The Hall of Fame -- Completed SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receivers (So far --- more to come!)

Dean KK4DAS's Receiver

Please let us know if you spot any errors, or if we have inadvertently missed anyone.  Don't worry about being late to the game -- the challenge continues.  All of the info is still available (see below). 

As of April 29, 2025  0942Z:

So far 59 completed receivers, with 4 honorable mentions:  

NE3U (KY4EOD)  Matt 

KQ4AOP       First ham signals ever heard! 

N9TD             Derek

AC3NG          Ryan

VK3TPM       Peter Marks  

W4KAC         Ken 

W4KAC         Ken built a second one! 

N2EPE           Erik

VA3NCA        Wayde    

KI5SRY          Mark -- Gears on PTO screw

 

KA1MUQ       Frying pan receiver

AA1N              Adam

ZL1AUN         Aaron -- Using SSB transmitter

W8UC             Never before homebrewed. 

VK4PG           Phil -- Nice case, "really pleased"

G7LQX           Working well, video of CW and SSB. 

KE2AMP        John     Spring on PTO screw -- great

N9SZ              Steve  nice receiver

KD9NHZ        Piotr  Nice one

KE8ICE          Calvin, Very cool receiver. 

 

WV3V              Jayson!  Got it done!

GM5JDG         Martin.    

KF8BOG          Jim:  A long struggle, but success.  

Chris Wales    Fantastic video.  

YD9BAX        Wayan! Homebrew transformer! 

N0NQD        Jeff 

WN3F              Roy -- Made new stickers! 

AB5XQ            Bill  

KB7ZUT          Andy  

AA1OF            Jer

VictorKees        Holland

KC9OJV           John -- Manhattan-style convert

WZ5M              1, 2 or maybe even 3 receivers!

K1KJW             Jim in Vermont

KC5DI              Dallas -- friend of WZ5M

Gary                 Australian -- Wooden PTO form

LU2VJM          Juan in Argentina

K1OA               Scott "Most fun in 50 years"

KC9DLM         Ben -- Had EFHW problems

PH2LB             Lex  Yellow, Glue Stick

AI6WR             David

G6GEV            Dave (It was a blast!) 

KC1ONM        Wayne  MakerLabs NH

KB1OIQ          Andy    MakerLabs NH

KA1PQK         Jay       MakerLabs NH

W1TKO           Mike    MakerLabs NH

K5KHK            Karl

SM0TPW         Mikael

KI7LKB           Brian (coat hanger tube)

M6CRD            Chris

W2DAB           Dave in NYC

W4JYK            Wes of VWS

KA4CDN          Mike of VWS

M7EFO             Adrian 

VK5RC             Rob

KD8KHP          Dave

VK1CHW         Chris

KA0PHJ           Brian

W0IT                Louis

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

Honorable Mentions: 

*AA7U            Steve No PTO

*VK7IAN        Ian -- No Manhattan boards 

*KC1FSZ        Bruce's build on a PC board

*CT7AXD       Graham -- different AF amp

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

Candidates for the Hall of Fame: 

SA5RJS              Rasmus

KA9TII               James

W2AEW             Alan

AA7FO              Chuck 

K7WXW            Bill 

W1PJE               Phil  MIT

VA3ZOT           Tony  Surface Mount -- Honorable Mention? 

KM5Z              Mike Yancey

AB2XT             John (Done, just need the video)

KO7M              Jeff (Piper Cub)

KD4PBJ           Chris

For more information on how you too can build the receiver: 

Join the discussion - SolderSmoke Discord Server:

https://discord.gg/Fu6B7yGxx2

 

Documentation on Hackaday:

https://hackaday.io/project/190327-high-schoolers-build-a-radio-receiver

 

SolderSmoke YouTube channel:

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