SolderSmoke Daily News -- Ham Radio Blog: Search results for PH2LB

Showing posts sorted by date for query PH2LB. Sort by relevance Show all posts

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Hall of Fame Update: 81 Completed SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receivers, with 7 Honorable Mentions. More receivers are being built. As of June 21, 2025 1126Z

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 21, 2025 1126Z:

So far 81 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

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

Monday, May 19, 2025

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

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!

*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

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

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

Dean KK4DAS's Receiver

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

Sunday, April 6, 2025

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

Dean KK4DAS's Receiver

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!

*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

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Lex PH2LB's Fantastic, 3-D Yellow, Glue-Stick, SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver from the Netherlands

Lex PH2LB has been a valued member of the SolderSmoke team for a long time. It was he who took our stickers into the bars and coffee shops of Holland, spearheading our efforts on Continental Europe.

He didn't have to, but Lex took up the SolderSmoke Challenge. And he did it with panache. 3D yellow panache. Glue-stick panache!

Lex has a complete description of his build here:

https://www.ph2lb.nl/blog/index.php?page=soldersmoke-dcr

Here is another video of Lex's receiver in action

Indeed, it is working!

Bravo Lex. Thank you and congratulations.

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

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

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

SolderSmoke Podcast #253 AUDIO VERSION: NYC, SF, DR, PC, DSC, PODCAST IN DANGER, SPRAT, sBITX, CW, IMD, AI, PNP, MAILBAG

SolderSmoke Podcast #253 is available:

http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke253.mp3

October 16, 2024

Sponsor! Parts Candy is back! Handmade in Chicago! Standard test leads, Hook clips, alligator clips in 12" and 32" and multimeter leads

Travelouge/Intro

Bill's trip to NYC -- The Empire State Building

Dean goes to the Bay area.

Harry Caul, Marty Klein W3VCG , "The Conversation" and THE KNACK.https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2024/08/harry-caul-had-knack-movie-review.html

Joe Piscopo in Bell System video! https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2024/08/soldersmoke-quiz-question-who-is-actor.html

Bill's Bench

Bill's report from SolderSmoke Shack South: The tropics: What this means. Guapo wouldn't go out when the sun was overhead.

Skies not great for astronomy now. But we see a lot of satellites, and meteors.

Antenna developments: 1/4 vertical on a fishing pole.

Lightning suppression coming for the building. Lightning suppressors. Got 2. Good video from the IMSAI guy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EyABPuNDMA Argon gas suppresion tubes.Need to crimp!

Hurricane prevention. Metal storm curtains.

Thinking of solar panels. 12 panels, 5 kW system. Probably without batteries. What do you think?

A golf cart.

New PC. BeeLink. Very tiny! (palm of your hand) 24 inch screen. Works well https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVFKN7ZL?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

A very satisfying fix on the 15/10 rig -- loose connection to RF amp. The highly suspect Ramsey Kit Amp was NOT the culprit! Got to use the new Rigol DS-1102. A fun fix. Will build a second CCI amp.

Digital Selective Calling -- listening to ships and shore stations on HF. https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2024/10/monitoring-maritime-radio-messages-with.html

SHAMELESS COMMERCE: Our blogs and the podcast are in danger! Pete is already on a permanent blog hiatus. I have seen a big decline in readership. Frankly, if no one is reading or listening, we just may decide not to do it anymore. We don't want to do this. So please, link to the blogs. Talk up the blog and podcast on your own blogs and social media.

Parts Candy Test Leads are back as our sponsor. Pete has them. Dean has them, I have them in two different countries! DON'T SCRIMP WITH A CRIMP!

SPRAT Summer 2O24 Special EXTRA 50th Anniversary issue! https://www.gqrp.com/sales.htm

Dean's Bench

First CW contact: With KK4DAS on his HB sBITX and Alan W2AEW POTA. TRGHS.

Dean fixes the sBITX problems. Again. SUB-THRESHOLD CONDUCTION! Lots of patience and stick-to-it-ivness. LPF leakage! https://kk4das.blogspot.com/2024/08/homebrew-sbitx-lpf-leak-stopped.html

IMD IMD IMD and the Tiny SA Ultra https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2024/09/sherwood-its-time-to-clean-up-our.html

AI AI AI -- Experimental AI Podcasts about SolderSmoke (no kidding -- (NOT April 1) Where they came from https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2024/09/where-ai-podcasts-came-from.html

AI Podcast #2 https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2024/09/here-is-another-short-podcast-about.html

AI Podcast #1 https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2024/09/a-new-experimental-podcast-about.html

Pete's Bench

An all PNP rig -- A notional look, https://n6qw.blogspot.com/2024/08/august-30-2024-pnp-20m-ssb-transceiver.html

Videos on old Boatanchors. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnboJ75NCmY&t=1s

MAILBAG:

Lex PH2LB making some new stickers. Look out San Francisco!

Rogier PA1ZZ sending lots of good ideas and links.

Todd K7TFC great idea on SS readersip decline

Todd VE7BPO aka Vasily -- great info on how to stabilize LC oscillators. https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2024/09/qrp-homebuilder-shows-us-how-to-build.html

Eric 4Z1UG Welcome words of encouragement on the blog and podcast

Dave W2DAB says that AI just can't replace the Tappit Brothers of ham radio. Now the Tappit Triplets.

Michael AA1TJ Thoughtfully skeptical about AI.

Grayson K7JUM on the cleanliness of the 32S-3. Also amazing video on Thermatron MMM.

Mike WN2A working on DC receivers and hum!

Floran OE7FTI building Farhan's JBOT amp!

Mike Murphy WU2D building 1930 replica rigs using a Frank Jones circuit

Dave K8WPE always great to hear from such a strong SolderSmoke supporter.

Walter KA4KXX Great ideas from the Wizard of Orlando.

Paul G0OER -- Reacting to the 1970s Ham Radio video. Didn't remember being so cool.

Thomas K4SWL -- Struggling with the hurricane in NC. Hang in there OM.

Nick M0NTZ building another Direct Conversion receiver -- with videos about it.

Michael AG5VG building a Mythbustrer-style 20 meter rig. FT-101 VFO. FB

Tony G4WIF -- Readership problem advice

John AB2XT sent us 6000 47 pf NP0 capacitors. So we are now good for caps! Thanks John.

Paul VK3HN Was suitably impresses by the AI podcasts we put on the blog. Thanks Paul.

Saturday, July 20, 2024

Are Hackers the Future of Amateur Radio? Thoughts from Lex PH2LB

Thanks Lex: Your message reminded me of a comment sent to me on the YouTube channel. The commenter seemed to criticize my use of a digital oscilloscope. Well, the criticism came to me via the internet, computers, and Starlink, so, yes, there are great advantages to using new technology! 73 from HI7 Bill N2CQR

Hello Bill and Pete,

On hackaday there is a post with the question : Are Hackers the future of amateur radio?

See: https://hackaday.com/2024/07/18/are-hackers-the-future-of-amateur-radio/

I want to share my thoughts on this.

Although the term "hackers" is only seen by the masses as a term for someone who gains unauthorized access to computer systems (it even appears in the dictionary that way), IMHO it is much broader. I always explain it as someone who is interested in technology and uses techniques to use things in a different way than what they where intended or to add new functionality to existing things. But also inventing new things, whether or not to satisfy his curiosity, or to learn new things in order to expand his knowledge or be able to make new things.

With this in mind let us go back to the question: "Are hackers the future for amateur radio?"

I think that from the beginning of amateur radio, the OMs were a kind of "hackers" who satisfied their curiosity and tried things out by making things themselves. And I think it will certainly remain that way. The fact that we have started using more computer technology / digital things in our hobby is nothing but progress. You take technology as you can or want to use it. Think about the analog VFO from Bill and the Si5351 VFO from Pete, or petrol cars and electronics cars. Both have the same goal, just different tech. Or for example you can tighten a screw by hand, but you can also use a cordless drill. Do you have less technical skills? No, I don't think so, you are just more efficient, digital technology and computer technology have added efficiency to our hobby. And if other invent new things that we can use, who are we not to use those techniques to be more efficient our self or make new things?

Dan, KB6NU's put some nice HamRadio Hacking examples in his presentation (https://www.kb6nu.com/there-is-hope-for-amateur-radio/) like the SBITX (Full SDR with Raspberry PI), creating new firmware for Chinese ports, etc. We could even return to the question discussed earlier on soldersmoke: Are radio hams 'makers'.

And yes, the availability of off-the-shelf transmitters/receivers allows OMs, who are not so technically skilled or don't want to spend the time on it, to practice facets of our wonderful and broad hobby. So you don't have to be a "hacker" to enjoy our hobby. And to all the (self-styled) soldering iron moral knights who criticize these OMs, take a look around your shack, you probably didn't (or even can) make everything yourself and once you have bought things. It could be that boatanchor, your brass morse key or your first rig. And have you ever thought about you soldering iron, multi meter, magnifier lamp, wire cutters etc. . . Ok I'm just teasing now, but you all get the point.

Most of all, aside from the question if hackers are the future of amateur radio, lets enjoy our great hobby and when you like to melt some solder . . . Just do it.

73 from PA

Lex PH2LB

Saturday, June 15, 2024

Sticker Madness, HI7, April 1

Our friend Lex astutely focused on the date of the release of our report about legal prosecution by the City of San Francisco. The truth is that we made almost all of this up. We did put a sticker on a lamp post at Haight and Ashbury. Dave AA7EE did visit the site and report that the sticker had been removed. But all the rest was made up. We did catch several people in this annual April 1 joke. Unfortunately, not everyone who was taken in was outraged by the city's supposed action. In fact, we got one e-mail SUPPORTING the prosecution. This fellow said, essentially, that we were getting what we deserved, that we should take this as a life lesson, and stop with the sticker-vandalism. He was serious. Jeez. APRIL FOOL! We will talk more about this in the next podcast.

I know the podcast has been delayed by a lot, but I am still getting things set up here in HI7 land. I hope we will soon be podcasting with particpation from California (N6QW), Northern Virginia (KK4DAS), and the Dominican Republic (HI7/N2CQR).

Happily, my Dominican ham radio license came through -- I will be HI7/N2CQR for the next year. At some point I hope to take the Dominican exam and get a real Dominican call.

Lex has been our main point of contact in Europe on sticker distribution (aka VANDALISM!). Lex writes:

Hello all,

Shocked to hear about the "Legal action against Soldersmoke" in podcast :

https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2024/04/soldersmoke-podcast-251-aurora-cbla.html

Which could mean a few things :

some official is trying to make a career and he will be very busy because there are a lot of stickers in San Fransisco to remove.
somebody did remove the sticker because they are highly collectable and somebody at soldersmoke HQ saw a opportunity to made one of the best april fools jokes in soldersmoke history pulling the listeners (and readers) leg.
somebody use photoshop and made one of the best april fools jokes in soldersmoke history pulling the listeners (and readers) leg.

Looking at the release date of the soldersmoke podcast 251, IMHO #3 is the most possible with #2 as a good second. When #1 is the real reason, that sucks big time :-( (so I'm hoping for the april fools joke outcome)

Let's continue and get on topic to this e-mails subject.

My XYL and I are just back from a holiday to Berlin and aside of the architecture, visiting a large number of museums and historical exhibitions, there was one place on my personal list I wanted to visit : the "Teufelsberg".

* The "Teufelsberg" (Devil's Mountain) is a artificial mountain build with rumble of the ruins of Berlin on top of the “Wehrtechnische Fakultät”, covert soil and plated full with trees. In the early 70's the location became one of the most important locations for the United States’ National Security Agency (NSA) outside the United States. The facility monitors Soviet and Eastern Bloc communications and gathers important information on the activities of Warsaw Pact countries. 1992 the side got intrest of creative minds and started to get covert by street art.

More info about the history can be found on there website: https://www.teufelsberg-berlin.de/en/history/

Not only the historical part of the site, but also because the XYL and I love street art, we took a day visit it. Aside from the nice walk to it, the excellent view and the great pieces of street art, when you are at a site where street art is present all over the place and even is encouraged (and legal) and you "accidently" just happen to have a few soldersmoke stickers in you bag, you just have to use them. So as of this moment, Soldersmoke is present a the formal National Security Agency (NSA) spy station in Berlin.

I added a few images as a attachment to this e-mail including one to show the great view over Berlin when you on the top deck (only showing one placement, the other 2 are hidden in plane site).

In short : when you can apricate street art and visit Berlin, a visit to the "Teufelsberg" is almost a must. IBEW bonus : there are a few soldersmoke stickers hidden on the top dek for you to find ;-)

73 from PA

Lex PH2LB

mail : lex@ph2lb.nl
home : http://www.ph2lb.nl/
twitter : https://twitter.com/lex_ph2lb
call : PH2LB

"Life's like a role playing adventure. You
need to solve the puzzles first before
they let you go to the next level."

Friday, May 5, 2023

SolderSmoke Podcast #246: PeteGPT! DC RX, Si5351, Franklin osc, Cuban DSB, Hex beams, uBITX mods, DX, 10 meters, MAILBAG

SolderSmoke Podcast #246 is available:

AUDIO PODCAST: http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke246.mp3

YouTube VIDEO: (247) SolderSmoke Podcast #246: uBITX, Hex Beam, DX, High School DC RX, 10 meter SSB Rig, MAILBAG - YouTube

The AI Deep Fake Threat! PeteGPT!

Hearing Aid info: I can hear the cymbals in my audiogram adjusted Airpods.

Update on the TJ DC RX project – Several receivers working! https://hackaday.io/project/190327-high-schoolers-build-a-radio-receiver

Sunil’s company provides Nano/Si5351 combos. With the KD8CEC software. Very cool. http://amateurradiokits.in They have a new SSB dual band transceiver – the Airpal.

Mark AJ6CU helping me. Sent me Nanos with KD8CEC software. His uBITX Settings Editor seems very cool. https://github.com/AJ6CU/uBITX-Settings-Editor/releases/tag/V2-beta-1 Thanks Mark.

Franklin Oscillators.

Cuban Islander and Jaguey info. Send more!

Fixing up uBITX 2 How Bill blew up TWO Raduino Nanos. My results with the KB1GMX mods. (see below)

Hex Beam work: Adding 10 and 15 meter elements. But now I can hear AM breakthrough from WFAX 1220 AM (5 kW during the day), So I made a high pass filter.

Made first contacts on 15 and 10: Argentina, Brazil, Dominican Republic.

First contacts with both India VU3TPW and China BA4TB. SSB homebrew.

sBITX news. Taking orders!

Pete’s 10 Meter SSB Project

Mailbag:

--Wes W7ZOI provided great info and analysis on the Franklin oscillator. And lots of great tech info on other topics: http://w7zoi.net/oldtech/ponder.html Thanks Wes!
--Lex PH2LB. uBITX mods. TO-18 Heatsinks. New stickers (see above).
--Kostos SV3ORA and Hans G0UPL about the Franklin Oscillator.
--Listening to HRWB 178: Great stuff, many old friends: George KJ6VU moved to Oregon. Thomas K4SWL on the show. Ben, an old friend of Pete’s, mentions John Zaruba K2ZA – the guy who gave me the DX-100. Wonderful connections.
--Thanks to Todd VE7BPO for sending me another AADE LC meter. I need it for the SSSS.
--Nick MONTV planning a 15/10 meter dualband SSB rig. Me too! See video.
--Trevor Woods in W. Australia – The portrait in Artie Moore’s shack. Chuck WB9KZY – Willam Ramsay
--LA6NCA Helge three tube RX. Regen or DC? Mike Masterson WN2A and I discuss.
--Mike WU2D video on Retro QRP rigs – Steve G0FUW discusses Severn rig long in the works –started 1983 and nearly finished!
--Tim Hunkin of Secret Life fame did video with speaker made from potato ship bag. Discussed with Tony G4WIF and others. Also, Tim has an amazing video on cutting holes in metal. On the SolderSmoke blog.
--Bob Crane W8SX will be covering FDIM for SolderSmoke!
--Glen VE3DNL working on a more sophisticated DC RX.
--Craig KC2LFI from the beach on Grand Cayman. FB.
--Steve EI5DD reports We have changed our name - The May Issue of the HAM RADIO IRELAND Magazine, Ireland’s only independent magazine for the Radio Experimenter: https://docdro.id/SHH0VEy
--Mike EI0CL on 15 meters with Dean KK4DAS. FB
--Howard N3FEL of the Penn Wireless Association wants to do a group build of a DC RX.
--Martin LW9DTR in Buenos Aires looking for help with the code for an AD9850
--Todd K7TFC – always helping other homebrewers.
--Really thoughtful message from Kevin WN7Z