Monday, June 29, 2026

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

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SolderSmoke Podcast #265 is ready for download.  Video Version:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jWYe6NxnJA Audio Version:  http://solders...
8 comments:
Sunday, June 28, 2026

Update: How Many Drake 2-B Receivers Were Made? Can Someone Send a Drake 2-B to Scott?

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We first looked at this question way back in 2011:  https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2011/05/how-many-drake-2-bs-german-tank-problem.html Sc...
3 comments:
Saturday, June 27, 2026

Bob W8SX Interviews Hans G0UPL at FDIM 2026

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Thanks to Bob W8SX for being the SolderSmoke Correspondent at FDIM again this year.  We will present the audio recordings that Bob did for u...
1 comment:
Friday, June 26, 2026

100 Billion Transistors on One Small Chip -- No Room for Homebrew!

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https://newsroom.ibm.com/2026-06-25-ibm-debuts-worlds-first-sub-1-nanometer-chip-technology FCC Amateur Radio Exam Question:  Draw the schem...
Thursday, June 25, 2026

My AI QSL Card: Wood Boxes, a D-104, Books, a 'Scope, the EB-63A, Guapo, our Sticker, and a Cup of Coffee! KK0S's Cards

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Inspired by the ZL2BNE card sent to me by VK3HN, and the excellent question from Walter KA4KXX,  I endeavored today to create a QSL card tha...
5 comments:
Wednesday, June 24, 2026

A Really FB HB QRP QSL Card from New Zealand

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  That's the spirit!  The solder is melting.  Note the oscilloscope.  Note the books on the shelf. This amazingly good QSL card was sent...
2 comments:
Thursday, June 18, 2026

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

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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...
3 comments:
Wednesday, June 17, 2026

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

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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...
Monday, June 15, 2026

Canadian Ham to Include SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver in Teaching Materials for Canadian Ham License

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Good morning Bill N2CQR. I currently teach Canadian amateur radio certification courses. The Advanced certification (akin to the FCC Extra C...
1 comment:
Saturday, June 13, 2026

Sputnik, IGY, Korolev, 1 Watt

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Here is the Wikipedia on Sputnik 1:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sputnik_1 I didn't know how badly Korolev had been injured while in ...
Thursday, June 11, 2026

Why It Makes Sense to Take a Break When Stuck on a Problem: "Unleashing Your Creativity" -- Hidden Brain Podcast

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Wow.  For years we have been telling other builders that when they get stuck on a technical radio problem, when they can't fix a rig or ...
1 comment:

Q Dope, AI, and Homebrew Q Dope: Putting Packing Pellets to Good Use

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  Our friend Grayson KJ7UM recently asked about something that brought back old ham radio memories: Q Dope.  No, this not some new scary nar...
6 comments: