"She built her own oscilloscope at age 14." Homebrew Hero: Tatjana Van Vark

AJ8T sent me the link to the web site of this, our latest Homebrew Hero. I don't think she is a ham, but Tatjana definitely has The Knack. Check out that workmanship. The range of the projects is also quite astounding. It is so impressive that I really found myself questioning whether this could be for real. But it is.

When you look at the Enigma-like coding machine, note the cryptological challenge at the bottom. Tatjana won't release the tech details of this project until someone cracks the encrypted Haiku! Go for it!

http://www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/vanvark.htm

SolderSmoke Podcast #127

SolderSmoke #127 has been released! Get it here:

http://www.soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke127.mp3

Topics covered:
Linux Ubuntu and Audio Quality.
Karmic Koala makes you EVEN YOUNGER
Reverse Culture shock, Woodpeckers, and the Washington METRO system
The smell of an old HT-37
75 meter AM
DaVinci Code QRSS rig on the air
Cul-de-sac astronomy with TWO telescopes
READING: SPRATS, Hot Iron, Sky Buddies, Wired
Jeri Ellsworth's homebrew transistors
Tatjana Van Vark's homebrew Enigma-like machine
MAILBAG
Antenna work and hamfests on the horizon

Homebrew Transistors!

None of those store-bought parts for Jeri Ellsworth! Once again she makes us all look like a bunch of pathetic appliance operators. I like the "harvesting of Germanium" from a 1N34. And I found very interesting her comment about "early hobbyists" cracking open 1N34's and turning them into transistors by adding phosphor-bronze collectors.

This all makes me want to fire up my Fool's Gold crystal radio. WFAX is right down the road...

BTW: I'm very pleased to report that Jeri is currently reading "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics." I hope she likes it. She definitely has "The Knack."

SolderSmoke Podcast 127 is almost ready.

Back on the air with QRSS QRPp

I dusted off the old G0UPL QRSS QRPP FSK 30 meter transmitter (built and last used in Italy) and hooked it up to about 50 feet of AC line cord stretched low across the new Northern Virginia backyard. I hooked it up to my Kempton Park power supply (thanks for the chip Tony!) and fired up my freq counter (also from Kempton Park -- remember the chip I soldered in backwards?) I put a field strength meter next to the wire and tuned my L network for max smoke. Hey, and it worked! My signal is the wavy shark fin-looking thing. I think the wave results from a temp drop in the shack that happened when I opened the door. Just to confirm it was me, I turned the transmitter off for a few minutes. You can see me disappear from W1BW's screen.

Its good to be once again emitting EM waves!

Happy Halloween! 20% off SolderSmoke

I hope to have a new podcast out soon, perhaps a Halloween edition. Lulu is offering 20% off on SolderSmoke -- The Book. Just use the coupon code: TRICK305

Linux makes you younger! "Aha! moments"

Listeners seem to like the audio quality of SolderSmoke episode #126. I was surprised by this because I didn't do any of the post-recording processing that I'd done in earlier episodes. I didn't even have the foam "Popping P Protector" on the mic. And the equalizer that Brent sent hasn't been put in service yet. The improved audio may simply be the result of broader bandwidth -- I didn't use the Audacity equalizer to drop off the lows and highs. Perhaps that explains why the file was over 40 MB instead of the normal 20 MB. Several listeners said that I sounded 10 years younger in 126 -- it must be a Linux thing.

Chris KJ4GUU posted a nice comment about my book "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics" (which he calls SSGAWE):

"I have started reading I have started reading SSGAWE again. Whenever I have a question about a project I can usually find help in your book, its becoming more of a cherished reference guide that has produced more Ah-ha! moments than any other book I own. Thanks again!"

Thanks Chris -- those "Ah-ha! moments" were what I was hoping to produce.

For more info on the book, go here:
http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm

RSS, Time Signal, Miners...

I was very pleased to send SolderSmoke 126 out yesterday. There are some bugs to be worked out. The audio -- as always -- could use some improvement. (Any comments on how the audio in 126 compares with the 120-125?)

I tried to update the RSS feed this morning -- please let me know if it works properly.

Several listeners have already identified the time Spanish language time signal I've been hearing on 75 meters: HD2IOA in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Great to see the Chilean miners coming up out of the mine this morning!

SolderSmoke IS BACK: #126

October 11, 2010
SolderSmoke returns!
Shack #7:  The New Shack
Drake 2-B inhaling RF
Listening to 75 AM and SSB: WA1HLR, KM1A
Time signal on 3820 +/-?
Repairing DaVinci Code QRSS rig
UK test gear works fine on this side of pond!
Computer woes: First Linux SolderSmoke
Astronomy from inside the Beltway
Winter SPRAT: Great info, philosophy, inspiration
Charging up solar cells
Inbound Boatanchors:  DX-40, DX-60, HQ-100, HA-600(A), HT-37
MAILBAG
- 

Update, Columbus Day

OK, the Drake 2-B is running. I'm listening to 75 meter SSB. Coffee is on. Solder has been melted in the new shack -- I had to replace the MPF-102 in my little DaVinci Code beacon MEPT 30 meter transmitter. Little by little, SolderSmoke HQ is coming back together, this time in Northern Virginia.

Lulu reports a big holiday weekend sale: 14.92 percent off this weekend only. Just put the EXPLORE305 code in when checking out.
http://www.soldersmoke.com/book.htm

SolderSmokeStatus

I've been getting some increasingly desperate messages about SolderSmoke withdrawal symptoms so I thought I'd better send out a status report. Also, one listener wrote in addressing me as "The Grand Poobah of the SolderSmoke Brotherhood." Wow, with a title like that, I better get going with the podcasts!

Most of the stuff is in the shack. The workbench is assembled. I'm trying to set up for both 220 and 110 (lots of Euro gear accumulated over the last ten years!) Surprisingly, Home Depot doesn't sell 110 to 220 transformers. And I live in an area where LOTS of people move back and forth across the pond. I may have to press my old autotransformer into service.

Most of my really old gear -- the stuff that went into storage over the last decade -- should show up in a week or so. This means my HT-37, DX-40, DX-60, Lafayette HA-600 etc. will be reappearing on the scene.

I hope to get some beacons (uh, I mean MEPTs!) on the air soon.

Unfortunately my ancient computer gave up the ghost during the trip. Hard drive is making scary noises. This will slow down the podcast as I have trouble putting it together with Linux only (which is what I'm operating with now -- thanks Jorge! Without your help I'd be completely off the net) Anyone have any version of Windows I could legally use?

But the Drake 2-B is doing fine. I'm listening to 75 SSB as I type.

Hang in there loyal listeners. Perhaps some of that nicotine gum would help. Or, better, some REAL solder smoke.

73 from the GP

Bill

Climbing a REALLY tall tower

No thanks, I think I'll stick to tree-supported dipoles.

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/81100181/

Thanks to Brent, KD0GLS for sending along this really scary video.

Getting Settled -- Slowly. Yogi Berra on Theory and Practice

I've been getting some "Are you alive?" inquiries from SolderSmoke fans. I'm happy to report that, yes, I am still around, and doing fairly well. This move back to the states has been a bit more difficult and complicated than previous transfers, but slowly the shack is starting to come
together. Moat important: The Drake 2-B survived the journey!

It may take me a few weeks to start emitting whistling S sounds and Gong noises ("Wow, that's awesome!') but hang in there, new SolderSmoke episodes are on the way.

Meanwhile, I wanted to share with you a Yogi Berra quote sent to me by Brent, KD0GLS. I think this is especially appropriate because my grandfather actually played for the New York Yankees:

"As I make my way through the back episodes of SolderSmoke at a stately pace and hear you speak of Bletchley Park, I'm also reading "Secrets & Lies" by Bruce Schneier, renowned cryptographer and internet security expert. In his book, I read this timeless quote that immediately made me think of our hobby:

"In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is."
Yogi Berra"

Thanks Brent! Thanks Yogi!