Jean Shepherd's Shack Gets Hit by Lightning

Yikes!  This is really good!  Thanks to Harv for sending us this link:  Poor Shep!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akyTVNorXQ8&feature=player_detailpage

Greetings Bill,

Have been loving each Soldersmoke Podcast and Blog Segment recently.
You and Pete have made the program a superb treat while I've been busy with the Radio Room construction.


Building the Radio Room is like constructing an ARK in your Basement. Everything is being done in pairs
and the water keeps rising. (No kidding)...
I encountered two water breaks in the Radio Room while construction was under way but, that is a whole different story.
Fortunately none of my prized boat anchors were damaged.

The project; (The Radio Room), includes operating positions for 14 complete stations.
That wouldn't be too bad except I'm constructing walls, benches and over-head lighting from complete scratch.
While this is going on, I wanted to finish my 3.579 MHz CBLA transmitter and return to the Minima build that I started in April 2014.
However, in September, I retired and moved to another state.  The reality of the latter took awhile to sink in. Most Ham Projects took a back seat to higher priorities. I will soon have the Radio Room I always dreamed of. The Drake 2B fills the space with the sound of 20 Mtr CW and the anticipation of having the HT-37 brewing away is just around the bend.

I'm taking a short sabbatical from the Ham Shack construction to get caught up on some other household projects.
In this notion of taking a needed break, I rediscovered Jean Shepherd's programs on Youtube.
I started to dissect Sheps monologue when I found that familiar path in my own life as a 15 yr. old Ham in the mid-1960s.
I'm sure you too can relate to Jeans' life as a kid.
I really liked his broadcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akyTVNorXQ8&feature=player_detailpage
"Lightning Hits the Ham Radio." Near the end of the program, he mentions that his life was over because his
Dad hammered him over the damage to the house by the lightning strike. I'd love to hear the rest of that story!!!

Please keep up the great efforts with Soldersmoke and bringing us all that good Tribal Knowledge. I think we should all go build something.
Looking forward to what's next. Thanks to You and Pete.

73's
De -=WA3EIB=- Harv
Eastern Idaho 


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

Mahalo! WH7TT's Hawaiian Mighty Mite

This is our western-most MMM.  Edward took one of the 3.579 rocks and, using a Radio Shack breadboard (much used by Michael Rainey AA1TJ) built his version of the Mighty Mite.  When I saw the long clip leads to the coil I was apprehensive, but obviously it works.  Great job Edward and thanks for sharing with us your island rig.  Mahalo! (I like saying that!)

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

W1KF's Connecticut Mighty Mite

Steve W1KF's Connecticut Mighty Mite is the neatest build so far:   it has a front panel and knobs and plugs and everything!  Pete Juliano commented: "Very cool –and elegant. I loved the transistor in a front panel mounted socket with heat sink. Wished I had thought  of that –great idea."  Steve is on the air at grey line times, looking for contacts at 3.579 Mhz.

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

New Homebrew Book: The Joy of Homebrew Oscillations

Sent to us by Ben Tovar.  Soon to be available in EE-book (get it!)   Thanks Ben! 

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

SolderSmoke Podcast 169: The Colorburst Liberation Army, Arduino DDS and the Tradition of Ham Experimentation

SolderSmoke Podcast #169 is now available: 

http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke169.mp3

-- 25 crystals "deployed"  to new Colorburst Liberation Army recruits
-- OBJECTIVE:  For now, just oscillation 
-- Using the Reverse Beacon Network (when time comes to transmit)
-- W2DAB's Mighty Mite: trials, tribulations, triumphs (and karma)
-- Explaining the Mighty Mite (all 7 parts)
-- Minima IF evolution -- up to 25 Mhz? 
-- Chuck Adams and "Experimental METH"!!!!!!!!!!
-- Different kinds of Arduinos
-- Si5350s and amateur experimentation
-- First menus, now KEYPADS! 
-- The launch of Orion
-- N2CQR/HI  Beach Portable DSB on 20
-- Video review:  "The Wanderers"

EL CLA UNIDO JAMAS SERA VENCIDO!   

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

Launch of the new Orion rocket

The Saturn V was, of course, far more impressive and beautiful.  But the Orion is pretty cool. When  I was looking at the drawings depicting the various stages of the spacecraft,  that Apollo-shaped capsule brought back some deep memories.  I was 10 years old when Apollo 11 launched.  

A page from the scrapbook I made during the flight of Apollo 11. 

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

CBLA Field Manual

I'm starting to worry about a visit from Homeland Security.   I found this on the blog of W6IEE. He blames K6FWT. 

The CBLA has a Yahoo Group: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/CBLA/info


Up the revolution!  Fight the Powers that Be!

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

Another NY Mighty Mite Oscillates -- on 40! N2HTT (Video)

Inspired by all the talk of Mighty Mites, N2HTT put together a nice 40 meter version: 

Details on his blog:  http://n2htt.net/

Click on the video above to see and hear it in action. 

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

Manhattan Mighty Mite: "Rockin' the Big Apple on 3.579"

Dave W2DAB got his Manhattan Mighty Mite oscillating nicely!  Hooray!  

Check out Dave's report on his Mighty Mite adventure: 

http://w2dab.bamford.net/

So far we have sent out 20 colorburst crystals.  Already we have two circuits oscillating (not counting Pete's and mine). 

CLA is on the march! 

E-mail from Dave: 

Dear Bill & Pete:

Thanks for all your help, I can joyfully announce the birth of my first Michigan Mighty Mite, Oscillating at the frequency of 3.579!  Yes, Pete’s sage advice to flip the coil over was a great help and also my good friend from Vermont (A Michiganian by birth ).  OK, so Bill… you remember your most embarrassing moments in home-brew? Well, here’s mostly what happened: I was reading the article I found online and somehow got 40 meters stuck in my head even though your colorburst was for 80 - So I build a 40 meter coil.  When I realized my mistake I thought - well why not build two of these so I pulled out the Colorburst and put in a Norcal 7.040 and then built a new board with a new 80 coil oriented properly and the pic below is the one you see.  Now I have two Mighty Mite’s that work, how great is that.

My next goal is to continue forward using Pete’s Build Something Video’s, so more fun to come.

I will post a video on my blog of the 80 Meter Colorburst Michigan Mighty Mite uttering it’s joyful tones, but for now I’ve put a lovely photo at the bottom.

Success is sweet when you hear the sounds of the beep!

Cheers and 73 Gentlemen

Dave

W2DAB

("Manhattan is more fun in Manhattan”)

 

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

VK5FJ's Open SDR Rig (Arduino and SI5351)

Morning OM's,

I've amassed the parts for my 12v Regen Rx inspired by a projects from VK3YE and an audio amp, using a pair of 12AU7's. I'll publish more about that soon on my blog.

In the mean time, I'd like to thank you guys for inspiration on the si5351 VFO in use with various projects.  After we found the first articles by NT7S, we discussed that there are a lot of possibilities.

I've just finished my build of an Arduino controlled SDR transceiver prototype using the Si5351A.

See attached images. Lots of collaboration with Mark VK5QI and David VK5DGR. More at; http://openradio.net.au/index.php/OpenRadio_SDR

This week I'm tinkering with the LPF for 20meters. Puts out a whopping 20mW.

Everything is on schedule for the presentation using this SDR at Linux.Conf.Au next year. Got some coding to do to add I&Q for the SDR side over the summer break.

72, Kim VK5FJ

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

Building a Better Diode Ring Balanced Modulator (with Knack Karma)

So yesterday Pete and I were talking about Dave W2DAB's Michigan Mighty Mite malady. Dave is tantalizingly close to the joy of oscillation.  Wizard that he is, I think Pete diagnosed the problem with his eyes closed from 3000 miles away.  I sent Dr. Juliano's prescription to Dave this morning and expect the concrete canyons of Upper Manhattan to be ringing with pure 800 Hz tones as soon as Dave fires up his soldering iron. 

Anyway, I then told Pete that I'd been looking through my bookshelf for something suitable for my 11 year-old nephew Sebastian.  I found something for him, but I also came across a book that was too advanced for the young fellow:   "The Master Handbook of Ham Radio Circuits." TAB Books, 1977.  By "The Editors of 73 Magazine."   Between turkey sandwiches I started looking through this book.  I immmediately found an article of interest:  "A Better Balanced Modulator."   The author (unnamed) looks closely at the performance of our beloved and much-used diode ring mixer with dual trifilar transformers.  He concludes that the unbalanced input and output coils (in the traditional configuration) detracts from the balance needed for optimum carrier suppression.  He suggest the use of baluns at input and output (see above) and claims significant improvement in carrier suppression.   Very interesting. (If anyone wants to dig into this, e-mail me.)  There is also a very simple solid-state VFO circuit that promises phenomenal stability.   

Anyway,  I found myself trying to remember where this great book came from.  Then I remembered someone sending it to me.  A quick check of my e-mail revealed the source:  Dave W2DAB sent it to me three years ago.  Thanks again Dave!  


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

35% Off on Bill's Books

35 % off on "SolderSmoke" (the book!),  "Contra Cross", and my new book: "Us and Them" 

All available in print and e-book form here: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/soldersmoke

Sale through Dec 3.


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