Indian Scientists Upbeat on Solar Cycle 25

https://earthsky.org/space/solar-cycle-24-25-sunspot-predictions

All I want for Christmas is... an HT-37 L25 Choke-- 9 Henries at 135 ma

Following my own advice to prepare for Straight Key Night, I tried to fire up my venerable Hallicrafters HT-37 transmitter. It didn't work.  I quickly determined that none of the oscillators were working, so my troubleshooting focused on the power supply.  Sure enough, the choke in the low voltage power supply is open.  That's bad.  

I briefly considered giving up on this old rig.  I don't really like working with tubes anymore.  And this thing is very heavy -- a real beast.  DX-100-like in its heaviness.  It can be hazardous to your health just moving this thing around.  Opening up the case is not easy. And there are nasty voltages in there....  

But I  have had this transmitter since 1973 or 1974.  I have fixed it many times, in several countries.  I got it from a member of the Crystal Radio Club when I was a kid.   There are parts given to me by Pericles, HI8P in the Dominican Republic. I used it to transmit through Russian satellites.   That transmitter is like an old friend.  I just can't give up on it. 

So I need to replace or repair the choke.  Is there anyone out there who has a junker out in the garage or some other source of L25?   Or does anyone know of a business that could rewind the choke.  Please let me know.  I have decided to leave the rig on the bench until I get this thing fixed (it is too heavy to move multiple times!)   

It it Hallicrafters Part Number 056-300259. L25 -- 9 Henries at 135 ma.  Help! 

SolderSmoke Podcast #208

SolderSmoke Podcast #208 is available: 

http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke208.mp3

15 December 2018

Pete and the California fires
Bill goes to Brooklyn
2 meter simplex
A return of the trivial electric motor
Audio from Mars
HF Conditions -- a real mixed bag

Pete looks back at 2018 -- The Year of the SSB Transceiver -- Lessons Learned

Hans Summers, the QSX and the virtues of SDR
W7ZOI's DC Receiver Retrospective
The 1972 Solar Flare and the Vietnam War

SHAMELESS COMMERCE:  Buy your gifts through the Amazon link to the upper right. 
Consider SolderSmoke the book as a gift.  Visit Pasta Pete's for cooking ideas. 

Don't Build It!   Sage -- but unexpected -- advice from Pete. 

Straight Key Night approaches. 

Book Reviews:  
--"What is Real?"  (Quantum Physics)
-- RHdb by K6LHA.

Movies
"Bohemian Rhapsody" 
"First Man" (Not yet!)

MAILBAG: 
Steve G0FUW
Ed KC8SBV 

Free Book! RHdb -- The Radio Hobbyist's Designbook by K6LHA

http://hanssummers.com/k6lha-design-book.html

Another AMAZING Homebrew Vacuum Tube (Valve)

I feel a moral obligation to put these projects on the blog every time I see one.  It just seems like the right thing to do.  Great work on the Pilotron.   Great workshop video also.  

Built-in Spectrum Analyzer in Hans Summers' QSX Rig.

I agree completely with the e-mojis.   Wow!  Cool!  I love it! 

Hans Summers is a genius. 

This is almost enough to make me get with the program and embrace SDR.  

Hans has done what seemed to have been impossible: true homebrew with SDR. 

First Audio From Mars

How long will it be before NASA starts getting critical comments on the audio quality, along with very confident statements about how to change the audio settings on the menu?  Well, at least they have "presence."

The Elser Mathes Cup awaits a winner!   

A Beautiful Launch! Watch the Video

Today's SpaceX Falcon 9 launch of Farhan's Exseed Satellite was really spectacular. Congratulations Farhan!  Really inspirational stuff. 

Now we wait to hear the bird.   If I have loaded the orbital information correctly, I should have my first chance this evening.   I have my antenna positioned.  

DON'T BUILD IT! Sage Advice from Pete N6QW: Why You Should NOT Build an SSB Transceiver

Be sure to read the comments.  Especially my comment. And Pete's response. 

https://n6qw.blogspot.com/2018/11/2018-year-of-ssb-transceivers_27.html?showComment=1543673593869#c2528546290216719692

Launch Delay -- they will try again tomorrow

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/12/spacex-falcon-9-sso-multi-sat-launch/

Launch Day! Godspeed Exseed! 1:31 pm Eastern time. Video links here.

Farhan posted this message and the above video to Facebook today (I have the video cued up to around the 5 minute point): 

We are all set for the launch of ExseedSat... There are two tiny switches at the bottom of the satellite that keep the satellite switched off while it stays in it's container. Once the satellite is ejected, the switches are released and the satellite wakes up. 
There are 36 satellites on this launch, some belong to close friends in the satellite fraternity. We wait for all the satellites to drift out and after 45 minutes, the antennas are depolyed and we will start beeping signals home.
Here is a test of that process. You can skip to the fifth minute to watch the antenna depoly .

I really like the tape measure antenna.  This recalls the earliest OSCAR satellites.  And let's not forget that OSCAR 1 also launched from Vandenberg.  So there a lot of good tradition flying with Farhan's bird. 

Press reports indicate a launch time of 1:31 pm Eastern time today.   I think you can watch it live through the video window below.  Or try this link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq8kS6UoOrQ 

Cubesat Launch Now Scheduled for Sunday Morning (California time)

Here is an update from the San Luis Obispo News: 

https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article222438135.html

It kind of makes you wish you were out there... 

https://spacenews.com/dedicated-rideshare-falcon-9-launch-raises-satellite-tracking-concerns/

https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/1/18114894/spacex-falcon-9-reusability-sso-a-mission-rideshare-satellites