Sputnik Party 2012 Soapbox

Poster by Steve "Snort Rosin" Smith

3 October from AA1TJ:

Here's an admittedly late reminder that the Sputnik Party begins
tomorrow (4 October). I've been preoccupied with non-hobby concerns in
recent months but I did manage to throw something together for the
event.

My transmitter follows the lines of the 10mW, battery-powered, RF
beacon that was carried into orbit in 1958 by "Vanguard 1." You may
recall this is the one Premier Nikita Khrushchev characterized as "the
grapefruit satellite."

My present build uses essentially the same circuitry and componentry
as did an earlier, 20m version; details of which can be found at

http://aa1tj.blogspot.com/2012/06/vanguard-1-satellite-transmitter.html

The 15m version drives a 44m end-fed wire with 30milliWatts.

The receiver that I built for the event is essentially a "Q-multiplier
-> detector" type regenerative job. However, the Q-multiplication is
accomplished by a parametric amplification using a quartz-crystal
controlled pump. I thought it would be historically appropriate given
that parametric amplifiers were all the rage in the late 1950's.

I put together the keying and R/T changeover circuitry this morning.
When it appeared that "all systems were go" I began sending CQs on
21.060MHz. The band, or at least that portion of the band (the
receiver only tunes from 21.060 to 21.064MHz), seemed rather quiet,
but my 6th call netted a "dit dit dah dah dit dit." Resending my call,
I was very pleased to hear HB9DCL come back to me from just outside of
Zurich. The reports were 579/339. Frank was running 5W to a log
periodic antenna. I sure hope this is a sign of things to come!

I hope to be at the key by 1300Z tomorrow. Although my little
"grapefruit" only puts out 30mW, folks running "Sputniks" made from
ex-Soviet subminiature "rod tubes" should be at least two S-units
stronger. A number of European stations will be operating this year
and at least one station that I know of will be QRV from Japan. Just
listen for the beeps and give them a call!

Thank you,
Mike, AA1TJ

.......................

04/10/12  ( first day)

dear friends &Sputnikers

today a Belgian "sputnik clone" crossed the pond

first hit

15:22 with N0UR a 2 x sputnik "solid" QSO

Jim wrote: Thanks QSO, here is how you sounded in MN

( in attach)

16:00 second hit with AA1TJ , Mike "the inventor of all this Sputnik madness" hix 3 

this time a bit more difficult but at last we could manage to exchange reports,

between the QRM and noise at last got confirmation , 

Mike's sigs  here where 339 but still copyable

all OK with my 559 sigs then suddenly some other sputnikers came on the scene and I lost Mike

nevertheless

with my 60 years again excited as a young boy

as we made some history today hi x 3

will take a picture

for the moment a complete mess as the DC/DC invertor inside the sputnik  broke down

lost the very early contact with UA1CEG suddenly no more power in the SPUTNIK-cabine LOL

had to drag my new testbench power supply (still under construction )

or  lot of things to fix for those lausy 700 milliwatts hahahaha

73 to all

Jos

ON6WJ

.................................

News flash...Sputnik worked Vanguard across the pond. I just sent this
letter to some of the guys

Dear Friends

I won't forget this morning's QSO with ON6WJ anytime soon! As he
beeped/called CQ I could hear him riding on waves of QSB. I kept
hoping he would end on the top of the wave. It happened one time and
Jos sent "AA1TJ?" but by the time I re-sent my call we were back in
the trough of the wave. He started calling again and once again I
crossed my fingers. Finally it happened, he ended on top of a
particularly strong peak...and sure enough, he copied my callsign. It
took more effort to exchange the reports but we eventually did it! He
confirmed my 559 and I did the same for my 339 report. It must be true
that anything worthwhile doesn't come easy, because the more difficult
the QSO the more I seem to enjoy it! I copied Jos' info: "SPUTNIK PWR
700mW = ANT 3EL YAGI" perfectly on my tiny receiver. Just as amazing,
he copied my 30mW transmitter made from one PNP Germanium transistor
dating from September of 1959. Needless to say, I'm a happy camper
today. Merci Beaucoup, Jos.

Just above my operating frequency I heard PA0PJE sending "CQ Sputnik."
You had a beautiful signal here, PJ! It was easily S6 on the peaks. My
transmitter frequency trimmer adjustment is buried in a rat's nest of
wires which I didn't dare stick my hand in so early in the day.
However, if I hear you again I will definitely risk it.

Thanks Carlo/IZ4KBS and congratulations on your Russian QSO. Any
contact all with this simple stuff is reason for a celebration!

...and now back to the Hobbit Hole for another dose of QRPp.

73/72,
Mike, AA1TJ

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Ham Radio Exam Day in Ireland: October 4

OK gang, it is time for us to do what we can to help a worthy Short Wave Listener transition into the world of amateur radio.  Chris will be facing the Irish radio examiners on October 4.  So please try to send some positive vibes in the direction of Ireland.  Cross your fingers (especially the ones with the soldering iron scars!)  Maybe melt some sacrificial solder. C.F. Rockey might suggest sacrificing a chicken to Papa Legba.   Say a prayer if you are so inclined.   Good luck Chris!  

Hi Bill,

Just wanted to say thanks for the great podcast and keep up the good work.

I’ve been listening for a good while now and following your subscriptions advice on things like Tim’s “Hot Iron” Constructors club and QRP/Sprat magazine.

I’ve got my Amateur Radio licence test in 2 days time (4^th Oct) over here in Ireland (Dublin’s Comreg Offices) so please give all the candidates a mention and wish us luck.

Great book as well…  When I’ve had my fill of studying I switch over to your book for a while to relax a bit and read your thoughts on getting to grips with it all.

There’s only one licence here in Ireland so it’s Full or nothing  so it’s going to be tough! My brain is well and truly fried!!

I’m determined not to be a (can’t even remember what you call them in your book ha ha) “User” and go out and buy everything I need so I’m looking forward to lots of construction projects when (IF!) I get my licence J

Best Regards (I don’t think I’ve earned my right to use 73’s yet),

Chris

(EI1628 SWL/qrz.com)

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How to Get Ready to Build a BITX-20

Continuing with our workshop inspiration theme, I spotted this in the BITX-20 mailing list this morning.  The response is from Farhan: 

blake,

i would suggest a different route. a long and winding one, that will
finally lead to a bitx.

the idea is to learn. you do this by understanding what you build and
building what you understand. by 'understand', i specifically mean, being
able to measure. here is what i suggest, buy yourself a bunch of 2N3904s
from the local radio shack and some resistors and caps. then build this :

http://www.phonestack.com/farhan/testosc.gif

this is an oscillator. if you plug a coil between the open ends, it will
become a vfo, if u plug a crystal, it becomes a crystal oscillator. you can
use your frequency oscillator to check the frequency it is oscillating at,
etc.

with this, you would have mastered the first of the three blocks that make
up almost every radio circuit. but next, you must make another test
instrument. a power meter. most of us ham start out with a simple RF probe.
while that was fine and dandy for its day, now we can do much much better.
we can make a very accurate power meter that enable you to measure things
as finely as anybody in this business. W7ZOI has designed a super simple
power meter. it is available as a kit.
read about the power meter here :
http://www.kangaus.com/Documentation%20files/Power%20Meter%20Documentation%20May%202011.pdf
you can purchase the kit at www.kangaus.com
(I have no business interest with kanga or any other kit manufacturer)

with the power meter in place, you can now measure the power levels coming
out of any circuit with great accuracy.

now, you can build a single stage feedback amplifer (there are six of them
used in the bitx) on a copper clad board. using the test oscillator as an
input, you can measure how much gain the amplifer has (measure the
oscillator output, then connect the oscillator to the amp and ,measure the
amp output. the, amp output - oscillator output = amp gain).

of course, while building both these blocks, you will discover what
voltages to expect at which junction of components in both these blocks.

next, you can build a step attenuator. which is a really simple thing and
of immense value in the home lab. here is a design
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/9506033.pdf
or you can now buy it in a kit form from
http://www.qrpkits.com/attenuator.html

finally, you can build a simple signal generator like this :
http://www.phonestack.com/farhan/siggen.html  . this will allow you change
frequencies and measure what a circuit does at different frequencies. you
can use this to test how the filters are doing and get them to 'spot' where
you want them to.

so, there it is, a signal generator, a power meter, step attenuator, test
oscillator. four, very simple test instruments that you  can build
yourself. they will give you one helluva education in radio. and within
weeks, you will understand and start building on your own!!

- farhan

> Quoting bfabman :
>
> Hello Everyone, I have been watching the group for a few months now
> with interest. I have no electronic experience to speak of, but I have
> a burning desire to make one of these, and I am wondering what all of
> you think of someone like myself building one as my first real radio
> project, to be used for qrp mountain topping. I don't have any
> electronic test equipment for the final alignment, other than a
> standard DIG vom meter. (I am willing to buy some equipment if
> necessary) I think that this would be an awesome winter project just
> don't know if it would be over my head. If I got it all built, could I
> actually get it aligned and working properly. I did make a Norcal
> frequency counter project last year and it turned out very well. Thanks
> for your opinions before I spend the money. Blake
>
> Paul Daulton K5WMS
> beacon WMS 185.302 khz qrss30/slow 24/7
> Jacksonville,Ar 72076
> em34wu
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Science Fair Light Beam Communications in 1960s

Hi Bill!  This Bob Schubert, KC4FNE in Blacksburg Virginia just wanting to say hello and taking the opportunity to say "Thanks" for the SolderSmoke Series.  I have to let you know your podcast accompanies me as I do my early morning exercise regime.  Before SolderSmoke, I would begrudgingly get out on the track every other day.  Now I'm out there just about every morning listening to a new episode.  I'm not sure what I will do once I exhaust all of the episodes?  Normally I would cover my obligatory 2 miles in 45 minutes, now I'm looking for excuses to stay on the track so as to complete a one-hour or so episode.  When I'm listening to it in the car, I find myself circling the block just so I can finish a podcast.  It has also prompted me to purchase the SolderSmoke book.  I'm thoroughly enjoying the book as we seemed to have both grown up close to the same timeframe and our early lives led as "geeks."  If you interetsted in what an "old geek" is up to now, point your browser to http://www.lumenhaus.com/  This is a solar powered house done by a team of architecture and engineering students/faculty I was involved with.  If you ever find your way to Blacksburg and are interetsed in our Lumenhaus, I would be happy to provide a tour.

I've included a photograph of me taken at Orange County High School in the mid-60's with a science fair experiment "Talking on a Light Beam." While not quite in the 478THz range of the high-power LEDs it was up there!  While modulating the filament on a flashlight I would be hard-pressed to go 95ft much less 95 miles.

Best, Bob Schubert KC4FNE

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Video Model Rocketry

Our plan is to strap a key-chain video camera to the center of gravity on this mean green machine.  Using Duct Tape (of course).  Kind of like this guy did:  

http://www.teamten.com/lawrence/projects/video-camera-on-model-rocket/


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Bell Labs: Similarities in Wave Behavior

John N. Shive rocks the universe with his 1959 wave machine.  We saw this device some time ago in a video in which Dr. Shive explained standing waves.  Thanks to Armand WA1UQO for alerting us to this gem.  

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Real DX: Hubble's EXTRA Deep Field

http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2012/09/26/nasas-hubble-space-telescope-takes-deepest-image-of-the-universe-to-date/

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SSB Generation: Ideas from Around the World

I liked this thread on the EMRFD mailing list.  The question of how best to generate SSB is very interesting, and I also liked the global scope of the Q&A:  Peter in Hungary asks the question, Farhan in India and Allison in the U.S. respond.   

 On 9/25/12, ha5rxz wrote:
When generating an SSB signal from audio and a 9 MHz carrier which would be
the best mixer to use?
a) A high-level ring bridge mixer such as the SRA-1H
b) An H-Mode mixer using an FST3125 chip
c) An H-Mode mixer using a 74HC4016
d) Something else
Note that this mixer will not be used to demodulate.
Peter HA5RXZ
...................................
Ashhar Farhan wrote:
In my experience, if you keep the audio level low enough, it is
difficult to beat a simple two diode mixer.with a 10 db attenuator in
the output. Having just two diodes makes balancing of reactive as well
as resistive differences of the two diodes quite trivial. Schottky
diodes are best.
One thing, I did discover though is that the balance should be to
minimize the harmonic distortion, rather than just the carrier
suppression.
What we are shooting for is to keep the In-band IMD down. Carrier
suppression is just hygiene. So, you will want to tune in to the
signal, modulating it with two tones and see it on a audio spectrum
analyzer (freely downloadable from the net) and try getting the third
spike down.
Though the 'packaged' mixers don't give you the needed control for
hi-fidelity, for trivial usage, NE602 is pretty good. Just drop it
into the rig and live with what you get (which is not bad at all).
The best resource is the chapter on phasing receivers and transmitters
in emrfd. Rick is the guru. I hope he joins this thread.
 
- Farhan
............................................
FROM KB1GMX: 

I'll weigh in..

Yes, they all work. You need a provision for adjusting carrier balance on some but anything over 40db will be good.

I've used 602/612s, SBL-1, SBL-1H, diode rings, and even varicap
diodes (there is a design using them in capacitively balanced 
a modulator from many years ago. They all work if the levels are correct.

These days I use the sa612 for simple designs, SBL-1 with a 50ohm 
pot added for balance for better radios and the 4 diode ring I've 
used many times as its uncritical, needs only one untapped 
transformer and easy to make. Most of those are listed in the 
older 1975 through current handbooks and EMDRFD.

If needed I can post to the files section a few designs but 
they are all textbook and all are capable of good results.
In just about all the diode modulator cases a fairly strong 
carrier (5mW or more) is needed and the audio will be about 
10db lower for very good result. The active devices like the
ca3028(and friends), SA612, MC1496 the levels for the carrier 
and audio must be matched accordingly for the device. You can 
look at the output with a scope and get a first order eyeball 
call on quality (no carrier and no clipping or limiting) and a
receiver (any your ears) will tell you if its right.

Allison

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SolderSmoke Podcast #146

SolderSmoke Podcast #146 is available. 

http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke146.mp3

Sponsored by: SMT Solutions:  http://www.smt-solutions.net/

September 23, 2012

Trip to the Dominican Republic:  Puerto Plata and Samana
Evading Hurricane Isaac
Honda Accord as an emergency generator 
On the air on 75 and 40 AM
17 Meter Azores rig works...THE AZORES! 
Working (STILL!) on 20 meter DSB rig.  Soon to be JBOTed
Building model rocket with Billy
Book review:  "Martian Summer" 
Einstein on staying young
Primo Levi on QRP
HOT IRON:  G3ROO's Regen wins West Country prize 
Commodity Investment Opportunity: SILVER MICA! 
MAILBAG: 
SolderSmoke is on 478 THz in Salt Lake City
WA3EIB's HT-37
Radio-Erotica in Hallicrafters Ad



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An Ode to Old-time Radio by WA3EIB

I didn’t have much growing up but I still had fun!

Towers of wood and Pipe that reached close to the sun.

Antennas of aluminum and wire seen many blocks away.

C.W. into the wee hours of the night. Hot coffee, now I’m awake to stay.

Many pleasant dreams as the radio cooled and the crickets chirped me to sleep.

Nestled between Foreign Broadcast Signals, and oh my dinner,  I forgot to eat.

But YES, I still had fun!

A cigar box full of crystals and an antique key, I was determined it was one more watt that I need.

Lost them, found them and lost them again but, I still had fun indeed!

Sun rising now, Europe on the line, Shadows short and Africa began to shine.

Orange glow at dusk the ocean islands start to appear, near midnight now and its Russia I hear.

Perhaps these days may all be but gone but my equipment and dreams continue to live on.

And YES, I still have fun!    HH

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SolderSmoke in the Red Light Zone

Hi Bill,

I've been a listener to Soldersmoke for several years, now and look forward to the podcasts and postings.

This past weekend our group of microwavers in the Salt Lake City area participated in the 2nd half of the ARRL "10 GHz and up" contest and, for the fun of it, we decided to get on the highest amateur band, the one marked in the rules as being "275 GHz and up."  In our case, it was around 478 THz - also known as "Red" - being emanated from high-power (20+ watt) LEDs.

Attached is a picture taken from my location at about 9300 feet elevation (grid DN40cx) taken from a location near a minor bump known as "Bountiful Peak" 10 miles or so north of Salt Lake City where I was accompanied by Gordon, K7HFV and Gary, AB1IP.  At the other end of the path (the red dot at the far end of the red shaft of light) was in DN31it was Ron, K7RJ and his wife Elaine, N7BDZ located at about 5700 feet elevation near the remote northwestern Utah community of Park Valley, over 95 miles distant.  While this isn't our farthest DX (that would be a bit over 173 miles) it was still fairly substantial and gave us the ability/excuse to test some new, updated gear that hadn't seen much light in the field.

In doing our testing, we needed an audio source other than our voices so I'd brought along an MP3 player so that I could step away from the gear and still provide a constant source of audio.  Among that which was played across the link - the quality of which was extremely good, by the way at about 50dB S/N at full LED power - was your voice from a Soldersmoke podcast.

FWIW, we also established 2-way communications using cheap, low-power laser pointers and while they did work, the link was very inferior owing to severe scintillation (fading.)  For a bit more info on what we did you can read here:

http://ka7oei.blogspot.com/2012/09/throwing-ones-voice-95-miles-on.html

and if you want more, you can follow the link at the bottom of the page.

Anyway, I thought you might find that interesting, if nothing else...

73,

Clint
KA7OEI

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Boatanchor Dreams

Greetings Bill and Fellow Solder Melters,

Back in 1965, I bought a brand new HT-37 from a radio store in Pittsburgh, Pa.

It had been tucked away by the owner for his own personal collection.

He finally softened and sold it to me.  The Hallicrafters HT-37 became by Big Dog for many years.

In 2005, I fell on some difficult times and sold it. I regretted the departure moments after the exchange.

Well, finally after lots of searching, the right unit came along.

Here are a few pictures of my excellent E-bay buy.

I will begin to dig into the electrical status of the rig later this week but the unit seems well cared for and not abused. 

I will keep you posted. It will be happily married to my Drake 2B and Q-Multiplier after it passes muster.Yes fellow hams there are still gems out there for your collections. Just wait for the right buy and then go for it!

73’s  Harv -=WA3EIB=-

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

Photo by WA4KCY

Bill,
       I know you would appreciate this. Got an email this morning from a local ham who was getting rid of some "junk" radios, wondered if I or someone else could use them. Once I heard I got over there to pick them up. Among the usual, real junk was a Hammarlund HQ-110C receiver, in the original box and a Johnson Viking Ranger, also in the box. With all the manuals as well. The boxes are showing their age, the Ranger's being not much to look at. I am told neither works and haven't been looked at / turned for at least 20 years. What a find! They are very clean and complete, as far as I can tell.
The plan is to restore them to pristine condition and, hopefully, use them in one of the local museum as a working station.
 
Mike Herr
WA6ARA
DM-15dp

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Book Recommendation: "Martian Summer" by Andrew Kessler

I took this book with me to the Dominican Republic this summer, and I really enjoyed it.  Kessler has an unusual, very funny, self-deprecating writing style.  He is not a scientist nor an engineer, but he is given access to the inner sanctums of the Mars Phoenix mission, and spends an entire summer watching and documenting the work of the people running this mission.  

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

Amateurfunk -- Ham Radio in Germany in 1955

Ah, those were the days!  The bands were in good shape and hams built their own gear.  
Don't let the language barrier deter you -- this German language video is really a lot of fun and worth watching.  It provides a nice look at the hobby as it was 60 years ago. Thanks to Stephen and Michael for alerting me to this.    

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An SWL QSL

I always like to get QSL cards from shortwave listeners.   I suppose this has to do with my broadcaster tendencies.  I blame Jean Shepherd for this.  Owen heard my K2ZA DX-100 on 40 meter AM. 

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Hallicrafters' Radio-Erotica

Wow, back in the day the marketing suits from Hallicrafters apparently really knew how to attract the attention of 15 year-old guys interested in short-wave listening.  Could that ad have ever possibly run in stuffy old QST?  It certainly would have attracted my attention.  I suspect many a young amateur would have been looking to sign up for a DX-pedition. Thanks to Bob, KD4EBM, for alerting us to this unusual bit of 1950s radio-erotica.    

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Eddy's "Salvage Super"

I had our friend Grayson (in Turkey) in mind when I put Eddy's messages about this "thermitron" receiver on the blog.  

Here's my version of the famed "Mate for the Mighty Midget": http://www.gadgeteer.us/erart.htm 

Hi Bill,

Many thanks for the FB note...

Well, I think my buddy VE3CSK is 99% "hooked" on the notion of making an MFTMM receiver for himself---and that's a good thing. That rascal of a rig is pretty much fool-proof, & the design sure does lend itself to no end of enhancements / improvements / changes / mods! I should know: with my set-up here I added AVC, and extra IF stage, an extra stage of AF, more pre-selection, etc. etc. etc.

As for selectivity, I simply incorporated regeneration in the 2nd IF stage: with judicious tweaking of the BFO, one can achieve a near single-signal selectivity effect that is GLORIOUS on CW. I guess one can make these things as complicated---or as simple!---as we might chose to do, yet further proof of the flexibility of this receiver.

I've taken some jpegs of my set-up here, and am attaching them herewith for your perusal. I like the notion of using these rigs on 80- and 40-meter AM, too---but am presently somewhat "distracted" with the task of re-inking my main tuning dial for my 1929-style superhet.

I think my next step in my MFTMM receiver here will be the addition of an internal 125 VDC power supply---most likely will mount the components inside, on one of the vertical sides (still LOTSA room there!). I have a FB Hammond power transformer that'd be perfect for the job, & I won't have to connect / dis-connect / re-connect its current out board power supply (that I use with other peripherals, too---a REAL pain by times).

~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ

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