20% off on SolderSmoke Book

Just use the coupon code PUMPKINS at checkout:

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/soldersmoke

(You can also use this coupon to buy Grayson's "Hollow-State Design" :
http://www.lulu.com/shop/grayson-evans/hollow-state-design/paperback/product-20987562.html

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 #155 BITX17, TEK465

Podcast # 155 is available for download (or you can listen by clicking on the button above):
http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke155.mp3

October 14, 2013  (Delayed Back-to-School edition)

Topics covered:

-- BITX Beauty -- Building a BITX17

-- VFO woes, and the wisdom of Doug DeMaw's love for crystals

-- Why does a 55 year old man NEED clear nail polish varnish?

-- How the VFO KILLED the Tek 465

-- Trying to fix the Tek 465 (not for the faint of heart)
 
-- New products:  Justin Beiber Duct Tape, bifocal safety glasses,
magnetic reading glasses, Ward Silver's new book

-- Backwards British Bike Brakes

-- MAILBAG 

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

"Robert Ford -- A British Radio Operator in Free Tibet..."

http://www.economist.com/news/obituary/21587201-robert-ford-british-radio-operator-free-tibet-died-september-20th-aged-90-robert-ford

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

Nice Slide Show on BITX

https://sites.google.com/site/arvidevans/BITX_QRPacificon..pdf?attredirects=0


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

BITX BUILD UPDATE #13 -- VIDEO TOUR

I hope to get the next podcast out within a week or so.  The BITX has been keeping me busy!


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

BITX BUILD UPDATE #12 -- Relay and PA, BITX 17/10?

As you can see, the board is starting to fill up.  I really like it.  It seems (to me) like the canvas of a painting approaching completion. This morning I put in the T/R relay.  That space in the upper left is reserved for the driver and the IRF510 Power Amplifier.

I got some help from the Chief Designer this week.  As noted in an earlier post, Farhan  advised me to check the mixers.  I knew that I had them wired correctly and that they were in fact mixing, but when Farhan advises you to check something, YOU CHECK IT.  Farhan was right (see earlier post).

It really sounds great.  I know that the filter still has significant ripple in it, but the receiver sounds so good I'm reluctant to mess with it.  Should I de-ripple it?

On the train yesterday I was thinking about this rig, and it occurred to me that my 23.1 MHz VXO/ 5  MHz IF arrangement means that this 17 meter transceiver could also generate signals on the 10 meter band.  Of course, I'd have to build a second bandpass filter, but the radio gods guided my hand and caused me to leave space on the board for just such a filter (see above).  I realize the IRF510 PA wouldn't be too good up at those frequencies,  but when the radio gods speak, you have to listen.   

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

Tek Troubleshooting Triumph

Thanks to the manual provided by Jim and the HV test gear provided by Alan Wolke, I was able to finish the troubleshoot on the broken Tek 465.   It is the HV multiplier, U1432.   The cathode voltage is supposed to be -2450.   It initially tested at -1000.    The manual calls for a jumper to be removed to take the HV Multiplier out of the circuit.  As soon as I did that, the cathode voltage went to -2500.   Bingo.

 

Now I have to get a replacement for U1432.    Any carcasses laying around?

 

Thanks guys. 

 

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