Podcasting since 2005! Listen to Latest SolderSmoke
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Ham Stuff at Lulu (with 10% off)
but check out these other fine Knack-related publications:
http://stores.lulu.com/6sj7comics ("Lid, Kid, Space Cadet" "Sky Buddies" by Jeff K1NSS
http://stores.lulu.com/ian_g3roo (Ian, G3ROO's amazing antenna book)
http://www.lulu.com/copperwood ("Carl and Jerry" books -- scroll down a bit)
http://stores.lulu.com/soldersmoke (SolderSmoke and Bill's other book)
Put them all together in one package to save shipping. Help your wife with the Christmas shopping!
Then use the checkout password TURKEY to save 10% (through November only)
Monday, November 15, 2010
See the International Space Station THIS WEEK!
The space station will be visible from much of North America in the evening this week. Spaceweather.com has a very handy calculator that will let you know when and where to look. Just plug in your zip code:
http://spaceweather.com/flybys/?PHPSESSID=t18llj67jtfvjsmruu6b7djif5
(There is a global version of the calculator for users outside the U.S.)
Let's see how many SolderSmoke readers get to see the ISS this week. Please let me know if you see it.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
W4HBK's QRSS Grabber: The Amazing Pensacola Snapper
Now that we are back in the States, W4HBK's grabber is playing a similar role for me. His grabber consistently seems to pull in more sigs than most of the other North American grabbers. The above image is a sample of what you will see when you visit his grabber web page. (I'm also a big fan of the W1BW and VE1VDM grabbers -- thanks guys!)
My signal is the "shark-fin" pattern just a little below the middle of the screen. That's 20 mw to a 50 foot piece of AC line cord about 12 feet off the ground. And it is making the trip from Northern Virginia to Pensacola Florida very consistently. Thanks Bill!
Try taking a look at the Pensacola Snapper and see if you can spot my QRSS signal. My frequency varies from day-to-day (sometimes intentionally!). And lately Bill has occasionally been parking his receiver on 40 meters :-( But most days you will be able to see his 30 meter screen, with my shark fins menacing Pensacola. Please let me know if you see me.
Here is OM HBK and his bio:
Born: 1939, Pensacola, Florida
I was first licensed in 1954 as WN4HBK and upgraded to General in 1955 acquiring the call sign I've used to this day. My dad is responsible for my favorite suffix moniker. the Hot Biscuit Kid. I could really put away my mom's scratch biscuits!
My first station I built myself and consisted of super regenerative RX and a 6L6 TX.from designs in the ARRL Handbook. My dad was a radio mechanic for the Navy and taught me how to read schematics and solder. Later stations consisted of Hallicrafters S-38C, National NC-98, HRO-5 recievers and several Heathkit and Globe Scout transmitters. Boy, those were the days!!
After high school I entered college intending to become an antenna engineer but eventually gravitated towards a degree in Physics. This was pretty cool because it led to a career with NASA where I worked on the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle projectsall thanks to my early interest in radio.
Today I'm fully retired and living in Gulf Breeze, FL. just across Pensacola Bay from my hometown. My XYL (Anna) and I enjoy the local beaches in a variety of wayssurf fishing, beachcombing, hiking, painting (her) and photography (me). We are also enjoy gardening and winemaking.
My Amateur Radio interests are CW, DX, contests, antennas and digital modes.
Presently I am experimenting with QRSS and have a 250 milliwatt MEPT station on 10.140 MHzsend me an email if you copy my signal. I now have a grabber to present a spectral display of QRSS activity for other Hams worldwide to watch for their signals http://www.qsl.net/w4hbk/w4hbkgrabber.html
Saturday, November 13, 2010
The Hacker-Knacker-Maker Revolution gathers steam...
Anyway, the Hack-Knack-Make revolution continues. This morning I learned that the New York and Philadelphia Hacker-spaces will be featured on NPR's Weekend Edition this Sunday. (I'm jealous -- I want SolderSmoke to somehow get onto NPR. One listener suggested a letter-writing campaign...)
The poster shown above is for a documentary that is being done on all of this. Check it out: http://www.electromagnate.com/
Friday, November 12, 2010
KNACKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE! You have nothing to lose but your warranties!
I find that a successful repair is almost as gratifying as a scratch-built homebrew project, especially if the problem was difficult to diagnose.
So, ifixit comrades: The SolderSmoke collective is with you! Up the Revolution!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Armstrong Memorial Transmissions
http://www.wa2xmn.ar88.net/
Be sure to follow the links on that page to the Phasitron Transmitter page. Very nice workmanship.
Today only! 20% off Veterans Day sale on "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics"
"SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics"
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
"She built her own oscilloscope at age 14." Homebrew Hero: Tatjana Van Vark
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
Sunday, November 7, 2010
SolderSmoke Podcast #127
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
Saturday, November 6, 2010
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.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Back on the air with QRSS QRPp
Its good to be once again emitting EM waves!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Happy Halloween! 20% off SolderSmoke
Monday, October 18, 2010
Linux makes you younger! "Aha! moments"
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
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
RSS, Time Signal, Miners...
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!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
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
-
Saturday, October 9, 2010
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
Monday, September 27, 2010
SolderSmokeStatus
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
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Climbing a REALLY tall tower
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/81100181/
Thanks to Brent, KD0GLS for sending along this really scary video.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Getting Settled -- Slowly. Yogi Berra on Theory and Practice
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!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
A confession
All OK here. We are getting settled. Our stuff should be arriving in the USA next week. We may have a new podcast out by early September.
We are still in a temporary apartment. This week Billy and I visited the local hardware store and got some very thin magnet wire. I have about 50 feet of it going from the balcony to a tree. As I type I'm listening to SSB net activity on 40 meters with my little Sony portable receiver. Man, that recent Coronal Mass Ejection really seems to have messed up propagation. But hopefully it is an indication that Ole' Sol is coming back to life.