BITX Build Update #20 -- Switchable Crystals, South Africa QSO

I got tired of popping the hood and manually changing my VXO crystals.  First I tried to switch the rocks using a rotary switch on the front panel, but I think the leads were too long and the output was kind of squirrely.   So I dug around in the junk box and found a 12 volt double pole double throw relay.  I put the crystal sockets across the two poles and ran leads from the armature terminals to the crystal terminals. I use the rotary switch to activate the relay.  I cover about 41 kHz of the 17 meter band with the two crystals. 

17 meters has been in great shape.  On November 16 I had a very nice contact with Syd, ZS1TMJ in Glenwilliam, South Africa.  That's about 8000 miles on 5 watts SSB.   

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Naval Gun Turret as EME Dish Mount (VIDEOS)

Hack-A-Day ran a story on EME pioneer Zoltan Bay.  In the comments section someone posted this memorable video about a moonbounce station in Central Kansas.  Wow.  Putting using naval gun as an AZ-EL rotor for the dish is really thinking outside the box.   Then deciding to put the whole thing atop another tower...  Great stuff.



Here is another moonbounce video. VE2ZAZ was using a smaller antenna (!) and JT65. FB.

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M0XPD's Digital Analog BITX -- Best of Both Worlds

Paul, M0XPD, has built a very interesting version of the BITX rig.  His is on 40 meters.  It features plug in bandpass and IF filters (great idea!) and uses DDS technology for both the BFO and VFO stages.  Good going Paul!  More details here:
http://m0xpd.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/rising-to-challenge.html

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Standard Computer Crystals for 17 Meter SSB VXO and IF Filter

Pete Juliano, N6QW, is an electronic  genius.  The ideas in his SPRAT article will be of great use to all those who share in Doug DeMaw's devotion to VXOs and reluctance to spend money.  I'm really tempted to go back and re-do my BITX using Pete's 11.52 MHz computer crystal super-VXO and 4.9152 IF (I could then take my expensive 23.1 MHz crystals and put them back in my Doug DeMaw Barebones Superhet).  I also like Pete's DPDT reed relay crystal switcher too.  Three cheers for Pete Juliano, Doug DeMaw, and SPRAT!  And thanks to WB9FLW for reminding us of Pete's articles.

Hi Bill,

 

Your BITX17 really has me fired up! I came across an interested Super VXO by Pete N6QW for use on 17 Meters.

He uses standard computer xtals (4.9152 MHz for the IF) and (3 - 11.520 MHz freq doubled in the VXO)

This gets you on 18.120 to 18.150 using these two standard xtals.

See Link Below:

 

http://www.jessystems.com/SPRAT%20Article.pdf

http://www.jessystems.com/Images/23%20MHz%20VXO.jpg

http://www.jessystems.com/vxo2.html

http://www.jessystems.com/switchedxtalvxo.html

Thanks for all your efforts they are much appreciated!!

Best Wishes,

Pete WB9FLW
 

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Beautiful French Aerial Photography Project. UPstagram! (Video)

We've put cameras in kites and rockets, but I think this is much cooler.

More details (and pictures) here: http://hackerloop.com/upstagram/

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BITX Build Update #19 Layout, VXO, Bal Mod, Filter, PA

The files of the BITX20 Yahoo group were very useful to me during my BITX build.  So I have decided to make a contribution myself.  I uploaded a few drawings today.  Here is how I laid out the circuitry on my 8 inch by 11 inch copper clad board.  I included the isolation (Manhattan) pads for one of the bidirectional amps.   

Here is the VXO.   I built is on a separate board, but I could have put it on the main board. 

Here is the balanced modulator and crystal filter. 

 

Here is the power amplifier circuitry.  Amazingly easy to stabilize. 


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BITX (and W2AEW) on Hack-A-Day

The guys over on Hack-A-Day ran a little follow-up article on the BITX-17.  Check it out:
http://hackaday.com/2013/11/13/bitx-a-return-to-hackers-paradise/#comments

They also had an article about Tek-Wizard Alan Wolke earlier in the week:
http://hackaday.com/2013/11/11/diagnose-and-repair-a-yaesu-ft-7800-ham-radio/

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New Book About Heathkit Gear

Jeff Tranter, VE3ICH, has a new book out -- it is about Heathkit Test Gear.  (Hey, I had that VTVM on the cover!)  This book looks like it deserves a place under the Christmas trees of SolderSmoke fans.   The book is available from Lulu.com, and Santa (or Mrs. Claus) can use the discount coupon below (Coupon code: CORNUCOPIA.)

http://www.lulu.com/shop/jeff-tranter/classic-heathkit-electronic-test-equipment/paperback/product-21272772.html

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Save 20% on SolderSmoke and other Lulu books (through Nov 15)

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

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That wonderful first contact, when the new HB rig is still on the workbench...

In this video, YC0AFF in Indonesia seems to be having as much fun with his new BITX as I've been having with mine.  I think there is something special about those early contacts, when the newly finished (or not quite finished!) rig is still on the workbench.  Designed in India and built by radio amateurs all around the world, the BITX has become a global ham radio phenomenon, reminding us that we form an International Brotherhood of Electronic Wizards.

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An Amazing French Workshop (Video)

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Knack-to-the-Max! Early Moonbounce

The link below will take you to an amazing collection of QST articles describing the early days of EME or "moonbounce."  Very interesting.   I was really blown away when I found out that Ross Bateman, W4AO, (pictured above, on the left) did the very first amateur moonbounce work from the small suburban Washington town that I live in now -- Falls Church, Virginia!

I am trying to find OM Ross's old address or more info about him.  If anyone has an old callbook, could you please look up Ross Bateman, W4AO, aka W4XNB?   He worked at the National Bureau of Standards. 

The moonbounce story is filled with interesting technology and characters and clubs.  Sam Harris and his Rhododendron Swamp VHF Society sounds like our kind of group!  Scroll through the OK2KKW web site and you will come across our esteemed Doug DeMaw and Bill Orr. 

http://www.ok2kkw.com/eme1960/eme1960eng.htm

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