Video of The Moment Colin Made his First Homebrew Contact With Australia

Our British cousins are not a wildly emotional people.  The word "phlegmatic" is sometimes used when describing them.  Stiff upper lip and all that. But as you can see at the 51 second mark in this short video, contacting Australia whilst using a new scratch-built homebrew BITX20 on battery power from a windy English hilltop WILL get those English fists pumping and those thumbs up.  The wind drowns out Colin's voice, but his gestures say it all.  Well done Colin!  Brilliant!  

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Colin's BITX DX From the Field

That has to be one of the best-looking scratch-built homebrew BITX20s.  Pete and I agreed that it looks almost too good to take out into the field.   But that is where Colin took it.  His BITX was designed for Summits on the Air, and the radio gods rewarded him for his efforts with VK DX.  Well done Colin! 

 

 

Hi Bill and Pete.

Well it just worked out that weather was going to be bearable this morning but getting worse through the weekend. I'm really want to ramp up my SOTA score so I'm trying to get out as much as I can. I switched my plans to an early morning activation on one of the local hills. The hill, called Sharp Haw, is a little lump on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, it's not very high at all, but it is worth 1pt for SOTA.

The early morning time window brought the possibility of VK QSOs via long path on 20m. I looked at the VOACAP prediction for propagation and it suggested a peak at 0800utc.

I was actually late getting up, my alarm clock batteries have decided they've had enough. Despite the late start, I still managed to get on the air by 0725, hearing a strong Australian accent on the power up frequency of the BITX, 14.200, was a good sign.

At 0737, I was called by VK1DI. I had to turn the AF gain up, but sure enough, the signal was workable and we exchanged reports, 55 for him, 33 for me. Within the space of less than 20 minutes, I had 4 VKs logged, the strongest being VK3DET, giving me a 56. The other two stations were VK3CAT and VK2IO. I also worked an Asiatic Russian station amongst others.

I'm over the moon, I might even apply for my SSB thousand miles per watt wallpaper!

I still find it magical that 25 volts into a bit of 7/0.2 wire can transport your voice across 15,000 miles! Amazing!

73, Colin, M1BUU

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Patrick, F6AWY, The SSB Carpenter (Homebrew Hero)

 

There he is:  Patrick, F6AWY, the builder of the beautiful wooden-case SSB transceiver featured here two days ago.   Born in 1945, Patrick has been melting solder since age 15. This picture made me think that there must be some connection between string instruments and homebrew genius:  Farhan plays guitar.   So does Pete Juliano.  I think it was Rick Campbell who was strumming the banjo at FDIM...  More about Patrick here:  http://www.araccma.com/f6awy-p821004 



 

 

Here is another of Patrick's projects.   He completely rebuilt an old Geloso AM transmitter.   Note the  markings on the front panel.  Signed with a dash of F6AWY panache! 
More about this project here:
http://www.araccma.com/emetteur-am-pas-a-pas-avec-f6awy-p820986

Translation tip:  Open these pages in Google Chrome.  Then, simply RIGHT CLICK on the page and select TRANSLATE TO ENGLISH.  


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

Homebrew Heroes at Rickreal Hamfest: W7ZOI and WA7MLH

Bob N7SUR was getting discouraged.  The hams at the Rickreal Hamfest didn't seem really interested in his display about homebrewing.  Then THE RADIO GODS INTERVENED! (thunder).   Two TITANS of homebrew appeared at Bob's table.   Keep up the good work Bob,  Thanks for the e-mail and the great picture of you with Wes and Jeff.  

To N2CQR, N6QW

Feb 15 2015

The Salem, Oregon, Repeater Association puts on two hamfests each year
at Rickreal.  This event was mentioned in SolderSmoke #78.  During the
last two events I’ve taken a “science project” display and circuit
boards to encourage more hams to experiment.  The boards encourage
experimenters to use software packages to design and build their own
receiver modules.  It is uncommon to see this type of material at the
event.

Audience interest has been underwhelming.  Perhaps a dozen participants
have shown interest in my displays.  In fact, I almost left the displays
home last Saturday.

In the course of the morning, two guys approached.  The older guy had a look of
familiarity.  He looked like a guy in the SolderSmoke blog.  Bill,
N2CQR, was pictured sitting with him in California over coffee.

I blurted out, “are you ZOI?”  He replied “yes” and I told Wes Hayward,
W7ZOI, it was nice to meet him.  (That was a bit of understatement).
With Wes was Jeff Damm, WA7MLH, who built many of the circuits included
in the book “Solid State Design.”  I suggested to Jeff he no longer
looked like a hippie, which is the style conveyed by his webpage.  Jeff
said he had recently cut his hair.

We spent more than an hour sharing ideas and discussing various topics.
My focus was on encouraging experimentation.  Kit building may be a nice
first step.  I want to see builders pursuing more advanced
investigations. Wes noted the software and simulation tools available
for free it’s never been a better time to try out ideas.  Wes commented
on the contribution of amateurs and how we often have fewer restrictions
to pursuing our interests.  He emphasized measurement tools.  I should
look more at noise figure in my receiver experiments. He was very
supportive, which contrasts with my recent experiences on various
internet groups.

Wes and Jeff were looking for Rick Campbell, KK7B, and Bob Larkin,
W7PUA.  Imagine, the three authors of Experimental Methods in RF Design
(EMRFD) frequenting a little hamfest in rural Oregon. Yet, few people
knew they were there.

The experience reinforced my interest in continued experimentation.
I’ll take my updated displays back next time.  Perhaps our efforts reach
a larger audience than we first realize. 

Bob-N7SUR

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

F6AWY's Beautiful, Colorful, Wooden Box Transceiver

I was beginning to fear that I might be the only radio amateur in the world operating a wooden-box SSB transceiver.  But no!  Patrick F6AWY built this MAGNIFICENT rig.   Wow, I really like this one.  Note the Heathkit S-meter and main tuning knob (I suspect an HW-?? carcass lies somewhere nearby).   Note the colorful analog dial and speaker cover, and the classy lime-colored Dymo tape knob labels. This is really an amazing and inspirational piece of work. 

The construction details are all here:  
http://www.araccma.com/le-tranceiver-en-bois-de-f6awy-p820968
Yes, it is in French, but even if you can't get Google or Google Chrome to translate it (and that should be possible) you can see what he did through the great pictures and schematic diagrams. 

Congratulations Patrick! 

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

Video on W4OP's Progressive Receiver (Solid State Drake 2-B)

This is so great.  I saw pictures of Dale's receiver a few years ago, but somehow missed the video.   I am the proud owner of a W4OP-built Barebones Superhet.  And, of course, of a Drake 2B (mine has tubes!) 

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

A Really Cool Idea: Use your BFO as your Arduino DDS Clock

(21)  If you add a microprocessor chip to augment some of the BITX 

functions, it might be advisable to use the 10 MHZ BFO signal to clock 

your uP.  This could help avoid unwanted 'birdies' from the uP oscillator 

getting into your BITX circuitry.
From a nice list of BITX mods: 

http://kambing.ui.ac.id/onnopurbo/orari-diklat/teknik/homebrew/bitx20/modifications/LIST%20(9-24-04).txt

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

N6ORS's Long-Delayed SSB Rig

We've heard of a few of these "long-delayed" projects.  My own 38 year pause in the Herring Aid Five receiver project comes to mind.   I like Keith's idea of a "homebrewers home frequency" but I strongly suspect it would be a very lonely place!  Thanks for sending us the pictures of your rig Keith.  

Bill:

This project started out about 20 years ago as
a 2 meter FM handheld, then sat in boxes for decades.
Thanks to you and Pete and your podcasts keeping
me company, it morphed into a homebrew 2 meter SSB
rig.   It saw 'firstlight' last weekend. Of course
I had to operate it without the covers but I made
a short QSO, about 1 mile across town with the wife (kg6oeo).
Homebrewers should pick a "Homebrew home frequency" on
various bands to facilitate homebrew to homebrew contacts.

73,

Keith N6ORS

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N0YUD's Mighty Mite (complete with harmonics)

Bill  N0YUD built this really nice Michigan Mighty Mite.  I like the wood base (with little feet!). And the classic black 35 mm film container.  And the Vero board.  Fancy connectors too!  Nicely done Bill.  

Bill has also wisely left space for a low pass filter.  As you can see in his 'scope picture below, the MMM produces a lot of harmonics.  With a low pass filter, that mess will turn into a beautiful sine wave.  We'll be talking about harmonics and low pass filters in the next podcast. 

 Feb 20 at 3:31 PM

Hi Bill and Pete,

I just completed my Michigan Mighty Mite and am proud to announce it seems to be generating about 1 watt of what appears to be extremely harmonically challenged RF.  I was worried about the ugly signal on my scope until I saw another screen shot on the blog page that looked almost exactly the same as mine.

What a fun project and lots to learn with just 7, or in my case 8, parts (I had to stack a couple of 56ohm resistors).  I utilized those small pc board sockets for the coil and crystal so I can easily change bands and also left room for a low pass filter....

I am still struggling with the tank coil theory and impedance...  Impedance matching is a very murky area for me!

I am looking forward to building the low pass filter.  By the way, I  checked for third and fifth harmonics and could not hear anything on my receiver. There's another question, why does this circuit generate odd harmonics?  Fun stuff, this learning game!

I love the Podcast!  Thank you for your efforts and keep them coming.

'73

Bill McMillan

N0YUD

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

TR on Homebrewing

"It is not the critic who counts; not the ham who points out how the homebrewer stumbles, or where the builder of rigs could have built them better. The credit belongs to the ham who is actually at the workbench, whose hands are scarred by solder and metal and glue; who strives valiantly; who errs, whose amp oscillates again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to build his rigs; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid operators who neither know victory nor defeat.”

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