The Nauen Transmitter Station (Germany)

There is a lot of radio history in this shortwave transmitting station.  I came across it tonight with my BITX DIGI-TIA rig.  It was on 7.215 MHz transmitting in Indian (South Asian) languages.  But alas, the signals were not from distant India (home of the BITX!). Instead -- as often happens these days -- the signals were from a relay station.  In this case they came from  relatively nearby Germany, from the Nauen transmitter site.

Check out the Wikipedia page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nauen_Transmitter_Station

NO3M's Amazing Homebrew 1934 Single Signal Superhet

Jim AB3CV reminded me this morning about the work of Eric NO3M.  Jim was pointing out that breadboard construction need not be ugly and that Eric's work is the proof of that.  Indeed.

Almost one year ago, I worked Eric on 160 meters.  He was using one of his beautiful breadboard rigs:

http://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2016/01/happy-new-year-straignt-key-night-on.html

Jim's reminder sent me once again to Eric's site.  I see he has been melting a lot of solder, and to very good effect.  In just three weeks he built the magnificent 1934 QST "Single Signal Superhet" pictured here.

Eric has a great series of articles on this project, with excellent pictures and videos:  

http://no3m.net/category/projects/

Bravo Eric!

Beauty and the Beast: Pete's Beautiful BITX 40 Module and My Ugly Version

As the proud owner of what has to be one of the world's UGLIEST BITX 40 Modules. I feel somehow qualified to declare Pete's version of this rig to be one of the world's most beautiful.  His is resplendent in Juliano Blue -- mine has no paint at all.  His features glowing numerals -- mine has nothing but Dymo stickers and an arrow drawn with a Sharpie marker.  Bravo Pete! 

The Revenge of Analog

Keep it Real!

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/05/books/revenge-of-analog-david-sax.html?_r=0

Great Homebrew Interview on "QSO Today"

This week Eric 4Z1UG has a really nice interview with Jim Veatch WA2EUJ.  Jim is the three time winner of the ARRL Homebrew Challenge.  There is a very interesting discussion of Arduinos, SDR, the technology behind automatic antenna tuners, and even some Raspberry Pi.   Jim's first receiver was a Halli S38 and his first rig was a Heath HW-7. 

Listen here:

http://www.qsotoday.com/podcasts/WA2EUJ

Thanks Jim.  Thanks Eric.