My Organic Chip Rig with an LTSpice Schematic

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

This is a rig that came together through a process of Spontaneous Construction.  It started out with an innocent effort to get  an Organic Light Emitting Diode display to work with an Si5351/Arduino combination.   Then I figured I'd make a superhet receiver with it.  Then Pete said I should make it a transceiver.

Most of my earlier transceivers so closely followed the schematics of Farhan or others that it didn't really make sense for me to prepare a new schematic.  This one was different.  So I decided to prepare a proper schematic.  I tried a few of the free-ware CAD or drawing programs, but each of them had a learning curve at the entrance. So I turned to LTSPICE.  I have already climbed that learning curve.  

The results appear above.  Click on the image to make it bigger.   I'm sure there are errors in there.  And I think some of my parts choices might be less than optimal.  But it works well.

The filter was deigned with the help of AADE software.

The idea of using two NE602s with a filter between them came (I think) from the Epiphyte.

The band pass filters were designed with ELSIE software.

The RF power chain is mostly from Farhan's BITX40 module, with the pre-driver and driver modified for a bit more gain.  Farhan's amp is the most stable power amplifier I have ever used.  It hasn't given me any trouble, even at 20 Watts. Strongly recommended.

The microphone amp is derived from the 741 op amp circuit used in the (in)famous Wee-Willy DSB rig.

The receiver AF amp also comes from Farhan's BITX40Module.

Please let me know if you spot errors or have suggestions for circuit improvement.

A link to the .asc LTSpice file appears below.   Perhaps some brave soul  more skilled in LTSpice than I am might want to turn this drawing into an actual simulation.  Some of the parts (like the NE602s) have actual simulated components behind the drawings.  Others (like the relays and the LM741 and LM386) are just drawings.  But go ahead and flesh this thing out.  Who knows, it might come to life in the PC and start making QSOs on 40!

Here is the .asc file:  http://soldersmoke.com/NE602 Rig.asc

Juno Spacecraft Looks At Jupiter

https://sciencefriday.com/segments/jupiter-surprises-in-its-closeup/

KY3R's Metalized Cigar Box Rig Enclosures

Bill, 

Bob, KY3R, here. Haven't written to you in a few years (although do manage to run into you most years at the Vienna Wireless Society hamfest ). 

Anyway, was watching your visit with Farhan, and you mentioned your penchant for building projects into wooden hobby boxes, and using copper  flashing for shielding. I want to share my solution. 

I snatched up any old cigar boxes I come across. For shielding I use "metal repair tape." This is the stuff used for joining or repairing dryer lint vent ducts, and it is available at any hardware store. Very lightweight, and you just cut the desired lengths, peel off the backing, and press onto the inside of the box. The only drawback is that it is aluminum and doesn't take solder very well, but it is easy enough to add one or two short lengths of wire from the circuit ground plane to a terminal bolted down onto the case interior. 

The attached photos show my current project--a Por Larranaga cigar box in the process of being converted into a home for a BitX-40! I haven't yet fully decided exactly how to position the unit in the box, but as shown in one of the photos, it fits with plenty of room for later mods. As for other decisions, I toyed with the idea of painting or covering the outer box, but I am leasing toward leaving the original cigar box labeling. Arguably adds a bit of "soul," plus who needs a clean panel and all that fancy stenciled lettering anyway. I'll know which knob is which!

73, and as always, thanks to you (and Pete, of course) for your continued work on the SS podcast.

Bob Keller, KY3R

The Transistor! 1953 Bell System Film -- Great Stuff!

Thermatron fans beware!  There is some trash talking of tubes in this 1953 Bell film.  But there is also a lot of recognition of the contribution made by our beloved valves.  I especially liked the report on the historic 1915 phone transmissions from Arlington, Virginia. ( I drive past the transmitter site every work day).  FIVE HUNDRED TUBES combined to send the human voice from Arlington to both the Eiffel Tower and to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.  FB OM!  59!

I was disappointed, however, that this film failed to recognize another momentous 1953 achievement in sold state electronics:  In that year, 11 year-old Pete Juliano built his first solid state amplifier -- an audio amp using a CK722 transistor.  Read about it here: http://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2015/03/pete-juliano-homebrwing-with.html

The fact that Pete was homebrewing solid state circuits at the time that this film was made is a reminder of the vast experience that he has, and of how much technological progress we have made in such a short period of time.

Farhan gives me a Spectrum Analyzer and W2AEW Provides the Tutorial (Video)

At Dayton, Farhan very kindly bought me a Tektronix Spectrum Analyzer.  (I joked during his visit that this device might help me stay in the good graces of the FCC.)   This morning I decided to learn more about this device.   I Googled "Tek 1401A" and was immediately directed to a YouTube tutorial.  I was pleased to see that it was from our old friend Alan Wolke W2AEW.  I knew that the Tek analyzer and I were in good hands. TRGHS.  Alan expertly laid out the functions of the device.  I am confident that I will soon be analyzing the spectrum of my homebrew rigs, and that they will all be found COMPLETELY FREE of spurious emissions.

Alan's tutorial is instructive for all those getting started with spectrum analyzers. 

I need to find a manual and schematic for the 1410A.

Thanks Farhan.   Thanks Alan.   And three cheers for Beaverton, Oregon!

Indonesian BITX: Check out the BRITX

Pretty cool,  don't you think?

Here is the Google translation of the "about" portion of OM Dian Kurniawan's blog:

Electronics is something very interesting. In it are stored many miracles of His creation. The almost limitless opportunities for creativity make electronics an art medium. Countless things are ultimately made easy and possible with electronics.... Feel free to start. Life starts from a cell. Let's keep working for a better life. Salam.

It is obvious that OM Dian has THE KNACK and is a member of the International Brotherhood of Electronic Wizards.   Does anyone know his callsign?

There is a lot of very cool stuff on his blog, including some mind-blowing applications of small, color displays.  Check it all out:

https://diankurniawan.wordpress.com/

FDIM: W8SX Interviews Mike Bryce WB8VGE

Mike Bryce's many contributions to the radio art and QRP definitely puts him in the Homebrew Hero category. I have Mike's "Hotwater Handbook" (about the legendary HW-8) on my bookshelf.  Our intrepid SolderSmoke media team (Bob W8SX) spoke to Mike at FDIM 17.  His comments on the joy of a good troubleshoot, and on the pernicious, unfixable nature of many recently marketed appliance radios really resonated with me.   

Mike has special expertise on Heathkit gear:  https://www.theheathkitshop.com/index.html

Listen to the interview with Mike here:

http://soldersmoke.com/FDIM17WB8VGE.mp3

KEEP THAT GREEN FLAME BURNING MIKE!