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Sunday, November 5, 2017
Saturday, November 4, 2017
Termination Insensitive Amp Boards from VU3ZMV -- Eagle Files
Here are the eagle file data for the TIA, that I love to use as incorporated in Farhan's ubitx.
The TIA , I tried to realise two such on a double sided pcb measuring less than an inch.
The Ham-Radio Thermatron Roots of Silicon Valley
Hack-A-Day had an excellent piece on tubes and Silicon Valley this week. Makes me want to get the book "Secret History of Silicon Valley."
https://hackaday.com/2017/11/02/silicon-valley-was-built-on-tubes-of-glass/
Note above the Klystron prototype mounted on a wooden board. These guys clearly had THE KNACK.
Labels:
California,
radio history,
Tubes
Friday, November 3, 2017
Another Source for BITX Amp Boards - AG4ZP
Thanks for sharing (the infor on the modular BITX boards). I actually had a similar idea a number of years ago and designed a small PCB for the ubiquitous BITX amplifier design. I have the project shared on OSH Park and you can get three of them shipped for $5.
The project is shared here.
73,
Ryan AG4ZP
https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/6mnfQQ6e
Labels:
BITX20,
Parts suppliers
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Cliff Stoll on Software, Snake Oil, and the Creation of Real Things
"I guess today's experimenters build things in software, without ever touching a soldering iron. The hocus pocus is inside the program. It's cleaner this way -- nothing to burn or zap, and you don't need a voltmeter... What happened to home-brewed and breadboarded circuitry? Where's the joy of mechanics and electricity, the creation of real things? Who are the tinkerers with a lust for electronics?"
From "Silicon Snake Oil" 1995 by Cliff Stoll
Labels:
SDR
Monday, October 30, 2017
Modular BITX Boards
From Mike W0MNE to the BITX20 group:
Good afternoon,
I've had a few emails regarding the modular BiTX build and I probably should clarify a few things. First, ON6RF has posted his gerber files on the link at Hackaday.com that I originally posted - just scroll down to around the middle of page to the 'Files' section. Since he has placed these in the public domain they are available to anyone that cares to download them. But, because it is HIS work, I'm not comfortable forwarding the files myself. I don't know if he follows it but I'm sure that he can keep track of how many downloads have occurred and I'm certain he would be gratified to know that his work is appreciated. What I have offered is to make my gerber file for the motherboard available and, if I can manage it, I will post it here in the files section in the Modular BiTX folder. I will also include the pdf files that I created for each of the module showing component placement and values.
As for acquiring the circuit boards, as I stated earlier, I use PCBWAY.com for production. Their prices are excellent and the turn-around time is hard to beat. The cost of the panelized pc board for me was $5.00 for 10 boards with DHL shipping costs of $22.00 for a total of $27.00. I ordered the boards late on a Monday and DHL delivered the finished boards the following Monday morning. Their website says boards that measure 100X100 mm or smaller cost $5.00 for 10 boards so whether you order 1 or 10, the cost is the same. To complete the build you will need 3 boards to have enough bi-directional amp modules so, if you're interested in following thru with building a modular version, you could perhaps join with two other interested parties and split the cost between you. With 3 boards you will be able to build a complete transceiver and have 2 extra modules for experimentation for every section except the bi-directional amps. As an example, on my first prototype I built the double balanced mixer as designed and a second one using an ADE-1 to compare the results. For the record, there was absolutely no noticeable difference between the two. I also built a 4-crystal filter as designed and an 8-crystal QER filter on a second board for comparison. There was a definite difference between these two modules.
I hope this clears up some of the questions and I'm still available via direct email to answer questions specific to my build or class presentation. I'm currently working on the assembly manual for my class and when finished I will post it also in the files section.
--73-- Mike -- W0MNE
Labels:
Belgium,
BITX20,
BITX40Module,
Kits,
Parts suppliers,
uBITX
Sunday, October 29, 2017
Ron Gang, 4X1MK on "QSO Today" Podcast: Knack Story, Satellites, Quads, Philosophy
Wow, Eric Guth's interview with Ron Gang 4X1MK really resonated with me:
-- Asked about how he got is start in radio, Ron went back further than many of us do in response to this question. He cited his early experiments with "two tin cans and a string." Yes, of course! I'd forgotten all about it, but in retrospect this might have been a very early indication of THE KNACK. (I'll bet many of our readers were also active on the String and Can band.)
-- Ron used a DX-100. FB.
-- Ron was active on the satellites. In his voice you can hear the joy and the burst of enthusiasm that resulted from those early satellite contacts. He also mentions the untimely demise of Oscar 13. Bummer.
-- Ron was the Israel correspondent for 73 Magazine. I held a similar position in Dominican Republic. My friend David Cowhig was at the same time correspondent from Okinawa, Japan. We should have a reunion of "73 Magazine Hambassadors."
-- Ron mentions John Tait EI7BA. John was a regular contact of mine when I was in the Azores. He appears in the SolderSmoke book. He was the one who introduced me to an important Irish accolade: John told me that WD-40 is "the Pope's pee."
-- Toward the end, Ron discusses the wonder of ham radio conversations, and provides a good suggestion on how to get beyond the all-to-common "hello-59-goodbye" contacts.
Ron's comments on the spiritual or philosophical aspects of the hobby were just the thing for a quiet Sunday morning.
Thanks to Eric and to Ron for a great interview.
Listen here:
http://www.qsotoday.com/podcasts/4X1MK
Labels:
DX-100,
Israel,
Knack Stories,
magazines,
satellites
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