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The SolderSmoke Podcast Archive
GET YOUR COPY OF the SolderSmoke BOOK: "SolderSmoke -- A Global Adventure in Radio Electronics"
CHECK OUT THE SOLDERSMOKE STORE: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke SOLDERSMOKE BLOG: http://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/ Bill - N2CQR's homepage is http://www.gadgeteer.us Pete N6QW's page is: http://www.jessystems.com/
Here is a link to the RSS feed: http://www.soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke.rss
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This is now the archive site for the SolderSmoke Podcasts. It will be updated periodically, but new podcast episodes will be announced via the blog: http://soldersmoke.blogspot.com SolderSmoke Podcast #238 is available: June 17, 2022 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke238.mp3 TRAVELOGUE: Cathartic decluttering: Bill preparing for future winter travel to Dominican Republic. Will build SolderSmoke Shack South. Dividing everything up: Rigs, parts, tools, supplies, antennas, test gear. Everything. OUR SPONSOR: Parts Candy. https://www.ebay.com/usr/partscandy Premium quality test leads! Hand cut, hand crimped, hand soldered, these will become your new favorite test leads GUARANTEED! -- Cycle 25 better? – Out here on the left coast – it is not evident SHAMELESS COMMERCE DIVISION: BILL'S BENCH: -- Repair of the Sony ICF SW1 shortwave receiver. Bad electrolytics. Number Station receiving device? MAILBAG: -- Bob Crane W8SX -- Great interviews at FDIM. On the SolderSmoke Blog. Thanks Bob! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SolderSmoke podcast #237 is available: May 7, 2022 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke237.mp3 Travelogue -- New York City! Stickers! Well, it fit in well with SolderSmoke's UNFORGETTABLE appearance on the Oprah book club. https://in.pinterest.com/padmakumar10/techie-tatts/ This episode is sponsored by PartsCandy. GREAT test leads: https://www.ebay.com/usr/partscandy Bill's Bench Tracking down Johnny Anderson's 1939 or 1940 homebrew TV receiver. https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/search?q=Anderson Lots of ideas from IRE Journal, QST, and Gernsback magazines. 17-12 rig Hammarlund HQ-100
Jack Purdum and Al Peter's new SDR rig and book (featured on the SS blog Amazon ad). MAILBAG James W0JKG CBLA -- Others are building MMM too! Have some gear looking for a good home: Tek 465 'scope from Jim AL7R W8NSA. SBE Transceivers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- SolderSmoke Podcast #236 is available! April 1, 2022 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke236.mp3 Winterfest! Many Boatanchors. Lots of old good analog test gear. Talk with Dean KK4DAS. Met up with Armand WA1UQO and Charles AI4OT. Pete's Bench: -- Looking for help in software development for MAX2870 board. Bill's Bench: -- 17-12 Band Imaging SSB Transceiver. It works on both bands. SHAMELESS COMMERCE DIVISION: We have a sponsor! PARTS CANDY out of Chicago produces quality test leads for your bench. The guy who runs the company is Carlos, and he is one of us. He is an electronic tinkerer. See the ad on the left hand column of the SolderSmoke blog. Just click on the picture of the test leads and you will be taken to Carlos's ebay store. Go for it. Mailbag Walter KA4KXX in Orlando -- Diodes in BITX Bilats -- Why? Farhan says To prevent reverse junction of off transistor from conducting and clipping waveform. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SolderSmoke Podcast #235 is available for download: February 9, 2022 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke235.mp3 Travelogue: 6 weeks in the DR for Bill Bill's Bench Pete's Bench Bad Dead Soldering Stations Mailbag: ------------------------------------------------------------ SolderSmoke Podcast #234 is available: November 17, 2021 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke234.mp3 Roots of SolderSmoke: The "Click and Clack" of ham radio? Influences: Jean Shepherd, CarTalk, Shortwave stations. Steve "Snort Rosin" Smith WB6TNL? No. Steve "Aching Sinus" Smith WA6SOC Pete's Bench: PSST Details: https://www.n6qw.com/PSSST_20.html http://n6qw.blogspot.com/2021/10/how-to-make-things-work-tribal.html (Why the T/R diodes in the BITX 20 amplifiers?) -- MY NOVICE LOG -- Heard back from ex-WN2RTH ex-WN2FLK ex-WB2RKK. -- Many suggestions about my Apollo 11 Time Capsule. Still looking for ideas. ------------------------ SolderSmoke Podcast #233 is available. October 13, 2021 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke233.mp3 Travelogue: Cape Cod. SST. Marconi Site. The WFSRA: The World Friendship Society of Radio Amateurs.
------------------------------------------------------------- SolderSmoke Podcast #232 is available -- Crank it in Robert! August 27. 2021 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke232.mp3 Featuring a guitar intro by Pete "Bluesman" Juliano, playing his own composition: "Juliano Blues." Upcoming GQRP convention and the N6QW rig ------------------------------------------------------- SolderSmoke # 231 is available: June 26,, 2021 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke231.mp3 Annual Field Day Special Edition Travelogue: To the Dominican Republic! New dog -- Meet Guapo (see below). A great Father's Day for Pete and Bill. I got a TinySA. Pete got some cool chick magnet glasses (see below). Watch out Newbury Park! Bill's Activity SST Transceiver. Took it to Dominican Republic. Made only one contact, but QRP-QRP. Not a lot of CW activity, and not a lot around 14.060. A lot more FT8 visible on the NA5B WebSDR. That might be better for this kind of operation. I might try SST CW out today from the backyard. Field Day! Fired up my 20 meter DSB NE602 rigs. Made two contacts. Still trying to fully understand the NE602 Gilbert Cell. Lots of mystery in there. Building "The MythBuster." 75/20 with sideband inversion. 10 pole 5.2 MHz filter. Used Dishal and AADE. Used NanoVNA to see the passband. G3UUR for crystal parameters. Cohn Constant K topology. Also used NanoVNA to check input and output impedance on the TIA amps I will use around the filter. Pete's activity: Article on DC receiver in SPRAT. FB response. 50 receivers under construction. Work on Drake A Line. Jim Spillsbury. ------------------------------ The N5JHH IBEW SolderSmoke stickers (see above and below). How we will use them. Mailbag: N2SVD K8ITY Tom (Junkbox receiver) N0ZIB (Curse you, SolderSmoke!) DL6ID N2NLY VK2EMU ZS1KE AF7O NG2E VU2ESE OK1RP N5JHH ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SolderSmoke Podcast #230 is available for download May 15, 2021 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke230.mp3 N2CQR was down for maintenance A few words about April 1 China lands on Mars Brood X Cicadas arriving in NOVA Pete's Bench The Dentron Project The Spillsbury Tindall SBX-11A KK4DAS and the Simple SSB Group Build TenTec mods Shack Mystery solved. Maybe Changing the channels at age 9 Bill's Bench Why LSB below 10 MHz? The "SSB Legend" Rig WU2D RTL-Dongle Up converter Understanding the Gilbert (Jones) Cell SDRSmart RTL-SDR.com V3 Dongle VK3HN and 2 meter SSB Jack NG2E, MMM and the 10 minute transmitter KD4EBM sends me SST by Wayne Burdick. DX! A new computer Mailbag: MM0ACN VK2EMU N5VZH VE3KZJ HS0ZLQ AD0JJ VK8MC KK0S VE3VVH KB3SII WA9WFA M0NTV W2DAB ------------------------------------------------------- Soldersmoke Podcast #229 is available:
March 20, 2021
http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke229.mp3 -- G2NJ Trophy is awarded to Pete Juliano, N6QW. -- Get your vaccine shot as soon as you can! -- More from "Conquering the Electron" by Derek Cheung. -- Bad fire in the chip factory. Such a shame. Sad! I had NOTHING to do with it. I was home that day. I can prove it. -- Bezos is not such a bad guy. Turns out he is a space-geek. -- Perseverance was the big space news. Very cool. Pete's bench: Raspberry Pi vs. Microcontrollers Treedix display Conversion of the Dentron Scout CW rigs? 6L6 on a wooden chassis SHAMELESS COMMERCE DIVISION- I NEED TO BUILD UP TIME VIEWERS VIEW MY VIDEOS: So please watch! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC20TcdWSSFliMhg3k2A1a5w -- Our Patreon sponsors get an early look at our YouTube content. So please, consider becoming a Patreon sponsor. -- Please continue to use the Amazon search engine on the blog page (upper right). Bill's bench: Hodgepodge: -- BITX40 Module. -- Ramseykit Amp. -- San Jian counter, -- CW using 750 Hz oscillator. -- RF-actuated piezo buzzer. -- SDR! SDR using PC and tablet. -- Checking the output with SDR. -- Moving the carrier osc frequency. Also, I put the Fish Soup 10 back on the air. Nice contacts under 200 mw. Up next: A rig for 80/75 and 20 meters. Single Conversion. Using VFO from a Yaesu FT101 that runs 8.7 – 9.2 Mhz. Quiz question: What IF should I use? MAILBAG Mark Zelesky sent me wood tokens with power and Ohm's law formulae. Thanks! Scott WA9WFA Built a really nice Mate for Mighty Midget RX – getting it going! Tryg EI7CLB found board of his George Dobbs Ladybird RX. Rebuild it OM! Tom WX2J – We talked about “No lids, no kids, no space cadets” nastiness. Nick M0NTV about sideband inversion. I like the simple rule about subtraction. Jonathan M0JGH – Always listen to Pete. Got married, has mixing product. Leo? Mike AE0IH. Dad used a BC-348 in the service. Looking for one. FB. Adam N0ZIB – “Silent Shep” site --- with some ham radio shows I had not seen. Walter KA4KXX in Orlando has a similar subtraction problem with San Jian counter. Bill N5ALO sent me a really nice KLH speaker. I’m using it now. Jason N2NLY – interested in building SSB transceiver. One step at a time OM… Trevor in Annapolis sent xcsd cartoon that really hit home. Farhan is doing OK in India, diligently protecting his family from the virus. Peter VK2EMU also doing well. Dave AA7EE Casually killed a DC receiver in Hollywood, and disposed of the remains. Charlie ZL2CTM doing great things with simple SSB. Blogpost. Phil VK8MC in Darwin sends article on "Mend not End" battle against planned obsolescence. Bob KY3R re my SDR adventures, asked if I’ve had a recent medical/psychiatric evaluation. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Soldersmoke Podcast #228 is available:
January 26, 2021
Of course, no travel. But vaccines are here so maybe soon we can leave our shacks. In the meantime: I’ve been playing chess against AI bots on chess.com. Netflix recommendation: The Bureau. From France. A review from NPR: A reading from "Conquering the Electron." Germanium vs. Silicon. Bill’s Bench: The KLH Model Twenty-one II. Acoustical Suspension. First receiver WITH A PILLOW! Bad speaker? Blown AF amp finals. Hot heat sink. VBE Multiplier. Desitin. Tony Fishpool’s recommended LM386 boards. 10 for 11 bucks. Nice. They work. Pictured in the Amazon ad at the upper right of the SolderSmoke blog page. Putting a digital display on the Lafayette HA-600A Test gear trouble. My Radio Shack multimeter getting flaky. I many need something better. Auto ranging? My beloved Maplin AF generator died – will have to fix. I need that thing. Probably a bad chip. Good thing they are socketed. I almost forgot about SKN! But I remembered and I made one contact with the HT-37 and Drake 2-B. Pete’s Bench: Presentation to RSGB on Homebrew. TenTek Troubleshoot. Swan 240? Looking nice. SDR adventures. MAILBAG Bill N8ET sent me some really nice Showa 9 MHz 8 pole crystal filters. Kevin AA7YQ Smoke jumper! Building a hybrid SDR.HDR rig. Launched blog. FB Nick M0NTV working on similar HDR/SDR project. Great video. Grayson KJ7UM Hollow State Design – Launched a new blog. Very FB! Thomas K4SWL of SWL Post blog. Kearsarge Mountain Transmission system. And recent events. Peter VK2EMU Poetry. CW poetry. Pete WB9FLW looking at DSB rigs… Drew N7DA Feels not like a real ham because he hasn’t built a quad from bamboo. Which type of landscape bamboo is best for antennas? Ryan Flowers of MiscDotGeek.Com blog is also watching the Tally Ho YouTube videos of Leo Sampson. Wants to put a WSPR beacon on the Tally Ho. Joe KF5OWY Working with diode ring mixers, trying to see the mixer action on his ‘scope. 1 and -1! Jim AB9CN sent a cool idea about how to do a 20/17 Moxon. Roy GM4VKI – I thanked him for his article in SPRAT about putting a 2n3904 on the output of an NE602 10P mod. Brilliant. Roger Hayward Told him that I really liked his Dad’s recent web site updates. Farhan – Jokingly cursed me for showing him the Oscillodyne regen of Hugo Gernsback and Jean Shepherd. “Now I will have to build this!” --------------------------------------------------------------------------
SolderSmoke Podcast #227 is available:
December 15, 2020
Travelogue
Mars is moving away. Jupiter and Saturn close in the sky. And the Sun is back in action – Cycle 25 is underway. Also, the earliest sunset is behind us. Brighter days are ahead. Book Review: “Conquering the Electron” With a quote from Nikola Tesla. No real travel for us: Hunkered down. Lots of COVID cases around us. Friends, relatives, neighbors. Be careful. You don’t want to be make it through 10 months of pandemic only to get sick at the very end. SITS: Stay In The Shack. Pete's Bench and Tech Adventures: Backpack SDR keithsdr@groups.io Hermes Lite 2 Coaching SSB builders G-QRP talk A new source for 9 MHz crystal filters Bill's Bench: Fixing the HA-600A Product Detector. Sherwood article advice. Diode Ring wins the day. Fixing a scratchy variable capacitor. Studying simple two diode singly balanced detectors. Polyakov. Getting San Jian frequency counter for it. Fixing up the 17 meter BITX. Expanding the VXO coverage. Using it with NA5B's KiwiSDR. Resurrecting the 17 meter Moxon. But WHY can't I nest the 17 meter Moxon inside a 20 meter Moxon? They do it with Hex beams. Why so hard with Moxons? DK7ZB has a design, but I've often heard that this combo is problematic. Any thoughts? I could just buy a 20/17 Hex-beam but this seems kind of heretical for a HB station. Suddenly getting RFI on 40 meters. Every 50-60 Hz. Please tell me what you think this is (I played a recording). MAILBAG: Dean KK4DAS’s Furlough 40/20 Adam N0ZIB HB DC TCVR Tony G4WIF G-QRP Vids. Video of George Dobbs. Grayson KJ7UM Collecting Radioactive OA2s. Why? Pete found W6BLZ Articles Rogier KJ6ETL PA1ZZ lost his dog. And we lost ours. Steve Silverman KB3SII -- a nice old variable capacitor from Chelsea Radio Company. Dave K8WPE thinks we already have a cult following. Dan W4ERF paralleling amps to improve SNR. Jim W8NSA -- An old friend. Pete Eaton WB9FLW The Arecibo collapse John WB4GTW old friend... friend of: Taylor N4TD HB2HB And finally, we got lots of mail about our editorial. No surprise: Half supportive, half opposed. Obviously everyone is entitled to their opinion. And we are free to express ours. It’s a free country, and we want it to stay that way. That is why we spoke out. Yesterday the Electoral College voted, finalizing the results. All Americans should be proud that the U.S. was able to carry out a free and fair national election with record turn out under difficult circumstances. And all loyal Americans should accept the results. That’s just the way it works in a democracy. We are glad we said what we said. It would have been easier and more pleasant to just bury our heads in the sand and say nothing. But this was a critically important election and we felt obligated as Americans to speak out. We'd do it again. And in fact we reserve the right to speak out again if a similarly important issue arises. ------------------------------------------------------------ SolderSmoke Podcast # 226 October 31, 2020 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke226.mp3 ---------------------------------- About the U.S. election ------------------------------------ Mars: Setting early, will have to shift to evening observation. Weather has been poor. Sunspot Cycle 25 is underway -- SFI 78, SN 32 The Gliessberg cycle Pete's Bench: #49, #50, uSDX, Hermes Lite Bill's Bench: HP8640B, Global Specialties Corp 6000 counter, Lafayette HA600A. MAILBAG: Peter VK2EMU Sent me copy of 1947 Handbook. Thanks Peter Brad W1BCC Spotted 10 S-38s for 80 bucks on Craig’s list. What’s going on here? Dale K9NN sent both Pete and I care packages with very cool part, including DG Mosfets Stuart ZL2TW sent me Les Moxon’s Antenna Book. TRGHS. Moxon will be back! Alvin N5VZH got his receive converter with a little Tribal Knowledge from SS. GM4OOU The Bitsy DSB rig from Scotland Peter VK3YE DSBto DC incompatibility SOLVED Paul VK3HN's Digital SWR and Power Meter and Low band AM TX VFO/Controller FB Videos. VK2BLQ alerts us to article about Jac Holzman of Elektra Records. AA0ZZ great message on assembler language and writing software the hard way. ------------------------------------------- SolderSmoke Podcast #225 Septermber 19, 2020 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke225.mp3 Mars, West Coast smoke. Pete's Activities:
-- DC receivers.
-- CW offset
-- GQRP talk
-- The uSDX project
Bill's Bench
-- Sliding into the Vintage Test Gear Cult: HP8640B .
-- Fixing up and figuring out Radio Shack DX-390 receivers.
-- 220 to 110 on a few remaining devices.
-- Got myself a Dremel-like rotary device.
Tech News:
-- ARRL/TAPR Convention: SDR project from Walla Walla University students. Intuitive explanation for why desired and image freqs in a mixer come out with very useful phase differences.
-- Chuck Adams' Amazing Lab Notebook. Includes a simple circuit to measure resistance and Q in crystals. FB.
MAILBAG:
-- Dino KL0S SITSing in his shack, homebrewing 9 MHz filters FB Dino. Airborne!
-- Dave NT1U sent us the famous 1968 QST Article by W7ZOI re DC RX.
-- Ron K0EIA listening to SWBC staions with uBITX.
-- Ted AJ8T Korguntubes making a 12AX7 equivalent.
-- Joel N6ALT sent me a nice DX-390 manual. Thanks Joel
-- Bob KD8CGH alerted us to the uSDX project -- story on the blog.
-- Craig AA0ZZ Sent a great message with insights on computer code -- I will put up on the blog.
--Tracy KN4FHX reports on optimistic prognosis for SolarCycle 25. Some chickens may have to be sacrificed.
-- Stephen M0OMO Thanks SolderSmoke for rekindling interest in this hobby.
-- Paul VK3HN has a cool new rig -- The Prowler -- check it out
-- Steve N8NM working on his Sunbeam car -- Pete already knew about the carburetor synch problem. N6QW knows everything.
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SolderSmoke Podcast #224
August 1, 2020
--The launch of Perseverance Mars probe With Ingenuity Helicopter. Bill's bench: SHAMELESS COMMERCE: PATREON, AMAZON SEARCH. THANKS Pete's Bench: Mailbag -
SolderSmoke Podcast #223
27 June 2020 Talking to Clubs: Pete's Bench SHAMELESS COMMERCE DIVISION: PATREON. SS is an SV DELOS WANA-BE! Bill's Bench Miscellaneous: MAILBAG: - SolderSmoke Podcast #222
May 23, 2020 Memorial Day in U.S. End of Ramadan so Eid Mubarak! #222 marks SIX YEARS of Julian-ismo. He started on SS 161. Thanks Pete. Thanks to all who sent good wishes on Billy's graduation. PETE'S WORKBENCH -- SHAMELESS COMMERCE DIVISION: AMAZON BOX -- SEARCH FOR ANYTHING OU WANT THERE. BILL's WORKBENCH SHOPPING BAG: MAILBAG: -
SolderSmoke Podcast #221
25 April 2020 Obviously no travelogue. QUARANTINE. SITS. Good news: Lawyers at Dewey Cheatham and Howe report that SolderSmoke will NOT PETE’S PROJECTS: Phasing SSB SHAMELESS COMMERCE DIVISION: NEW AMAZON LINK IN THE UPPER RIGHT SIDE OF SOLDERSMOKE BLOG. . BILL’S BENCH: QUARANTINE PROJECT: Q-31 AM SW Receiver. April 4 through April 19. 15 days of fun. Learned a lot. SHOPPING BAG -- THINGS TO GET: -- Great source for hardware (screws, nuts, bolts and more): McMaster-Carr https://www.mcmaster.com/ -- Thermax RGS316 coax. Great stuff. Thanks Jim In some ways better than Belden 1671A https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2012/03/murphys-whiskers-shaved-with-belden.html -- Copper Clad board: Pete’s boards use CEM 1. CEM 1 is low-cost, flame-retardant, cellulose-paper-based laminate with only one layer of woven glass fabric. -- BEST TEST LEADS: https://www.ebay.com/itm/BEST-TEST-LEADS-PERIOD-Hand-Soldered-MINI-CLIP-Version-32-16AWG-Ultra-Flexible/233519356767?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649 NEED/WANT: MAILBAG: SolderSmoke Podcast #220
April 1, 2020 Hunkered Down. StayInTheShack: SITS! Flatten the Curve! It is working. BILL'S BENCH -- Finishing up on the S-38Es. SHAMELESS COMMERCE DIVISION PETE’S BENCH MAILBAG Jack 5B/AI4SV doing well in Cyprus Mike WB2BLJ modding his BITX – having a lot of fun. Anonymous mail: FT-8 DX -- Are these contacts legitimate? -
SolderSmoke Podcast #219
14 March 2020
SPECIAL CORONA VIRUS EMERGENCY EDITION
We thought it would be nice to put out a special edition of the podcast to help listeners keep up their morale during this difficult time. So we’ll do our regular kind of show, but we’ll try to emphasize things you can do to stay busy and keep up morale while stuck at home.
BILL’S BENCH (and operating position)
--NOVICE RIG ROUNDUP. NRR. Continues through this weekend. Lots of fun. Cool rigs worked: Jon WS1K’s "Scrounger." Greg AA8V’s 6X2 superhet. And WN4NRR.
-- S-38 MANIA. My S-38E story. Bought parts. Bought a junker. Fixed the first one then used the parts to fix the junker. Now I have 2 S-38Es.
-- Got capacitor kit from Hayseed Hamfest. FB.
PETE’S BENCH
Hilbert Transforms
AD9833 glued onto a Nano
Teesny and Radig and ZL2CTM
PWKSCDS
More Mint
SOME THINGS TO DO DURING COVID 19 CRISIS
Sampson Boat Company Tally-Ho videos. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg-_lYeV8hBnDSay7nmphUA
WebSDR NA5B http://na5b.com:8901/
Revive an old boatanchor
Get back into shortwave listening.
Get on the air—make some contacts!
Take a walk. Get some exercise. Listen to SolderSmoke and other podcasts when you walk.
Cook something from the famous Pasta Pete web site. http://www.pastapete.com/
Help someone who needs help.
MAILBAG
QSP – What a cool magazine! Pete and I both have articles in there.
Hot Iron – great new issue also. Lots in there.
Tony Fishpool G4WIF Words of Wisdom on the NanoVNA.
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SolderSmoke Podcast #218
24 February 2020
Flying drones with Billy. Amazing tech out there. In the 50 buck range with video cameras and facial recognition and tracking. Check out Air Pix.
Bill's Bench:
Active CW filter in uBITX.
Hi-Per-Mite from 4 State QRP. Easy to do. Works well.
uBITX to 5 W level.
S-38E adventure.
Replaced antenna input coil BUT -- it came from an earlier S-38 and doesn't resonate.
So I bought a junker on e-bay and will take the E model coil out of that one.
Had to re-string the dial! And add rosin to it from Maria's old violin.
BFO was not working. Bad buzz sound.
So: Re-cap, Re-tube, Re-string, Re-align, Re-build power supply.
Shortwave sounds good. Nice to hear music coming from our machines.
SHAMELESS COMMERCE DIVISION: Please use the Amazon Search Box in the upper right hand portion of the blog.
Pete's Bench
A teensy-weensie explosion and fire
Mint! Kl7FLR
60 Meters
Cheese Microscopes
Peaberry
Radig
California hams using online SDR receivers for local nets.
News You Can Use!
J-310s in LTSpice
MAILBAG
K5HCT August via Regen and YouTube
Doug WB5TKI and his wife read "Us and Them."
Rich K7SZ finally following SolderSmoke Podcast. Welcome aboard Rich.
Rick KD4KRA His son was one of the kids in the MIR-Classroom contact that I monitored around 1993...
David AD8Y Read SolderSmoke Book. Similar Knack story. Shared 1978 story: Homework net on 75 meters.
Paul KL7FLR Tapping and other tribal knowledge.
Dave K8WPE Says I'm fortunate to have a supportive wife. So true.
SPECIAL REQUEST: IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE LISTENING TO THIS. SO PLEASE, SEND AN E-MAIL TO SOLDERSMOKE@YAHOO.COM JUST SAY THAT YOU LISTENED TO PODCAST #218 AND TELL US HOW YOU LISTENED TO IT (ITUNES, DOWNLAD FROM BLOG, STITCHER, PODBEAN, WHATEVER... THANKS
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Soldersmoke Podcast #217
1 February 2020
Travelogue! Dominican Republic trip. uBITX on the Beach. EFHW. LiPo Battery. First contact of the new year.
Bill's Bench Report
Following up on proposed uBITX mods:
-- Put pot on sidetone line from Raduino to keep the sidetone a bit quieter.
-- Fixed the key -- pounding brass
-- Will install 4 States QRP Active AF filter.
-- Need to reduce power on CW to 5W
-- Stereo to mono headphone adapters.
-- Turning off display and mic amp circuit not really worth it -- they don't pull much current.
Pete's Bench Report:
ELMAC Power Supply project
1930s era transmitter?
Teensy and SDR
PETE'S IDEA ABOUT GETTING LSB AND USB FROM BITX40
KWM-2 suggestions
Back to Bill's Bench:
Working on HRO-ish Receiver.
Bad SBL-1
Got idea for wider ceramic filter from Paul VK3HN
Ordered parts from Mini-kits in Australia. They sent 6kc filters.
Bruce KK0S sent me some 10 kc filters too.
Installed 6 kc filter with L network matching networks. Works great.
Also installed Infinite Impedance Detector that Paul used.
Needed some additional amplification ahead of the IID, so I used one stage of BITX amp.
Works great. I can tune full 40 meter band AND 49 meter SW band. Radio Romania, China, Radio Marti, Brazil, South Carolina.
Beefed up the shielding to cut down on AM detection.
MISCELLANY
-- AM and DSB in LTSpice
-- Duly Noted: Paul VK3HN's RIG: "THIS MACHINE KILLS KILOWATTS"
Kanji YC3KNJ's QRPesso Expresso Coffee in the field
-- The DANGERS of powerful magnets.
MAILBAG:
--KK4DAS Dean doing great things. MMM heard at Penn State. Where is the rest of the CBLA?
-- Thanks to Don for kind donation to the SolderSmoke cause
-- Dale BA4TB -- First SolderSmoke feedback from China. Thanks Dale!
--Steve Silverman: Sideswipers and bugs were made to handle "carpal tunnel of the day" So do I need a keyer for casual CW work?
-- Peter VK8VWA on the limited knowledge gained from kit building. Listens to podcast while walking on the beach in Australia.
-- Allan Hale -- Clothes Pins as Toroid holders. Yes! More Clothes Pins Wild Woody Keys from Dave Ingram
-- Pete WB9FLW 100 Watt Amp from WA2EUJ
-- Dave Wilcox K8WPE A medical question: Does the Michigan Mighty Mite work differently depending on what kind of medicine was in the pill bottles used for the coil form? Good question Doc! Dave suggest that putting CBD on the coil or the crystals. Anything to mellow out the ham bands...
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Soldersmoke Podcast #216
http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke216.mp3
21 December 2019
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL! Pete's Bench
Sprat Article
BITX 40 Fun
ZL2BMI Rig
Paraset. Three tubes! Almost an ET-3!
Bill's Bench
ET-2 Adventure over, Rig on the wall
Final QSO count. 20 3 "random"
Last QSO with AA8OZ
Lessons learned: 100 mW not the problem. Crystal Control cramps your style.
N0WVA regen amazingly effective.
Tried for the Sunrise Net. Walter sent me some crystals.
On to the uBITX.
Accidentally wiped out calibration and BFO settings.
Had to do recalibration and reset BFO.
Learned a lot about the rig.
How they did CW and how they do it now. Shift TX? Or shift RX? Or just shift BFO on RX?
How all the signals end up as upper sideband. Only one BFO freq. Very cool.
TalentCell 12 V Lithium Ion 3 AmpHour battery. Size of a deck of cards.
Inspired by Peregrino -- I ordered EFHW Tuner from QRP Guys.
Homebrew Straight Keys
Antuino upgrade
SMT soldering.
Back to Arduino Nano and the IDE.
A very cool tool.
Antuino filter analysis.
Version 6 of uBITX out.
The "Watt Meter" DC power meter. Very useful. 8 bucks. LINK:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-DC-combo-Meter-LCD-Watt-Power-Volt-Amp-RC-Battery-charging-Analyzer-M/152339793114?fbclid=IwAR0u9SlZi2Dm6zOJyZt4fDTu7w_pjBIEYD_FiNfLymxtQUbMjcNHjfB17P0
SPRAT, balloons and hardcore homebrew hydrogen.
MAILBAG
VK3HN's AM receiver. I ordered 6kHz 455 kHz filters from Australia.
Dean's MMM
Peter VK2EMU Hertz not hertz.
Ben KC9DLM LTSpice YouTube Videos
Steve Silverman Electroluminescent Receiver Kit
Lyndon N0LFX back to listening. FB OM
Steve M0KOV built a pill bottle variometer. Did you get the regen going?
Anthony VU3JVX FB HB uBitx. Looking for a job in Bangalore.
Allison KB1GMX Great to hear from her
Leif WB9IWT -- helped me trouble shoot my uBITX (BFO was low)
Mike EI0CL old buddy from Azores days. Recognized his voice on 20. Great QSO.
SolderSmoke Podcast #215 25 November 2019
http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke215.mp3 Happy Thanksgiving! Transit of Mercury Book Reviews Bill's Minimalist Adventures: -- 15 Contacts with the ET-2 -- Ethical issues: Is spotting yourself OK? OK to use TWO FETs? -- Using Reverse Beacon Network -- How to keep receiver on the right frequency -- N0WVA's receiver sounded better, so I built a second N0WVA receiver -- Regens reach back to Edwin Howard Armstrong's 1912-1923 breakthrough -- Regens are fun, but they are not good projects for new builders. -- Pull out those Michigan Mighty Mites and listen for yourself via on-line SDR receivers. Pete's Projects: "WHEN YOU KNOW STUFF YOU CAN DO STUFF!" -- Left Coast SSB -- "The Paesano" -- To be featured in December 2019 SPRAT. -- Pete's KWM-4 on The Collins Collectors Net -- Pete builds an N0WVA regen -- just in time for Sweepstakes CW Saturday! -- Arduino IDE Library trouble -- uBITX 6.0? Fake News? No more BITX40 Modules. Long Live BITX40 HOMEBREW! BITX-101. Intriguing but on second thought, no. MAILBAG Steve Silverman: Lexicon: "Audible Modes." Felipe CU2BD Old buddy from the Azores Michael Rainey AA1TJ: Come back Mike! The ionosphere needs you! Jack Welch AI4SV is in 5G land (Cyprus, not the cell phone thing). Walter AC4IM is at the San Vito Solar Observatory in Italy. DO SOMETHING WALTER! Kostas SV3ORA has an amazing homebrew web site. Thanks Kostas! Mike KC6SAX -- How to deal with the frustration of HB projects that don't work. Paul KL7FLR -- Pete is 7 Hz high. Keith W3ISZ sent his photo of the Transit of Mercury. -----------------
SolderSmoke Podcast #214
4 November 2019 (shockingly late!)
http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke214.mp3 The visit of Farhan to Northern Virginia "I heard this guy from Southern California on 20..." Fire Report from Pete Pete's Bench Report "When you know stuff, you can do stuff!" The CRAP rigs Old Boatanchors -- the Swan 120 with SUPER STABLE ANALOG VFO! Ten Tec rigs dial cord replaced with Chinese digi sig counter Pete's 500 mW encounter with a QRO curmudgeon The ZL2BMI Challenge has Pete building crystal filters The Left Coast Loafer CW rig Bill's Bench Report ET-2 Refinements N0WVA's Regen Receiver Going from ET-1 to ET-2 J-310s vice MPF-102 100 mW from a single J-310 Receiver kind of deaf -103 dbm MDS 10 contacts so far in 9 states THREE contacts yesterday. Worked Wisconsin - 633 miles on 92 mW We are at sunspot minimum. "Rage, rage against the dying of the light." Simplicity is the real reason for CW IDEA: Get those Michigan Might Mites on the air! Use Reverse Beacon Network to see if you are getting out Use SDR receivers to make contacts MAILBAG DL1AJG KC6SAX W9VNE KA4KXX N0WVA Zl2BMI AJ6BD ---------------------------
SolderSmoke Podcast #213 is available.
http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke213.mp3 7 September 2019 The dire consequences of our summer absence. 50th PODCAST WITH OUR FRIEND PETE! THREE CHEERS FOR PETE! Pete's Bench Report -- Transceiver Count: FORTY! -- SDR RADIGS -- Colorful OLED screens -- Pilgrims and Paisanos -- "Left Coast Homebrew SSB" -- Pete builds a CW transceiver (see picture above) Bill's Bench Report: -- Going minimalist -- Tuna Tin 2 + Herring Aid 5 = Fish Soup 7 (and later 10) -- My QRPp QSO with K1PUB overheard in Canada -- Glen Yingling's ET-1 -- Bill attempting a single transistor transceiver SPACE NEWS -- Antuino's Cubesat Origins. Farhan's Antuino Mods -- Apollo 11 Anniversary -- Possibly the best space book ever: "Carrying the Fire" by Michael Collins -- Chinese microsat sending eclipse pictures from the moon -- LightSail 2 success -- India has spacecraft in lunar orbit. Eric Sears ZL2BMI and Dino Papas KL0S on "QSO Today" Podcast MAILBAG: ZL2PD's Sugar Cube VFO N8WQ gets free samples N5RWF Getting started, wisely wearing beret VK2EMU Australian Ad for Collins Filters W1PJE on new LDMOS PA transistors KA4KXX Al Fresco 75 meter SSB rig with model plane engine mufflers! Forgot to mention: W9TH still has manuals for whover owns Drake 2-B #4215. Check your serial number! -------------------------
SolderSmoke Podcast #212 is available:
http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke212.mp3 22 June 2019 CONGRATULATIONS TO PETE: Licensed 60 years today
Hans's QSX SDR Rig at Dayton-Xenia and FDIM W8SX FDIM interviews Pete's SDR Projects -- Update The Peregrino SSB transceiver in the summer SPRAT Why no rare earth cell phone speakers in ham projects? My HDR "waterfall" project Farhan's Antuino Cubesat origins RF Lab in an box SWR, PWR, SNA Superhet receiver with ADE-1 at front, and log IC at the output Adapters (SMA to BNC) help DON'T BLOW UP THE INPUT RESISTORS (LIKE I DID!) My dirty DIGITIA -- Denial, then acceptance FFT Useful programs: SPURTUNE and ELSIE A better bandpass filter for the DIGITIA The importance of a good test set up with Antuino Manassas Hamfest: WA1UQO, W4WIN, AI4OT MAILBAG: KG7SSB WA3EIB VK4PG W3BBO Jeff Tucker -- Who owns Drake 2-B #4215? KN4BXI KC5RT K3ASW ----------------------
27 April 2019
SolderSmoke Podcast #211 is available http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke211.mp3 Pete NOT quitting podcast! Malicious code case RESOLVED! Ambiguity and the Digi-Analog Divide Edwin Howard Armstrong biography SPAACE! Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Oscar 100 in Geostationary Orbit. Why can't we have one too? Farhan puts AISAT in orbit. FB! Space is difficult SSTV from the Space Station Pete's bench report. Vintage Sidebanders Recording of Midwest Vintage SSB "tune up session" Vintage rigs that sound bad Distorted views on "distortion" Bill fixing old Bose Wave Radio NOT GOING TO DAYTON. AGAIN! But SolderSmoke rep will be there 75 meter secrets of success (timing is everything!) MAILBAG Steve N8NM sends me FB National Dial Steve N8NM aspires to complexity -- enough of this simple stuff! Dave W2DAB goes to Columbia U session on Armstrong, sends FB book. Jim W4JED -- reports of QCX sideband a bit exaggerated. Where is Allison? Rob Powell wins beret challenge. VK2TPM and VK2BLQ also win. CONGRATS! Colin G3VMU sends nice 1930s radio picture Alan WA9IRS sends diagram of digi radio signal flow. CLEAR AS MUD! Chris KD4PBJ Grandmother worked at Hammarlund. Steve NU0P sends info on Art Collins and the Apollo moonshots. ------------------------
2 March 2019
SolderSmoke Podcast #210 is available: http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke210.mp3 Alexa, Marie Kondo, berets, and ham radio Bi-Coastal Boatanchors BATTLE CRY: The Vintage SSB Preamble! "We are NOT ashamed!" Bill's HT37 and Drake 2B Pete's National National NCX-3 TRGHS Mechanical Filters Magnetostriction Why did Collins go with mechanical vice crystal filters? The foam deterioration syndrome in mechanical filters. Sad. Please send any unwanted Mechanical Filters to Bill. BONUS QUESTION: Look at the filter below. What is different/special about this one? Pete's antenna trouble Pete's FB amplifier troubleshooting Recent improvements in the uBITX finals Pete's design for a VFO for Bill (and an indoor antenna tuner!) Bill's VFO for Pete: HRO dial and gearbox driving a rotary encoder Guido PE1NNZ puts the QCX on SSB "The Secret Life of Machines -- Radio" HB HRO dial from DL6WD WA1QIX's USB D-104 "The High Frequency Oracle" DeMaw's LC filter receiver Godzilla and Ham Radio Bill's poor quality SSTV images from space (what happened?) Listening to AM on an SSB receiver Mixed feelings about CW MAILBAG M0KOV's mom took him to the doctor due to THE KNACK. M0JGH getting married (ALWAYS LISTEN TO PETE!) Jac's FB Receiver -------------------- SolderSmoke Podcast #209 is Available:
13 January 2019 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke209.mp3 An HT-37 "With Presence!" Even on CW! A Straight Key Night Story Saving a much-loved HT-37 Drake 2-B Alignment Tweaking the Mate for the Mighty Midget Fixing a Deaf DC Receiver A Wobbly National HRO-ish Gear Box Minimum Discernible Signal Tests Pete's Festive Holiday Transceiver in a Bottle Movie Review: "First Man" Neil Armstrong goes to the moon. Safety Tips for 2019: Fuses, Hard Drives, Flu Shots. MAILBAG: Dave G6AJW builds Pete's Sudden Transceiver Rogier KJ6ETL builds a new shack Steve N8NM Helps save the HT-37 Jim AL7RV W8NSA builds Parasets Dave AA7EE puts a beacon on the air -- Please Listen! Jan OM2ATC builds and documents an Si5351 VFO Bruce KC1FSZ Homebrew's a BITX KB1GMX's Tip on IRF-510 Oscillation Prevention Ryan W7RLF Homebrews a DC Receiver Listening to August K5HCT from the East and West Coasts on 40 Tim WA1HLR rebuilding his 1968 transmitter. ----------------------------
SolderSmoke Podcast #208 is available:
http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke208.mp3 15 December 2018 Pete and the California fires Bill goes to Brooklyn 2 meter simplex A return of the trivial electric motor Audio from Mars HF Conditions -- a real mixed bag Pete looks back at 2018 -- The Year of the SSB Transceiver -- Lessons Learned Hans Summers, the QSX and the virtues of SDR W7ZOI's DC Receiver Retrospective The 1972 Solar Flare and the Vietnam War SHAMELESS COMMERCE: Buy your gifts through the Amazon link to the upper right. Consider SolderSmoke the book as a gift. Visit Pasta Pete's for cooking ideas. Don't Build It! Sage -- but unexpected -- advice from Pete. Straight Key Night approaches. Book Reviews: --"What is Real?" (Quantum Physics) -- RHdb by K6LHA. Movies "Bohemian Rhapsody" "First Man" (Not yet!) MAILBAG: Steve G0FUW Ed KC8SBV -------------------------------------------
SolderSmoke Podcast #207 is available:
27 October 2017
http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke207.mp3 -- Giants of Radio -- Pete on 15 Meters -- Bill on 60 Meters with the uBITX -- Pete's Sudden and Heath Filter Transceivers -- Cubesats to orbit! To the moon! And to Mars! -- Bill rebuilds his 2 meter "Ray-Gun" Quad (for Farhan's Cubesat) -- Homebrewing Variable caps and stockpiling NP0 -- My "by ear" Minimal Discernible Signal Technique -- Thoughts on Direct Sampling SDR and the Radio Art MAILBAG -- A request for feedback from GQRP -- G4WIF reports G3ROO on UK TV with spysets -- VU3XVR builds FB rig from EMRFD -- M0KOV Charter member of the 3 Scratch-built BITX club --KD4PBJ's PTO Turtle DC Receiver -- AB1OP builds Pete's LBS receiver and gives us a new acronym: SITB -- KD4EBM -- Thanks for the scanner Bob! -- A possible sponsor from California... -- Pete's dream neighborhood... ---------------------------------
SolderSmoke Podcast #206 is now available:
2 September 2018
http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke206.mp3 -- SolderSmoke resumes after a busy summer. -- We did a portion of #206 via Skype at the GQRP Convention. Thanks to Steve G0FUW for setting this up. A portion of our participation appears at the end of the podcast. -- Pete's SDR Rig and his new involvement with WSPR and FT-8 -- The allure of SDR and the pitfalls of complexity. -- Bill's 135 foot Doublet, 75 AM, 60 USB and 30 Meter CW. -- Plans to change the IF of Bill's HRO dial receiver. -- Thinking (again) about sold stateing the HW-101. -- Hans Summers, QCX and QSX rigs. MAILBAG: Ralph builds Pete's LBS receiver. FB! -----------------------
June 23, 2018
SolderSmoke Podcast #205 is available: http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke205.mp3 -- Summer solstice. Mars Observations. Graduations. Internships. Fathers Day. -- Antenna Angst: Pete's tribander and Bill's Moxon. Insulation and resonance? -- Pete's work on color displays. -- Bill goes back to fix up older projects: -- Fixing the Frankenstein Phasing RX. Found an open choke! -- Tightening up the HRO Dial. -- Achieving Juliano Criteria stability on a BITX20 VFO. -- Lexicon additions: "Scratch Built" "Hardrock Radio" https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/39551/where-does-the-saying-made-from-scratch-originate -- PastaPete: http://www.pastapete.com/ MAILBAG: Bob Crane W8SX Corrspondent at FDIM Ralph AB1OP Building LBS Bruce KC1FSZ Digital Pot Jason W5IPA uBITX in Juliano Blue Rogier KJ6ETL ON THE AIR WITH A uBITX Special thanks to Tim Walford for 25 years of Hot Iron. --------------------------- SolderSmoke Podcast #204 is available!
http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke204.mp3 5 May 2018 April 1 Recap -- We thank you for your support! Pete's Rig on Cover of SPRAT 174 uBITX Mania uBITX Dual Conversion Design uBITX Gettng more out of the Arduino/Si5351 combo uBITX KD8CEC's amazing software uBITX Future Possibilities uBITX On-the-Air Experiences, with CW too! MAILBAG KD8CGH's Hyderabox -- THERE ARE TWO! QSO with N1AW's cardboard uBITX DuWayne on QSO TODAY Jack 5R8SV -- Radio Gods NOT Happy Jack Purdum W8TEE -- Thanks OM Charles AI4OT Chris KB4PBT 15 inch telescope John WJ0NF Reading SolderSmoke Ken W8KTP Ordering a uBITX Darren KG7KOI Listening Gary AK4NA New Word: "Cabinetize" FB OM! SolderSmoke Pocast #203 is (FINALLY!) available:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke203.mp3 24 March 2018 --The reasons for our delay. Winter, Computers, College, Family Trees, Lawyers.... -- Winterfest 2018 -- Pete launches 2018 THE YEAR OF THE TRANSCEIVER http://n6qw.blogspot.com/ -- SDR - Satan's Digital Radio? -- Direct Conversion Receiver Projects -- Mixer Musings -- A Thailand Troubleshoot -- Nor'Easter knocks out Bill's Moxon -- An appliance replacement? -- Homebrew Electret Mics. Seriously. -- uBITX Build with Rogier -- Civilized Crystal Testing -- Baofeng! -- DRAGNET -- MAILBAG KD4PBJ's REGEN N6ORS's SDR rig Mike Rainey's DX-100 ----------------------------------------------
13 Jan 2018 Opening music from Shel Silverstein and Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show. On the Cover of the Rolling Stone or On the Cover of SPRAT magazine.
Travelogue and Weather Report
-- Bill's trip to the Dominican Republic. SWL on the beach. Return to the ice box.
-- Dramatic events in California.
-- Reading Chinese Sci Fi with lots of radio in it. "The Three Body Problem" by Cixin Liu
Straight Key Night. IN QRP MODE THANK YOU. With nephew Jeffrey. Annual event -- worked Jim W1PID friend of Mike Rainey.
Steve Murphy and Jeff Damm on QSO Today. FB.
Oh your rig is homebrew? "It must be propagation."
ER Reading about G3UUR
Hams avoiding 60 meters due to 100 watt limit. SAD.
Bill's Bench: Continuing series on the Ceramic Discrete DC receiver. Described the oscillator and the AF amp. Next we will do the Mixer. The most interesting stage. Nephew John Henry and niece Helena visiting today.
Pete's bench. uBITX adventures.
The K1BQT IC transceiver.
The Vector Board building technique. See http://n6qw.blogspot.com/MAILBAG
Paul KA5WPL Looking for project with his son. Sawdust. Thanks again Steve Silverman.
Chris Waldrup OM PBJ thanks for the gift
Pete in contact with Sven Johnson
Chuck KE5HPY sent us picture of fashion model with boatanchors in background Grayson recalled 73 magazine covers...
Pete WB9FLW Bilateral SBE-33 ad "with inherent stability" That's the best kind!
Bruce KK0S experimenting with AF amps for the DC receiver
John KE5ETX Attempting CBLA
-----------------------------------
SolderSmoke Podcast #201 is available:
9 December 2017 Santa Juliano Forest fires, snow storms, and an earthquake. Santa arrives from Hyderabad -- uBITX in the house. Radio history. First transtalantic amateur contacts. Bill's International Brotherhood Ceramic Discrete Direct Conversion Receiver Project. -- Goals -- Build your own receiver. Really. From scratch. No cheating. -- How to get started. Get parts and tools. -- Stage by stage. -- VFO first -- maybe build two. Bill built two already -- Nephew is testing the first one. -- Polyvaricon limitations. -- Varactor limitations -- Variable cap limitation. MEETING THE JULIANO STABILITY CRITERIA Understanding the F5LVG mixer Pete goes to the dark side with an SDR receiver. Pete's 800 Watt Amplifier gives him trouble. TRGHS. People in the News Cliff Stoll -- Still Passionate about Electronics Peter Parker -- VHF/UHF By the Bay Yardley Beers -- Early SSB with "The Black Rose" John Kraus -- Moonbounce without the Moon. MAILBAG -----------------------------------
SolderSmoke Podcast #200 -- TWO HUNDRED!!!!-- Is available
14 October 2017
http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke200.mp3 -- Old friends on 17 meters. -- Another Knack Nobel in Physics. -- Hans Summers' QCX transceiver: $50 IS THE NEW 10 GRAND! -- New Bands! 630 and 2200 Meters. BIG ANTENNAS! -- Nuke Powered QRP. No joke! -- The Challenge of UHF. Not for the faint of heart. -- Reginald Fessenden, Father of Phone. PETE'S BENCH REPORT: The New Simple-ceiver. Soon to be a Transceiver. BILL's BENCH REPORT: Discrete, Direct Conversion, Ceramic Receiver in iPhone Box. THE EDUCATIONAL PORTION OF TODAY's PROGRAM: HOW TO TROUBLESHOOT A HOMEBREW RECEIVER. MAILBAG. ------------------------------------
SolderSmoke Podcast #199 is available.
http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke199.mp3 2 September 2017 The Eclipse. The Floods. Sawdust Regen gets John Henry off to a good start. Voltage regulators as audio amplifiers The return of the Simple-ceiver (Direct Conversion) Ceramic Resonators 3D OLEDS iPhone Boxes as rig enclosures Electric Radio on Frank Jones 17 Meter Contacts MAILBAG ---------------------------------------------
SolderSmoke Podcast #198 is available.
29 July 2017
Sign on a beach store: SHACK-TACULAR!
Noticed that EB63 amp was getting hot. Why?
TT2, Herring Aid5, Farhan's Key: QRPp and CW! See?
D-104 lore -- Reading from Bill Breshear's (WC3K) ER article
Astatic crystal/ceramic element -- disappointingly flimsy
Electret-ing it. The G-Spot (see picture above)
Walery KB2FIV sent crystal mic element and piezo buzzer (reverse for mic!) FB
HW-8 AF filter Center Frequency Problem. IT'S TRUE! Fixed! Finally.
Shack re-org at N2CQR
Got Steve Silverman's HP 8640B Sig gen on the bench. Required reinforcement
Pete's new DIFX
LM373 rigs. Perhaps with that CA3020 Pete sent me. Chips Ahoy!
Juliano Yellow? Origins of Blue? Juliello? Julionyx?
HB Crystal Filter Capitulation? Don't give up Pete -- just dish the Dishal!
Ceramic VXOs? K.P.S. Kang
Crystal testers by G7WKE and Dino KL0S. Impressive.
Antennas and BITX40 modules. Antennas are important.
Bill's new Baofeng HT on 440.
Fixing my Sony SW7600GR
MAILBAG
Steve Silverman alerts us to NYC radio row now in the Bronx.
Tony G4WIF on the cover of SPRAT -- Getting the Don Cameron award. FB
Armand WA1UQO points out that the Berryville hamfest is coming up...
Thomas KK6AHT F4HDQ writes in.
On the air with W8NSA
--------------------------------------
SolderSmoke Podcast #197 is available:
June 17, 2017
Up in NYC, met Dave W2DAB. got Steve Silverman's HP 8640B Sig Gen.
Farhan's visit to SolderSmoke HQ
Got me a TEK1401A Spectrum analyzer
Farhan at "Geekfest" @W7ZOI http://w7zoi.net/Farhan-visit.
BITX40 Modules. 5,000 already. 1,000 a month.
The BITX pronunciation problem.
QRP Hall of Fame. I suspected April 1 reprisal! "I am unworthy"
Like in Wayne's World: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Dusting off my Tuna Tin 2, Herring Aid 5 and Farhan's key from India.
The Manassas Hamfest: OLD crystal gear. 20's and 30's stuff. Leon Lambert RX and Philmore Fixed Crystal Detector.
Reminder of how YOUNG the radio art is.
RELATED: Bell System 1953 Transistor Documentary. 11 year old Pete and his CK722.
Bought some good stuff from Charles AI4OT.
Armand WA1UQO gave me a big collection of Electric Radio. So much history and HB wisdom in there. Frank Jones and Lafayette Radio. Jim Lamb and 1930s SSB.
Is the CK-722 the source of Pete Juliano's affinity for Juliano Blue?
Was Wes Hayward already using Juliano Blue?
"Your rig sounds real good for a homebrew rig!"
"Well, your rig sounds pretty good for a Yaesu!"
Related topic: Going over the Waterfall: The SDR Superiority Syndrome. Feathering.
ARRL Arduino Book by Popiel. Very nice. Right level. Lots of good info.
BENCH REPORT:
Pete's Dishal Dystopia -- Is the perfect TRULY the enemy of the good enough?
Bill's NE602 RIG:
Replaced OLED. Blue one seems noisier. Shielded it with copper flashing.
Made me yearn for bigger boxes WITH A HOOD!
DOCUMENTING WITH LTSPICE
MAILBAG:
Special Thanks to our correspondent in the Dayton Xenia Metropolitan area -- Bob Crane W8SX.
Jack Welch, AI4SV 5R8SV -- Our Man in Antanarivo -- Sent me a GREAT BOOK "I, Libertine" by Frederick R. Ewing. EXCELSIOR!
Bruce KC1FSZ https://www.qrz.com/db/
Greg, VK1VXG Suggestion for WA8WDQ on Arduino serial plotter
Ben KC9DLM Mercury PTO. In a syringe! No thanks! Maybe add some high voltage and selenium. And a radium dial! Yea!
KY3R's metalized cigar boxes! FB On Blog.
Richard WB2PEF has revived his Doug DeMaw 8P6 rig. FB. But bothered by PTT thump.
Update on Dave AA7EE (from Mike KC6SAX)
------------------------------- SolderSmoke Podcast #196 is available.
5 May 2017 Pete and the QRPARCI HOF: We thank you for your support!
Note the strange seasonality of these kinds of events... Always in the Springtime...
April is the cruelest month. Especially the FIRST DAY!
Feel Tech Follow-up -- the DC blocking cap issue.
HBTV? Roku Challenge?
A tube of Desitin? Why?
SDR Misadventures.
SDR on a tablet Just like WA7HRG
Pi Day More RaspPi Linux observations TOO HARD
The problem of Si5351 and updated libraries -- old sketches don't work!
My SDR question: If we go with direct sampling, no need for I and Q at front end No image problem, right? But why is there often a digital I and Q in the direct sampling receivers?
BITX MODULE
Getting RF in through the DDS jack.
Electric Radio: Reading from the history of SSB. And from the T.O.M. article
Joe Carr K4IPV : Homebrew Hero from Falls Church Va. Any more info on him?
Pete's newest DifX
Pete's new digital scope.
Bill's NE602 RIG, Epiphyte History.
He put AADE crystal filter impedance match circuits in backward That's why he needed RF amp. Duh.
The perils of a crowded box
Building RF amp board (BITX Module design) for the NE602 rig.
NE602s do not put out a lot of power. uW
BITX Module Amp circuits very stable.
Chassis as the heat sink.
Mic amp? We don't need no stinkin' mic amp! But yes, we do. 741 on the way.
Parts on e-bay very expensive! Back to the hamfests. On to Manassas!
Congrats to Tony Fishpool G4WIF, who received the Don Cameron, G4STT, Award for an outstanding contribution to low power amateur radio at the RSGB AGM meeting in Cardiff.
MAILBAG --------------------- SolderSmoke Podcast #195 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke195.mp3 BENCH REPORTS
Pete Releases Smoke (wiring harness)
Pete's DifX on 60
Architecture and Dual Conversion (uBITX: uses ALL THREE clocks on the Si5351)
The Big Kahuna
ON HACKADAY with Philco SB100 SEE! QRP!!!!!
BITX60
Cap Stack Hack mod (with leads)
Let the smoke out of an Si5351 (shorted output) Several actually.
(Same day delivery zone for Amazon -- but no drones or parachutes yet.)
Installed scanning switch
Observations on 60. All the weird bands have a 6 in them: 160, 60, 6
The good: 100 watt limit, wire antennas
The bad: Kind of cliquish-- like 75, not much of a CQ band. Channels. Not much activity. Met Josh KE8CPD on 40. BITX 40!
TRIBAL KNOWLEDGE:
Socketry: How to keep BNC jacks from spinning loose?
Do you heat shrink?
Feel Tech Sig Gen might not have blocking cap at the output.
Speaking of which, when I spoke of the Ne602, I mostly meant blocking caps, not bypass caps.
How come they don't have a cable TV channel devoted to radios? They have HGTV? Why not HBTV?
REPORT FROM WINTERFEST
Bad weather. Tailgaters wimped out!
Combined forces with Armand WA1UQO.
Met up with Charles AI4OT.
Acquisitions: 1/4 phono jacks, carbon mic, vero board, disc caps, weather radio,
LARGE collection of Electric Radios from Armand. Wow.
Electric Radio notes: 1st Fifty Years of Sideband 1991 articles by Jim Musgrove K5BZH
Why LSB on 75? -- so AMers couldn't follow to top of band
W2, W6, W8s liked phasing, W3, W4, W0 more into filter rigs.
Early SSB guys turning on carrier and talking AM hams into SSB RX.
Kelvinator Refrigerator rigs.
A reading on the homebrewing of SSB rigs.
Tony Fishpool on QSO Today! Pete mentioned prominently.
Good Hacks from ND6T on BITXHacks, Stockton Bridge
MAILBAG
---------------------------------- SolderSmoke 194 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke194.mp3 March 4, 2017 BIG NEWS: uBITX from Farhan
BENCH REPORTS
Pete: Recycling Old Boards Working on Arduinos and advanced displays Bill: SDR Adventures and Misadventures.
RTL-SDR is fun. Built HB front end. HDSDR under Windows is fun and easy. Thought about Raspi3, 7 inch touch screen, Linux, software YUCK. Followed advice of Ken G4IIB and got a 50 buck tablet with Google Play. Who needs tiny OLEDs? Use a 7 inch tablet as your display!
Building a Ceramic Resonator for the HRO 455 kc filter
The value of doing something different. Boxed up my NE602 OLED rig. OLED noise and ACTIVE decoupling. NE602 and MOSFET tips LEXICON:
OTD Obsessive Tinkering Disorder G6LBQ "A Thing of Beauty" Source of Tombstoning term: Don ND6T. Ken G4IIB’s extremely smooth audio. ON THE AIR:
On AM on 75 and 40. Fun. Old Military Radio Net and "The Lonely Guy Net" on 75 Saturday morning. Good old 17 meters. Open at mid-day HB2HB on 40 with W0PWE. Listening on 60 Hambrew magazines disappeared, but are back now.
EMRFD Classic Edition available New Posts to BITX HACKS MAILBAG:
Gloves follow-up. Not a good idea. VK3YE’s QRP by the Bay event and a new book! Colin M1BUU achieves Mountaingoat status Martin A65DC JoO MMM in the UAE Tom NY2RF Editorial with mention of JoO! Lots of Al Fresco rigs: W8LM BITX on a board, Brad WA8WDQ DC RX, KA4KXX Al Fresco OZ DSB ON6UU DSB from Spain via Belguim Hugh ZL1UEM SMALL Si5351 OLED Cookie Tin rigs VK2EMU’s Biscuit Tin DC RX, WA7HRG’s Popcorn rig VK4FFAB FB LTSPICE intro Ken G4IIB’s BITX adventure (with VERY smooth audio. How smooth? We can’t say.) VU2XE’s BITX with a CAD box G0ETP’s shockingly beautiful SDR receiver Alan W2AEW on the mend with broken ankle. His videos are a treasure trove of tribal knowledge. ----------------------------------
SolderSmoke 193
28 Jan 2017 Report from Pete on BITX 40 Session with California radio club.
Update on the BITX40 Module Revolution
-- Check out the BITXHACKS page. Send in contributions. -- BITX20 mailing list very active. -- Raduino! -- Interview with Farhan with W5KUB -- Eliminating the commercial gear. -- BITX 40s on the beach in Australia. FB Bench Reports:
Pete:
-- Color Displays! -- KWM-4 -- OLED MADNESS! Bill:
-- Fixing up the old HT-37 HT37 to HT37 QSO with W1ZB -- Dabbling in VHF with Ramsey Aircraft band receiver. NOT FUN. -- Going all IC with Si5351 OLED NE602 rig. -- BANDSWEEP -- OLED Noise and the Active Decoupling solution. Using LTSPICE as a diagnostic or understanding tool.
Of Waterfalls, Homebrew Rigs and Casual Critics on 40 meters. Words of Wisdom from W8JI.
LEXICON: HAYWIRE TOMBSTONE BIKESHEDDING from Todd K7TFC
Some great recent interviews by Eric 4Z1UG:
Ian G3ROO Origins of ROO Regen at age 8 Hans Summers G0UPL Balloons! NO COMMECIAL GEAR David White WN5Y ELECTROLUMINESCENT RECEIVER EXPLAINED Rob Sherwood NC0B MAILBAG:
Chris KD4PBJ's BITX 40 with improved stability
Jerry W0PWE built a DIGITIA! Very nice. Worked Keith N6ORS and heard me! TRGHS Mike AB1YK's Al Fresco Scratch built BITX. But give that LC VFO another chance Mike! Steve N8NM 30 meter rig with salvaged CB LC VFO. FB Keith N6ORS Franken SDR rig with parts from the 1980s. FB SKN Bandscan from Mike WA6ARA I worked W1PID Jim! What is Mikele up to? Rocking Johannesburg and Kirghizstan via local repeaters: --------------------
SolderSmoke Podcast #192 is available: December 16, 2016 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke192.mp3 N6QW COMPLETING AN ORBIT TOMORROW!!!! Happy Birthday Pete!
Shortwave Woes: Deception and Disappointment!
Voice of Vietnam! But it is from Cyprus Creek S.C.
Radio Athmeeya Yatra in Punjabi! but it is in Nauen Germany. Yuck!
Sort of like these 9 cents per minute on-line relay ham stations. Yuck I say!
You know you are a hardcore homebrewer when a near empty can of Deoxit makes you nervous, so you order more, just in case.
Bench Reports:
Pete:
FPM FPM FPM!!! Tell us about it!
BITX 40 Module in Juliano Blue
Explaining the BITX 40 to the local club.
CULTURE SHOCK! Plug and play vs. Hardcore Homebrew.
Bill:
An EXTROVERTED BITX 40 Module
QRO with 24 volts on the Drain: 20 watts out. Heatsink upgrade, Chris KB4PBJ Thanks.
Analog Readout -- Dymo tape and a Sharpie arrow
REVERSE POLARITY PROTECTION Where the perfect is the enemy of the good enough.
HRO no longer AL FRESCO Boxed up. Thanks Armand. Thanks Tim Sutton. Still working on AM receiver. Not inhaling very well.
Boatanchor Day: Fixed HT37 and hurt my back. Really. Got 160 meter station going. Changed ball bearings on CW key.
Next project. Another BITX 40, but perhaps for 160, 75 and 60 with Si5351 and plug-in filters.
Sideband History: THE SIDEBAND SUZY AWARD. Pete deserves this. I say we revive it.
LEX: Al Fresco. And Tim Walford calls them "Blackbox rigs" not "rice boxes"
HB2HB contacts. Often with guys who built their linear. I say that counts Too!
MAILBAG
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx SolderSmoke Podcast #191 November 6, 2016 SolderSmoke Podcast #191 is available: BIG NEWS: EMRFD LIVES ON! Three cheers for Wes and for Tom Gallagher of the ARRL.
BENCH REPORTS:
PETE: FPM Rig. Some Halli history. A TRUE RIG! Working Japan.
WITH 600 WATT LINEAR AMPLIFIER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
New FEELTECH Sig Gen.
BILL: Farhan's BITX Module
Built to Mod, built to get you started in homebrew
Very impressive. BITX in miniature. But completely recognizable.
REMARKABLY stable.
Farhan personally checking each one.
Ladies collective doing toroids. DONATION money bought them some Diwali candies!
VFO Drift: Will NP0 SMD caps and lower current help enough?
My Analog VFO -- BANDSWEEP
QRPppppppppppp with REX's Hamfest Buddy. Thanks Rex and Bob Crane.
HB2HB with KW4KD
MAILBAG
Jan's Netherland Mate Mighty Midget
Charlie's Kiwi DSB
Steve, Donald Fagan, and Jean Shepherd
Rob VK5RC repairs Tek Tube 'scopes
Colin M1BUU Si5351 superhet
Denis Klipa and NRL 3538
Jonathan M0JGH Wizard of Wimbledon Matchbox rig
JH8SST Simpleceiver
Peter Parker Vk3YE Reviews Book
Peter GW4ZUA Welsh LBS
Michael Rainey helping hobbyist in Germany with tuning forks.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx SolderSmoke Podcast #190: September 24, 2016 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke190.mp3 ........................................................ SolderSmoke Podcast #189 August 6, 2016 ...................................... SolderSmoke Podcast #188 is available. http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke188.mp3 ************************** SolderSmoke Podcast #187: ******************************* SolderSmoke podcast #186 ​April 9, 2016 -- April 1 WireWrapRap Rap-up. Feedback from participants.
-- Bench Reports:
- Pete talks about his Raspberry Pi SDR DSP rig.
- Bill talks about on his Mate for the Mighty Midget Receiver and his R2 Frankenstein.
-- A story from Pete's youth: Cruising the "Miracle Mile" with a Heathkit "Ten-er."
-- Why do we need more RF amplification (in receivers) on 20 than on 40?
-- Have you ever tuned the BFO freq in a superhet by the "sound of the noise?"
-- A visit to Washington by Jonathan W0OX and family.
-- Bill goes to Winterfest Hamfest with Armand WA1UQO
-- Pete on the importance of balance (in life).
-- Great interviews on QSO Today: Peter Parker, Grayson Evans, and Ashhar Farhan.
-- MAILBAG:
- Paul Darlington M0XPD has a new book about life, travel, and the Dayton Hamvention.
- Michael AA1TJ QRV with a tuning fork at its 2,000th harmonic.
- Jonathan M0JGH living dangerously with homebrew QRP in Italy.
- Ben KC9DLM JoO with MMM
- Stefan DL1DF needs 3.579 MHz rock "with mojo." We have it for you OM.
*****​*************************
SolderSmoke Podcast #185 *******************************************
SolderSmoke Podcast #184 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke184.mp3 SolderSmoke Podcast #183 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke183.mp3 SolderSmoke Podcast #182 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke182.mp3 November 22, 2015
Travelogue: In Shenandoah with BEARS!
Michigan Mighty Mite Update and a Generous Offer (with conditions).
BENCH REPORT:
-- Pete's Ten Tec Conversion using LTSpice
-- Pete's Simple-ceiver
-- My CB to 10 conversion plans
DREAMS OF 160 METER AM: KB3SII, N2CQR, N6QW Building for Top Band
Raspberry Pi Nightmares
Homebrew to Homebrew (HB2HB) Contacts
Elser Mathes Cup -- We have some competition!
QST, "The Radio Art," and The Channelization of HF Bands
WA5BDU Nick Kennedy on QSO Today Podcast
Ed Walker of "The Big Broadcast" was a ham: N3HFT
MAILBAG: A Letter from Turkey: Tubes and R-390s
Si5351: G4GXO says give it a go!
SolderSmoke Podcast #181 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke181.mp3 17 October 2015 SolderSmoke Podcast #180 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke180.mp3 SolderSmoke Podcast #179 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke179.mp3
22 August 2015 YESTERDAY MARKED 10 YEARS OF THE SOLDERSMOKE PODCAST -- A clip: The first minutes of SolderSmoke #1 -- A trip down SolderSmoke memory lane. -- The SolderSmoke lexicon -- words and phrases we use (a lot). BENCH REPORT -- Pete's antenna project. -- Pete's new Blog: http://n6qw.blogspot.com -- Bill's big amplifier problem fixed thanks to Allison KB1GMX. -- Six digit freq readout with an Altoids case. THE Si5351 PHASE NOISE CONTROVERSY -- ALL oscillators make noise. -- Keeping things in perspective: It is 100 db down! -- Observations and tests from LA3PNA, NT7S, and K0WFS: http://nt7s.com/2014/11/si5351a-investigations-part-7/ -- Try it, you'll like it! The benefits trying things on real rigs. NEWS Interviews on "QSO TODAY" with Eric 4Z1UG. Horrible band conditions. Looking at Saturn with telescope. MAILBAG Another recruit for the CBLA: Paul KA5WPL. Ron G4GXO on Bell-Thorn and Eden9 SSB rigs. Rupert G6HVY on Kon Tiki radio and Mr. Spock. Mikele's Croation BITX rigs. Dean AC9JQ's TIA. Bryan KV4ZS will build an LBS receiver. Dave Anderson give Pete good antenna advice. Steve Smith moves in from the garage. Pete has built 12 SSB transceivers. Intervention time? SolderSmoke Podcast #178 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke178.mp3 SolderSmoke Podcast #177 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke177.mp3 13 June 2015
-- PETE JULIANO INDUCTED INTO THE QRP HALL OF FAME
-- Bench Reports: Bicoastal Bilateral Success: A Tale of Two Tias
Only 3 TIA rigs in the world? It depends...
Relay improvements in the BITX Builds
Straightening out amp problems
The many uses of copper foil
No phase noise or bleed-over troubles
Plug-in filters
Adjusting TIA amp gain on RX and TX (too much is not good!)
Getting the BITX to work with the CCI amp
Allison wisely prescribes 3 db pads
Curing hum by moving the power supply (duh!)
-- Farhan's New Minima -- Crying out for an Si551?
-- Mike KL7R's Web Site is Back (thanks to W8NSA)
-- SolderLex: Rigs or Radios? We go with Rigs
-- A ham rite of passage: Build a Dipole!
-- What does your shack look like at the end of a project?
-- MAILBAG
The CORRECT pronunciation of Belthorn
Multiplication and Division by 4
W8NSA, Vietnam, a Transoceanic and a 9V Battery
SolderSmoke Podcast #176 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke176.mp3 SolderSmoke Podcast #175 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke175.mp3 SolderSmoke Podcast #174 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke174.mp3 SolderSmoke Podcast #173 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke173.mp3 SolderSmoke Podcast #172 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke172.mp3 SolderSmoke 171: http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke171.mp3 January 31 2015 SolderSmoke 170: http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke170.mp3 January 11, 2015 http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke170.mp3 Bill's Double A, DSB, Dipole, Dominican DX-pedition. December 6, 2014 -- 25 crystals "deployed" to new Colorburst Liberation Army recruits November 4, 2014 The benefits of software inefficiency. 3 November 2014 October 4, 2014 Bench Report: Pete working on Direct Conversion Receivers. September 13, 2014 August 16, 2014 ANCIENT TRIBAL KNOWLEDGE -- TUBE AND TUBE-LIKE RADIOS Saturday July 26, 2014 June 21, 2014
Part II of our interview with Pete Juliano, N6QW -- Bill's Moxon Monstrosity -- Amplifiers and Exorcisms (See slideshow link on the blog) -- Varactor tuning -- Polivaricon capacitors -- The challenge of building small rigs -- Heat, layout, components and VFO stability -- "No frills" as a building philosophy -- The future of Bill's Heathkit HW-101 We still have a lot more to talk about. Stay tuned for Part III! 26 May 2013 Bob Crane, W8SX, was out at the Four Days in May event and did an excellent series of interviews with the guys who made presentations: -- Harold Smith, KE6TI Many Ways To Homebrew; Chris Testa, KD2BMH Battery Powered Software Radios -- Having your cake and eating it, too; George Dobbs, G3RJV The Classic World of the Regenerative Receiver; Gary Breed, K9AY Why Does My Rig Have a Receive Antenna Jack?; Craig Behrens, NM4T The Great Arduino, JT65 and Rebels Caper -- High adventure with new radio paradigms; Dave Cripe, NM0S PoW QRP April 1, 2014 SolderSmoke at WinterFest Hamfest Presentation on BITX rigs at Feb 2014 Hamfest January 20, 2014 MLK Day. Tough winter. Shack heated by Heathkit. BITX 20/40 Almost done: Bandswitching arrangement. VFO construction using spreadsheets. 2N2222s wired in backwards! (CBE not EBC! Who knew?) Other amusing building errors. Crystal filter evaluation -- the G3UUR method. Sweeping a filter with an Arduino DDS. Building a BITX in LTSpice. New Rigol 'scope (now 100 MHz). Tek 465 REBORN! QRP HATERS -- They are out there! MAILBAG. BITX 20/40 dual band bandsweep SolderSmoke 157 SolderSmoke156 October 14, 2013 (Delayed Back-to-School edition) August 11, 2013 June 22, 2013 SPECIAL THANKS TO SOLDERSMOKE'S DAYTON CORRESPONDENT:
BOB CRANE, W8SX -------- May 18, 2013 April 1, 2013 Topics: -- Spring not yet sprung -- Dominican nostalgia wave hits SolderSmoke HQ -- Rebuild of my first transmitter -- Dusting off the Barebones Superhet -- SolderSmoke Book Corner: Ben Franklin by Walter Issacson How Arthur C. Clarke handled his Mailbag "The New Cool" Dean Kamen's house/shack Transistor Radios by Ronald Quan -- New SolderSmoke Advertising Campaign -- QRP vs. QRO: Put 40 milliwatt "Shark Fin" QRSS rig on the air Being lured into QRO amp construction projects -- Reverse Beacon Network -- Looking for my Elmer (or his son) -- MAILBAG March 6, 2013 17 February 2012 December 30, 2012 SolderSmoke Podcast 147 --- September 23, 2012 -- July 29, 2012
-- Derecho Storm hits Northern Virginia
-- Cappuccio impersonates a Pitt Bull -- July 4 Fireworks
-- A 17 Meter QSO with W5JAY (QRP Hall of Famer)
-- Rules of Thumb for Decoupling Caps (.1 uF now suspect)
-- Heathkit: Mic jack? Or Mike jack? (Who is this Mike guy?)
-- On the air with the K2ZA DX-100
-- Saturnian Sidewalk Astronomy
-- NJQRP "Chat With The Designers" -- Mandatory Listening!
-- Back with the ARRL: Goodwill Transmitters and Herring Aid Receivers
-- Billy's computer build and Arduino adventures
-- Fixing up NE602 20 meter DC rig
-- Join G-QRP! Support our SPRAT!
-- MAILBAG
--SolderSmoke 144 June 13, 2012 --A CQ from the Rolling Thunder! --The Transit of Venus. --JA DX on 17 --Kick Panel Finale: --Workin' on the Workbench (and test gear) --Billy's Computer Project: Success! --SPECIAL REPORT FROM FDIM --MAILBAG: Urban legends, Hot Iron, Dry Joints --Bluegrass Music --MAILBAG -- SolderSmoke 143 May 2012 Cappuccio the Flying Retriever Kite Flying (no injuries this time!) April 1 getting more and more difficult Turtle Wax and Telescope Maintenance Titan's Orbital period NJQRP's Amazing "Chat with the Designers" QRP-Tech and A-QRP Billy's workbench and computer build Sony Vaios goes toes up (really) Digi modes make me grumpy Kick Panel rig gets a receiver The Joy of Belden 1671A I want to bulild a BITX 75/20! Solar Flux when I was born (300+) SPRAT 150! Congrats! Jason NT7S and his new OpenBeacon QRSS kit BONANZA! MAILBAG -- SolderSmoke 142 March 19, 2012 SWR meter as a poor man's spectrum analyzer QRP Quarterly: Pete Juliano's SSB Rig, Idea Exchange, Mike's articles Great contacts on 17 SSB Squeezing the birdies out of 17 meter rig. Again. STOP MURPHY'S WHISKERS! A PLEA FOR BELDEN 1671A! My new 'scope Zen and the Art of Telescope Maintenance SETI Live: Search the waterfall for ET's sigs Ade Weiss's wonderful new book Chinese Knack? Soul in the Machine: Billy's earliest toroids Re-cycling my 20 meter CW rig (from cycle 22) Winterfest report Relay repairs and back EMF dangers MAILBAG -- SolderSmoke 141 February 5, 2012 Recording on repaired computer RG-174 shield wires: "Murphy's Whiskers" "The Radio Art" "Non e radioamatore se non gli fuma il saldatore!" Does soldering a soldering iron disturb the universe? HCJB: Home of the Quad, but DX Party line is over Butane, Loctite, Scotchbrite, Velcro, and Gorilla tape Getting the 17 meter SSB station going -- trials, tribulations, triumph! MAILBAG -- January 9, 2012 - Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Billy's Birthday (on the range!) ---- October 4, 2011 ---- 10 September 2011 ---------------- August 7, 2011 June 26, 2011 Michael AA1TJ's Sputnik 1 Project New "Ikea" microphone NOVA QRP Club WSPR T/Rouble resolved Finishing up Rome WSPR rig Easy-Peasy on Asus eee-PC Space Station Packet Beacon Boatanchor News: DX-100, HT-37, "CQR" anchors, 75 meter antenna Drake 2-B history interview by W8SX Lew McCoy and Ernest Hemingway Ade Weiss, QRPoetry and Ade's new book Regen theory MAILBAG (with a focus on New Zealand) - April 19, 2011 -- KindleSmoke -- Amazon's Whispernet (not to be confused with WSPRnet) -- April 1 and the Perils of Plausibility -- The difference (significant!) between Cream of Tartar and Tartar Sauce -- A short Italian lesson -- Polyakov QRSS -- Snort Rosin's Mighty Mite (NOTE: NO FILTER!) -- Fly Fishing in Space: 2 Meter Packet Beacons and the International Space Station -- Upside-down Amplifier -- Rock and Roll and Ham Radio: The Bob Heil Story -- The Shuttle Discovery Lands in Northern Virginia -- MAILBAG April 1, 2011 --Fickle Finger of Fate: Lamp falls on QRSS Crystal --Another heroic computer repair --Sleuthing for RFI with Crystal Radios and Peter Frampton --The seductive allure of the British Regen --Watching the Space Station and the Space Shuttle --Packets from SPAAAACE --Don Vorgaard and the birth of SSB (and DSB!) --Electric Radio Magazine --SPRAT and the ZL2BMI DSB Rig --Jerri Elsworth's 555 contest (Did I win?) --73 Magazine --QSO with Mike Bryce WB8VGE --Knack Job Opportunities at Make and Hack-a-Day --Chemical Tailoring of Crystal Mic Audio Response --Pi Day! --Sling Shots, Fishing Poles, and Antenna Launchings --MAILBAG! -- 28 February 2011--Winterfest! --UK nostalgia: "King's Speech" saves British Regen --Dark Cloud, Silver Lining: ice storm gets us back on the air --40 meter phone (AM and SSB) --K2ZA interview: John Zaruba's DX-100 --OUR NEW SPONSOR: SIERRA RADIO SYSTEMS --SolderSmoke audio woes: interference! Lollipop ditched. --Buzz Aldrin's lunar seismograph --Watching the space station fly over Virginia --Twain, Tesla, Edison and Halley's Comet --Capuccio on Drugs --MAILBAG - February 5, 2011Some important trivia questions (answers will be given in the podcast): What is the connection between radio amateur (and pioneer radio astronomer) Grote Reber and world famous astronomer Edwin Hubble? In the world of radio-controlled helicopters, what is "TBE"? In Britain they have radio "rallies," but at one time they had hamfests." When did this happen? Only one terrain feature on Venus is named for a man. He is man of radio. Who is he? What music did Neil Armstrong listen to on his way to the moon? Plus: -- The Air and Space Museums -- Our music -- The SolderSmoke D-104 -- NASA asks for our help -- Telescope repairs -- A BFO for the Trans-O -- Back on Echolink MAILBAG! Please send reports on the D-104 audio! - SolderSmoke 129 January 8, 2010 Introducing Cappuccio "On the Cover of the Hot Iron" Old tech, new tech: Hammarlund HQ-100 Lafayette HA-600 (A) WSPR: VK6 on the grey line, also Wake Island, and Alaska How I fixed a broken GPU chip using a light bulb! EMRFD's cool mod of the SBL-1 Diode Ring device (from W6JFR) MAILBAG - SolderSmoke 128 3 December 2010 Visit to Wright Brother's Kitty Hawk site Antenna work on Veterans' Day W4HBK's Pensacola Snapper "Knackers of the World Unite" (even in the UK!) Sky and Telescope Jupiter moons program Listen to a meteor ping! DSB DC WSPR transceiver Other ham books on Lulu Ubuntu Karmic Koala's Skyrockets Movie Review: "Social Network" LTSpice under Wine (in Ubuntu) Forrest Mims Broken laptop -- need advice MAILBAG New puppy en route SolderSmoke 127.mp3
November 7, 2010
Karmic Koala makes you EVEN YOUNGER
The smell of an old HT-37
75 meter AM
DaVinci Code QRSS rig on the air
Cul-de-sac astronomy with TWO telescopes
READING: SPRATS, Hot Iron, Sky Buddies, Wired
Jeri Ellsworth's homebrew transistors
Tatjana Van Vark's homebrew Enigma-like machine
MAILBAGLinux Ubuntu and Audio Quality.
Reverse Culture shock, Woodpeckers,and the Washington METRO system
Antenna work and hamfests on the horizon
-
SolderSmoke 126.mp3 October 11, 2010 SolderSmoke returns! Shack #7: The New Shack Drake 2-B inhaling RF Listening to 75 AM and SSB: WA1HLR, KM1A Time signal on 3820 +/-? Repairing DaVinci Code QRSS rig UK test gear works fine on this side of pond! Computer woes: First Linux SolderSmoke Astronomy from inside the Beltway Winter SPRAT: Great info, philosophy, inspiration Charging up solar cells Inbound Boatanchors: DX-40, DX-60, HQ-100, HA-600(A), HT-37 MAILBAG - SolderSmoke 125.mp3 Special Four Days In May Edition! Opening music: FDIM Bluegrass Our last (sniff) Italy Travel Report Snakes and Fireflies in Lazio G3ROO's Antenna Book Davinci beacon crosses the pond WSPR rig repaired New transceiver built for 30 meter digi Manhattan-izing a SMT board Paul Harden's wonderful book BOB CRANE'S FDIM INTERVIEWS! "Muntzing" with Michael, G3RJV's "Socketry" Meeting Andrea IW0HK in Piazza San Cosimato! MAILBAG: Including mail from Farhan, Roger Hayward and Ade Weiss -- SolderSmoke 124.mp3 Oprah follow-up: On to Martha Stewart and Dr. Phil? Fencing on a Roman piazza Breaking an important cable My WSPR Direct Conversion receiver Roger Hayward's wonderful ugly AF amp circuit The beauty of SBL mixers My DaVinci Code Oscillator goes on the air! Making my own 555 timer chip (sort of) LEDs as varactors (or are they colorful switches?) Black Holes in workshops -- is the LHC to blame? Altoids: now made in TENNESSEE! G3RJV's wonderful video MAILBAG -- SolderSmoke 123.mp3 April 1, 2010 Spring! Equinox! Sap in Vermont! Aurora in Norway! Birds singing in Rome! Soldersmoke on Oprah. Program Schedule: http://www.soldersmoke.com/oprah.html Special Report from MASSCON QRP Convention by Mark, NX1K Propagation improving WSPR as a personal sunspot detector Building the W3PM WSPR rig Colpitts oscillators Polyakov's "Russian Mixer" BANDSWEEP: A low frequency sweep by Chris, KD4PBJ EMRFD on Direct Conversion and Direct Aversion Faraday's toroid diagram NA5N's ISBN MAILBAG - SolderSmoke 122.mp3 February 28, 2010 Snow in Rome! In London: A visit to Marconi's house, Maplins, and Faraday's lab A visit to the Dover Construction Club Computer problems resolved A short period of QRSS, then back to WSPR Putting the Drake 2-B into WSPR mode The Rome-Norway WSPR pipeline Increased solar activity 50 years of SETI with Frank Drake QQ Review Work Bench Eye Candy Movie Review: UP! (Five Soldering Irons) MAILBAG SolderSmoke 121.mp3 5 February 2010 Into the Apennine snow! Technical troubles Roadkill computers Luddite Curmudgeonism Mars and Andromeda from Sabina Telescopes and Olive Oil Math and Electronics Crashing R/C planes 5X5JD and the Uganda Tuna Tin AA1TJ's diode amplifiers Rotating parts boxes MOVIE REVIEW: Avatar (2.5 Soldering Irons) MAILBAG SolderSmoke120.mp3 January 2, 2010 Olive harvest in Sabina, Christmas and New Years in Rome. "What, no Klingon?" How's my whistling SSSS problem? DX on 20, HW8 QSO with KZ1H Auroral flutter on US stations W4OP: Homebrew Hero Softrock progress Linux woes FDIM 72 Part Challenge: "Stuck between best wishes and hugs and kisses!" Chinese Hamsat in orbit, with CW telemetry AA1TJ in CQ, and using diodes as audio amplifiers. Stradavari and Julia Child: inspirational late starters! Billy's RC plane QRSS: telemetry next? WSPR: 150K reports per day New issue of Hot Iron MAILBAG -- SolderSmoke119.mp3 December 6, 2009 4th Grade Morse lecture; SPRAT in the Pantheon; Cinghale shot SSS problem and the gap in my teeth STAGNOSALD! (Italian Flux) Movie Reviews Water on the Moon QQ: FB! Tyson the cat crashes both Ubuntu Linux AND WSPR 2.0 Building the Softrock 40: Comments on surface mount WSPR hits 100k spots per day; my numbers BIG MAILBAG - SolderSmoke118.mp3 15 November 2009 Trip to the North of Italy -- All the way to Trieste! SSSSS SSSSSSolution? Playing with PSK-31 -- Shortwave Watching I0/N2CQR wins CQ WW DX! (QRP, HB, DSB category) New England Code Talker Monitoring Apollo 11 Adventures in Surface Mount Soldering with Softrock 40 MAILBAG - SolderSmoke117.mp3 24 October 2009 Climbing Monte Calvo + Horesback riding + Piggy-backs = LOWER BACK PAIN Visit of Bob, W8SX, Soldersmoke correspondent in Dayton AA1TJ's point contact adventures -- Backwaves and Backwash AF Collins on Kindle -- "William" Marconi Hans Summers and Turkish Piracy RSGB Convention via Skype "Air and Space" Aurora Article My new, old Pentium III with Ubuntu (Thanks Jorge!) Roadkill computing CQ interviews Joe Taylor, K1JT New Spart and new Sprat CD AA1TJ's voice-powered transmitter (and some advice from Italy) QSOs from Ponticelli: Dk1HW/P (SOTA) and UN9GD. SOLDERSMOKE THE BOOK -- WEEKEND SALE! MAILBAG - SolderSmoke116.mp3 27 September 2009 Wild Boar Hunting Season Opens SPRAT and QQ on Kindle? Kite Antenna Day -- An idea whose time has come! Doublet antenna in Ponticelli Ponticelli QSOs on 40, 20, and 15 Steve Roberts -- Knack on a Bike AA1TJ goes Iron Pyrite and Point Contact Princess Elettra Marconi SolderSmoke Book: Price Reduced AND Oktoberfest Sale! Prices reduced on T-Shirts, coffee cups, bumper stickers MAILBAG -- SolderSmoke115.mp3 12 September 2009 Camping in Sabina Michelangelo's late start Anniversaries: Internet, SolderSmoke, Hack-A-Day From Kitty Hawk to the Moon Carrington flares and childhood aurora Calculating speed of light (using cheese) Mythbusters Hubble Space Telescope, Sliding Spring Observatory Europa Transistor Museum Understanding Mixer products FALL SALE AT SOLDERSMOKE CAFE PRESS STORE! MAILBAG - SolderSmoke114.mp3 Roman Forum, Sabina, Snakes! Wild Boar! Amateur Engineering? WSPRing again (cheap thrills?) Trastevere flea and a return to 1995 Electric airplanes Ether rediscovered? Galileo! Sir Douglas Hall Sonya had The Knack Altoidism? MAILBAG SolderSmoke113.mp3 August 9, 2009 The Ponticelli Astronomical Observatory and QRP Station Mystery Sound -- Can you ID? Even Farhan Fries Transistors Google marks Tesla's birthday Adventures with Google Ads Spotting the Space Station from Rome (and from London) Arthur C. Clarke's version of MAILBAG Mystery beeps in SS111? MAILBAG SolderSmoke112.mp3 July 26, 2009 Jean Shepherd comments on solder smoke Back to Sicily Apollo 11 Hans Summers' Heroic Homebrew Grenadian QRSS Adventure Regen progress (the ARE possessed) Knack-related maladies Amateur astronomer discovers scar on Jupiter A reading from SolderSmoke (the book) MAILBAG - SolderSmoke111.mp3 July 5, 2009 Ponza and the Pontine Islands The Xtal Set Society -- Great guys! Spark plugs as lightning arrestors The Grundig Mini 300 SW receiver Jupiter from Rome and from Mars Saturn from the window More tremors Back to visual MEPT Is my antenna down, or is it conditions? W7ZOI on bidirectional amps Farhan's simple "JBOT" 5W BJT amp AA1TJ's xtaflex Regens from hell WD-40 Sprat 139 Arthur C. Clarke's "Voices from the Sky" MAILBAG - SolderSmoke110.mp3 June 21, 2009 Day trips in Lazio and Tuscany My SSSSSolder SSSSSSMoke SSSS problem Crystal Radios pick up heavenly Gregorian chants... ... regen picks up screeches from somewhere else Speech processing for DSB? I0ZY's linear amplifiers Book Review: "The Ten Most Beautiful Experiments" by George Johnson MAILBAG (including an update from Dover) -- SolderSmoke109.mp3 June 7, 2009 Violin gig in Rotterdam June 2 Parade in Rome Why do we use Rl=Vcc^2/2Po for Class C amps? NA5N article, EMRFD, SSDRA, LTSpice Radio Signals from Jupiter and Io (on 17 meters) VK2ZAY's X-Rays Jeff Damm, WA7MLH: Homebrew Hero Tim Walford's Constructor's Club: Floor Polish as PCB Laquer Numbers Stations (very timely!) SolderSmoke -- The Book: Very rapid delivery, even to UK MAILBAG SolderSmoke108.mp3 May 24, 2009 Hubble Space Telescope Repair Mission WSPR: W3PM sees my sigs, back to visual (briefly), on to Slow Hell. Ubuntu ham radio software Time nuts Jean Shepherd gets his Class A license "SolderSmoke -- The Book" Good for summer vacation reading. SPECIAL REPORT FROM DAYTON FDIM BY BOB W8SX MAILBAG - SolderSmoke107.mp3 May 10, 2009 SolderSmoke -- The Book! ON SALE NOW! Get it here: SolderSmoke: A Global Adventure in Radio Electronics Orbits II reborn via a VK6 junkbox NA5N's Amazing Atlanticon 2002 article WSPR madness: 20 mw across the Atlantic. K1JT picks up my sigs WSPR generates interes on Hack-A-Day Linux: Ubuntu gets SolderSmoke Thumbs-up Somerset Supper Report Diode Ring Mixers Solar conditions AA1JT, Chloroform, and HB transistors ET's rig Have fun at FDIM! MAILBAG - SolderSmoke106.mp3 Sicily, Mt. Etna, The Godfather DSB success on WSPR Am I the lowest power WSPR station in the world? Diode Ring Mixers SolderSmoke: The Book SolderSmoke: The Cologne? And now, a word from our sponsor: Genesis Radio MAILBAG -- SolderSmoke105.mp3 Italy Earthquake WSPR DSB, WSPR MP3 SBL-1 Blues Clockwork minimalism QST articles (design, HBR RX) Marconi Spring SPRAT Blog stuff ECHO-QSO with Mike, WA6ARA MAILBAG Happy Easter! - SolderSmoke104.mp3 1 April 2009 Rome Marathon Billy climbs Vesuvius! Fixin' up old Toshiba laptop Solar Power from Donuts and Tea! Eldon's MEPT ET Phone home machine More Catalan minimalism: The MOSquito Book: Thunderstruck! Marconi history MAILBAG: Paul M0XPD new homebrewer, Funster 40, Paraset, and SDR Preston WJ2V on REAL solder vacuum pumps Ted AA5CK keys MEPT with iduino Ken KG6PO on obit of TV pioneer Thomas T. Goldsmith Art W2HQQ: "Man of High Fidelity" lacks knack Scott KD5NJR on Sputnik 4, NASA comms Alan W2AEW Don't smother MEPT oscillators! Books Steve GOFUW Old Book recommendation. Building WARC rig Jacki (XYL of KL7R) says hello from volcanic Alaska Jeff KO7M Why FSK on QRSS? Jim AL7RV Sends WSPR care package. (Thanks!) - SolderSmoke103.mp3 15 March 2009 Beware the Ides of March! Ostia Beach and Ostia Antica 248 Knights of QRSS. And Wizards! ET Phones Home (with QRSS?) Possible new grabbers in VK6 and Dubai Telescope, Satellites... REAL QRP QSOs on 80 and 40 Saving an old Toshiba Laptop ECHO-QSO WITH JEFF, KO7M: -- Piper Cubs and MFJ Cubs -- Satellite QSOs -- LT Spice and test gear MAILBAG: Gene W3PM listens from QE2, HB WSPR rig Jim AL7V sending parts for my W3PM rig Jim AB3CV's color burst Gnat Jason NT7S on Tektronix guys and SolderSmoke Kevin ZL3KE on old computers Paul M1CNK's DDS 30-based QRSS beacon Soeren OZ2DAK on exercise bikes to power beacons - SolderSmoke102.mp3 1 March 2009 In the shadow of Vesuvius... ...then back to the "laboratorio." ------------- QRSS musings: 1 transistor for transmit, 100 million for receive. We need a low tech beacon generator -- maybe mechanical clock driven? QRSS on "Hack-A-Day." VK2ZAY QRSS booms into Europe. Soul in the New Machine: Billy's oscillator. ON5EX's grabber on SolderSmoke blog. Italians at the forefront of QRSS. -------------- T-shirt news: "Menus are for restaurants!" "QRSS Ops Do it Very Slowly" -------------- Using iGoogle for ham radio. USENET is going strong! Back on Echolink. -------------- Minimalist Radio: The Gnat! The NS-40! I add a second transistor to my ET-1 (and hang my head in shame). -------------- MAILBAG: Jim, AL7RV, developing smoke generator for LTSpice. Randy, K7AGE, sent Empire of the Air video -- Thanks! Jim, K9JM, prescribes higher Q for regen rx. "Never will be a 2B!" Rye, K9LCJ, "Low Space Means Fine Teletype." Alan, W2AEW, Listens to SS while on the road with Tektronix. Dave, W8NF, "Armstrong, A Man of High Fidelity." Indeed. Mark reports W7ZOI releases new EMRFD software. Jonathan, KB1KIX, Shep fan, has good Smith Chart stuff on his blog. Jerry, NR5A, building a QRSS beacon. George, K8VU, Dilbert has "utter social ineptitude." David, VK6DI, moving East. Paul, K3PG, took Willamette project on ski trip. Steve, WA0PWK, Gil cartoon about Wes. - SolderSmoke101.mp3 Superbowl Sunday in Rome. "Playing for Pizza." Spirals on the Piazza Empire of the Air -- Gerbils Renamed "Electrons on Parade" Good RCA film about tubes Minimalist Mania: ET-1/FETer transmitter built -- some problems New Minimalist Yahoo group AA1TJ and AA1MY make QRP History with tunnel diode rig QRSS News: New beacons and grabbers in US and Canada K6HX and the lure of the whisperers Upside down FSK for VK/ZL observers? Chip extraction tips (belated) What "s.o.t." means. MAILBAG: Brad WA5PSA still jogging in Tulsa Ted AJ8T and Paul VK5PH: Lake not named for Lee Neil G7AQK HB mystery box Doug WB5TKI on how to extract chips Ron AA5RS advises Billy to stick with Linux Bill AA0RQ uses the hard stuff Sott on Heaviside: Good guy or not? Brent in Twin Cities: SWL Rockmite and SS lead to ham radio Dan NM5DV building SDR QRSS rig Jeff K07M listens while flying private plane John W6TC has great article for Electronic Design Edwin WA4YHL: Amateur Logic TV #23 is available Dale WA5DJJ on the possible benefits of upside down FSK Eddie G3JZO: Upside down FSK looks like laundry on the line! Jerry NR5A has the minimalist bug -- SolderSmoke100.mp3 SPECIAL CENTENARY EDITION A look back to the beginning Rome Travelogue: Palatine Hill Fixing my old freq counter: Trials and Tribulations Empire of the Air: More great history, but more tech faux pas "The radio art" An historical precedent for our GONG Lake DeForest? A. Frederick Collins Understanding Beta Independence Understanding Feedback and Distortion SPRAT 137: Minimalist Radio: The FETer/ET-1: "Haiku from Solder" Regens: Not for the faint of heart NEW: THE SolderSmoke STORE: T-shirts, Mugs, Hats, Bumper Stickers! MAILBAG: Shawn N3ZHP new to Knack, wants to build ALL his gear. FB! Steve WB6NTL on hippie origins of "Snort Rosin" Scott AC0GG recommends new mic, equalizer Jim AL7RV going QRSS mobile. Can we find him? George K8VU on kid busted by FCC Craig KC2LFI helps with SS s sounds David KB1BED says SolderSmoke driving up Drake 2-B prices Steve G0FUW "Ten new DSB rigs built in cloud of aromatic 60/40" Brian NF0G HBing at -20F Comet Lulin coming Tony G4LLW Freq standards, IC extraction, Arc phone transmitters Kevin AA7YQ listened to SS while on smoke jumper (parachute) mission Graeme ZL2GDN building for DSB and QRSS Stu N6TTO has new FSK QRSS beacon 10140060 -- Please listen for him! Mark K6HX (has great "Brainwagon" blog) lost SSDRA, not yet to "design-build" stage Robin AF1RE Heard BITx20s on the air, now is building Gerry EI8DRB has his 2B Ray M0DHP has a strange aromatic solder experience near Waterloo Station... - SolderSmoke99.mp3 January 18, 2009 Epiphany in Rome -- La Befana brings two Gerbils (Dot and Dash) Ice skating near (but not on!)the Tiber QRSS: Eldon's beacon spotted. 723 miles with 15 millwatts QRSS Calibration Problem: My proposed solution A Tale of Two BENELUX Grabbers: ON5EX and PA1SDB Watching VK2ZAY cross Tasman Sea. Watching G6AVK reach VK6DI Inspiration from old SPRATs: From PA3BHK and W7ZOI Book Review: "Empire of the Air" (Good bios, but author Knack-less) AA1TJ's CFL revolution reaches Cuba. Now a CFL receiver. AA1TJ's "Reggie" converts all sigs to QRP! Several new videos on the Blog (from WA7MLH, N0TU, KD1JV) MAILBAG: Ragav VU3VWR has Knack since 9th grade. Wants to QRSS in VU Nick M0NJP likes show, getting used to the voice, Amazon UK instructions Bryan VK3HXR has eeePC running Ubuntu Paolo IK1ZYW has external keypad chips for FT-817 (available at cost) Jim AL7RV's wife thought SolderSmoke gave him a fit. Agrees on 1)design 2)build Wes W7ZOI on feedback circuits Joe Rocci has an LtSpice model for the NE602 Gerri EI8DRB asks if he should buy a Drake 2-B (Uh... YES!) Steve "Snort Rosin" Smith : SMT paste lacks bouquet of 60/40 multi-core Chris KC2LFI prescribes 3500 Hz notch for silibant SS problem (advice followed) - SolderSmoke98.mp3 January 4, 2009 New Year's in Rome, Fireworks, Abruzzo snow trip. AA1TJ and the compact flourescent bulb rig; "Michael the red-nosed Rainey..." Billy's Asus eeePC : Amazin's piece of gear. The Lure of Logic: Fixing my old Global Specialties counter (chip needed). The Joy of Troubleshooting. N3ZI's FB counter. Balsa boxes. Todd, VE7BPO, also getting logical. Hans, G0UPL, back on 30 meter QRSS from London. Lawrence, KL1X grabbing VK QRSS sigs in N. China. My sigs steady in ON5EX grabber. Dan's deals. Book of the week: "Empire of the Air." Armstrong as a teenage ham. MAILBAG: Todd K5TAK on new name for Knack (no!) Rick KC0PET has new 'scope, analyzer, Elsie Bill N8ET Kanga USA getting going again. Alan WA9IRS on Pete Millet's free online tech books Wayne VA7AT on SDR Frank VK2AKG is NOT the solenoid musician Bill N3HQB was in Ade Weiss's summer camp ham class! Roger K7RXV on shaving resistors Dino KL0S on other free books on-line Gareth G1DRG on BBC Digital Planet Podcast Tim Walford's FB ham construction magazine A word about words from our sponsors - SolderSmoke97.mp3 December 21, 2008 Tiber flooding, Italian @ (snail!) -------------- DSB 80 "Kickpanel" project: Rig reform Harder than SSB? Do we need to match diodes? Terminating balanced modulators An antenna for my "spot" ("net") circuit, LED Thinking of speech processing Driver hotter than final --------------- MEPT QRSS: VK2ZAY crosses Oz on 470 micro-watts Using 9H1LO's grabber engine as time machine My beacon box: 10 and 30 in same enclosure Knights QSY to lower bands (temporarily) --------------- Theory: Thanks for beta independence help Why does feedback lower distortion? W3JDR's Ne602 modeling Grinding resistors for precision Broken counter leads to learning logic -------------- Miscellaneous: Wes updates site Kanga USA is back There is no SPRAT 13 AA1TJ's lightbulb rig --------------- MAILBAG: Lyndon smells the smoke Roger KA7EXM goes to Aikhabara Mark KI7N hits Singapore's radio row Bob KD4EBM's feedback on feedback Mike KC7IT fixes Christmas lights with 'scope Frank VK2AKG on YouTube solenoid concert Mike AA1TJ working on return loss bridges John K7JM says SS blog makes DXCC Jerry NR5A on Solder-SETI, b'day Ron WB3AAL 1K QSOs from AT Alan N8WQ: Tree battery! Jeremy N1JER and QRP-L QRSS group build MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! SolderSmoke96.mp3 December 8, 2008 Moj Music Rome winter: Snowcapped mountains, Starlings Billy’s Blog – Please visit! “Make” redeems itself with LED video 80 DSB rig: LTSpice, Design, Diplexers, Decoupling Properly terminating balanced modulators The virtues of feedback 80 meter DSB QRP (in a contest) Reading Recommendation: January 2009 “Air and Space” Jupiter and Venus aligned Saturn picture with (sorta) homebrew rig Ben’s Balloon Beacon Laurence KL1X in N. China – will set up QRSS grabber MAILBAG Roger K7RXV and Bob KD4EBM on SolderSmells Jerry NR5A has WSPR-mania Scott KD5NJR on “Soul of a New Machine” Bob K7HBG “Real radios have knobs” Akshay VA7AAX 15 year-old listener, homebrewer SolderSmoke95.mp3 November 23, 2008 Amp design adventures with Spice, EMRFD WANTED: NE602 Spice model Pictures (from pirates?) in 80 meter waterfall Problems space with tools and solar panels QRSS news: W1BW 50 mw heard in VK6 and VK7 WSPR QRO controversy IK0IXI's video on HB 8 band SSB rig Ordering parts -- the aroma factor 1 uF caps OK for HF bypass? Reading Recommendation: December 2008 Discover Magazine MAILBAG: Thanks for help on CD for Mike's wife Paul WA1MAC: Chapstick PTO, alternate use for political lawn signs Aisea 3D2AA: Listening from Fiji. Just retired, has Softrock kit Bob NT7S: Has setup SolderSmoke Facebook Steve G0FUW: Bath Build-a-thon January 17, 2009 Roberto XE1GXG: Getting married, took detour to radio row Ben N1VF: An old friend from Vienna Wireless Society Steve "Snort Rosin" Smith: Wants real gong, "Once upon a clip lead..." John VK3AJG's FB SSB rig Steve KG6NRM TAK-40 Pic project SolderSmoke94.mp3 November 2, 2008 Halloween in Rome, Autumn rains Building Class A Amps with Spice, Copper, SSDRA, EMRFD Wes on oscillator output wave forms Inspirational article in "Air and Space" Magazine Book Review: "My Detachment" by Tracy Kidder Autumn SPRAT SPECIAL REPORT FROM G-QRP MINI-CONVENTION Aliens on 80 meters MEPT: Can you see me? Softrock 40 Group tries to digitize N2CQR Homebrew solar panels Request for assistance... MAILBAG: Alan Yates in cahoots with AA1TJ Les gets our logo on I-tunes Paul WA1MAC gets 2 2Bs Scott KD5NJR on KSC honeymoons Bruce VE9QRP on new free QUCS simulator Keith G0CZR on bubble wrap insulation Bob KD4EBM on green laser dangers John VK3AJG designs 80 meter SSB rig Todd KE7KXI on Knack relapse, old electronics smell Jerry NR5A BACK IN ACTION! Bob N7ZF on SolderSmoke Facebook - SolderSmoke93.mp3 October 12, 2008 HB Pi Network Tuna (with mystery) Hamfest report from Belgium Space Hackers removed from YouTube Verdict on Judica Cordiglia brothers FB Italian ham magazines I shift to FSK on 30 meters Gimmick capacitors QRSS QSY woes SolderJoke MAILBOX: Jerry NR5A Back in action Scott KD5NJR on Space Hacker controversy Steve WB6TNL on the different flavors of solder smoke! Paul WA1MAC labled PC boards with SSDRA page numbers Ramakrishnan VU3RDD getting back on the air Jim K9JM had 60 POUNDS of 2N2222 Jim AL7R listening from Yuma Wes W7ZOI on plumbing washer toroids Paul WA5WCP on laser safety Terry G4GHU also went to KSC on honeymoon - SolderSmoke92.mp3 September 28, 2008 The Flea at Trastevere QRSS 2N2222 goes toes up. Why? Da Vinci Code MEPT Frequency Standard Wind Powered QRSS QRSS Whispers reflecting off airplanes Transformer troubles at CERN Arnie's cool Cuban hack Woodpecker update A SolderSmoke charity project Another engineer joke Kanga USA BACK IN BUSINESS! The Joy of Fixing Things Jim Severns - KNACK VICTIM A Homebrew Italian Space Program MAILBAG: G0FUW in Gibraltar VU3RDD in Southern India KB1QVO on laser comms K4BVL likes our audio VK3PB on Italy's "Space Hackers" W0DAB on free online MIT courses DL4MGJ on fixing 2B parallax WB6NTL on transistor failure mode AF6C on crystal ovens G3ZTB likes Shep -- SolderSmoke91.mp3 September 14, 2008 Sardinia! ON5EX's QRSS MEPT leads us back to bike riding Watching Jupiter, listening for Jupiter KF6KYI's I-tunes QRSS Stan, 9H1LO's new grabber Laptop motion detectors as earthquake detectors Nuclear fusion in the shack Filo T. Farnsworth Building a QRSS freq standard SPRAT CD Forget about stocks: SSDRA now selling at $399.89 SolderJokes QST articles on-line! FB! Jim Williams and the joy of fixing things STEREO SPECIAL: Roger Hayward's new binaural DSB project Antenna woes MAILBAG: G0WAT on HOGCON 2008 (21 Sept in Herts.) AJ8T on Russian rovers with laser reflectors KA9OOI on language and low pass audio filtering WB6TNL says NO to rat neurons in QRP gear KB6QR "beknacked" vice "knackered" ????? NR5A has a Drake 2A 7J1AWL on the air from Vietnam KC0PET goes solar OZ1CJX Bad case of Knack, may need professional help K8WPR says Knack keeping him away from wild women, bars AJ8T on CK722 museum AG5RS works Texas balloon from Dubai (via net) KI4SGU POW radio parts N8WQ on schematic drawing program KF4LMZ has QRSS-itis, finds 10.140 rock in CB rig -- SolderSmoke90.mp3 August 17, 2008 August in Rome, Italian beaches, Circeo Hardrock Cafe, My Sharona, The Knack The Planet Mechanics VK6DI on QRSS Listen to me talking to Jean Shepherd (1976) SolderSmoke (sort of) in Australia in 1944 Herman Munster is not an appliance op... Book Review: "The Science of Radio" August QST: KD1JV's rig, pneumatic switching, QRP WAS Conrad's Garage, KDKA, K4HU (SK) Kits and Parts by W8DIZ Working on 80 meter DSB rig Computer fixed, counter still dead MAILBAG: 7J1AWL in Vietnam Jerry, NR5A, gets a Drake 2A KB1DRK recommends Spitfish SM5QU on Apollo Backpack Radios (AM!) AC7ZN reports WB8LZG has aerielitis W8NF on Dorkbot (Knack? or no Knack?) G0FUW to speak at Basingstoke 1 September M0JRQ on the meanings of "knackered" - SolderSmoke89.mp3 August 3, 2008 Positano on the Amalfi Coast QRSS: An Idea for More N. American Activity Argo's bandwidth: .34 Hz The New SolderSmoke Audio Filter Knackered? Translating American to British Kanga USA helps in Lake Michigan rescue Google's "Back to the Moon" contest Russia's Mars sample return mission Apollo 11 Lasers from San Diego to the Moon N0TU's slideshow (with Tuna Tin Two) MAILBAG: K4QO on clubs without rules. G0WAT names me "Hodeghog #4" VE7SL ID's Mystery Military Radio ZL2GX finishing Ph.D. KC0PET gets EMRFD N5XL reports Tantalum shortage G3WOE on Shep and 20 new BITX20s W8OAJ is now N8WQ, building MEPT -- SolderSmoke88.mp3 July 19, 2008 My walk to work in Rome The BEST Jean Shepherd ham radio episode My talk with Jean Shepherd NR5A's beacon 200 Knights QRSS of .3 wpm = 1.3 Hz bandwidth IZ4BFA in stereo CW K1JT - The Knight with the Nobel Prize WSPR Drain cap audio popping filter Help ID a BC-348 Dan's Small Parts to return The British Amateur Television Club: Knack to the Max ADVERTS: N3ZI's Freq Counters, Gadgeteer Books MAILBAG: Home Counties QRP Club, LU1CBL's BA Beacon, I2NDT's Thailand Beacon, KI4UZI listens at Cape Kennedy, KD0BIK's podcast, AF4UI's LC meter, KD4EBM on Coherent CW, ZL3TKA IS NOT CRAZY, 7J1AWL reading "Crystal Fire," M0JFE wants HB phone, VK7AX rebroadcasting SolderSmoke in Tasmania, M0NDE caught The Knack at age 6. - SolderSmoke87.mp3 July 6, 2008 On the beach at Fregene ----------- QRSS Mania: Calibration problems solved First reports received The Fun of Grabbers Checking your signal via Blackberry The Joy of Milliwatting Chirp, Click, Drift in QRSS Temperature sensitivity Bury that Beacon? Why so little US QRSS? More US Grabbers needed AA1TJ/QRSS? ---------- Elser in "History of QRP in US" New Slides, WAC on ClustrMap! MAILBAG: G0FUW reports EI9GQ victin of Knack KC0PET on understanding our circuits ON4FW sends FB pictures KG6TCJ on QRSS calibration W7ZOI on FD and calibration W4NI on measuring harmonics PE1OIT on GPS calibration technique -- SolderSmoke86.mp3 June 22, 2008 Maritime Mobile on Lake Bracciano. Jean Shepherd loses girlfriend due to THE KNACK. 30 Meter transmitter self-constructs (almost). QRSS Woes. Do CW signals have sidebands? Freq Counter down for the count. Dial Parallax: Drake 2B jumps 3 kc from eyeball to eyeball. Radio Shack: Count your blessings! Nice wire from old computers. Good luck on Field Day. MAILBAG: VU3RDD NEW HARMONIC! Frank on analog scopes, PE1OIT on si570 chips, KG4ENB on 179 kc LOWFERS, M0NJP on how XYL's can deal with THE KNACK, K7JM on SolderSnow, W8OAJ SolderSmoke as Knack Therapy, Jonathan 7J1AWL "from a commuter train in Tokyo" - SolderSmoke85.mp3 June 8, 2008 Echo-QSO with WA6ARA! Phoenix lands on Mars. Beacon operations. Adrian Weiss, W0RSP. FB QRP Author. Need correspondent for Flea at MIT. Understanding balanced modulators. Dan's accident (Dan's Small Parts). Hendricks Cap Kit. "Hot Iron" Journal of The Constructor's Club The Woodpecker. MAILBAG (Return of the GONG!): W6DWF KC0PEI on "IP Telepathy" Mark Z on a crank-up Pocket Pixie. Ramakrishnan in Singapore. Niels PE1OIT on Robert E. Pease. Jerry NR5A: Cursed with Beacon Madness. Echolink QSO with Mike, WA6ARA. - SolderSmoke84.mp3 May 25, 2008 SPECIAL FDIM PROGRAM!!!! Flying a glider over Circus Maximus The NEW SOLDERSMOKE BLOG: SolderSlides! SolderLinks! SolderChat! SolderYouTube! Subscribe today! W7ZOI/W7PUA Power Meter Calibration Bifilar toroids in LTSpice. Help! Variations in Type 43 Ferrite Finding friends in old SPRATS Beacon Madness hits I0/N2CQR AA1TJ crosses the pond (really) 80 Meter DSB project (design first, build later!) Bob, W8SX, interviews FDIM speakers! MAILBAG:M0NDE, WB6NTL, ZS1I, NR5A, M0EEJ, ON6CSV 7J1AWL, KC0PET - SolderSmoke83.mp3 May 11, 2008 Shortwave listening from the island of Ischia. Chicago's old "Surplus Row." New antenna yields trans-Atlantic DX! SPRAT's minimalist MPF-102 rig. SDR vs. HDR. Dan's Small Parts. LB Cebik SK. AA1TJ's Zener Diode rigs discussed on Radio Havana Cuba. Beacon project. Design first, build later! SPECIAL REPORT FROM OZARKCON! MAILBAG: Scopes and distortion, Spectrum Analysers, new kits, 30K lemons, FDIM - SolderSmoke82.mp3 April 27, 2008 Tech details of AA1TJ April 1 beacon. Thoreau, computers, and QRP. The Knack and computer "repair." Hardware Defined Radios (HDRs) Farhan's inspirational head scratching. Crude "spectrum analyzers" -- Mike makes Maker Blog. WA5BDU's 60 Meter SSB Project. My matching technique (exorcism completed). 30,000 lemons? MAILBAG: Ideas for Gary KB9ZUV. Steve G0FUW and the dreaded parabolic current. Chris GM4LYN and surface mount. - SolderSmoke81.mp3 April 13, 2008 FORTY MILLION MILES PER WATT!!...??... : April First and the Annual SolderSmoke Iron Pyrite Awards. Heliography: Solar-powered UUUUUUUHF Amplifiers and Exorcism; SWR meters as RF demon-detectors? The latest SPRAT: Lemon batteries. Nails as RF controls! Homebrew Hero: Tim Hulick, W9QQ, SK MAILBAG: Jerry NR5A goes extraterrestrial. Stan 9H1LO puts beacon on 28.224 Mhz. PLEASE LISTEN! Jason KF6PQT flies to Hawaii with SolderSmoke. Dan KF8Z suffers Knack relapse in Benton Harbor, Mich. (Duh!) Gary KB9ZUV is blind, but wants to build. Can we help? - SolderSmoke80.mp3 April 1, 2008 "The New American Amateur." Tech Troubles: Tires, computer, clock, even a bad Dummy Load! AA1TJ: Defintely NOT an Appliance Operator! BANDSWEEP: AA1TJ's Tunnel Diode Beacon Received in Rome! 20 Meter Roman Roundtables. Using my W7ZOI/W7PUA meter. MAILBAG: Greg in Finland converting CB rigs. Stanley 9H1LO in Malta. Mark "MOJ" Johnson finds Jean Shepherd episode on THE KNACK. Matt on MC1496 Balanced Modulator chips. - SolderSmoke79.mp3 March 2, 2008 The beauty of a chirpy signal. Armstrong Solar Panel movement. Babani book campaign? AM on 3705 in Europe. ARRL HB Contest winners. BBC QSYs. BANDSWEEP: G0KYA's SDR 40/80 receiver. My meeting with IK0JNI (DSB rig in a Rome cafe). MAILBAG: Frank VK2AKG on stealth ladder line. Kevin ZL3KE on Q-11's demise. Gil NN4CW on monofilament. Farhan on Pat Hawker. John G8SEQ on Q11. Seth W8FG on QRP-L group build. Wink WA8KOQ on loading up rain gutters. Jim N8ESH spots Loan Ranger (the cowboy, not the rig) in 1939 video. Ramakrishnan VU3RDD moving to Singapore AND LOOKING FOR A COPY OF SSDRA. PART IV of Echo-QSO with Ron Sparks, AG5RS. in Dubai. - SolderSmoke78.mp3 February 22, 2008 "In vain he prayed for percolation..." More HW8 fun. "Hot Water Handbook." Q11? Using my UK HB Power Supply. Tony Fishpool and Graham Firth's Test Gear Book. A WA8MCQ corollary to Murphy's Law. 2-B retube. DSB QSOs from Rome. A visit to the Rome radio club. I0ZY and I0YR: Big Amps and Antennas! The Florence (Firenze) Science Museum. MAILBAG: W7ZOI on G3VA's "Technical Topics." WA7MLH's new videos. Don K6WH on 30 gauge, mono-filament, and listening to SolderSmoke at an African campsite under the Southern Cross. Part III: Echo-QSO with Ron, AG5RS, in Dubai. - SolderSmoke77.mp3 February 14, 2008 Back to QRP and CW! My 30 gauge antenna. What happened to Q-11 in my HW-8? Drake 2-B re-tubing. AA1TJ goes "All Tunnel Diode." Marconi's HUGE cap = 1.7 uF. MAILBAG: John K7JM listens to Rome thunder in snowy Montana. Randy K7AGE makes a HAARP Moonbounce video. Pete W6JFR on Italian craftsmanship. Ramakrishnan VU3RDD notes that Tesla had The Knack. Jorge Luis KI4SGU on turtles and cosmology. ECHO-GUEST: Part II of our QSO with Randy AG5RS in Dubai. - SolderSmoke76.mp3 February 4, 2008 On the air (HF) from Rome. Stealth antenna. Fixing my HW 8. Recording of AA1TJ's Tunnel Diode Beacon. A FB QST. Marconi's capacitor (with a quiz). A Rome thunderstorm in the background. MAILBAG: Aise 3D2AA homebrewing on Fiji. Rogier PA1ZZ's California hassles. Jerry NR5A building tube gear in S. Dakota. Niels PE1OIT in defense of DSB. Ramakrishnan VU3RDD needs articles. ECHO-GUEST: Ron, AG5RS, (a Knack sufferer) homebrews in Dubai, UAE. - SolderSmoke75.mp3 January 27, 2008 "A Nonlinear History of Radio." Fessenden's mic. Clustr Map. BANDSWEEP: Lunar Echoes at 6.7 MHz. Winter SPRAT. HALO Balloon. AO-16 Satellite goes DSB. Calling CQ on Chinese repeaters. MAILBAG: AA1TJ setting up Tunnel Diode beacon. Kevin, M0KHZ builds in an 18th Century Shack. Steve, G0FUW, listens from Ascension Island. Lars, OZ1CX, has THE KNACK. WA7MLH Builds a Superhet on YouTube. Waza, VK2HDH, calls in on Echolink. PART III: Andy, ZS6ADY, on Boatanchors in South Africa. A SPECIAL ENDING: A 1979 song by Mike, KL7R. -- SolderSmoke74.mp3 January 18, 2008 Solar Cycle 24. First transistor QSO. Tunnel Diode Madness. Rovers on Mars. SETI. BSEE in a can: EMRFD+LTSPICE+QRP-L. Understanding mixers. Kipling's Afghan Heliographs. Tech Topics. MAILBAG. Part II of Andy, ZS6ADY, Boatanchors QSO. KL7R SK. -- SolderSmoke73.mp3 January 2, 2008 SPECIAL NEW YEAR'S EDITION AA1TJ's circuitry and poetry. Homemade tubes. Book Review: "Early Radio" by Peter Jensen. The Vatican's antennas. Google Earth flight simulator. Mixer madness continues (now in LTSpice). Mars-asteroid collision? Bollywood: The BITX-20 connection. BANDSWEEP: Straight Key Night at WA6ARA. ECHO-GUEST: Andy, ZS6ADY, South African Boatanchor fan. MAILBAG: Jake N4UY(NOVA QRP), Steve G0FUE (Bath Build-a-thon), Nigel M0NDE -- SolderSmoke72.mp3 December 19, 2007 M0HBR's Bollywood debut. Alien hams. Blackboxophobia. Solar power (in Rome and on Mars). TechShop. South Pole IT. Mixer madness. The Radio Club of America. 200 Meters Index. Peter Dahl. MAILBAG: Al on audio quality, WB2REW on Yogi Berra, W9ILF's tube type mp3 amp, G8SEQ's bad case of "The Knack", N8XMS's "Curiosity Curse." -- SolderSmoke71.mp3 December 9, 2007 Copper clad as blank canvas, Understanding mixers, Bookshelves and the fight against entropy, China listening? Barebones superhet in Rome, Lead -- the new gold, 500kc trans-atlantic QSOs (and some history), 3D model of Altoids tin, Italian space podcast, MAILBAG: Shacks/Sheds: K5TAK on TechShop in Menlo Park, OH2FFY and the Aussie shed movement in Finland. -- SolderSmoke70.mp3 November 26, 2007 Iraq back on the air. Curie engine. Surfer GUT. Fleming's valve. NYC goes AC. Hayward Damm article in QST. Fixing a Heath O'scope. Radio Row. Arecibo in danger. SolderSmoke Google Gadget. Mailbag: From Dhaka to Brussels. IZ0BNW's Rome coffee secrets. -- SolderSmoke69.mp3 November 14, 2007 Drake 2B repair, Frequency Measuring Test, Guy Fawkes, No sunspots, Simple Sideband and straws from McDonald's, CBer stealing volts from NYC subway, Australia's Shed (Shack!)movement, Ham makes major medical breakthrough. MAIL: G4WIF, M0NDE, 2E0BIX, G0BON, K7AGE -- SolderSmoke68.mp3 November 4, 2007 Bill's B'day, First Italian QSO (with clip), The N3ZI Special, Cuban Islander SSB rig, SatNav, Nanotube radio, Fall SPRAT: Pine resin, Messages from Wes and Roger Hayward, MAILBAG: Digital Gong, Comet 17P Holms, Letter from ZL, IZ0BNW/1 -- SolderSmoke67.mp3 October 28, 2007 Dino Dig, train ride, balloon launch. Radio in Rome. Audio efforts. Sputnik. Moore's law. On to Mars! 1939 Video. SSB Islander? ARRL HB Challenge? Search Engine for Parts. MAILBAG: Alan VK2ZAY building antennas, Eric NM5M building converters, Claus OZ1LQB on EU regs and solder, Scott -- listening in Iraq. -- SolderSmoke66.mp3 October 13, 2007 FROM ROME! Getting settled. Summer adventures. New shack. Meeting W7ZOI in San Diego. The speed of dark? Iron Pyrite. Wireless kids. Noise cancelling headphones. MAILBAG: Dennis OX3UR listening from Greenland, Gary VK2KYP, Paolo F5VMJ on on NASA and tin whiskers, Mike WA6ARA listening (with Zen) in the high Sierras. -- SolderSmoke65.mp3 July 1, 2007 Alexanderson Day. Report from Friedrichshafen. Ole Romer, Hippolyte Fizzeau and the speed of light. Zen, toroids, QST, and the joy of homebrewing. BOOM! Ramakrishnan's RFI disappears in a flash! (Again!) BANDSWEEP: Jason, NT7S, lets us listen to 40 CW on Field Day with his homebrew Tualatin rig of FDIM fame. MAILBAG: K8VU tells of Rick Campbell's envious thoughts on the Drake 2-B. VK3HN on Zen and Motorcycle Maintenance, quiet bands in VK. KA9OOI tells us when he got The Knack. MOHBR SIGNS OFF FROM LONDON -- Summer travel plans. On to Rome. -- SolderSmoke64.mp3 June 24, 2007 Feynman uses ham radio. Mr. Wizard: WANTED! P/S project completed. More Wabi Sabi. Field Day memories. DX listeners. Studying Italian on Echolink. Getting ready to go. MAILBAG: K2CK, NN4CW, MM station... -- SolderSmoke63.mp3 June 17, 2007 "Shop Class as Soulcraft." AmateurLogic TV goes to Dayton. My power supply goof-up. Good Causes: SETI and Geek Corps. Mr. Wizard. Bandsweep segment: G0KYA's Rockmite. -- SolderSmoke62.mp3 June 10, 2007 WHY WE BUILD: Opposable thumbs and soldering irons. 'Scopes, bandwidth, and clean sigs. Power Supply project: The Soul of A New Machine. Mississippi Oscillations. My Wabi-Sabi shack. Metal work. NEW FEATURE: CLUB TALK -- a visit to the meeting of the New South Wales Homebrew Group. MAILBAG: Steve, WN0PWK. Dov, AD0V. Seth, W8FG. Dennis, KC0IFQ. -- SolderSmoke61.mp3 June 3, 2007 Farhan's new blog. More AGC. Ramakrishnan's RFI. SolderSmoke returns to 2X QSO mode: Echolink interview with Jim, N5SPE, of AmateurLogic TV: Origins of Amateur Logic TV. "The Knack" hits Mississippi. Kick-plates as radio cabinets. Visit to Dayton. Encounter with the Haywards. Building a W7ZOI power meter. Milton Keynes BITX80 club build. The dangers of molten solder. Getting oscillators to oscillate. -- SolderSmoke60.mp3 May 27, 2007 Tesla, Google, the Elser-Mathes cup, SolderSmoke. AGC (Automatic Gong Control). Free Tech Books. WIKI-ZOI. Noise and the W7ZOI power meter. LA3PNA designing DC receiver with AD831 chip. Kanga Special on EMRFD. New Video: Huge Tesla Coils. MORE DAYTON FDIM INTERVIEWS: Jeff, K8GD, winner of homebrew contest. Eric Swartz, WA6HHQ, of Elecraft TALKS ABOUT THE K3. John, WB8RCR, on micros, Dayton, and seeing old friends. -- SolderSmoke59.mp3 May 20, 2007 Kindred spirits on QRP-L. Fredbox on 2 meter AM. New videos. Hewlett, Packard, Garages and Terman. LV Blake. SPECIAL REPORT FROM DAYTON: INTERVIEWS WITH G0BPS, G3MFJ, G3RJV, K8IQY and W7ZOI! MAILBAG: W9HAU, NC0O, WD5DZG on source for low value resistors. Scott Haley on thermal noise and the ZOI power meter. The need for SolderSmoke correspondents at other summer radio events. -- SolderSmoke58.mp3 May 13, 2007 Ham radio brotherhood: ST2NH, homebrewing in Khartoum. W7ZOI power meter completed and calibrated. Homebrewing good for the soul. Crystal receivers on HF. Basic Stamps on "24." HELP WANTED: SOLDERSMOKE SEEKS DAYTON/FDIM CORRESPONDENT! Book Review: "From Crystal Sets to Sideband" by Frank Harris. MAILBAG: AC7FA, N8ET, M1CNK -- SolderSmoke57.mp3 May 6, 2007 Destined to build a W7ZOI RF power meter. And a current limited P/S. BANDSWEEP: 20 Meter HB DSB QSO with Rolf, SM4FQW. WEB NEWS: FMLA articles posted, SolderSmoke makes Wikipedia. New Videos: Flying motorcycle, Summits-on-the-air. BOOK REVIEW: Feynman fixes radios. MAILBAG: KF4TQJ, KB9JLO, G3XBM (uses xtal receiver on 80 meters), ON4AW -- SolderSmoke56.mp3 April 29, 2007 Stephen Hawking. Hams rebuild Apollo antenna. BANDSWEEP: Listen to Moonbounce. Elser-Mathes Trophy (Don't miss out!). Tesco HTs and the FMLA. My weird power supply. Why no feedback in
finals? Major updates to Gadgeteer News and SolderSmoke video pages.
MAILBAG: Mayfair Resistor Mystery solved by AA2VK. Parts donated by LA3PNA. KD5NJR on Tim Ferris book. Alan Yates on P/S project. CT1EFL on "AWESOME" soldering. -- SolderSmoke55.mp3 April 22, 2007 Solar minimum. Meteor shower. Plasma deflector shields. Homopolar Motors. How SWR meters work. "The Club Saver" 2 meter rig. Testing air variable caps. Building traps (for animals, not antennas!) The Mystery Resistor of Mayfair. P/S problems. BANDSWEEP: India's HAMSAT over California. M0HBR rejected by Bollywood. MAILBAG: WA6ARA, K4BVL, Scott Haley, W2MY, LA3PNA -- SolderSmoke54.mp3 April 16, 2007 Hamfest report. Interview with Tony Fishpool of G-QRP. Book Review: "Simple Test Gear for the QRPer." Paul Lauterbur, inventor. California balloon launch. Homebrew or Home BREW? Frank Jones and the FMLA. MAILBAG: SSB projects, wearing out copies of SSDRA. -- SolderSmoke53.mp3 April 8, 2007 Happy Easter! Anti-Soldering legislation -- NOTE THE DATE! Mike's article appears in I-QRP. SPRAT 130 review. Salute to Gus Taylor, G8PG. Soldering iron review: Elenco SL5. Workbench report: Balanced Modulator. ECHOLINK ANTICS. Bandsweep: A visit to 30 meters, with a demonstration of the famed "Q multiplier." MAILBAG: LA3PNA, N1VWD, KF6HQC - SolderSmoke52.mp3 April 1, 2007 Excelsior! Jean Shepherd's stories about ham radio. Legislation to ban hobbyist soldering. History of LTSpice. Workbench update. SPECIAL GUEST EDITION OF BANDSWEEP: A satellite pass over M0DHP. MAILBAG: Using an AM radio to interfere with the Chicago White Sox. SolderSmoke in 1930. -- SolderSmoke51.mp3 March 25, 2007 Moj's e-music. AmateurLogicTV#12. PiccoZ Helo. WA7MLH's site. 1.6 Mhz IF as a transmitter trick. Chinese listeners? .rss files fixed. My evolving HB,Class A, feedback amp, CW, .5W transmitter. BANDSWEEP: On 17 meter SSB with EA8EQ. MAILBAG: Pete, W6JFR, describes a realworld troubleshooting problem. Arv, K7HKL, updates on BITX20 kits. Thomas, LA3PNA, describes current projects. -- SolderSmoke50.mp3 March 18, 2007 New homebrew theme music. Born in IGY. Vernal Equinox. Inspirational e-mail on BITX20. BITX20 kit development. BASIC Stamp video. RSS problems. Antipodal map tool. Ferrites in rock tumblers? BANDSWEEP: 20 meters on an HW-8. MAILBAG: Lasers and highway nets. -- SolderSmoke49.mp3 March 11,2007 SPRAT! New Videos, including a rap video about UHF rovers! Fixing an old laptop. Itunes problems. Bookstore. Special "remote" edition of BANDSWEEP. MAILBAG: greggW's BFO solution (at age 8) -- -- SolderSmoke48.mp3 March 4, 2007 Lunar Eclipse. Feedback amps in LTSpice. 17 Meter HB SSB QSO w EA8EQ. Video recommendations. Dilbert's "Knack." New Feature: BANDSWEEP - Hear how the bands sound from London. MAILBAG: W6JFR, M1KTA, gregW (soon to be OH2???), KB0ADD, KK6CB. -- SolderSmoke47.mp3 February 25, 2007. Three cheers for K1RFD. Steve Weber's Tiny SSB rig. BITX20 kit. BITX20 videos. Liquid Oxygen. How to make a bad solder joint in LTSpice. Lasers for gadgeteers and for pets. Camping in the Science Museum. 17 SSB. On 20 with an HW-8. QRSS software. MAILBAG: Ramakrishnan's RFI problems SUDDENLY disappear. Bob Scott. KA4BLS. KF4LMZ. KG6QQR. AI4QQ. VE3SP. G1HDQ. WD5DZG. WA4YHL WV7G. VK2ZAY. VE5AEA. -- SolderSmokeKL7R.mp3 February 4, 2007 About the tragic loss of our friend Mike Caughran, KL7R. - SolderSmoke46.mp3 January 13, 2007. Mike's oscillator work. Michigan Mighty Mite. Lasers, diodes, and Einstein. Laser communication experiment. W7ZOI-KL7R QSO on SKN. M0HBR's feedback amps. The new comet. Saturn, Jupiter and calculation of c. 17 meter QSOs. New SPRAT CD. MAILBAG: China enigma, VE4KEH, M0DAD, GU0SUP, M1CNK, K4AHU, KD4EDM, KG9DK, AA6KI, VA7AT ON5EX - SolderSmoke45.mp3 December 30, 2006. SPECIAL NEW YEAR'S/STRAIGHT KEY NIGHT EDITION. SolderSmoke CW. Crystal Radios With Fool's Gold detectors. Mike's oscillator experiment with use of kitchen temperature sensor. Christmas gifts: r/c planes and helicopters, FM transmitter, Amateur Scientist CD, lab notebooks. MAILBAG: Hello to listeners in China, and mail from G0FUW, VE4KEH, K5LXP, AmateurLogic TV guys, Mike in Panama City. SolderSmoke44.mp3 December 16, 2006. New soldering station. LTSpice-videocasts. More on return loss. Minimalist radio. Crystal radio. Three cheers for: Elecraft, K1EL, QST. Small FM transmitters for MP3s. New PC Sats. Antikitheria Mechanism. Merry Christmas! MAILBAG: M1CNR, AL7RV, WA4YHL, KG4ENB SolderSmoke43.mp3 December 9, 2006 LP filters. Feedback. Return loss calc. Exploring Titan. London tornado. Maxwell's equations. TRS 80. Name-that-Noise. Book: "Gonzo Gizmos." MAILBAG: AK9N, N2NLY, Ramakrishnan. SolderSmoke42.mp3 December 2, 2006. Mike's EMRFD-LTSpice-Workbench amplifier lessons. Fixing hamfest P/S. Rick's transmitter in QST. Name that noise. Superconductivity and r/c plane videos. MAILBAG: G4CWX goes round-the-world with SolderSmoke, and KI4SGU dubs SolderSmoke "The Mythbusters of Ham Radio" - SolderSmoke41.mp3 November 28, 2006. Bill's antenna spotted by Google Earth. Homebrew tubes. Return to 17 meter HB sideband. Michigan kid builds fusion device. New videos. New web sites. LTSpice/YouTube mashup. New: GADGETEERNEWS. MAILBAG: G4CWX, VE4KEH, WB8ICN SolderSmoke40.mp3 November 19, 2006. Rally Report.73 mag from 70's. Mike's HB woes. Saturn returns. Leonids.AmateurLogic TV. MAILBAG: VU3RDD, WA6ARA, M0AYF, NE1OB, Reg Lancaster. SolderSmoke39.mp3 November 12, 2006 Kempton Park Rally (Hamfest). QRSS -- more tolerant than once thought! Class C amps and saturation. Practical Wireless goes DSB. Wireless Range Extender working. Mike's power supply. 73 Magazine. Mailbag: M0AYF, G0FUW, G4KKI, WA7MLH, WJ2V SolderSmoke38.mp3 November 5, 2006 Guy Fawkes Day. Da Vinci's notebooks. r/c plane with gyro camera. LTSpice's thermocouple. Ocean State Electronics. Mike's power supply. QRSS. Bill's struggle with Class C amp design. WA7MLH in SSDRA. Other podcasts. Long Delayed Echoes. 99Hobbies.com. WiFi encryption. Mailbag: KG9DK, M0JQZ, KF4LMZ, AA2VK SolderSmoke37.mp3 October 29, 2006 Mike's homebrew manual spectrum analyzer. Bill's Class A, no-feedback amplifier design project. LTSpice, DSB, AM, IMD and SPLATTER. HW-101 clutch repair and oil change. Owning two copies of SSDRA - moral issues? Wireless Range Extenders. Mailbag. SolderSmoke36.mp3 October 22, 2006 Mike's return loss bridge. Learning amp design, LTSpice software in EMRFD, input/output impedance, Harry SM0VPO's site, aurora, making hydrogen, Mike's bookmarks, Book review: iWoz by Steve Wozniak. SolderSmoke35.mp3 October 14, 2006 Misc. projects, crystal radios with galena, homebrew tubes, homebrew CPUs, muffin fan hovercraft, MTP3055V vs. IRF510, EMRFD, learning to design, YouTube videos. SolderSmoke34.mp3 October 7,2006 Interview with Ashhar Farhan, Indian homebrewer and father of the famed BITX-20 transceiver. HB in India EMRFD. W7ZOI influence. Hans Summers. Quadrature rigs. DSB and PSK31. Homebrew test gear. The importance of measurement, Tektronix scope. Homebrew heartaches. Homebrew spirit. Symmetry. SolderSmoke33.mp3 Sept 30, 2006 Care packages. QST Homebrew Challenge rule change. Phasing/Quadrature SSB generation. 2 chip receivers. Smoke management in electronics. SBL2 receiver frontend. Gadgeteer video page. SolderSmoke32.mp3 Sept 16, 2006 HW101 FT101 Hybrid Rigs. BNC and RCA phono connectors. Changing the clutch and oil on an HW101. Third order intercept rules of thumb. Modular circuit boards. Babbage difference engine. Hardware to crack enigma. Bills video of his DSB rig. SolderSmoke31.mp3 Sept 04, 2006 Heathkit VTVM. QRSS. Radio Jove. Jupiter/IO laser. HF interferometer http://yasi.fringes.org. Kootie Key. SM0VPO's website. RF green thumb vs dead chickens. Homebrew Wifi antennas. KL7R's bookmarks and new shack photo. PG1N's website. QEX article on "Why antennas radiate." SolderSmoke30.mp3 August 20, 2006 Completed Motley1 Schematic. Steve Weber's IRF510 amp. 30M QRSS receiver. Wildlife in downtown London. QST-50 challenge. BITX 20/ McGuiver Radio. Reverse sunspot/SolarMin. HelioSeismology. Solar Music. SPRAT SBL1's. Sounds from Jupiter and the JOVE project. The first homebrewers. Video Bang-a-gong. SolderSmoke29.mp3 A PC board box for Bill's FET final Richard Feynman video clip Mike's amazing Octopus oscilloscope aid Another plea for graphics help (SS logo) Overcoming podcast tech difficulties SolderSmoke.com new website. FIRST EVER SolderSmoke EM wave poetry from The Moody Blues SolderSmoke Mailbag: Tony Fishpool and the GQRP club SolderSmoke28.mp3 SPRAT Ceramic Oscillator article Tin whiskers and lead free solder QST's $50 rig design challenge Class C amps: Saturation required? Solder Smoke's LOGO DESIGN challenge FB QSO on 20 DSB with SM4FQW Slow Speed QRP (QRSS) WebShots, YouTube MAILBAG: K8WDE, KA6VKP, WB8ICN, VK2KYP, KK7CC SolderSmoke27.mp3 Computer woes. Bill's visit to the Dominican Republic. Building Xtal oscillator with kid. Book Reviews: "The Art of Electronics" "The Electronics of Radio" Ether and Quantum Mechanincs, Tao of Physics SolderSmoke Mailbag: Nigel in Dover, Mike WA6AWA, Matt KC8COM SolderSmoke26.mp3 Mike's backyard QRP operations Fishing pole antennas - Bill goes vertical D-104 use on internet Live (recorded) Audio from Bill's DSB rig Scott Sled Kites, Kite Aerial Photography Destroying perfectly good ham gear ZL1VK in NZ carries SolderSmoke SolderSmoke25.mp3 Bill puts Astatic D-104 on ECHOLINK Mike's 80 mtr DSB rig becomes transceiver! Mike's two chip EMRFD NE602-LM386 receiver The rewards of homebrewing SolderSmoke24.mp3 This week: Two-Tone Test mp3 file. Review online book "crystal sets to sideband". Doubly rockbound SSB TX. HF Packer SlimGem amps. Push Pull IRF510 Mosfet amps. W1FB 40 db wide band general purpose amp. HF amplifier degeneration. HF+6M diplexer. SolderSmoke23.mp3 Two amateur radio experimentors discuss workbench radio projects. This week: Taming HF amp self-oscillation. Output broadband transformers. DSB transmit on both usb and lsb at the same time. Adjusting LSB ladder filters. The "SSB advantage" vs the "CW advantage". Satellite Oscar 52. Using jet wings as topband and magic band passive reflectors. SolderSmoke22.mp3 Two amateur radio experimenters discuss workbench radio projects. This week: How to get more than a watt out of a 12volt/50ohm amplifier. Wb7aei lowpass filters. Passive and active mixers. The binaural receiver. UK vs US hamfests. SolderSmoke21.mp3 This week: First Light for QRP rigs. Final amplifier voodoo. Quantum mechanical necromancy. Ne612 carrier balance. Transmitter lowpass filters. The sweet sound of DC receivers. Slinky verticals. LC tuners, TiddlyWiki, VMWare and AFUKnoppix. SolderSmoke20.mp3 Two amateur radio experimenters discuss workbench radio projects. This week: 80 meter qrp ssb and dsb transciever circuits. SolderSmoke19.mp3 Two amateur radio experimenters discuss workbench radio projects. This week: Easter edition. Experimenter vs Tinkerer. NTP3055v FET amp. Apr 2006 Bacon Bits. Ham radio software. Soundcard software. IQ receivers with soundcard software. MMANA. 4nec2. Michigan Mitey Mite Transmitter. SolderSmoke18.mp3 Two amateur radio experimenters discuss workbench radio projects. This week: New Bench and Shack wiring. Using a hot screwdriver as a soldering iron. VW solar panels. Class AB Amps. Saturn's watery moon. Mars Recon Rover. The next SolarMax. Heliosismology. Aurora in NY. DX during a solarmax on the Azores. SolderSmoke17.mp3 Two amateur radio experimenters discussing workbench radio projects. This week K1 receiver/receivers in general. The "feel" of programming languages/rigs. NE602 Spice model. Blue sun. Green flash. Receivers made from tooth filling detectors. Ejection seat HF radios. Saturn. Book review: "Technical Topics". Websites of the week: www.theregister.co.uk, www.spaceweather.com. Cracking Enigma. SETI at home. SolderSmoke16.mp3 Two ham radio operators discuss workbench radio projects. This week: Desitin as heatsink compound and bottom paint. Supermodulation. Mixers / ne602 spice models. Soldersmoke in space. Website review: revver. SolderSmoke15.mp3 This Week: SuitSat. Jupiter's moons. Back yard telescopes. Trip to Pluto. TimeDomain Reflectometer. KX1 high power mod. DC-DC converters. Good Jobs. Movie Review: "The Dish". Book Review: "First Light". SolderSmoke14.mp3 This week: curry toast and tea. Satellite tracking and worried neighbors. Stardust probe. Whale on the Thames river. HCJB. Soundcard Modes. SolderSmoke13.mp3 This issue: Happy New Year 2006, Transisistor RF amp design using Spice and spreadsheets. Multistage amplifier feedback mechanisms. PopCorn QRP. Burning DVDs. MP3 Players. Online and published technical magazines. The value vs price of technical publications. Experimental Methods. The 2006 Handbook. Solid State Design. SolderSmoke12.mp3 This week Dobsonian reflector telescopes. Class A amplifier design spice vs spreadsheet. Christmas. SolderSmoke11.mp3 Two amateur radio experimenters discussing workbench radio projects. This week: PIC Pong. Coax Traps. Solar powered QRP. SolderSmoke10.mp3 This week "Einstein's Heroes" - PCB prototyping - Atmel butterfly - respect for those who do with less. SolderSmoke9.mp3 This week - Mars Rovers - nano wattmeter - xtal radios - QRP news SolderSmoke8.mp3 Discussions between two ham radio operators/experimentors about projects we have currently on our benches. SolderSmoke7.mp3 Discussions between two ham radio operators/experimentors about projects we have currently on our benches. SolderSmoke6.mp3 Ham radio discussions of RF projects that are on our benches. SolderSmoke5.mp3 Binaural Receiver Crystal ladder filters. 17m DSB xcvr SolderSmoke4.mp3 This issue : ladder filters, binaural receiver, test equipment SolderSmoke3.mp3 This issue: "rubbering" ceramic resonators and the "DC to Daylight binaural receiver" SolderSmoke2.mp3 Discussions between two amateur radio experimenters about what is currently on our benches. SolderSmoke1.mp3 Tech talk between two radio amateurs. Bill in London and Mike in Juneau meet on the ECHOLINK VoIP system and discuss their homebrew radio projects. SolderSmoke is a trademark claimed by William R. Meara. Copyright 2008 All Rights Reserved.
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