Month: April 2023

Helge LA6NCA Builds a Double Sideband Thermatron Transmitter

Helge is an amazing homebrewer. Check out the shack. Note the R-390 and the Tek ‘scope. Watch how Helge designs his rig. Watch him check the 3-D printed coil and the variable caps for resonance. Most of all, watch his happiness when the new transmitter works. I just wish he would have showed us some OM complaining that he was on the “wrong” sideband. FB Helge! Thanks.

W2UO’s Michigan Mighty Mite — Made a Contact!

Hi Bill,

I found SolderSmoke about six months ago, and it’s quickly become one of my favorite podcasts.

I’ve been a ham since I was 11, but never tried my hand at homebrewing anything. I’ve always heard how hard it would be, and how a project like a SSB transmitter is just too far out of reach.

You and Pete are inspirational, so I set out to build a simple starter project, the venerable Michigan Mighty Mite. However not just any mighty mite, a usable one, not just a proof of concept. One intended to sit on a desk and look good doing it. Complete with built in low pass filter, tx/rx switching, and an internal dummy load.

I don’t know if I accomplished all that, but I did make a contact on it this afternoon. Next logical step I suppose will be to build a DC receiver to sit next to it.

Please find pictures attached, I’ve learned a lot about what not to do with project, so criticism is welcome.

73!
-Jim W2UO


My response:

Wow Jim, that is really wonderful. Congratulations on the build. I’ve built many of them, but I don’t think I ever made a contact with a MMM. FB.

It looks great to me! Indeed, you should do a Direct Conversion receiver next. Maybe do a receiver for 40, then do a version of the MMM for that same band. Then you could
make a completely homebrew QSO. I did this recently on 40: https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2023/02/first-qso-with-high-school-receiver-100.html It was a real hoot!


Please keep us posted on your progress.

Again, congratulations! 73 Bill N2CQR

SolderSmoke Podcast #245: Cuban DSB, DC Receiver?, Can you spot the AI? (Prize), Winterfest Loot, Gina’s Podcast, 6BA6 buy, MAILBAG

DC RX Example by KK4DAS

SolderSmoke Podcast #245 is available for download:


Video: (68) SolderSmoke #245: Cuban DSB, DC Receiver?, AI, Winterfest Loot, Gina’s Podcast, 6BA6 buy, MAILBAG – YouTube

Travelogue: Cuba DSB and AM. Jose CO6EC and the Islander. We need more info, especially on the solid state Jaguey rig.

Bill’s bench:

Will the High School DC receivers get finished? Future uncertain. But the project was technically interesting. Great working with Dean KK4DAS. Battling AM breakthrough from Radio Marti. We joked that Dean has been listening to Radio Marti so much that even though he doesn’t speak Spanish, he has noticed an increased urge to liberate Havana.

Audio amps: Harder than we thought. Lots of variation in Hfe of 2n3904s. Oscillations.
Not using feedback amps nor LM386s, nor push-pull. Simplicity is a design goal.

Fixing the tuning (bandspread) problem on the VFO was fun.

Antennas? A quarter wave with ground or counterpoise works well. We tried it. (59) An Antenna for the TJ 40 Direct Conversion Receiver – YouTube
—-
Back to work on the uBITX. I chickened out on replacing the predriver with a BFR-106, but then – Just in time Todd K7TFC and his Mostly DIYRF came out with BFR106 boards! TRGHS. I will do the mods on two uBITX transceivers. I even bought a solder-sucking iron for the second job.

Winterfest Hamfest. Big success. Thanks VWS. HERRING AID FIVE! Simpson 260! QF-1, Another Radio Shack DMM, Eamon Skelton’s Homebrew Cookbook, Knobs, SWR meter.
—-

SHAMELESS COMMERCE:
— Todd’s Mostly DIY RF and the BFR106 boards, and much more: https://mostlydiyrf.com/
— Become a Patreon sponsor of SolderSmoke: https://www.patreon.com/join/4785634/checkout?ru=undefined

—-
Pete’s Bench:

Technical Note: Skype problems. Pete’s Skype kept dropping out. Bad in the last podcast (#244). Three minute gap. I was ready to scrap the whole podcast when Dean KK4DAS offered to help. And he is obviously well qualified: https://potomacofficersclub.com/speakers/dean-souleles/ Dean went to work with AI. And he was able to fill the audio and the video gaps. Can you spot the three minutes of AI? Send me an e-mail with the time segment of the AI/Deep Fake portion of SolderSmoke 244. The first one with the correct answer will win a prize.
SolderSmoke #244:
Thanks Dean!
—-Interview on his Pete’s daughter’s podcast. https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2023/03/listen-to-pete-juliano-on-his-daughter.html

— 6BA6 e-bay buy. Will we see an all 6BA6 rig from Pete?

— The NCX-5 on e-bay

PETE’S NEW BLOG: https://hamradiogenius.blogspot.com/

Mailbag:

— A New SPRAT arrived in the mail. PH2LB’s Gluestick on the cover.
— Will KI4POV – Awesome homebrew – on the blog.
— Sands, VK9WX listening to SolderSmoke on Willis Island! Wow.
— Andreas DL1AJG in Germany continues with the Electronics for Biologists DC RX build.
— Dean KK4DAS and his homebrew 10 meter DSB rig.
— Jim W2UO built a Michigan Mighty Mite and made a contact.
— Dave K8WPE and the E in IBEW. We need new stickers.
— Bob KC4LB – Surface Mount is SMALL.
— Bruce KK0S on the Herring Aid 5 Board.
— Chuck WB9KZY on Nuclear Monopole Resonance very cool video – on the blog.
— Alan WA9IRS wants a CW editor for his phone. Really.
— Vic WA4THR also working on uBITX power out improvement.
— Tobias weighs in on Kludge. As in Fudge.
— Tony G4WIF notes that when he changes his oil he often removes sludge, not slooge.
— Consultations with Lexicographer Steve KB3SII.
— Walt AJ6T says CW operating declined after FCC ruling in 1970s about callsigns.
— Ramakrishnan VU3RDD now VU2JXN has joined the VWS. An old friend of SolderSmoke. Urged us to launch a blog back in 2008. We announced his daughter’s birth – – now Ram is getting ready to build a DC receiver with her.