Category: video

The QRP Mojo Ceremony

More from Lobstercon (from N2HTT):
http://n2htt.net/2013/11/24/there-are-lobsters-in-the-woods/
And thanks to Pete, VE2XPL, for alerting me to all this.

Our book: “SolderSmoke — Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics” http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20

Naval Gun Turret as EME Dish Mount (VIDEOS)

Hack-A-Day ran a story on EME pioneer Zoltan Bay. In the comments section someone posted this memorable video about a moonbounce station in Central Kansas. Wow. Putting using naval gun as an AZ-EL rotor for the dish is really thinking outside the box. Then deciding to put the whole thing atop another tower… Great stuff.

Here is another moonbounce video. VE2ZAZ was using a smaller antenna (!) and JT65. FB.

Our book: “SolderSmoke — Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics” http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20

Beautiful French Aerial Photography Project. UPstagram! (Video)

We’ve put cameras in kites and rockets, but I think this is much cooler.

More details (and pictures) here: http://hackerloop.com/upstagram/

Our book: “SolderSmoke — Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics” http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20

That wonderful first contact, when the new HB rig is still on the workbench…

In this video, YC0AFF in Indonesia seems to be having as much fun with his new BITX as I’ve been having with mine. I think there is something special about those early contacts, when the newly finished (or not quite finished!) rig is still on the workbench. Designed in India and built by radio amateurs all around the world, the BITX has become a global ham radio phenomenon, reminding us that we form an International Brotherhood of Electronic Wizards.

Our book: “SolderSmoke — Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics” http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20

BITX BUILD UPDATE #13 — VIDEO TOUR

I hope to get the next podcast out within a week or so. The BITX has been keeping me busy!

Our book: “SolderSmoke — Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics” http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20

Moon Launch from Virginia (video)

NASA launched a mission to the moon last night. The rocket went out of Wallops Island, Virginia and was visible from Washington D.C. I forgot about it, so we missed seeing it ourselves, but this fellow got a nice view from the balcony of his Washington apartment.

Our book: “SolderSmoke — Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics” http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20

Fixing TEK 465 Oscilloscopes

I’m having TeKnical difficulties. My beloved Tek 465 ‘scope quit on me. I’d been running it continuously for a day or so, watching the output on my BITX VFO. Then, suddenly, it blew the 1.5 amp fuse. I replaced the fuse, but afterwards the trace was gone and the “Low Line” light was acting weird — on when it should have been off, then flickering. I consulted with Alan Wolke. He happened to be out at TEX HQ in Beaverton, Ore. He provided some good suggestions, but before I had a chance to try them, the trace came back. I attributed this good luck to the Radio Gods being pleased with Alan’s presence in Beaverton… but my reprieve was short-lived. Trace went out again today.

I found this video of the legendary Jim Williams (RIP) fixing a Tek 465. (Check out Jim’s junk box!)
I’ll start by checking the Tantalums. I may get lucky.

If anyone has any other suggestions, send them this way. The Tek scope may be old, but it is a COMPLICATED piece of gear…

Our book: “SolderSmoke — Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics” http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20

Peter Parker’s Video on SP5AHT’s Phasing Receiver

There are so many very cool aspects of this project: I love the phasing receiver arrangement — it uses the same basic concept that allows my old HT-37 to generate SSB (I struggled to understand it as a kid, and finally succeeded!). The use of the mobile phone as an audio spectrum analyzer is wonderful. The N3ZI signal generator looks a lot like the DDS project I was working on (I should have bought N3ZI’s! ). I’ve been seeing these square pattern PC boards in many projects lately — I may try this in my next project. And of course, it is very cool to see a circuit designed in Poland being put to use by a fellow radio amateur in Australia — a good example of the International Brotherhood of Electronic Wizards!

Here is the page for the SP5AHT rig that inspired Peter:

http://www.sp-qrp.pl/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=54

It is in Polish, but Google should translate it, and, in any case, we all speak Schematic!

Our book: “SolderSmoke — Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics” http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20

Oscillo-porn! A $500,000 Oscilloscope! (video)

I don’t know, I think I like my Tek 465 better! But if any of you guys are thinking of buying one of these, PLEASE do so via the Amazon link on my web page!

Our book: “SolderSmoke — Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics” http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20

Kishan Has the Knack! (video)

Many of us were staring out similar windows, also dreaming of model airplanes, and of transmitter circuits, and telescopes, and rockets… This video runs only 12 minutes. Don’t be deterred if you don’t speak Hindi — the story is easy to follow.

Our book: “SolderSmoke — Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics” http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20

Homebrew Transistors (video)

So you are using store-bought transistors eh? APPLIANCE OPERATOR!

Check out Jeri Ellsworth’s very impressive production of NMOS transistors.

Our book: “SolderSmoke — Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics” http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20

Solar Field Flip! (video)

Too bad we are not in late March. This event has such great April Fool’s potential:
Some ideas:
— You’ll have to rewind all your toroids!
— You should switch the braid and the center conductor on all your coax!

I like the “cup half full” sentiments in this video: The second half of Solar Max is about to begin!

Thanks to Kim VK5FJ for sending me this.

Our book: “SolderSmoke — Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics” http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20

The Viganella Heliostat — A Village Brings in the Sun (Video)

http://www.odditycentral.com/pics/viganella-the-italian-village-that-built-its-own-sun.html

Our book: “SolderSmoke — Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics” http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20

Tour of WLW 500,000 Watt Transmitter (video)

Well, you know that you are really in the high power big leagues when your transmitter requires a cooling pond, and you have to put on welding goggles before you examine your tubes! I especially liked the bit about how they built the transmitter BUILDING from the packing materials used to ship the transmitter (my operating desk is made from a box used to ship my HT-37!).

This is all really amazing. They built this thing less than ten years after the initial launch of commercial broadcast radio in the U.S.

Thanks a lot to Randy for doing this video and to the guys who gave the really excellent tour.

My apologies to the QRP purists who I know will have been deeply disturbed by this presentation.

Our book: “SolderSmoke — Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics” http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20

“I Make Stuff” Chuck Stottlemyer (video)

More about Chuck Stottlemyer here:
http://makezine.com/2013/07/02/movers-and-makers-charles-chuck-stottlemyer/

Our book: “SolderSmoke — Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics” http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20

A Visit to the Arduino Factory (video)

Named for an Italian bar, produced by cool people in Ivrea who wield soldering irons and wear T-shirts that say “Make it Simple.” You gotta love Arduino!

Today I will finish connecting my Arduino Uno to my Doug Demaw Lil’ Slugger 10 Beacon rig. Code (computer code!) by K6HX.

Our book: “SolderSmoke — Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics” http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20