{"id":8616,"date":"2025-02-27T20:17:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T09:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/2025\/02\/27\/john-ke2amps-soldersmoke-direct-conversion-receiver-with-a-spring-loaded-pto\/"},"modified":"2025-07-22T18:00:58","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T08:00:58","slug":"john-ke2amps-soldersmoke-direct-conversion-receiver-with-a-spring-loaded-pto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/2025\/02\/27\/john-ke2amps-soldersmoke-direct-conversion-receiver-with-a-spring-loaded-pto\/","title":{"rendered":"John KE2AMP&#8217;s SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver &#8212; With a Spring-Loaded PTO"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"247\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/QPry-sr3omI?si=w3oYjvBFK1GLLzOq?rel=0\" title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"440\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b>Dean and I often say that we too have learned a lot from this project, and that the receiver has gotten better as a result of all these builds. But in KE2AMP&#8217;s case we really see an innovation that nobody has used before. But it is a great idea and it solves the &#8220;loose screw&#8221; problem of the PTO. Check out the spring on John&#8217;s PTO. That is really smart. Thanks John. <\/b><\/div>\n<div><b><br \/><\/b><\/div>\n<div><b>John also sent me a crystal wrapper that will long be cherished by the CBLA (Color Burst Liberation Army): <\/b><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEjQwQBOtXWmY0X2cmkEIqFRaQMW5xme0TckwIpZROaybi0NpKT1f03uZ3od7mXM7wTj9ipYDOzNmHIUkivjM90agdfiRhduEmSHdbBL9IqnbRqAXm-xTdYP7i9f1D87QXlLNKMkJd9eCt4DO-r54skd9H-lsBV1nYn-tcCKPKUUi7hoLWhNgBezpTMCLAc\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-original-height=\"416\" data-original-width=\"422\" height=\"395\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image_1753110005.png\" width=\"400\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b>John wrote: <\/b><\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><b><br \/><\/b><\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"><i><b>Well I completed my DCR, and am receiving signals on 40 meter at 1900UTC. My audio amp will oscillate if I turn up over half way and my pto is little loose and makes it bit hard to tune. I put a light spring behind the pto bolt to give it some friction and tighten up. I\u2019m thrilled that I\u2019m receiving signals. I still want to add a front panel to mount the volume pot, the on\/off switch and speaker if I have the room. <\/b><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"><i><b>I am so Thankful to Bill, Dean and everyone on the discord for this project I learned so much more being able to ask questions and follow along with other builders as we worked through each stage of the build. I definitely learned some things about oscilliscopes. And testing each of the stages as we went along. <\/b><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"><i><b>I would like to try my hand at a SSB transmitter to go along with this receiver. I have built a working MMM but was just to see if I could. I don\u2019t know CW <\/b><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"><i><b>Oh and I included pic\u2019s of something Bill will like. <\/b><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"><i><b>Pick it up at a ham fest last summer.<\/b><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"><i><b>Will that get me into the color burst liberation army?<\/b><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"><i><b> Thanks Again, 73<\/b><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"><i><b> de John KE2AMP<\/b><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"><i><b><br \/><\/b><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"><b>Consider yourself inducted John. The CBLA needs innovative people like you! <\/b><\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"><b><br \/><\/b><\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"><b>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-<\/b><\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"><b><br \/><\/b><\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\">\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;\"><b>For more information on how you too can build the receiver: <\/b><\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;\"><b><br \/><\/b><\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px;\"><b><span face=\"Arial, sans-serif\" style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Join the discussion &#8211; SolderSmoke Discord Server:<\/span><span face=\"Arial, sans-serif\" style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px;\"><b><span face=\"Arial, sans-serif\" style=\"color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt;\"><a data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/discord.gg\/Fu6B7yGxx2&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1739470652838000&#038;usg=AOvVaw1ZoxkyzfQb8pwED_KtyCKW\" href=\"https:\/\/discord.gg\/Fu6B7yGxx2\" style=\"color: #1155cc; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\">https:\/\/discord.gg\/Fu6B7yGxx2<\/span><\/a><\/span><span face=\"Arial, sans-serif\" style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px;\"><b><span face=\"Arial, sans-serif\" style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"> <\/span><span face=\"Arial, sans-serif\" style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px;\"><b><span face=\"Arial, sans-serif\" style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Documentation on Hackaday:<\/span><span face=\"Arial, sans-serif\" style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px;\"><b><span face=\"Arial, sans-serif\" style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><a data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/hackaday.io\/project\/190327-high-schoolers-build-a-radio-receiver&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1739470652838000&#038;usg=AOvVaw026vJuHIWdv6aJ9NJ9QDHJ\" href=\"https:\/\/hackaday.io\/project\/190327-high-schoolers-build-a-radio-receiver\" style=\"color: #1155cc; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/hackaday.io\/project\/<wbr><\/wbr>190327-high-schoolers-build-a-<wbr><\/wbr>radio-receiver<\/a><\/span><span face=\"Arial, sans-serif\" style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px;\"><b><span face=\"Arial, sans-serif\" style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"> <\/span><span face=\"Arial, sans-serif\" style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px;\"><b><span face=\"Arial, sans-serif\" style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">SolderSmoke YouTube channel:<\/span><span face=\"Arial, sans-serif\" style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<div style=\"color: #333333; font-family: \"Trebuchet MS\", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.61px;\"><b style=\"color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;\"><span face=\"Arial, sans-serif\" style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><a data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@soldersmoke&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1739470652838000&#038;usg=AOvVaw3FnV3eIUU7IiaVG8c_Qd3v\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@soldersmoke\" style=\"color: #1155cc; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@<wbr><\/wbr>soldersmoke<\/a><\/span><\/b><b> <\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dean and I often say that we too have learned a lot from this project, and that the receiver has gotten better as a result of all these builds. But in KE2AMP&#8217;s case we really see an innovation that nobody has used before. But it is a great idea and it solves the &#8220;loose screw&#8221; &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/2025\/02\/27\/john-ke2amps-soldersmoke-direct-conversion-receiver-with-a-spring-loaded-pto\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;John KE2AMP&#8217;s SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver &#8212; With a Spring-Loaded PTO&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8617,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[317,9,11,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8616","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cbla","category-dc-receiver-build","category-dc-rx-hall-of-fame","category-tj-dc-rx"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8616","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8616"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8616\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8618,"href":"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8616\/revisions\/8618"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8616"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8616"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.homebrewradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8616"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}