Moving beyond the Nano VNA and back to the Lockdown Special.
August 12, 2020 ~ Some Reference Points
Based on the You Tube Video for the Lockdown Special I have received some interesting inquiries. One inquiry was where can I get circuit boards and where can the manual be downloaded.
- There are no circuit boards!
- There is no manual!
In my response back, I did suggest visiting this blog as much of the detail has already been posted.
I do have several websites where there is voluminous detail on prior projects and various circuits. Many of those circuits are used in the Lockdown Special. The one critical requirement -- you have to know how to read and must rely on reading versus downloading.
So here are a listing of varous websites, where three of them are radio related and the fourth covers cooking.The oldest website is listed first and that covers projects going back 10 to 15 years. Some of the projects actually have tubes. Next is one that has more recent projects some of which involve published articles and the last one of the radio group deals almost exclusively with SDR projects.
- http://www.jessystems.com (old)
- http://www.n6qw.com (more current)
- http://www.n6qwradiogenius.us (SDR)
- http://www.pastapete.com (cooking)
In looking at these websites you can only conclude that I suffer from an OCD associated with the fabrication of ham radio rigs. There are a lot of manhours involved in building the hardware and documenting the projects.
Yet another inquiry was if I would be publishing a "Book of Tribal Knowledge". At 78 I am not taking on any long term projects. Jokingly, long term is what is for dinner tonight? But the above sites do in fact capture and collect a good deal of the tribal stuff.
The www.jessystems.com website in particular, details information that is not well known in the ham community. Just how do you install a plug in (versus wired in) TR relay in a Drake T4XB? Or how to install SB #8 in a Collins KWM-2 or perhaps building a 8877 high power linear amplifier.
In 2009 I went about building a solid state version of the heathkit HW-101. That project used actual HW-101 parts such as the Crystal Filter, BFO Crystals and Heterodyne Crystals. But I did cheat and used the PTO out of a Ten Tec Triton IV. When you know stuff you can do stuff. I reprised that project in 2012/2013 with a Solid State Version of the Collins KWM-2 known as the KWM-4.
There are over 200 videos on youtube that cover these many projects. Regrettably many have less than 100 views. Thusly, I conclude that my interests are not mainstream. I guess if I homebrewed a clone of an ICOM IC7300 which you could build with made in China circuit boards using a downloaded manual and costing no more than $200 then I would be more mainstream.
But there is a satisfaction to having built rigs that work on the air and at last count 46 SSB transceivers. Perhaps unto itself this serves the more important personal goal of being able to do it, as not everyone has those skills. You do have to admit though that Juliano Blue and Juliyellow painted on the front panels of many of the rigs is very avant garde.
Be safe! Remember especially: wear a mask, social distance, avoid crowds, wash your hands and no loose women!
73's
Pete N6QW
August 8, 2020 ~ Modifying the BPF and 60M BPF Constants.
For those who have followed my postings you are likely aware that I suffer from a chronic malady -- The dreaded FFS!
Yes, Fat Finger Syndrome (FFS) where you have trouble fiddling with small nuts and bolts and SMA connectors are no exception. So yesterday I modified the Band Pass Filter board to include relay switching. Two 12VDC SPDT relays facilitate a simple band change and I will like wise modify the LPF boards so that a simple SPST toggle switch will cause a automatic shift between the bands for the BPF's and LPF's.
Now if I was one of those smart Software Dudes I would have some sort of signal come off one of the GPIO pins and then when switching between 40 and 20 meteres --instant band change. I know how to do that with an Arduino; but not the Python and the RPi3.
Thusly., one connection to the BPF Board and you have two bands. The normal unpowered selection is 40M and engaging the relays shifts the BPF to having the 20M section in line. Pretty cool?
So OK 60M Fans, I did some scaling of the other BPF's and think this will work for the 60M Band. YMMV. R1 is for test purposes and not used in the actual BPF.
So OK 60M Fans, I did some scaling of the other BPF's and think this will work for the 60M Band. YMMV. R1 is for test purposes and not used in the actual BPF.
Sad commentary --the Trump Virus is over 5M infections and 162,000 deaths. It has moved well beyond the 15 cases of but six months ago and the predictions by November 3rd are well over 200,000 deaths. Time for new leadership!
Some simple Guy Rules for Covid19:
Some simple Guy Rules for Covid19:
- Wash your hands frequently
- Wear a mask at all times when outdoors or indoors in public places.
- Keep Social Distancing
- Avoid all crowds
- As found out in Australia, Avoid Loose Women
Go Yo-Semite!
73's
Pete N6QW
August 7, 2020 ~ The Lockdown Special on 20M
The 20M performance has been interesting in that for part of the day it sounded like there was nothing brewing on 20M in the SSB portion of the band. But then in the afternoon and progressing into the evening it suddenly came alive. See the WSPR chart below where I was being heard.
However what was really evident was the number of DX stations on FT-8 versus total number of stations on SSB. By and far FT-8 has captured the interest of hams world wide including me. I even worked a Japanese station and one from Mexico on 40M FT-8. A likely common occurrence on 20M; but I did it on 40M with the Lockdown Special.
As I look over the the simplicity of the Lockdown Special I marvel that behind the few boards is the powerful QUISK software. I now will share one aspect of that power.
There was a ham who was trying to make contacts in hopes of getting some help in adjusting the sound of his 'appliance box" rig. I called him and shared up front I cannot tell you what menu's to adjust; but what I can do is record you and then play back what your signal sounds like.
Yes the Quisk software has a Record function which can be played back over the air. So a few runs through as he changed his settings and he was able to create a signal which pleased him. Yes, the Lockdown Special can do that and that is for any band.
I suspect that with the simple circuits being used for RF amplification and the fixed nature of my Delta Loop that performance on say 15M may be limited by the circuitry in the single transistor Receiver RF Amp Stage. If I were to think of regular operation 15M and beyond then a careful relook at that stage would be warranted. But it works FB on 20M and below
So swing your rig up to 20M in the afternoon and work the world. My friend N2CQR had a spectacular day on 20M yesterday including working a station in the UK running bicycle mobile. Yes, even I have run bicycle mobile on 20M and that might be a great time to do so again with the improving sunspots. I now have the capability to run a Raspberry Pi3 off of 12 VDC -- so a Lockdown Special running bicyle mobile operating 20M is within the realm of possibilities.
73's
Pete N6QW
*****
DX chaser's the 20M Band was hotter than a pistol this afternoon (8/6) and it was amazing to see all of those DX call signs on FT-8. Around 3 PM I was hearing stations from Germany and the Caribbean (like Trinidad). After dinner I hope to work some of that DX. Sure glad I built the Lockdown Special. BTW -- I get 600 watts out from my "beefed up" SB-200 on 20M. The 40M Delta Loop works FB on 20M --so I am looking to the improved Sunspots.
Looking at August 6/7, here is a WSPR Map for 20 Meters and this is Transmit only at 5 watts. This is the 1st time for Spanish Morroco. I once visited Port Lyautey in Spanish Morrco. Flies and the rancid smells seemed to stick with my memories of that trip. So this is in line with the openings on 20 Meters. Build the Lockdown Special and join in on the 20 Meter DX openings!
Looking at August 6/7, here is a WSPR Map for 20 Meters and this is Transmit only at 5 watts. This is the 1st time for Spanish Morroco. I once visited Port Lyautey in Spanish Morrco. Flies and the rancid smells seemed to stick with my memories of that trip. So this is in line with the openings on 20 Meters. Build the Lockdown Special and join in on the 20 Meter DX openings!
***
My Nano VNA experience has come to a close. Got the "T Shirt", ran some tests and have data and plots in the files.
Today I attempted to corral two more boards into a single assembly and this is shown below. This assembly is the USB I2C controller/synthesizer. I do have a unbuilt SDR-Kits LLC assembly; but just wanted to explore the use of some boards I already had.
On the left side is the K5BCQ Frequency Generator Board and on the right side is the I2C interface board originally sold for the Soft Rock Transceivers. This seems to do the trick and IUWIH lying around the shack. The USB cable plugs into the interface board at the bottom right and the two white connectors are for the connection to the Si570 and the other is for the PTT and CW key input.. The supply to the Si570 is no more than 12 VDC and the USB Interface is powered from the Raspberry Pi. The Si-570 generates a frequency at 4X the operating frequency.
On the left side is the K5BCQ Frequency Generator Board and on the right side is the I2C interface board originally sold for the Soft Rock Transceivers. This seems to do the trick and IUWIH lying around the shack. The USB cable plugs into the interface board at the bottom right and the two white connectors are for the connection to the Si570 and the other is for the PTT and CW key input.. The supply to the Si570 is no more than 12 VDC and the USB Interface is powered from the Raspberry Pi. The Si-570 generates a frequency at 4X the operating frequency.
This just about wraps the project and I have had a couple of inquiries from hams who would like to build the Lockdown Special SDR. But as I have found out there is a huge chasm between wanting to build it and actually doing so. None the less it is nice to see the interest in the project.
Finally once again this is the block diagram and the only items not covered is any integration wiring. Thusly if you have enough guts to take this on you will know what to connect to where for the final wiring.
Finally once again this is the block diagram and the only items not covered is any integration wiring. Thusly if you have enough guts to take this on you will know what to connect to where for the final wiring.
Not sure of any "next projects" and maybe 46 SSB transceivers is enough for a lifetime and I should just stop there and enjoy operating what I have. I do suspect I will spend a lot of time watching TV over the next 3 months as the 2020 Election unfolds. Amazingly all of the drama is yet to come.
Wear a mask, social distance, avoid crowds, and wash your hands frequently. You will note the latest lockdown in Victoria Australia was a result of some security guards at a lockdown quarantine hotel that got involved with some of the quarantined women. That could be the 5th item. Enough said.
Wear a mask, social distance, avoid crowds, and wash your hands frequently. You will note the latest lockdown in Victoria Australia was a result of some security guards at a lockdown quarantine hotel that got involved with some of the quarantined women. That could be the 5th item. Enough said.
73's
Pete N6QW