When I was a kid (last century) I always dreaded August as I knew in just a few weeks --- back to school. As an adult, today, I see Halloween stuff is on display in stores -- another sign of summer is over.
Yet the weather sure says its summer as we hit 90F temperatures every day. But it is inevitable that summer will be over and time to think Ham Radio and projects. But also, time to think about innovation.
Yesterday I was reading a back issue of the G-QRP Club SPRAT (Spring 2023) and suddenly it hit me between the eyes. The Covid19 Pandemic caused many worldwide hams to practice SITS (Stay In The Shack, a phrase from N2CQR) but also gave rise to some creative projects. One project from Covid19 was a WiFi controlled Magnetic Loop Antenna using an ESP8266 as the device to control two stepper motors tuning the loop. Another Covid19 spawned project in that issue was a superhet receiver made from the junk box parts.
Bravo Franco, IK2NJV the Mag Loop author who of course is from Italy, joining the ranks of other Italian visionaries like Michael Angelo. See if you had SPRAT on a Stick you could search for Issue #194. There is also a fact check that the Stockton Bridge Kit from W8DIZ has the FWD REV terminals mislabeled.
OK, so I am suggesting as you think about winter projects that you have a microcontroller or single board computer in your headlights. On my phone I spotted that Digi Key is selling the 4GB Raspberry Pi 5 for $60. Sanchez's boyfriend wants $68 for that same SBC.
R Pi 5
Hang on to this -- the RPi5 is a 2.4GHz, 64Bit SBC with 4GB of RAM for $60 and the 8GB is $80. I would recommend the 8GB as future applications will demand the extra RAM. You can have 4K dual monitors which is kind of fun to have as you watch the FT-8 signals appear on your screen.
[Following my disparaging remarks on the current Solar Cycle, that while the white lab coat guys praise Cycle 25, the bands are empty because the FT-8 craze has sucked up all of the activity and DX is concentrated and not spread out. I also forgot an important fact, in large measure a result of the ARRL meddling, only 1/2 the US hams can operate on all HF bands. While the ARRL proudly points out we have 750, 000 hams -- only half have full HF privileges -- their data not mine. BTW more proof the experts must explain if Cycle 25 is so good then why no signals. Typically, prime DX time at 7AM and not much difference at 1300. The Cycle 25 proponents are trying to bamboozle us with flashy charts -- but the Spectrum tells the tale.
In the Mid-70's almost daily at 7AM you could hear 9V1OI (Singapore), Bud, on 14.240 MHz talking to the gang here on the left coast -- including me once running the Atlas 180 while on my way to work in Long Beach. That was cycle 20.]
7AM Left Coast time 20M and the only blip FT-8
1 PM Left Coast time and FT-8 is still the Leader!
BTW it was in the 1600's during the Great plague, while in self-isolation, that Sir Issac Newton invented Calculus and worked on theories involving optics and the laws of gravity.
Another important reason for ham projects now -- to avoid the political scene for the next 100 days.
TYGNYB nor the Pixel 7.
73's
Pete N6QW