N6QW -- Left Coast Radio

Have you ever asked? Can you convert a Bitx40 to 17 Meters? Can you convert a SSB Filter Transceiver to SDR? Ponder the possibilities especially since Cycle 25 is gearing up to be a block buster like Cycle 19.  I have been spending a lot of time on 17M FT-8 and am surprised at the amount of signals and most are DX? Here is a 3D2 on Fiji Island being worked with 5 watts on 17M. I have since worked two stations on Fiji using this band and this mode. Lots of incentive to "noodle your way" through the rig possibilities with the promise of the sunspots arriving with Cycle 25. 73's Pete N6QW

N2CQR Mentioned the possible reassignment of the 5 Meter Band back to Ham use. [ Late news -- added some bypass caps and that cleaned up the signal. I took the $11 unit and tested the Receiver LO from the Arduino/Si5351. That works! Was able to tune through the 6 Channels I programmed using the UV35 as the signal source. Tomorrow maybe test the transmitter LO. ]    Such a possibility opens up the potential of expanding our horizons beyond HF SSB. Enter the opportunity for experimentation with FM and Digital Modes at VHF and UHF. I just saw where you can buy a Baofeng UV5R for $23 on Amazon. Quick go buy one just so you can look cool with an HT hanging off of your fishing vest. That is OK But what I am suggesting is actually working with some VHF and UHF commercial radios. So OK I bought two Regency HR2B two meter radios for a total of $30. One was $19 (the better one) and the other was $11 ( a parts unit). The $19 one actually works. This is where you want the Baofeng as it now is a te

Did you ever wonder about ... This is a polling problem where you have an array of sensors that could be either in a closed or opened state. (Digital guys & gals, either a 0 or a 1.) Your task is to read these states and for a corresponding state change, a subsequent action occurs.   A simple example is the home. You have a homebrew burglar alarm involving a total of six doors and windows that have magnetic switches that are in a closed state so long as the door or window is closed. Break that circuit and a polling of the six sensors would say  we have one "open switch".  [The logic in the sketch above has the switches as normally HIGH so closing to LOW would initiate the tone. But you could change that by have the pin state as LOW normally so opening the switch would make the state go HIGH. Thus the sketch would have to be modified. But for demo purposes -- shorting a pin to ground causes tones and each switch generates a different tone.] The detection of that open would

Punji Stakes and the Arduino! So ok I used to sell automated industrial controls for a living. It was a blast to have a customer requirement and to be able to solve that problem with things we sold. There was a bonus --we sold Alco Switch and I was always requesting knob samples for giveaways. You wouldn't believe how many of my home projects all had Alco Switch knobs. I loved "no touch" controls especially photoelectric devices! One application involved a well known soup manufacturer who advertised Real Oyster Soup with Butter and thus had to prove to the FTC that they were really adding butter to the soup. The proof went beyond just saying it; but to insure the product always contained butter. On the soup line was a butter vat that piped a bit of butter into each can as it passed down the line. The problem: how to insure there was always butter in the vat. A call to my company and then on to me started the process. The solution (the soup company loved it because it was

Hard to walk the dog --- when you don't own one! [After the convention my website will contain construction info so you can build this jewel!] [The G-QQRP Club will conduct its Second Virtual Convention on September 4/5. I believe participation is limited to G-QRP Club members only. But there is still time to acquire a membership. The Speakers List includes some well known names like Charlie Morris (ZL2CTM) Roy Lewallen, and Tony Fishpool (G4WIF). Then there is that guy from the Left Coast who will address this Hunk of Junk below. Regrettably it does not even qualify as CRAP (Cool Rigs And Projects). Join the G-QRP Club and attend this wonderful event. If you are not a member then you are wrong!]     ******* I don't have a dog, have not had a dog; BUT have been attacked by a dog as a youngster. Yes I was minding my own business when this neighborhood dog chose me as a victim. I was not injured mainly through quick thinking; but nonetheless it scared the hell out of me. Thus my

The Before Pete's Magic Fingers!    Application of Tribal Knowledge, Plus Pete's Magic Fingers!