Left Coast Political Scene

Omnia SDR on WSPR Putting your Omnia SDR on one of the digital modes!   Updated 4/30/2016-- Synchronizing your computer to Internet time.     One of the really neat features of the QRP SDR radios is the ability to couple these radios with several automated computer programs where the radio + computer get to make "QSO's" while you are off doing other things. WSPR a program developed by Nobel Laureate, Joe Taylor, K1JT is a really cool program where your rig listens for weak signals and then uses  automated reporting via the Internet to a central database. WSPR is an acronym for Weak Signal Propagation Reporting. My Omnia SDR operates on 60-20M and so that is a great mix for 24 hour operation. So far it has been used on 40,30 and 20M WSPR.   Using this program your radio can listen for a variable time, based on a synchronized Internet clock,  say 80% of the time and for 20% of the time your radio takes a turn at trans...

Our Changing  Hobby... Added schematic for the linear amp switching circuit. 4/24/2016 Added Photo of the Omnia SDR working with the Raspberry Pi2 4/26/2016 In 1959 when I was first licensed, a modest station occupied a large part of the operating desk. Typically a first station might be a Hallicrafter's S-38E receiver (also known as a Widow Maker because it was operated directly off of the power mains). If you got the plug in the socket the wrong way and upon touching the radio you very likely got a hefty dose of 110 VAC. The idea was to be cost effective, thus no power transformer, although the price of that jewel in 1959 is like paying upwards of $400 today.   To match that radio were a variety of transmitter kits from companies no longer in business today like Heathkit, WRL, Eico and even Ameco . Of course many rolled their own from plans found in QST or the ARRL handbook when those publications fostered home construction. Sadly today that focused...