N0ZGO on the interwebs
Random information which might help other amateurs
QTH: EM12jw
9cm (3.3-3.5 GHz) Amateur Microwave Band Under Attack!
Update: Fortunately the FCC has reduced the scope of the spectrum grab. We've lost 3.45 - 3.5 GHz, but retain secondary use of the remaining allocation for the immediate future.
The FCC has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which would eliminate
this valuable amateur resource. For more information on this threat, read
the ARRL News on this topic.
Please take some time to draft and send a comment to the FCC opposing this
action!
My comments to the FCC are available here.
QRP Homebrew (qrp.pops.net) PDF Mirror
As of 5-Oct-2014, a great QRP resource on the Web has gone dark; VE7BPO has
taken down qrp.pops.net for many reasons. I'd like to thank him for all of
his work over the years. He has shared success and failure equally over
that time, and it reminds me that we only learn through failure and
perseverance.
VE7BPO has allowed me to host the complete PDF of his site as a
link on mine. Enjoy!
Homebrew Resources
Test Equipment
AMD Am79C411 CT2 PhoX / VTech / Sony Cordless Resources
Dissasembly of my 90s-era VTech cordless phone revealed a bunch of
interesting ICs and the possibility of hacking this into something
for use on 33cm.
- Wayback Machine archives pages for this platform, indicating it has an 8051 controller
- Datasheet for the AM79C411 (handset) -- missing Chapter 4
- FCC filings with complete schematics
- GBPPR Issue #90 includes a project based on this platform
Alinco DJ-580T CMOS Battery Replacement
After serving faithfully for 19 years, my DJ-580T HT started losing
its mind. After being switched off for a while, all memory channels
would be empty and the HT would power up with the default
frequencies. Fortunately, replacing the battery was easy. The part
needed for this fix can be obtained from Digi-Key:
- Digi-Key P/N: P280-ND
- Mfg P/N: BR-1225A/FAN
- Description: "BATT LITH COIN 3V HITEM SMD"
ICOM IC-746PRO ACC1 Socket
While wiring up a digital interface (PSK31/RTTY/etc) for my
base-station rig, I encountered an interesting conundrum.
The 8-pin DIN connectors I had on hand wouldn't fit, no matter how
much persuasion I used. As this is a rather expensive rig, I stopped
short of using the hammer. hihi
It turns out that there are two variants of the 8-pin DIN
connector. The ones I had on hand were DIN41524 type 262°,
whereas the rig needed the more common DIN45326 type 270°.
- Store: Fry's Electronics
- Manufacturer: Pan Pacific
- Mfg P/N: DIN-46000-8P-P
Credit for the DIN type numbers goes to this site.
OSCAR Recordings
Amateur Radio Web Links
These resources are geared toward experimentation and building radios.
Break out the soldering iron and build something. Don't be afraid to experiment! That's the privilege of your license and the magic of our hobby...
- DK7IH's experimental HF 6-band SSB transceiver.
- VK3HN's website has well-presented homebrewing projects and tips. Check out that pocket-sized 40m SOTA rig!
- K0IYE has written an entire book on homebrewing your entire station! (also available here)
- W1GHZ has many projects for the microwave enthusiast.
- K0BG's website covers many mobile operation topics.
- GBPPR has an impressive collection of information.
- JF1OZL has copious homebrew designs, but his website seems to have gone dark. (archive.org link)
- YO3DAC's page with more design ideas than you can easily shake a stick at.
- Field strength meter ideas from KA7OEI
- Homebrew VHF/UHF courtesy of F6FEO (note the translate links for non-French speakers)
- The VHF/UHF DX Book can be downloaded, FREE!
- 70cm patch antenna for satellite work
- Hans Summers' site has a plethora of designs and techical topics
- DG8SAQ homebrew VNA (vector network analyzer)
- ARDF on 80m (fox hunts)
- Homing In, home of the "Transmitter Hunting" book
- DL5NEG's great homebrew site
- Owen Duffy's (ex-VK1OD) site
- SV3ORA has a cornucopia of projects
- Ultra-wideband threats to our spectrum (PDF)
- Four State QRP Group produces many neat kits.
- Androscoggin Amateur Radio Club maintains a large collection of links to interesting sites.
- OH2NIT and OH7SV collabrate on a number of interesting projects.
- K4ICY's site concentrates on learning CW, essential for many QRP contacts.
- LA8AK (SK) Many projects, annotated in both Norwegian and English
- Daniel Tufvesson's site with computer and radio projects
- K8IQY's "Manhattan Madness" Project Page
- VK5BR Lloyd Butler has a website chock full of homebrew
- SM6WHY's projects, including a unique range extender for the HP 8558 spectrum analyzer
- PA4TIM builds radios and repairs old test equipment
- DL4YHF's page with PIC projects (QRP keyer, etc.) and VLF listening hardware
- 900MHz (33cm) information from KB9MWR
- YO4HFU's homebrew projects
Electronics Links
Educational Links
The Internet started out with the mission to share information freely, and it still amazes me that
so many people have provided free, easily-accessible educational material on the WWW.
Here is just a small sampling of what can be found out there.
As Francis Bacon once said: "Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est."
Lightning!
I built the lightning detector from techlib.
You can view a run with the storm about 30 miles away. I'm using the fixed 150k sensitivity option right now.
Copyright (C) by Zach Metzinger. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.
Go to my non-ham website.
I can be reached at (mycallsign) (at) pobox (dot) com
