Getting started in Software Defined Radio – Make: Magazine

Often asked “How do I get my feet wet in SDR?” I had a cut-&-paste template email I could send on, but I knew my treatment was superficial.

SDR (Software Defined Radio) has capture a lot of people’s attention, and recently Make:Magazine On-Line did a nice intro and how-to piece that I can recommend.

“SDRs are rapidly becoming the dominant radio technology of the 21st century. Substituting math for circuitry allows for such tremendous flexibility that we can expect to see SDRs integrating into a wide range of applications and devices. Given the low cost of entry, makers with an interest in the radio spectrum can’t go wrong experimenting with this exciting technology.”

Link to article is: https://makezine.com/article/electronics/getting-started-with-software-defined-radio-sdr/

73

Steve
K9ZW

MAKE Magazine does neat “Component of the Month” series

Having covered Switches and Batteries in the first two months of the series, Make Magazine touches on Resistors this month.

These high level overview pieces have done a very good job of distilling a lot of information into a short piece.

Worth checking out.

LINK:  MAKE | Component of the Month: Resistors.

Don’t be surprised if you pick up information new to you.

73

Steve
K9ZW

Make: Online » Homebrew 20 M SSB Radio Transceiver

Another great Make: project.

As you can tell I like the Make Group’s stuff – they seem to have a great touch and share approachable & build-able projects.

Homebrew 20 M SSB Radio Transceiver

 

Radio hacker extraordinaire Greg Charvot recently finished constructing this homebrew radio transceiver for the 20 M SSB ham radio band. Though the chassis is antique, the inside are all modern solid state components. He’s got a brief schematic at the project site, along with a slideshow of the build.

via Make: Online » Homebrew 20 M SSB Radio Transceiver.

73

Steve
K9ZW

Make: Online » A-Z of Electronics

Not to be missed – a nice series of web videos on electronics from Make:

A-Z Of Electronics

If you haven’t heard, Jeri Ellsworth and Adafruit are teaming up to present 26 videos about electronics, one for every letter of the alphabet. They’ve done the first three letters: A is about amperes, the B is batteries and the C video describes capacitors. The videos are really well done, very engaging, and informative. Check them out!

via Make: Online » A-Z of Electronics.

73

Steve
K9ZW

Make: Online – Catching satellites on ham radio

Another great MAKE: Magazine/Blog/Online article – this one on Satellite Operations:

Catching Satellites On Ham Radio

My favorite ham activity is making contacts via satellites. Not only is there the romantic notion of sending messages into outer space, but you have to trace the orbit of the satellite with your antenna while tuning the radio, to compensate for the Doppler effect.

The satellites AO-51, SO-50, and AO-27 orbit the Earth acting as repeaters. Repeaters are automated relay stations that allow hams to send signals over a greater distance using low-power hand held transceivers. The satellites allow hams to relay messages from Earth to space and back to other hams somewhere on the planet. The International Space Station (ISS) also has a repeater, but occasionally, if you’re lucky, the astronauts turn on their radios to make contact directly with hams on the ground.

The following instructions will get you started listening to birds (satellites) on FM, which can be done with a simple VHF/UHF FM radio with a whip antenna, without the need of a ham license. For better coverage, you can use a Yagi antenna (like the one pictured above) connected to a mutli-mode radio and a license (if you want to transmit). A Yagi antenna can also be used to improve the signal of your hand held radio.

via Make: Online » Catching satellites on ham radio.

Have to get back at my duplexer & antenna project, and work those birds!

Oh, did I mention the article is by YL Diana Eng KC2UHB?

Enjoy!

73

Steve
K9ZW

Make: Online – Das DereLicht – Ham Radio Transmitter from a CFL Bulb

Ok – does this really work?

Looks like I’ll have to do a bench-test and see:

Das DereLicht – Ham Radio Transmitter From A CFL Bulb

They usually work so well, it’s easy to forget about all the electronics crammed inside a compact fluorescent light bulb. MAKE reader Ollie AJ1O sent us a link to ham Michael J. Rainey’s (AA1TJ) “Das DereLicht” radio, a transmitter made almost completely from the parts of a defective CFL bulb.

This electronic puzzle was a result of my changing a defective compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) in my kitchen. For some reason, I began to wonder if it would be possible to build a QRP CW transmitter using the electronic components salvaged from this derelict lamp.

Indeed, I’m pleased to report that a perfectly serviceable transmitter may be constructed! The only additional components required were the quartz crystal, and four of the five components needed for the output lowpass filter. The resulting transmitter produces up to 1.5 watts on 80m.

via Make: Online » Das DereLicht – ham radio transmitter from a CFL bulb.

Updates Links: http://www.aa1tj.com/dasderelicht.html and a receiver version http://www.aa1tj.com/dasderelichtreceiver.html

73

Steve
K9ZW