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Ham Radio Workbench Podcast Episodes

HRWB 215 - TNC's and Trackers with Scott, N1VG, of Argent Data Systems

7/30/2024

1 Comment

 
Picture

SHOW NOTES

Argent Data Systems
https://argentdata.com

Sierra Radio Systems Repeater Controllers
www.packtenna.com/srs.html#/

1 Comment

HRWB 214 - Field Day 2024 Debrief with Randy K7AGE and Josh K7OSH

7/16/2024

5 Comments

 
Picture

SHOW NOTES
​
Randy’s videos
W7Q Field Day  
https://youtu.be/bpHgZybV2-Y
W7Q Building the BuddiHex 
https://youtu.be/GaPIcw3q6N8
W7Q Tale of Two Trailers 
https://youtu.be/6HcxBTvwcLk

Tiny SA Ultra $140 
https://www2.randl.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=16_16990&products_id=75872


Becen 10 W 40db Attenator DC to 3 Ghz $23
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MZLVY9T?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

I ordered a Surcom SW-33 Plus 100W 124-525 Mini Digital Power & SWR meter  $45 The H3 measures 5.25 watts on 146.52
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08ZC7HS75?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

And, one more thing that everyone needs. A tiny HF watt / SWR meter. 0.5 to 120 watts. $58. Tiny size of two stacked Altoids tins. USB C charging.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B31PYF1C?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Elsie - filter design and analysis software
https://tonnesoftware.com/elsie.html 

Vince’s newest videos:
FT8/4 from iPhone to your radio, acoustically coupled
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U88QyXzRWCg
Mosquito protection for drive-up POTA activations
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcm4bmVTRWE 
Discover the secret ingredients to build a trapped EFHW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw7y6jnXwJU 

Anytone 878 HT USB-C capable battery 
https://powerwerx.com/anytone-3100mah-usb-c-battery-pack

European Ham Radio Show - Morten LB0FI and team
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCskpdbqmEbwm37CS_JVzt6A
https://www.youtube.com/@hamshoweu 

VE3IPS John
https://ve3ips.wordpress.com/

W7DBO John
https://www.youtube.com/c/FieldRadio

Vince’s 2024 Field Day story and photos
https://qrper.com/2024/06/experimenting-during-field-day-2024 ​
5 Comments

HRWB 213 - Radio Rejuvenation Projects with Dan Quigley, N7HQ

7/3/2024

5 Comments

 
Picture

SHOW NOTES
​
​Dan’s Github - Super Simple Keyer
https://github.com/mgi2212/simple_keyer

SWR Chart
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y_qffpew5yI/Ti38UfgrmDI/AAAAAAAAACg/AVgwVEwL8Yc/s1600/Rasmsey.png 

Return loss explained
https://www.everythingrf.com/community/what-is-return-loss 

From Dan:

I really borked up the explanation of Return Loss and wanted to correct that here in the notes. There is a much better analogy:

Imagine you are standing in front of a mirror, holding a flashlight. The light beam represents the RF signal being sent down a transmission line to an antenna. 
  • Perfect Match (No Return Loss): If there is no mirror (or the mirror is perfectly transparent), all the light from the flashlight passes through without reflecting back. This is like having a perfectly matched impedance where all the RF power is transmitted to the load without any reflection. In this case, the return loss is very high (ideally infinite), meaning there is no power reflected back.


  • Partial Match (Some Return Loss): If the mirror is partially transparent, some of the light passes through while some is reflected back towards you. This represents a scenario where there is some impedance mismatch. Part of the RF power is transmitted to the load, and part of it is reflected back. The amount of reflected power indicates the return loss. The less the light reflects back, the higher the return loss, indicating a better match.


  • Poor Match (High Return Loss): If the mirror is almost completely reflective, most of the light bounces back towards you. This is akin to a significant impedance mismatch where most of the RF power is reflected back. The return loss is low in this case because a large proportion of the power is not being efficiently transmitted to the load.
Remember though, the actual value is expressed in dB and is the difference between the power leaving the transmitter and that reflected back from the antenna. So an RL value of 1dB would represent a difference of 1dB between the measured power being reflected back and the power being transmitted. That is (counter-intuitively termed a high return loss)  A RL value of 20dB would represent a 20dB difference between the power being transmitted and the reflected power or a low return loss.

Make sense?


N7KOM Microlight Traps
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1595257587/microlight-qrp-hf-trap-kit-v3-for-use

Spark Plug Gear EFHW Transformer
https://www.sparkpluggear.com/shop/p/sparkplug 

Goal Zero Skylight
https://goalzero.com/products/skylight-portable-area-light 
​
Labjack data acquisition
https://labjack.com/ 

Test Equipment:

  • A GOOD VOM/VTVM - the kind with a needle not an LCD display 
  • Oscilloscope 
  • A GOOD set of hand tools
  • Can of DeOxit
  • LCR Meter
  • Signal Generator
  • Frequency Counter
  • Spectrum Analyzer
  • RF Power Meter
  • Dummy Load
  • SWR Meter
  • Variac (Variable Transformer)
  • Audio Signal Tracer
  • (De)Soldering Station
  • Desoldering Tools (ask your dentist)
  • Magnifying Lamp AND Microscope
  • Logic Analyzer
  • Heat Gun: For heat shrink tubing and desoldering components.
  • High-Voltage Probe
  • Alignment Tools
5 Comments

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