Flying Model Aircraft

I am involved with a few hobbies that are under federal regulation. These include Amateur Radio and recreational aircraft flying. I suppose I could include automobile driving too, but that isn’t a hobby… or maybe it is? These activities existed before there were governmental controls. I only mention that bit of history because it is important [...]

Ten-Tec Service

I had the opportunity to experience the in warranty service on my Ten-Tec Omni  VII amateur radio transceiver. It is their model number 588AT and retails for nearly $3K USD. For that kind of money it’s nice to know the Omni VII was still in warranty.

The problem was rather strange. The power switch on the front [...]

Christmas 2009 Light Show

Here is a video display of my computerized lighting display for Christmas 2009. There are 32 individual circuits and thousands of individual lights. Elsewhere in this blog is a report on the design of the system. HERE

The music is played on a broadcast band FM transmitter and can be heard on (visiting) car radios at 107.3 [...]

Microwave Final IF

This is the 20 year old never used Realistic HTX-100 10 meter SSB/CW transceiver I purchased on eBay. It is just like brand new. Not even a scratch on it. I bought this rig (ham speak for transceiver) to be the last intermediate frequency module for use in any portable microwave system I may assemble. I [...]

Easily Heard Signals 12/09

Microwave:

The barely noticeable flutter of the fingers of one hand produced when the shy girl notices the equally shy but cute young boy with the big puppy eyes has been staring at her.

As mentioned in my last column I have taken a new interest in microwaves. But not the kind I defined above. (Those were the [...]