HOMEBREWER #7 - CONTENTS

PNW15 QRP Transceiver       Wayne McFee, NB6M
A 15 Meter, QRP CW Transceiver that makes use of very efficient construction techniques.

The Gorilla Coil       Tony Catalano, WW2W
Tony builds a coil to load the Empire State building and in the process learns a new use for cardboard.

SolderSmoke       Bill Meara, N2CQR
Something new in ham radio: the first EchoLink podcast.

The MicroVert Antenna       George "Murph" Murphy, VE3ERP
A small stealthy antenna for antenna restricted homes or emergency communications.

Using a BASIC Stamp to Send GPS Positioning in Morse Code       George Heron, N2APB
Ever had a need to announce GPS information like latitude, longitude or a precise 1-second beep? Read on to discover how N2LO developed a unique approach by converting GPS data to Morse code and transmitting it to a SW receiver.

Modification of Computer Switching Mode Power Supply for 12V Use       David Forsman, WA7JHZ
Here is what I have done to two old computer power supplies. I didn't want to haul them to the landfill.

Measuring a Coil Form       George "Murph" Murphy, VE3ERP
Ever wanted to measure a coil form accurately but lacked (or couldn’t find…) your micrometer? The figure on the next page gives a helpful tip.

QuickieLab Test Bench       Joe Everhart, N2CX
In the mood for a Quickie? Check this out this experimenter's platform for the BASIC Stamp.

HamCalc:  Designing with the Ever-Ubiquitous 555 Timer       Nancy Feeny, NJ8B
In this installment, we are going to use HamCalc to work with different value components for the 555 Timer IC, which is still the most popular IC timer. It can operate as either a one-shot timer or as an astable multivibrator. There are many different applications for the 555. Basically it consists of two comparators, a flip-flop, a discharge transistor, an output buffer, and a resistive voltage divider.

Designing with Electrically Shortened QRP Dipoles       George "Murph" Murphy, VE3ERP
Your Tiny Back Yard May Be Bigger Than You Think!

External 500 milliwatt 75m Amplifier       David Forsman, WA7JHZ
Here is an update to the 500 mw linear amplifier that makes it even more fun to operate.

DDS Controlled CW Transmitter for 80m and 40m Amateur Radio Bands       Juha Niinikoski, OH2NLT and Matti Hohtola, OH7SV
The JUNA TX1 is a follow-up project to the RX1 featured in Homebrewer #6. The VFO is using DDS and the output power is 5 watts.

PipeVert       George "Murph" Murphy, VE3ERP
A QRP Vertical Antenna That Occupies Very Little Airspace Over Almost No Real Estate

Simplified Tools and Methods for Measuring Crystals       Jim Kortge, K8IQY
How to be "Crystal Clear" on your homebrew filter’s performance.

Trombone Capacitors       George "Murph" Murphy, VE3ERP
Whenever there has been a need for an expensive (and hard to find) oddball capacity, high voltage, variable capacitor, radio amateurs for many years have home brewed trombone capacitors.

The Handyman's Guide to Homebrew Construction Practices - Part 2, SMT Manhattan Style       Paul Harden, NA5N
This installment focuses primarily on techniques for homebrewing with surface mount components (SMC), for which the least amount of documentation exists. Unlike thru-hole components, SMC is not well suited for ugly-style of construction. A variation of Manhattan style is shown that makes building from scratch using SMC a viable approach. Even if you build an SMC circuit from a kit, you might find this information useful.

Real Radios Have Motors      Richard Arland, K7SZ
Most radios don’t require motors, but the really neat ones do!

The Transformer Checker       Dave Ottenberg, WA2DJN
Make sure that transformer works before lugging it around Dayton all day.

Universal Tilt-Over Antenna Base       George Heron, N2APB
Protect your vertical from bad weather and picky neighbors.

The OctaRing Miniature Loop       George "Murph" Murphy, VE3ERP
Ever wonder how an Octaloop becomes an OctaRing ? Here’s how.

The Shannon-Hartley Theorem as Applied to Broadband-Over-Power-Line (BPL)       David Forsman, WA7JHZ
For those of us who love and enjoy high-frequency (HF) communications, we are indebted to Claude Elwood Shannon and Ralph Vinton Lyon Hartley. They are the fathers of modern information theory and the authors of the Shannon-Hartley theorem.

Simple 80m SSB Receiver       Serge Dyilda, US5QBR
A brilliantly-simple receiver using a one chip receiver for 80 Meters

Colpitts PMT Oscillator      David Forsman, WA7JHZ
Following is a schematic and an image of a HF oscillator that I recently put together. I was inspired by the "Tin Ear" receiver, but I wanted to use a Colpitts design instead. This is a good alternative to finding variable capacitors or making varactor diode tuned oscillators.

Human Power       David Forsman, WA7JHZ
David has found a way to keep fit and provide power for a radio. All you need is to be able to pedal and talk at the same time.

80m Alchemy with the SQUIRT Antenna       Joe Everhart, N2CX
Golden-Oldie Low-Band Antenna Formulas

QuasiQuad Antennas       George "Murph" Murphy, VE3ERP
A small antenna that’s easy to build and modify.

A Better Crystal Set       Phil deCaire, WA7AEI
Phil takes on a journey that ends with a project that is fun to build, useful and shows how to remove the crystal from a crystal radio.

What is the Best Antenna?       Joe Everhart, N2CX
This is a question that is always asked and has many answers. Here is Joe’s.

Build the Deluxe Warbler       Ron Skelton, W6WO and George Heron, N2APB
Enhance your Warbling Experience with the Warbler RF Output Indicator, the Warbler Audio Amp, and the Deluxe Warbler Enclosure.

TTAM: Test Topics And More       Joe Everhart, N2CX
TTAM this time features an integrated theme.  Each section describes an aspect of Field Strength Meter (FSM) technology.  The first section, Designed for Test, gives a brief overview of FSM telemetry and describes the basic module used for the remote-reading function.  Then Coming To Terms defines terms and a method for preprocessing the information to be sent to make it easier to interpret.  Finally Stimulus and Response gives some clarification and enhancement for adjustment of the NJQRP FSM, the Sniffer.

QRP Operating: 2-Meter FM Mountaintopping with a simple 3-element beam       Richard Fisher, KI6SN
Bring up QRP operating, and most often conversation turns to the high frequencies – 40- and 20-meter CW leading in the popularity polls. But there’s a fabulous low-power world to explore at very high frequencies!

Tuning Up     Richard Arland, K7SZ
Leave it to the Amateurs to pioneer every single mode and method of communications that we now enjoy world wide.

QRP Contesting     Ken Newman, N2CQ
I'm guessing that the average HOMEBREWER subscriber is  "melting solder" more often than into contesting. QRP however has many other fun outlets and what could be more fun than making your own rig or kit and using it in a contest to see how it well does?  Plus, three month forecast of contesting events. 

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Page last updated:  June 3, 2006