12v 1.04mW HeNe Laser
I got this "1.04 mW" HeNe laser with a 12v supply. It's cute. It seems to be this one, though I haven't looked inside to see whose tube is in there. There's a third wire, currently tied to +12 and I'm hoping it's a "TTL" input. The cathode is easily accessible as well so I may try a modulation transformer there.
- posted by Leigh @ 03:24 z 0 comments

 
Android G1 APRS Map
I was going to write an APRS map app, but it seems almost trivial. I read this about the iPhone and the same thing works:

1. Enter the android Maps app
2. Press the search button (magnifying glass)
3. Paste in the following URL: http://aprs.fi/aprsupdate.kml?call=wa5znu-11

It doesn't do tracks, but it shows the current location. The regular aprs.fi site Google Map works to show tracks, but it's a little fussy to operate the scroll and zoom controls.
- posted by Leigh @ 04:43 z 0 comments

 
Election Day PICAXE

• Same circuit as tri-color picaxe 08m.
• Added a 0.1uF tantalum capacitor to a small speaker from logical pin 2.
• some converted ringtones provide American the Beautiful and the Star Spangled Banner to a red, white, and blue LED.
• flag.bas

- posted by Leigh @ 18:54 z 0 comments

 
PICAXE 08m Tricolor LED flasher
I was in Radio Shack today and saw a three-color 5mm LED. It doesn't say, but it's common anode. (I guess the two flat sides are a clue.) Here's a Picaxe 08m LED flasher program for it.

• Uses Radio Shack 276-0028 5mm common-anode RGB LED
• Use 3 1.5V batteries for supply
• Hook LED long lead to V+
• Hook Other pins to DIP pins 3, 4, and 5 each through a 330 ohm resistor.
• rgbcmy.bas

Here's an application for the tricolor LED and Picaxe 08m, from Inkless Press.

- posted by Leigh @ 05:31 z 0 comments

 
twitter QST
I've been using twitter with fldigi scripts, using a small python program called twiqster:

#!/usr/bin/python

import twitter
from ConfigParser import ConfigParser
from lxml import etree
import os
import sys
import gtk

def twiq(text):
    config = etree.parse(os.path.expanduser("~/.twiqster.xml")).getroot()
    assert config.tag == "twiqster"
    CALLSIGN=config.findtext("callsign")
    PASSWORD=config.findtext("password")
    api = twitter.Api(username=CALLSIGN, password=PASSWORD)
    return api.PostUpdate(text)

def showMessage(message):
    pass

showMessage(twiq(sys.argv[1]))

Here's the .twiqster.xml file format:

<twiqster>
  <callsign>YOUR CALL OR TWITTER ID HERE</callsign>
  <password>YOUR PASSWORD HERE</password>
</twiqster>

Then I use this fldigi script called fldigi-twiqster:

#!/bin/sh
twiqster "In QSO with $FLDIGI_LOG_CALL ($FLDIGI_LOG_NAME) \
   on $FLDIGI_LOG_FREQUENCY $FLDIGI_MODEM \
  (`distance $FLDIGI_LOG_LOCATOR` mi from $FLDIGI_MY_LOCATOR): \
  $FLDIGI_LOG_NOTES"

and invoke it with this fldigi macro:

<EXEC>fldigi-twiqster</EXEC>

- posted by Leigh @ 22:18 z 0 comments

 
K0MLF/7

We hiked to the Almaden Quicksilver Mine County Park and I brought my KX1 and Buddipole parts. I forgot the DC barrel connector for my LiPo battery pack and forgot a pole for the Buddipole, so I had to use 1.5W to a wire in a tree. K0MLF/7 Don near Zion, Utah and I had a nice CW QSO on 7.035. Don said he knows the San Jose area, and that it was 90F where he was. I took a picture of my KX1 as I was packing it up; I didn't use it with the ground radial coiled up... I'm hoping to get the new shock-corded mast from the Buddipole folks of they have them at Pacificon.

Labels: QRV, QSO

- posted by Leigh @ 19:45 z 0 comments

 
RZ9UF
I worked RZ9UF, , Victor, in 652100, Kemer. obl., pos. Yaya (Яя) (no36ff) with PSK31 on 14.071295 and got 599 and sent 479. At the end the band faded and it was lost in the noise

Labels: DX, QSO

- posted by Leigh @ 01:46 z 0 comments

 
IK2UU
I answered PSK31 on 14070.835 IK2UU Walter Cesare in Siziano, Italy JN45oh. He gave me 599 for my K3 at 30W to the SteppIR 3el up 12m and I sent 599. Walter Cesare is looking for a few states to complete WAS, but California isn't one of them, and he asks for LOTW confirmation.

Labels: DX, QSO

- posted by Leigh @ 16:33 z 0 comments

 
ON8WW
20M PSK31 was hot this morning to EU and I heard Greece, Germany, Poland, and maybe even Israel. I answered a few but the first I got was ON8WW Dave in Beerse, Belgium JO21KH. Dave gave me 599 for my K3 at 30W to the SteppIR 3el up 12m and I sent 579 QSB.

Labels: DX, QSO

- posted by Leigh @ 16:12 z 1 comments

 
WSJT and WSPR
I spent half an hour or so trying to get a stable version of WSPR, or even WSJT, on Ubuntu, but no luck. Seems like there is some hope and some, well, not hope.
- posted by Leigh @ 06:18 z 0 comments

 
E51NOU
I heard E51NOU (Rarotonga, South Cook Islands) on 7.002 Mhz and got 599/599 CW to my 5W to the SteppIR dipole.

Labels: DX, QSO

- posted by Leigh @ 06:02 z 0 comments

 
KH7XS
I worked KH7XS again, this time on 40M 7003.46 from home with my K3 at 5W to the low loop for a 569 to send a 599. Bill was louder on the SteppIR and there was less local QRN but he heard me on the loop while I was hooking up the SteppIR coax.

Labels: DX, QSO

- posted by Leigh @ 04:49 z 0 comments

 
SM4OTI
I heard SM4OTI call CQ DX on 7.003 and got an answer on the first call from my K3 at 50W to the SteppIR dipole. Steve gave me 569 and I sent 569. Steve was in Leksand, Sweden.

Labels: DX, QSO

- posted by Leigh @ 05:20 z 0 comments

 
ZS1JX
I tuned around 40M and heard a steady but quiet signal on 7001. It was ZS1JX just finishing a QSO and someone called him, so I rotated by SteppIR 40m dipole towards South Africa and gave a call when he finished and got "WA5?" right away at 80W from my K3. Peter answered and gave me 459 QSB but seemed to copy his 579 and my name and QTH OK. This is my first CW Africa contact, and first on 40m (though I managed a JT65a contact once on 20m with ZS6WAB.).

Labels: DX, QSL

- posted by Leigh @ 06:04 z 0 comments