WA5ZNU

12v 1.04mW HeNe Laser

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 03:24:00 +0000

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.

Android G1 APRS Map

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 04:43:00 +0000

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:

Enter the android Maps app
Press the search button (magnifying glass)
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.

Election Day PICAXE

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:54:00 +0000

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

PICAXE 08m Tricolor LED flasher

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 05:31:00 +0000

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.

twitter QST

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 22:18:00 +0000

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>

K0MLF/7

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:45:00 +0000

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.

RZ9UF

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 01:46:00 +0000

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

IK2UU

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:33:00 +0000

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.

ON8WW

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:12:00 +0000

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.

WSJT and WSPR

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh) — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 06:18:00 +0000

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.

E51NOU

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 06:02:00 +0000

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

KH7XS

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 04:49:00 +0000

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.

SM4OTI

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 05:20:00 +0000

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.

ZS1JX

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 06:04:00 +0000

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.).

KD0CLW

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 03:19:00 +0000

There was a little activity on 20m, but nothing higher, so I went down to 30M and found, surprisingly, lots of digital activity. I answered KD0CLW Don, in Topeka, KS. Don gave me 599 and I sent 579 for his OM30W from his TS-530 to a fence-mounted vertical. Don has been a ham only a year or so, with a recent upgrade, after years of SWL'ing. I was running 5W from my K3. 10141.721, PSK31

ZL1AMO

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 02:35:00 +0000

I listened on 17M and heard some QSOs in progress, so I switched my SteppIR to the band and checked the tuning on the last frequency I heard someone say "Standing by" on. I gave a quick CWID at 50W and got back a call from ZL1AMO Ron in Auckland, New Zealand. I upped to 100W from my K3 and had a nice QSO with Ron, who reported it was 15C there. We exchanged a bit of CW fun as well.

V73NS

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:40:00 +0000

I just worked Neil on Roi-Namur on 14.003 with 5W from the K3 and got a 559 first call, CW. I gave Neil 599. We've QSO'd before and I was in the log and Neil said a quick hi when I let him know it was QRP.

K2 Emacs

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 05:14:00 +0000

Here's another update to K2.el. It still needs work!


;;;-*-EMACS-LISP-*-

;;; Leigh L. Klotz, Jr. WA5ZNU <klotz@graflex.org>

(defvar rig-device "/dev/ttyS0")

;;; Command definitions
(defconst k2-next-if-filter "FW0000")
(defconst k2-next-af-filter "SW29")
(defconst k2-dsp-notch-toggle "SW80")
(defconst k2-dsp-noise-reduction-toggle "SW81")
(defconst k2-qsy-vfo-a "FA")
(defconst k2-qsy-vfo-b "FB")
(defconst k2-set-mode "MD")

(defconst k2-modes '(("LSB" . 1) ("USB" . 2) ("CW" . 3) ("RTTY" . 6) ("CW-R" . 7) ("RTTY-R" . 9)))

;;; Command functions
(defun k2-next-filter ()
  "Goes to the next K2 Filter"
  (interactive)
  (k2-rig-command-0 k2-next-if-filter)
  (k2-rig-command-0 k2-next-af-filter))

(defun k2-qsy-vfo-a (khz)
  "Sets the frequency of K2 VFO A"
  (interactive "NFrequency: ")
  (k2-rig-command-1 k2-qsy-vfo-a (format "00%06d000" khz)))

(defun k2-qsy-vfo-b (khz)
  "Sets the frequency of K2 VFO B"
  (interactive "NFrequency: ")
  (k2-rig-command-1 k2-qsy-vfo-b (format "00%06d000" khz)))

(defun k2-set-mode ()
  "Sets the K2 Mode"
  (interactive)
  (let* ((completion-ignore-case t)
  (mode-name (upcase (completing-read "Mode: " k2-modes nil t nil)))
  (mode-num (and mode-name (cdr (assoc mode-name k2-modes)))))
    (if mode-num
 (k2-rig-command-1 k2-set-mode mode-num))))
  

(defun k2-dsp-notch-toggle ()
  "Toggles the K2 DSP notch filter"
  (interactive)
  (k2-rig-command-0 k2-dsp-notch-toggle))

(defun k2-dsp-noise-reduction-toggle ()
  "Toggles the K2 DSP noise reduction filter"
  (interactive)
  (k2-rig-command-0 k2-dsp-noise-reduction-toggle))

(defun k2-get-vfo-a ()
  (k2-rig-command-0-read k2-qsy-vfo-a 14))



;;; I/O

(defun k2-rig-command-0 (command)
  (shell-command (format "echo -n \"%s;\" > %s" command rig-device)))

(defun k2-rig-command-0-read (command n)
  (shell-command (format "echo -n \"%s;\" > %s; dd if=%s bs=1 count=%d" command rig-device rig-device n)))


(defun k2-rig-command-1 (command arg1)
  (shell-command (format "echo -n \"%s%s;\" > %s" command arg1 rig-device)))

;;; Key Bindings
(easy-mmode-defmap k2-minor-mode-map
  '(("\e`" . k2-next-filter)
    ([(control meta ?m)] . k2-set-mode)
    ([(control meta ?g)] . k2-qsy-vfo-a)
    ([(control meta ?n)] . k2-dsp-noise-reduction-toggle)
    ([(control meta ?m)] . k2-set-mode))
  "Keymap for `k2-minor-mode'.")

(define-minor-mode k2-minor-mode
  "Minor mode for k2-rig-control context diffs.
\\{k2-minor-mode-map}"
  nil " K2" nil)

;;; Todo:  
;;; Reading status (use Linux rigctl or read directly?)
;;; Mode line (use display-time-hook?)

G4RCG

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh) — Thu, 15 May 2008 06:04:00 +0000

I turned on the K3 and heard a watery DX signal on 10.106. The QSO ended and G4RCG called QRZ. John heard me the first time but it took a few calls at 75W to the 550' loop to get the call in and receive 439 but things picked up after that and John mentioned our previous QSO on 20M, which was with the same antenna but about half the power. Still 30M DX late at night to England is pretty fun! I sent 559 and we were on our way.

10Ghz

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh) — Sun, 04 May 2008 20:40:00 +0000

I got a some 10Ghz X-band motion detectors, an HP X532A X-Band Wavemeter, and an X421A mounted IN26 detector. I made a conical horn from W1GHZ's book out of aluminum foil and taped it on the detector. Approaching slowly I found the maxiumum output was in the 1mv range from the detector diode, so I felt it was safe to couple it directly to the waveguide.

Directly coupled, I get about 4mV max which would be 0.04mW (-14dBm) detected output from the Gunn oscillator my my X421A detector (IN26 plus matched resistor internal) is to be believed. There was a dip just below 10.55GHz.

With the X421A wavemeter in line I switched to measuring diode current as it seemed to have a better dip. 0.22mA and a good dip to 0.20mA from 10.538-10.5425 GHz. That's probably too many digits, but I can guess it's somewhere around 10.54Ghz.

So, I need to move it down into the ham band and either adjust the matching screw on the existing horn or get new antennas.

PY4SZ

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh) — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:53:00 +0000

15m was open a little so I listened and hear PY4SZ Sergio in Brazil who gave me a 559 and I returned 579 on 21.024 CW. He heard me at 50W but needed repeats so I went up to 100W, SteppIR 3el, K3.

HK3/IZ0GPY

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh) — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 05:31:00 +0000

I took a break from microwave experiments and worked HK3/IZ0GYP on 7.001 CW with 50W but it took 100W to complete the 599599 exchange.

TI8/DL4MO

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 06:07:00 +0000

I heard TI8/DL4MO calling CQ on 10.105 and got 599 and sent 559. Lothar didn't hear me at 5, 10, or 35W so I went to 85W to the SteppIR 30m dipole from my K3.

Hughes HeNe Laser, 1mW

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 23:34:00 +0000

At the flea market I went in search of some 10GHz equipment, but wound up buying a Hughes HeNe laser for $5. It wasn't working but the OM thought it could be repaired easily.

The toughest part was getting it apart. The hex screws weren't quite the size I had but I managed to get them out. I used a pair of C clamps to hold onto the chassis top shell and compress it so it would slide off. Then I discovered that the key switch and remote plug had been jumpered (the OM had told me there was no longer a key) but the wire had broken off at the board. The board was riveted in place, and wasn't plated through, so I had to solder as best I could.

There's a 75K Ohm resistor that has gotten quite hot and darkened the board. I'll probably replace that with a metal film resistor at some point. The insulated HV line runs right above it so it may be a little trouble to raise off the board.

A35RK

noreply@blogger.com (Leigh) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 02:15:00 +0000

I heard A35RK in Tonga Paul who gave me a 5x7 and I sent 5x9. I ran 100W from my K3 and SteppIR 3el on 14.185.