Interesting content for Ham Radio enthusiasts who are "Makers" https://hamradiomaker.com/index.php/itemlist/user/43-ron 2024-05-04T02:26:01+00:00 Joomla! - Open Source Content Management 2021-08-11T18:17:19+00:00 2021-08-11T18:17:19+00:00 https://hamradiomaker.com/index.php/item/93-signal-generator Ron ron@venaura.com

<div class="K2FeedIntroText"><div style="float: left;"> <p><img style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;" src="https://hamradiomaker.com/images/IMG_8627[1].JPG" alt="" width="288" height="192" />I played around with building an Arduino Nano version of a Signal Generator. The project is on the brown prototyping board. It uses an AD9833 board (upper right on proto) and a 1.3 inch OLED display (lower left on proto). Two momentary switch buttons are connected to digital inputs on the Nano. You can also see that the oscilloscope is reading quite close to the programmed sine wave frequency.</p> </div> <div style="float: left;"> <p><img style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;" src="https://hamradiomaker.com/images/IMG_8630[1].JPG" alt="" width="279" height="186" />I read about the project in an instructables.com posting by Peter Balch. Please note:  What is shown above is wired to different digital inputs and was easily changed in the 'ino' file provided on Peter's page. (<a title="Signal Generator AD9833" href="https://www.instructables.com/Signal-Generator-AD9833/">https://www.instructables.com/Signal-Generator-AD9833/</a>).</p> </div></div>

<div class="K2FeedIntroText"><div style="float: left;"> <p><img style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;" src="https://hamradiomaker.com/images/IMG_8627[1].JPG" alt="" width="288" height="192" />I played around with building an Arduino Nano version of a Signal Generator. The project is on the brown prototyping board. It uses an AD9833 board (upper right on proto) and a 1.3 inch OLED display (lower left on proto). Two momentary switch buttons are connected to digital inputs on the Nano. You can also see that the oscilloscope is reading quite close to the programmed sine wave frequency.</p> </div> <div style="float: left;"> <p><img style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;" src="https://hamradiomaker.com/images/IMG_8630[1].JPG" alt="" width="279" height="186" />I read about the project in an instructables.com posting by Peter Balch. Please note:  What is shown above is wired to different digital inputs and was easily changed in the 'ino' file provided on Peter's page. (<a title="Signal Generator AD9833" href="https://www.instructables.com/Signal-Generator-AD9833/">https://www.instructables.com/Signal-Generator-AD9833/</a>).</p> </div></div> 2021-06-12T16:21:24+00:00 2021-06-12T16:21:24+00:00 https://hamradiomaker.com/index.php/item/92-solar-data Ron ron@venaura.com

<div class="K2FeedIntroText"><center><a title="Click to add Solar-Terrestrial Data to your website!" href="http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html"><img src="http://www.hamqsl.com/solar101pic.php" /></a></center></div>

<div class="K2FeedIntroText"><center><a title="Click to add Solar-Terrestrial Data to your website!" href="http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html"><img src="http://www.hamqsl.com/solar101pic.php" /></a></center></div> 2019-04-28T15:59:20+00:00 2019-04-28T15:59:20+00:00 https://hamradiomaker.com/index.php/item/91-my-ubitx-v5-build Ron ron@venaura.com

<div class="K2FeedIntroText"><p>Starting my uBitx build. I am using an EF01 case for my unit.</p> <p><img src="https://hamradiomaker.com/images/20190428_103147.jpg" alt="" width="408" height="263" /></p> <p><img src="https://hamradiomaker.com/images/20190428_123035.jpg" alt="" width="407" height="305" /></p></div>

<div class="K2FeedIntroText"><p>Starting my uBitx build. I am using an EF01 case for my unit.</p> <p><img src="https://hamradiomaker.com/images/20190428_103147.jpg" alt="" width="408" height="263" /></p> <p><img src="https://hamradiomaker.com/images/20190428_123035.jpg" alt="" width="407" height="305" /></p></div> 2019-04-14T21:46:34+00:00 2019-04-14T21:46:34+00:00 https://hamradiomaker.com/index.php/item/90-schematic-of-step-attenuator Ron ron@venaura.com

<div class="K2FeedIntroText"><p>Searched online to find some schematics of step attenuators and then edited schematic into QUCS.</p> <p><img src="https://hamradiomaker.com/images/attenuator.png" alt="" width="664" height="260" /></p> <p>Simulator result</p> <p><img src="https://hamradiomaker.com/images/attenuatorResult.png" alt="" width="645" height="383" /></p> <p>DB</p> <table border="0" frame="VOID" rules="NONE" cellspacing="0"><colgroup><col width="86" /><col width="86" /><col width="86" /></colgroup> <tbody> <tr> <td align="LEFT" width="86" height="17">Volts</td> <td align="LEFT" width="86">Expected DB</td> <td align="LEFT" width="86">Calc DB</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="17">5</td> <td align="LEFT"> </td> <td align="LEFT"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="17">4.46</td> <td align="RIGHT">1</td> <td align="RIGHT">-0.99</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="17">3.55</td> <td align="RIGHT">3</td> <td align="RIGHT">-2.97</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="17">2.52</td> <td align="RIGHT">6</td> <td align="RIGHT">-5.95</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="17">1.26</td> <td align="RIGHT">12</td> <td align="RIGHT">-11.97</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="17">0.403</td> <td align="RIGHT">22</td> <td align="RIGHT">-21.87</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="17">0.0675</td> <td align="RIGHT">42</td> <td align="RIGHT">-37.39</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>The +20 db step is off quite a bit.</p></div>

<div class="K2FeedIntroText"><p>Searched online to find some schematics of step attenuators and then edited schematic into QUCS.</p> <p><img src="https://hamradiomaker.com/images/attenuator.png" alt="" width="664" height="260" /></p> <p>Simulator result</p> <p><img src="https://hamradiomaker.com/images/attenuatorResult.png" alt="" width="645" height="383" /></p> <p>DB</p> <table border="0" frame="VOID" rules="NONE" cellspacing="0"><colgroup><col width="86" /><col width="86" /><col width="86" /></colgroup> <tbody> <tr> <td align="LEFT" width="86" height="17">Volts</td> <td align="LEFT" width="86">Expected DB</td> <td align="LEFT" width="86">Calc DB</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="17">5</td> <td align="LEFT"> </td> <td align="LEFT"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="17">4.46</td> <td align="RIGHT">1</td> <td align="RIGHT">-0.99</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="17">3.55</td> <td align="RIGHT">3</td> <td align="RIGHT">-2.97</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="17">2.52</td> <td align="RIGHT">6</td> <td align="RIGHT">-5.95</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="17">1.26</td> <td align="RIGHT">12</td> <td align="RIGHT">-11.97</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="17">0.403</td> <td align="RIGHT">22</td> <td align="RIGHT">-21.87</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="17">0.0675</td> <td align="RIGHT">42</td> <td align="RIGHT">-37.39</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>The +20 db step is off quite a bit.</p></div> 2019-04-14T20:44:59+00:00 2019-04-14T20:44:59+00:00 https://hamradiomaker.com/index.php/item/89-make-a-programming-cable-for-a-yaesu-ft-4x Ron ron@venaura.com

<div class="K2FeedIntroText"><p>I referenced this video to modify a Baofeng cable to make a programming cable for a Yaesu FT-4X.</p> <p> </p> <ul> <li>Pulled 3.5 mm audio pin out of cable</li> </ul> <p> </p> <figure class="alignright"><img class="wp-image-293" src="http://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/20181224_112950-1024x620.jpg" alt="" width="60%" /> <figcaption>Pulled out 3.5mm pin</figcaption> </figure> <p> </p> <ul> <li>Open case at USB end of the cable gently with small screwdriver. Pry at the cable stress relief end.</li> <li>Watch this video (<a title="Yaesu FT-4X Programming Cable" href="https://youtu.be/Xqw2q3maDyU">Yaesu FT-4X Programming Cable</a>) and dig out the needed diode from your parts stock.</li> </ul> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xqw2q3maDyU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> </p> </p> <ul> <li>solder it up</li> </ul> <p> </p> <figure class="wp-block-image is-focused"> <div> <div class="components-resizable-box__container"><img src="http://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/20181224_124318-1024x275.jpg" alt="Soldered Diode between TX and RX. Anode goes to TX." width="80%" /> <div class="components-resizable-box__handle components-resizable-box__handle-right"> </div> <div class="components-resizable-box__handle components-resizable-box__handle-bottom"> </div> </div> <div class="__resizable_base__"> </div> </div> <figcaption class="editor-rich-text__tinymce" data-is-placeholder-visible="false">Soldered diode between TX/RX (anode to TX)</figcaption> </figure> <p> </p> <ul> <li>Test the cable with programming software available at yaesu.com</li> <li>Reassemble the case</li> </ul></div>

<div class="K2FeedIntroText"><p>I referenced this video to modify a Baofeng cable to make a programming cable for a Yaesu FT-4X.</p> <p> </p> <ul> <li>Pulled 3.5 mm audio pin out of cable</li> </ul> <p> </p> <figure class="alignright"><img class="wp-image-293" src="http://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/20181224_112950-1024x620.jpg" alt="" width="60%" /> <figcaption>Pulled out 3.5mm pin</figcaption> </figure> <p> </p> <ul> <li>Open case at USB end of the cable gently with small screwdriver. Pry at the cable stress relief end.</li> <li>Watch this video (<a title="Yaesu FT-4X Programming Cable" href="https://youtu.be/Xqw2q3maDyU">Yaesu FT-4X Programming Cable</a>) and dig out the needed diode from your parts stock.</li> </ul> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xqw2q3maDyU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> </p> </p> <ul> <li>solder it up</li> </ul> <p> </p> <figure class="wp-block-image is-focused"> <div> <div class="components-resizable-box__container"><img src="http://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/20181224_124318-1024x275.jpg" alt="Soldered Diode between TX and RX. Anode goes to TX." width="80%" /> <div class="components-resizable-box__handle components-resizable-box__handle-right"> </div> <div class="components-resizable-box__handle components-resizable-box__handle-bottom"> </div> </div> <div class="__resizable_base__"> </div> </div> <figcaption class="editor-rich-text__tinymce" data-is-placeholder-visible="false">Soldered diode between TX/RX (anode to TX)</figcaption> </figure> <p> </p> <ul> <li>Test the cable with programming software available at yaesu.com</li> <li>Reassemble the case</li> </ul></div> 2019-04-03T19:00:46+00:00 2019-04-03T19:00:46+00:00 https://hamradiomaker.com/index.php/item/88-building-an-eu1ky-antenna-analyzer Ron ron@venaura.com

<div class="K2FeedIntroText"><p>So I got my Technician license April 2018 and wanted to get started in the amateur radio 2M band. Knowing that I would want to make a good antenna, I figured that I would need an antenna analyzer. I looked at the costs of analyzers on the market and decided to DIY. That’s when I found the EU1KY.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-256" src="http://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/myEU1KY-842x1024.jpg" sizes="(max-width: 842px) 100vw, 842px" srcset="https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/myEU1KY-842x1024.jpg 842w, https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/myEU1KY-247x300.jpg 247w, https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/myEU1KY-768x934.jpg 768w" alt="Assembled EU1KY Antenna Analyzer" width="75%" height="75%" /> <figcaption>My assembled EU1KY Antenna Analyzer</figcaption> </figure> <p>I assembled the analyzer using the required instructions for the EU1KY open source project (<a href="https://bitbucket.org/kuchura/eu1ky_aa_v3/wiki/Home">EU1KY wiki page</a>) after ordering boards for the RF unit (I have extra boards for sale on <a href="http://ebay.us/BGeQyn?cmpnId=5338273189">my Ebay Site</a>).</p> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-286" src="http://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/under-the-hood-926x1024.jpg" alt="Under the hood" width="75%" height="75%" /> <figcaption>Under the hood</figcaption> </figure> <p>Note: The RF front end board mounts onto an <br /><a href="http://www.st.com/content/st_com/en/products/evaluation-tools/product-evaluation-tools/mcu-eval-tools/stm32-mcu-eval-tools/stm32-mcu-discovery-kits/32f746gdiscovery.html">STM32F746G-DISCO Development Board</a> (available from Digikey.com for about $60). Under the connectors for the RF board there are some surface mounted jumpers. The board comes with them soldered onto SB3/SB5. Move them to SB1/SB4 and then check them for continuity. Check that SB3/SB5 are non-continuous.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-329" src="http://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Jumpers-2-1024x888.png" alt="Jumpers on stm32f7-discovery board" width="75%" height="75%" /> <figcaption>Move jumpers on stm32f7-discovery board</figcaption> </figure> <p>Connect I, V and Gnd from RF board to blue audio on Discovery board like this.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-338" src="http://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/20190331_221047-1010x1024.jpg" sizes="(max-width: 1010px) 100vw, 1010px" srcset="https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/20190331_221047-1010x1024.jpg 1010w, https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/20190331_221047-296x300.jpg 296w, https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/20190331_221047-768x779.jpg 768w, https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/20190331_221047.jpg 1844w" alt="" width="75%" height="75%" /></figure> <p>For calibration, an Open/Short/Load (OSL) test kit is needed. I built mine from some spare SMA PCB board components. The 50 Ohm load has two 100 Ohm resistors in parallel and can be made more attractive by using 0805 SMD resistors. You could even do three 150 Ohm resistors in parallel to achieve the 50 Ohm target value.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-326" src="http://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/OSL-571x1024.png" alt="OSL" width="75%" height="75%" /></figure> <p>Afterwards, I built a 2 meter ground plane antenna. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-261" src="http://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2m-groundplane-antenna-1024x1024.jpg" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" srcset="https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2m-groundplane-antenna-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2m-groundplane-antenna-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2m-groundplane-antenna-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2m-groundplane-antenna-768x768.jpg 768w" alt="2m Antenna" width="75%" height="75%" /> <figcaption>2 meter ground plane antenna</figcaption> </figure> <h2>Measurment</h2> <p>Used analyzer to scan 144Mhz – 148 Mhz …</p> <p>The results:</p> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-264" src="http://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/S11-1024x1000.jpg" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" srcset="https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/S11-1024x1000.jpg 1024w, https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/S11-300x293.jpg 300w, https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/S11-768x750.jpg 768w" alt="S11 Graph" width="75%" height="75%" /> <figcaption>S11 graph</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-265" src="http://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/SWR-944x1024.jpg" sizes="(max-width: 944px) 100vw, 944px" srcset="https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/SWR-944x1024.jpg 944w, https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/SWR-277x300.jpg 277w, https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/SWR-768x833.jpg 768w" alt="SWR graph" width="75%" height="75%" /> <figcaption>SWR graph</figcaption> </figure> <p>I welcome any discussion on this project. Just add comments below or email me at my arrl.net address (callsign ke0rje).</p></div>

<div class="K2FeedIntroText"><p>So I got my Technician license April 2018 and wanted to get started in the amateur radio 2M band. Knowing that I would want to make a good antenna, I figured that I would need an antenna analyzer. I looked at the costs of analyzers on the market and decided to DIY. That’s when I found the EU1KY.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-256" src="http://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/myEU1KY-842x1024.jpg" sizes="(max-width: 842px) 100vw, 842px" srcset="https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/myEU1KY-842x1024.jpg 842w, https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/myEU1KY-247x300.jpg 247w, https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/myEU1KY-768x934.jpg 768w" alt="Assembled EU1KY Antenna Analyzer" width="75%" height="75%" /> <figcaption>My assembled EU1KY Antenna Analyzer</figcaption> </figure> <p>I assembled the analyzer using the required instructions for the EU1KY open source project (<a href="https://bitbucket.org/kuchura/eu1ky_aa_v3/wiki/Home">EU1KY wiki page</a>) after ordering boards for the RF unit (I have extra boards for sale on <a href="http://ebay.us/BGeQyn?cmpnId=5338273189">my Ebay Site</a>).</p> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-286" src="http://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/under-the-hood-926x1024.jpg" alt="Under the hood" width="75%" height="75%" /> <figcaption>Under the hood</figcaption> </figure> <p>Note: The RF front end board mounts onto an <br /><a href="http://www.st.com/content/st_com/en/products/evaluation-tools/product-evaluation-tools/mcu-eval-tools/stm32-mcu-eval-tools/stm32-mcu-discovery-kits/32f746gdiscovery.html">STM32F746G-DISCO Development Board</a> (available from Digikey.com for about $60). Under the connectors for the RF board there are some surface mounted jumpers. The board comes with them soldered onto SB3/SB5. Move them to SB1/SB4 and then check them for continuity. Check that SB3/SB5 are non-continuous.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-329" src="http://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Jumpers-2-1024x888.png" alt="Jumpers on stm32f7-discovery board" width="75%" height="75%" /> <figcaption>Move jumpers on stm32f7-discovery board</figcaption> </figure> <p>Connect I, V and Gnd from RF board to blue audio on Discovery board like this.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-338" src="http://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/20190331_221047-1010x1024.jpg" sizes="(max-width: 1010px) 100vw, 1010px" srcset="https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/20190331_221047-1010x1024.jpg 1010w, https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/20190331_221047-296x300.jpg 296w, https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/20190331_221047-768x779.jpg 768w, https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/20190331_221047.jpg 1844w" alt="" width="75%" height="75%" /></figure> <p>For calibration, an Open/Short/Load (OSL) test kit is needed. I built mine from some spare SMA PCB board components. The 50 Ohm load has two 100 Ohm resistors in parallel and can be made more attractive by using 0805 SMD resistors. You could even do three 150 Ohm resistors in parallel to achieve the 50 Ohm target value.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-326" src="http://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/OSL-571x1024.png" alt="OSL" width="75%" height="75%" /></figure> <p>Afterwards, I built a 2 meter ground plane antenna. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-261" src="http://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2m-groundplane-antenna-1024x1024.jpg" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" srcset="https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2m-groundplane-antenna-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2m-groundplane-antenna-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2m-groundplane-antenna-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2m-groundplane-antenna-768x768.jpg 768w" alt="2m Antenna" width="75%" height="75%" /> <figcaption>2 meter ground plane antenna</figcaption> </figure> <h2>Measurment</h2> <p>Used analyzer to scan 144Mhz – 148 Mhz …</p> <p>The results:</p> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-264" src="http://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/S11-1024x1000.jpg" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" srcset="https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/S11-1024x1000.jpg 1024w, https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/S11-300x293.jpg 300w, https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/S11-768x750.jpg 768w" alt="S11 Graph" width="75%" height="75%" /> <figcaption>S11 graph</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img class="wp-image-265" src="http://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/SWR-944x1024.jpg" sizes="(max-width: 944px) 100vw, 944px" srcset="https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/SWR-944x1024.jpg 944w, https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/SWR-277x300.jpg 277w, https://www.ddjano.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/SWR-768x833.jpg 768w" alt="SWR graph" width="75%" height="75%" /> <figcaption>SWR graph</figcaption> </figure> <p>I welcome any discussion on this project. Just add comments below or email me at my arrl.net address (callsign ke0rje).</p></div>