My Even Smaller Radio Project

[DBK]

In this thread I described my little project to build a radio

My Little Radio Project

I mentioned on another thread I was going to make a small radio I could use for sending and receiving morse code. o_O The following is offered not so much as a suggestion that everyone should be doing this. :) I would much rather be posting about trips made this year. But apart from a few...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

When I ordered the kit I knew the company was planning to bring out a much smaller version soon but I was too impatient to wait so I ordered the older model. I don't regret this decision as the first kit was a good opportunity to refresh my soldering skills for the new model.

Which is a lot smaller...

It basically uses many components from my first radio but they are much closer together plus the main board has a lot of surface mounted miniature capacitors and resistors already fitted to it.

On the forum for these kits there have been quite a few reports of problems with it but I suspect most of these stem from construction errors - this was a tricky kit to build in the sense you have to take a lot of care with the soldering iron so you don't remove a prefitted component while adding a new bit.

But mine works!

This radio is working in the 30m band (10MHz) and I've been able to be heard in North America on the 20m (14MHz) at this time of day but it will be interesting to see if 30m works better later today.

 

[David and Sally]

I need a big favour DBK . Please stop posting stuff like this and giving me ideas.

 

[DBK]

This radio is working in the 30m band (10MHz) and I've been able to be heard in North America on the 20m (14MHz) at this time of day but it will be interesting to see if 30m works better later today.

It didn't - no contact with the USA - but contacts with Europe improved. Given today's news I'm not sure what to make of that.

 

[The Coops]

Genuine question, I have a multi band radio from a famous maker ( call me Bob) 10 wave band from SW radio to VHF /UHF with so many obscure channels is it now redundant? Some of the far eastern broadcasts have been educational to say the least ...............and yes I do have a life and other interests. `Not a piss take, Or can you point me in the right waveband/direction?

 

[DBK]

A couple of views of the internals. The tiny surface mounted components can be seen on the shot of the underside of the board - they look like a rash of tiny rectangles.

And yes, the windings on some of the toroid isn't very even.

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[DBK]

Genuine question, I have a multi band radio from a famous maker ( call me Bob) 10 wave band from SW radio to VHF /UHF with so many obscure channels is it now redundant? Some of the far eastern broadcasts have been educational to say the least ...............and yes I do have a life and other interests. `Not a piss take, Or can you point me in the right waveband/direction?

I think the BBC World service is still broadcasting on SW but the best frequency varies depending on the time of day. I never really got the hang of it when we lived in Kuwait - so we watched the dreadful Star TV instead.

I can only suggest scanning the airwaves and see what you find - which may not be much I fear.

I'm using the ham radio bands and they are generally only for person to person contact, no general broadcasts of music allowed!

 

[Jaws]

We are dight at the bottom of the sunspot cycle at the moment.. 20 mtrs is not too shabby all things being considered but I aint heard too much on 30 recently.... Keep us updated with contact
Thinking about getting one those auto ATU kits but a flea filter might have to come first.. 80 and 40 have always been bad here, but it has now risen to new heights with S8 QRM 24/7.. And it must be really local as I get it with about 50cms of wire hanging off the back of the rig !

 

[daveandsan]

We are dight at the bottom of the sunspot cycle at the moment.. 20 mtrs is not too shabby all things being considered but I aint heard too much on 30 recently.... Keep us updated with contact
Thinking about getting one those auto ATU kits but a flea filter might have to come first.. 80 and 40 have always been bad here, but it has now risen to new heights with S8 QRM 24/7.. And it must be really local as I get it with about 50cms of wire hanging off the back of the rig !

I struggle on 20 John, S7 all the while but get to hear a quite a few on 80 in the daytime.

 

[Jaws]

I struggle on 20 John, S7 all the while but get to hear a quite a few on 80 in the daytime.

There are several filters out there to combat QRM.. even a kit for under £20 that works well.. But the cheaper ones are switched manually to bypass when you tx which is a pain ( some rigs do have a socket on the back to connect to which is used sometimes for full break in but if not you have to bring wires out of the mike plug of build a little interface box for cw )
The low priced kits will need a box and other hardware added too

 

[cbrookson]

new heights with S8 QRM 24/7

In these modern days I'm afraid there is a lot interference: Here I get noise from overhead VDSL lines and Solar panels using micro inverters. There are also cheap power supplies, LED lights and many other sources. The noise has gone up a lot over the years I've been at my present house ... To work the DX I've been reduced to using a lot of digital modes.

For those interested in listening to Short Waves for Broadcast there is the British DX Group. They have a publication on Broadcasts in English.

Cheers

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[Jaws]

In these modern days I'm afraid there is a lot interference: Here I get noise from overhead VDSL lines and Solar panels using micro inverters. There are also cheap power supplies, LED lights and many other sources. The noise has gone up a lot over the years I've been at my present house ... To work the DX I've been reduced to using a lot of digital modes.

For those interested in listening to Short Waves for Broadcast there is the British DX Group. They have a publication on Broadcasts in English.

Cheers

All of those sources PLUS a factory within shouting distance that uses several hf welders... some of which are so dirty you get harmonics up to the 7th and even 9th qrg
DTI has shut them down twice over the years but it is still as bad as ever

 

[DBK]

A quick update. I'm still persevering learning CW and can send reasonably well but I can't recognise signals coming in fast enough. I'm not going to give up but I'm eager to get on the air so I've ordered a proper "speaking" radio which should arrive this week. It's a ruinously expensive ICOM 705 but it looks ideal for what I want - portable and very easy to connect to a PC or laptop for data modes.

 

[Jaws]

I struggle on 20 John, S7 all the while but get to hear a quite a few on 80 in the daytime.

20 is never less than s4 but rarely higher.. That I can love with.. The wet string band has never held much interest for me... Trouble s, I only have a G5RV ( proper one though ) and they never perform well on my favorite band, 15 mtrs.. And I have only ever chased DX on 80 which has always been a nightmare.. it is even higher than normal at the moment too.... currently 20 over so canna hear a bloody thing !

Still ..at least with the closing of Feltwell over horizon radar station a few years ago we no longer have to suffer the godawful woodpecker !!!!!!

 

[Jaws]

A quick update. I'm still persevering learning CW and can send reasonably well but I can't recognise signals coming in fast enough. I'm not going to give up but I'm eager to get on the air so I've ordered a proper "speaking" radio which should arrive this week. It's a ruinously expensive ICOM 705 but it looks ideal for what I want - portable and very easy to connect to a PC or laptop for data modes.

Try sending CQ QRS to indicate you are requesting a slower contact Dave

 

[Jaws]

ICOM 705

I have its bigger ( MUCH cheaper ! ) brother.... a 735
Back in the day ( when I fixed the things for a living ) I would not have had an Icom if it was given to me, always full of dry joints.. Bur they have been fine for the last 20+ years..
Remember when Branson did his balloon crossing * ? He started out with, from memory, 7 Icoms.. by the time he ditched only a VHF handheld still worked !!!!!!!!!!
Not one of Icoms finest days
*The material for the balloon was made about 150 yards from where I sit

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[DBK]

Try sending CQ QRS to indicate you are requesting a slower contact Dave

Thanks, I still need to do more practice. I need to send QRSSSS.

 

[Jaws]

Thanks, I still need to do more practice. I need to send QRSSSS.

Make your gaps bigger on your key.. It slows you down..
What key are you using ?

 

[Langtoftlad]

Any of you electronics experts know what this, and what's it for?

Just found it on my junk room floor.
Wondering what its fallen out of?

 

[DBK]

Make your gaps bigger on your key.. It slows you down..
What key are you using ?

I'm using a twin paddle one I bought off a bloke in Scotland who makes them with a 3D printer. As I said, I'm not too bad at transmitting but my brain is too slow to decode instantly. But I've only been learning since the end of November and I didn't practise every day over Christmas - but I'm back on track now.

 

[Jaws]

Any of you electronics experts know what this, and what's it for?

View attachment 453431

Just found it on my junk room floor.
Wondering what its fallen out of?

Looks like a home brew spark arrester to me..
Might have said some weird sort of balon but the R at the top knocks that out

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[Jaws]

I'm using a twin paddle one I bought off a bloke in Scotland who makes them with a 3D printer. As I said, I'm not too bad at transmitting but my brain is too slow to decode instantly. But I've only been learning since the end of November and I didn't practise every day over Christmas - but I'm back on track now.

Very early days !! Took me two years..... I would either spend hours getting used to a paddle of use an old thumper. Thumper would be best as it will slow you down which will attract a slower answer

 

[DBK]

Any of you electronics experts know what this, and what's it for?

View attachment 453431

Just found it on my junk room floor.
Wondering what its fallen out of?

Looks like a neon bulb, it should glow orange if you connect it to the mains. But probably best not to try in case it goes bang!

 

[Jaws]

Looks like a neon bulb, it should glow orange if you connect it to the mains. But probably best not to try in case it goes bang!

You have it Dave ! You could use it to test mains if your brave,,,,, You hold your finger on one end and apply the resistor to a mains point

 

[daveandsan]

A quick update. I'm still persevering learning CW and can send reasonably well but I can't recognise signals coming in fast enough. I'm not going to give up but I'm eager to get on the air so I've ordered a proper "speaking" radio which should arrive this week. It's a ruinously expensive ICOM 705 but it looks ideal for what I want - portable and very easy to connect to a PC or laptop for data modes.

Nice one John, I have the Yaesu FT991 although there is a newer version out now.

 

[cbrookson]

learning CW

There are a number of speed barriers to go through when learning morse, such as not recognising a character as dots-and-dashes and more as a single group, like music (that happened at about 6-7 words per minute for me). I find the Koch method quite useful, there is a good free version for Windows on G4FON's site. He also has some useful ideas, like turning a Project Gutenberg book into morse to listen to, and a good presentation.

Hope this helps a bit ...
73s de G4GBA

(PS My main radio is a K3 Elecraft)

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[Langtoftlad]

Looks like a home brew spark arrester to me..

A What ?

Looks like a neon bulb, it should glow orange if you connect it to the mains. But probably best not to try in case it goes bang!

What could it have fallen out of? How ? Presumably attached to to some circuitry at some point, wrapped in some sort of cover/shade/casing?

You have it Dave ! You could use it to test mains if your brave,,,,, You hold your finger on one end and apply the resistor to a mains point

I suspect that's not a serious suggestion ?

 

[Langtoftlad]

But you clever fellas appear to be right...
I've since found this:

...which probably had a red cap on at one stage, presumably also now on the floor, and was a tester of some description.
I just used it for small screws, never mess with electrickery, sneaky stuff.

Mystery solved, ta muchly.

 

[Jaws]

I suspect that's not a serious suggestion ?

See.. told ya !
But seriously, although I have a wicked sense of humour I would never suggest something life threatening !

 

[DBK]

But you clever fellas appear to be right...
I've since found this:
View attachment 453495
...which probably had a red cap on at one stage, presumably also now on the floor, and was a tester of some description.
I just used it for small screws, never mess with electrickery, sneaky stuff.

Mystery solved, ta muchly.

That's a mains testing screwdriver. You touch the bit end on a wire or terminal and then touch the cap, which had a metal part with your finger. If mains voltage is present the neon bulb will light up. You can still buy them.

 

[Jaws]

Decided life is too short to scrimp
Just bought this

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