News, Updates and Other Minutiae
August 2019
Website outage - I made some hosting changes and there was a minor hiccup. Hopefully everything is now back to normal but please let me know if anything is missing.
The start of a new project added in the Homebrew category. Specifically, a Frequency Dependant Switch. Measures the incoming frequency and switches 1 of 8 outputs on. Software for this project uploaded.
June 2019
Added another project for the AD9850 DDS modules. A Simple DDS sweeper in the Homebrew section. This is an absolutely basic, no frills project using a 12F1840 to sweep a DDS module between a range of frequencies. Plenty of scope for you to improve on the software and add extra features.
Privacy Policy uploaded. It may be viewed at the Privacy Policy link in the footer.
Custom code/webhost costs
I have, for quite a while, provided modified versions of the code for my projects free of charge. However, the cost of webhosting for this site has tripled in the last few of years and shows no signs of getting any cheaper.
As of October 2017, I will be asking for a donation in exchange for providing custom modified code for my projects to help keep this site available.
GPDR and all that stuff
In accordance with various bits of legislation around the world, either currently in force, about to come into force or proposed, you will now find that annoying "We use cookies" notice at the top of this website. Please note that the ONLY cookies currently used on this site are for that pop-up (see https://cookieconsent.insites.com/) and Google Analytics. The full Privacy Policy is available at the Privacy Policy link in the footer at the bottom of the page. (If you don't know what GPDR is, Google it. Real scary shit for ANYBODY with a web presence.)
Antenna's
Update 11 November 2012.
I have put up what most people would call, I guess, an end fed antenna. I prefer to call it a 22metre length of hook up wire at 5/6metres above ground level.
I have heard VK2's,3's,4's, 5's & 7's plus a ZL1 using it. WWV can be heard at 5MHz, 10MHz and 15MHz so it is working.
There are the constituant parts of a fan dipole sitting in a box waiting to be put up, but I need another support pole at the far end of the yard first.
Currently, there are no HF antenna's in the air, or for that matter, any others.
I am trying to decide between putting up just a long wire or a fan dipole for HF. Regardless, there will have to be another pole or other fixing point installed. There is a 12m tv antenna tower on the back corner of the house and, as part of the chook enclosure, I put up an ~6m pole on the back corner of the shed/shack. Between the two is not quite long enough for the dipole, so another pole will probably go in the far back corner of the yard.
Left: Probably a little hard to see, but the tower in front is mine and Right: the ~6m pole as part of the chook run. If I decide to put up a long wire, it will be necessary to use an antenna matching unit. One of my purchases (at a very good price) a while ago was an ex-hams junk box. In it was the remains of an antenna matching unit, missing one variable cap which was later found at the bottom of another box.
As you can see, there is a lot of cleaning to do before these can be put into service. Yes that is a roller inductor on the right. In the box was also a real valve/tube GDO. Don't know if it works yet. For VHF (2m), I have just completed a 3el Yagi, using materials kindly donated by a friend, in exchange for assembling an SDR receiver for him. It is made from 25mm aluminium square section and 10mm diameter tube for the elements. The day after completion, it was used handheld to receive Arrisat1 with one of those cheap Chinese handheld VHF units.
Left: These are the un-assembled parts of the 3el Yagi. Right: Also included, this 6/2/70 mobile whip(Comet SB-15).
Left: The assembled 3 element yagi and yes, the shadow is wonky because the element mounting is wonky (in my defense - I didn't drill the holes). Doesn't seem to affect the performance, but only proper testing would confirm it. Right: A close up of the gamma match, with weather proofing still to be done. The antenna design is by VK5JST, of "Antenna Analyser" fame, and can be found on his website - VK5JST web page
