FT-817ND Received

I received my new FT-817ND yesterday (it could not wait for Christmas to be opened) and I have been reading, listening and playing with it since.

The menu system and operation is going to take a while to appreciate. So far I have mostly been listening and practice receiving code.  I did make one SSB QSO with Ryan - KI6SHE in San Diego 59.

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Ham Logging

With my FT-817ND radio I want to do a better job of Logging OSO's, I decided to explore the use of "on-line logging", the two potential methods that I found are:

• HRDLOG http://www.hrdlog.net/
• HAMLOG http://www.hamlog.eu/

I think HRDLOG requires Ham Radio Deluxe to be installed amd running to do the logging, while a normal web page form can be used with HAMLOG.

My goal is to find something that works with an obituary computer and/or my HTC Droid Phone. I have concidered Google Docs with a Form, but that would not have the additional nice web links to QRZ and other logs.

I need something that is more flexable than a special program would require - for now my main activity will be working with HAMLOG.

But, over the next few days, I will try them both (and any others that I find).

I now have a new TAB Link at the top of this blog, for my Online Ham Log.

With this radio, there is still a lot to be learned.

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UPDATE:
Dang!  I just noticed that QRZ.com is now running a Ham LogBook, with a web interface. But for others to see my log they have to "login", this will not be a problem for most Hams, but I don't see a way to publish excerpts (or the last few entries) of the log on this blog (or any other web page) - I need to do more research.

UPDATE:
Reading the QRZ forums suggest that users are have difficulties with this LogBook, the free access has; limits on lookups, lost log entries, etc.

UPDATE:
It looks like most of the problems with the QRZ LogBook is associated with not Subscribing to full service. I think I will continue to look elsewhere.

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Move Over SA612, for a Newcomer

There may be a newcomer on the direct conversion receiver block, check it out.

LTM9004 - 14-Bit Direct Conversion Receiver Subsystem

• Integrated Dual 14-Bit, High-Speed ADC, Lowpass
• Filter, Differential Gain Stages and I/Q Demodulator
• Lowpass Filter for Each ADC Channel
• RF Input Frequency Range: 0.8GHz to 2.7GHz
• 50Ω Single-Ended RF and LO Ports
• I/Q Gain Mismatch: 0.2dB Typical
• I/Q Phase Mismatch: 1.5 Deg Typical

Now:

• if we can only figure out how to use this at lower frequencies, 
• if the price and availability is right, 
• if we Homebrewers can figure out how to solder this thing

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New DipTrace PCB Tutorial

The good news:
Recently the DipTrace PCB Design Software group has created their first of (hopefully) many tutorials.

This far, I have struggled with just written complex documentation or mute tutorials for my learning process. This new tutorial is easy to follow, with voice over, and the ability to expand to full screen makes for easy viewing. See:

http://www.diptrace.com/tour/

I have been using DipTrace for several years, all of my projects contained within this blog have be created with DipTrace, with this new tutorial, I found several new things that will make my PCB Design Projects much easier.

Now the bad news:
I like DipTrace, but because the software appeared to have stalled in development, I have lately been looking for other software packages that may promise better use. But, yet nothing I have found works as well for my Projects ( details are a long list ).

There are still a few things that I think DipTrace needs to address in future releases, all of which I have provided feedback to the software design group:

1. Better Library Management, Access and Browsing
2. Easier Selection of items from the Design area - you must click on the unseen boarder of a object to move or modify (for example a VIA)
3. Clicking on the Copper Pour is problematic (again you can only select it via its boarder).
4. Automatic Mode Switching while routine always seems to get my intentions wrong.
5. Move to modern practices, include interactive 3D output within PCB layout.
6. Provide Hot key Management and Scripting.

I am looking forward to any New DipTrace PCB Software Updates ( but, will continue to explore others).

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UPDATE:
My difficulty with selecting/picking parts within the design window may be because of timing and the method used, the Tutorial implies that "hover" on a desired pick point changes modes as necessary for most tasks - I may have not been waiting long enough to effect the "hover" mode change! I will be working on this idea!

I am continually amazed of the effectiveness of watching someone for 10 minutes doing something vs hours of reading the manual - technique are best communicated via observation, details are best communicated via reading the manual.

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FT-817ND

Well, finally after 6 months of wrangling around, head scratching, talking about, and trying to decide to (or NOT) buy a FT-817ND with Z-817 ATU - I did it, it is on order!

http://www.aesham.com/display_pages/ft817.shtml

This is my second impulse buy of the year, and it only took 6 months!!

Now, I only have to wait the required few days for the postal service for delivery,  .  .  but, do I have to wait even longer to open it on Christmas day?  .  .  .  -  Nah!

I'll soon be calling CQ

Now, where was that 817 yahoo group??

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Shack and Shop Progress

The last few weeks I have been working on my Shack and Shop, and therefore very little time has been available to work on Electronic and Ham Radio projects.

The Shop wall insulation has been installed and covered, and major power distribution runs and breaker panels are complete. Power to the; Lathe, Mill, and Welders are connected, but the 3-Phase rotatory power converter is yet to be connected or installed (for the Drill-Mill). A new distribution power breaker panel is installed in the Shack (Loft), where there will be abundant power for my QRP Rigs  :-)

Many storage shelves have been installed around the Machine Shop and the Electronic Shop. Now it is my task to unpack and organize the shelves contents.

More work and weather proofing is needed to close the gap at the bottom of the large Shop Doors. This winter the Shop should be a warm pleasant place to work on small or large projects.

In a few weeks, or so, my blog, e-projects and interests should be back to normal.

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Impressive HB in Russian

Bruce Baxter, provided links via one of his notes on the "Homebrew_PCBs" list server that was very impressive, video narrative is Russian but, Homebrew is a universal language.

With permission, a copy of Baxter's original note/email text is provided here (normally, I would just link to the original note, but it contains many links that I want to capture here for future reference)

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> See this --à http://radiokot.ru/lab/hardwork/34/ Russian site, but with

> google translate is you will know everything.

Chris,

While Looking at your reference, I noticed the statement" "There is still everyone's favorite FGK-120".

I couldn't find any availability of the product in the US. However, from the photos of the Chinese marketers, I recognized it as a Tamerica LP-120 which is sold in the US for about $51. This is the laminator I use and it does a great job with toner transfer.

During my search for the FGK-120, I came across this URL,

http://easyelectronics.ru/izgotovlenie-pechatnyx-plat-videourok-nomer-dva.html

Although this is a bit off topic, The second video discusses a PCB tinning method using citric acid, boiling water and some metallic particles called alloy Rose. The process seems quite simple without any bad chemicals. A bit of searching identified alloy Rose as a low temperature solder (203-212 deg F) called Rose's metal or Rose's alloy composed of bismuth, tin and lead,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose%27s_metal

You can make your own,

http://www.angelfire.com/planet/skerjastrond/casting.html

or buy it,

http://www.mcmaster.com/#bismuth-alloys/=97u0jk

The McMaster-Carr product seems to have the lowest melting point (203 deg F) with

Bismuth = 52.5%

Tin = 15.5%

Lead = 32.0%

wikipedia-Solder has this to say about Bismuth alloys,

"Bismuth significantly lowers the melting point and improves wettability. In presence of sufficient lead and tin, bismuth forms crystals of Sn16Pb32Bi52 with melting point of only 95 °C, which diffuses along the grain boundaries and may cause a joint failure at relatively low temperatures. A high-power part pre-tinned with an alloy of lead can therefore desolder under load when soldered with a bismuth-containing solder. Such joints are also prone to cracking. Alloys with more than 47% Bi expand upon cooling, which may be used to offset thermal expansion mismatch stresses. Retards growth of tin whiskers. Relatively expensive, limited availability."

Based upon this, Rose's alloy may of limited utility for DIY PCB tinning. However, With the low melting temperature, it seems almost as useful as polymorph (friendly) plastic for prototyping parts .

Baxter

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UPDATE:

I have tried to obtain Bismuth from locations around Seattle, so far I have NOT located a source - Green (no-lead) Sinkers and Green Shotgun Shot has not sold well enough to stock it locally. Because of it's weight, an Internet purchase may be prohibitive for medium (e.g., 10lbs) quantities.

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UPDATE:


I now, have some Bismuth on order from Rotometals in San Francisco.

• http://www.rotometals.com/Bismuth-s/4.htm

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HomeBrew in Russian

I just added another Blog Link to the right side bar, "Easy Electronics" - it is written in Russian, but Hobby HomeBrew Electronic is a universal language - and Google Translates will help with the details.

After reading several of the posts, I think I will really enjoy this link.

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A Special Day

Today is a Special Day for many reasons, but three reasons are special to me.

• At one moment in time, today's time can be written as: 2010-10-10 10:10:10.1010, for a Geek this has to be a special point in time.

• This would have been my Father's Birthday (89) and in his honor each year I declare this day as Hero Day. My Father is my favorite Hero (see previous posts). I celebrated his Birthday today at 10:10:10.1010am local, he would have liked that, even without computers, he was very much a Geek of his time.

• Because I use Ubuntu for most of my computing needs, today is also special, because of the new revision of Ubuntu was released. Note: this new release was specially timed to coincide with this day of Oct 10th. Normally, release numbers reflect the year and the month, coincidently this year it ALSO reflect the month and the day! More than likely, this contrived coincidence will not happen again. Normally, releases come out about once each six months. The last release was Ubuntu 10.04, representing Apr 2010. But, maybe they will slip the scheduled release of 11.10 to November?  . . .  Nah.

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QRSS, WSPR on SDR

I could not sleep about 4AM,  so I got up to listen to my Softrock RX Ensemble SDR via MS XP, tuning to 10.1387MHz for both the LO and the Tune frequency provides the 1300 to 1600Hz audio signal for both the QRSS and WSPR decoders.

Normally, the audio would be decode by additional processes like ARGO (1300 to 1400Hz) for QRSS, and the WSPR program (1400 to 1600Hz) for WSPR. To re-route the audio to those two programs requires an additional sound card, or a "virtual audio cable" (VAC). SDR and the two decode programs can run concurrently, assuming WSPR is configured for receive only. The SDR audio bandpass filter makes it very easy to select the desired signals.

I do not have VAC and my second sound card was not working, so I slowed down the SDR audio water fall, and averaged two adjacent scans, and then was able to visually decode "KC7VHS" on QRSS. Several other QRSS signal were seen, but I was not able to decode them. Also, WSPR signals were seen, but obviously I could only observe.

My gaol is to reestablish my QRSS Grabber and report WSPR Spots with this receiver (at yet another location), but time for; an antenna installation, and a disk replacement tasks, are holding up progress. The computer system will be Ubuntu, as it provides multiple virtual X displays that the decode programs can run in. ARGO requires it's own unobstructed window as it uses "screen scrapes" to obtain images that are published by an Internet Grabber Server. Pop-ups makes using MS Windows to run ARGO some what difficult on a remote system, especially when the desire is to have more windows displayed than space on the screen.

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