A Friends Voice From the Past

A voice heard from 45 years ago.

Saturday I was reprogramming my Prop Receiver with new User Interface (UI) Code. The previous UI code did not provide an intuitive controls for the BFO and VFO Frequencies with the two knobs that are available. It had previously been a rush-job, just to have something to demonstrate as a working receiver at Salmoncon (which was the previous weekend).

Prop Receiver on the Left

Now, to test and try the new UI code, I connected the Prop Receiver to an Antenna, a 250 foot long wire that I previously posted a blog. For the test I programmed the default Frequency to 20 meters. With a little twisting of knobs I found the sweet spot for the BFO and was tuning across the band. I heard several stations on CW, and then higher up the band on SSB. I tuned across a signal and recognized a very distinctive friends voice from my past, of 45 years ago, Randy - KH6IB.

I switch the antenna over to my IC-730 and tuned up on near the Frequency that I thought was where I heard Randy on the Prop Receiver. My Prop Receiver Frequency was un-calibrated and therefore I had to do a little searching on the IC-730.  But on 14.227MHz his distinctive voice was heard again. I sent BREAK and waited for his QSO to end. Randy asked for the Breakers, I jumped in with my call - "Whiskey Alpha Zero Uniform Whiskey Hotel". Randy came back with, "the Whiskey station please try again". We made contact, and had a short reminiscing QSO before the band went south. This was my first real on-the-air QSO with Randy.

Actually, Several years ago, Randy and I chatted on EchoLink.

In 1967, while in the Navy, Randy and I were attending the Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory (PMEL) school at Lowry Air Force Base near Denver CO. I think Randy was a little ahead of me in the six month training schedule, but we meet because of his Ham Radio. A few weeks earlier his Mother had sent him his SB-101 transceiver to use in his barracks. Being a previous Novice, I gravitated to the sound of CW and SSB coming from his room. We spent the rest of our tour/training time at Lowery; walking to-and-from the chow hall and class, chatting about Ham Radio, and his race cars. After graduation and leaving Lowry, I was sent to the East Coast to a Submarine Tender and I think Randy was sent to the West Coast and Vet Nam - I never saw Randy again.

Here I am Aboard The Submarine Tender
 H. W. Gilmore AS-16
1968

So for me, Ham Radio has again brought a voice and a friend from the past.

Oh, The Prop Receiver seems to work well, even though I have not checked the receiver sensitivity yet. And, I have not tried to energize the Band Switch Relay and then try the low bands and lower sideband (below the 11MHz IF).

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Prop Controlled Receiver - Success

In the past I have blogged about the QRSS, WSPR, and OPERA Beacons that I have created with the Propeller Microprocessor (Prop). The Processor generates the RF signal that is passed through a LowPass Filter to remove Harmonic, and then connected to an Antenna. For some experiments a Homebrew Power amplifier was used to increase the processor generated RF signal from 7 milliwatts to 150 milliwatts. I have received many reports (or Spots) from many stations around the world. I think the farthest was from Australia at about 12,000 miles. I consider my Propeller Beacon a fun and very successful project.

And Now,  . . .

I have been playing with the idea and trying to receive signals with the Propeller. A simple direct conversion receiver using a SA612 mixer would require a Local Oscillator at the received frequency. The Propeller can generate RF frequencies from; 0 to 128MHz, with an amplitude of about 3Volts Peak-to-Peak. Which is a little more than needed by the SA612, but it can be attenuated with simple resisters if needed.

My original plan was to construct a simple direct conversion receiver daughter board for the Prop. But, Jeff - KO7M pointed out that the N3ZI Double Conversion Receiver using two of the same SA612 chips, was available as a kit (this was actually several months ago). I put the kit on order, and it has been setting around waiting for my User Interface (UI) project to be completed (or at least working). The receiver kit needs two RF signals, one for the VFO and one for the BFO (about 11.055MHz). The BFO is normally supplied by a Crystal. I plan to replace the BFO Crystal with another RF signal from the Prop.

For the High Band (above IF) and Upper Side Band, the injected frequency is the BFO frequency (IF) plus the intended (displayed) receive frequency. For example, for USB: the VFO = BFO + Received Freq, for LSB: VFO = BFO - Received Freq.

For the Low Band (below IF) and Lower Side Band, the injected frequency is the BFO frequency (IF) minus the intended (displayed) receive frequency. For example, for USB: VFO = BFO - Received Freq, for LSB: the VFO = BFO + Received Freq. (I think that is correct?)

Obvious the VFO should be adjustable so the receiver can be tuned to the desired received frequency. But, maybe not obvious, is that small adjustment of the BFO can be used to adjust the band width of the received signal. In both cases a handy way of adjusting either or both frequencies is necessary. And that is where my UI comes in, it has knobs and buttons that can be programmed to control two Prop RF signals which will be supplied to the receiver.

Note: Sadly, I think the N3ZI Receiver Kit is no longer available.

Prop Controlled Receiver - Left
Prop Transmitter - Right

Today's Success !!

I have one Prop running ko7m's Keyer Program and another controlling the double conversion receiver. The test distant between the transmitter and receiver was only about 12 feet, but it works !

With the receiver connected to an antenna, I have received other signals with this set up; WWV and other Amateur stations.

The Receiver is mounted under the Prop on the left, the two SMA coax cables connect the VFO and BFO. Two of the corner holes of the receiver match the hole pattern of the Prop board (nice). The Keyer Transmitter is on the Right.

This weekend at Salmoncon, Jeff and I will demonstrate some of our Prop projects. Maybe, we will have time attempt to do real QRP DX'ing with our Props.

Many more experiments and improvements are planned.

For now, . . . it all just, fun and games, with the Prop !!

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