Podcasting since 2005! Listen to Latest SolderSmoke
Thursday, November 30, 2023
AA9IL's Sputnik Tube, Altoids Tin Transmitter
Saturday, August 19, 2023
More Ancient Technology Keeping Space Missions Alive
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230815-the-ancient-tech-keeping-space-missions-alive
Three cheers for software. Really.
Wednesday, July 5, 2023
Quetzal-1 -- The Guatemalan CubeSat
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Farhan Speaks to Students about Satellites and Direct Conversion Homebrew Receivers (audio)
In our talks at the local high school we have frequently mentioned Ashhar Farhan, his Cubesat experience, and his use of a direct conversion receivers teach electronics to students in Hyderabad, India. So we were really please to have the opportunity to bring Farhan himself in to speak to the students we have been working with.
Here is the audio of Farhan's talk:
http://soldersmoke.com/FarhanTJ.mp3
The acoustics in the room are not great, so you may have to listen carefully, but it is worth it. Farhan dispenses a lot of tribal knowledge and wisdom about satellites and about the value of homebrewing simple radio equipment.
Tuesday, October 11, 2022
SolderSmoke FOREVER! Archived in the WayBack Machine
Thursday, September 15, 2022
SolderSmoke (Old Smoke) Podcast #103 -- March 15, 2009 -- From Rome -- QRSS, Knights and Wizards, LTSpice, and an Echolink QSO with Jeff KO7M (the guy with the Piper Cub)
15 March 2009
Beware the Ides of March! Ostia Beach and Ostia Antica 248 Knights of QRSS. And Wizards! ET Phones Home (with QRSS?) Possible new grabbers in VK6 and Dubai Telescope, Satellites... REAL QRP QSOs on 80 and 40 Saving an old Toshiba Laptop ECHO-QSO WITH JEFF, KO7M: -- Piper Cubs and MFJ Cubs -- Satellite QSOs -- LT Spice and test gear MAILBAG: Gene W3PM listens from QE2, HB WSPR rig Jim AL7V sending parts for my W3PM rig Jim AB3CV's color burst Gnat Jason NT7S on Tektronix guys and SolderSmoke Kevin ZL3KE on old computers Paul M1CNK's DDS 30-based QRSS beacon Soeren OZ2DAK on exercise bikes to power beacons
Wednesday, July 27, 2022
IGY! Science and the Vanguard Satellite in 1959 (video)
Sunday, July 24, 2022
A Surprisingly Good Movie from the Late 1960s: "The Ham's Wide World" (Video)
Monday, June 27, 2022
Thoughts on Homebrew, Makers, DIY, and Hams -- from Lex PH2LB
Sometimes we get a comment that is so good that we elevate it to the main blog page. That was the case with Lex PH2LB's comment on the blog post of Owen Duffy (yesterday).
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When I started the hobby, it arose out of technological curiosity, the interest in understanding things and the will to make things myself (designing myself was not my main goal). It doesn't matter to me whether it is 100% DIY or a kit (such as Heathkit, Elecraft, QRP-Labs etc) which is modified or not after construction. Just having fun with the hobby and pushing boundaries. And yes I also have some off-the-shelf transceivers (I'm super happy with my FT817ND) and my QO-100 uplink is also a kit (which is then already soldered a little more than average). As far as new tools are concerned: here at home are 2 types of 3D printers, various tools for SMT assembly, and I have a nice workshop equipped with tools and equipment for metal / plastic / wood processing. And every day I try to learn something new, because I stand by the IBEW moto : If you know stuff, you can do stuff.
Am I a maker then? I wouldn't call myself that. Just like I don't call myself a hacker because I'm quite handy with computers, technology and have certain skills. I'm just a hobbyist who wants to do and make things after work.Saturday, April 9, 2022
WD-40, a Hard Drive, a Coat-Hanger Antenna, Dumpster Diving, and Amateur Radio Satellites from the Azores
Sunday, February 6, 2022
Sunday, January 2, 2022
SolderSpace! N2CQR from Geostationary Orbit
Tuesday, December 14, 2021
Friday, December 10, 2021
The Lamakaan Annual Radio Convention Starts Today!
Here's a time zone converter: https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html?iso=20211211T043000&p1=505&p2=250&p3=137
Here is the Lamakaan Club's YouTube Live Channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRznKwGgvDo
I don't know how we might be able to watch or listen via the QO100 satellite. The U.S. is not in the footprint of this bird. But there is a good WEBSDR receiver run by BATC and AMSAT DL: https://eshail.batc.org.uk/
Sunday, November 7, 2021
JPL, Mars Helicopter, Cube Sats, Ham Radio and more: N5BF talks to Eric Guth 4Z1UG
Here is Eric's page on this interview, with useful show notes:
https://www.qsotoday.com/podcasts/n5bf
I like to listen to Eric's shows on YouTube -- here is the YouTube recording of the N5BF interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fbr4jE11vfg
Here is N5BF's ham radio web site:
http://cbduncan.duncanheights.com/HamRadio/HamRadio.html
Here is the club page of the San Bernardino Microwave Society:
http://www.ham-radio.com/sbms/
Thanks to Eric and Courtney!
Sunday, October 31, 2021
Buy a Real Sputnik Satellite! Let's Put Sputnik Back in Orbit!
Here's the description:
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Laboratory Test Model of "Sputnik 1 EMC/EMI", 1957
1:1 scale test model of the satellite "Sputnik-1", serial no. "0K6-1/004/1957", with built-in transmitter (including modern 12-volt power supply), polished stainless-steel sphere, consisting of two threaded hemispheres of approx. 23 in. diameter with two pairs of antennae of 95 in. and 105 in. at an angle of 35 degrees to the axis, on stand with O-ring, stand approx. 59 in. high, stand and model together approx. 79 in. high, accompanied by a Tesla Maj 620A radio receiver, manufactured in Prague c. 1956, restored working condition, including replacement of the silver-zinc battery with a modern alternative and a new metal casing for the electronic transmitter. Note: Built at the Experimental Design Bureau-1 (OK?-1/OKB-1) factory, also known as S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia, Koroljow, Soviet Union, in 1957, shortly before the launch of Sputnik-1. - An impressive artefact from the dawn of the space age, of which few models are known. - Provenance: From the collection of Dr. Frank Malina, USA/CSSR.
Start Price: EUR 85.000
Here's my suggestion: Musk or Bezos or Branson should buy this thing, fix it up a bit, and put it back in orbit. So we can listen to it again. I know a version of this was done back in 1997. But I think we should do it again, this time with the actual test model.
Here are the earlier SolderSmoke blog posts about Sputnik and Sputnik-related projects:
https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/search?q=Sputnik
Steve Silverman sent the auction posting to me. Thanks Steve.
It just so happens that earlier in the week I was out at the Air and Space Museum facility near Dulles Airport, where I saw this flight backup of the Vanguard satellite: