[HomeBrew] Hi all: ?

[John Marshall]

Hi Ron,

Yes, traffic is pretty sparse on this list but I see from the archives that you and I both posted here back in January so there is some stuff.

I'm also retired, ham since 1964, and ham radio homebrewing/tinkering is my main hobby. I've been collecting electronic stuff and parts and while the junk pile has grown, my ability to remember what's there is declining! I've mostly acquired stuff at hamfests, surplus outlets and by swapping with other hams but nowadays I'm spoiled by internet shopping.

My homebrewing has been mostly "ugly style" on unetched PCB material using thru-hole parts, sometimes including vacuum tubes, but I have done a little SMD work. Recent projects are a battery "smart charger" and a Norcal FCC-1/2 freq counter/DDS kit. I recently acquired a spectrum analyzer with tracking generator and I'm working on a return loss bridge to use with it.

I like your idea of mounting stuff in pill bottles. I'm a fan of building with less conventional materials, like a freq counter built in a spice container and the battery charger in a pair of plastic electrical junction boxes. I have a lifetime supply of pill bottles and have used them for parts storage and coil forms but not so much for enclosures.

So, what are you and others working on?

John, KU4AF
Pittsboro, NC

On Aug 22, 2016, at 9:09 AM, Ron Youvan wrote:

> ** Please do NOT cross-post messages when posting to HOMEBREW **
> 
>  Hi  all:
> 
>  I just attempted to subscribe to the mailing list
> homebrew at mailman.qth.net.  I was advised that I am already subscribed
> to this mailing list.
> 
>  Could have fooled me.  I don't recall any traffic from this list for
> years.  Am I the only one subscribed?  That would certainly explain the
> current situation.  If so I have been letting myself down by not
> generating any traffic.  Shame on me.
> 
>  As you can see I am Ron KA4INM, I live in Plant City, Florida about
> midway between Tampa and Lakeland.  I am retired, but I have a 13 year
> old boy scout son.
> 
>  In addition to HAM radio, electronic experimentation and design is an
> important hobby of mine, then photography, LINUX operating system and
> our 10 year old Chewawa Bella.
> 
>  After I retired from broadcasting I ordered a supply of new
> transistors for my construction and designs, looking up the types that
> were found to be good performers in broadcast equipment, I found that
> there are later versions of most frequently found types.
> I looked up the TIP-35/36? and I found the TIP-41/43.
> I looked up the TIP (darlington medium power, I found the TIP-127/?
> I looked up the 1N4148, I bought a hundred and the SM (lead less)
> version I bought a hundred of them.
> I also ordered tiny circuit boards, push buttons, heat sinks and such.
> 
> I found a series of European transistors in the BC-457/458, real high
> gain and quite low noise, higher B-C inverse ratings (60 Volts) I
> bought a hundred of several complementary pairs in "through the hole" and surface mount style.
> I looked at 2N3904/6, but I bought a hundred each 2N4401/4403 in
> "through the hole" and surface mount style.
> For the smaller parts I bought hundreds lots, for larger (more
> expensive) I bought 20 lots, with few exception I bought the matching
> complimentary pairs.
> I bought a hundred 2N2222A in "through the hole" and surface mount
> style.  (no complement)  For the plain old NPN LED, relay, LED and such
> driver.  I got a hundred 2N7000s a super MOS enhancement FET NPN
> want-a-bee.
> I destroyed the first one that I was playing with static from my
> fingers and it does not act like JFET as some JFETs allegedly become.
> 
>  I have gone into images.google.com with circuit names and saved off
> (thousands) of circuit diagrams to have ready to kit bash several
> together to make a gizmo to mount in a plastic pill bottle and set on
> the window sill.
> 
>  I think I did a fair job of kicking off a discussion on subject.
> Now it's your turn.
> -- 
>  Ron  KA4INM - Youvan's corollary:
>                Every action results in unwanted side effects.