Welcome to my web site. This site will be used to detail projects that I'm working on, as well list useful, related links to other sites. To begin with, I'm mainly interested in VHF on up communications (including lasers), as well as ELF/VLF communications. In both cases, I intend to explore QRP (low power) techniques. I think weak-signal communications will be far more interesting and challenging than the brute-force approach. Below are my current projects:
FlexPower - A portable system to generate power by whatever means (solar, thermoelectric, mechanical, etc.), charging a battery to keep my radio and related equipment running. I have made better progress on this project now that I have a clear-cut goal (besides power generation) of using this with my FT-817.
Status: Currently, just a bag of parts, but this project is my priority.
Packet Radio - With the thankful revival of my IBM 385D Thinkpad laptop, I am now just a TNC short of building a portable packet radio station. I was planning to mate my old Radio Shack HTX-202 2-meter HT with a recently retired desktop computer. But when I figured out why my IBM 385D wouldn't boot, things went portable, and now I am recycling not one, but two relics. Next, I have to replace the internal battery (see link) for the HTX-202, which had long since given up the ghost. I just finished installing Outpost on my laptop. And I couldn't have done it without an old Zip Drive that I almost junked.
Status: I have to finish FlexPower first, but after that, I'm just waiting for a TNC.
Amateur Television - I have all of the core components for a 70-cm band fast-scan ATV station (receiver / downconverter, transmitter, video receiver, portable monitor). I plan to tie all of these together to make a portable system with a BASIC Stamp-based controller. The controller will switch video inputs, contain a video overlay board to add an auto-ID function, and to superimpose information (such as time, location, battery level), as well as other as-of-yet unspecified telemetry.
Status: I have to finish FlexPower, but after that, I'm just missing the video overlay board. Not to mention an antenna better than a 1/4 wave ground plane.
Diana - A digitally tunable IF base radio covering 25 to 30 MHz. While an incomplete radio by itself, with add-on modules acting as tranverters, this is loosely an all-band radio transceiver. But my ultimate goal is the 23 cm band. This project has gone through many ideas and design changes, but I've pretty much settled on a phasing technique design using a PLL local oscillator with a DDS generated reference. This project is being designed for QRP (low-power), portable operation, and ties in with my portable power projects.
The name comes from Roman mythology (Diana, goddess of the Moon), and symbolizes the ultimate goal: Earth-Moon-Earth (EME, also called "moonbounce") communications. That was a goal to begin with. But it took on new importance in seeing the potential after an article in the November 2005 issue of QST ("The Accidental EME QSO"). Once EME was largely limited to the "superstations" (very large antenna arrays and brute force power levels), but that is changing. My goal is now to achieve EME communications using the lowest power possible. I plan to experiment with digital signal processing (DSP) techniques, and also experiment with a low noise amplifier (LNA) using near-cryogenically cooled transistors.Status: I have to finish all of my currently open projects before I can restart one of this size.
Below are links to various sites of interest to amateur radio experimenters:
Sonnet Lite- Free 3D Electromagnetic Simulator. This program is capable of handling of handling circuits from 1MHz to 1THz! Either the 13.4Mbyte file can be downloaded or the CD can be ordered from the web. Click here to go to Sonnet USA's web site.
MLCsoft(R) RF Capacitor Modeling Software- S-parameter and SPICE data for RF capacitors. This 3.4Mbyte file is free from Johanson Technology. Click here to go to Johanson Technology's web site.
Oslo Light Optical Design Software- This is a free version of Sinclair Optic's Oslo software, and may be of interest to those interested in light-based communications. Click here to go to Sinclair Optic's web site.
Puff is a DOS-based scattering and layout calculator for microwave circuits. It is an inexpensive and easy-to-use alternative to professional-grade (and cost!) software. Originally designed as a teaching tool for CalTech's microwave circuits course, it has become popular with engineers, scientists and amateur radio operators worldwide. Both the working program and source code are available for a nominal charge. Click here to go to CalTech's web site.
Amateur Radio Sites
Online Magazines
