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Paul VK3HN
Australia
Registrace 1. 03. 2012
VK3HN's homebrew QRP SSB and CW transceivers, demonstrated on portable and mountain-top (SOTA) outings.
Homebrew amateur radio modules, testing, tips, tricks!
I also build solid state Class D AM transmitters for the shack.
Homebrew amateur radio modules, testing, tips, tricks!
I also build solid state Class D AM transmitters for the shack.
HF CW Beacon with ATMega328 and si5351
An amateur radio band beacon using the ATMega328 and si5351 for use as a signal source for testing receivers, antennas, or station operation. It provides a reliable off-air signal that can be attenuated by moving the beacon further away or by placing it in a screened box or location. Targets an Arduino Nano, Uno or bare ATMega328, and an si5351 breakout board. No display is necessary. You can add one, and controls, if you like.
Transmits a hard-coded message in morse code on any frequency supported by the si5351 (10kHz to 160MHz). Any number of frequencies in the HF and VHF range can be specified by adding them to an array. The beacon iterates over the array and transmits the message on each frequency in sequence.
Github:
github.com/prt459/Nano_Beacon
Blog:
vk3hn.wordpress.com/2021/10/07/20-meters-200mw-12000-miles-wspr-magic/
Transmits a hard-coded message in morse code on any frequency supported by the si5351 (10kHz to 160MHz). Any number of frequencies in the HF and VHF range can be specified by adding them to an array. The beacon iterates over the array and transmits the message on each frequency in sequence.
Github:
github.com/prt459/Nano_Beacon
Blog:
vk3hn.wordpress.com/2021/10/07/20-meters-200mw-12000-miles-wspr-magic/
zhlédnutí: 3 456
Video
Make a 20 & 40m linked dipole (and get 15m for free!)
zhlédnutí 5KPřed 2 lety
I make up a linked dipole for 40m and 20m. Then, I add small air cored 1.1 microHenry inductors at the links to make it resonate on the 15m band, as a 3/2 wavelength antenna. This is a great solution for homebrew or kit rigs that do not have an inbuilt tuner and need a naturally resonant antenna on all bands. SOTABeams post on modelling and options for getting a 40m dipole to resonate on 15m: f...
Termination Insensitive Amplifier with AGC: Time to Upgrade your BiTx?
zhlédnutí 2,3KPřed 2 lety
The experiment to give Wes Hayward's (W7ZOI) Termination Sensitive Amplifier an AGC prompted Wes to do a re-think of this iconic amplifier design. Here, Wes' famous modified amplifier block is prototyped. Could it be time to upgrade your BiTx or uBiTx transceiver with a true, IF-based dynamic gain stage? Termination Sensitive Amplifier with AGC, by Wes Hayward W7ZOI: w7zoi.net/tia agc.pdf My or...
160m AM Portable in the Coffee Break Net, Cup Day 2021
zhlédnutí 1,1KPřed 2 lety
The 160m AM Coffee Break Net has been running in Melbourne for over five decades. Every Melbourne Cup Day, there is an established tradition that a few operators venture out of doors to set up a 160m AM portable operations, with whatever portable AM transmitters, receivers and antennas they can arrange.
Cycle 25 is rising! QRP CW to the West Coast
zhlédnutí 806Před 2 lety
Hearing my QRP CW signal in California this afternoon 😉.
12,000 miles on 0.2 watt!! Yet another WSPR beacon
zhlédnutí 6KPřed 2 lety
Yet another homebrew WSPR beacon. This one is for one band, anywhere from 137kHz to 144MHz. It is fully self-contained and automatic, as it gets time synchronisation from a Ublox GPS. It can be built in a few hours on a breadboard, it's so simple! Script: github.com/prt459/WSPR_GPS_Beacon Blog article: vk3hn.wordpress.com/2021/10/04/20-meters-200mw-12000-miles-wspr-magic/
Universal Radio Project Controller (ATMega328 & si5351)
zhlédnutí 6KPřed 2 lety
This board is a universal radio project controller, with an ATMega328P(U) microcontroller and lots of options. The intention was for it to become a basic building block in transceivers, receivers, transmitters, signal generators, anywhere you need either a digital controller, one to three clocks, or both. The board has headers for the common si5351 breakout board, available from Adafruit or as ...
'2B2C': Dual-band 2 channel QRP CW rig /Part 8 Case assembly & field test
zhlédnutí 864Před 2 lety
Schematic and blog post: vk3hn.wordpress.com/2021/07/10/sp-2b2c-a-video-series-on-the-design-and-construction-of-a-dual-band-2-channel-qrp-cw-rig/ 'SP-2B2C' is a project to design, build and document in a video series the design and construction of a two band (40 and 20m) crystal locked (channelised) QRP CW transceiver. The rig is entirely scratch-built, from 'borrowed' designs, circuit element...
My First CAD PCB with EasyEDA and JLCPCB
zhlédnutí 1,3KPřed 2 lety
I select a 'PCB fabricator' and design my first CAD PCB with EasyEDA and JLCPCB. The board is for a 100V (300 watt) DC Buck Converter, or DC-DC Converter, that runs above 90% efficiency. The delivered PCB exceeds my quality expectations, and immediately reveals some simple design flaws which I will correct next time! Regulator project description: vk3hn.wordpress.com/2019/09/02/a-300w-switching...
2B2C: Scratchbuilt Dual-band 2 channel QRP CW rig/ Part 7 Transmitter PA and tests
zhlédnutí 841Před 2 lety
Part 7 - Transmitter PA and tests. Schematic and blog post: vk3hn.wordpress.com/2021/07/10/sp-2b2c-a-video-series-on-the-design-and-construction-of-a-dual-band-2-channel-qrp-cw-rig/ '2B2C' is a project to design, build and document in a video series the design and construction of a two band (40 and 20m) crystal locked (channelised) QRP CW transceiver. The rig is entirely scratch-built, from 'bo...
2B2C: Scratchbuilt Dual-band 2 channel QRP CW rig/ Part 6 Tx driver
zhlédnutí 518Před 2 lety
Part 6 - Transmitter driver Schematic and blog post: vk3hn.wordpress.com/2021/07/10/sp-2b2c-a-video-series-on-the-design-and-construction-of-a-dual-band-2-channel-qrp-cw-rig/ '2B2C' is a project to design, build and document in a video series the design and construction of a two band (40 and 20m) crystal locked (channelised) QRP CW transceiver. The rig is entirely scratch-built, from 'borrowed'...
Its just NOT SOTA! Lockdown QRP CW on a nearby hill
zhlédnutí 1,6KPřed 2 lety
Melbourne is in a COVID lockdown so a SOTA activation is definitely out! We are allowed an hours' exercise within 5km of home. That permits a masked QRP CW outing (with exercise) to a local hill. I take 2B2C out (in full compliance with local Lockdown restrictions) for a run.
2B2C: Scratchbuilt Dual-band 2 channel QRP CW rig/ Part 5 Tx PCB, keying, pre-driver, LPFs
zhlédnutí 708Před 2 lety
2B2C Part 5, transmitter PCB, keying, pre-driver, LPFs. Schematic and blog post: vk3hn.wordpress.com/2021/07/10/sp-2b2c-a-video-series-on-the-design-and-construction-of-a-dual-band-2-channel-qrp-cw-rig/ '2B2C' is a project to design, build and document in a video series the design and construction of a two band (40 and 20m) crystal locked (channelised) QRP CW transceiver. The rig is entirely sc...
Diplexor (Diplexer!): What, why & how?
zhlédnutí 2,8KPřed 2 lety
I prototype a Diplexor, align and measure it, and install it into a superhet receiver. Diplexor is a bandpass/band-stop filter popularized by Joe Reisert W1JR that is used after a double Balanced Mixer to provide a 50 ohm termination to all frequencies at the mixer's IF port, and to the following amplifier stage. Maintaining a consistent load at the mixer avoids overload and Inter-Modulation Di...
2B2C: Dual-band 2 channel QRP CW rig/ Part 4 Receiver build & test
zhlédnutí 610Před 2 lety
Part 4: Receiver build & test. Story and schematic: vk3hn.wordpress.com/2021/07/10/sp-2b2c-a-video-series-on-the-design-and-construction-of-a-dual-band-2-channel-qrp-cw-rig/ '2B2C' is a project to design, build and document in a video series the design and construction of a two band (40 and 20m) crystal locked (channelised) QRP CW transceiver. The rig is entirely scratch-built, from 'borrowed' ...
2B2C: Scratchbuilt Dual-band 2 channel QRP CW rig/ Part 3 Receiver Band Pass Filters
zhlédnutí 669Před 3 lety
2B2C: Scratchbuilt Dual-band 2 channel QRP CW rig/ Part 3 Receiver Band Pass Filters
AGC-controlled Termination Insensitive Amplifier experiment
zhlédnutí 1,2KPřed 3 lety
AGC-controlled Termination Insensitive Amplifier experiment
2B2C: Scratchbuilt Dual-band 2 channel QRP CW rig/ Part 2 Receiver PCB
zhlédnutí 1,1KPřed 3 lety
2B2C: Scratchbuilt Dual-band 2 channel QRP CW rig/ Part 2 Receiver PCB
Introducing 2B2C, the story of a dual-band 2 channel QRP CW transceiver
zhlédnutí 1,6KPřed 3 lety
Introducing 2B2C, the story of a dual-band 2 channel QRP CW transceiver
SP-2B2C: Dual-band 2 channel QRP CW rig/ Part 1 Concept
zhlédnutí 1,8KPřed 3 lety
SP-2B2C: Dual-band 2 channel QRP CW rig/ Part 1 Concept
Fixed Frequency QRP CW: I learn an important lesson!
zhlédnutí 3,5KPřed 3 lety
Fixed Frequency QRP CW: I learn an important lesson!
Wet & cold Australian Summits On The Air, Mt Disappointment VK3/VC-014
zhlédnutí 400Před 3 lety
Wet & cold Australian Summits On The Air, Mt Disappointment VK3/VC-014
The Art of hand-made Printed Circuit Boards
zhlédnutí 5KPřed 3 lety
The Art of hand-made Printed Circuit Boards
Ham radio scratch-building 101 -- from QSO Today Expo March 2021
zhlédnutí 10KPřed 3 lety
Ham radio scratch-building 101 from QSO Today Expo March 2021
Aligning a Band Pass Filter with SDRPlay RSP1A
zhlédnutí 1,6KPřed 3 lety
Aligning a Band Pass Filter with SDRPlay RSP1A
A compact QRP radio transceiver for 28 and 144MHz SSB (SP-8)
zhlédnutí 1,9KPřed 3 lety
A compact QRP radio transceiver for 28 and 144MHz SSB (SP-8)
SOTA activation in VK3 with a surprise European DX caller
zhlédnutí 660Před 3 lety
SOTA activation in VK3 with a surprise European DX caller
Really enjoy your videos, how many steps per revolution with your optical encoder?
Thanks! Do you mean how many pulses or interrupts per turn, or how many kHz? The optical encoder generates far too many pulses per turn, so I added a line of code to increment a counter and ignore 3 of every 4 pulses. It might have been 7 of every 8 pulses. The code is on github. I cannot recall for sure and the rig is not in use at the moment, but it's tuning rate with 100 Hz increments is about the same as other commercial rigs, say 10kHz per turn.
@@Paul_VK3HN I was just wondering what encoder you used i was going to get one "100/200/360/400/500/600P/R Photoelectric Incremental Rotary Encoder" wondering if to just buy a 100p/r?
@@klejzbigniew I used this one , they are available from lots of sources. www.minikits.com.au/ENC-360-6 I have tried a variety of mechanical encoders, all have worked.
DIid you release the gerbers?
No. The board works as shown but has some labelling errors. I could fix these and put it all on github, if you are keen and would go through with the build. I've moved on to a board half the size with a XIAO ESP32 and 5351 on board. I'm also writing new software that will include additional features such as CW decode on both Tx and Rx. This will be about another 3 to 6 months, based on current rate of progress.
Fascinating though it is, this is not an unusual result for WSPR.
Happens every day, Cycle 25 is at its peak!
Awsome. I shall refer your way.
It works!
Hello, Paul... could this design be used to transmit and receive on the 1.25m band for Zone 2 and Somalia instead of 2m? I'm not sure which portion of the electronics you would change out, if you even could. Thanks and -73-
Brian, thanks for your comment. The 28MHz transceiver can drive any VHF UHF transverter. If you can find a 28 to 220MHz transverter, it would work just fine. I built the 28MHz receiver/exciter and connected in a transverter from a Ukrainian supplier. You could attempt to build the transverter part but its not a beginner or intermediate project. Good luck.
Thanks for the inspiration. I am currently in the process of designing my first (and almost certainly overly ambitious) scratch build. My aim is to create a ~20w portable SSB transmitter using a class E amp and EER. It will likely be a 20M monobander, and I haven't decided much at all about the receive side yet. For now i'm just starting with the class E PA, but will focus on the voltage amplifier for EER, and microcontroller control of the whole thing next. 73 KK7RWK
Thats a super interesting homebrew project and very modern! The 20w PA should be achievable with all the switching FETs to choose from, although you will need faster ones at 14Mhz. What MCU will you use ? Will you write your own software ?
the world has really change shortwave was the best way for global communications🥰
Yes for sure, going back to when these jingles and signature tunes were in use, shortwave was a competitive place where nations tried to 'catch' listeners. All swept away by internet and social media.
Porque não traduzem essa merda??!😒😒😒😒😒🇧🇷
It's not merda
Very interesting Video
Thanks for visiting
Amazing!👍 UR7WKH, 73!
Thanks!
Dear VK3HN, if a short antenna is used inside the house, the signal from the mixer is weak and if section the BF961 amplifier current from the drain is also weak, the LED installed at the source will not light up. like installing squelch control. Can the BF 961 mosfet be replaced with 3N204, or 40673? thank you
I didn't try it on short indoor antennas but I don't think it would work well. Ferrite rod front end might work better on LW and MW. Yes, almost any dual gate mosfet should work.
nice project can is use tl494 instead tl 598 in this project
Sure, TL598 is an updated TL494 which should work fine in this circuit. They are probably not pin compatible so you might have to make some minor changes.
@@Paul_VK3HN thanks alot i like your videos an the projects you do would you please design this with t494 since tl 494 is most available my request
@kittony71 Time is limited at the moment, I suggest you study some TL494 SMPS circuits, read the datasheet, watch some videos and try it yourself. Doing it yourself is the best way to learn.
@@Paul_VK3HN thanks am working on it right now
Very good. Great activity, great, great
Thank you 🤗
Just subscribed im thinking your somewhat local to NE Victoria. Looking to set Ham operation in Murray Valley around Walwa. Is there club that i can get guidance from in this region thank you. Jeff Moore
Hi Jeff. I live in Melbourne but have spent time in NE Victoria for walking and portable radio fun over the past 7 or 8 years. I've been to Walwa, on the Murray, lovely spot. Re clubs not sure there are some very active radio clubs in Victoria suggest you search online , you could email Amateur Radio Victoria, very nice people, they might know. Also, find out the contact person for your local VHF repeater, probably Albury. Good luck 👍
i am really confused
What is confusing you about this project?
Hİ Paul, how did you fix your Lcd screen to the cutted window ? Im placing components of qrp to encloser ( like board, Lcd, encoder etc...) of my MST 2 qrp. But i dont want use screw and and nut while fixing it to front panel due to bad visual. how did you fix LCD screen to the front panel, without screw and nut? heated silicon or glue etc ... 73
Thanks for your comment. The Arduino and display etc are mounted vertically on three pieces of aluminium angle, a horizontal piece and two vertical pieces either side. The big LCD is mounted against these verticals. The whole assembly is self contained and the base is M3 bolted to the chassis floor. You can see this in the video at 0:40 to 0:45 seconds in. Is that clear? To be clear, there are no bolts thru the front panel as you can see.
@@Paul_VK3HN ok Bro, i saw aluminium chassis which is Lcd mounted to , it is really genius action, your rig is really looks awesome, im your close follower. Thanks for your fast reply . Regards from Istanbul Turkey TA1TRX 73 👌👌👌
Good on you bro! The MST from OzQrp? I've built two of those a good design and well kitted by Leon VK2DOB. Good luck! Have fun. 🤓
@@Paul_VK3HN Exactly OZqrp, your countryman from Australia. I know VK2DOB and also i'm following him tube too. Thanks Paul for your support. Regards 73🙏🙏🙏
Dear Paul, the sketch upload process still fails, I have tried several times. si5351.h no such file or directory. Please advise. Tks
Your si5351 library is not being found by the Arduino compiler. 1. install the lib by jason NT7S; 2. Upload and run his test script or alignment script to your Arduino with si5351 wired up and verify all is working. 3. If your compiler still cannot see library .h files check you paths in Arduino IDE settings; 4. Then reload my sketch and try again. Let me know if you continue to have problems. All the Arduino help is online from mutiple reputable sources. Good luck! SK . .
Fauloso no tengo tanto conocimiento estoy comenzando en fh espero llegar a lo que pueden hacer ustedes me gustaria tener algun contacto con ustedes ,soy de chile
Hola, gracias por comentar. Cada gran proyecto son muchos proyectos pequeños conectados entre sí. Comience con algunos módulos receptores simples, como VFO analógico, amplificadores y filtros IF, mezcladores, amplificadores de audio y el conocimiento práctico se obtendrá poco a poco. ¡Buena suerte! ¡Es un pasatiempo maravilloso!
You have your own reasons why this AM radio is not equipped with AGC which regulates the G2 voltage. And in front of it the SA612 RF preamp 2N3904 is effective in use. thanks
KISS (keeping it simple). And I don't mind the sound of AM signal fading, it is a nice sound complete with amplitude variations and phase distortion which I expect a working AGC wold smooth out. And yes the RF preamp stage adds 12-15dB or so which can be useful, it depends on your antenna.
The AM transceiver you built is for the vfo+455khz receiver. because the difference in IFT for transmitting Vfo is separate due to the difference in IF, so the dds program is made differently for TX and RX . Thanks
Yes that's right. The receiver VFO is signal_freq + 455, when you go to transmit the VFO is on the signal frequency for AM. This is very easy to do with si5351 PLL clock generator and a microcontroller.
My god, This is absolutely incredible sounds clear love all the filtering. I'm blown away by it's sheer complexity and it looks amazingly well built. A top tier build in my humble opinion. Great video, I enjoyed watching it.
Thanks very much Simon. About 18 months later I came bamk to this project and did some more work on it, mostly adding the remaining bands, bolting everhthing down, and I added a proper AM detector, video here: czcams.com/video/uasUCzHxIcg/video.html
One of the joys of building gear is finding old projects and reviving them! Good stuff Paul, and I think that the old 80/20 rule applies to simple receivers and transmitters too - 80% of the performance is gained with just 20% of the complexity. Perhaps you'll pull this receiver out again in a few years and take another spin around the band with it! Cheers, Dave AA7EE
Thanks for commenting Dave. You are right about simple receivers and transmitters demonstrating the 80/20 principle. Another way that I think this is true is that the last 20% of a radio project in terms of features, sometimes takes 80% of the total effort. Which is all to say, as far as HF QRP radio is concerned, simplicity has a lot going for it. My Tentec DC Receiver is safe in its box, it did enough to hold off part stripping or an eBay listing, so it will come out again someday, sooner or later, for another evaluation. Maybe it will be a collectible next time. 73 Paul.
Just a suggestion, to get nice round holes in aluminium use methylated spirits as a coolant/ lubricant.
Good tip! Thanks. Actually my tools are quite basic, a proper workshop would produce improvements. BTW I used methylated spirits as a lubricant coolant when tapping M3 holes in aluminium heatshrink material.
Nice
Thanks
Great audio out of that rig
Thanks, it's just pure old fashioned linear circuitry from antenna to speaker.
@@Paul_VK3HN cant beat that. I am getting ready to build an airpal radio kit. Not at your level but should be fun
Total beauty. Congrats 73 from HI3MFR
Thanks Michel, there's another video made a few years later which shows it more completed. czcams.com/video/uasUCzHxIcg/video.html
When I have been rock bound and QRP over the many years, I have learned to expect the unexpected. Here in the States on 40m it does not usually take me very long to call out and get a response yet there are times it is like fishing on a bad day and the fish just are not biting. I have a fair assortment of crystals I can choose from for 40m so I can move around a bit and that helps somewhat. Patience is the key for portable operation but you will be rewarded if you just hang in there. 73 de WA4JAT
Thanks, I agree with your comments! Persistence is rewarded!
Love that your running AM
There's still a lot of 160m AM activity here in VK3. Thanks for commenting!
Lamentablemente yo no tengo tanta paciencia y me canso de llamar prefiero contestar a los CQ. 73. de EA3BUU
Amazing
Microcontrollers and PLLs are amazing.
How way arduino for lcd 20x4 this ..sir ?
The Lcd library I used takes the number of rows, columns as arguments to the constructor. It's easy to do!
@@Paul_VK3HN but on the display is two bar .?
@@syarifudin8941I'm sorry, I don't understand your question. 😢
Sorry sir. What use I2C the board arduino to lcd is 20x4 ?
@@syarifudin8941 I did not use I2C to connect the 20x4 LCD to the Arduino. It is wired direct, in the usual way, just the same as you would wire a 16x2 display.
Selamat sore..saya mencoba membuat
Good luck, there are lots of designs for si5351 and ATMega328 microcontrollers.
Intresting method. Good job. But why your not used ps + kicad or else free software for trasing psb?
You could do the board layout with kicad or similar. At the time I'd not learned everything you need to do board layout. I've subsequently made a number of boards using EasyEDA from JLCPCB. I will still do handmade boards for small pieces.
Yes, you can create a board in EasyEDA print it on glossy inkjet photo paper using Laser Printer, and copy mask from paper to PSB using hot iron or laminator.
@@sergeykizilov38That would work. I haven't tried it. Lots of makers have. I'll do more off shore fabricated PCBs in the future, using JLC or similar.
Go esp32 already. Omg. Arduino has lost following
Mate, look at the date!!
@@Paul_VK3HN my bad :)
Very nice, I love your case work! Do you make your cases or buy them, if so from whom?
I made all of these cases by hand, just using hand tools. All using aluminium sheet bases and tops, angle sides, front and rears, fastened with pop rivets, and nuts & bolts ranging from M2 to M4, but mostly M2 and M3.
hello Paul, I want to make radio like this. great transceiver
You can do it! Take your time, one board at a time, and you will learn more than you know! Good luck 👍
@@Paul_VK3HN 👍
Very enjoyable.
Tnx Trevor!
Fantastic Paul, Thanks for the video. VK3ACU
Tnx Peter.
I really enjoy watching your builds. I learn something every time
Glad you like them! Thanks for commenting.
Thank you. I learned on the LowFER band in the USA just what low power, (7 mW EIRP,) low frequency, (1750 meters,) and low data rates, (1 bit per second,) can do for long range communications. I was blanketing about 1/3 of the USA with my signal, essentially in groundwave. Putting the attributes of low data rates and low power together with skip conditions on HF is every bit (bad pun) as impressive. Your simple, low power transmitter shows what can easily be done with little expense. I hope this video convinces others to get into building their own rigs for such tasks, because ham radio is all about learning. Well done.
Thanks John. MW and LW are remarkable bands. We hams have 472khz, 630m, and 137khz, 2200m. I've never transmitted on LW but have listened to a VK3 who was a regular, and he used to say 630m was better than 80m and 160m for reliability. WSPR attains it's remarkable range because of the slow data rate and digital decoding in SDRs. 20m band has improved since this video was made and Au to US and EU propagation on very low power WSPR occurs routinely now. It will never cease to amaze me what radio and the ionosphere can do. 73 Paul VK3HN.
The problem with this is that if you don't have a good permanent marker pen with good ink that has good adhesive qualities, all the work could go in vain or with bad quality tracks. I had these experience several times.
You do need to keep your pens fresh. But I used the same pens for over a year, with no issues.
Excellent project. I love it. How can I get few PCB's. I have been a HAM for 35 years. Still I don't have a HF rig. I like to do some project using PCB & Arduino Sketch. 73 de 4S7DB Daya Buddhadasa
Thanks Daya. There are a few errors on the boards . I intended to do a second run to fix these, but life got in the way. So I prefer not to release this project, as people would need ti.e consuming email support. I hope to get back to this so.eday. 73 Paul VK3HN.
Fantastic
Tnx!
Sometime the CZcams recommendation algorithm comes up trumps. What a gorgeous build. I'm envious of your construction skills! 73, 2E0LNS
Thanks Matt. It was a fun project. Haven't used it much on 10m, must get it out now that the band is working!
Exceptional 40 meter XCVR with a great filter All the bells and whistles A great enclosure And pocket size too I am quite jealous Best tu U
Thanks for the nice comments Frank. It's a cute little analog rig and fun to use. All the best to you.
Awesome.
Tnx.