Radio Projects

Recent Projects:

Internet Gateway
I have set up an Internet Gateway. The first step was to deal with all the paperwork from Ofcom and the DCC. Having that done I needed to get it registered with Echolink. Setting up the actual gateway was relatively straight forward. I used an old computer 1GHz CPU 256MB memory running XP hooked it up to my Internet router and used an FT 817 with a data interface. The speaker output of the radio is fed directly into the soundcard of the computer and the computer audio output is fed into the microphone input of the radio using an optocoupler. The PTT is voice activated.

Restoration of FRG-7
The FRG7 is an old shortwave receiver which was the flagship of SW listening in the 70ies. I managed to buy two of them. One from a bring and buy rally and one from ebay. The bring and buy RX was butchered due to someone fitting a digital display which I didn't realise when paid for it - about 2 minutes later I did but then it was too late. The ebay receiver came but the some display lights didn't work. The receiver was advertised as fully working - when I took it apart I could see that it had been butchered too and someone tried to replace the 12V display lights with LEDs without using any resistors which obviously didn't work. I swopped the display modules from one butchered machine to the other and it worked fine. The FRG was slightly of frequency on one band but tuning one of the capacitors pulled it right back in.
After two hours work and good cleanup the receiver works beautifully and is a joy to operate. I would encourage everyone to have a go at old equipment and give it a new lease of life

SDR - Software Defined Radio + Remote Control
Recently I have had a little argument with the editor of Radcom who was all for SDR but I just couldn't see the point. The cost is similar to a fully fletched rig with the 'hardware' interface and you dont't rely on having another computer to get the interface. Still I decided to look at it again. I then realised that there is a lot of software around allowing you to interface your computer with my Yaesu rigs. I gave it a go and lo and behold it worked a treat. All the controls could be controlled from a PC. The next step is to feed the audio into the soundcard and to be able to control your rig from the LAN and to be able to receive the sound as well. Step no.3 would be to transmit from the LAN as well and to control the radio 2 way. It will be nice to sit in the warm living room near the fire with your laptop to surf the bands from the comfort of the sofa before venturing to the cold shed.

Planned Projects
 

Emergency Power Supply
I am planning to put a system together which will make it possible to use radio communications even though grid power may not be available. I am looking to put a system together which is based on using a combination of solar panels, car batteries, small generator and possibly an old redundant server UPS connected to an inverter. The solution will be portable and small enough to be used from a car.

Mobile Operations Centre
I have read a fascinating article on eham. A radio club bought a big truck to set up a mobile operations centre for emergencies. Obviously I do not intend to go to that scale but I got ideas. At the moment I just chuck all the equipment in the back of my van drive to my destination and start operating. How much nicer would it be to just have a ready made setup something like a console into which all your radio gear  fits snugly and neatly, build into the van and mobile enough to remove it when it is not needed. I anticipate that the experience of operating will be very different and much more rewarding.

Modification of FT 847 to work higher power on 4m
Unfortunately the FT847 only runs at 10W on 4m since it is not designed for the band and 70MHz operation already requires a modification to the radio. I have heard that there is a non intrusive method by inserting a small ferrite core into a coil to make the transmitter a bit more responsive on 4. I am exploring the options and will give it a go soon.

QRV Plan for 2007
In 2007 I am aiming to focus on one band during each month of the year. I am not sure whether I will stick to it but it would be interesting to hear opinions on it. Have you had a go at something similar?