Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Happy New Year!



Still find it hard to believe another year has come and gone. Maybe now that everyone is connected things just seem to move faster. We all need to sit as a family in front of a TV hooked up to the antenna on the roof, no remotes, get up and change the channel, just go back in time for one night. Things were certainly a slower pace.


Who remembers Guy Lombardo on New Years Eve? I was a kid back than but he was always on and it was clean and classy. Heard on the news tonight Miley Cyrus is one of the acts outside in Times Square, O boy. They interviewed a young lady this morning at 6:30AM already grabbing a spot for tonight. Mind you its very cold in New York today, 31 F with a real feel of 21 F. She has on 5 pairs of pants, 7 shirts, 3 scoffs, hat, gloves and ready.....2 pairs of diapers. Don't want to lose the spot I guess but I prefer my living room.


Great New Years Eve song by Mr. John Lennon - Imagine
 
Just want to wish everyone a Happy Healthy New Year!

Thursday, December 26, 2013

WorldRadio Online

More changes are coming to the WorldRadio online edition per a link from ARRL website.

Effective with the February 2014 issue of CQ, said Ross, content from the magazine’s three sister publications — Popular Communications, CQ VHF and WorldRadio Onlinewill be incorporated into CQ’s digital edition as a supplement to be called CQ Plus. The print editions of Popular Communications and CQ VHF will be phased out, and WorldRadio Online will no longer exist as a separate online publication. Current Popular Communications, CQ VHF and WorldRadio Online subscribers will be converted to CQ subscribers and receive CQ Plus at no additional charge. Details will be posted on each magazine’s website.

http://www.arrl.org/news/cq-to-realign-publications-launch-digital-supplement

Here is a preview from CQ website:

http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/cq_highlights/2014_cq/2014_02_cq/2014_02_cq_tof.html

I am a current WorldRadio subscriber, should be interesting to see how it turns out.

Touchscreens

These touchscreens seems to be everywhere and popping up all around us more and more each day.
Check out this wonderful video on what happens behind the screen with a touch of a finger.

 
 
If you want to dig deeper into touchscreens Wikipedia is a good place to get started.
 
This makes me appreciate the electronics in my smart phone or at the self service supermarket checkout.


Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Seasons Greetings



Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!
 
 
 
Have a wonderful day!!
 

History of Allied Radio

 
 
Surfing the big WWW this afternoon and came across a link featuring Allied Radio's history and a few important dates along the way. I like how they mentioned Allied's competitors over the years with Newark and Radio Shack still in business.
 
 
Allied Radio is now Allied Electronics, still a great source for components.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Just Can't Make This Up...

I was looking on ebay today in the loop antenna section checking out what MFJ-1786 is going for.

Came across an item for sale:

Someone selling the four page QST review for the MFJ-1786 antenna for $9.99.

$9.99 for a product review WOW!

OK if you go to the ARRL site this review might be available unless its in the members only section.

The best part was all four pages were scanned so with the ebay magnifier you could zoom over and read the entire review.

I should have clicked "watch this" just because someone had the nerve to list it and better yet to see if he gets a buyer!

Friday, December 6, 2013

Simple FM Transmitter

Just came across this weekend projects video for putting together a Simple FM Transmitter.


I like the method they use to form the coil and the step by step instructions for component placement.

Nice video.