Simple FM Transmitter

Here is a simple FM Transmitter circuit that is easy to build and loads of fun to play with.

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Ultimate-FM-Transmitter/

This is a great way to get kids interested in electronics & building.

Please check with your local laws before hitting the on switch.

Have Fun!

Learn Electronics Online

Learn electronics on YouTube.

http://www.efytimes.com/e1/fullnews.asp?edid=137104

5 courses and 207 videos, what a goldmine of information.

Good stuff for kids & adults.

Soldering Is Easy Comic Book

Here is a wonderful free online booklet showing the basics of soldering.

Soldering Is Easy

Soldering Is Easy
Here's How To Do It

This easy to read comic book format was put together by Jeff Keyzer, Mitch Altman, & Andie Nordgren.

A good read for the beginner and a few helpful tips for the rest of us.

The man behind the telephone dial.

A nice New York Times article about John E. Karlin, the man behind making the telephone easier to use, passed away recently at 94 years old.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/09/business/john-e-karlin-who-led-the-way-to-all-digit-dialing-dies-at-94.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0&adxnnl=1&smid=tw-nytimes&partner=rss&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1360458019-NV0XmaNHLExenVY47wz8bw

It's amazing the amount of inventions that came out of Bell Labs in New Jersey.

How to solder correctly.

Nice instructional video on basic soldering with a few good tips.
One mentioned was to clip component leads before soldering to protect joint. I always clip after, bend leads to hold item in place. Also I have never cleaned up board after job is complete.

Good stuff!

Batteries From Spare Change

Check out this space change battery video.
This is getting the most out of your penny!

Chat With The Designers

The New Jersey QRP Club has put together an excellent series of podcasts covering various topics for the amateur radio operator and electronics enthusiast.

So far I have listened to Favorite Parts & Kit Suppliers and Intro To The Digital Modes.

These podcasts go into great detail offering the listener different ideas and approaches as well as a learning aid into the subjects covered. This afternoon I am going to listen to Schematic Capture and PCB Layout.

The podcast broadcasts live every Tuesday at 8:00PM eastern time.
Be sure to check out the growing list of topics.

http://www.njqrp.org/teamspeak/TeamspeakChat.html

Thank you to the NJ QRP Club for taking the time and putting these wonderful podcasts on the web for all of us to enjoy.

Dark Silicon

This mornings NY Times Science section had some good reading on the problems designers are having with the large quantity's of transistors loaded on a silicon chip and the power requirements they require.

Without enough power for all of them, transistors are left in the dark, while others are working.

"The phenomenon is known as dark silicon."

Check out the article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/01/science/01chips.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha23

Just Learn Morse Code

The past few days I starting playing with Just Learn Morse Code.

This is a free download with some cool features that lets the user adjust speeds, characters, words per minute, and pitch.

http://www.justlearnmorsecode.com/

One of my goals this year is to get the code down where I am comfortable on the key and not scrambling when receiving.

We received about 4-5 inches of the white stuff today, all shoveled out so can sit back and relax tonight.