A technology blog to show my creations and thoughts, to inspire others and to share the fun!

Tag 30m

Transmitters and receivers

First experiences with my 30m QRP transceiver

This year I built a very nice 30m QRP transceiver, based on a design by Onno PA2OHH. Meanwhile I have used this rig a couple of times, and did some measurements too. This article tells some of my experiences with…

Ernest
25 November 2014

Tools and measurement

Altoids L-tuner

A while ago Tjeerd PA3GNZ donated me some Barkleys mint tins (identical to the famous Altoids tins), which are rather popular by QRP builders to house small homebrew stuff. Two weeks later I found a czech webshop, offering a kit…

Ernest
25 August 2014

Transmitters and receivers

30m QRP transceiver – Part 5

Since the VFO, LF and receiver seem to work without any problems, it was getting time to build the final parts: the transmitter board, the transmit/receive-switch and the lowpass filter.

Ernest
19 August 2014

Transmitters and receivers

30m QRP transceiver – Part 4

Since I finished all modules for the receiver part (power, LF, VFO and RX-board), it was getting time to put everything together and place it in a nice case. Onno PA2OHH (designer of this radio) managed to put the complete…

Ernest
3 July 2014

Transmitters and receivers

30m QRP transceiver – Part 3

Now all LF parts and the VFO were finished, it was time to build the RF-part of the receiver.

Ernest
7 April 2014

Transmitters and receivers

30m QRP transceiver – Part 2

Building a stable VFO is challenging. Oscillators tend to drift away due to (very small) temperature fluctuation, or due to small capacitive changes in the direct environment (e.g. the frequency changes when you move your hand towards the oscillator). The…

Ernest
19 March 2014
1 Comment

Antennas

A very small active antenna

Small active antennas like the “mini-whip” (by PA0RDT) are very popular at the moment. They provide good reception of signals from HF all the way down to the VLF band. Here in the Netherlands Van Dijken Elektronica sells a nice…

Ernest
9 March 2014
4 Comments

Transmitters and receivers

30m QRP transceiver – Part 1

This summer I want to go walking in the beautiful highlands of Scotland, together with my wife. The mobile phone coverage in this desolate area is none or poor, but hey… I’m a radio amateur! For a daily “sign of…

Ernest
3 March 2014
5 Comments

Antennas

J-pole antennas for HF bands

Introduction I’ve been using J-pole antennas on the 2m band from the first day I got licensed. They perform very well, are easy to construct and are cheap. Since Adrian PA0RDA and I have been experimenting with vertical antennas for…

Ernest
10 November 2013