Return Loss, Part 2, or SDR VNA
After my last post on return loss, I ended up scouring eBay for a return loss bridge – or a set of directional couplers – to measure antennas and other…
Shack Reboot
I decided that it’s time to reconfigure the shack… this time using dispatch consoles. The main purpose is to limit the surfaces I can pile things on – and cut…
BC 780XLT IF Tap
Several years ago, I modified a Softrock kit to operate at 455 kHz. The main purpose behind this build was to add the ability to connect it to a receiver’s…
VRS 750 Interface Cable Build
Several months ago, I stumbled upon an eBay special on VRS-750’s. I picked one up for $50 – at that price, it was worth having a backup on the shelf.…
RSSI correlation
One interesting aspect of the BCD-996 and similar radios is the digital command and status protocol. In digging into the software, I learned that there is a RSSI (Relative Signal…
A new take on the generic programming cable
I previously added (as “comments” to my post on RS-232 to TTL cable) the fact that I had purchased some USB to TTL converters, intending to remove the middle man…
Photography
Cameras are cool, too…. testing the zenfolio plugin.. For the 100AW rally, I decided I wanted to catch some action photos… which is not a horrible challenge, if one has…
A generic radio programming cable
Many years ago, programming the memories in an amateur radio was a “neat” feature. As the capability was included in more radios, the radio manufacturers also began charging a hefty…
A Whetstone Bridge – and what it’s good for….
Another Article with back story… at about 4:20 PM, I was getting ready to leave work, when my phone rang. Bryan was asking what I knew about whetstone bridges. While…
Return Loss – A new take on VSWR measurement
Well, first some background – and definitions I’ll give some basic definitions and descriptions… if you want the full detailed technical description, try here http://microwaves101.com/encyclopedia/index.cfm Network Analyzer A network analyzer…