rtl-sdr.com - A blog about RTL-SDR (RTL2832) and cheap software defined radio KiCad EDA Software Suite - Kicad EDA - KiCad EDA KiCad is an EDA software suite for the creation of professional schematics and printed circuit boards up to 32 copper layers with additional technical layers. KiCad runs on Windows, Linux and Apple OS X and is released under the open-source GNU GPL v2 free of charge. If you like KiCad or are making a good living using KiCad in your toolset, you should consider donating funds used for development. With KiCad you can create schematic diagrams and printed circuit board up to 32 copper layers. Eeschema, schematic editor.Pcbnew, printed circuit board editor, with a 3D viewer.Gerbview, Gerber file viewer. And then some other auxiliary tools: Pl_editor, a page layout editor.Bitmap2component, make you convert bitmap images to footprints.PCB calculator, provides some nifty calculators. The KiCad project was started by Jean-Pierre Charras, a researcher in the field of electrical engineering at GIPSA-LAB and a teacher in IUT de Saint Martin d'Hères in France. KiCad is under heavy development.
SolderSmoke Daily News First third-party “Steam Machine” could already be a console-beater When Valve laid out a range of performance tiers for the 300 Steam Machine prototypes it would be sending to beta testers, the company was clear that other hardware makers would be revealing their own designs for SteamOS-powered gaming rigs in the future. Custom PC maker iBuyPower has now become the first company to unveil a prototype for one of those designs, laying out a $499 white box with a GPU that’s comparable or slightly better than those found in the recently launched PS4 and Xbox One. The Verge reports that iBuyPower’s console-sized prototype box ("bigger than a PlayStation 4 but smaller than Microsoft's Xbox One"), which it plans to sell next year, includes an AMD Radeon R9 270 graphics card. That card was launched earlier this month at a starting price of $179, and it's intended to replace AMD’s 7850 and 7870 GPUs—close architectural relatives to those inside Microsoft's and Sony’s nearest consoles.
Reddit - Amateur/Ham Radio Home Page James Burke: Connections Connections explores an Alternative View of Change (the subtitle of the series) that rejects the conventional linear and teleological view of historical progress. Burke contends that one cannot consider the development of any particular piece of the modern world in isolation. Rather, the entire gestalt of the modern world is the result of a web of interconnected events, each one consisting of a person or group acting for reasons of their own (e.g., profit, curiosity, religious) motivations with no concept of the final, modern result of what either their or their contemporaries' actions finally led to. The interplay of the results of these isolated events is what drives history and innovation, and is also the main focus of the series and its sequels. Connections (1978) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Connections² (1994) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. Connections³ (1997) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
The Fed Files Blog Ham Radio Logging Software Omnilog -- Logging program which offers control of your KENWOOD, ICOM, TEN-TEC , or YAESU (FT840, FT900, FT990, FT1000, FT1000D) radios directly from your keyboard or emulation of any of the above radios. OPCLOG -- Personal logging program, support A.D.I.F export which makes it possible to produce custom QSL cards, by G0OPC Paper Chasers Log -- Track Awards, DXCC, IOTA, 10/10. Much More PortaLog from HamHeld -- general purpose ham radio logging program for Palm OS devices PROADIKON -- allows you to convert your logs to ADIF format. Prolog2K -- Commercial logging software for windows, with QSL route functions, logbook conversions, rig control and cluster support by Datamatrix Promethius --Logbook Package for the Mac. QRPPAL for Windows -- Free QRP logging software by WB2QAP QSL label program QSO Manager -- HF QSO/QSL/Award managment, ADIF Import/Export, full version free to everybody. Quick LogBook -- From Andy, M0CYP R25Log Logging Program -- Free -- In German -- English Version Coming Soon
Grounding and Bonding for the Amateur Size of Grounding Conductors On page 3.11, the statement "The ground conductor must be at least as large as the current-carrying conductors..." is a good guideline but the actual wording of NEC Article 250.122 is that "the ground conductor can not be required to be larger than the current-carrying conductors." (Other ground conductor sizing rules are also given for situations unlikely to apply to amateur stations.) Old Power Strips with Surge Suppressors The recommendation to avoid surge protectors was aimed at the inexpensive power strips that don't meet UL 1449 or that were manufactured before 2009 when the current version of that standard went into effect. Building Your Own Power Distribution Box Some readers asked about where to get multi-outlet cover plates. Building the power distribution center requires attention to detail if you want the one you build to be safe. AC Surge Protector Portable GFCI - "GFCI In a Box" WARC Band Chokes
QRP ARCI - Awards The QRP Amateur Radio Club International 'Elmer Award' may be submitted by any QRPARCI member for someone who has helped them along their amateur radio journey. Traditionally Elmers were probably defined as someone, usually an older ham, who provided a helping hand and guidance for someone, usually younger, entering the ham radio community. In today's fast paced, ever changing world of technology, communication advances, and the advancing age of many hams the Elmer can be viewed from a different perspective. Being licensed for many years, often decades, the tables can get reversed and it becomes the new, often much younger, ham who is performing the role of the Elmer by helping the more senior ham with guidance in new modes of communications and teaching some of the new technologies. The more senior ham may need help with antenna work or other station needs and the ham who once was considered an Elmer now is in need of the services they once provided. Download the QRP Award Application
US National Lighthouse-Lightship Weekend (NLLW) – Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society Celebrating National Lighthouse Day Coinciding with the US National Lighthouse Day, the US National Lighthouse-Lightship Weekend (NLLW) is an annual lighthouse operating and activation opportunity celebrating the anniversary of the establishment of the United States federal lighthouse service. This is a day to celebrate lighthouses, lightships and the commitment and service of those who tended America’s lights for generations. Dates National Lighthouse Day is unofficially August 7th each year. August 8th & 9th Radio ‘Weather’ for this weekend As usual there is no shortage of other operating activities this weekend including the popular North American QSO Party CW mode. As this is an operating event and not a contest, all amateur radio bands are available including the WARC bands. Activate! Interested?
Ham Radio Videos Hamuniverse Ham Radio Videos and Ham Radio Video Links!Ham radio videos from around the world! AmateurLogic TVYour source for practical ham radio technology hacks, mods, and tips.In each episode we'll present a fresh look at the technology around us and in ham radio, both old and new. Plus plenty of ham radio tips and information to help you get the most out of ham radio.Hi Speed connections required. Huge video files!Some ham radio videos near or over one hour long! Selected Ham Radio Videos and links below! ISS NA1SS Ham Radio Station Tour by Commander Doug Wheelock, KF5BOC Amazing RF Power Transistor Demonstration by NXP SemiconductorsHD video - High Speed Connection Required! More info here! Amateur Radio Today - ARRL Video- Narrated by Walter Cronkite, KB2GSD. Ham Radio Video and Sound clips - KB7TBT amateur radio video clips and sound clips collections Latest VIDEO FROM WA5KUB N1MM Videos - Video demostration of N1MM contesting software use and configuration
Raspberry Pi for HAM Radio – Projets radio Introduction Since 2012, the Raspberry Pi nano computer has become an increasingly important part of the DIY and « maker » community. The increase in power of the Raspberry Pi over the years offers very interesting possibilities for radio amateurs. So why in a club, so few OM use this tool? I have often asked myself this question and I think it comes from the use of the operating system (OS). When you want to install a software under Linux, you no longer have to double-click on a downloaded file like « setup.exe » like under Windows. However, the mastery of some basic commands in linux console allows to consider the installation of different programs and hardware such as: WSJT-XFLDIGIQSSTVDIREWOLF (APRS)SDR receivers (rtl-sdr, Lime SDR, SDRplay, Airspy, etc.)GNU-RADIOADS-B DecodingProgramming The tutorial is specially designed for beginners wishing to acquire the basics in the installation of the Raspberry Pi through the use of radio software : Basic commands, file access rights and WSPR.