Good DX and 73, NJ2X
May 10, 2013
The Man Behind Morse Code
Interesting four-minute piece from the History Channel on the Man Behind Morse Code
Good DX and 73, NJ2X
Good DX and 73, NJ2X
May 3, 2013
April 27, 2013
Funny burger commercial which includes ham radio
April 12, 2013
Ham it up when travelling to Walt Disney World
Planning a trip to Disney World? If yes, hear is a little secret. You can ham it up in Disney World by simply packing your HT. There are two repeaters right on the Walt Disney World property (2m FM and 440Mhz D-Star).
In our family, we have several licensed hams and found our 2m FM HT's indeed handy for staying in communication with each other while having fun in Disney World.
Disney Emergency Amateur Radio Service
147.300 + .600 PL Tone 103.5
Echolink Node 632802
WD4WDW B
Gateway Enabled
Good DX and 73, NJ2X
Related articles on NJ2X.com:
In our family, we have several licensed hams and found our 2m FM HT's indeed handy for staying in communication with each other while having fun in Disney World.
Disney Emergency Amateur Radio Service
2m FM
147.300 + .600 PL Tone 103.5Echolink Node 632802
440 MHz D-Star
442.000 + 5.000WD4WDW B
Gateway Enabled
Good DX and 73, NJ2X
Related articles on NJ2X.com:
April 5, 2013
Smith Charts and SimSmith
The Smith chart, invented by Phillip H. Smith (1905–1987), is a graphical aid to assist in solving problems with transmission lines and matching circuits.
Confused about what Smith charts are or how to use them? We found a series of videos by AE6TY and a tool called SimSmith that are very helpful.
There is some really good information available at http://www.ae6ty.com/Smith_Charts.html
Good DX and 73, NJ2X
Confused about what Smith charts are or how to use them? We found a series of videos by AE6TY and a tool called SimSmith that are very helpful.
There is some really good information available at http://www.ae6ty.com/Smith_Charts.html
Good DX and 73, NJ2X
April 1, 2013
Bob Ufer Birthday - Go Blue
Growing up in Michigan, we regularly listened to Michigan football games broadcast on AM radio and announced by the great Bob Ufer. Bob announced Michigan football games for 36 years. His announcing style was unlike anything we have ever heard before or since. Bob's enthusiasm and excitement for "Meechigan" football was positively infectious.
Bob Ufer was born this day on April 1, 1920 in Pittsburgh, PA.
Listen to Bob Ufer announcing the 1979 IU vs. U of M during Anthony Carter's touch down leading U of M to win (27-21).
Go Blue! NJ2X
 |
| Bob Ufer |
Bob Ufer was born this day on April 1, 1920 in Pittsburgh, PA.
Listen to Bob Ufer announcing the 1979 IU vs. U of M during Anthony Carter's touch down leading U of M to win (27-21).
Go Blue! NJ2X
March 30, 2013
The Altoid tin: a nearly perfect DIY enclosure
The Altoids tin is one of the very favorite enclosures of the DIY / home-brewing electronic enthusiast / ham radio experimenter. For small electronic projects, the Altoids tin is nearly a perfect fit for purpose.
Good DX and 73, NJ2X
Other related articles on NJ2X.COM
 |
| Altoids Tin Photograph by Michael W. Maher |
- Free (after you eat the excellent peppermints)
- Recycled / reused
- Durable (its metal)
- Hinged lid
- Light weight
- Size can accommodate a small circuit board, 9v battery, and mounting jacks, knobs, and such.
- Outside dimensions:
- 3-13/16" (9.68 cm) length
- 2-7/16" (6.19 cm) width
- 3/4" (1.91 cm) height
Good DX and 73, NJ2X
Other related articles on NJ2X.COM
- Project: Tiny Mint Tin Switched 9v Battery to Anderson PowerPole
- Project: PicoKeyer Plus Kit
- How To: Lock Together Anderson PowerPole Connectors
- Project: Anderson Powerpole to 2.1mm Connector Pigtail
- Project: Car power adapter to Anderson Powerpole
© Michael W. Maher and NJ2X.COM, 2013. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Michael W. Maher and NJ2X.COM with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
March 29, 2013
March 24, 2013
So where can I find the FCC amateur radio exam question pool?
One of the common questions people have is about how to locate a copy of the FCC amateur radio exam question pool. The question pools (both questions and answers) are readily available for download on the ARRL website.
ARRL FCC Amateur Radio Exam Question Pools
ARRL FCC Amateur Radio Exam Question Pools
Dive into the FCC amateur radio exam question pool
March 22, 2013
Solder Smoke Night March 2013
This past week NJ2X and KC2VSR attended the "Solder Smoke Night" held by our local club Skyview Amateur Radio Society. What can be more fun than building a kit? Building a kit with room full of friends - that is what.
KC2VSR discovered the kit was a little more involved than expected since a hacksaw was required to cut the circuit board into two parts. One part for the detector circuit and the other for use as the remote sensor. Fortunately, the club's workshop was well equipped with both a hacksaw and vice to hold the board secure. With a little help from a fellow ham a perfect cut was quickly made.
While experimenting with the completed circuit, KC2VSR found that his water alarm kit could be triggered by simply placing a finger across the sensor plates (without water). With just a touch, he then demonstrated that it doubled nicely as a Morse code practice oscillator. Fun!
Good DX and 73, NJ2X
© Michael W. Maher and NJ2X.COM, 2013. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Michael W. Maher and NJ2X.COM with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
 |
| NJ2X's build of a dual voltage linear power supply |
 |
| KC2VSR built this neat Velleman Water Alarm |
 |
| KC2VSR's build of the Velleman Water Alarm kit |
While experimenting with the completed circuit, KC2VSR found that his water alarm kit could be triggered by simply placing a finger across the sensor plates (without water). With just a touch, he then demonstrated that it doubled nicely as a Morse code practice oscillator. Fun!
Good DX and 73, NJ2X
© Michael W. Maher and NJ2X.COM, 2013. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Michael W. Maher and NJ2X.COM with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
March 19, 2013
The Ham Whisperer: Morse Code Course
I recently learned of the The Ham Whisperer: Morse Code Course: lessons for the International Morse Code Course. This free course is a fun way to learn Morse code.
I really enjoyed lesson one. The video pace was slow enough that I could keep up without issue and fast enough that I didn't lose interest. I particularly liked the positive reinforcement of the association between the letter and the Morse code equivalent. For example, while learning the letter "E" a voice would speak the letter "E" after the Morse code "dit" while the screen displayed a large, "E". This approach worked for me very well.
The duration of the lesson was also about right with enough practice to learn three letters while short enough to again keep the student's attention.
So if you are looking for help to learn Morse code do check out The Ham Whisperer.
Good DX and 73, NJ2X
 |
| Morse Code with a straight key is fun! |
I really enjoyed lesson one. The video pace was slow enough that I could keep up without issue and fast enough that I didn't lose interest. I particularly liked the positive reinforcement of the association between the letter and the Morse code equivalent. For example, while learning the letter "E" a voice would speak the letter "E" after the Morse code "dit" while the screen displayed a large, "E". This approach worked for me very well.
The duration of the lesson was also about right with enough practice to learn three letters while short enough to again keep the student's attention.
So if you are looking for help to learn Morse code do check out The Ham Whisperer.
Good DX and 73, NJ2X
March 16, 2013
Ohm's Birthday
Georg Simon Ohm was born on this day, March 16, 1789. Ohm was the dicoverer of Ohm's Law (E = I * R).
 |
| Georg Simon Ohm |
March 2, 2013
Project: Wheel Of Fortune Kit (Velleman)
We are big fans of the Velleman mini kits. They are low-cost, fun to build, and fun to play with. At the same time they help kids learn valuable lessons for themselves:
As with our other favorite kits, there is something special about LED's - adds a real "fun factor". The kit components are all through-the-hole type (i.e. no surface mount components). This is really an important factor when selecting a kit for beginners. Through-the-hole components are largers and easier to handle and more forgiving when soldering than the surface-mount type. Stick to kits with through-the-hole for beginners.
KC2VSR won this really great "third hand" at the Skyview Radio Society annual banquet this past January. This build gave us the chance to try it out. It was a perfect helper for this kit. The built-in magnifying lens helped with seeing the small parts during placement and soldering.
The build turned out perfectly and was great fun giving it a spin.
We highly recommend the Velleman, "Wheel of Fortune" kit for a young person (or anyone else) interested in electronics and building simple fun circuits.
Good DX and 73, NJ2X
© Michael W. Maher and NJ2X.COM, 2013. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Michael W. Maher and NJ2X.COM with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
- Soldering technique
- Discrete electronic component identification
- Learning how to properly orient parts on a circuit board
- Problem solving (when things go wrong)
 |
| Velleman Wheel Of Fortune Kit Package |
 |
| Velleman Wheel Of Fortune Kit Parts |
 |
| Kit being soldered as viewed through magnifying glass |
 |
| The "third hand" with magnifying glass really help with build process |
 |
| Velleman Wheel Of Fortune Kit Built |
We highly recommend the Velleman, "Wheel of Fortune" kit for a young person (or anyone else) interested in electronics and building simple fun circuits.
Good DX and 73, NJ2X
- Project: Wheel Of Fortune Kit (Velleman)
- Brain Game Kit - Velleman
- 3D Xmas Tree Kit - Velleman
- Project: PicoKeyer Plus Kit
- Soldering 101
- Desoldering 101
- Project: PAiA P60 Regulated Power Supply Kit
- Project: Anderson PowerPole Polarity Checker
- Project: Morton Salt Box Crystal Radio Repair (Part 1)
- Considerations For A New Antenna - Part 2
- Project: Home Brew 9 Volt Battery Clip
- Project: Anderson Powerpole to 2.1mm Connector Pigtail
- Project: Car Power Adapter to Anderson Powerpole
© Michael W. Maher and NJ2X.COM, 2013. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Michael W. Maher and NJ2X.COM with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)