How to write an article for a magazine

Once completing a project it's good to share your experience with others. Because at any one time there will be others wanting to try it or something similar. Options for sharing including making a video, writing a forum post, saying something on Facebook, or, if you want something more enduring, writing a magazine article.

This popular (but highly disliked) video, tells you how one might approach this.

PS: Are you interested in more portable antennas? If so this book could be just what you need. Available as an ebook or in paperback you can find out more here. 

Closure of an electronics shop - Truscotts of Melbourne

The rise of software over hardware, increasing shop rents and online ordering from China has made the independent electronics shop a threatened species. Here in Melbourne we're luckier than most cities. We still have outlets from the Jaycar and Altronics chains, and there is still Rockby. 

But until a month ago there was also Truscotts Electronic World in Croydon in Melbourne's east. As well has stocking the usual parts there were also hard to get items like RF ICs and variable capacitors. Along with various surplus stuff. Enjoy these pictures as I go for a walk through back in July. 

PS: Heard about my new book? It's Australia's own amateur radio handbook. Available in both electronic and paperback form, you can find out more here. 

Fun with ring modulators for inverted SSB and crazy audio

Have a receiver that only receives upper sideband signals but wish to receive lower sideband transmissions (eg from hams) on it? Here's something that can  help. It's a sideband inverter. Because it operates at audio there's no internal modification to your equipment needed. And if you wish to transmit on the opposite sideband you could use it in reverse as well. 

The unit uses a diode ring modulator made with two transformers. And an audio oscillator at 3 kHz. Find out more in this detailed video here: 

PS: I've now written six books on various aspects of amateur radio. Whether you experiment with antennas, enjoy QRP or are starting out in radio there's a book for you. Find out more here.

Two ground tuning units for portable antennas

A ground tuning unit is sometimes useful for vertical antennas. 

Especially those over or near salt water. 

The first one was when I was trying pedestrian mobile antennas for walking along the beach. It worked but changing ground conditions meant its settings varied when I walked over different patches. I eventually reconfigured it to an L-match antenna coupler that became the basis for the Wadetenna I've used for hundreds of pedestrian mobile contacts. 

This is a beefier version that could handle more power. It's a much more recent project. It's just the thing if you want to set up antennas for operating from piers.

PS: I've now written six books on various aspects of amateur radio. Whether you experiment with antennas, enjoy QRP or are starting out in radio there's a book for you. Find out more here.

Street finds 2019 - more pickings from the kerb

Some more finds from the street. Not as much as before but there was a 27 MHz CB walkie talkie. I give it an overhaul and do a range test. How far does it transmit? Find out in this video.

PS: Are you returning to amateur radio after a spell away? If so this book might be just the ticket. It fills you in on what you missed and brings you up to speed with activities modern hams enjoy. Available in electronic or paperback form you can find out more here. 

Street finds 2019 - pickings from the kerb

Join me as I prowl the streets for thrown out electronic bits and pieces. Do I find anything useful? Does anything work? Are items fixable? Watch and find out!

PS: These books are so rare you'll never find these on the street. And their owners will never wish to part with them. I've now written six books on various aspects of amateur radio. Whether you experiment with antennas, enjoy QRP or are starting out in radio there's a book for you. Find out more here.

Using salt and vinegar to clean corroded connections

I've probably mentioned this before but it's still a technique you rarely see being written about.

Salt and vinegar is more useful than just putting on chips.

And the video is really popular with about 40 000 views.

So here it is!

PS: Want to do more with amateur radio? 99 things you can do with Amateur Radio is full of ideas. Available as a low-cost ebook or in paperback, you can find out more here. 

Loop tuner loads up 2 metres of coax cable as an antenna

Everyone loves magnetic loops and magnetic loop videos. At least that's what the stats and comments tell me. Anyway here's another. I'm using the magnetic loop tuner described before but with a short length of coax. Only 2m. That allows resonance on 7, 10 and 14 MHz.

But just because you can get resonance doesn't mean that results will be good as you'll see here.

PS: Heard about my new book? It's Australia's own amateur radio handbook. Available in both electronic and paperback form, you can find out more here. 

Australian pirate radio examples

Pirate radio broadcasting is rare in Australia. I've only ever heard one. Older people may have heard several. Reasons for its rarity could be our sparse population density and long-standing tradition of commercial broadcasting; something less common in more highly regulated European countries. 

Anyway enjoy these accounts of local pirate activity.

1970s: Radio FU2 transmitted on 27 MHz (before CB was legalised). This is Part 1. It's continued in Parts 2, 3 & 4. Coarse language and controversial themes.

2007: Tim Wong See. Led to a career in commercial and ABC radio. 

2016: Wollongong pirate fined  More here

2017: Broadcast after the shut down of Radio Australia on shortwave

Have you ever heard pirate broadcast transmissions? If so please leave your comments below.

PS: I've now written six books on various aspects of amateur radio. Whether you experiment with antennas, enjoy QRP or are starting out in radio there's a book for you. Find out more here.

Uses for a two dollar MP3 player in amateur radio

Incredibly cheap and incredibly useful. I'm talking about very low cost MP3 players. Watch the video for some ideas on how you can put them to use around the ham shack. 

PS: Want to do more with amateur radio? 99 things you can do with Amateur Radio is full of ideas. Available as a low-cost ebook or in paperback, you can find out more here. 

Nocturnal transmitting with the 80 & 160m coaxial magnetic loop

Yesterday we featured a magnetic loop, made from 15m of coaxial cable, that worked on 80 and 160 metres. I was using it during the day which limited transmitting range. Last night I went out to see what distances I could get when it was dark. Here are my results. 

PS: Are you interested in more portable antennas? If so this book could be just what you need. Available as an ebook or in paperback you can find out more here.