Tag: AC8VK

This is a quick video I shot while troubleshooting a Receive (Rx) Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) problem that affects my location from time to time. This appearance of this RFI is sporadic, and since moving to his location about two years ago I have experienced it about a half-dozen times.

One of the first steps for solving a noise problem is finding out if it is generated within your own home, or is external to it. It is actually really good news if the noise is generated by equipment or appliances that you own and control ! The general 1st step there is to power the radio from a battery and turn off all your own power. If that eliminates it, you can then use a divide and conquer strategy to identify the specific source and remediate it. read more

Quick review of finds from the OH-KY-IN hamfest, which was held September 21st 2019.

Hope you enjoyed the video. I am working on a follow-up on how to characterize flea market and second hand meters so they can be used in new projects.

73, Erik / AC8VK

I love prototyping electronics projects – really projects in general – and I hope you do (or will soon). One trap that many Makers, tinkerers and would be citizen scientists get caught in, is holding ourselves to high design and finish standards.

This post was inspired by “What’s All This Pease Prototype Stuff, Anyhow?” – check it out.

In my youth, I had the great fortune of living within walking distance of a library that had the “maker” publications of era: QST, 73 and CQ – in addition to other hobby magazines. Currently we have access to tremendous volumes of build and prototype content via Maker oriented magazines, electronics blogs galore and youtube.

One thing to keep in mind, is that very often we are not seeing raw, first-draft, or one-off project builds. Often these projects were built and then re-built for the magazine photos or for the video. This creates an interesting gap – where many folks are frustrated by their build skills and reluctant to share what they are working on. I myself fall into this trap all of time, especially when in comes to finishing a project with a case. read more

Every technology adventure begins with a “Hello World” moment, whether it is getting that first computer program to run, or the first LED to blink, we always start small and build from there.

My friends at Ohio Valley Experimenters club have invited me to blog and video blog on www.kd8lbs.com and the invitation could not have come at a better time. Since getting reengaged with amateur radio and hobby electronics in 2016 I have been anxious to do some blogging about it. Why? Because I love the hobby, and I really enjoy connecting with people through it… and digital content is the new connections medium.

So, watch this space for a mix of blog postings and video…

73,
AC8VK / Erik