An experimental STM32 Frequency Counter

May 10, 2020, 2:04 am

Well,

In an attempt to learn more about microcontroller programming I have done a little bit of training during this Covid-19 lockdown:

My first real attempt to use these skills is below. I've used a GPS 1pps signal to accurately count an external frequency. This is a GPS disciplined freuqnecy counter:

Good, isn't it?

Here is a picture of me (with Covid-19 dog clipper hair cut) and my beloved Bonnie dog:

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Article 0

May 15, 2020, 3:30 am

≫ Next: CQ WW WPX - CW Contest Time

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Well,

By popular request I have put together a demonstration of the IC-7610 in action:

I hope you like it!

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CQ WW WPX - CW Contest Time

May 31, 2020, 11:35 am

≫ Next: Funny old World

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Well,

I've been having a play over the weekend in the CQ WW WPX CW Contest. Here's the log as a map:

There was interesting "blanketing E" propagation, but no real DX.

I did a quick video on the TS-890 in these busy contest conditions with Writelog, CW Skimmer and CW Get:

Fun, egh?

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Funny old World

June 21, 2020, 9:47 pm

≫ Next: The old and the new

≪ Previous: CQ WW WPX - CW Contest Time

Well,

I've been having an e-mail exchange with a Radio Amateur in New Zealand - he has been trying to get one of my YouTube projects based on the STM32 blue pill boards to work.

Following a few emails back and forth, he sent me this:

which is nice :-)

My latest ramblings on YouTube are all about the classic Sudden HF receiver, you should check it out!

Fun, don't you think?

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The old and the new

June 27, 2020, 11:13 am

≫ Next: The CAT Macro

≪ Previous: Funny old World

Well,

Whilst rummaging in the attic looking for something, I stumbled accross this old Direct Conversion receiver I built when I was a young whipper snapper. This is a design by Drew Diamond, VK3XU and is published a the G-QRP club book called "Radio projects Vol 1".

I did a video for my YouTube channel having a look back at my construction capabilities from all those years ago:

I hope you enjoy!

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The CAT Macro

June 29, 2020, 8:41 am

≫ Next: Why can't Icom do this?

≪ Previous: The old and the new

Well,

I've had a few folk contact me directly recently asking about rig control using macros and CAT commands.

I did a quick video to demonstrate the concept with Logger32 and then Ham Radio Deluxe:

I hope this is useful to someone!

If you like what I am doing on YouTube, please subscribe to the channel, I would very much appreciate your support.

CAT control at its best:

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Why can't Icom do this?

June 30, 2020, 12:38 am

≫ Next: The onset of YALBOA!

≪ Previous: The CAT Macro

Well,

I've been critical of my IC-7610 and the lack of audio spectrum display centred around the CW pitch frequency - the Kenwood 890 has it.

I recently came accross a design in Practical Electronics for a simple audio spectrum analyser and decided to build one as an experiment. The DSP chip cost less than 3 GBP.

I wonder why Icom can't do this?

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The onset of YALBOA!

July 12, 2020, 10:51 pm

≫ Next: The new Icom IC-705

≪ Previous: Why can't Icom do this?

Oh no!

I have more oscilloscopes.

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The new Icom IC-705

August 5, 2020, 10:49 pm

≫ Next: Baluns, Baluns, Baluns!

≪ Previous: The onset of YALBOA!

With much thanks to the boys at LAM Communications in Barnsley I got my paws on a pre-production release of the new Icom IC-705. Here's my brief introduction to the RX capabilities of this tiny new rig: