My first satellite QSO was with my good friend OM Bindu - VU2IR.
It was around 6.00pm, one evening in the early 1990s, when Bindu and I were chewing the rag on 2m and he excused himself to work through a satellite.
I was curious when he said he would work SSB via RS-12 with a 21MHz uplink and 145MHz downlink and would I care to join?
With hardly 10 minutes to go, I hurriedly set up a Yaesu FT-757GX (just serviced and ready to be delivered) with my 40m inverted 'V' dipole antenna for the uplink. My homebrew 2m converter and ¼ λ ground plane antenna would serve for the downlink, with my RCA BC312-D receiver as the tunable IF stage (see My homebrew 2m FM rig for more details). And my first satellite contact was thus established.
Fortunately, it was just the two of us and we continued our ragchew for the duration of the pass. With OM Bindu just 5km away, it was once again proved that the long way round is the short way!
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Remembering radio pioneer J.C.Bose
Here's a comprehensive article on radio pioneer J.C.Bose.
J.C. Bose: 60 GHz in the 1890s
J.C. Bose: 60 GHz in the 1890s
Interesting read.
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Crystal Radio Circuits - Alternative Concepts
1. Parallel-tuned, series-fed configuration:
The diode-clipped parallel-resonance voltage is output to the phones.
2. Series-tuned, shunt-fed configuration:
Parallel-tuned, series-fed Crystal Radio circuit |
The diode-clipped parallel-resonance voltage is output to the phones.
High-impedance diodes and phones are required to match the high impedance of the parallel-resonant
circuit.
This configuration is suitable for reception of distant, weaker stations.
2. Series-tuned, shunt-fed configuration:
Series-tuned, shunt fed Crystal Radio circuit |
The diode-clipped series-resonance current is output to the phones.
Low-impedance diodes and phones are required to match the low impedance of the series-resonant circuit.
This configuration is suitable for reception of nearby, more powerful stations.
3. Series-tuned, shunt-fed variant:
Series-tuned, shunt-fed Crystal Radio variant |
This is a variant of the above series-tuned, shunt-fed configuration.
Using low-impedance diodes and phones, it delivers identical performance.
Related post: Parallel-tuned Compact Loudspeaker Crystal Radio
Related post: Parallel-tuned Compact Loudspeaker Crystal Radio
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Remembering OM Joe - VU2JA
My memories go back to a day in the year 1976 when OM Ramesh - VU2NRS and I had an eyeball QSO with OM Joe - VU2JA at his shack on # 20, Union Street, Bangalore.
It was in an imposing building with a tiled roof. More imposing was the antenna, strung well clear of the roof, between two tall ground-mounted masts.
OM Joe - VU2JA - Courtesy 73 Magazine |
More on his incarceration at:
In England after his release, Joe qualified in wireless telegraphy and, after a fulfilling career, retired and settled down in Bangalore.
Joe married Hildred Joyce Dique at Karachi in the year 1934. They had no children.
More details including that of his career and ham radio activities at: http://www.ncdxc.org/newsletter/1975/DXer050675.pdf
He was an Amateur Wireless Pioneer, a member of the Old Old Timers Club, USA (OOTC # 695).
OM Joe passed away on 25th January 1985. Hildred followed on 31.10.1988, bequeathing their property, to the following in Bangalore, for religious and charitable purposes:
Little Sisters of the Poor, Missionaries for Charity, St. Michael’s Convent, Christu Seva Samaj, St. Mark’s Cathedral, Bangalore Cheshire Home, Bangalore Children’s Society, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, St. John’s Medical College & Hospital.
Memorable lives indeed.
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