Ensemble RXTX build – USB Power

After cobbling together a power cord to use with the Astron power supply, I was able to verify the power section on the RXTX board. Was getting just under 13V in and measuring 5V where there was supposed to be 5V.

Then I started on the USB power section. This is a section that’s isolated from the rest of the board and has the first of the SMT components to solder on in the project: a 3.3V voltage regulator (LP2992) and some capacitors.

Got everything soldered on easily enough, but when it came time to test, I wasn’t getting anything on the output of the voltage regulator. There was the 5V USB voltage going into the voltage regulator, but nothing coming out.

Rats.

Not sure if the voltage regulator got cooked in the soldering process, zapped by static, or if something happened to it while it was sitting on the shelf.

Guess I’ll have to order another one. Fortunately they’re not terribly expensive ($1.09 each for 10 from Mouser.com).

Here’s the top and bottom of the board so far.

Ensemble RXTX USB power section
Ensemble RXTX USB power section
Rear of the USB power section
Rear of the USB power section

Next section is the local oscillator. I may not be able to test it with a bum voltage regulator, but I think I’ll press on anyway.

Ensemble RXTX build – Power

It’s taken me a few years to get to, but I finally started working on the Softrock Ensemble RXTX kit I picked up a few years ago.

This is a much larger board than the Softrock Lite II I put together a while ago. A larger board, and a lot more parts (especially toroids).

Started off with the power sections yesterday, which was pretty easy to do. All through hole stuff. The bank of filtering capacitors was a little bit of a challenge, mostly because the holes are pretty close together and it’s not hard to accidentally bridge the contacts.

Haven’t powered it up to test yet because the power jack is a 2.5mm center pin, which none of my wall warts will fit. I’m planning on wiring up the included plug with powerpole connectors on the end. That will let me use the Astron power supply on the bench.

Here’s the current progress. USB power section is next.

Ensemble RXTX power section
Ensemble RXTX power section

WA4USN Rookie Roundup 2015

CARS has set up an operating day at the club station, WA4USN, on board the USS Yorktown for this year’s ARRL Rookie Roundup (SSB). For Rookie Roundup purposes, a Rookie is someone who was licensed in the current year, or within the past 2 years (2013, 2014, or 2015). If you’re a rookie or new ham and want to experience the HF side of amateur radio or just want to operate from the club station (it’s a pretty neat place to play radio from), this is your chance!

The club room will be open starting at 1PM, April 19. Rookie Roundup starts at 2PM EDT and goes to 759PM EDT (1800 – 2359 UTC). If you’re interested, drop me a note and I’ll put you in touch with the proper people.

AJ4UQ at one of the WA4USN radios
AJ4UQ at one of the WA4USN radios

Georgia QSO Party 2015

Spent some time playing in the Georgia QSO party this weekend. Band conditions were pretty terrible this weekend and I only worked a handful of stations on Saturday. I couldn’t even hear WWV on any of its frequencies, which is really unusual. Normally I can always hear the 10MHz WWV signal, but this weekend it wasn’t anywhere to be heard. Later in the evening the 15MHz WWV signal popped up, but that was it.

Spent most of Sunday at the radio tuning around 40m looking for more GA stations. Did a little better and ended up the weekend with 42 QSOs and 34 counties.

Highlights included:

  • 2 AB4 stations.
  • Worked KK4UBQ again. Worked her last year in the 2014 QP when she was signing as KK4UBQ/AG.
  • More QSOs, more counties than last year (although that wasn’t hard to beat).

Had a good time tuning around the bands, even though propagation was down in the dumps.

 Band     QSOs     Pts  Mul
     7      42      42   34
 Total      42      42   34
Score: 1,428
1 Mult = 1.2 Q's