Merry Christmas for 2019

My Christmas gift projects.  Making Cribbage boards.

Like every guy that getting up there, you have to make a few DIY Christmas gifts.

This wasn't my first attempt at cribbage board making. I made one back in 2013 using a downed birch tree limb, a graph paper template and a 1/8" twist drill with a tape flag drill stop in a hand drill. I will call that one Prototype No. 001 although it was probably better suited to be used as firewood.

Buying the Rockler Small Cribbage Board Templates, 3-Player, Curved Track
 with self-centering drill bit allowed me to use a few hand tools. No drill press required! 

To keep costs down while learning to make a usable cribbage board I bought common 1x6 pine board from the local lumber supply. (16 feet of pine at <$14 was more wallet friendly than hardwood) So I'll either get inexpensive cribbage boards for Christmas gifts or expensive kindling for the woodstove.

I then travelled down the path of the Old Fogey. Retiring into the man cave with the sign on the door "Do Not Open 'Til Xmas!" 

My first attempt (Prototype No. 002) was the ambitious swing-away cribbage board with the pegs and cards stored in a second board underneath. Rockler kindly provides a downloadable instructions in a PDF. ( I did not using ANY of the recommended hardwood$ listed in the instructions!)

I made this a two person game board by only drilling two of the three tracks on the template.  The pegs and cards storage space was drilled out of the second board with a small Forstner bit, then using a jig saw to cut between the holes until the waste material drops out,  I then glued a 15" x 5.5" piece of thin plywood to the underside of the storage board. Cut pieces of green felt to fit into the storage space. Final assembly was to drill a pilot hole for a 1.5" flat head screw in the two boards and fasten to allow the top board to pivot.

My second and third attempts (No. 003 & No. 004) were both single boards of 18" x 5.5" x 0.75" dimensions.  

( In the fore ground second board is completed, while the third board is still being worked on.)

Peg storage is in a 5/8" wide by 1/2" deep slot cut in the top of the board.

Magnets glued into the slot holds the pegs made from heads of  finishing nails, painted in three colors using dollar store nail polish. Youtuber Crafted by Christoper shows you how.

I applied oil based polyurethane 3 times to the wood, wipe, let dry and buff between each coat. 

Add four self stick felt pads to the underside, scrawl the date and my signature. Done!

Add a new deck of cards and my DIY Christmas gifts are ready to be wrapped and put under the tree (or in the wood stove...)

AB1OP now has a banner!

July 10th, 2019 - Received my banner ordered from Printastic I designed a 2x4 foot banner using their online design tool. I uploaded two clipart files from my PC and placed them in the design with my text and two clipart files from Printastic image library.
Design was finalized as in the photo.

Banner specifications as ordered:  2x4 foot, 13 weight Vinyl, Hemmed all four sides, Grommets in corners and every two feet. (six total)  Price was $20 USD for one banner and an additional $10 USD for shipping.  Discount for additional quantities available.
Banner arrived rolled in a cardboard box - with no folds or creases. Artwork and text were crisp - no fading or bleeding.
Time will tell how it will hold up to the elements but considering I'll only be using it on Field Day and Portable (FBOTA - Fat Boy On The Air) expeditions it should last me several years.
73 de AB1OP Ralph

New 2M Antenna

July 9th, 2019 - New 2 Meter Antenna 

Brought a Firestick 2MCKB a 2 meter 5/8 wave ground plane base station antenna to replace the N9TAX rollup "Slim Jim" I have been using for the last couple years.
Wind damaged one end of a military surplus fiberglass mast sections I was using. That failure caused the rest of the sections to fall down and broke the tail of the PVC "bow" supporting the N9TAX "slim jim".
The N9TAX "Slim Jim" didn't suffer any damage and look good after being outside for a least 2 winters. I 'll keep it for an emergency rapid deployment spare 2M antenna.
I replaced the fiberglass mast with an eight foot section of TV antenna mast I had pulled off the house after cable TV was installed.
Assembly and installation of the Firestick Antenna was straight forward.  My only problem area was applying the water seal "wonder" tape around the PL-259 coax connector followed by over wrapping with electrical tape. The L brackett provided doesn't leave much room.
A quick radio and antenna check with the local repeater some 16-17 miles SE of my QTH resulted in a solid contact at the 10 Watt power setting of the Icom 2300H I am using as a base station.
73 de AB1OP Ralph

HX108-2 7 Transistor AM Radio Kit - Audio Sections

K7QO HX108-2 AM Receiver: Theory and Construction - Part 03 HX108-2 Audio Sections

Schematic of the components of the AUDIO sections to be  installed on the PCB (Yellow highlight)

Figure 1: Part 3 AUDIO sections

Power supply connections installed in Part 1 are in the Green highlight. I also highlight on the parts list the items  I remove from the cardboard strips to show that they were installed

Figure 2: Wiring Audio Sections Complete

After PCB components were soldered (including the two audio transformers) I soldered the two yellow wires supplied to the PCB only, then I added the two yellow jumpers to connect the speaker.

Test Data Measurements - Part 3 Audio Sections

1. Current measured at TP5 = 12.2 mA (4-10 mA -suggested)
2. Current measured at TP4 = 4.7 mA (2~5 mA -suggested)

Current is 2.2 mA higher at TP5 than suggested maximum value.

Current at TP4 is just below the suggested maximum value.

I will solder bridge the traces at TP5 and TP4

I will cautiously continue to Part 5 Band Pass and Demodulator Section

In Part 4 Chuck Adams K7QO Analyses the circuit for the excessively high current in the Audio sections of his build.

Figure 3: Top side PCB with Audio Sections Installed

In Figure 3 I show the Audio sections installed. Please note I have marked over the Chinese character for B2, B3, B4 and B5 with the initial for the color painted on the core slug,  Also note the line on the volume control thumbwheel. In the 7 O'clock position the switch K is OFF.

73, AB1OP Ralph

HX108-2 7 Transistor AM Radio Kit - Power Supply 

Links:

• HX108-2 English Documentation - Improved 
• YouTube Page of Chuck Adams, K7QO

On K7QO YouTube page scroll down to the heading: 
Chuck Adams RF Receiver Course on YouTube
find links: 
K7QO HX108-2 AM Receiver: Theory and Construction - Part 01 to 
K7QO HX108-2 AM Receiver: Theory and Construction - Part 09. 
If you watch and follow along "You might learn something" as Chuck K7QO said.

Part 01  HX108-2 Introduction and Power Supply 

Unboxing and parts inventory - Kit has all discrete electronic components, to be mounted on a thru hole PCB. No IC's, no SMT/SMD parts, but also no assembly instructions. (Not your Dad's Heathkit...) 

You do get a single sheet that combines the schematic, parts list, PCB diagram, resistor color code, capacitor code, transistor pinout, specifications and soldering instructions that are all in Chinese. 

The schematic has a few errors and there have been instances where the transistors were substituted with other transistors having a different pinout.

For all these reason this kit is not recommended for a novice kit builder without an Elmer.  

The Chinese documentation included in my kit purchased in March 2019 was dated 2018.8.6 The PCB is marked 20110518 which I assume is the PCB version date. 

Part 1- Power Supply

 Got the schematic with the power supply circuit highlighted.  I also place the small electronic components in the edge of strips of corrugated cardboard that I pasted a section from a copy of the parts list. Idea was from Randy - K7AGE from one of his YouTube Videos.

A cluttered bench is a happy bench

 I started assembly of the case. I installed the speaker, battery terminals and the front faceplate. I had to use super glue to keep the long spring wire terminal in its slot when the AA cells are put in.
I also placed the thumbwheel and screw on the shaft of the volume control W and marked a line that would point to 7 o'clock position when K is off (open).

On the PCB I used a 15W soldering iron, 60/40 solder and a liquid rosin flux pen. Soldering to the PCB was good with only a few joints requiring reflow.  One difficultly was the supplied wire for the power leads were smaller than 24 gauge (smallest setting on my wire stripper). I used an X-acto knife to trim the insulation back so I would use jumper leads between the case and the wire leads soldered to the PCB.

Test Data Measurements: 

• Voltage across battery terminals = 3.2Vdc
• Voltage from anode D1 to Ground = 1.45Vdc K=on / 0.0Vdc K=off
• Voltage from anode D2 to Ground = 0.72Vdc K=on / 0.0Vdc K=off 

Test data measured was the expected results. Part 1 of the build was successfully completed.
In Part 3 we will solder the components that comprise the AUDIO sections.

(Part 2, Chuck Adams K7QO suggests some of the test equipment you may wish to use.  Including some cheap Chinese kits available of eBay.)

73, AB1OP Ralph

My DIY DVM Bench Stand

I was cleaning off the work bench in preparation of a new project.  I always wanted to be able to prop up my DVM to a more comfortable viewing angle while seated. When using a temporary prop the DVM would slide off as I'm turning the function/range switch or adjusting the cables.

My design goals:

1. Cheap method to tilt the DVM to about 45 degrees
2. Must be stable enough to turn the selection switch without coming off stand
3. Simple to build with my tools
4. Materials at hand or readily available
5. Cheap (can never be too Cheap)

Final Product:

Digital Multimeter Stand

 

All Butt joint construction

Materials:

• 1"x2" (0.75"x1.50") Strapping / Furring strip 9.5" long
• 4 Wood fasteners (I used 1.5" drywall screws)
• Wood Glue

My Tools:

• Saw (I used a jig saw, a hand saw would work, a powered miter saw would be quickest)
• Square with ruler marks
• Pencil
• Drill/Driver
• A Twist drill for pilot holes
• Phillips Bit
• Coarse/Medium Sandpaper

Directions:

1. Measure and cut TWO (2) 3" pieces from the 9.5" wood strip. You should have about 3.25" remaining from wood strip. (exact measurements not critical)
2. Take the 3" pieces butt together to form the bottom and the front tail rest (see second picture) Locate and drill pilot holes (if screwing) Apply glue to the end grain of bottom piece and fasten. Wipe off excess glue.
3. The other end of the bottom piece is butted to the long back headrest, drill, glue, fasten and wipe as before. (see second picture) 
4. Sand wood edges with sandpaper to prevent splinters. Sand a bevel in the top front of the headrest (optional) to fit the lean of the DVM. 
5. Apply finish (optional) and enjoy! 

New and Improved HX108-2 English Documentation 

... Now with PCB Layout and parts placement.

New shared Google Drive link to a downloadable PDF for this popular <$10 USD 7 transistor AM Radio Kit. 

HX108-2 English Documentation

HX108-2 the 7-Transistor AM Radio Kit (red case)

This is the circuit diagram with the correct battery placement and English colors for the transformers.

I also redid the parts list and rephrased some text from an on line machine translated document
New Link: HX108-2 AM Radio Kit English Documentation