Don't know if I'll ever get that QSL card, I did participate that day, and sent in my callsign, so we'll see.

Nasa has a couple videos posted now on the link as to the project, thought I'd post here case anyone finds  interesting

http://www.missionjuno.swri.edu/hijuno/

Allan

Really really nice

A very Merry Christmas!!

Allan

Hi Wayne

Wow.  Welcome to the forum, never know who might show up.  Don't get here enough myself, lately, but this is one of my favorite places

As a design engineer, I really enjoyed your presentation of the design process you went thru from the concept to finished product, and thought it would probably be enjoyed here, as there are several kx1 enthusiasts present on the forum.

I have a NorCal40A, no mods, but a very nice piece of kit, I've been lately putting my pennies and nickels away toward a KX1, I really like the simplicity. 

I really like the addition of shortwave reception as well.  I was  jeep camping with my then young family, little kids at the time, when the soviet union started to come apart, now called the autum putsch, with Yeltsin dancing on tanks, Gorbachev sneaking video tape out of his compound, and all the drama.  I had my FT757 along in the jeep, so I was able to listen to the situation on shortwave, trying to decide if we were going home at the end of the week, or further up into the sierra... Drained the battery on my brand new jeep, but I've always had a shortwave with me since.  So I really like the addition of the shortwave bands you put in the kx1. 

Probably the only thing that would improve it, others have already mentioned, would be waterproofing.  But don't yet have mine, so I really hope it stays in the catalog just as it is!  Left hand keying option, simple and robust, fantastic form factor, and has the major bands, 80, 40, 30 and 20.  10 might be nice, as there is a cw practice group on 10M here in so cal, out of pasadena, but not really needed, as would add complexity of course.   KX1 is reported to have a great receiver, and current drain is incredibly low (I have an ft817 with a t1 tuner, a little thirstier, but I won't trade it away, at least not just yet!  Maybe after I get a kx3 might reconsider, maybe, tho probably not. )

Just weatherproofing seems to be the major item, and there is a workaround, with a 1060 or so pelican case, so it's not a huge issue to me.  (day dreaming of it, and already lining up necessary additional kit pieces lol).

The thought of the Kx3 option, keying psk31 is interesting, truely a low power budget for a digital mode!  don't see it as an addon module for the kx1 tho, doesn't have ssb xmit.  More complexity!  KISS is good.

Welcome!  I never dreamed I'd actually chat with the designer of so much excellent equipment!

Allan

I recently came across this article, buried on the Elecraft site.

ANYWHERE, ANYTIME HF: The Evolution of the Elecraft KX1 Transceiver
by Wayne Burdick, N6KR

http://www.elecraft.com/KX1/N6KR_KX1_History.html

formerly written Special to the ARS Sojourner

I enjoyed the article immensely.

Allan

I picked up a couple of Gregory Whitney backpacks for my wife and I a few years back. 

Packs have proved very durable since I've had them, no seam or framesheet problems, packbag has been tough, and they fit like gloves.  Huge capacity at 6200cu in, and seem as comfortable as my ancient tyoga frame pack for carrying.  For off terrain, the internal frame design blows away external frame packs.  Lots of pockets for pretty good access.

Being internal frame, they fit close, and 'follow you' when moving across rocks, off trail, etc.  A muffled green in color, and designed for the civilian market, they don't stand out in a crowd, nor in the woods.  I prefer a 'greyman' approach.

Just my 2 cents worth

Allan

Have to agree that the left-right classification system is mostly for control.  I read somewhere that it originated sometime around the 1789 french revolution, at the french national assembly, loyalists to the crown would sit to the right of the king, supporters of the revolution would sit to the left. 

Would think that would make it easy to decide who goes to the gillotine  :o

I've always thought that the current mix of ideas in the left camps , or right camps for that matter, would never normally coexist with each other. 

Pigeon hole something, and it becomes boxed in and neatly packaged, for control

Allan

My guess was that it had to do with using ham radio for emcomm, and encryption is pretty much required to meet HIPPA requirements.

Allan

This is about the only radio related forum I come to anymore.  Very comfortable feel, all seem to keep to the facts, the camp scheds, the technical, just the can do attitude is refreshing.

"...what I think >I< can do, what >I< would like to do, 'here's what worked, what didn't work and why".  There is no "here's what >you< should be doin".

Thank you for hosting the site, Gil.  I just wish I was a bit closer in, with a few less urgent distractions going on at my end, so I could be a bit more active.  Means more to me than I can say. 

Allan

A couple of ebooks on morse code I recently found:

ZEN AND THE ART OF RADIOTELEGRAPHY, Carlo Consoli, IK0YGJ

http://www.qsl.net/ik0ygj/enu/index.html

has the downloadable free ebook, history, notes on various keys and paddles and key-porn. 
From 2010, pretty recent.

a bit older, this version from 2003

Book: The Art and Skill of Radio-Telegraphy, William G. Pierpont   N0HFF (SK)

http://www.tasrt.ca/

downloadable pdf of the book, and some other info on antennas and such.
I'm just getting into the reading.  Seem pretty good so far.


Allan

An interesting resource I found
The 4 state QRP group is offering the ebook as a free download

Crystal Sets to Sideband byFrank W. Harris, K?IYE
http://www.wa0itp.com/crystalsetsssb.html

Lots of info for homebuilding, great info resource

the club resources page is:
http://www.4sqrp.com/resources.php

Underhill

I suspect I don't have enough horsepower right now in this little netbook to support a SDR, by the time I improve things on that end, you guys may have gotten the techniques worked out  8)

Allan

I use a solar charge controller that I purchased as a kit.

It is good as it is for up to 20 A, designed to fit inside a square electrical outlet box, to give you the size.

It's a hobbyist site, lots of info available, the SCC3 itself is extendable, by adding power fets to 80A, there is some documentation on the site.

http://www.cirkits.com/scc3/

Price is pretty good, it is in a kit form, easy build, no surface mount parts.

I have a couple of them, one has been in continuous service for my station for over 7 years, RF quiet as well.

Allan

Hi from So Calif

Welcome, I know that guy, had coffee with him down here before. 

I haven't had the opportunity to work on a tube rig myself, mine have all been solid state.  I recall that my dad had an old crosley receiver in his garage, didn't have the case, just the guts mounted in a homemade pressboard facing (probably to keep curious fingers -mine- off the purdy glow), but ran fine.

Struggling with the A1emissions mode at the moment, but it' ll come, especially if I'd just relax and go with it I suppose.

anyway, welcome to the forum.  Nice to see ya here  :)

Allan

Yeah, I think so.  But hey we've always got HF ;)

Allan

Hi there EmptySpaces

Nice to see you around again, used to be a bit more active on Winlink/Pactor, but circumstances made some changes.

Nice to hear another familiar voice again.

Allan