Cleaning up the Shack and reorganising all equipment! Soon back on the airwaves from UHF to HF!

K42 CWR Step 6

Homebrew_logoAs you have noticed there is no test after step 5. We can test the AF filter if the PSoC processor is intalled. This PSoC-thing have a 690 Hz hard-coded filter so some experience in tuning is required. Also in the test procedure a frequency generator is mentioned…. oh brother I don’t have this piece of testing equipment! Lets try to hook it up to the Icom IC-706 and keep the fingers crossed… If the audio level is to low there is nothing to see but at a audio level to high it goes in overload and the most right LED will lit.

But first we heve to solder this PSoC-thing onto the board. It comes with a 8 pin socket so no worry we will damage the microprocessor with the hot iron.

So the PSoC-thing is in place… lets test….

So up to step 7 then…

K42 CWR Step 5

The next step is a big one, we will install the AF active filter of the CWR
There is no test at the end of this step. After the PSoC processor is installed we can test for results.
Be sure you sort out all the special components of this step. Check them with a multi-meter if you cannot see the color-code on the very small resistors :-) like myself. Steve the are really small!

Here is an impression of the building:

K42 CWR Step 4

Step_4_0Today I heated up the solder-iron again and started Step 4 of the building prosess. This step will install the CWR LED tuning array. Its wise to read the instructions first, to sort out the components and then read the instructions again!

In the first small movie you can see the bulding of step 4:

After completed this part and checked all the solder points there must be a simple test be done. Just attach the power and a small version of the Knightrider should be seen. Well we keep our fingers crossed ;-) . See it for yourself in the next short movie.

Here two pictures I took with my Nikon D70..

Step_4__1Step_4_2

Activity on Boxing Day

AmateurHi All, What have you been doing on Boxing Day? Well I went to church this morning, and after this I spend time with my family at home. Went for a long walk with our dog (Choco Labrador called Max) and a nice cigar (Gift found under the tree hihi). In the late afternoon I want to go to my shack but this was not positive with the rest of the family. "Dad that’s not nice on a Xmas day!" so I compromised. Started the rig and computer in the shack and got to the living room with my Samsung N110 netbook. I have installed TeamViewer so I can work Digimode remotely. Everyone happy! It’s even warmer here than in the shack hihi.

I’ve worked on 20m and 30m in PSK31 and RTTY. Met an old friend from Greece Bill, SV5AZP who I had worked before in phone on Xmas 1995! That was nice and we both rememberd (TNX to HRD!). See the log? Press here. Download xmas_log_2009.pdf

Here are some of the eQSL card I have already confirmed this day!

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CUL8ER DE WILLIAM

Holiday Greetings

Santa_radio

K42 CWR Step 3

Well thing are going well I am happy to say! Step 3 is about adding the PS2 keyboard connector and test the console logic. There are not many items to instal so I just made a picture after I finished the building.

Step_3_wl

More and more components find it’s place on the PCB. Now it’s time to connect a PS2 Keyboard and test this stage in building the K42… and the results are…..

Next is the solid state relay..I switched J1 and J4 so I have had to add the J1 1/8 inch jack before I could test the solid state relay witch drive the rig on it’s time… it passed the test..

I think I call it the day and go down to my wife and children…before they become a Kitbuilding widdow and orphans hihi.

K42 CWR Step 2

After the test of step 1 witch succeeded, a nice 5V and 2,5V at the test points, I started step 2.

The building you can see in the YouTube movie I made, but the picture of the result you can see below.

Finished_step_2_wl

Step 2 ends with another test…is it alive? Well see for your self:

K42 CWR Step 2

After the test of step 1 witch succeeded, a nice 5V and 2,5V at the test points, I started step 2.

The building you can see in the YouTube movie I made, but the picture of the result you can see below.

Finished_step_2_wl

Step 2 ends with another test…is it alive? Well see for your self:

K42 CWR Step 1

Uitzoeken_van_onderdelen_wl This day I started building the K42 CW Keybaord/Reader Kit by starting to check if all parts are in the kit. Wel the guy’s at K1EL.com did a fine job and all parts were there. I took a box you storage little things in to place all the parts. I checked the values of resistors with my multi-meter to be sure (these 1/8 w resistors are realy tiny, or do I need reading glasses?? ). It looks perhaps a little silly but I’m sure I bennefit from it later. The Weller WEPC-20 was heated up and I started with step 1 of the building instruction.

Closeup_onderdelen_gelabeled_wlPrintplaat_zonder_onderdelen_wl

After about 15 minutes al parts were fitted on the great fabricated PCB and I took this picture.

Einde_stap_1_onderdelen_wl

To end step 1 you have to check some voltages on the board to be sure everything is working before you can go on with step 2. This will give you some confidence in your buikding skills and pervent you from having a non working K42 at the end. It also learn you the complete setup and that’s a nice thing too.

I also filmed my kit-building with the AIPTEK HD 720P and made a small compilation with Pinnacle12 and put it on my YouTube channel.