Oooh, gonna steal Mike aka Cosmo's ELF project away from Geo? That's ok, I can share..! Check Geo 24 to see what he is considering!

I think I need to clean my shack so I can actually get to my work desk (that needs cleaning too...). Current projects involve building microwave transverters for the 2, 3, 5, 10, 24 and 47ghz bands as well as put up some 2meter and 432mhz beams down near the audio end of the spectrum. I guess I need to work on that ELF whistler radio too since its going to be summer time and thats when you can hear all the transequatorial whistlers and dawn chorus. Finally, if I -ever- get some free time, I would like to build some solid state replacement components for my HP 8551 spectrum analyzer which is currently holding the desk down. 73 de Mike who has waaaaaay to many projects

Oh Mike, You NEED many projects. It is the sign of a creative intellect and a busy mind as well as a busy man. My dad always had various equipment in various stages of repair - and he was so neat it hurt to touch any of it! When he would hit a snag in one project or need to wait for a part to arrive, he'd work on another. He aways finished them and others would take their place. You are a gentleman of the traditional school - a very good thing to be! 73's de Marci

This is not my project - yet... http://freeweb.pdq.net/headstrong/Foxhole.htm Foxhole radios: history and construction Building a foxhole radio is rewarding and the basic setup is very simple. It is, however, difficult to adjust, and it may take several attempts to find a proper razor blade for the detector. This is a project that requires patience and much trial and error, but it will pay off once it begins to work. It will help to be versed in the construction and operation of crystal sets before building one. It will be especially helpful to read the introductory notes about the coil, detector, antenna, and other components. These sets are extremely simple in construction, but tuning and modification require some basic understanding of theory, as well as practice. All sets presented here are based on old articles, notes, and people's recollections. There are fairly major variations in design and materials among these plans. It must be remembered that these were improvised under often adverse conditions; there was no "standard" design. With this in mind, take this entire article as a whole, and use it a bit here, a bit there, to build towards a design that works best using modern materials.

crystal sets mentioned above are at this link http://freeweb.pdq.net/headstrong/crystal.htm

The detailed discriptions follow the Paragraph I posted above alone with schematics to help you. Enjoy!

Mike, take a look at this http://freeweb.pdq.net/headstrong/ind2.htm

Crystal Sets are neat. I once lashed together a set in about five minutes using a preformed B and W coil, a germanium diode and some 2k phones. Picked up Radio Nederland. Regen sets are fun as well - you would be suprised at the sensitivity and selectivity. When you visit the bookstore, look for 'Radio Receivers You can Build' in the electrical engineering section. Mike

Fantastic idea, Mike! My Dad made me one and it was my first real radio attached to the radiator for an antenna. I got most of the immediate world on that one. Check out that other url I posted for you...Great page on http://freeweb.pdq.net/headstrong/ind2.htm if you haven't been there yet....

Space Bulletin 006 - August 3, 2000 ISS ham gear cleared for takeoff The way has been cleared for the Amateur Radio gear destined for use aboard the International Space Station to be launched into space. The initial amateur gear is scheduled go up to the ISS on mission STS-106 aboard the shuttle Atlantis on September 8. As part of the multinational Amateur Radio on the International Space Station project, the gear will be stowed aboard the ISS for use by the Expedition 1 crew, set to come aboard in late October. ''We have been working for years to bring the first ISS hardware to fruition,'' ARISS Administrative Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, said this week. ''It looks like the final issues that have held us back are now over, and we are moving ahead toward the launch of the initial hardware on STS-106.'' Bauer said three events over the past couple of weeks were key to moving the ARISS project forward. The first was the launch and docking of the Russian-built Zvezda Service Module that eventually will house the ARISS gear. In addition, Bauer said, a series of RF, power-up and other tests on the amateur equipment were successfully completed in Russia, thanks to Lou McFadin, W5DID, of ARISS and AMSAT and Carolynn Conley, KD5JSO, of NASA. He said NASA also signed off on the required flight safety package, giving the go-ahead to release the amateur hardware for flight aboard the upcoming shuttle mission. The Expedition 1 crew will consist of three amateurs: US astronaut Bill Shepherd, KD5GSL, and Russian Cosmonauts Sergei Krikalev, U5MIR, and the recently licensed Yuri Gaidzenko, whose call sign was not available. To be available to the first crew, the ARISS initial station gear will be installed temporarily aboard the ISS Functional Cargo Block. It will use an existing antenna that's being adapted to support FM voice and packet on 2 meters but not on 70 cm. Eventually, the ARISS gear will find a more-permanent home aboard the Zvezda Service Module. A Russian call sign, RZ3DZR, has been issued for the ISS ham radio station. The ARRL and AMSAT have been providing leadership and consulting services for ARISS. ARRL Field and Educational Services Manager Rosalie White, K1STO--a member of the Space Amateur Radio EXperiment Working Group--says this is an exciting moment for the project, which has one goal of letting students on Earth communicate with the ISS inhabitants via Amateur Radio. ''All of the hard work from the many volunteers is starting to pay off,'' she said. ''We have so many people to thank--all of the AMSAT volunteers, ARRL people, the NASA folks--so many of whom are hams. But seeing the youth of the United States and other countries benefit is our reward.'' Bauer says the astronauts and cosmonauts plan to take some time off for educational outreach contacts with schools, even during the busy years of ISS construction that lie ahead. Bauer says access to Amateur Radio also is considered a morale booster for ISS crew members who will be in space many weeks at a time. As the International Space Station takes its place in the heavens,'' Bauer said, ''the Amateur Radio community is prepared to do its part by helping to enrich the experience.''

Supreme Court Ends KV4FZ Renewal Saga The US Supreme Court has put an end to the high-profile license renewal case of Herbert Schoenbohm, KV4FZ, by denying his petition for certiorari. The petition was Schoenbohm's last avenue of legal appeal in the case, which stretches back to 1994. The Supreme Court's decision will put KV4FZ off the air and terminate Schoenbohm's legal efforts to get the FCC to renew his Amateur Radio license. The Supreme Court announced its latest list of orders October 30. Schoenbohm's case had been on its docket for possible consideration during the court's current term. Schoenbohm--who lives in the US Virgin Islands--petitioned the high court in August to grant a writ of certiorari calling on the justices to request the record of his case from the US Court of Appeals for review. The Supreme Court offered no comment in turning down Schoenbohm's petition. Following Schoenbohm's 1992 felony conviction on federal fraud charges, the FCC set his Amateur Radio renewal application for a hearing in 1994. The FCC subsequently turned down his application, citing his conviction and character issues. The US Appeals Court turned down Schoenbohm's request for a rehearing by the full bench after it rejected his appeal of the FCC's decision last February. Schoenbohm has said he was the first amateur to face the loss of his license on the basis of character. Schoenbohm holds the call signs VP2VFZ, VP2MFZ, VP2EFZ, and PY1ZAI, but he may not use those call signs from US territory.