uBITX

Ashar Farhan has developped a compact HF transceiver with following characteristics:

- 10 Watts PEP on lower HF bands
- SSB and CW
- Minimal controls
- Based on Arduino controller and one Si5351 for all local oscillators
- Double conversion, high IF superhet architecture
- Easy to build, low priced components used

Enjoy his article: http://www.phonestack.com/farhan/ubitx/ubitx.html

And the interview

https://youtu.be/T9al-RiitWQ?t=4343

USB Microscope

In order to be able to do visual inspections of PCB’s or components I normally use a magnifier glass. Where the magnifier glass offers a magnification of 5X, a low-cost USB microscope can give you 20..500X.

The USB microscope I ordered for about 15 euro gives interesting results. It contains 8 white LEDs that illuminate the object to be investigated from above. The focus range and magnification can be adjusted.  LED Light intensity can be changed. It really turned out to be a plug-and-play device. Plug in the USB connector, install the software and enjoy the pictures (and even moving images). Great fun.

USB Microscope set-up and PCB:

Dove's feather

5 cents Euro coin

 Sanding paper

 30 pF capacitor

http://www.banggood.com/New-USB-8-LED-500X-2MP-Digital-Microscope-Endoscope-Magnifier-Video-Camera-with-Suction-Cup-Stand-p-1132026.html?rmmds=search

Off-topic; tulip fields, April 2017, 100 meters from our backyard

More off-topic;

Flypast of Beechcraft D18S and a Harvard April 22, 2017 in Stad aan ‘t Haringvliet as a contribute to the Irish pilot Thomas Noble Forster who crashed, at the age of 21, in het Haringvliet April 1943.