Shortwave Radio

Well its been a while (again) since I've updated this blog and I've been getting back into messing with my shortwave radio (Tecsun Pl-380 if you are interested). If you have seen my recent videos you'll see what Ive been able to pick up stations in europe, but I keep trying to get something further afield

Its a bit difficult due to the weather and what the sun is doing! Anyway I was watching a google hang-out the other day and the guy mentioned a website that gives you propagation details ie what the likely hood is you are going to get a good signal! I dont know how propagation is worked out but its helped a lot, Well saved me messing with the radio when there is no chance of picking anything up!

Anyway if you can work it out follow this link http://dx.qsl.net/propagation/index.html

Also If you pick a station up and wonder what the hell it is I use this website http://www.short-wave.info/ Just put your aproxamate location, the frequency you are tuned into and it will show stations on that frequency, and which is likely the one you can hear!


Anyway that's about it well still snowed under with Uni work, but devil makes work for bored students!

Back at Uni...and a few updates.

Well Im back at Uni, and I didnt get to finish all the summer projects, usually because I lack motivation... that and I was out rock climbing most weeks. Oh well.. On the youtube channel front Ive uploaded a few time-lapse videos but other than that Ive kind of neglected that too.

But I have gone out and done My CBT bike test! Im going to try and give moto vlogging a go!
Yeah Im going to be riding around with L plates for a bit.

I dont know alot about motorbikes but I think Im just going to stick with a 125cc and just goto Uni and back, maybe a ride out on weekeknds.


Anyway I hope to get things going again regards to projects and other stuff and keep this blog updated!

Anyway here is the last few time-lapse videos Ive done... enjoy!

Sending Postcards

Ever thought that we use too much technology? Facebook, text messaging, instagram, e-mails etc. Yes it's good for getting information fast instead of waiting for the postman to deliver your insurance renewal details. But what about writing letters? Yeah kind of boring if you don't have much to say, that's why we used to send postcards to each other... " Having a nice time at Whatsit-on-Sea"

Postcards are just a picture and a small space to write your message. Just a glimpse into the life of a friend, relative or somebody you don't know if you collect them.


You're probably wondering why am I going on about this! Well I plan to start sending friends some random postcards with even more random messages on them, hopefully they will do the same!

But would anyone do it themselves? Leave the phone in their pocket, leave the computer switched off for a bit and think of something rude/witty/funny to send to their friends. Would you do it? Lets see what happens in the next few months!!

Summer Project 2: Nearly there!

Well. all the soldering has been done, and after a quick test I managed to pick up Signal 2 and Absolute Radio! Just need to make a box out of wood to store it, and experiment with Antenna's and earth wires.

Just the last few to go in.

Soldering has improved since I started to use a flux pen, much easier for the solder to stick!

Completed! The circuit on the left can be substituted for the one on the right. Hopefully I'll upload a video demonstrating how it works. Anyway, just need to build a box for it. Any ideas what wood to use?

Summer Holiday project 2: Update

After a bit of soldering the first board is complete. Its designed to pick up HF radio, each resisitor is connected to a variable capacitor that basicly tunes the frequency, just like normal radio.

Took me a while to get used to soldering, and Ive not managed to burn myself yet..

Any way here's what it looks like so far..

And the back..

Soldering is ok, might need tidying up later. Just need to cut the excess wires from the components.

The second board that picks up Am radio is more or less the same, just different resistors.

Summer Holiday Project 2

The second project for the summer holidays arrived today! Brought a Poldhu kit off ebay. Basicly its a mini shortwave radio) Well its in its component parts so Ive got to solder it all together. This throws up a few problems...

1. Its been a while since I've done any soldering
2. The soldering I did do was a bit low grade... the sort you'd expect in a cheap musical thing you pick up at a tourist trap beech hut in Bogner Regis.

Anyway here is a picture of the kit

Hopefully I'll get some pictures of it being built, unless I  forget or burn myself with the soldering iron.


More info on Marconi's Wireless station

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poldhu

Summer Holiday Project 1

Whilst watching Countryfile (a programme we have in the UK about the countryside) there was a part about a guy called Thomas Wardle, who developed a way of dying Silk from India. Anyway the programme mentioned he went onto to produce Seal Cloth that went onto to produce water-proof clothes.

Well as soon as I heard Seal Cloth, me being me I thought "Which is used to make Seals that help fishermen catch fish"

Anyway the idea for the first project is to get some history books, and re-write them. The idea being half the facts are real, the rest are made up in a comedic way.

I shall call them... The Almost accurate History Of.... (insert town/village name here)

Summer Holidays

Well Summer is here, and Im off Uni till September.. and Im not going to be sitting around doing nothing. So Ive got a few projects lined up to keep me occupied! Follow me on this journey, and ask questions.... or just wander why the hell Im doing what Im doing!