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K0NEB

5/14/2016

5 Comments

 

Episode 093 - Joe Eisenberg - K0NEB

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One of the best ways to get some real hands on experience in electronics, especially as a beginner, is to build electronic kits.  Even the seasoned veteran ham can enjoy even the more complex kits.  In amateur radio circles, the kit building guru is Joe Eisenberg, K0NEB.  Joe spends his free time, in addition to operating his favorite contests and attending hamfests, testing kits, making recommendations, and teaching others how to be successful in kit building. Joe is Eric, 4Z1UG’s, QSO today.

Show Notes
​
Listen to Podcast
First Elmer: Leo Meyerson, W0GFQ, Council Bluffs, IA  founder of World Radio Laboratories, manufacturer of World Radio Galaxy 5 transceiver.
Rocket Radio crystal set
First General Coverage Receiver: Hallicrafters S120
First License: Age 14, 1969, WN0WRI
Upgrade to WA0WRI
K0NEB (was used by the Nebraska State Fair) vanity call in 2000
Favorite contest: ARRL Sweepstakes
First Rig: World Radio GT550 Transceiver, with Novice adapter
Favorite operating mode: SSB, some of all modes.
Education: Univ of Nebraska,  Broadcast Journalism
First Class Radiotelephone License

Famous Stations Worked: 
  • King Hussein JY1, King of Jordan (SK)
  • Barry Goldwater, K7UGA, Senator from Arizona (SK)
  • Joe Walsh, WB6ACU

Current Rig: 
  • Icom IC-7600 transceiver
  • Kenwood TS-2000 transceiver
  • Icom IC-706 transceiver for 6 meters
  • TH3 Junior Beam
  • 6 Meter beam
  • UHF beam
  • 160 meter top fed sloper
  • Wire antennas

CQ Magazine, Kit Building Editor

Heathkit - premier maker of electronic kits for many years.  

Joe’s kit building tips:
  • Sort out the parts into part types: reisisors, capacitors, transistors, IC
  • If kit is stage by stage, sort parts by stage
  • Identify your parts by using a ohm meter or parts tester, Chinese parts tester
  • Have a reference receiver to use to test your kits
  • Buy parts assortments: capacitors, resistors, transistors

Best kit manuals:
  • Elecraft Kits  
  • DZKit, Colorado

Word Lens - Called Google Quest Visual, allows you to use cell phone camera to translate Chinese characters.

Pixie Transceiver kit

Favorite kits:
  • Heathkit - documentation was great and high quality parts and design
  • Elecraft KX1
  • Pi-HF Direct conversion receiver from Language Spy.com
  • YouKits
  • Crkits.com
  • Ozarkon. Convention

Basic Tools:
  • Weller Soldering Station - temperature controlled.  Eric uses: Weller CTCPT.  However, you can start with Weller WLC100 40 Watt Soldering Station
  • Kester Solder 63/37, no clean, lead tin blend  .031 inch
  • Volt Ohm Meter
  • Heavy duty magnifier lamp - (Eric uses this.  It clamps to your desk or bench)
  • Assorted 4” long nose plier set
  • Cutters - Klein lightweight flush cutter
  • Screwdriver set - (Eric’s favorite set - mine have lasted 40 years)
  • Mini fume extractor

When you start doing repairs of equipment, then Eric recommends:
Nut driver kit both metric and Inch

Note: I have modified Joe’s recommendations with the tools that I love.  Sears Craftsman tools last forever and have a life time guarantee. Using the Amazon links will help to support the podcast as I will get a commission if you purchase through my links.

Harbor Freight Company

Soldersmoke Podcast

Joe's most challenging kit:
Elecraft KX1

Elecraft K2 full kit experience

Favorite ham conventions:
  • Dayton Hamvention
  • Huntsville Hamfest, 2nd favorite

Look for parts assortments: resistors, capacitors, etc. at hamfests.

Raspberry Pi

Packet Radio TNC Raspberry Pi

RTL-SDR Dongle

Arduino

Joe, K0NEB Channels:
  • Joe’s YouTube Channel
  • Ozark Con - K0NEB
  • Twitter K0NEB
  • Kit Building with Joe Eisenberg

Photo Story 3 for Windows - software used by Joe to make still picture videos

Groups interested in kit building:
  • Makers - Maker Movement
  • Preppers - also called “doomsday preppers”

Advice to new or returning hams: Find something simple and build it.

The RSS Feed for all audio content from QSO today is available from here. 
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​Please join our QSO Today community by pressing the button below. It is the best way to suggest guests and topics, and provide feedback to Eric, 4Z1UG.
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Hallicrafters S-120 General Coverage Receiver
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World Radio Labs GT-550 Transceiver
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Elecraft K1 Kit Transceiver
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Kenwood TS-2000 Transceiver
5 Comments
Joe K0NEB
5/14/2016 08:36:44 pm

The solder I recommend is 63/37 no-clean rosin core .031 or .025 thickness

Reply
Eric 4Z1UG link
5/14/2016 11:46:19 pm

Joe - I updated the link to the 63/37, no clean, .031. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, I missed it in the show notes and put in what I use on my bench. I was not aware of "no clean" after all of these years and often use "print coat solvent" to clean my boards afterwards. I will buy the no clean when I run out --- although it takes years to use up a pound of solder.

Reply
John R.
6/10/2019 05:40:25 am

Eric, Joe: The link is to "Kester24-6337-8806 245 No-Clean Flux Core Solder, 63/37 .015", 1 lb." The Show Notes and my notes from listening to the podcast are that the size should be 0.031" and the link is to 0.015" product. Which is the recommended size?

Dennis
5/15/2016 06:01:01 pm

Eric - another great show. I have followed Joe for years and enjoy his CQ articles, his appearances at hamfests and the videos each year for Dayton. Good choice! You may even want to consider having Joe back each year to freshen up the information he provides - he seems to always have something new I hadn't yet heard of!
73
KK0DJ

Reply
Eric 4Z1UG
5/20/2016 03:12:11 am

Thanks, Dennis. I will invite Joe to become a member of the coming soon QSO Today Neighborhood. Stay tuned.

Reply



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