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VU2ESE

4/2/2016

13 Comments

 

Episode 087 - Ashhar Farhan - VU2ESE

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When it comes to home brew single side-band transceivers and test equipment,  Ashhar Farhan, VU2ESE, is the master of building amateur radio equipment on a budget, with common parts. Ashhar is the designer of the BITX "open source" HF SSB transceiver, and has an international reputation as a home brewer, and is referred to as the “home brew hero” by Bill Meara, N2CQR, of the Soldersmoke podcast. Ashhar Farhan is Eric, 4Z1UG's guest on QSO Today.
Show Notes
Transcript
Listen to Podcast
VU2ESE Web Resources: 
  • HF Signals - VU2ESE's radio experiments
  • Phonestack Website
  • Homebrew Hero, Soldersmoke Daily News
  • Lamakaan Amateur Radio Club

Book recommendations:
  • Having Fun with Transistors,  by Len Buchwalter
  • Entertaining Electronics, by E. Sedov, USSR
  • Experimental Methods In RF Design, by Wes Hayward, W7ZOI, Rick Campbell KK7B, and Bob Larkin, W7PUA
  • The Solid State Design for the Radio Amateur , Wes Hayward, W7ZOI and Doug DeMaw, W1FB

India Amateur Radio License

First Project: FET oscillator on 7 Mhz.  Hartley Oscillator

First License: Age 14, 1982, VU2FAX

Indian Amateur Radio Licenses: 3 Grades of License

First Rig:
  • Broadcast radio (German Megs)
  • EF89 VFO and  6L6 40 meter power amplifier
  • Lamp cord for antenna feedline

¼ wave of wire at any length has the same impedance at each end.

Elmer: Arun Kumar, VU2OZ - instrumental in aiding Ashhar

India’s first satellite - Aryabhata, 1975

“Morning QTH” - place of work or employment

Lamakaan Cultural Center - a cultural center started and managed by Ashhar.

Ugly electronic construction method  

The Homebrewer’s Lab - Asshar’s white paper on his labs.

The Ugly American - by William Burdick, Eugene Lederer - a book about the American Diplomatic Corp presented itself abroad.

The Ugly Weekender - by Wes Hayward, Drake Hayward

Roy Lewallen, W7EL - author of the EZNEC antenna modeling software and home brewer

Variable capacitors from Xtal Set Society

HP Friedrichs, AC7ZL - builder extraordinaire

Ashhar’s Spectrum Analyzer

Building Linear Amplifiers, by Rick Campbell, QST

Soldersmoke Podcast - with Bill, N2CQR, and Pete, N6QW

BITX20 Transceiver - designed by Ashhar Farhan, VU2ESE

BITX kits

Minima Transceiver

Yaesu FT-817ND

KISS Mixer

Milton Keys Amateur Radio Society 80 meter transceiver based on BITX

2N7000 Transistor

New project: HF One Double Conversion Transceiver, VU2ESE

Guru and disciple - the relationship between teacher and pupil

VUSDR - software defined radio - Indian radio “stack”

Advice to new or returning hams: build small primitive radios

WebSDR - group of Internet connected SDR receivers around the World

The RSS Feed for all audio content from QSO today is available from here. 
​
​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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VU2ESE Design and Fabrication Center_
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BITX SSB Tran_sceiver
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Minima Multiband Transceiver
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VU2ESE  3 - 30 Mhz Signal Generator_
13 Comments
VK6HAO
4/3/2016 07:12:38 am

I agree, the thrill of building something yourself and hearing it receive a signal is awesome. We have something called roadside pickup here in Australia where at various times of the year the local councils schedule scrap pick ups from the verge. I have salvaged, repaired and constructed lots of things out of this 'scrap'. My daughter and I built a crystal radio out of a blender motor and components from a smashed circuit board and seeing her 6 year old face light up when she heard the local AM station coming through was fantastc

Reply
Tony VE7 JUL
4/3/2016 10:15:57 am

Awesome interview - so much inspiration for aspiring home brewers. Very excited to hear about the HF1- will there be a schematic/description made available soon?

Reply
Josiah link
4/3/2016 02:59:04 pm

There has been discussion and schematics share on the Minima mailing list I believe.

Here is the archive link to the relevant post with schematics.I haven't seen the Arduino code, but I think I heard it is basically the Minima code.

Reply
Josiah Ritchie link
4/3/2016 02:53:59 pm

I've been really looking forward to this. It did not disappoint. I think I'll listen to it a second time and take some notes of my own. The talk about how to setup a shack with largely home built equipment was especially interesting. I'd also been hoping to hear more about his thoughts on the deficiency of the Minima as I'd heard some comments, but not much specifics. I've been looking at the HF1 also, so really glad to hear his more about that.

Thanks again!

Reply
Nick Kennedy
4/4/2016 10:40:40 am

Good interview. I always enjoy following Farhan's projects and investigations. -- Nick, WA5BDU

Reply
Kiran VU3KPL
4/6/2016 03:08:34 am

Glad to listen to Farhan and all VU perspectives on home brewing!

Reply
Justin Moore, KE8COY link
4/8/2016 09:39:48 am

I'm glad Ashaar mentioned H.P. Friedrich's. He's somebody I'd love to hear an interview with.

Reply
Eric 4Z1UG link
5/1/2016 01:34:32 am

Justin - stay tuned, Pete will be in Episode 95.

Reply
Dave AA7EE link
8/13/2016 06:09:58 pm

Very interesting interview. As a builder of sorts, I find your interviews with designers and home-brewers to be compelling listening, Eric. I fully agree with his advice to go primitive. You learn more by building simple rigs than you will by buying a far more complex one off the shelf. Even complex rigs are just a collection of many simple circuits. Wish I understood these circuits in the way that Ashhar does!

Reply
Eric 4Z1UG
8/14/2016 10:25:05 pm

Dear Dave, I also agree with his advice. It is the best way to understand what each stage actually does before moving on to the next. Bill Meara, N2CQR, in episode 50, also takes this approach and has built three of Farhan's BitX rigs. 73 - Eric

Reply
kiran
10/23/2016 11:18:59 pm

farhaan ji i need 40 m radio set as iam ham license holder pls provide details for me.

Reply
Ing. Jaroslav Vít link
8/27/2017 12:47:07 am

Good Day Ashhar,
how can I order Kit BITX40? Can by supplemented
mode CW?
Thank You for The answer

Vy 73 Jarda OK1MIK

Reply
Trygve Sjothun
8/5/2019 04:18:26 am

One of the best QSO Today podcasts I have heard so far. Ashhar is an inspiring person and clearly has a community minded approach to his activities. I wish him all the best and thanks to Eric for making the podcasts.

Reply



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