WA7MLH

Episode 177 - Jeff Damm - WA7MLH

Jeff Damm, WA7MLH, designs and builds his own amateur radio receivers, transmitters, and transceivers using the ugly construction method based on the work of his amateur radio mentor and friend, Wes Hayward, W7ZOI.  Jeff shares his ham radio story and his electronic construction philosophy with Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO Today.

Show Notes

Listen to Podcast

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QRP Labs QCX Transceiver Kit

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Jeff's Website: http://www.neoanderthal.com/wa7mlh.htm
Collins S Line
First License: 1969, Novice Class, WN7MLH
Portland Science Center
Johnson Viking Adventurer

First Rig: 
National Radio NC183D
Heathkit DX60B Transmitter

Mentor: Wes Hayward, W7ZOI,  Wes’s website

Solid State Design for the Radio Amateur, Wes Hayward, W7ZOI

1700 KHz IF

Popular Electronics Magazine

Triquint Semiconductor

Tuned Filter

Coupled Resonator Filter

Bias Transistor

Polypacks Electronics - mail order retail electronics store in the 70’s.

Oregon State, BSEE

Hams at Tektronix

Tektronix 492 series spectrum analyzer

Hewlett Packard app notes Smith Charts

S-Parameters

GAas FET

Ugly Construction

Pete Juliano, N6QW, in Episode 60 of the QSO Today podcast

Jeff builds the VFO first to make sure that it fits in the chassis and it works

Osh Park Circuit board - great source for PCBs

Diode Ring Mixer

Broadband Feedback Amp

Experimental Methods for RF Design, by Wes Hayward

Double Tuned Circuits

LTSpice Software - circuit simulation software

Time delay through crystal filter

Pin Diode Switch, now FET replacements (Skyworks).

Air variable capacitor

Experimental Methods in RF Design (EMRFD), with Wes Hayward, Rick Campbell, KK7B, Bob Larkin W7PUA, and Jeff Damm

Silicon Labs SI5351 Synthesizer

Silicon Labs Development Kit

Jeff’s Test Bench:

• Oscilloscope 50 Mhz
• Digital Multimeter
• Spectrum Analyzer, Wes Hayward Design
• Harmonic Generator
• Micropower Wattmeter, W7ZOI
• LC Meter AADE - by Neil Hecht.  
• HP8640B Signal Generator

Banana Plugs

Ebay for parts

Dans Small Parts, Missoula MT

Silver Mica Capacitor

Anderson Power Poles

Phase lock loop

VCO, Voltage controlled oscillator

Arduino  

Stone age living skills - make tools without metal

Spot - find me spot

Garmin inReach satellite communicator

Advice to new or returning hams:  Try to get a balance between reading about it and doing it.
Build a: Return loss bridge for measuring antenna SWR

ARRL Handbook

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10 & 17 Meter SSB and CW Transceiver

40 Meter CW Field Day Transceiver

15 Watt HF Power Amp

Example of "Ugly Construction" Method