
Author Archives: 9h1lo
144MHz Meteor Scatter
I was surprised how far 2m can go with the help of meteor scatter using MSK144 mode, this is just an hour or so of activity, picked up by PSK-Reporter stations.

Links:



MySQL Connector and Web-Interface for DX Spider
DXSpider is Copyright © 1998-2007 by Dirk Koopman G1TLH. http://www.dxcluster.org
Purpose:
The propose of the script is to extract the DXSpots from the DXSpider data files and write them into a MySQL database. This gives the facility of interfacing to the spots in many ways, mainly from a web interface, which was the main reason for developing this script.
MySQL offers a fast and query based database which can also be accessing from log book programs ect.
Prerequisites:
- Linux Operating System (Will probably work on Windows also)
- DXSpider
- Apache 2.2
- MySQL 5
- PHP5
Create the database schema:
mysql> CREATE DATABASE `dxcluster` ;
Create the tables:
CREATE TABLE `dxcluster`.`spots` (
`freq` DOUBLE( 12, 3 ) UNSIGNED NOT NULL ,
`dxcall` VARCHAR( 85 ) NOT NULL ,
`datetime` VARCHAR( 85 ) NOT NULL ,
`commets` VARCHAR( 100 ) NULL ,
`spotter` VARCHAR( 85 ) NOT NULL
) ENGINE = MYISAM
Now we create the scripts for datacollection:
Create a file called start.txt and newspots.dat
touch start.txt
touch newspots.dat
Now create a file called dxmysql.sh and insert the following:
i=$(cat /spider/data/spots/2008/start.txt)
doy=`date +%j`
v=`cat /spider/data/spots/2008/$doy.dat |wc -l`
sed -n "$i,$v p" /spider/data/spots/2008/$doy.dat > /spider/data/spots/2008/newspots.dat
let "v++"
echo $v > /spider/data/spots/2008/start.txt
mysql -u <mysqlusername> -p<mysqlpassword> -e "load data infile '/spider/data/spots/2008/newspots.dat' into table dxcluster.spots fields terminated by '^' lines terminated by '\n';"
Now create a cron job (/etc/crontab) as follows:
0 0 * * * root echo "1" > /spider/data/spots/2008/start.txt
* * * * * root /spider/data/spots/2008/dxmysql.sh > /dev/null
Please ensure that the DXSpider server is set to use UTC as timezone.
Upload the PHP scripts to your /var/www directory
You only need to edit the file clusterdb.inc.php to set your MySQL user and pass.
Now access http://your_site/cluster.php
This software is provided as-is and comes with no guarantees. It is provided under the Creative Commons licence. Please visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/GPL/2.0/ for more details.
Please leave the “Powered by 9H1LO DX Engine” and link to www.9h1lo.net on the html pages.
New update for 2010. The dxmysql.sh script has been updated to support auto year change:
#!/bin/bash
year=`date +%Y`
i=$(cat /spider/data/spots/$year/start.txt)
doy=`date +%j`
v=`cat /spider/data/spots/$year/$doy.dat |wc -l`
sed -n "$i,$v p" /spider/data/spots/$year/$doy.dat > /spider/data/spots/$year/newspots.dat
let "v++"
echo $v > /spider/data/spots/$year/start.txt
mysql -u <USER> -p<PASS> -h <HOST> -e "load data local infile '/spider/data/spots/$year/newspots.dat' into table dxcluster.spots fields terminated by '^' lines terminated by '\n';"
12GHz Division by 8 prescaler
This design uses the Hittie HMC363 prescaler chip.
It divides the input by 8 so if 10GHz is put in the input the output is 1.25GHz.

Component assy:
To fit the ERA-1, (or NBB-310 for higher frequency performance)
Drill a hole to allow the body of the device to drop down thru the pcb
so the leads are level with the tracks
Snip off the leads to make them about 1mm long
Fit “u” shaped copper strips thru the hole to connect the ground pads to the back plane
Then fit the device, white dot/angled lead is input. I used silver loaded solder paste
To fit the Hittite prescaler
Put a small blob of solder/solder paste under the device and align it.
Solder one corner lead to its pad to locate the device
Apply heat to the adjacent ground pad to melt the solder under the device
Ensure that it has settled down on the ground pad before removing heat.
(I applied heat alternately each end to ensure that it was firmly stuck.)
Solder the rest of the leads to the pads.
When you’re testing it, just apply a finger (grounded, of course) to the top of the package to check the temperature – if it feels hot – it probably isn’t grounded properly. It will be dissipating around 360mW and the ground pad will be a useful mechanism for dissipating the heat.
1.2GHz MMIC Amplifer using AH-1 MMIC
DDS Based QRSS Beacon
Based on the design by Matteo Campanella, IZ2EEQ who’s article appeared in QEX Magazine.
Lots of inspiration and support from Colin G6AVK and the QRSS Knights Group.
It is based around an Analog Devices AD9851 DDS and a PIC16F628. I designed the PCB using Eagle.





30m QRSS Receiver
This receiver designed for 10.140MHz. It is intended to be used for Slow Morse (QRSS) reception.

30m QRSS Beacon Transmitter
This beacon puts out about 0.5W on 10.140MHz. It is intended to be used for Slow Morse (QRSS) operation.
The actual design is by Colin G6AVK and PCB by 9H1LO.
The varicap is a normal 3mm red LED. Transistors can be 2N2222 or 2N3904, PA final 2N3866 or 2N4427.

HF Frequency Locked Loop by IK3OIL
This design by IK3OIL has been quite popular, especially used as BITX VFO. Some Indian hams have also created a kit from these designs.

Boards mounted in tin plate enclosure

16×1 LCD Display

17m SSB exciter based on BITX-20
This is the SSB exciter used in the 17m 9H1LO/B PSK31 (USB) beacon.
