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"Joe McElvenney" wrote in message ... Hi, Mouser have some NEC pre-scalers (3GHz max) for $2.92 a throw. Cheers - Joe Hi Joe, Many thanks for the information. You have been a great help; exactly what I was alooking for. I keep having trouble buying this sort of specialised RF component. Mant thanks again for your help. BR Harry |
My point was that the art of homebrewing loses something when it's reduced
to just plugging in a chip. Seems like everyone is ignoring how the circuits work and taking the 'black-box' approach instead. I can agree with you, but only up to a point, but do you never think that "them there chips" can possibly be used as a tool? A component? A lot depends upon where you draw that line between what you call homebrew and black-box. Do you not think that an Operational Amplifier, like the UA741, is a component? or would you rather use a slack-handfull of transistors every time you need an Operational amplifier. I personally put the prescaler chip in the same category as the OpAmp. ... where's the fun in just hooking up power to a chip? That's not homebrewing, at least not in my book. I get a great kick out of using CMOS and TTL chips. For example, one CD4007 can be used to build a complete superhet receiver. If I want a VHF synthesiser then I have absolutely no hesitation to using a couple of CD4000 chips and a prescaler. Logic, to me, is also homebrew. As I said before, it all depends upon where you draw the line. Try a simple flip-flop. Two transistors, that's all. There are probably a few dozen schematics on the net and dozens more at the public library (you do have public libraries in Sweden, don't you?). I didn't have to search for a circuit, but using simple transistors I have a circuit that is stable, but only up to about 95MHz. Here in Sweden, the ONLY non-power RF transistor I can find in Sweden is the 2N2369 (NPN) and it is that transistor that has increased the operating freq. of my stage to 96MHz. I have also tried just a simple schmitt trigger circuit and again, about 100MHz is the top limit for conventional transistors. Anyway, I am still having fun on the workbench and I will continue to do so. When I don't I will probably join all the others who are sick of radio and homebrew and get on the Internet. Prabably even subscribe to a hamradio newsgroup, such as "rec.radio.amateur.homebrew" and maybe even communicate with othere without the QRM. Best regards - Harry (SM0VPO) (If it feels good - do it!) |
My point was that the art of homebrewing loses something when it's reduced
to just plugging in a chip. Seems like everyone is ignoring how the circuits work and taking the 'black-box' approach instead. I can agree with you, but only up to a point, but do you never think that "them there chips" can possibly be used as a tool? A component? A lot depends upon where you draw that line between what you call homebrew and black-box. Do you not think that an Operational Amplifier, like the UA741, is a component? or would you rather use a slack-handfull of transistors every time you need an Operational amplifier. I personally put the prescaler chip in the same category as the OpAmp. ... where's the fun in just hooking up power to a chip? That's not homebrewing, at least not in my book. I get a great kick out of using CMOS and TTL chips. For example, one CD4007 can be used to build a complete superhet receiver. If I want a VHF synthesiser then I have absolutely no hesitation to using a couple of CD4000 chips and a prescaler. Logic, to me, is also homebrew. As I said before, it all depends upon where you draw the line. Try a simple flip-flop. Two transistors, that's all. There are probably a few dozen schematics on the net and dozens more at the public library (you do have public libraries in Sweden, don't you?). I didn't have to search for a circuit, but using simple transistors I have a circuit that is stable, but only up to about 95MHz. Here in Sweden, the ONLY non-power RF transistor I can find in Sweden is the 2N2369 (NPN) and it is that transistor that has increased the operating freq. of my stage to 96MHz. I have also tried just a simple schmitt trigger circuit and again, about 100MHz is the top limit for conventional transistors. Anyway, I am still having fun on the workbench and I will continue to do so. When I don't I will probably join all the others who are sick of radio and homebrew and get on the Internet. Prabably even subscribe to a hamradio newsgroup, such as "rec.radio.amateur.homebrew" and maybe even communicate with othere without the QRM. Best regards - Harry (SM0VPO) (If it feels good - do it!) |
Frank Gilliland wrote:
My point was that the art of homebrewing loses something when it's reduced to just plugging in a chip. Seems like everyone is ignoring how the circuits work and taking the 'black-box' approach instead. [...] where's the fun in just hooking up power to a chip? That's not homebrewing, at least not in my book. Fair enough - only you can decide what you enjoy. When you post to the group, we know where you're coming from, so we can interpret accordingly. But only I can decide what I enjoy, only Harry what he enjoys, and so on for every individual. Amateur radio and electronics is about doing what each of us personally likes, not what we "should" or "must". You are entitled to your own opinions about other people's preferences, Frank, but it's disrespectful to post them here as personal criticisms (and it doesn't encourage the rest of us to respect you). -- 73 from Ian G3SEK 'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB) Editor, 'The VHF/UHF DX Book' http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek |
Frank Gilliland wrote:
My point was that the art of homebrewing loses something when it's reduced to just plugging in a chip. Seems like everyone is ignoring how the circuits work and taking the 'black-box' approach instead. [...] where's the fun in just hooking up power to a chip? That's not homebrewing, at least not in my book. Fair enough - only you can decide what you enjoy. When you post to the group, we know where you're coming from, so we can interpret accordingly. But only I can decide what I enjoy, only Harry what he enjoys, and so on for every individual. Amateur radio and electronics is about doing what each of us personally likes, not what we "should" or "must". You are entitled to your own opinions about other people's preferences, Frank, but it's disrespectful to post them here as personal criticisms (and it doesn't encourage the rest of us to respect you). -- 73 from Ian G3SEK 'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB) Editor, 'The VHF/UHF DX Book' http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek |
In , "Ian White, G3SEK"
wrote: Frank Gilliland wrote: My point was that the art of homebrewing loses something when it's reduced to just plugging in a chip. Seems like everyone is ignoring how the circuits work and taking the 'black-box' approach instead. [...] where's the fun in just hooking up power to a chip? That's not homebrewing, at least not in my book. Fair enough - only you can decide what you enjoy. When you post to the group, we know where you're coming from, so we can interpret accordingly. But only I can decide what I enjoy, only Harry what he enjoys, and so on for every individual. Amateur radio and electronics is about doing what each of us personally likes, not what we "should" or "must". You are entitled to your own opinions about other people's preferences, Frank, but it's disrespectful to post them here as personal criticisms (and it doesn't encourage the rest of us to respect you). Let me ask you a simple question: Suppose someone buys an SP-600, mounts some chrome knobs, spray-paints his name on the front panel, then posts on the newsgroup saying, "Hey, look what I built!" Would you call that "homebrew"? -----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =----- http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =----- |
In , "Ian White, G3SEK"
wrote: Frank Gilliland wrote: My point was that the art of homebrewing loses something when it's reduced to just plugging in a chip. Seems like everyone is ignoring how the circuits work and taking the 'black-box' approach instead. [...] where's the fun in just hooking up power to a chip? That's not homebrewing, at least not in my book. Fair enough - only you can decide what you enjoy. When you post to the group, we know where you're coming from, so we can interpret accordingly. But only I can decide what I enjoy, only Harry what he enjoys, and so on for every individual. Amateur radio and electronics is about doing what each of us personally likes, not what we "should" or "must". You are entitled to your own opinions about other people's preferences, Frank, but it's disrespectful to post them here as personal criticisms (and it doesn't encourage the rest of us to respect you). Let me ask you a simple question: Suppose someone buys an SP-600, mounts some chrome knobs, spray-paints his name on the front panel, then posts on the newsgroup saying, "Hey, look what I built!" Would you call that "homebrew"? -----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =----- http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =----- |
Frank Gilliland wrote:
You are entitled to your own opinions about other people's preferences, Frank, but it's disrespectful to post them here as personal criticisms (and it doesn't encourage the rest of us to respect you). Let me ask you a simple question: Suppose someone buys an SP-600, mounts some chrome knobs, spray-paints his name on the front panel, then posts on the newsgroup saying, "Hey, look what I built!" Would you call that "homebrew"? I honestly don't share that compulsion to classify other people's projects as either "homebrew" or not. -- 73 from Ian G3SEK 'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB) Editor, 'The VHF/UHF DX Book' http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek |
Frank Gilliland wrote:
You are entitled to your own opinions about other people's preferences, Frank, but it's disrespectful to post them here as personal criticisms (and it doesn't encourage the rest of us to respect you). Let me ask you a simple question: Suppose someone buys an SP-600, mounts some chrome knobs, spray-paints his name on the front panel, then posts on the newsgroup saying, "Hey, look what I built!" Would you call that "homebrew"? I honestly don't share that compulsion to classify other people's projects as either "homebrew" or not. -- 73 from Ian G3SEK 'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB) Editor, 'The VHF/UHF DX Book' http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek |
Frank Gilliland wrote:
My point was that the art of homebrewing loses something when it's reduced to just plugging in a chip. Seems like everyone is ignoring how the circuits work and taking the 'black-box' approach instead. For example, the MAX038 is a chip that is a ready-made 0-20 MHz function generator with sweep, variable duty cycle, frequency modulation, and a phase discriminator. I'm sure that sounds cool to some, but if all you need is a 100 kHz square wave, why not learn how to build a square-wave oscillator with one or two transistors? And if you want a function generator, where's the fun in just hooking up power to a chip? That's not homebrewing, at least not in my book. I guess you wind your own capacitors, and collect lamp black to make your own resistors? there are tradeoffs in any project. Sure you could build a 50 pound toy that uses 200 watts to do a simple project, or do the same job in a handheld device that runs for weeks off a couple AA cells. Homebrewing is using what you can get to build what you want, as well as to meet the desired specifications. I started working with used parts in the '60s, but over the years I have moved on to more advanced projects. My biggest project to date, was building CH 58 TV in Destin, Florida with mostly defective and damaged 30 to forty year old broadcast equipment. It was a real challenge finding, or making replacement parts fore the RCA TTU-25B transmitter, and other old equipment. it was more of a restoration and homebrew project than it was meeting the deadline on the FCC construction permit. I ended up working as an engineering tech at L-3Com/Microdyne working on $80,000 telemetry receivers, and still design projects at home. I am working on some kits to allow people to build some test equipment they can't afford new, and don't need the performance of brand new Agilent or Tektronix equipment. It is cheaper to use "Chips", rather than discrete parts in a lot of circuits, and they design works better, too. Homebrewing should be used to learn something, and if you want to remain at the lowest level, enjoy yourself, but don't ridicule others who want to learn newer methods. -- Michael A. Terrell Central Florida |
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