Raspberry Pi as a RBN Client.

I was sitting in the dark and watching the Arduino spying on the ReverseBeacon Network, but times got hot. And the spots came running faster than my eyes could follow or my mind could read. AND: Another ham complained, that this display was not of a great help in localizing new spots.

When I read an article about connecting the Raspberry Pi to an USB-LCD, I knew the solution of my problem.



First thing I had to find that USB LCD System Info on Ebay

Arduino as a ReverseBeaconNetwork Client

I got a new book "HamRadio for the Arduino and Picaxe" edited by Leigh L. Klotz but I could not get to try the various projects for there are some parts missing. (I will write more about this book later on.) But the Arduino was on my table and the K2 was running and of course I had the Reverse Beacon Net  (RBN) switched on.

I don't like the computer when I am making contacts, so I decided to  give it a try:

QRP with Style and Fun: The 4SQRP-Group

I was member of a lot of clubs in the last 20 years but after a certain time I lost interest and laid my memberships down. But times have changed.Why could this be? There were still the old and new hams doing their thing.

The trigger was a photo of an extraordinary QRP-Station from Woody WD9F.

© Woody (WD9F) and 4SQRP

I lied just a little bit ;-) my interest was aroused some time before that picture, but it shows the essence: Build on wood, all the components ( Keyer, Tansmitter, Receiver, VFO and a Magic Box) were there, didn't cost a fortune and Woody worked with this station already 43 states!

Hendricks Fabulous 41dB Step HF Attenuator

Life is full of adventure and the straight way is not always the fastest lane. And: you need patience like a fisherman to achieve your goal.

Die Geduld des Fischers  © Joachim Lehrer

So it was with me. If you have just a wire and not an antenna, you have nothing but 5 watt output and you think that this is enough and you make contacts with (nearly) everyone you can hear in your radio. Then everything is normal. But you are missing the spice.

A Battle Between My Crazy Wire and Some Baluns

Some of my readers may remember the running gag about the postman who rang twice. Here is the continuing story: Some days ago the postman rang twice and he handed me a parcel from the Netherlands. Of course the package was opened at once and inside I found a beautiful hand-made balun crafted by Rob and Ron ( PA3EKE). (You may remember them as the guys who constructed the HyEndFedWire Antennas.

Last time I did complain about my last Balun which left me sitting on 195 watts. So they decided to change their design It is an SWL-Antenna which matches random wires from 0,3 up to 30 MHz. And the measurements show that loaded the SWR is completely flat over the whole range.

David Russell - A recital in Beijing

Still my favorite guitarist. And listen to that guitar. Although this recording is not very good, the Dammann guitar performs baroque , romantic or contemporary music equally well....but of course it is in the hands of a maestro. Well done!


And here is the programm from the YouTube site:


0:00 F. Sor, Op. 54: Morceau de Concert

12:20 E. Granados, Danza Española n°5
16:23 E. Granados, Danza Española n°10
20:32 E. Granados, La Maya de Goya

Celtic set of pieces:

24:08 Hamish Johnston, Sanas Cuain / Message of the Sea
26:37 James Scott Skinner, The Bride's Reel (returns at 27:59)
27:14 James Scott Skinner, Miss Mary Walker of Peterhead
28:42 James Scott Skinner, The Rose Bud of Allenvale
30:41 Scottish Traditional, The Deil Amang the Tailors

31:37 J.S. Bach, BWV 1004: Chaconne

44:16 F. Tárrega, Danza Mora
47:29 F. Tárrega, Grand Vals
49:44 F. Tárrega, Marieta
52:18 F. Tárrega, Adelita
53:55 F. Tárrega, Mazurka in G major
55:36 F. Tárrega, Variations on a Theme of Paganini (Carnaval de Venice)

1:02:50 A. Barrios Mangoré, Un Sueño en la Floresta

1:08:51 J. Malats, Serenata Española

Stay tuned!

Antenna improvements and the Future

I f you have to live with with compromises ... Well life is a compromise and you have to look for improvements. But these do not stand around the next corner and wait for you.

Die Hohlstunde © Joachim Lehrer

 You have to search for them and as always, if there is someone with an advice ... the solution might against all odds wait just around the corner.