Practical Radio Design

 From:  Mike K4ICY (MAJIKMIKE)
5045.1 
Seems like I haven't been as busy into making MoI tutorials as I'd like to be. I learn equally as well from doing them.
Aside from one or two MoI projects I've been tinkering with, my main work has been in the design and implementation process of my "home-brew" ham radio transceiver.
I've just finished the second revision of my original model...

It's a collection of commercially available electronics kits and home-brew circuitry tediously merged together to form a fun little radio.
By fun, I mean it was not only assembled by my own hands, but is intended to take out camping, along on trips or wherever there is a little space and have fun communicating to others all over the world.
It transmits in Morse Code tone only, and not voice which takes a special skill and ear. A skill that I can admit is not yet a proficiency with me, but is ever increasing.
And it uses very little power because it transmits with a very low 2 watts as opposed to the 100 watts standard on a commercially available radio or the 1,500 watts allowed by the FCC.
With Morse Code, you don't need much power because of the physics behind its operation.

Most of my enjoyment came from the design and fabrication process. I had both electronics and spatial design challenges to overcome.
Thanks to MoI, I was able to not only effortlessly manipulate the components to suit both ergonomics as well as practical placement, but was able to make a template by which to drill extremely accurate pilot holes.

To see my journal, go to: http://www.k4icy.com/cw_qrp_sw40.html

Here are a few snapshots...

MoI makes designing a virtual ease!





Drill Template from an exported .ai of the top view.

Final design brought to life.


This is my busiest time of the year as VP of our radio club, and I finish off on the last weekend of June as coordinator or the very popular Field Day event. http://www.arrl.org/field-day
So as in the last few years, it seems that much of my designing time is relegated to the back-burner. I'll be sure to sneak some in...

But even in both my occupation and hobbies I'm finding more and more real-world uses for MoI. - an indispensable tool!
A glass held high to you Michael!
73!