In my last article, I showed how to measure an inductor using a known capacitor. This method could be used to measure a capacitor using a known inductor. This post will demonstrate a better and more accurate way to measure a capacitor using an oscilloscope. Usually, a capacitor's value is …
Resistors, inductors, and capacitors are passive components used in every electronic circuit. Usually, the value is marked on the resistor or capacitor, either as a color code or a number. Often, inductors have no markings, especially those with a ferrite core or an air core. To measure their value, professionals …
People think that all wires are the same and that any cable should be OK to power their rig. This is far from true, especially when you want to power your radio using a battery. This article focuses on installing a mobile radio or installing a battery backup for your …
I gave a presentation on antenna modeling software to a couple of clubs in California and Oregon. From the physical antenna design to the matching network, we designed the antenna live with the participants. Here is a little more about the talk: During the first part of the talk, we …
A year ago, I installed a system based on a Raspberry Pi Zero to manage my backyard lights. Since the system is installed outside in a weatherproof box, I have decided to install a DS1820 temperature sensor, send the data to APRS1, and use the APRS infrastructure to monitor …
Every Thursday, the Portland Amateur Radio Club (PARC) organizes a series of conferences called Beginning Ham Radio. These conferences aim to teach new hams all the aspects that ham radio has to offer. This week, the club invited me to talk about the latest and popular Digital Voice modes. The …
When we re-did our house plumbing, we asked our contractor to install a water recirculation pump. A water re-circulating pump is used to circulate hot water so that any faucet or shower will provide hot water instantly upon demand. What is a recirculation pump? A typical home can hold between …