Experimental Rust Apps:
Net Control Check-In Recording
Temperature Converter
Fibonacci Sequence
For Young People:
Genovation ControlPad for the K4, Part 1
I often wish some buttons on a radio were easier to spot since many have two or three labels on or near them. Also, typing frequencies using the radio’s number buttons can be very cumbersome. It would be much easier to:
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- Type frequencies on a 10-key pad
- Have most of the radio commands I want all in one place
- Perform multiple actions (like split and unsplit) with one button
Genovation ControlPad for the K4, Part 2
In Part I, I set up my K4 to be controlled with a with a Genovation ControlPad and a Raspberry Pi Zero 2, using a derivation of a project posted by my friend, Dave Cole NK7Z.
Then I realized I could do the same using my PC if I had software that only listened to the Genovation ControlPad.
Antenna Cable Entry Panel
Living in the Pacific Northwest, we don’t get much lightning here; but even so, as I’ve purchased more expensive radio equipment, I’m still aware of the potential for lightning and smaller electrostatic buildup causing damage.
To prevent that, I’ve wanted to have an entry panel and box that was practical and nice. It took about 1 & 1/2 years to slowly purchase parts and finally get to the project.
Seeing SWR
An explanation of Standing Wave Ratio (SWR) – inspired by a video by Bill Hays AE4QL in HRN 199: Standing Up for Standing Waves on Ham Radio Now
Homebrew Fox (for Fox Hunting, a.k.a direction finding)
Attach an amateur radio to this and the radio will regularly identify itself so others can use their direction finding skills and locate it.
Arduino Projects (by my former middle school students)
During my last years of teaching middle school, I was privileged to teach a STEM class where I taught students about electricity, programming and the Arduino microprocessor. Here are very short videos of those students showing off their projects.
Android Phone Control of NeoPixel Display
This project was the result of two of my middle school students combining two smaller projects: connecting an Android device to an Arduino and changing the color of a NeoPixel display.
Hot Wheels Car Photogate
Students needed to measure how fast their Hot Wheels cars went along the track, so I built several inexpensive photogates to help them.
It uses a photo transistor to detect when the car passes and can calculate the speed of the car at whatever position you put the sensor holder. A white LED was used instead of an IR LED so it was more obvious the device was on and connected properly.
Student Car Race Photogate
After making a small photogate for timing Hot Wheels cars (see above article), I was asked to help our middle school with their Solar Car Challenge and make a two-lane photogate for the preliminary races that all students participate in. (Their cars are roughly 4 inches wide, 10 inches long and 4-5 inches high.)
Android “I’m on the phone” Indicator
After retirement, I did volunteer work in an office in a cubicle where colleagues couldn’t see when I was on the phone. I needed a device that lit up every time I was on the phone.
