Experimental Rust Apps:
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.
Hiram Percy Maxim
Hiram Percy Maxim was a genius who made major contributions to several very different fields. This is about a fascinating man, how ham radio got its start, and how one man gave hams around the world access to so many bands with so many privileges.
This is a presentation originally done for Ham Radio QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo, August 14, 2021
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.
