The Humble Breadboard
StatusTested
A first practical look at solderless breadboards, including what I learned by checking the internal connections with a multimeter instead of assuming every board was wired the same way.
Lab Notes
Short notes from the bench and the field.
Short dated notes on radio, electronics, antennas, and field power.
Notes Index
Newest notes first
Short dated notes with one clear observation, question, or next step.
Testing the UNI-T UTP3315TFL-II Bench Power Supply
StatusTested
Initial bench validation of a new UNI-T UTP3315TFL-II bench power supply before the return window closed, including voltage checks, simple load testing, and first observations.
Six Months Licensed: What I've Learned So Far
StatusSeed
Reflections after my first six months in amateur radio, including quiet repeaters, mic fright, digital modes, POTA, and the hobbies radio opened up.
New Hobbies Bring New Learning Opportunities
StatusSeed
Learning about the different measurement systems used across hobbies can challenge you to slow down, pay attention, and keep learning.
Using Christmas Light Clips to Hang a Temporary Wire Antenna
StatusField-Tested
A simple, low-impact way to temporarily hang a wire antenna along the outside trim of a house.
Quick Tip for Hanging Wire Antennas on a Mast
StatusField-Tested
A simple, inexpensive way to hang and quickly change wire antennas on a mast during portable testing.
A Small DX Commander Pole Modification That Helped
StatusField-Tested
A quick field tip that made my DX Commander pole easier to set up and use.
First Portable HF Experiment with a Rybakov-Style Antenna
StatusField-Tested
A first portable HF test near Flagstaff using a Xiegu G90, DX Commander pole, Rybakov-style wire antenna, and a 15Ah LiFePO4 battery. The station worked, FT8 did not go as planned, and the trip turned into a useful lesson in testing the whole setup before leaving home.