Wb0auq WebPicks 2003

WBØAUQ's, Web Picks for 2003

Here is a list of Web Picks by Bob Rainbolt, WBØAUQ, that appeared in the Douglas County Amateur Radio Club's Newsletter during 2003.

Keep in mind that some web sites may no longer be available as they change from time to time.
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MARCH 2003

Check out this site before you dismiss it because of its name. Lots of tech info, component data sheets, and not as much illegal stuff as you might first imagine:
http://www.cbtricks.com/
Having trouble increasing your proficiency with CW? There are a lot of folks out there willing to help you out. One group sponsors a "Code Buddy" program. You work out an agreeable schedule for on-air QSOs with an Elmer who has compatible interests as you, and who is perfectly willing to send at whatever speed you are comfortable with. Go to this site, click on "Code Buddy", read all about it:
http://www.qsl.net/w9em/
You say your solid-state hi-fi amplifier just does not sound as good as your friend's vacuum tube amp? These folks have a deal for you! Brush their magic chemical on all the ICs and transistors. It will "transform cold harsh sounds into warm emotional sounds":
http://www.altmann.haan.de/tubeolator/default.htm
You have seen URLs here previously concerning the German enigma machine of WWII. This site might be of interest to view one close-up. A Holland (YL) built one from scratch!
http://www.xs4all.nl/~samzen/enigma/index.htm
This month's pick for a significant historical site gives way for "Unusual Museums on the Internet", links to some real oddball, some noteworthy hobby sites. People collect strange things:
http://www.unusualmuseums.org/
· Happy Surfin' 73, Bob/WBØAUQ

APRIL 2003

This is a neat study of unknown vacuum tubes and a ham's procedure for determining their nomenclature and specs, even a useful circuit:
http://www.io.com/~n5fc/tubetest.htm
Here's a ham's answer to the popular TV show "Junkyard Wars." Build yourself a transmitter using non-electronic items found around the house:
http://www.k7on.com/equipment/qrp/junkyd.htm
For the audiophoole...errr...make that audiophile, amongst us, this site discusses how to get "high-resolution audio" from your next homebrew hi-fi amplifier power supply:
http://www.curcioaudio.com/Audibility_of_PwrSupply.htm
Here we are presented with an extensive explanation of the history and present Italian callsign assignments:
http://www.qsl.net/i0jx/callsigns.html
This month's pick for Site of Significant Historical Interest is excerpts from the book "The Magicians of Fort Monmouth," a collection of intriguing stories of radio and radar research at the facility and it's director, Dr. Harold Zahl:
http://www.infoage.org/zahltop.html#3wurz
Happy Surfin'
73, Bob/WBØAUQ "

MAY 2003

Back in the 'good ole days' of crystal-controlled transmitters, hams would often grind crystals to change frequency. Its' becoming a lost art, check out how to do it here:
http://www.subdevo.com/radio/crystal%20grinding/crystal%20grinding.htm#testing
Also, at the bottom of the
page, click on "N4JVP" for other useful information.
For a very neat application of Javascript, check out this ham's page, especially if you are a Drake (TR4-C) fan. (Place your cursor onto some of the knobs):
http://www.qsl.net/py4ro/
What could be more simple than a crystal radio? This guy has a nice photo gallery and description/schematics of many of his creations. Beautiful workmanship; maybe entice you to build something?:
http://www.schmarder.com/radios/
World War II history buffs may already know of this site. Many, many links for sound files, photos, memoirs, historical moments:
http://teachers.ausd.net/socialsci/WorldWarIILinks.html#Sound%20Files
This month's pick for Site of Significant Historical Interest is "Early Television." You will find more than you ever wanted to know about TV and some amateur radio operators' involvement:
http://www.earlytelevision.org/index.htm
· 73 and Happy Surfin' Bob/WBØAUQ "

JUNE 2003

In looking over recent bookmarks it is obvious I have been on a nostalgia kick. Hope the following sites prove of interest. But first, a couple of not-so-ancient sites of interest:
Need a scanner frequency for a Kansas town? This site seems to have recent data from the FCC database (but note misspellings of some cities):
http://www.cityfreq.com:81/ks/
Some months ago I listed a site to download Jean Shepherd/K2ORS(sk) programs. Here is another site recently discovered, with lots of background and more audio downloads of this humorous ham:
http://www.flicklives.com/
And now, some neat and/or familiar radio dials of the past:
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/9178/radios/dials.htm
If you are interested in antique radio receivers, this Australian site has well-done Javascript presentations of some beautiful International sets:
http://classicradiogallery.com/
And another site for antique foreign radios, Scandinavian this time. You don't have to know the language in order to enjoy the pictures:
http://www.nrhf.no/nrhf-eng.html
Finally, this month's pick for the Site of Significant Historical Interest has a staggering amount of information on early radio history, "concentrating on the United States in the period 1897 to 1927":
http://earlyradiohistory.us/index.html
· 73 and Happy Surfin' Bob/WBØAUQ "

JULY 2003

AUGUST 2003

Have you become bored with your GPS device; need to put it to a practical use to ensure you can really use it? This site may provide help:
http://www.gpsnuts.com/
I had noticed something different with WWV broadcasts but did not realize why, until reading this:
http://www.mindspring.com/~lownoise/wwv.html
Hopefully you have noted that we like to provide links to web sites of historical interest as well as items on the leading-edge, and particularly where it applies to improving your hi-class audio system. This site, for instance, has the latest in "audio grade ac receptacles," and answers the question of why would you plug the power cable of your high-end audio system into an ordinary ac socket? For a mere $147.00 you will have the most technically-advanced ac receptacles in the country!
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=110-439
Just in case you have not found it elsewhere, KU stadium has a webcam (info relayed from Mark/KCØNFS):
http://memorialcam.jayhawks.org/Ex1/default.html
...and if that piqued your interest, you can search the world for others:
http://www.camcentral.com/
This month's pick for 'Site of Significant Historical Interest' is John Dilks'/K2TQN "Old Radio and Radio History" web site.
http://www.eht.com/oldradio/index.html
(You probably have read John's old radio columns in QST.) Of particular interest to me is this article:
http://www.eht.com/oldradio/history/outline/Hogaxx.htm
Happy Surfin', 73, Bob/WBØAUQ "

SEPTEMBER 2003

Just in case you missed a magazine ad the first time around, at least between 911 and 1955, this site has
thousands of 'em, many radio-related of course:
http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/adaccess/
This site has many photos of neat old radios (many foreign):
http://www.qsl.net/la5ki/org.htm
NPR (National Public Radio) often has a radio-related program. You might be able to hear a re-broadcast here, maybe even some other interesting tid-bit:
http://www.npr.org/programs/
This month's pick for Site of Significant Historical Interest is actually two sites, and concerns telephone history. Many stories, history, and audio files for your listening pleasure. Click on the second site for additional stories and audio, and read and hear Jane Barbe, the recently-deceased "telephone lady":
http://www.telephonetribute.com/
http://www.dmine.com/phworld/

· Happy Surfin' 73, Bob/WBØAUQ "

OCTOBER 2003

Have you given up hope in finding a rare bulb or lamp? This fellow says he can find any thing for you:
http://www.donsbulbs.com/cgi-bin/r/t.pl
Need to find a transformer or maybe just the specifications? Try
http://www.one-electron.com/
If it isn't there, try here:
http://208.190.133.201/old_iron/index.html
While browsing some medical electronics sites I happened upon some interesting tidbits of early history on Hewlett-Packard:
http://www.scoon.co.uk/Electrotherapy/Rife/BeamRay/Analysis/hewlett.htm
Note: also backspace thru "/hewlett.htm" and press "Enter" for more intriguing reading.
If you are into restoration of old radio and/or TVs you need to visit this site for safety hints.

http://www.bvws.org.uk/405alive/tech/safety.html
· 73 and Happy Surfin' Bob/WBØAUQ

NOVEMBER 2003

FOR a very well done on-line presentation of the joys of operating QRP, you will enjoy this:
http://www.njqrp.org/whyqrp/whyqrp.htm
Further entertainment, this time audio. Gary/WD4NKA, a musician of some note, has placed his latest MP3 audio file here, "RadioHead," 100% radio-related of course:
http://www.qsl.net/wd4nka/TEXTS/rhead.html
I ran across this interesting, and unusual museum, "On-Line Air Defense Radar Museum," with site info, photos, technical stuff:
http://www.radomes.org/museum/
If you have been looking for software to control your radio, check out 'Ham Radio Deluxe,' a free download:
http://www.kns.ch/sysgem/hb9drv/HamRadioDeluxe.htm
And, this month's pick for Site of Significant Historical Interest goes to
http://www.qsl.net/ik0moz/
an Italian site, concerning primarily Italian Military radios from WWII but an interesting tangent of builders who are building a British spy radio, the PARASET. Some very nice specimens of those already completed, in progress, plans, schematics, etc.
· 73 and Happy Surfin' Bob/WBØAUQ "

DECEMBER 2003