Hello!

​    I'm not generally a video person, but here's the second post in a row with a video to provide the update on the progress in my shack!  Aren't we so lucky? 
     
​     Last time I was sharing some info on the VU meters/Relays/Arduino arrangement that I came up with to give me an indication of which thing in the shack was generating audio.  This time, the update is more about progress towards getting some additional shack automation, and eventual remote operation ability.  We start off with the shack "powered down" (mostly) so that you can see everything "come-to-life."  My very amateur code is available on Github (search for user N3VEM on github and you'll find it) and the boards and relays I'm using are listed below as Amazon Affiliate links. (P.S. I switched from an Arduino Uno to an Arduino Mega for the control functions between the last video and this one as well. ) 

Post Contains Affiliate Links

Like many shacks, mine has a number of different audio sources.  When you're trying to pick a signal out of the noise, or even just trying to sort out which computer made the "ding" sometimes it can be challenging.  My solution to this problem involved some VU meters, an Arduino Uno, and a relay board.  This one is easiest to describe by just showing you, so check it out:

The code that runs on the Arduino to do this is still a work in progress, but if you'd like to grab a copy or dabble, you can snag it from one of my github repositories. (More on this later - but I just started a github to enable sharing all the technical details about the shack!)

The parts I used are below.  Clicking them will take you to Amazon so you can snag them for yourself:

​Enjoy!

     I've been a very busy beaver this fall and winter!  I've had some family commitments, I started a new job, I'm still writing code for Parks on the Air, and our 3 kiddos have been keeping my partner and I hopping.  That doesn't mean I haven't been working on hamshack projects though!  I just had to prioritize my limited time, so when it came down to having time to do the projects vs. write about them, I decided to just plug away as much as I can and catch up on the written updates later :-)

     Luckily for all of you, I'll also be making an appearance on an upcoming episode of Ham Radio Workbench to talk about my shack build, so rather than write too much about it, just make sure to tune in and hear all about it!

    To accompany what you'll be able to get via the audio in the podcast interview, here's a "history in pictures" to browse as a visual highlight of past and present state of the shack during the last several years.  Enjoy!

   In my very small amount of evening free time in the last months, I managed to work on a couple little projects in my hamshack.  Both of these things are related to the small workbench area I built for myself.  I purposefully kept the workbench on the small side, because I've found that keeping a space small forces me to be deliberate about organization and tidiness.  The end result, is that I end up with more usable work space, because I keep it clean, then I would have with a giant workbench covered in debris (Although I'm far from perfect in that regard...)

   The first of these projects was re-wiring an old task lamp.  My wife's grandfather passed away a few months back, and one of the things in the pile of stuff that we had to go through was an old desk lamp.  It was a really neat looking florescent fixture, being made of all metal, with a nice heavy base.  It looked old, so I figured I'd better inspect it before using it - I was glad I did!  It turns out that it was made in the 1950's.  I know that, because the base, where the open-frame (!) ballast was located, was stuffed with newspaper (!!) dated 1951, to hold the ballast in place.

     The newspaper had the requisite singe marks on it from where things got a little toasty at some point.  The wiring was also all cloth-covered cord that was fraying all over the place.  I pulled all the old wiring out, and did away with the florescent fixture parts.  I replaced the wiring with modern wire appropriate for the task, added a new switch on the base, and instead of a florescent fixture, I attached 3 strips of led lighting from wired communications onto the light reflector.  I now have a neat vintage looking task lamp, but one that runs on the same 12 volts as my other shack stuff, and won't burn down my house if I have it turned on for a few hours!

     The other task that I've completed recently, was to get some organization in place for my small parts that I use most frequently at my workbench.  Step one of that project was to grab a sheet of metal from the hardware section at the big-box-home improvement center, and step two was to snag a 20 pack of magnetic spice jars from Amazon.  Presto - small parts organization!

     And lastly, what better way to exhibit both of these items, than to showcase them being pressed into service by a future member of our ham radio clan, hard at they're work!

     This isn't a knock on the Icom 7300 by any means - it is a pretty slick little radio, and it's really cool to see the newer SDR technology available from a major player, at a price-point that can't be beat.  It just isn't what I decided to get :-)

     As I've been building out my new shack, I spent a good amount of time saving my pennies and debating what rig would become the "main" box for the shack.  With contributions towards savings, retirement, private school tuition and future college for 3 kids, etc. I had to be wise with my money, so even though it was tempting to take my annual bonus and run off and grab an Icom 7610, or a Flex 6400M, my YL gently reminded me that we had other priorities, so I ended up looking in the $1,000 - $1,500 dollar range for my new rig.

     With all the talk about the 7300, Icom's  rig did seem like a no-brainer.  I had to remember however, that for me a large part of ham radio is just the fun of it, and I wanted the radio in my shack to be fun for me.  For me that means big, buttons, and lots of ways to interconnect with other equipment.  Even though the receive performance of the 7300 is awesome, it's wiz-bang touch screen stuff fell just a bit short on the fun-meter for me.  After hanging out and playing for a while at the "local" HRO in Wilmington Delaware, what pegged the fun meter for me was the Yeasu FTDX3000, which at nearly $600 off normal retail during Hamvention week, brought this radio down into my price-range.

     With my new rig in hand, you can also finally see my vision of the "through the wall" equipment starting to come together.   With a combination of MDF, my table saw, my oscillating tool, a drill, and some brackets, I now have the radio mounted in it's home.  The next step is making the face frame to go around the rig to make it pretty, but you get the idea...