Half way there.

Week 6 of the Standard license upgrade course is over, this week we started with a 50 question test of the last 5 weeks work. I was quite happy with my result, more than enough to get a pass. Now we started putting it all together, with transmitters the first cab of the rank. Basic CW, then AM, SSB and finally FM designs, the basic features of each (both positive and negative). Soon I should be starting to think about what callsign I want when I pass. VK7HCH is a strong possibility, I always wanted VK7NBL because to me it spelt No Bloody License. But as the standard syllabus is different from an old novice one, I feel a bit funny about taking an N call as I do not have the 5wpm morse that was needed to get that call originally. I will probably take the H call, being the equivilent of Novice Limited (Novice with no morse).
But I still have to pass the exams, lets not get too cocky.

Now for something completely different...

It is actually an animated gif if you click on it.
I don't know where this started, I found it on ad5jn's site. I love it.

License upgrade week 5

Power supplies and amplifier classes this week. As we had previously covered transformers, we already had our lower voltage to work with. This week we covered rectification, using either a half wave, full wave or full wave bridge configuration. Smoothing using capacitors and inductors. Regulation using zener diode in a shunt regulator configuration and the care and feeding of three terminal regulators.
We then discussed the different major classes of amplifiers (A, B and C) and how we achieve these configurations, the good and the bad of each design.
We also covered frequency multipliers and mixers, and how these can be used to achieve different frequencies from lower frequency, more stable oscillators.
Now that we are heading away from the basic electronics side of things, into more radio based items, this is where the course will benefit me.

Upgrade week 4

Well, 1/3 down already, my how time flies. Last night we covered circuit symbols and semiconductors, more specifically different types of diodes, varicaps, zeners etc, and various ways of biasing and using them. We also touched on bipolar transistors, which are current devices and FETs (Field Effect Transistors), which are voltage devices, different types of circuit configuration, common emitter/source, common base/gate and common collector/source, their basic characteristics, how common emitter causes phase inversion, and what hfe or beta (current gain) means. Here is an interesting fact, FETs are always drawn with the drain to the top. Another fun filled night with yet a different facilitator, man we must be wearing them out fast.

License upgrade continued...

Week 3 of the REAST standard license upgrade course has flown by, this time with a different instructor. We did the usual review of previous weeks work, did some more work on capacitors then looked at resonance and tuned circuits, and the current and voltage properties of both series and parallel tuned circuits. Then transformers, both as ac voltage changing, and also as impedance matching. When I got home, I had a go at the sample quizzes on the Radio and Electronics School cd-roms, the first 8 cover what we have been taught so far, and I was quite pleased at the results. More than enough to get a pass on the theory exam. I hope this continues.

Father's Day

This morning I received presents from my youngest two, ones that they had made themselves. Chocolate chip cookies from Kristy, and a table placemat that was made from coiled french knitting that Chelsea has been doing over the last week. Thanks heaps kids.

The upgrade path continues..

Last night we continued our studies for the standard license upgrade, we reviewed last weeks resistor theory, then we covered frequency, this included wavelength, fundamental and harmonic frequencies and how to calculate each. Inductance was discussed, including why we need to use inductors, the effect on circuits and reactance, the inductors resistance to AC signals. We covered how to calculate values, both in series and parallel. We also started on capacitance, but only briefly, how series and parallel calculations are the opposite to resistors and inductors. Quite painless until we got to the part where you convert the value of a capacitor from one unit of measure to another, like picofarads to microfarads. I think I got it in the end.