New PIC Microchip For My Projects

I have used various PIC microchips in the past and I have always run into limitations, such as "not enough memory", "no UART", "not enough ports for analog inputs" etc. etc.

My future projects will be based on 16F877 (serial) or 18F4550 (USB) chips. I have spent some time with 16F877 and finally managed to display some text on attached LCD display in 4-bit mode. Look at the red board on the picture - although LCD is already connected, there are still many more pins left for other use!

Not Much Activity These Days

I am a little too busy with my job, not much time left for hobby these days. However, I still collect morse keys and I keep thinking about my new 24GHz transverter.

Newest addition to my morsekey collection:

  
Progress made on my 24GHz transverter - managed to program this ELCOM synthesizer to generate nice clean signal on 11.88GHz .. that, multiplied x2 and mixed with 432MHz, should get me there:

Microwave SPRINT Contest

Well, another contest is behind us. SPRINT Microwave was just a short one. In addition to that, conditions were as poor as Hepburn propagation charts were black. One CW QSO from EM48 to EM49. My 3rd grid for the YMCA location in EM48sq, good!

I have tested my new Netbook for weak signal detection. It worked well, actually displayed a signal (-17dB) below threshold of audibility. Used WSJT waterfall, planning on WinRad soon.

Attached screenshot shows our local FSK beacon on 10 368.9 MHz. Signal is way over S9, which is why the traces are doubled on the screen (see week copies to the right).