It’s been quite some time since the last update I’ve made here, and every time I mention it I say I’ll fix it and never seem to do so; but that is the plan and some day I will stick to it!

I’ve recently rekindled my interest in radio, both transmitting and receiving; as such I’ve set up my old CB Radio, a Cobra 29 WX NW ST which is an AM 4 watt 40 channel unit, I’ve also dug out my PMR-446 equipment and my scanners…

It’s good fun tuning up and down the airwaves, getting some use out of my license free equipment and toying around with various projects. I’ve even gone as far as getting the training material from the IRTS who manage the testing and qualification for amateur radio in Ireland, so it is definitely on the cards for me to go ahead and get my amateur license so I have more of the band to call my home!

With that said, I have made some contacts with other like minded individuals using the Free Radio Network Client and I am regularly active on the 446 Muppets server under the callsign EI024, which is available on 001.446muppets.co.uk port 10025 if you fancy popping on and having a chin wag!

As college is finished for the summer, I have a lot more time to indulge in my hobbies and what better than to set myself a few projects to complete over the summer holidays, the majority of these projects will have a radio type theme to them but here’s my list so far…

• Isolated audio interface for receiving digital modes and decoding them on the PC.
• 13.8v 5A DC power supply for running various bits of radio equipment.
• A new (old) computer, I already have some Mini-ITX boards and so forth, so getting one of those set up in a nice case and doing an install of Ubuntu, dedicating that machine for radio applications.
• A few antennae for various digital receiving modes, namely ACARS and SSTV.
• Adding a discriminator tap to my scanners.
• A 30Mhz Low Pass Filter for use on the RF-OUT of my CB Radio in order to eliminate TVI when broadcasting.

So there you have it, thats pretty much what I’ve been up to since I’ve finished college for the summer, I’ll keep you posted on the various projects and my learning as they progress.