#Amateur radio vlf receiver review serial

Knowing that my soldering skills might not meet the challenge of the specified surface mount components, I sourced other parts for the project and constructed the interface. Gray cleverly packaged the IC and the five support capacitors in a DB-25 connector and backshell.

#Amateur radio vlf receiver review serial

Based on the Maxim MAX186DCPP serial A/D integrated circuit, the datalogger can easily be built in one afternoon for less than $40. Author Mike Gray (N8KDD) describes the construction and operation of the converter in his article, 'Build the QUAD- 1 2 Personal Datalogger' ('73 Amateur Radio Today, page 10, August 1996). I was seriously considering purchasing the Tandy multimeter when I read about a simple 12-bit A/D converter that required very few support components and derives its power directly from the parallel port on a small personal computer. I would never load another roll of strip-chart paper! My disgust and frustration gave way to resolve. However, when the part arrived and I discovered that my $29.95 had purchased only another flimsy needle without installation instructions. Upon ordering a replacement part, I expected to receive a complete galvanometer needle mechanism for the quoted charge. Shortly thereafter, I accidently broke the needle on the Rustrak unit while replacing the paper.

At the time of his article's publication, my SID monitoring system utilized a Rustrak recorder, and I didn't have a spare computer to dedicate to SID monitoring. Panzer discussed several desirable features of the Tandy unit such as its low noise, ease of operation and ready-to-run recording software. In a previous SID Technical Bulletin (April 1996), fellow contributor Alex Panzer described the successful interfacing of his VLF receiver to a computer via a Tandy Corporation digital multimeter. AN EASY TO BUILD A/D CONVERTER INTERFACE FOR VLF RECEIVERS