Excellent.. folks today don't know that you can fix things.. they figure you just buy a new one.. But there are more and more "makers" or "DIY" fellows as they call them today that are learning the old skills a new and adding new twists all the time.. So good job my friend.. And Ray, thanks for keeping the old times alive.. I even like your ghost stories.. Just like around the camp fire as a kid hey? Carry on !
Great narration as usual Ray. Indeed, the old days we use to built _almost everything_ ourselves. I can't recall how many transmitters I build since the age of 15! (..I am now 75 so, you understand, I've lost count)! 😃 But, with new tools we need to familiarize ourselves and it looks like, you've got the idea eventually. Well done! PS: The little antenna selector, thanks to your encouragement, was build on the w/end and works wonders! I used an old, RCA audio selector. Completely re-wired with one input and four outputs for receiving. I will email photos for your approval LOL!
Back in the 70s we had RADIO SHACK i could buy RCA plugs for the phono stick the lead wire in to the center pin solder it and solder the ground wire to the side of the plug miss those days i bought all my stuff at the SHACK including a short wave radio DX- 160 and im still kicking my self in the bum for that.
Crimp all the time. And the tool for the job. I was an apprentice communications engineer and then did some serious terminating (stuff I can't talk about) When you get to play with a time-domain reflectometer You have to sign the OSA for you can see every cable tie that is pulled too tight. It's fascinating! And then went on to optical cable. Loved working on their installs. had to terminate one end then jump on a late booked flight to the other end (generally business class while wearing ripped jeans and a surf shirt with just a laptop bag and a spare pair of pants n socks) And terminate the other end and test. I once installed Luxumbuougs POP (Point of Presence) Was hilarious! It was in some blokes garage!
@@g4nsj Was fun sitting next to a very important suit type person that eventually realizes you don't give one ;) I once shared a premiere class isle with a lovely 'young' lady called Twiggy. She was a hoot! What a laugh!
Hi Ray, thanks for the wonderful lesson on how not to do it. It must have been awful for you having to get it wrong in order to instruct people how not to do it! Many years ago in my past life, I was a satellite TV installer. Now, as I'm sure you'll agree, a professional must never admit to 'cocking it up'. The knack is to be able to make the householder believe it's their fault I've drilled through their gas pipe. Or, if their water pipe wasn't where it was, I wouldn't have drilled through it. Of course, I'm joking, Ray, my work was always impeccable. Sorry not to have commented for a while, I've been watching you on the telly and couldn't work out how to get to the comments in order to reply! Keep safe and keep 'em coming.
@@g4nsj I really did drill through that gas pipe Ray! It was right as the lady brought my cup of tea. I said "thanks for the tea, oh, and my favourite biscuits too.......erm ..,.... Where's your gas meter and the shut off handle thingy? £100 that cost me, a lot of money back in 1989! Then there was my idiot assistants. who was also the manager's son. He managed to drill right through to next door, almost taking out their TV. All I heard was a scream as the poor woman came running out then ranting "My telly, my telly, a massive drill just came through my wall and almost got my telly" ! I asked Anthony what the hell he'd done, and he just said "Oh, didn't the drill come outside to you?" His dad paid for that one, Ray! Happy days!
Hi Ray, Long time no chat. I have had many disappointments with crimping tools, well I had to buy one for "JST" connectors well they wasn't cheap but I brought a £15 only done 2 sizes of crimps, what a load load of tosh it wouldn't even grip so I could take my fingers out the way to be able to crimp it "they would either fall out before I crimped or i miss crimped the connector and I wasted about 5 crimps. So I brought a nice crimping tool from amazon with precision milled teeth etc also done 3 sizes of crimps it cost £40 and the difference was night and day every crimp was a goodern!
Thanks Ray I agree it takes several practice tries with crimp on connectors. I started ham radio back in the 60s as a teen and those surplus rigs were pretty good. They were the saving grace for beginners. Thanks again Ray and 73s. Terry WA0DTH
It's so refreshing to actually hear someone call the UHF socket an SO239, most people on UA-cam call them PL259 female or PL259 socket and it drives me crazy, god knows what else they DON'T teach in the foundation course these days! lol
Hello Nice video,this is my second favorite videos of yours. The happy times about mw radio pirates is my first favorite. You need more of these how to videos. Like I don't know, maybe 🤔 MW transmitters from the good ole days. You can call it the happy times series,it can have it's own play list. You could show how to make a valve mw transmitter,and if possible a solid state MW transmitter out of old radio equipment?? I'm just saying that would be a great series. Only if you had the time and if it is something you would like to do?? I would love to see it, I'm sure there's a lot of people who would also love to see your how to videos to. Anyway love the channel 👍, I've seen this video a half dozen times already to. Good Stuff I tell you,I guess I am telling you aren't I?. Anyways great show 👍.
Thanks Ray good video those were the day's in the sixties did you ever go to the Brighton Rally ?I am from the old school Hi thanks again for the videos Ray 73 de G6JMX
I try to make as much as I can as in antenna's and lead's it's a learning curve . But in the end I have a sense of achievement that you don't get with buying it . And it's fun.
You pins are solder on, brass, cannot crimp. I add solder to the center conductor first, then I hold the center pin with pliers and heat it as I slide it onto the center conductor! The solder hole is too small.
Excellent.. folks today don't know that you can fix things.. they figure you just buy a new one.. But there are more and more "makers" or "DIY" fellows as they call them today that are learning the old skills a new and adding new twists all the time.. So good job my friend.. And Ray, thanks for keeping the old times alive.. I even like your ghost stories.. Just like around the camp fire as a kid hey? Carry on !
Thanks, it’s great to hear from you. Cheers, Ray.
DIY lives on with us old timers . Good video Ray
Thanks John.
Having a go at it often works out better than you can foresee. 👍🏻
Indeed!
Ray, for long life along with high reliability too, you just can't beat making all your cables up, yourself, at home.
Indeed!
Thank you sir! Always a better experience indeed to know you built what you are running. Thanks and happy DXing.
Thanks!
Great narration as usual Ray.
Indeed, the old days we use to built _almost everything_ ourselves.
I can't recall how many transmitters I build since the age of 15! (..I am now 75 so, you understand, I've lost count)! 😃
But, with new tools we need to familiarize ourselves and it looks like, you've got the idea eventually. Well done!
PS: The little antenna selector, thanks to your encouragement, was build on the w/end and works wonders!
I used an old, RCA audio selector. Completely re-wired with one input and four outputs for receiving.
I will email photos for your approval LOL!
Yes, please email photos. I built a few transmitters back in the old days. Loved every minute of it. I’m 70 now so I’m catching you up. Cheers, Ray.
It's late September 2022 and I just re-watched this video. Always enjoyable to view your postings ! Great fun !
73 Ray
SBF
Excellent, thanks!
Great advice Ray. 'Have a go' if you make a hash of it, try again. All good experience.
Excellent, good luck!
Back in the 70s we had RADIO SHACK i could buy RCA plugs for the phono stick the lead wire in to the center pin solder it and solder the ground wire to the side of the plug miss those days i bought all my stuff at the SHACK including a short wave radio DX- 160 and im still kicking my self in the bum for that.
I really miss those days. It’s nice to hear from you, thanks. Cheers, Ray.
Crimp all the time. And the tool for the job. I was an apprentice communications engineer and then did some serious terminating (stuff I can't talk about) When you get to play with a time-domain reflectometer You have to sign the OSA for you can see every cable tie that is pulled too tight. It's fascinating! And then went on to optical cable. Loved working on their installs. had to terminate one end then jump on a late booked flight to the other end (generally business class while wearing ripped jeans and a surf shirt with just a laptop bag and a spare pair of pants n socks) And terminate the other end and test. I once installed Luxumbuougs POP (Point of Presence) Was hilarious! It was in some blokes garage!
Excellent, it sounds like you have some fun. Ripped jeans and a surf shirt, that’s the way to do it! It’s great to hear from you. Cheers, Ray.
@@g4nsj Was fun sitting next to a very important suit type person that eventually realizes you don't give one ;) I once shared a premiere class isle with a lovely 'young' lady called Twiggy. She was a hoot! What a laugh!
Happy days! Great memories.
Hi Ray, thanks for the wonderful lesson on how not to do it. It must have been awful for you having to get it wrong in order to instruct people how not to do it! Many years ago in my past life, I was a satellite TV installer. Now, as I'm sure you'll agree, a professional must never admit to 'cocking it up'. The knack is to be able to make the householder believe it's their fault I've drilled through their gas pipe. Or, if their water pipe wasn't where it was, I wouldn't have drilled through it. Of course, I'm joking, Ray, my work was always impeccable. Sorry not to have commented for a while, I've been watching you on the telly and couldn't work out how to get to the comments in order to reply! Keep safe and keep 'em coming.
Hi Nigel, it wasn't easy deliberately cutting the pin in half for the video. Drill through the gas pipe... Haha, love it! Cheers, Ray.
@@g4nsj I really did drill through that gas pipe Ray! It was right as the lady brought my cup of tea. I said "thanks for the tea, oh, and my favourite biscuits too.......erm ..,.... Where's your gas meter and the shut off handle thingy? £100 that cost me, a lot of money back in 1989! Then there was my idiot assistants. who was also the manager's son. He managed to drill right through to next door, almost taking out their TV. All I heard was a scream as the poor woman came running out then ranting "My telly, my telly, a massive drill just came through my wall and almost got my telly" ! I asked Anthony what the hell he'd done, and he just said "Oh, didn't the drill come outside to you?" His dad paid for that one, Ray! Happy days!
Hi Ray, Long time no chat. I have had many disappointments with crimping tools, well I had to buy one for "JST" connectors well they wasn't cheap but I brought a £15 only done 2 sizes of crimps, what a load load of tosh it wouldn't even grip so I could take my fingers out the way to be able to crimp it "they would either fall out before I crimped or i miss crimped the connector and I wasted about 5 crimps. So I brought a nice crimping tool from amazon with precision milled teeth etc also done 3 sizes of crimps it cost £40 and the difference was night and day every crimp was a goodern!
Yes, you’re right. Cheap stuff is a waste of money. It’s nice to hear from you. Take care and all the best, Ray.
@@g4nsjHi Ray, I'm the guy who brought the HP 334 sinad meter off you last april/may, mind you I haven't used it yet
Ah yes, I remember. Hope all is well with you.
Thanks Ray I agree it takes several practice tries with crimp on connectors. I started ham radio back in the 60s as a teen and those surplus rigs were pretty good. They were the saving grace for beginners.
Thanks again Ray and 73s. Terry WA0DTH
Thanks Terry, it’s nice to hear from you. Cheers, Ray.
Good lord Ray. You don't make your own leads. You pop down to the nearest electronics store and nick one. 🏃♀ Nice video Ray. 73 Joe
Nick one... I like that!
Outstanding as always! I am really into your stuff, I love both the tech, and stories...
Thanks!
I'm not keen on working on SMA. Thanks for the video Ray. Certainly helpful.
Neither am I now! It’s nice to hear from you. Cheers, Ray.
It's so refreshing to actually hear someone call the UHF socket an SO239, most people on UA-cam call them PL259 female or PL259 socket and it drives me crazy, god knows what else they DON'T teach in the foundation course these days! lol
Thanks, Mark. I know exactly how you feel. It’s nice to hear from you. Cheers, Ray.
@@g4nsj Thanks, and nice to see you posting a few more videos lately, on both channel 😄
Hello
Nice video,this is my second favorite videos of yours. The happy times about mw radio pirates is my first favorite.
You need more of these how to videos. Like I don't know, maybe 🤔 MW transmitters from the good ole days. You can call it the happy times series,it can have it's own play list.
You could show how to make a valve mw transmitter,and if possible a solid state MW transmitter out of old radio equipment??
I'm just saying that would be a great series.
Only if you had the time and if it is something you would like to do??
I would love to see it, I'm sure there's a lot of people who would also love to see your how to videos to.
Anyway love the channel 👍, I've seen this video a half dozen times already to. Good Stuff I tell you,I guess I am telling you aren't I?. Anyways great show 👍.
I might just be making a video about a medium wave transmitter soon. Watch this space!
Thos 316 connectors are tough.
I just blew through 3 sma males before I re getting it right!
Thanks Ray.I always love your down to earth video's .My motto is,it doesnt matter what it looks like as long as it works LOL.....
Kind Regards 73 :)
As long as it works, indeed. Cheers, Ray.
I used to have all this electronic stuff, but not now. I crimped my SMA just by sqeezing it all around with pliers. Rough, but it seems to work OK.
Good idea Paul. I might try that. Cheers, Ray.
Love this. Memories of trying to wire up my first BNC for the novice licence. Back in the day :)
Happy days!
Thanks for video, Ray. Always learn something. You are funny and down to earth. Long live DIY! 73, AA4EZ
Thanks, that's really nicer of you. More videos on the way! Cheers, Ray.
Great video. Thanks. Could you share what size crimp die you used for the ferrule?
Hi, I forget what size it was. If I find out I’ll let you know. Sorry about that. Cheers, Ray.
@@g4nsj thanks so much!!
Experiences like not doing something are also important for learning.
Thank you Ray, I like your humor 🙂
73 de Bernd
Thanks!
Thanks Ray good video those were the day's in the sixties did you ever go to the Brighton Rally ?I am from the old school Hi thanks again for the videos Ray 73 de G6JMX
Hi Barry, I didn’t go to the rally. Glad you like the video, more coming soon. Cheers, Ray.
Nice light hearted video. 😃👍
Thanks!
I try to make as much as I can as in antenna's and lead's it's a learning curve .
But in the end I have a sense of achievement that you don't get with buying it .
And it's fun.
You’re quite right. Learning and achievement, excellent! Cheers, Ray.
I have been building a few little sets and seem to have been infected with a perversion for liking winding torroids!! 73
Haha, that’s excellent!
ray you are a star i love your vids how is the lady in the woods?
Hi Ron, she’s misbehaving!
Thank you Ray.
Its is helpful, thanks
You pins are solder on, brass, cannot crimp.
I add solder to the center conductor first, then I hold the center pin with pliers and heat it as I slide it onto the center conductor! The solder hole is too small.
Excellent, thanks!
Your first attempt is normally the worst but these bloody fiddly sma,s are as I say very fiddly, never mind always worth a go if your determined
I don’t like to be beaten! It’s all good fun!