Audio Interconnections at W4BXI

Here is a draft drawing based on a sketch from W4BXI, for discussion purposes. Click on the image for a full-sized view.

VoIP HF Radio Bridge in QST

An article on this topic, written by W4UOA with some assistance from W4BXI and WA5MLF, is published in the September 2009 issue of QST, page 40. We welcome your feedback and invite you to also use the vote link for ARRL members.

Huntsville Hamfest Photos

Photos by Gary, N4OLN

These photos are also posted in the Group Photos section. Click on the thumbnail for Huntsville 2009.

Skype under threat

The VoIP technology that we like to use for HF radio interfacing to the Internet is under threat due to E-bay's sloppy acquisition of Skype. See this summary from episode 583 of Leo Laporte's show The Tech Guy. The summary includes a link to an article on the British news site The Guardian.

Pioneers award to TPARCA in 1995

Here is a bit of TPARCA history from 1995. Click on the thumbnail for a better view. Pictured receiving the award is W4AXO, Bell Ringer #187.
Also, see the 1994 group photo.

Updated W4BXI System Audio Drawing

In an earlier blog posting W4UOA provided a drawing of W4BXI' s overall audio interconnections, and WA5MLF followed with a drawing to focus on the two-way audio paths between transceiver and Internet-connected PC. Since that time W4BXI has added a second audio mixer (colored orange) to the system. An updated draft drawing by WA5MLF is shown below (click to enlarge).

Photos of key hardware elements may be seen here.

Feedback from W4BXI would be appreciated to ensure that this version of the drawing conforms with the "as built" hardware configuration.

This may aid our ongoing discussions of interfacing multiple participants to an HF radio QSO using Skype, and even the 20th century technology called a phone patch. Today's on-air discussion renewed the quest for a system configuration that can connect multiple Skype callers to the host HF transceiver without the use of external hardware mixers or a second PC to host the Skype audio conference.

Electronics Recycling in Birmingham

If you have old electronic equipment of any kind that you can't or don't want to trade or sell, consider bringing it to a recycling company, such as Technical Knock Out. They are a full-time operation located near US-31 (Independence Dr) and 28th Ave S. The annotated photo below (click to enlarge) shows the TKO location. It is suggested that you call them before going to make sure they are present. Sometimes they are away collecting discards from local businesses.

Last year I took a wide variety of items to a weekend collection that the company sponsored at Whole Foods. A couple weeks ago I took some equipment directly to the TKO warehouse where I found the employees disassembling old computer equipment and other electronic gear. They are glad to accept all kinds of radio, audio, and other equipment. Sheet metal parts are picked up by a local company that uses recycled metals to produce various forms of piping. Circuit boards are shipped to a company in another state that separates the components and materials for recycling.

Call TKO at 205-451-0180 if you have any questions.

John