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Before I explain my web site, I must tell you what a great adventure I have had in the electronic world! Hi, my name is Chuck Hartley and this fantastic time in my career has spawned the creation of many---if not all---of the projects that appear on these pages. I am extremely fortunate in having lived and worked during the most exciting years of the "Electronic Era" starting mid 20th century!
At age 10 I was "ahhhed" that a "cat's whisker" could detect a radio signal. Curiosity took me to "vacuum tubes" where my first major accomplishment was a "Two Tube Hurricane Radio" that was powered by a 6 Volt battery and constructed on an inverted aluminum ice cube tray. I entered my creation in a Boy Scout Science Fair and earned a blue ribbon. I am still proud of that achievement!
Within three years, I became interest in Ham Radio. How exciting it was to contact other "enthusiasts" in exotic parts of the world! It was a good time for Amateur Radio because of an abundance of WWII surplus electronic parts for "homebrew" projects and licensed "hams" were actively recruited by employers offering interesting job opportunities. Of course, the "home brew" station was common place and many of we oldsters think fondly of the "warm, cheery, glow" of the transmitter final amplifier tube---typically an 807---with an exposed plate cap allowing one to impress a "shack" visitor with an arc to a wooden pencil. Ahhh, the smell of burnt flesh and ozone! The youth of today have missed great fun!
As the years progressed, I participated in "the making of history"! I built portions of the first military spread spectrum radios, designed testing equipment for the first "quad" Ampex Video Tape machine and developed circuits using transistors when transistors were still an oddity. I remember the CK722 well! Along came "split channel" commercial two-way radio, making the surplus equipment available to amateur radio---2 meter fm activity exploded! Next came my working with integrated circuits, microprocessors, RAMs, ROMs, PCM and FDM telephone equipment. Then, on to "smashing atoms" at the Stanford University's Linear Accelerator---super powered by 65 megawatt klystron tubes---250 of them! An arc from one of those tubes was really exciting! Finally, I traveled the world doing training and troubleshooting of high speed digital UHF/micowave data communication networks until my early retirement.
Here, in general detail are a few of my personal construction projects. For specific information, click the high lighted text.
DTMF Design. When "tone" chips became available, I wanted to make a simple telephone communication device for the hearing impaired. I called it "Tone Writer". It lead to a multitoned keyboard, a data acquisition system and several remote control devices.
Data Collection. Before PLCs, there was a need to acquire process control data (temperature, pressure, flow, conductivity, pH, on/off, etc) remotely. My "Blue Box" was designed to monitor and control cooling tower systems via telephone or radio. Later, it was used in reverse osmosis water purification systems monitoring the quality of rinse water used with semi-conductor waffer fabrication.
Data Test Gear. When I returned to radio communication, it was with data radios rather than voice. To make life easier (for me) I designed devices that gave me the flexibility that I needed to demonstrate digital radio in the classroom---and, when necessary, trouble shoot "balky" radio systems in the field worldwide.
As my interests returned to Amateur TV, special appliances were needed to get my station working. These devices are simple and necessary for efficient operation.
TV/Video Project. My am & fm ATV systems are a collection of purchased and "homebrew" equipment. The video switcher and audio ID are "handcrafted"---also my slow scan TV is designed to be used with either voice, digital radios or the telephone line. The slow scan units were in regular use for several years between the U.S. and the U.K. so I could "see" my grandkids when I phoned them.
Spread Spectrum. To encourage participation in advanced communications technology I experimented with Part 15, DSSS transceivers for Ham radio use. This page describes some testing of the radios and interface devices for voice, data and video.
So there you have it. "Click" the high lighted text
to browse the pages of this site and please send me an e-mail if you have
questions. Thanks for stopping.
"73", Chuck Hartley, W6OOC
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