Overview

This is a small video series hosted on YouTube which is aimed toward hobbyists & hackers covering topics related to amateur radio, homebrew electronics, test equipment, computer and telphone network exploration, mad science experiments, and other similar interests.

It's not very good and there are MUCH better videos from other people on YouTube.  I encourage you to support those instead.  If there is enough interest, I'll try to make more videos.

Episodes

1. GBPPR Vision #1: EIP Model 545A Microwave Frequency Counter
• Overview of an EIP Model 545A microwave frequency counter.
• Phase Matrix  Phase Matrix bought EIP.
• EIP 545A Modification to Add Option 02  (1.1M ZIP)  (Instructions)
• EIP Microwave Model 545A & 548A Microwave Frequency Counters  Service Manual [Manual Part Number: 5580033-00]  (47.1M PDF)
• EIP Microwave Model 545B & 548B Microwave Frequency Counters  Operation Manual  (4.8M PDF)
• A Repair Story: EIP 545A 18 GHz Frequency Counter
• Upgrade of the EIP 545A Counter - Option 2, Power Meter  by Dr. Simon Schrödle
• EEVblog Forum Thread on Adding Options to EIP Frequency Counters  Very good technical information.
• EIP 545B RF Frequency Counter  Excellent write-up of an EIP 545B restoration and repair, including some firmware reverse-engineering, by David Douard
• EIP-Microwave@groups.io  EIP equipment users and hackers mailing list.




2. GBPPR Vision #2: Cleaning RF Connectors
• Use a Microbrush and Nevr-Dull to clean BNC and N connectors.
• Microbrush
• Nevr-Dull




3. GBPPR Vision #3: Cutting & Cleaning Printed Circuit Board Material
• Use low-cost hardware and grocery store items to cut and clean your copper-clad PCB material.
• Harbor Freight Tools 4" Mighty-Mite Table Saw
• Midwest Tools Model M1200 13" Magnesium Snip
• 3M Scotch-Brite Scouring Pads
• 3M Contour Surface Sanding Sponges
• Bar Keepers Friend Copper Glo Powder
• Byrnes 4" Table Saw  High-end table saw for model makers and hobbists.




4. GBPPR Vision #4: Op-Amps for Audio Surveillance - Part 1
• General overview of a LM833 op-amp microphone amplifier for the speech band.
• National LM833 Dual Op-Amp  (455k PDF)




5. GBPPR Vision #5: Op-Amps for Audio Surveillance - Part 2
• Calculating the gain of an op-amp in a contoured audio application.
• National LM833 Dual Op-Amp  (455k PDF)




6. GBPPR Vision #6: Op-Amps for Audio Surveillance - Part 3
• Calculating the total input noise voltage of a LM833 op-amp microphone amplifier.
• National LM833 Dual Op-Amp  (455k PDF)
• Thermal Noise Calculator
• EEVblog #528 - Op-Amp Input Noise Voltage Tutorial  (YouTube)




7. GBPPR Vision #7: Review of the AADE L/C Meter IIB
• Quick overview of a low-cost inductor/capacitor meter for hobbyist work.  End of video is cut off.  Maximum values are around 150 mH / 1.5 µF.
• Almost All Digital Electronics (AADE) L/C Meter IIB  Main website.
• LC Meter Project and Kit - L/C Meter IIB  Technical overview of the meter's operation.




8. GBPPR Vision #8: Overview of the JAMCAT
• Audio-activated jammer adapter for a two-way radio.
• GBPPR JAMCAT  Article and schematic.




9. GBPPR Vision #9: 2.45 GHz Coffee Can Antennas
• Construction of a coffee can antenna operating at 2.45 GHz.
• Doppler Radar Explanation and Demo Using the Coffee Can Radar  (YouTube)
• Build a Coffee Can Radar  (YouTube)
• Antenna Design for the Laptop Radar Project  by Alan J. Fenn, PhD, MIT Lincoln Laboratory  (1.7M PDF)
• Tin Can Radar Forum
• How to Build a Tin Can Waveguide WiFi Antenna  For 802.11b/g wireless networks or other 2.4 GHz applications.




10. GBPPR Vision #10: Tuning a 2.45 GHz Coffee Can Antenna
• Use a RF sweep generator, a directional coupler, and a spectrum analyzer to tune a 2.45 GHz antenna.
• The directional coupler is RF Power SDC-202-302-R1-8 and covers 1.5 - 4 GHz.
• Return Loss
• Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR)




11. GBPPR Vision #11: Battlefield Laser Warning Receiver
• Experimental device to detect the laser designator used by laser-guided bombs and missiles.
• Battlefield Laser Warning Receiver  Article and schematic.
• The AGM-114 Hellfire Missile




12. GBPPR Vision #12: HP3336B to HP3336C Conversion
• Easy hack to add a 50 ohm output connection to the HP3336B synthesizer/level generator.
• HP3336A/B/C Synthesizer/Level Generator  Operation and Service Manual  (7.2M PDF)
• Dave's Test Equipment: HP3336B/C Modification




13. GBPPR Vision #13: Radio Shack Discone Antenna
• Overview and construction tips for the Radio Shack wideband scanner/ham discone antenna (20-043).
• Radio Shack Outdoor Scanner/Ham Discone Antenna  Catalog #20-043
• eHam.net: Radio Shack Discone Product Reviews




14. GBPPR Vision #14: Radio Shack Discone Antenna Frequency Response
• 10 MHz to 1300 MHz frequency response sweep of a Radio Shack wideband scanner/ham discone antenna (20-043).
• The directional coupler is KDI/Triangle DCK-1010 and covers 1 - 1000 MHz.
• Radio Shack Outdoor Scanner/Ham Discone Antenna  Catalog #20-043
• KDI/Triangle Electronics DCK/DCP-Series Directional Couplers  (40k PDF)
• Return Loss
• Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR)




15. GBPPR Vision #15: 800 MHz Band Cellular Phone Jammer
• How to make a RF jammer for the U.S. 800 MHz cellular, public safety, and trunked radio bands.
• GBPPR 800 MHz Cellular Phone Jammer  Article and schematic.
• Cellular Frequencies




16. GBPPR Vision #16: Scotty's Spectrum Analyzer - Part 1
• Tips for constructing a 1013.3 MHz IF cavity filter for the Scotty Spectrum Analyzer project.
• Scotty's Spectrum Analyzer  Build a 1 GHz RF spectrum analyzer inexpensively.
• 1013.3 MHz Cavity Filter  Using a Celwave Model No. 20-1224A19 900 MHz mobile duplexer.
• Coaxial Cavity Filter for Modularized Spectrum Analyzer  Stock cavity filter design for the Scotty Spectrum Analyzer project.




17. GBPPR Vision #17: Scotty's Spectrum Analyzer - Part 2
• Tips for constructing the control board for the Scotty Spectrum Analyzer project.
• Scotty's Spectrum Analyzer  Build a 1 GHz RF spectrum analyzer inexpensively.
• Control Board  Construction tips and notes.
• Special Test: LPT - Printer Port Test  Using the LPT test functions of the MSA software.
• SLIM Control Board  Stock control board for the Scotty Spectrum Analyzer project.




18. GBPPR Vision #18: Scotty's Spectrum Analyzer - Part 3
• Tips for constructing the 10 MHz master clock oscillator for the Scotty Spectrum Analyzer project.
• Scotty's Spectrum Analyzer  Build a 1 GHz RF spectrum analyzer inexpensively.
• Master Clock Oscillator  Construction tips and notes.
• SLIM Master Oscillator  Stock 64 MHz clock oscillator for the Scotty Spectrum Analyzer project.




19. GBPPR Vision #19: Scotty's Spectrum Analyzer - Part 4
• Tips for constructing the logarithmic detector for the Scotty Spectrum Analyzer project.
• Scotty's Spectrum Analyzer  Build a 1 GHz RF spectrum analyzer inexpensively.
• Logarithmic Detector  Construction tips and notes.
• SLIM Logarithmic Detector  Stock logarithmic detector for the Scotty Spectrum Analyzer project.




20. GBPPR Vision #20: Scotty's Spectrum Analyzer - Part 5
• Tips for constructing the magnitude analog-to-digital converter for the Scotty Spectrum Analyzer project.
• Scotty's Spectrum Analyzer  Build a 1 GHz RF spectrum analyzer inexpensively.
• Analog-to-Digital Converter  Construction tips and notes.
• SLIM Analog-to-Digital Converter  Stock ADCs for the Scotty Spectrum Analyzer project.




21. GBPPR Vision #21: Tracking Generator for a HP8569 Spectrum Analyzer
• Construction overview of a low-cost tracking generator for a HP8569-series spectrum analyzer.
• Tracking Generator for a HP8569 Spectrum Analyzer  Article and schematic.
• HP8569B 0.01 - 22 GHz Spectrum Analyzer  Operation and Service Manual  (30.0M PDF)




22. GBPPR Vision #22: Scotty's Spectrum Analyzer - Part 6
• Tips for constructing the IF amplifier module for the Scotty Spectrum Analyzer project.
• Scotty's Spectrum Analyzer  Build a 1 GHz RF spectrum analyzer inexpensively.
• IF Amplifier  Construction tips and notes.
• SLIM IF Amplifier  Stock IF amplifier for the Scotty Spectrum Analyzer project.




23. GBPPR Vision #23: 21.4 MHz FM Demodulator
• FM demodulator for a HP8569 spectrum analyzer or any other device with a 21.4 MHz IF output.
• 21.4 MHz FM Demodulator  Article and schematic.
• Motorola MC3361 Narrowband FM IF Datasheet




24. GBPPR Vision #24: HP3478A Battery Replacement
• Replacing the 3 volt lithium backup battery in a HP3478A multimeter.
• Tadiran TLH-5955/P Lithium Battery  Digi-Key Part Number 439-1033-ND  (Tadiran TLH-5955 Datasheet)
• NEC µPD5101L 1024-bit (256 x 4) Static CMOS RAM  (150k PDF)
• HP3468A Battery Replacement  by Mr. ModemHead
• HP3478A Digital Multimeter  Service Manual  (9.4M PDF)
• EEVblog #427: HP3478A Multimeter Teardown  (YouTube)




25. GBPPR Vision #25: Overview of the NSA's CTX4000/PHOTOANGLO Radar Units
• General overview of the NSA's CTX4000/PHOTOANGLO illumination radars for remote technical surveillance applications.
• GBPPR PHOTOANGLO Experiments  Article and schematic.
• NSA ANT Division Product Catalog
• Phase Modulation in RF Tag  U.S. Patent 7,180,402
• Vibration Detection  U.S. Patent 5,828,331  (Medcon Limited)




26. GBPPR Vision #26: Overview of the NSA's TAWDRYYARD Radar Retro-Reflector
• General overview of the NSA's TAWDRYYARD tracking beacon radar retro-reflector and the AM backscatter principle.
• GBPPR TAWDRYYARD Experiments  Article and schematic.
• NSA ANT Division Product Catalog




27. GBPPR Vision #27: Overview of the NSA's LOUDAUTO Radar Retro-Reflector
• General overview of the NSA's LOUDAUTO audio-based RF retro-reflector.
• GBPPR LOUDAUTO Experiments  Article and schematic.
• NSA ANT Division Product Catalog




28. GBPPR Vision #28: Overview of the NSA's RAGEMASTER Radar Retro-Reflector
• General overview of the NSA's RAGEMASTER VGA video RF retro-reflector.
• GBPPR RAGEMASTER Experiments  Article and schematic.
• van Eck-style Radiation Interception Experiments
• NSA ANT Division Product Catalog




29. GBPPR Vision #29: Oak Creek, Wisconsin Hamfest
• Raw video from the July 12, 2014 hamfest in Oak Creek, Wisconsin sponsored by the South Milwaukee Amateur Radio Club.  It started to rain, so I had to kinda hurry through.  It was also difficult to carry the camera and all the crap I bought, so the video is very shaky with lots of images of gravel and grass.  Oh well...
• Loot
• The South Milwaukee Amateur Radio Club Swapfest




30. GBPPR Vision #30: Very-Low Frequency Converter
• Homebrew version Marty Kaiser's VLF59-10 5 to 500 kHz VLF converter.
• GBPPR VLF Converter  Article and schematic.
• Marty Kaiser VLF59-10 VLF Converter




31. GBPPR Vision #31: HP4328A Milliohmmeter Overview & Probe Construction
• General overview of the HP4328A operation and how to make your own Kelvin bridge probes.
• HP4328A Milliohmmeter Overview  by Brooke Clarke, N6GCE
• HP 4328A Milliohmmeter  Operating and Service Manual  (4.3M PDF)

Inspiration

• Jeri Ellsworth  Amateur science and electronics experiments by Jeri Ellsworth
• EEVblog: Electronics Engineering Video Blog  An off-the-cuff video blog by Dave Jones about electronics engineering for engineers, hobbyists, enthusiasts, hackers, and makers.  (Censored EEVBlog Forum Posts)
• W2AEW's Electronics, Test Equipment, Ham Radio, and Misc. Videos  Videos by Alan Wolke on hobby electronics, test & measurement, ham radio, and other stuff.  Really good oscilloscope tutorials.
• N2CUA  Extra class amateur radio operator Randy Swart and electronics technician for over 40 years.
• Solar Power and Electronic Measurements  Videos by Martin Lorton for anyone interested in solar power, electronic measurement equipment, multimeters, and other bits and bobs!
• Adafruit Industries  Adafruit was founded in 2005 by MIT engineer, Limor "Ladyada" Fried.  Her goal was to create the best place online for learning electronics and making the best designed products for makers of all ages and skill levels.
• The Signal Path  An electrical engineering video blog for students, hobbyist and hackers by Shahriar Shahramian
• The Ben Heck Show  Join master hacker, engineer, and tech hobbyist Ben Heckendorn as he tackles new and fun interesting projects each week.
• Dr. L. R. Linares  Electrical engineering video tutorials straight from a professor.
• Baltic Lab - KF5OBS Video Blog  Electronics and RF-related video blog by Sebastian Westerhold.
• SignalsEverywhere  Computer security and amateur radio related videos from Harold of DeAuthThis.  (Website)
• Connor Wolf  Electronics teardowns and EE-related waffling.
• Gerry Sweeney  This is my electronics video blog, dedicated to stuff that I fix, review, take apart, design or build.
• Oona Räisänen  A self-taught signals and electronics hacker from Helsinki, Finland.  (Website)
• ObsoleetTV  Where old technology goes to live.  (Website)
• Intermediate Electronics Blog  The purpose of this blog is to try to present useful content to the electronics experimenter.  I try to stay away from very simple subjects that can be easily obtained.  By Julio Rodriguez.
• Project23D  Various technical tips and techniques from Benjamin Naber.
• Mike's Electric Stuff  (Website)
• The Radio Shop  by Buddy, KC4UMO
• Physics Girl
• AlienScientist  by Jeremy Rys
• Andreas Spiess
• IMSAI Guy
• The Radio Shop
• TRX Lab
• CuriousMarc  by Marc Verdiel
• HACKADAY  (Website)
• FesZ Electronics
• Joe Grand  (Website)
• Malicious Life
• Laseranon
• Michael Reeves
• Joe Q. Smith  (GitHub)
• NanoVNA Custom Software