Building a mystery (to others)
The simple act of constructing an electronic project is, simply enough, satisfying. Forget the next step, wherein a project is tested for smoke content and flashes of light (especially in devices that have no reason to shine). That will come, perhaps in a few days. For the moment at hand, I’m going to provide tender loving care to the new burns on my fingertips, let the fumes of solder flux evaporate from my lungs and look back on this evening as “fun for just a few dollars less than factory built”.
Tonight I completed a small TNC, designed for APRS use with my blue GPS and an older handie-talkie. Within a few days, my callsign will be on the air, broadcasting an insignificant beacon that proves to me that hobbies are for a lifetime. This time around, I ordered the Tiny Trak3+ from a small company down in Nevada. The price was right, the level of difficulty was right and I wanted to build a kit, just like in the days of Heathkit.
I’m not sure my family knew what to make of my efforts. Here was a small bag of what looked like wires and “stuff”, no bigger than a matchbox. I set up shop on the surface of the kitchen stove; good lighting, available power outlets, a sink nearby to quench burned fingers. The colour codes on the dozen or so resistors were clear enough that I confidently checked only two or three with the voltmeter that’s been knocking around here since my university days. I remembered to solder carefully, to clip the leads cleanly and to respect the schematic. This is a kit, not a random collection of components from the parts pile.
Testing and programming will come soon. For now, I just want to rest, with a silly grin as proof that I am still able to kitbash.
