Don't buy a radio; Build one! DIY radio electronics and ham radio projects. https://makerf.com/ Mike Gualtieri 2026-09-28T16:47:54.172Z https://makerf.com/posts/ten-minute-transmitter/ 2016-02-25T00:00:00.000Z 2016-02-25T00:00:00.000Z

The Ten Minute Transmitter is a simple shortwave transmitter you can build in just minutes!

https://makerf.com/posts/arrl-field-day-2015/ 2015-07-29T00:00:00.000Z 2015-07-29T00:00:00.000Z

Experiences from the 2015 ARRL Field Day

https://makerf.com/posts/dayton-hamvention-2015-roundup/ 2015-05-20T00:00:00.000Z 2015-05-20T00:00:00.000Z

This past weekend was the 2015 Dayton Hamvention, the biggest convention dedicated to amateur radio.

https://makerf.com/posts/a-crystal-powered-steampunk-matchbox-radio/ 2015-02-25T00:00:00.000Z 2015-02-25T00:00:00.000Z

Crystal radios in their most basic form require no electrical power, and are directly powered by the radio waves floating around us. Of course, you can add a little amplification to boost performance, like in my Altoids tin crystal radio, but it's not required.

https://makerf.com/posts/make-your-own-rocket-radio-with-the-ta7642/ 2015-01-25T00:00:00.000Z 2015-01-25T00:00:00.000Z

Make a basic TRF AM radio receiver with the TA7642 (a.k.a. MK484 or ZN414).

https://makerf.com/posts/a-better-amplified-crystal-oscillator-transmitter/ 2014-10-30T00:00:00.000Z 2014-10-30T00:00:00.000Z

A better design for a basic 1 to 20 watt crystal oscillator transmitter.

https://makerf.com/posts/elecraft-kx3-palm-paddles-hardware-mod/ 2014-10-08T00:00:00.000Z 2014-10-08T00:00:00.000Z

A simple modification to the Elecraft KX3 to mount Palm Mini Paddles to the case

https://makerf.com/posts/new-rig-in-the-shack-the-elecraft-kx3/ 2014-09-25T00:00:00.000Z 2014-09-25T00:00:00.000Z

Overview and review of the Elecraft KX3 ham radio tranceiver, and assembly notes.

https://makerf.com/posts/go-get-your-ham-radio-license/ 2014-08-12T00:00:00.000Z 2014-08-12T00:00:00.000Z

I've often encouraged readers of this website to consider getting a ham radio license; and if you are already licensed, upgrade! It's not as daunting as you might think, and it opens your opportunity to legally experiment with radio in a wide variety of ways.

https://makerf.com/posts/more-fun-with-crystal-oscillators-amplifying-rf/ 2014-07-27T00:00:00.000Z 2014-07-27T00:00:00.000Z

When I first started experimenting with these basic transmitter circuits, the first thing I wanted to do was to boost the signal. By increasing the RF output with a simple amplifier, the crystal oscillator can be the basis of a useful communications tool.

https://makerf.com/posts/arrl-field-day-2014/ 2014-06-30T00:00:00.000Z 2014-06-30T00:00:00.000Z

The ARRL Field Day is a ham radio event that takes place the 4th weekend of June, where operators try to work as many stations as possible, while learning to operate in abnormal situations in less than optimal conditions.

https://makerf.com/posts/an-lm386-powered-crystal-radio-in-an-altoids-smalls-tin/ 2014-06-09T00:00:00.000Z 2014-06-09T00:00:00.000Z

I combined a basic crystal radio with an LM386 to make this basic AM radio, and mounted it in an Altoids Smalls case.

https://makerf.com/posts/fun-at-the-dayton-hamvention/ 2014-05-24T00:00:00.000Z 2014-05-24T00:00:00.000Z

I had the pleasure of attending the Dayton Hamvention last weekend, for the first time. Dayton is pretty much the biggest ham radio convention on the planet, and it's only about a 4 hour drive from my QTH in Pittsburgh.

https://makerf.com/posts/experimenting-with-colpitts-oscillators/ 2014-04-04T00:00:00.000Z 2014-04-04T00:00:00.000Z

The Colpitts oscillator is an LC oscillator, meaning that it generates its resonant frequency through an inductor (L) and capacitor (C) tank circuit.

https://makerf.com/posts/jameco-is-calling-all-hams/ 2014-03-13T00:00:00.000Z 2014-03-13T00:00:00.000Z

Tell Jameco Electronics the radio electronics components they should carry.

https://makerf.com/posts/essential-equipment-measuring-rf-circuits-with-an-oscilloscope/ 2013-09-09T00:00:00.000Z 2013-09-09T00:00:00.000Z

Learn hot to measuring radio transmitter wave forms with an oscilloscope. Also, a review of the Rigol DS1102e.

https://makerf.com/posts/so-you-want-to-be-a-shortwave-pirate/ 2013-08-13T00:00:00.000Z 2013-08-13T00:00:00.000Z

Make a low powered shortwave pirate radio transmitter on 6925 kHz.

https://makerf.com/posts/altoids-tin-low-pass-filter-for-shortwave-transmitters/ 2013-08-10T00:00:00.000Z 2013-08-10T00:00:00.000Z

Make an altoids tin low pass filter for the 40 meter shortwave radio band.

https://makerf.com/posts/mighty-simple-shortwave-transmitter/ 2013-07-31T00:00:00.000Z 2013-07-31T00:00:00.000Z

The Michigan Mighty Mite is a simple shortwave transmitter that can be created with minimal parts.

https://makerf.com/posts/teardown-of-1980s-era-wakie-talkies-and-transistor-radio/ 2013-07-22T00:00:00.000Z 2013-07-22T00:00:00.000Z

Teardown of 1980's walkie talkie toys and an AM/FM transistor radio.

https://makerf.com/posts/where-to-locate-hard-to-find-rf-electronic-components/ 2013-07-12T00:00:00.000Z 2013-07-12T00:00:00.000Z

Locate hard to find RF electronics parts and and understand suitable replacements for components no longer manufactured.

https://makerf.com/posts/50-years-of-wwvb/ 2013-07-05T00:00:00.000Z 2013-07-05T00:00:00.000Z

A radio station you may not have ever heard of, is celebrating 50 years on the air today, July 5th. WWVB broadcasts the time 24 hours a day and is used by countless devices and applications around the country where having an extremely accurate time source is essential.

https://makerf.com/posts/fun-with-crystal-oscillators-part-3/ 2013-07-01T00:00:00.000Z 2013-07-01T00:00:00.000Z

Make a low powered AM radio station transmitter with an LM386 and a crystal oscillator.

https://makerf.com/posts/fun-with-crystal-oscillators-part-2/ 2013-06-26T00:00:00.000Z 2013-06-26T00:00:00.000Z

Make an AM radio transmitter with a crystal oscillator for RF signal generation and an audio transformer for modulation.

https://makerf.com/posts/arrl-field-day-2013/ 2013-06-24T00:00:00.000Z 2013-06-24T00:00:00.000Z

Many ham operators use Field Day as a way to test out their emergency preparedness, running their gear off emergency power. Other look toward the event as an annual get together among friends. And, yet others use it as a venue to get others interested in amateur radio.

https://makerf.com/posts/fun-with-crystal-oscillators-part-1/ 2013-06-19T00:00:00.000Z 2013-06-19T00:00:00.000Z

When a voltage is applied to the crystal oscillator it creates a square wave. Add a small length of wire as an antenna, and you have a radio transmitter.

https://makerf.com/posts/welcome-to-makerf/ 2013-06-17T00:00:00.000Z 2013-06-17T00:00:00.000Z

makeRF is a platform for self directed learning about radio electronics.