Frequency discriminator and all-electronic receiver

[Mike(Mont)]

Back to longer time until lock-on again. In the past I have said when a coronal hole is facing earth there is some disruption. Well, there is a corona valley or trough facing earth today so "That's my story and I'm sticking to it." For whatever reason, it seems like middle of the day lately is not as good.

[Mike(Mont)]

I can certainly understand why many of the LRL skeptics went crazy. A perfectionist has no place in the LRL field. You just have to accept that some things are out of your control. Like this morning I was getting lock-on times approaching five minutes. I went back out and just minutes ago I was getting nearly instantaneous lock-on times again--several in a row, not just some fluke. I was taught that the solar magnetic interference disrupts the signal line. Dell Winders said his best guess was protons. I just have to come to the reality that I can't be sure what causes it. Or like the billboard sign "My reality check bounced."

CORRECTION: About eighteen years ago Dell Winders said his best guess for the cause of signal line interference was positive ions. I mistakenly said "protons". I'm not sure if he still holds that view or not. Best to put out a test target and see what happens.

[Mike(Mont)]

I don't have much to say these days. Some day I hope to have a "Ready-for-prime-time-viewing" unit. Right now it's still cardboard box, rubber bands, and tape. No, I don't have any hot glue. Well, it's back through the looking glass, and down the rabbit hole.

[Mike(Mont)]

Crawled out of the rabbit hole for a little sunshine. Been watching the GOES Magnetometer this morning. While this is not actually related to the earth's field, it does give an indication that something might happen. And it did. Just got a shock wave hit here. Not too big but it hit and caused some disturbance. Well, going back down.

[Mike(Mont)]

Well, no great earthquake or sonic blast today, just some minor buffeting of the magnetic field. Still going on last I checked but little effect on locating conditions.

[Mike(Mont)]

The earth's field is still bouncing around this morning, a bit stronger than yesterday. Haven't tried any locating yet so I don't know if it is strong enough to affect things.

[Mike(Mont)]

Back out of the rabbit hole for a quick breath of fresh air. I got out the L-rods and it occurred to me how much my stress level has gone down since I quit the rods and have been using the electronic receiver. Those rods really are the MITAS (Medieval Implements of Torture And Superstition) and PITA (I think you know that one). Well, back through the looking glass I go.

[Mike(Mont)]

Well, I'm actually trying to get a nice housing for the receiver antenna. i have one that works but I'm trying to make it whiner proof. BTW, this is worst part of the project for me. That's why I said I wish I had an investor so I could hire out the cosmetics part. Anybody got a spare hundred grand?

[Mike(Mont)]

Oh please, somebody help me! My obsession is out of control...again! (expletive deleted). I must be part masochist because I do enjoy it at least at the start. But then I get into the muck too deep then I start regretting I ever got involved. So far this one is okay but all the flip-flopping I get really self-conscious about and it really feels like I am being pulled apart in all directions. Like I'd be better off if I had never even mentioned this project.

Anyway, I am working on the housing for the receiver antenna and that's when my troubles started, kinda like a fire getting out of control. But hopefully I will have it contained before the day is done. In the mean time...HELP!

[WM6]

Probably you need demagnetizer.

[Mike(Mont)]

Interference maker.

Was hoping for completion today but "Nothing is ever as easy as it first appears." Try more ideas tomorrow.

[Mike(Mont)]

For all you sadistic types, things are miserable for my project. So I hope that makes you feel better. It gave me a headache THIS BIG! And the solar magnetic activity the last couple of days has made it impossible to be doing any type of experimenting. Any results are suspect one way or the other, good or bad. I damaged the receiver antenna and for some crazy reason I opened up the can of worms and started TRYING to experiment on a different one. Even with the bad conditions I found I like the litz wire better than the magnet wire I have been using for the past couple of months. So I plan to re-wire my main squeeze and see what happens. That stuff costs about ten times more than it's worth--kinda like all the LRL stuff. BTW, I noticed today the solar magnetic activity is not as sharp or strong but it is more steady with longer periods.

[Mike(Mont)]

i think it was basketball great Michael Jordan who said "I succeed because I fail." meaning you can learn a lot from your failures. Well, I should be a f'ing genius by now. The catch is you gotta LEARN something when you fail. So I am trying to learn but I'm slow. Of course you have to realize you failed in the first place, and that doesn't happen all that often in the LRL world. My latest epiphany is that the antenna works a lot better when it is not housed. So now I build my new contraption--"a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to my door." Do I really appear to be crazy? Most crazy people think they are sane.

[Mike(Mont)]

It's always darkest just before dawn. And, Ask and ye shall receive; Seek and ye shall find; Knock and it shall be opened unto you. All true words on this glorious day. I have some thanking to do on this one.

Oh man, I feel like I just got the monkey off of my back. I got the receiver antenna just about where I want it. Just need to re-route the wires slightly. Life is good!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27M6OvbGUkg

[WM6]

I got the receiver antenna just about where I want it. Just need to re-route the wires slightly. Life is good!

Congratulations.
Can you provide something like block schema, to get more idea what you are trying to construct?