I’ve always been fascinated by electronics and radio waves. It’s something we take for granted these days. But think about it – you can push electrons back and forth in a wire, and the effects of this swashing could be sensed thousands of miles away. Isn’t that magical? I didn’t study electronics in college – my major was CS. We learned how to write code and design algorithms. I learned electronics through self-education and experimentation. I feel that this style of learning is often better than a formal education. You can take things at your own pace and be driven by your curiosity and passion. My interest in electronics began with me trying to control things in my house with my computer (see my old blog). One of my first projects was connecting an LED to my computer’s parallel port. Later on I figured out how to connect all kinds of things, such as a floppy drive camera panner, RC cars, etc.

I watched a documentary that left a strong impression – “Shock and Awe: The Story of Electricity” (by Jim Al-Khalili). This film inspired me to learn more about electronics and go beyond controlling LEDs and relays. Soon, I became obsessed with radio circuits. My first transmitter/receiver was a primitive spark-gap transmitter and coherer receiver that I built. My interest in radios eventually pushed me to get an amateur radio license (callsign N6ASD) in 2015.

The person who has inspired me the most in my electronics journey is Frank Harris (K0IYE). He is the author of the book “From Crystal Sets to SSB”. I couldn’t put this book down once I began reading it. His approach and passion for learning were something I could relate to. It wasn’t long before I contacted the author. After exchanging emails for about a year, I met him in person when I visited Colorado in 2017. For me, it was like a dream come true to meet my electronics hero in real life! He showed me his basement lab, with all his radios and electronics creations. Over the years, we’ve stayed in touch and Frank continues to inspire me. If you read Frank’s book, you will find my name mentioned in a few places (particularly in the sections about regenerative receivers and homebrew electrolytic capacitors).

In 2020, I moved from San Francisco to Bangalore. Many things changed in my life, and electronics took a backseat. I focussed my time on other non-technical hobbies. Fast forward to 2023, I found myself back in the world of electronics. My wife (Aditi) encouraged me to set up a little workstation in a corner of my apartment. Having a space in your house/apartment dedicated to something you enjoy is important, and makes it easier to pursue your hobby.

These days, I am building a 40-meter QRP (low power) transmitter from Frank’s book (chapter 6). The circuit consists of multiple stages – the oscillator, buffer amplifier, driver, and final power amplifier. So far, I have completed the first two stages – the oscillator and buffer amplifier. I don’t have the transistors that Frank is using in his circuit in the final stages. So, I plan to design my own driver/power amplifier stages. I’m planning to use transistors that are readily available in India.

The joy of successful oscillations

Stay tuned for updates!