TipsInfrared devices such as TV remote controls can be checked to see if they are emitting infrared light by looking at them with a webcam or a cellphone camera because such cameras respond to infrared in addition to the visible light spectrum. Soldering stainless steel. Use either Duzall or use phosphoric acid for a flux, apply a drop or two to the joint, build up a blob of solder on the soldering iron and then apply to the work. The solder will flow as if you were soldering a shiny copper surface. Thoroughly wash the soldered joint with water to remove all traces of the very corrosive acid, likewise the soldering iron tip. CAUTION: the acid is very powerful, do not breathe fumes or get near eyes. Good idea to keep water on hand to flush or dilute spills or splashes. Wear safety glasses. Use your worst soldering iron tip as corrosion may occur. Finding transmitters without dedicated D/F equipment. Assuming that the transmitter radiation is omnidirectional and the land is flat and uniform, the radiation pattern will be a circle centred on the transmitter. All you need to do is to find and plot on a map points where the signal fades out as you walk or drive through the region. If you can plot three points on the map, draw a circle which has those points on its circumference, and the transmitter will be at (or in practice, near) the centre. If you only have two points, the transmitter will be on the perpendicular bisector of a line joining the two points which translated into english means that if you are travelling north on a road and are half-way between the two points the transmitter will be either to the east or west of you. If you replace the normal radio aerial with a straightened paper clip you can repeat the process once you are close enough to hear the transmitter using it. Last updated 2016-06-17 |