so simple radio: YouTube Link + Mission Statement + News & Updates

1. Click here for the So Simple Radio YouTube Channel

2. Mission Statement

To minimally support our video channel -- mostly with resources

We strive to:

Create original content -- not just repost the labours of others
Use no AI -- gen. AI is based upon unpaid & poorly credited labour extraction (theft)
Make clear schematics & figures
Not be grifters -- no personal ads, affiliated links or selling out
Make basic, late 90's style videos that hopefully provide good-quality content
Exclusively use free and open-source software to make our content
Keep small, moral & humble

3. So Simple Radio Team News [ last updated on August 13, 2026 ]

Surprisingly, this blog gets ++ more traffic than our video channel, although, we don't make many videos - so it makes sense.

Also -- thank you -- for linking our little blog site on your own web pages, blogs, RSS feeds and forums. As soon as we post anything, a huge visitor data spike occurs within a few hours -- primarily from South America and Eurasia. Greetings to you all --- & best to you!!! We really appreciate your time and your interest in electronics.

4. What's in the pipeline? Perhaps it might become future YT video content? [ last updated on September 10, 2026 ]

A happily we go on the bench at least once a week --->

September brought forth cooler temperatures, clean air & yearning thoughts about antennas. Each Fall we like to experiment with our antennae -- this year and probably next -- it's all about electrically small receiving loops. e.g. 1 - 2 maximum turn(s) --- the loop diameter is λ / 20 to λ / 10.
With loops -- we explore a smaller antenna footprint, getting some directivity via radiation pattern nulls - and hopefully - with luck, to reduce noise on 7 - 10 MHz.

We're also working on a direct conversion receiver project. Very modular, super fun and all at 5 VDC. Even might try Class D audio. We purchased some new break-out or prototype boards to cope with some new teeny, tiny 5 volt SMT/SMD ICs. Let's strive to get them successfully soldered and stabilized with these old eyes.

We hope you get time to get on the bench -- or in your yard to safely work on your antenna farm.

Best to you ! Thanks for reading/viewing/emailing and for building circuits. Some photos with perhaps a couple of comments follows:

Above — Bench exploits. We feel inspired by the augmented common base amp design work by Chris Trask from ~2010. This is the first of a 2 stage preamp for a small 7 MHz loop antenna. Augmentation with a #61 mix transformer lowers the Q1 input Z and boosts linearity. We are constrained by 5 VDC and keeping power consumption low. Most often you would employ 2 common base amps in push pull -- followed by a push-pull or differential final. However, these draw twice the current and seem better suited for a loop antenna sitting on a tower - rather than our portable, battery powered loop ant. system. Time will tell. A small loop resource page is planned and in first draft.

We biased Q1 for 14 mA -- likely the second transistor will get ~20 mA. We're leaning towards a common emitter amp with some negative feedback for Q2. We've really enjoyed learning and making new observations with loop antennas/RF amps.

Above — Our very first common base loop preamp design. This gave us a feel for what's involved or needed. We tuned the output of Q1. We learned that negative feedback is required for Q1 and Q2 (especially with lower current) -- and likely , it's best to tune the input of Q1 -- or just go broadband. This led to rediscovering Trask/s augmentation technique and designing the Sept 9th Q1 preamp shown earlier.

Gosh, the 2N2222A prices have gone way up. We used to buy them from Doug DeMaw in 1990 at 10 pieces for $3.00. He even through in a few JAN 2N2222As - military spec. on 1 order.

5. Our cats: Munchie and Bars

6. Big THANKS for watching our YouTube Channel & visiting our little blog!

Best to you!