[amsat-bb] OLPC transmitter

[Bob Bruninga]

> The difference between this design effort and the 
> other things the GNU Radio crew has done is that 
> the result has to cost only incremental
> pennies, cost zero power when not running, and 
> run on batteries when running.

One thing I wish I had time for is to figure out all the neat things we can do with the parts in the bazillions of compact florescent bulbs (now going for under $2 each).

The two power mos-fets and some other parts could be able to contribute to a 20 watt transmitter...  Anyway, those parts are going to be as ubiqiiitous to modern youth as the old TV sets were to us as kids trying to build our first ham transmitter.

I'd also like to know how to safely smash the bulb without release of mercury.  Is it in the vapor? or is it in there in liquid form?  The powder?

Bob, WB4APR