West Florida Components

A new project from Steve of VacuumTubeArt…

Steve says…

I just built this phono pre amplifier for my own personal stereo to go with the big purple power amp.  This is hardest amplifier to make correctly.  The phono pre amp is the green unit.  The lower chassis is the power supply and the upper unit with the volume control knob is the actual phono pre amp with the RIAA correction built into it.

They are built on separate chassis to keep unwanted noise from the power supply portion from reaching the very sensitive phono stage as hum or buzz.  Even though the video was taken with my digital camera, you can still hear the detail in the music.  Just listen to the guitar, you’ll not only can hear every note clearly, but you can hear the decay of the guitar strings.  This kind of transparency can only be achieved with a vacuum tube based system.  Transistors are switches and cannot do this,  where tubes are valves, so there is only a constant flow of electrons, much like a water fall, it just flows….

The song is Shakin’ All Over by a Canadian band called the Guess Who recorded back in 1965. Since this recording is prior to 1969, it would have been originally  recorded with vacuum tube based equipment, making this a really good recording to demonstrate just how wonderful vacuum tubes sound over solid state gear. I hope you enjoy it!

As always, we do, Steve! Thanks for the video of your newest project!

West Florida Components has compiled a list of ways to contribute to the relief efforts being organized due to the devastating earthquake in Haiti.

Through the travel industry:

AIRLINES:
American Airlines: Through 2/26/10, when you donate a minimum of $50, you’ll earn 250 bonus miles (or get 500 bonus miles for your $100 donation).
Delta: Use their Skywish Charities page to donate your miles to the American Red Cross. The miles will be used for their transportation requirements.
United: United Airlines Foundation will match up to $50,000 for donations originating through their site. You can also donate your miles for the American Red Cross’ transportation needs.
US Airways: You can contribute to the American Red Cross by donating your miles.

HOTELS:
Best Western: Donate 5,000 BW Rewards Points and BW will make a $20 donation.
Starwood: Contribute your Starpoints as a donation, starting at a $50 contribution in exchange for 4,000 Starpoints.
HHonors Hilton: Donate 10,000 points and Hilton will send a $25 contribution to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Choice Hotels: On an ongoing basis, you can donate your Choice Points to one of three charities which includes the American Red Cross.
OTHER TRAVEL SITES:
Trekaroo: Trekaroo will donate $10 to Compassion International when you write a travel review on their site.
Expedia & Orbitz: Make a donation to the American Red Cross from their site.
THROUGH YOUR CELL PHONE:
Text the word “YELE” to 501501 and $5 will be donated to Wyclef Jean’s Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund. The $5.00 will be added to your cell phone bill.
Text the word “HAITI” to 90999 and you will have contributed $10 to the American Red Cross. The $10 will be added to your cell phone bill.
Text the word “HAITI” to 25383 and you will have contributed $5 to the International Rescue Committee. The $5 will be added to your cell phone bill.
Sending your money to the American Red Cross is a guarantee that your donation will help the relief efforts in Haiti.

There are many other organizations soliciting donations for the relief effort in Haiti. Some people want to know how to know if the group they are donating to is an official group.

To make sure, the Better Business Bureau suggests you:

• Be cautious when giving donations online.
• Rely on expert opinion when it comes to evaluating a charity.
• Be wary of claims that 100 percent of donations will assist relief victims.

We get lots of strange electronic components and parts in here. Some are easy to identify; others not so much. It takes us lot of research time to identify unmarked electronic components and even more time to unearth the datasheet for them. Sometimes, they stay a mystery forever.

Whenever possible we try to identify the manufacturer first to give us a lead on the electronic part. Over the years, we’ve discovered a treasure trove of information about the various manufacturers of semiconductor devices. The one thing that is constant in the semiconductor industry is change. And that means manufacturers being bought out or taken over by other manufacturers, large established companies changing their name and branding, and lots of obsolete parts.

If you are in the same boat as us, feel free to use some of our resources that we have located. Some, like this chart of semiconductor manufacturer logos are hosted on our site; others we bookmark and refer to.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing some of the best resources we have found on the internet. Please feel free to contact us if you have one you’d like to share and we’ll highlight it on our blog.

Are you doing the whole Facebook thing? How about Twitter?

Well, we are….and we’re also on StumbleUpon, Digg, Delicious and a whole bunch more.

Why should you care? Because we give away a lot of discounts to our Facebook Fans and Twitter Followers! And our Facebook Fans and Twitter Followers are the first to know about newly discounted electronic components, parts and supplies.

We never overload our customers with too much communication but we like to keep in touch. The social media sites have given us a wonderful platform to connect with our customers.

So the next time your on Facebook, don’t forget to add our Fan Page to your list….we’re the same name over there as we are here: WestFloridaComponents (no spaces):
West Florida Components on Facebook

And here’s our Twitter user ID: westfloridacomp (had to be shortened because of their site):
West Florida Components on Twitter

So next time you feel like socializing, come on over and introduce yourself! We’d be thrilled to meet you.

Don’t you wish you could save some money heating your house? Here’s a super deal you won’t want to pass up.

If you’ve been waiting to start building a solar energy system, you’re in luck. We are offering our 50W Mono-Crystalline Solar Panels at a outrageously low price of $299.99. We only have 6 4 left, so don’t delay! We expect the 50W solar panels to sell out quickly at this price. We’re trying to get more, but we can not be sure we will be able to.

Multiple 50W Solar panels can be connected in series for more voltage, or in parallel for more current. Use these to in part to build complete on grid and off grid solar power generating systems. Excellent for use with deep cycle battery banks and solar charge controller regulator.

Added benefit: Our solar panels are made of Monocrystalline silicon. Mono-crystalline has been proven to be the best and most efficient raw material used in PV cells. Use Mono-Crystalline panels to capture the most energy from solar power.

Solar energy is a small investment that delivers big benefits. Once you are harnessing the power of the sun’s rays, you’ll wonder why you waited so long!

January is a great month to attend a hamfest – and hamfests are a great way to find some deals on electronic parts and supplies.

We have listed below some of the hamfests taking place around the country during the month of January, 2010. Of course, this list is subject to change so check with the contact person that is listed to be sure the one you’re thinking about attending is still on as sometimes the hamfests do get canceled last minute.

If you do attend, please let us know which one you attended and how it was. We want to hear about those deals you got!

Dates		Event and Contact	Location
9 Jan 2010		Westfest ThunderBird Amateur Radio Club (TBARC) http://www.w7tbc.org Talk-In: 146.70 MHz (PL 162.2) Contact: Jack Lunsford, KD7RCJ 6646 North 30th Drive Phoenix, AZ 85017 Phone: 602-242-2411 Email: j.lunsford@cox.net	Glendale, AZ ThunderBird School of Global Management – The Activity Center 15249 North 59th Avenue (59th Ave & Greenway)
9 Jan 2010		TechFest Gwinnett Amateur Radio Society (GARS) http://www.gars.org Talk-In: 147.075 (PL 82.5) Contact: Norman Schklar, WA4ZXV 480 North Peachtree Street Norcross, GA 30071 Phone: 770-313-9410 Fax: 770-755-5411 Email: wa4zxv@arrl.net	Lawrenceville, GA St. Marguerite Church 85 Gloster Road NW
9 Jan 2010		Ozark Mountain Hamfest Ozark Mountain Amateur Radio Group http://www.w0omd.org Talk-In: 146.775(-) W0OMD D-STAR Repeater Contact: Connie Ballantyne, KB0ZSG c/o Ozark Mountain Amateur Radio Group PO Box 247 Walnut Grove, MO 65770-0247 Phone: 417-830-0336 Email: connielb05@aol.com	Springfield, MO Faith Lutheran Church 1517 East Valley Water Mill Road
9 Jan 2010		Winston-Salem FirstFest Forsyth Amateur Radio Club http://www.w4nc.com Talk-In: 146.64 (PL 100) or 145.47 (PL 100) Contact: Ray D’Eau c/o Forsyth ARC PO Box 11361 Winston-Salem, NC 27116-1361 Phone: 336-245-5740 Email: hamfest@w4nc.org	Winston-Salem, NC Summit School 2100 Reynolda Road
9 Jan 2010		Winterfest 2010 Skyline Amateur Radio Club http://www.skylineradioclub.org Talk-In: 147.180(+)	Marathon, NY Marathon Civic Center at Lovell Field Peck Avenue and Brink Street
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9 Jan 2010		38th Annual Midwinter Swapfest West Allis Radio Amateur Club (WARAC) http://www.warac.org Talk-In: None Contact: Phil Gural, W9NAW S67 W12944 Larkspur Road Muskego, WI 53150-3435 Phone: 414-425-3649 Email: janphil68@att.net	Waukesha, WI Waukesha County Expo Center Forum 1000 Northview Road
10 Jan 2010		New York City/Long Island Section Convention (Ham Radio University) Great South Bay Amateur Radio Club http://www.hamradiouniversity.org Talk-In: 145.850 (PL 136.5) Contact: Neil Heft, KC2KY 27 Midday Drive Centereach, NY 11720 Phone: 631-737-0019 Email: info@hamradiouniversity.org	Bethpage, NY Briarcliffe College 1055 Stewart Avenue
15-16 Jan 2010		Cowtown Hamfest Lockheed Martin ARC http://www.cowtownhamfest.org Talk-In: 147.28+ (PL 110.9) Contact: Bill Penny, WM5U 3532 Guadalupe Road Fort Worth, TX 76116 Phone: 817-244-5414 Fax: 817-877-0826 Email: c.penny@sbcglobal.net	Fort Worth, TX Lockheed Martin Recreation Area 3400 Bryant Irvin Road
16 Jan 2010		NCARC Winter Hamfest Northern Colorado Amateur Radio Club http://www.ncarc.net Talk-In: 145.115- (PL 100) Contact: Willis Whatley, WA5VRL PO Box 272956 Fort Collins, CO 80527 Phone: 970-407-6599 Email: whatley@frii.com	Fort Collins, CO Lincoln Center – Canyon West Room 417 West Magnolia Street
16 Jan 2010		Fort Myers Amateur Radio Club http://www.fmarc.net Talk-In: 146.880 (PL 136.5) Contact: Lawrence W. Zimmer, W4LWZ 1719 NW 21st Street Cape Coral, FL 33993 Phone: 239-282-1526 Fax: 239-282-1536 Email: W4LWZ@arrl.net	Fort Myers, FL Araba Shrine Auditorium 2010 Hanson Street
16 Jan 2010		Southeast LA Amateur Radio Club (SELARC) http://www.selarc.org/selarchamfest.htm Talk-In: 147.00 (-600) no tone Contact: Tyrone Burns, N5XES PO Box 442 Springfield, LA 70462 Phone: 985-351-8315 Fax: 985-345-4410 Email: wb5net@arrl.net	Hammond, LA University Center 800 West University Avenue
16 Jan 2010		HRAC Winter Fest Harrisburg Radio Amateur Club http://www.w3uu.org Talk-In: 146.76 (PL 100) Contact: Glenn Kurzenknabe, K3SWZ 23 Carriage Road New Cumberland, PA 17070-2302 Phone: 717-774-1728 Email: k3swz@arrl.net	Harrisburg, PA Paxtang Firehouse 3423 Derry Street
16 Jan 2010		TSARC Swapfest Texas Southmost ARC http://www.TSARCinc.org Talk-In: 146.7 (PL 114.8) Contact: Ralph Waddups, WA9IES 2009 South Arden Street Harlingen, TX 78552 Phone: 856-536-1244 Email: rwaddups@rgv.rr.com	Harlingen, TX Elks Lodge Hall 1926 Commerce
17 Jan 2010		44th Annual Hamfest Hazel Park Amateur Radio Club http://www.hparc.org Talk-In: 146.640 (PL 100) Contact: Mike VanBuren, WD8S 2263 Shevlin Street Ferndale, MI 48220 Phone: 248-399-7970 Email: wd8s@arrl.net	Hazel Park, MI Hazel Park High School 23400 Hughes Street
17 Jan 2010		Sunday Creek Amateur Radio Federation Talk-In: 147.150 or 147.225 Contact: Jeramy Duncan, KC8QDQ 10847 Walnut Street Glouster, OH 45732 Phone: 740-767-2554 Email: jeramy_duncan30@yahoo.com	Nelsonville, OH Tri-County Vocational School 15676 State Route 691
23 Jan 2010		TARCFest XXIII Tampa Amateur Radio Club http://www.hamclub.org Talk-In: 147.106+ (PL 146.2) Contact: William Bode, N4WEB 14302 Capitol Drive Tampa, FL 33613 Phone: 813-968-5889 Fax: 813-878-4020 Email: n4web@hamclub.org	Tampa, FL TARC Clubhouse 7801 North 22nd Street
23 Jan 2010		San Antonio 2010 Amateur Radio Fiesta San Antonio Radio Club http://w5sc.org Talk-In: 146.940- (PL 179.9) Contact: J C Smith, N5RXS c/o San Antonio Radio Club PO Box 34263 San Antonio, TX 78250-4263 Phone: 210-522-6167 Email: n5rxs@satx.rr.com	Shertz, TX Knights of Columbus Hall 509 Schertz Parkway
23 Jan 2010		Capital City Hamfest New Era Repeater Technocrats http://www.wd8das.net/hamfest Talk-In: to be determined Contact: Steve Johnston, WD8DAS 2309 Tulare Street Fitchburg, WI 53711 Phone: 608-276-5581 Email: wd8das@arrl.net	Fitchburg, WI Memorial United Church of Christ 5705 Lacy Road
24 Jan 2010		WCRA Mid-Winter Hamfest Wheaton Community Radio Amateurs http://www.w9ccu.org Talk-In: 145.31 (PL 107.2) & 146.52 Contact: John Faber, WT9Y 1586 Scottdale Circle Wheaton, IL 60189 Phone: 630-604-0157 Fax: 630-604-0157 Email: info@w9ccu.org	St. Charles, IL Kane County Fairgrounds 525 South Randall Road
27 Jan 2010		FREE Mini-Fest Baltimore Amateur Radio Club http://www.gbhc.org Talk-In: 146.67 Contact: Bill Dobson, N3WD PO Box 120 Reisterstown, MD 21136 Phone: 443-590-1444 Fax: 410-256-1130 Email: w3ft67@yahoo.com	Timonium, MD Maryland State Fairgrounds 2200 York Road
29-30 Jan 2010		Delta Division Convention (Capitol City Hamfest) Jackson Amateur Radio Club http://www.msham.org Talk-In: 146.760 (PL 77) Contact: James D. “Doug” Spencer, K5CID 1722 Tanglewood Court Jackson, MS 39213-7922 Phone: 601-291-4283 Email: k5cid@arrl.net	Jackson, MS State Fairgrounds Mississippi Trade Mart Building I-55 at High Street
30 Jan 2010		Desert Radio Amateur Transmitting Society http://desertrats.x.am Talk-In: 146.940 (PL 107.2) Contact: Gary Boskovich, KD6QLT 4193 Matthew Drive Palm Springs, CA 92264 Phone: 760-328-9662 Email: sboskovich@dc.rr.com	Palm Springs, CA The Barn at Gary & Susie Boskovich’s Estate 4193 Matthew Drive
30 Jan 2010		DeSoto Amateur Radio Club http://www.desotoarc.org Talk-In: 147.075 (PL 100) Contact: Jim Ebner, N8JE 5905 NE Cubitis Avenue, Lot #124 Arcadia, FL 34266 Phone: 863-494-4094 Email: n8je@arrl.net	Arcadia, FL Turner Civic Center Exhibit Hall 2260 NE Roan Street
30 Jan 2010		Winterfest 2010 St. Louis & Suburban Radio Club http://slsrc.org Talk-In: 146.76 (no PL) Contact: Bill Coby, KB0MWG PO Box 2233 St. Louis, MO 63139 Phone: 314-504-1104 Email: bcoby@sbcglobal.net	Collinsville, IL Gateway Convention Center One Gateway Drive
30 Jan 2010		Winterfest 2010 St. Louis & Suburban Radio Club http://slsrc.org Talk-In: 146.76 (no PL) Contact: Bill Coby, KB0MWG PO Box 2233 St. Louis, MO 63139 Phone: 314-504-1104 Email: bcoby@sbcglobal.net	St. Louis, MO Gateway Convention Center One Gateway Drive (Collinsville, IL)
30 Jan 2010		Albuquerque Winter Tailgate 146.58 Simplex Group Talk-In: 145.330- (PL 100); 146.940- (PL 100) Contact: Tom Ellis, K5TEE 912 Lomas Court NE Albuquerque, NM 87112 Phone: 505-291-8122 Email: k5tee@arrl.net	Albuquerque, NM Del Norte High School Student Parking Lot San Mateo and Montgomery Blvds.
30 Jan 2010		Lockport Amateur Radio Association http://lara.hamgate.net Talk-In: 146.820 (PL 107.2) Contact: Daniel Caswell, N2OBX 29 Hoover Parkway Lockport, NY 14094 Phone: 716-434-6946 Email: caswelld@verizon.net	Lockport, NY South Lockport Fire Company Ruhlman and Transit Roads (Route 78)
31 Jan 2010		2010 Post Holiday Hamfest Maryland Mobileers Amateur Radio Club http://www.mobileers.org Talk-In: 146.805 Contact: Frank Winner, N3SEO 283 Oak Court Severna Park, MD 21146 Phone: 410-647-3335 Email: n3seo@aol.com	Odenton, MD Odenton Volunteer Fire Department Hall 1425 Annapolis Road (Route 175)
31 Jan 2010		Tusco Amateur Radio Club (W8ZX) http://tuscoarc.org Talk-In: 146.730 Contact: Kyle Quillen, KD8HDJ 518 Fair Avenue NW New Philadelphia, OH 44663 Phone: 888-447-2403 Email: hamfest@tuscoarc.org	Strasburg, OH Wallick Auction House 965 North Wooster Avenue

Here are more questions we get asked a lot:
What is the positive (or negative) lead on an LED? How do you determine the polarity of an LED?

If you are talking about through hole LEDS, in most cases it’s pretty easy to determine the polarity.

If the LED has two leads, one longer than the other,the longer lead is the postive (also known as the anode) lead.

If the LED has two leads with leads that are equal in length, you can look at the metal plate inside the LED. The smaller plate indicates the positive (anode) lead; the larger plate belongs to the negative (cathode) lead. Unfortunately, some jumbo LEDS have the plates reversed so this is not a fool-proof method.

If the LED has a flat area (on the plastic housing), the lead adjacent to the flat area is the negative (cathode) lead.

It’s a little bit harder to determine the polarity with Surface Mount LEDS. Some are marked with a (-) to indicate the negative lead, but often, they are not. The single best way to determine the polarity is through the use a multimeter.

Set the multimeter to the diode/continuity setting. Usually,the multimeter will supply enough current into the LED which will just barely light it up. The black (common) lead on the multimeter indicates the negative (cathode) lead, and the red indicates the positive or anode side.

Of course, if you can find the datasheet for your LED, the pinout, along with all the other specs will be readily available on the datasheet.