Rob's Hobbies on Etsy

10/12/2026

My latest radio kit just arrived…all the way from Turkey. I thought it was coming from the UK because the seller’s callsign was issued in the UK, but he lives in Turkey and ships from there. There’s plenty of assembly required, so don’t expect me to get on the air too quickly with this thing, but I’m excited for all the fun ahead as I build and eventually use this thing.

10/12/2026

Interesting backstory on some of the electronic suppliers I have dealt with and their competitors who didn’t make it in this ever-changing marketplace. As an electronics nerd and kit builder, I lament the loss of so many of these suppliers. I don’t like having to buy electronics kits from sources outside of the USA, but that’s the current situation.

Subscribe to the channel if you love watching the little guy WIN: h...

10/02/2026

Interesting backstory about Heathkit

09/29/2026

I am back to working on my immense backlog of ham radio items that I have acquired for resale. I enjoy restoring these Heathkit HD-1410 keyers because the circuits are relatively easy to troubleshoot. Many of these units I acquire do not have power cords and the cords that fit them are extremely hard to find. My work-around for this is to upgrade the power connector to a more common C8 or "figure 8" style of non-polarized AC jack. These type of power cords are ubiquitous and inexpensive. So, when no cord is provided, I swap out the power jack to this new style and it works out very well. It takes only a minor alteration to the back panel to make the new jack fit. I think future users of these units will appreciate not having to search for the original and scarce power cord this unit had when it was new 50 years ago. This is the first of many of these units that I have in the stack to repair, test and list. Spread the word to your friends if anyone is looking for one of these classic units!

This Gadgets item is sold by RobsHobbies. Ships from Woodway, TX. Listed on Sep 28, 2026

09/29/2026

I recently acquired a set of quadraphonic headphones in amazing condition considering the age. I do not own any equipment that supports these, so I am offering them up for sale in my Etsy shop. Notify your audiophile friends. These need a new home!

This Gadgets item is sold by RobsHobbies. Ships from Woodway, TX. Listed on Sep 28, 2026

08/24/2026

Here’s a good explation of the appeal of FT8 digital mode.

Is FT8 boring, or are we just missing the point?After seeing a re...

08/12/2026

Another nice, steady paced explanation of RF principles. This one deals with sidebands. Anyone new to radio technology might appreciate this YouTube channel.

Single Sideband (SSB) is one of the most widely used voice modes in...

08/05/2026

Trevor from Telecom Training on YouTube has a nice, simple explanation of how to understand what your antenna analyzer is telling you about your homemade antennas. Great info for new hams.

Why is your antenna resonant on the wrong frequency? Learn how ante...

07/21/2026

The battle rages on regardless of how many new modes get rolled out.

07/18/2026

From the early part of last century, here is a nearly 100 year old ad for Vibroplex telegraph keys. Look at those prices! I rebuild and restore keys like these to resell in my Etsy shop. I assure you, they’re worth far more now than they ever sold for when they were new (without factoring in inflation, of course.)