Victor X-Ray Juliet Info
Feed Gallery

I’m a designer, technology enthusiast and licensed radio amateur, operating under the M7VXJ. callsign 

This site serves as a record of my experimentation with radio telegraphy, electronics and other related projects.

I also create visual effects and 3D animation as silico.studio and my 3D prints are avalable to purchase from physis.shop

Radios   
    Yaseu FT-857     Yaesu FT-818      Yaseu FT-4X        LilyGo T-Echo     Heltec LoRa32     RTL-SDR       Hack-RF        T1000-E  
Antennas                      Diamond VX30N [2m,70cm]                        DIY V-Dipole [137 MHz]                        Parabolic [1.7GHz]                        DIY Random Wire [14 MHz]                    
           
3rd August 2025
Noaa 19 APT
137.100 MHz
Hack-RF

    These weather satellite images from the NOAA-19 satellite show the approach of Storm Floris from the Atlantic Ocean.

    The image quality is better than in my previous attempts, thanks to the upgraded HackRF SDR (software-defined radio), which offers a significant improvement over the RTL-SDR, when using the same V-Dipole antenna tuned to 137mhz.

    18th July 2025
    Seeed Colab
    Meshtastic
    T1000-E

      Over the past few months, I’ve been collaborating with Seeed Studio through their Co-Create program.

      Together we are bringing two of my accessory designs for their T1000-E meshtastic device into mass production.

      As of today, both the SenseCAP T1000-E Protective Case and the SenseCAP T1000-E Charging Puck are available for purchase directly from Seeed’s online store.

      This partnership should simplify access for international buyers, especially those outside the UK, by reducing shipping costs and improving availability.

      06th July 2024
      Callsign Patch
      3D Printing

        I created a bespoke callsign patch using the multi-material feature of the Bambu X1 Carbon 3D printer, printing both black and white PLA within the same object.

        I included a number of holes around the periphery of the patch so that thread could be used to more securely attach a strip of adhesive hook-and-loop tape to the patch itself.

        15th May 2025
        L-Band Satallite
        Antenna

          A while back, I picked up what I believe is the TP-Link TL-ANT2424B directional WiFi antenna. It’s a 2.4GHz grid parabolic antenna.

          I bought it used and did not realise it was missing the feed-point reflector - the small assembly where the signal is actually focused.

          Rather than write it off, I decided to take a shot at building my own replacement, with the intention of eventually tuning the antenna to recieve transmissions from L-band satellites.

          I created a 3D-printed enclosure around the antenna itself and used aluminum plate to make the feed-point reflector.

          Right now, it's a bit of a work in progress. I haven’t tested the performance with any proper RF tools yet, but I plan to do some testing to see how well it works in practice.

          4th May 2024
          Noaa 15 APT
          137.000 MHz
          RTL-SDR

            With the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announcing the de-funding of NOAA Satellites 15, 18, and 19, I set up a new capture of Satellite 15 as it passed overhead, using SatDump, a newly tuned antenna, and an SDR.

            25th June 2024
            Tracking Weather Satellites
            137.000 MHz
            RTL-SDR

              After building a new V-Dipole using a 3D printed housing and panel mount SMA alongside a SAWbird LNA filter I was able to receive (noisy) APT images from the NOAA weather Satellites.

              The amount of noise makes me think that there is alot more work to be done to isolate the radio from background EMF interference.

              11th March 2024
              Dipole Radiation Pattern
              Artwork

                Each antenna has a different radiation pattern, the images bellow show the radiation pattern of a dipole antenna. I was interested in creating the toroid of a dipole as there is certain quality to its convergence and symmetry.

                These renders are aesthetic illustrations and do not portray any useful information, normally scientific visualizations would show dB levels as graduating hues, for this creation I was only interested in the geometric forms.


                10th March 2024
                Conversations Part I
                Artwork



                  While visiting the City Art Centre in Edinburgh, I saw the artwork; ‘Conversations Part I’ by Kate Downie which visualises RF signals as bright lines of colour in contrast to a monotone backdrop.

                  It was my interpretation that the artists was representing the conversations that invisibly intersect the landscape between radio towers as a positive force that connecting people’s lives.                   


                  11th Febuary 2024
                  Logbook
                  Yaseu FT-4X
                  I recently aquired my first 2m/70cm handheld transiever, the Yaesu FT-4X.

                  The first contacts I made eith it were picking up the RSGB news from GB2RS GM3HAM Lothians Radio Society as well as a direct 5,9 contact with GM4DTH on 145.525MHz.

                      
                  4th Febuary 2024
                  Meshtastic
                  868mhz
                  Lilygo T-Echo 

                    Meshtastic is a software platform which allows LowRa (Low Power, Wide Area) devices to create a mesh network, communicating on 868MHz (in the UK). The information shared includes encrypted text messages as well as GPS locations.

                    We tested two Lilygo T-Echo devices, sharing telemetry and messages to a range of 2km. The theoretical range of these devices is limited by line of sight, so it is possible to make contacts much further.

                    I hope to build a custom enclosure for a device using this platform and attach it to the dog's harness so that we can track him on GPS if he ever gets lost.