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Obtaining electronic parts for free - off the street Some areas have annual kerbside 'hard rubbish' collections. Many electronic items, some still working, get left out. They can be a source of parts that more modern items lack. For example old 'slide rule' dial AM/FM transistor radios have variable capacitors that newer push-button tuned digital radios lack. These can be useful in various receiver, transmitter or antenna coupler projects such as described elsewhere here. Other items may be fixable by someone with a little experience in electronics. Then there are the cast-offs whose former owner doesn't know or doesn't care about their value. For instance old telephones or early transistor radios. Clean it up, sell it on eBay and there's the funds to buy a Nano VNA or some good books. The videos below show some street finds and possible uses for them.   Hard rubbish 2016   Kerbside rubbish 2017   Nature strip electronic junk pickings 2018 - Part 1   Nature strip electronic junk pickings 2018 - Part 2   Nature strip electronic junk pickings 2018 - Part 3   Street finds 2019 - Part 1   Street finds 2019 - Part 2   Street finds 2020   Taking things apart   An AM clock radio teardown   Making use of parts from discarded computers   Uses for plastic corflute material   The serendipity of salvaged materials when making things   Disclosure: I receive a small commission from items purchased through links on this site. Items were chosen for likely usefulness and a satisfaction rating of 4/5 or better.

Books by VK3YE Ham Radio Get Started (USA) Australian Ham Radio Handbook (Aust) Hand-carried QRP Antennas More Hand-carried QRP Antennas 99 things you can do with Amateur Radio Getting back into Amateur Radio Minimum QRP Illustrated International Ham Radio Dictionary Make your Passion Pay (ebook writing)   All material on this site (c) Peter Parker VK3YE 1997 - 2024. Material may not be reproduced without permission. Read privacy policy.