VRS Introduces TacPack®/Superbug™ v1.7!
Upgrades Available for TacPack P3D v1-5 Licenses
TacPack® and Superbug™ support is now available for Prepar3D® v6 covering v6.0.26.30799 through v6.0.34.31011 (HF4).
While the TacPack v1.7 update is primarily focused on obtaining support for P3D v6, other changes include TPM performance and visual upgrades as well as the removal of the legacy requirement for DX9c dependencies.
TacPack and Superbug v1.7 is now available for anyone currently running P3D v4 through v5. v1.7 supports all 64-bit versions of P3D including v6. If you are currenrtly running v4 or v5 TacPack licenses, you may upgrade to a v6 license at up to 50% off the new license price regardless of maintenance status on the previous license. Any existing maintenance remaining on the previous license will be carried over to the new license.
Customers who wish to continue using TacPack for P3D 4/5 may still obtain the 1.7 update from the Customer Portal as usual, provided your maintenance is in good standing. If not, maintenance renewals may be purcahsed from the customer portal under license details.
For additional details, please see the Announcements topic in our support forums. If you have any questions related to upgrading or new purchases, please create a topic under an appropriate support sub-forum.
Pirate Radio And Video Experimental Transmitter Projects Electronic Circuit Investigator By Braga Newton C 2000 Paperback Top 📌 📢
| Interest | Legal approach |
|----------|----------------|
| FM broadcasting | Buy a Part 15 certified FM transmitter (e.g., CZE-05B, 0.1–10 mW) |
| AM broadcasting | Use a low-power AM loop (SSTrans) |
| Video transmission | Use 2.4 GHz analog AV sender (Part 15 legal, range ~30 m) |
| Ham radio TV | Get a technician or general license; build Braga’s circuits legally on amateur bands |
| Learning RF | Build the same circuits but keep on dummy load or use a spectrum analyzer with attenuator |
Newton C. Braga’s Pirate Radio and Video (2000) stands as a monument to the DIY spirit. It is a book that empowered a generation to look at the invisible ocean of radio waves around them and realize they, too, could make waves.
While the internet has largely replaced the need for a local FM transmitter to share music, the itch to build, to transmit, and to be heard remains. For those looking to understand the fundamentals of RF engineering—or simply to own a piece of the outlaw electronics era—this paperback remains essential reading.
Technical Specs at a Glance:
This book, published in 2000, serves as a cult-classic manual for hobbyists interested in the "forbidden" side of electronics: low-power broadcasting. Written by the prolific Brazilian educator Newton C. Braga, it bridges the gap between theoretical radio physics and hands-on, "bench-top" experimentation. The Core Philosophy: "Learning by Doing"
Unlike academic textbooks that focus heavily on abstract mathematics, Braga’s work is rooted in the "investigator" mindset. He provides schematic diagrams and parts lists for building small FM, AM, and video transmitters. The goal isn't just to build a gadget, but to understand how oscillators, modulators, and antennas interact to push a signal through the air. Key Technical Focuses FM Transmitters:
The book covers various "bugs" and small-scale FM stations, explaining how a simple transistor circuit can turn sound into radio waves. Video Broadcasting: Newton C
A rarity in most hobbyist books, Braga includes experimental circuits for transmitting analog television signals—a challenging feat requiring higher precision and wider bandwidth. The "Pirate" Aspect:
While the title uses the word "pirate," the content emphasizes low-power (QRP) operation. It educates the reader on the legal boundaries of the FCC (or local equivalents), teaching them how to experiment without interfering with commercial airwaves. Why It Remains Relevant
Even in a digital world, the principles of analog transmission are foundational. For modern students or makers, these projects are an antidote to the "black box" nature of modern technology. Building a transmitter from a handful of capacitors and inductors provides a visceral understanding of electromagnetism that a software simulation cannot replicate. Conclusion Pirate Radio and Video Experimental Transmitter Projects Technical Specs at a Glance:
is more than a DIY guide; it is a celebration of the "Electronic Investigator." It captures a specific era of hobbyist culture where the airwaves felt like a frontier, encouraging readers to reclaim a piece of the spectrum for their own education and creativity. of the table of contents or search for modern alternatives to these circuits?
This section is rarer and more intriguing. In 2000, transmitting video was a complex task.
Parts: LM1881 video sync separator, 555 timer as oscillator, 2N2222 RF output.
Output: Black and white vertical bars.
Lesson: Understanding composite video sync pulses. Hook this to an old CRT TV and you'll understand TV engineering from the 1960s. 555 timer as oscillator
