Ancient Transistor Participates in 2025 One Hertz Challenge, Tasked with Measuring Seconds
In the realm of creative engineering, the 2025 One Hertz Challenge, hosted by Hackaday, continues to captivate participants worldwide. This unique contest invites engineers and makers to build a device that performs an action once per second, operating at a frequency of one hertz (1 Hz) or 60 beats per minute (BPM).
One such entry, a project that stands out for its unique approach, has caught the attention of the community. This low-tech creation, which deliberately eschews high-frequency operation, employs a combination of period passive components, stripboard, and vintage semiconductors.
At the heart of the project is a phase shift oscillator, which flashes a white LED, and incorporates a two-transistor amplifier. The transistors used are a germanium CV7001 and a silicon BC109. The use of the germanium transistor is a deliberate choice, as it is not suitable for high-frequency RF applications, thereby ensuring the project operates at a very low frequency of 1 Hz.
The feedback in the circuit is managed through an RC phase shift network, with a higher value resistor of 1.8 MOhms. The project's primary focus, however, is not on achieving atomic standards for timing accuracy. Instead, it serves as an inspiration for others to enter the challenge with their own second-accurate projects.
The project's deliberate low-tech approach may inspire a new wave of entries into the 2025 One Hertz Challenge, demonstrating that innovation can come in many forms, and that the spirit of hacker culture embraces both technical achievement and creative mischief.
The 2025 One Hertz Challenge, with its emphasis on precise timing, maker ingenuity, and a sense of humor, continues to encourage participants to push the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of low-tech, vintage engineering. The deadline for submissions is August 19, 2025, at 9:00 AM Pacific Time, and the community is eagerly awaiting the final entries.
This low-tech entry for the 2025 One Hertz Challenge, with its use of period passive components, stripboard, and vintage semiconductors, showcases innovation that goes beyond the realm of high-frequency technology. The project's primary focus is not on achieving atomic standards for timing accuracy, but rather, it serves as an inspiration for creators to think outside the box and submit their own second-accurate projects.
