Transcript Kitchen Sink Radio

“Kitchen Sink”
Radio
An approach to ham radio
fun without complexity
Roger G3XBM
www.g3xbm.co.uk
A talk given at the Cambridge Radio Club on 12.1.07
© Roger Lapthorn 2007
Tonight
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My approach
Homebrew techniques
Ideas for homebrew fun
Useful links
Good kits
Commercial rigs
My Ethos
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Modest power
Simple equipment
Simple antennas
Small is beautiful
Simplicity is elegance
Just enough technology
Homebrew Approach
• Bursts of energy – long periods without
building anything sadly
• Go for projects that will get finished
• PCBs not required for “one offs”
• Projects don’t need lots of test gear.
• Go for good kits
• Hasn’t got to be amateur radio related.
• Use the gear you make/own.
Components Choice
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Ugly construction
Discrete parts
VXO/crystal controlled
Standardise on parts: 2N3904/6, MPF102,
T50-2, T50-6, 0.1u, 10u, 1k, 10k etc
• Re-use parts
• Recycle boxes
The Humble Crystal Set
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Simplest radios to get going
Possible to hear real BC DX on HF
More to them than you might think
Amateur band DX?
-55dBm
40m Regen Receiver
9 parts, works well
CW/SSB, -85dBm
VLF/LF Converter
Micro 80
4 transistor HF
transceiver
PA is the mixer
Pixie
250mW HF
transceiver
PA is the mixer
Breakthrough
problems
OXO HF QRP Transmitter
Any HF band, 1W, VXO controlled
Pipit 15m CW transceiver
Kitten 10m CW transceiver
Pipit derived cct.
0.5W RF out
0.5uV sens.
Full break-in
25kHz VXO
5 transistors
Fredbox
Earth Mode
Communications
• Communicating at <10kHz through the
ground
• Use audio power amps and ground rods
• Ranges 0-10kms (typically <1km)
• PC based RX/filters & QRSS for
>>range
Useful “Simple” Links
HOMEBREW
– GQRP club
– Rick Anderson
– JF1OZL
– Harry Lythall
– Gollum’s Xtal RX
– Hans Summers
– N4DKD
– G3XBM
www.gqrp.com/
www.tricountyi.net/~randerse/radios.htm
www.intio.or.jp/jf10zl/
web.telia.com/~u85920178/
www.oldradioworld.de/gollum/index.html
www.100megsfree2.com/hans/
www.n4dkd.com/
www.g3xbm.co.uk
KITS
– Elecraft
www.elecraft.com
– Small Wonder
www.smallwonderlabs.com/
– Hendricks QRP www.qrpkits.com/
Some Good Kits
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MFJ Cub
Elecraft T1 ATU
Elecraft K1 and K2
Hendricks kits
MFJ Cub
• 15m 1W QRP CW
• 8000kms DX with a
dipole
• Easy 3-4 hour build
• Decent superhet RX
Elecraft T1 Auto-ATU
• Matches 160-6m
• Instant retune when
band changing
FT817
• No-hands retune
from 80-10m
• 6hrs build
Elecraft K1 4 band
CW Transceiver
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A “work in progress”
Kit in the Heathkit style
5W on 40, 30, 20,15m
Narrow CW filters
Keyer + beacon modes
Auto-ATU
Elecraft
K2
The best kit in the world producing a
first class HF transceiver
Future projects?
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Complete the 1 transistor transceiver
QRP 10m SSB phasing transceiver
PSK16/31 earth comms rig
136kHz (or 500kHz) activity
4m transverter
10m halo
2m/70cms SSB
Another Fredbox (DSB?)
Commercial Rigs
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FT817, IC703, VX2.
Avoid costly “soon get bored with” rigs.
“Shack” fits a desk in bedroom corner
80m to 70cms rigs and antennas
Multi-band simple WIRE antennas.
VHF/UHF vertical – Spor-E on 6m
FT817
• Simply the best HF/VHF rig for the price
• Worked 4 continents on SSB handheld!
Miracle Whip
• Auto-transformer matched 1.5m whip
• With counterpoise is 2 S-points (12dB)
down on a decent vertical
• DX 11000kms from the bedroom table
with 5W SSB!
IC703
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First class QRP radio
0-10W 160-6m
Speech processor
Auto ATU
DSP filters
VX2 Yaesu 2m/70cms
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Low cost tiny VHF/UHF
Pocket sized
Good performance with
Good for holidays
Get a programmer
handheld
longer whip
Summary
• Build something simple next weekend
• Nice to own a few commercial rigs
• DXCC with QRP (mainly SSB) possible
with simple antennas (even handheld)
• Operate – use the bands
• Call CQ
• Diversify
• Have fun!