1 reply to this topic

[mike]

Hi, i should be getting my call sign in the next couple days,and due to the fact that i do not have any ham radio equipment at all, i would appreciate any designs for a beginner. I have some basic equipment, power supply, soldering iron, 20MHz oscilloscope. I'm an excellent solderer and have the means of making PCB, have a random assortment of components and have access to radio shack (fry's is a little farther). don't mean to give you my life story, , but, I'm working on my Morse now and any designs would be greatly appreciated. oh, also i have a 117l7 tube, i don't have a great understanding of tubes, but i thought that would be a really cool to make something with it. thank you all!

[Shortwave]

mike, on 18 December 2009 - 04:35 AM, said:

Hi, i should be getting my call sign in the next couple days,and due to the fact that i do not have any ham radio equipment at all, i would appreciate any designs for a beginner. I have some basic equipment, power supply, soldering iron, 20MHz oscilloscope. I'm an excellent solderer and have the means of making PCB, have a random assortment of components and have access to radio shack (fry's is a little farther). don't mean to give you my life story, , but, I'm working on my Morse now and any designs would be greatly appreciated. oh, also i have a 117l7 tube, i don't have a great understanding of tubes, but i thought that would be a really cool to make something with it. thank you all!

Hiya Mike (and welcome to the forum!)

In the past I would have said to have a look around for QRP projects books (since QRP CW rigs are about the easiest to build and the best fun), but these days it's just as easy to find some really good designs online.

Pretty well most HF band transceivers can be built on Vero Board (A.K.A. matrix board, perf board etc) so you don't even need to etch a PCB unless you're really keen!

I tend to design my own bits and pieces these days, I make them up as I go along (too many years as an engineer), but obviously if you're new to the game then you will be looking for tried and tested designs.

A quick look around the web found this useful looking site: http://www.qrp.pops.net/

Or a cool links page here: http://www.ac6v.com/homebrew.htm

A lot depends on your level of skill. Some Radio Hams can work straight from a schematic diagram without any other info, others prefer a matrix board track layout or PCB design to work from, others prefer to buy kits (normally the best way if you do not have many workshop tools or an extensive 'junk box'.

I've done all of the above over the years.

Sometimes you can design a project around your junk box collection of bits. Most of my projects use reclaimed parts, so it's good for the planet AND good for my wallet too!

If you want really 'meaty' kits then have a look at the Elecraft site here: http://www.elecraft.com/

I've even built UHF Amateur TV transmitters on pieces of matrix board (I still have one in the cupboard here).

CW rigs tend to be the quickest to build and the easiest to set up, and normally they have a very low component count, whereas 'phone' rigs (SSB, FM etc) tend to take a little more care in their building and setting up.

Also, you will get a lot more 'miles per watt' with a CW set compaired to 'phone' rigs, so it's something to consider when you choose the mode you want your creation to work with.


Best 73 for now, Mark.