Re: How to assemble a Collins filter + Board for FT-857 and save $$$!!!
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Thanks. One way or another I will find one. Which filter did you use on your FT-857? I don' t do CW but I might find it useful if I decide to learn. I did build a bluetooth keyer with an Arduino board, wrote my own code, works great.
Sorry, but don't bother asking. They do not have any New Old Stock of Collins mechanical filters. I tried to find them years ago. I also work for Raytheon. I'm in the Collins Aerospace division. Our sister site in California closed that product line down years ago. I remember when it happened, and I was very dismayed.
Like the other guys on this post, I have created my own layout and I purchased PCB's through JLCPCB. The layout was simple enough. I purchased a group of 5 boards (unpopulated) and I paid about $4 total (with shipping). No kidding! I already had some raw CW mechanical filters that I purchased along the way over the years, and now they all have homes in my FT-817, FT-818, and FT-857. Good fun.
I would suggest that laying out your own PCB is a great learning opportunity for Hams. The software tools are all online for free. Board houses like JLCPCB do instant quoting when you upload your Gerber files. They take these small jobs to fill in around the margins of a panel which is running a commercial job. They make a little money on what would otherwise be scrap FR4 board, and they pass the savings along to small consumers like us. This works great for Makers, and the kids (ages 9 - 90) learning with Arduinos and etc.
I hope that you find some Collins mechanical filters out there.
Best 73, Jack
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Juan Jim¨¦nez