Hi Harold,
Congratulations on your build.....well done
Yes you can use the 7.2 volt NiMH battery but you will need to reduce the voltage to 5 volts.?
Take a look at this Make magazine on how to make one :-
You should be able to source the parts from Radio Shack. If you have any difficulties let me know. I have a bunch of the regulator chips doing nothing in my shack.?
The key thing is to keep the regulator apart from the transmitter because the regulator generates heat and the heat will cause the crystal oscillator to drift out of band. A piece of styrofoam will do if you are wanting to mount them close together.
On my beacon builds I use some header sockets soldered into the holes where the jumper wires go. Then I can use jumper wires between the sockets. The sort of wires you use for solderless breadboards are fine.?
Measuring the power without a scope or a power meter is not really possible. When ?you see your elmer with the RX you might ask him if he has a scope or another way of measuring power. Most amateurs have a power meter so you should be OK. If not the main thing is to avoid destroying the 2N7000. If it is hot to the touch you need to back off the power.?
Making your own power meter is not difficult or expensive.? takes you to an excellent design for a meter called the NogaWatt. I think they still do kits. The design, like our beacon kits are "Altoids compliant" ie they fit in to a mint tin!
Hope this helps,
Steve G0XAR - The man who packs and posts the beacon kits - if there is a screw up it's all down to me!
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Wisdom demands a new orientation of science and technology towards the organic, the gentle, the non-violent, the elegant and beautiful. E. F. Schumacher
