Band Frequencies for QRS (Slow Code), CW and Morse Code Newbie Hams, and Typical Frequencies for Rock-Bound Kits
I did a little research. Many rock-bound CW QRP or QRPp kits come with crytals around 7.030, 7.040, or 7.110.? My Two Tinned Tunahs came with 7.110 and another I forget.? The March Buildathon and the SST+ will come with a 7110 crystal.? What are some other good frequencies/bands to get?? I see some crystal specials on the QRPme web site.? Of course, other band would require a different band module if you have a Super Tuna, Sea Sprite, Lil Sqal, Sudden Receiver, etc... I tend to hear QRS (Slow Code) around 7.110 - 7.125.? Good place to make contacts for CW Newbie hams. SKCC Skeds are a good place to arrange to make contacts. ARRL USA Frequency Allocations FCC Part 97 Regulations in the USA Novice Historical Society - what the Novice frequencies were in 1957 Does anyone know what the Novice frequency range on 40m in 1953 was?
1958 Novice Frequency Privileges:?
3.7 to 3.75mc CW.
7.15 to 7.2mc, CW.
21.1 to 21.145mc, CW.
FCC CW Band frequencies in USA:
80m: 3.525 - 3.600 MHz: Novice, Technical, General and other ham licenses. 40m: 7.025 - 7.125: Novice, Technician, General and other ham licenses. 30m: 10.100 - 10.150: General and other ham licenses. 20m: 14.025 - 14.150: General and other ham licenses.?? 17m:??18.068 - 18.110 General and higher?? 15m: 21.025 - 21.200? General and higher 12m: 24.890 - 24.930 General and higher? 10m: All licenses can do 28.000 - 28.300? I did not list the extra frequencies that some licenses have to keep it simple.? And I did not list MF nor VHF frequencies. I do not list 60m.? Nor do I list ranges for hams outside the USA. I also do not list the VOICE portion of bands the General and higher license have the ability to do CW as long as they follow gentleman agreements. Hams should follow band plans and gentleman agreements.?? Let's keep the ham radio hobby fun.? ? And just because some hams are rude, stubborn, or do not follow the rules does not mean we should be rude or not follow the rules as well.?? I am interested in knowing what good watering holes there are for QRP, QRPp, rock-bound radios, radios from QRPme, QRS (Slow Code) and beginner CW operators are. 73 Daniel KK4MRN
|
Re: short lesson on food cans
Rex isn't kidding. I've built a few TT2 transmitters that way. Be thankful for the lip and up-top connectors. In the pic, you can see a Rex Super Tuna, an updated (aka toroid version) TT2, and an as-close-to-DeMaw's-version-as-I-could-do-in-2022 model. The two on the wooden bases that look like Dr. Who props (my original and the DeMaw version) were scratch built, including rotating the pcb by hand against flat sandpaper to make them round, painting the traces with enamel paint, and etching the board. Wiring the can took quite a while and was trickier than it should have been. I have another couple that aren't pictured because they aren't in the cans yet. I still need to make a base for the Super Tuna as well. (And finish about 50 other QRPME kits... Ah, grad school takes up so much time!)
A funny story about the DeMaw version-- I found a vintage can on eBay and did some research on the company. It turns out it came from a long-defunct canner that sold some bad tuna that did some folks in. I hope my can wasn't one of the bad ones. ;)? I used as many vintage parts as I could scrounge up, although I'm not 100% certain the chokes were newer Millers or actual Radio Shack ones--I had both mixed together. I think they are the exact same part (or very, very close). I worried that the ferrite properties wouldn't be close enough, but they were. I get about 300mW-350mW out.
The really beat up one was my very first. I had been a Ham a little while when I made it, but that's been every bit of 20 years ago--if not 25--I've been licensed for over 30 now. I've made a dozen or more contacts with it.? It's officially retired as it's pretty fragile. I did a bunch of things wrong when I mounted it in the can (no lip, stupid kid, limited/no tools). It survived the Joplin, MO EF-5 Tornado in 2011 (I pulled it out of the rubble), repaired it, and finally put it on the air a few years back. I'm leaving in its original state (minus a new final transistor that replaced one that broke off at some point in the jostling) and it's retired with honors, mistakes and scars and all.
Moral of the story-- it's a HECK of a lot easier to build these with the good thought Rex & Co. have put into it.?
-HRS
H. Russell Smith, N0QLT???
?????????????????????????????
On Friday, February 17, 2023 at 08:49:51 PM CST, Rex Harper <tunacankits@...> wrote:
Dave & Gangue,
The new Sea Sprite+ kit will come in all sealed up in a 401 size
can....with a special label.
Short lesson on cans for QRPme proto boards is here: ??
Back in the DeMaw's day (1976), there was no such thing as an
EZ-Open can so mounting a board to a tuna can was quite tedious.
When it was 'Back to the Future-ized' by Doug Hendricks in his
NORCAL adventures it was still tedious. I bought a 1930's canning
machine from a museum in Lubec Maine and started kitting the kits
INSIDE tuna cans. I remember when it would take more time to mount
& wire up the connectors down in the can that it would take to
build the entire rest of the kit. Even then, EZ-Open lids were a
rarity usually only found on cat food cans as nobody wanted to
dirty up their can openers opening up that disgusting cat food!.
That's when I discovered the Dole's pineapple can. It was so easy
to open and then mount the pcb on the lip that remained from the
opening but I still had mount and wire those connectors down in
the can. I thought: "Gee, if I could only can the kits using an
EZ-Open lid, I could design an EZ-Builld TT2 with all the
connections ON the PCB and make it really EZ to Build...." I could
find EZ-Open lids but I had to buy like 8000 lids at a time and
even then, if I could find the $$$ to buy the lids it would cost
me $800 or so to have a special chuck made to seal them.
One day, I mentioned my EZ-Open lid dilemma to my can supplier
and he said to check with his canning machine service
troubleshooter "Maybe he will know where you could find one!". I
tracked him down, told him about my tuna can adventures and he
told me he had such a chuck right on his desk and he that was
using it as a paperweight!! He sent it to me for free and I got my
first batch of EZ-Open lids from him in the same box....all for
FREE! He finagled them from a customer and then sent them to me...
Then I found a supplier where I could buy the special lids and
scored on another canning machine for about $1500 that came with
extra chucks for 211 & 401 cans. I took those lids to my
friend the machinist and he modified both of my antique regular
chucks for EZ-Open lids. I've never looked back and have had lots
of FUN bringing out all kinds of kits in all 3 sized tuna cans.
W1REX
|
Re: short lesson on food cans
Rex,
The big three Ham manufacturers have nothing on your tuna cans!? Thanks for sharing and thanks for the history lesson!
Davey - KU9L
On Friday, February 17, 2023 at 09:49:51 PM EST, Rex Harper <tunacankits@...> wrote:
Dave & Gangue,
The new Sea Sprite+ kit will come in all sealed up in a 401 size
can....with a special label.
Short lesson on cans for QRPme proto boards is here: ??
Back in the DeMaw's day (1976), there was no such thing as an
EZ-Open can so mounting a board to a tuna can was quite tedious.
When it was 'Back to the Future-ized' by Doug Hendricks in his
NORCAL adventures it was still tedious. I bought a 1930's canning
machine from a museum in Lubec Maine and started kitting the kits
INSIDE tuna cans. I remember when it would take more time to mount
& wire up the connectors down in the can that it would take to
build the entire rest of the kit. Even then, EZ-Open lids were a
rarity usually only found on cat food cans as nobody wanted to
dirty up their can openers opening up that disgusting cat food!.
That's when I discovered the Dole's pineapple can. It was so easy
to open and then mount the pcb on the lip that remained from the
opening but I still had mount and wire those connectors down in
the can. I thought: "Gee, if I could only can the kits using an
EZ-Open lid, I could design an EZ-Builld TT2 with all the
connections ON the PCB and make it really EZ to Build...." I could
find EZ-Open lids but I had to buy like 8000 lids at a time and
even then, if I could find the $$$ to buy the lids it would cost
me $800 or so to have a special chuck made to seal them.
One day, I mentioned my EZ-Open lid dilemma to my can supplier
and he said to check with his canning machine service
troubleshooter "Maybe he will know where you could find one!". I
tracked him down, told him about my tuna can adventures and he
told me he had such a chuck right on his desk and he that was
using it as a paperweight!! He sent it to me for free and I got my
first batch of EZ-Open lids from him in the same box....all for
FREE! He finagled them from a customer and then sent them to me...
Then I found a supplier where I could buy the special lids and
scored on another canning machine for about $1500 that came with
extra chucks for 211 & 401 cans. I took those lids to my
friend the machinist and he modified both of my antique regular
chucks for EZ-Open lids. I've never looked back and have had lots
of FUN bringing out all kinds of kits in all 3 sized tuna cans.
W1REX
|
short lesson on food cans
Dave & Gangue,
The new Sea Sprite+ kit will come in all sealed up in a 401 size
can....with a special label.
Short lesson on cans for QRPme proto boards is here: ??
Back in the DeMaw's day (1976), there was no such thing as an
EZ-Open can so mounting a board to a tuna can was quite tedious.
When it was 'Back to the Future-ized' by Doug Hendricks in his
NORCAL adventures it was still tedious. I bought a 1930's canning
machine from a museum in Lubec Maine and started kitting the kits
INSIDE tuna cans. I remember when it would take more time to mount
& wire up the connectors down in the can that it would take to
build the entire rest of the kit. Even then, EZ-Open lids were a
rarity usually only found on cat food cans as nobody wanted to
dirty up their can openers opening up that disgusting cat food!.
That's when I discovered the Dole's pineapple can. It was so easy
to open and then mount the pcb on the lip that remained from the
opening but I still had mount and wire those connectors down in
the can. I thought: "Gee, if I could only can the kits using an
EZ-Open lid, I could design an EZ-Builld TT2 with all the
connections ON the PCB and make it really EZ to Build...." I could
find EZ-Open lids but I had to buy like 8000 lids at a time and
even then, if I could find the $$$ to buy the lids it would cost
me $800 or so to have a special chuck made to seal them.
One day, I mentioned my EZ-Open lid dilemma to my can supplier
and he said to check with his canning machine service
troubleshooter "Maybe he will know where you could find one!". I
tracked him down, told him about my tuna can adventures and he
told me he had such a chuck right on his desk and he that was
using it as a paperweight!! He sent it to me for free and I got my
first batch of EZ-Open lids from him in the same box....all for
FREE! He finagled them from a customer and then sent them to me...
Then I found a supplier where I could buy the special lids and
scored on another canning machine for about $1500 that came with
extra chucks for 211 & 401 cans. I took those lids to my
friend the machinist and he modified both of my antique regular
chucks for EZ-Open lids. I've never looked back and have had lots
of FUN bringing out all kinds of kits in all 3 sized tuna cans.
W1REX
|
Re: QSO Ham Expo Buildathon
Rex,
Does the kit still use the large-size Dole can? I see in your video it is about 2" tall, but our local Walmart either had the skinnier cans or the 5-6" tall variety. I am learning about cans more and more every day and not making sweeping assumptions, LOL.
Davey - KU9L
On Friday, February 17, 2023 at 06:47:19 PM EST, Rex Harper <tunacankits@...> wrote:
Gangue,
While Dan has been
keeping you all aware of my upcoming Buildathon, I thought you
might care for an update from me directly.
This will be the 9th
& 10th live streamed Buildathon I've done in the last
couple of for the QSO Ham EXPO. We have built all sorts of
specially designed kits in the past but this Buildathon kit is
the one that I am most excited about. I've tried all kinds of
simple (or at least I thought so) designs but in reality only
one or two hit the mark. The main problem is only having about
a 2 hour window to 'Git'er done!'. This year, Eric at QSO
Today put a theme to the Expo if I might paraphrase: "Now that
you have your license, what's next?" I thunk hard before I
pitched my idea to Eric. We would build a VERY simple
transceiver in 1 two hour session and then put it on the air
and try to make some contacts. Of course, this means extra
problems: key & antenna. So I added a simple key and
antenna to the build. But the exciting part is the operating.
Imagine a BUNCH of identical rigs all operating with the same
antenna on the same frequency trying to contact each other. I
think this is a really cool idea. The added benefit is this
should really either confirm or dispel the myth that you can't
make contacts on these very simple QRPp rigs. Another neat
thing would be that this could possibly be another WBB
(World's Biggest Buildathon) style event the World's Biggest
Buildathon & Operating Event. My friend Colin in the UK
did a SOTA event where he built a Rockmite station on the
summit and used it for his activation. I had 244 builders in
the ballroom at FDIM build and test a minimalist 20m
transmitter in a little over an hour...with no soldering
irons. At the WBBOPE we will have soldering irons and then a
special event activating th completed? rigs.
So I have 50 builders
signed up with another four weeks or so before the shipping
drop dead date. I have lots of pcbs and parts already on order
so I see no problems with getting the kits kitted and out the
door on time. Up on my web page for the Buildathon is a map of
QTHs for the builders signed up so far, elementary docs for
the new kit design and a YouTube link to a real time build of
the previous incarnation of the rig. I will post a video of
the complete build of the new rig just as soon as I get a
board in house. I expedited a few boards so I can get them in
sooner in order to generate the docs and a video of the
complete build ASAP. Everyone should be well versed on the
construction of the kit before we run the live stream event.
Now mind you, this is
specifically aimed at new licensees so the 7110 frequency in
the technician 'Novice' area should be especially receptive to
slow code senders and beginners just getting on the air! I
will be one of those slow code senders myself! I got to get
practicing but QRPme and my wife's Honey-Do list seems to
always interfere with my plans. But I will try harder!
That's all for now.
Rex? W1REX
|
Ordered and I also received my desoldering iron today with 3 spare tips. My XYL Ham is accusing all of the kit builders of putting something addicting into those kits!!!!
On Friday, February 17, 2023 at 06:58:39 PM EST, Rex Harper <tunacankits@...> wrote:
Gangue,
I was wondering why
nobody ordered an RF Probe kit from me in a long time even
after all the RF Probe emails that flew around a few weeks
ago. I went looking for them, as I have more than 1 design. While the SMD
probe was pretty easy to find on my test equipment button, it
was unavailable as I ran out of pcbs for that kit a long time
ago. I had produced that kit, from Chuck's, W5USJ, design but
tacked it to another kit pcb to get the boards done cheaply. I
only ordered that other kit once so never separated the design
from that other kit to make individually. I replaced it with
through hole design for a Buildathon and listed it as a
Buildathon kit but never called it an RF Probe so I lost track
of it.
Found it, renamed it
and listed it as an RF Probe kit (in a test tube) under the
test equipment button. I can confirm that it is W5USJ
approved!
Problem resolved....
W1REX
|
Gangue,
I was wondering why
nobody ordered an RF Probe kit from me in a long time even
after all the RF Probe emails that flew around a few weeks
ago. I went looking for them, as I have more than 1 design. While the SMD
probe was pretty easy to find on my test equipment button, it
was unavailable as I ran out of pcbs for that kit a long time
ago. I had produced that kit, from Chuck's, W5USJ, design but
tacked it to another kit pcb to get the boards done cheaply. I
only ordered that other kit once so never separated the design
from that other kit to make individually. I replaced it with
through hole design for a Buildathon and listed it as a
Buildathon kit but never called it an RF Probe so I lost track
of it.
Found it, renamed it
and listed it as an RF Probe kit (in a test tube) under the
test equipment button. I can confirm that it is W5USJ
approved!
Problem resolved....
W1REX
|
Gangue,
While Dan has been
keeping you all aware of my upcoming Buildathon, I thought you
might care for an update from me directly.
This will be the 9th
& 10th live streamed Buildathon I've done in the last
couple of for the QSO Ham EXPO. We have built all sorts of
specially designed kits in the past but this Buildathon kit is
the one that I am most excited about. I've tried all kinds of
simple (or at least I thought so) designs but in reality only
one or two hit the mark. The main problem is only having about
a 2 hour window to 'Git'er done!'. This year, Eric at QSO
Today put a theme to the Expo if I might paraphrase: "Now that
you have your license, what's next?" I thunk hard before I
pitched my idea to Eric. We would build a VERY simple
transceiver in 1 two hour session and then put it on the air
and try to make some contacts. Of course, this means extra
problems: key & antenna. So I added a simple key and
antenna to the build. But the exciting part is the operating.
Imagine a BUNCH of identical rigs all operating with the same
antenna on the same frequency trying to contact each other. I
think this is a really cool idea. The added benefit is this
should really either confirm or dispel the myth that you can't
make contacts on these very simple QRPp rigs. Another neat
thing would be that this could possibly be another WBB
(World's Biggest Buildathon) style event the World's Biggest
Buildathon & Operating Event. My friend Colin in the UK
did a SOTA event where he built a Rockmite station on the
summit and used it for his activation. I had 244 builders in
the ballroom at FDIM build and test a minimalist 20m
transmitter in a little over an hour...with no soldering
irons. At the WBBOPE we will have soldering irons and then a
special event activating th completed? rigs.
So I have 50 builders
signed up with another four weeks or so before the shipping
drop dead date. I have lots of pcbs and parts already on order
so I see no problems with getting the kits kitted and out the
door on time. Up on my web page for the Buildathon is a map of
QTHs for the builders signed up so far, elementary docs for
the new kit design and a YouTube link to a real time build of
the previous incarnation of the rig. I will post a video of
the complete build of the new rig just as soon as I get a
board in house. I expedited a few boards so I can get them in
sooner in order to generate the docs and a video of the
complete build ASAP. Everyone should be well versed on the
construction of the kit before we run the live stream event.
Now mind you, this is
specifically aimed at new licensees so the 7110 frequency in
the technician 'Novice' area should be especially receptive to
slow code senders and beginners just getting on the air! I
will be one of those slow code senders myself! I got to get
practicing but QRPme and my wife's Honey-Do list seems to
always interfere with my plans. But I will try harder!
That's all for now.
Rex? W1REX
|
Re: Ordered my March 2023 Buildathon's updated Sea Sprite+ kit with coupler, key, and Zepp - I have comments and questions
Daniel,
I used the AD9850 DDS. I have attached pictures of the board and the circuit for the pixie. The firmware I would have to track down.
I did the CWOPS Basic course a couple of years ago. It helped a lot but need more practice.
Interesting pixie link:
Links off that last one have some code.
Not wanting to stray too far from QRPMe specific topics.
? ? Enjoy,
---John AC9UV
? 73
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 02/17/2023 10:37 AM Daniel KK4MRN via groups.io <sqldan2000@...> wrote:
Hello John,
I am learning via Long Island CW Club.? I recommend the club for CW newbies.? They have 1-hour zoom meetings where you can see and hear other hams - CW students - learning the code.? And the LICW Club has changed things around.? Now, they concentrate on 12WPM instead of 20WPM. And they have a carousel that you can start at anytime. They did some research on what the original Koche scientific studies back in the early to mid 1900s.??
There is one very fast ham who can send and receive code with his brain very quickly - and he will tell you - it does not matter how fast or slow you go - who cares - if you know all your letters and digits, just get on the air...? It was Chuck Adams.? It is not necessary to do 20+ WPM these days. If you can, great.? If not, no worries. However, I do hope that hams QRS (slow code) for this event though.
Sadly, I have been doing this off and on for many years.? Hopefully it will stick with me this time via LICWC.
Did you use the Si5351A synthesizer chip for the DDS?
73 Daniel KK4MRN
On Friday, February 17, 2023 at 11:19:14 AM EST, John Putnum, AC9UV <johnfputnam@...> wrote:
Daniel,
I built the Sea Sprite a few weeks ago. Nice build, clean harmonics. Power about .54w as measured on one of my wattmeters.
I have register for the buildathon and ordered the kit.
I will have to see if I am confident with my code recognition to get on the air then.
I have not built the Lil Squall transiever but have built a couple of pixies and several Rockmite ][ and the topper. I have a 20m Rockmite kit waiting in a box for some time.
I modified one pixie to replace the crystal with a vfo that I put together from a nano ,a DDS chip, a display, and a rotary encoder. Worked nicely. I use the vfo as a frequency standard for my projects.
The pixie kits I have built have marginally acceptable harmonics. They need a LPF added to clean that up I think.?
Buildathons can be hectic. Depends on how fast you go. Rex moves right along and my problem sometimes I get a little behind, or my wife interrupts me... Doing it ahead of time can be done but the buildathon experience is different. In any case with Rex you always learn something new and useful about tools, tool use, or build techniques. In some cases how to fix problems you just caused. A great time is had by all.
? ?Enjoy,
---John AC9UV
On 02/17/2023 5:26 AM Daniel KK4MRN via groups.io <sqldan2000@...> wrote:
Hello,
By the way, I ordered the March 2023 Buildathon's Sea Sprite+ kit.? ?I still need to register for the event though.
I have some comments and questions on down.
lt
Has anybody else ordered this kit?
Anybody else participating in the Buildathon?
Anybody else getting on 7110 the weekend of March 25th and 26th?
Anybody build a QRPme Sea Sprite transceiver or QRPme Lil Squall Transceiver in the past or building one now?
Or even a Pixie transceiver?
The March 2023 Buildathon is a virtual online event.
But, if you're in Los Angeles, California, you can go in person - I think.
March 2023 Buildathon's Sea Sprite+ kit
Includes built-in antenna coupler.?
Additional items are a key and enough wire to construct a 1/2 wave End Fed Zepp antenna.
Good for a new Technician ham to build and Get On The Air.? All they need is a battery and a pair of headphones.
According to the web page, the kit's boards are on order.? So, it will take awhile for Rex to get them, then he has to put on his superman cape and turn out a bunch of kits and mail them in advance of March 25th...? I look forward to building the Sea Sprite+ and getting on the air.? ?I do suggest that anyone participating QRS (slow code) for newbies.? And hopefully I can make a few contacts - well, I hope at least one confirmed contact - with this radio especially the weekend of the Buildathon.? But more contacts the merrier.? ?Let's just make it a week long - weekend to weekend - so others who did not make a contact can keep trying.? Sometimes conditions improve.? ?So, I will be listening.? I will keep the radio on.... And if nobody pounces, I will pounce.
Would it be bad to go ahead and build SST+ kit and try it on the air before March 25th if I get it before the 25th?? Thoughts?
Map of Sea Sprite+ Builders signed up for 3/25 Buildathon
SST+ Version 6 Board layout
SST+ Version 6 Schematic
Presentation at the Buildathon on Saturday March 25th, at 10:00 PDT (1800 UTC)
2-hour session
Build a Simple Station and GOTA (Get On The Air!)
Speaker: Rex Harper W1REX
There will be a follow up session on Sunday morning.
QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo is the first and only on-line amateur radio convention, since August 2020.? ?
Event tickets and registration cost $15.00 per person for the Expo weekend and 30 day on demand period
March 25-26, 2023
Original message from Rex:
73 Daniel KK4MRN
|
Re: Ordered my March 2023 Buildathon's updated Sea Sprite+ kit with coupler, key, and Zepp - I have comments and questions
I ordered. That weekend is only a few days before we leave FL for the weekend, We will be in IL for 2-3 weeks before we head to Colorado for the summer so worst case we will make it a buildathon with 5, 7 & 10 year old grand babies cheering me on in the burbs of Chicago, IF we aren't parked at the RV dealer 214th in line to work on that refrigerator. I think I found the sweet spot on the thermostat, but it feels like trying to align a Heathkit TV with only metal alignment tools, lol.
On Fri, Feb 17, 2023 at 11:37 AM, Daniel KK4MRN via groups.io <SQLDan2000@...> wrote:
Hello John, I am learning via Long Island CW Club.? I recommend the club for CW newbies.? They have 1-hour zoom meetings where you can see and hear other hams - CW students - learning the code.? And the LICW Club has changed things around.? Now, they concentrate on 12WPM instead of 20WPM. And they have a carousel that you can start at anytime. They did some research on what the original Koche scientific studies back in the early to mid 1900s.??
There is one very fast ham who can send and receive code with his brain very quickly - and he will tell you - it does not matter how fast or slow you go - who cares - if you know all your letters and digits, just get on the air...? It was Chuck Adams.? It is not necessary to do 20+ WPM these days. If you can, great.? If not, no worries. However, I do hope that hams QRS (slow code) for this event though.
Sadly, I have been doing this off and on for many years.? Hopefully it will stick with me this time via LICWC.
Did you use the Si5351A synthesizer chip for the DDS?
73 Daniel KK4MRN
On Friday, February 17, 2023 at 11:19:14 AM EST, John Putnum, AC9UV <johnfputnam@...> wrote:
Daniel,
I built the Sea Sprite a few weeks ago. Nice build, clean harmonics. Power about .54w as measured on one of my wattmeters.
I have register for the buildathon and ordered the kit.
I will have to see if I am confident with my code recognition to get on the air then.
I have not built the Lil Squall transiever but have built a couple of pixies and several Rockmite ][ and the topper. I have a 20m Rockmite kit waiting in a box for some time.
I modified one pixie to replace the crystal with a vfo that I put together from a nano ,a DDS chip, a display, and a rotary encoder. Worked nicely. I use the vfo as a frequency standard for my projects.
The pixie kits I have built have marginally acceptable harmonics. They need a LPF added to clean that up I think.?
Buildathons can be hectic. Depends on how fast you go. Rex moves right along and my problem sometimes I get a little behind, or my wife interrupts me... Doing it ahead of time can be done but the buildathon experience is different. In any case with Rex you always learn something new and useful about tools, tool use, or build techniques. In some cases how to fix problems you just caused. A great time is had by all.
? ?Enjoy,
---John AC9UV
On 02/17/2023 5:26 AM Daniel KK4MRN via groups.io <sqldan2000@...> wrote:
Hello,
By the way, I ordered the March 2023 Buildathon's Sea Sprite+ kit.? ?I still need to register for the event though.
I have some comments and questions on down.
lt
Has anybody else ordered this kit?
Anybody else participating in the Buildathon?
Anybody else getting on 7110 the weekend of March 25th and 26th?
Anybody build a QRPme Sea Sprite transceiver or QRPme Lil Squall Transceiver in the past or building one now?
Or even a Pixie transceiver?
The March 2023 Buildathon is a virtual online event.
But, if you're in Los Angeles, California, you can go in person - I think.
March 2023 Buildathon's Sea Sprite+ kit
Includes built-in antenna coupler.?
Additional items are a key and enough wire to construct a 1/2 wave End Fed Zepp antenna.
Good for a new Technician ham to build and Get On The Air.? All they need is a battery and a pair of headphones.
According to the web page, the kit's boards are on order.? So, it will take awhile for Rex to get them, then he has to put on his superman cape and turn out a bunch of kits and mail them in advance of March 25th...? I look forward to building the Sea Sprite+ and getting on the air.? ?I do suggest that anyone participating QRS (slow code) for newbies.? And hopefully I can make a few contacts - well, I hope at least one confirmed contact - with this radio especially the weekend of the Buildathon.? But more contacts the merrier.? ?Let's just make it a week long - weekend to weekend - so others who did not make a contact can keep trying.? Sometimes conditions improve.? ?So, I will be listening.? I will keep the radio on.... And if nobody pounces, I will pounce.
Would it be bad to go ahead and build SST+ kit and try it on the air before March 25th if I get it before the 25th?? Thoughts?
Map of Sea Sprite+ Builders signed up for 3/25 Buildathon
SST+ Version 6 Board layout
SST+ Version 6 Schematic
Presentation at the Buildathon on Saturday March 25th, at 10:00 PDT (1800 UTC)
2-hour session
Build a Simple Station and GOTA (Get On The Air!)
Speaker: Rex Harper W1REX
There will be a follow up session on Sunday morning.
QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo is the first and only on-line amateur radio convention, since August 2020.? ?
Event tickets and registration cost $15.00 per person for the Expo weekend and 30 day on demand period
March 25-26, 2023
Original message from Rex:
73 Daniel KK4MRN
|
Re: Ordered my March 2023 Buildathon's updated Sea Sprite+ kit with coupler, key, and Zepp - I have comments and questions
Hello John, I am learning via Long Island CW Club.? I recommend the club for CW newbies.? They have 1-hour zoom meetings where you can see and hear other hams - CW students - learning the code.? And the LICW Club has changed things around.? Now, they concentrate on 12WPM instead of 20WPM. And they have a carousel that you can start at anytime. They did some research on what the original Koche scientific studies back in the early to mid 1900s.??
There is one very fast ham who can send and receive code with his brain very quickly - and he will tell you - it does not matter how fast or slow you go - who cares - if you know all your letters and digits, just get on the air...? It was Chuck Adams.? It is not necessary to do 20+ WPM these days. If you can, great.? If not, no worries. However, I do hope that hams QRS (slow code) for this event though.
Sadly, I have been doing this off and on for many years.? Hopefully it will stick with me this time via LICWC.
Did you use the Si5351A synthesizer chip for the DDS?
73 Daniel KK4MRN
On Friday, February 17, 2023 at 11:19:14 AM EST, John Putnum, AC9UV <johnfputnam@...> wrote:
Daniel,
I built the Sea Sprite a few weeks ago. Nice build, clean harmonics. Power about .54w as measured on one of my wattmeters.
I have register for the buildathon and ordered the kit.
I will have to see if I am confident with my code recognition to get on the air then.
I have not built the Lil Squall transiever but have built a couple of pixies and several Rockmite ][ and the topper. I have a 20m Rockmite kit waiting in a box for some time.
I modified one pixie to replace the crystal with a vfo that I put together from a nano ,a DDS chip, a display, and a rotary encoder. Worked nicely. I use the vfo as a frequency standard for my projects.
The pixie kits I have built have marginally acceptable harmonics. They need a LPF added to clean that up I think.?
Buildathons can be hectic. Depends on how fast you go. Rex moves right along and my problem sometimes I get a little behind, or my wife interrupts me... Doing it ahead of time can be done but the buildathon experience is different. In any case with Rex you always learn something new and useful about tools, tool use, or build techniques. In some cases how to fix problems you just caused. A great time is had by all.
? ?Enjoy,
---John AC9UV
On 02/17/2023 5:26 AM Daniel KK4MRN via groups.io <sqldan2000@...> wrote:
Hello,
By the way, I ordered the March 2023 Buildathon's Sea Sprite+ kit.? ?I still need to register for the event though.
I have some comments and questions on down.
lt
Has anybody else ordered this kit?
Anybody else participating in the Buildathon?
Anybody else getting on 7110 the weekend of March 25th and 26th?
Anybody build a QRPme Sea Sprite transceiver or QRPme Lil Squall Transceiver in the past or building one now?
Or even a Pixie transceiver?
The March 2023 Buildathon is a virtual online event.
But, if you're in Los Angeles, California, you can go in person - I think.
March 2023 Buildathon's Sea Sprite+ kit
Includes built-in antenna coupler.?
Additional items are a key and enough wire to construct a 1/2 wave End Fed Zepp antenna.
Good for a new Technician ham to build and Get On The Air.? All they need is a battery and a pair of headphones.
According to the web page, the kit's boards are on order.? So, it will take awhile for Rex to get them, then he has to put on his superman cape and turn out a bunch of kits and mail them in advance of March 25th...? I look forward to building the Sea Sprite+ and getting on the air.? ?I do suggest that anyone participating QRS (slow code) for newbies.? And hopefully I can make a few contacts - well, I hope at least one confirmed contact - with this radio especially the weekend of the Buildathon.? But more contacts the merrier.? ?Let's just make it a week long - weekend to weekend - so others who did not make a contact can keep trying.? Sometimes conditions improve.? ?So, I will be listening.? I will keep the radio on.... And if nobody pounces, I will pounce.
Would it be bad to go ahead and build SST+ kit and try it on the air before March 25th if I get it before the 25th?? Thoughts?
Map of Sea Sprite+ Builders signed up for 3/25 Buildathon
SST+ Version 6 Board layout
SST+ Version 6 Schematic
Presentation at the Buildathon on Saturday March 25th, at 10:00 PDT (1800 UTC)
2-hour session
Build a Simple Station and GOTA (Get On The Air!)
Speaker: Rex Harper W1REX
There will be a follow up session on Sunday morning.
QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo is the first and only on-line amateur radio convention, since August 2020.? ?
Event tickets and registration cost $15.00 per person for the Expo weekend and 30 day on demand period
March 25-26, 2023
Original message from Rex:
73 Daniel KK4MRN
|
Chuck,
It may have tweeked back. A previous power reading was .56 watts which matches.
That calls into question the accuracy of the watt meter at low values. Have to set up some standard tests maybe to check that out. and do some comparisons with my other watt meters (they generally agree pretty much, at those low levels I suspect the wattmeters internals affect the signal and reading slightly differently)
? ? Thanks,
---John AC9UV
On 02/17/2023 5:55 AM Chuck Carpenter <w5usj@...> wrote:
John,
Your scope indicates an Vrms value of 5.14V.? If you trust the accuracy of the scope, the power would be 528mW.
When dialed up it showed .74w into a 50 ohm dummy.
--
Chuck, W5USJ
|
Re: Ordered my March 2023 Buildathon's updated Sea Sprite+ kit with coupler, key, and Zepp - I have comments and questions
Daniel,
I built the Sea Sprite a few weeks ago. Nice build, clean harmonics. Power about .54w as measured on one of my wattmeters.
I have register for the buildathon and ordered the kit.
I will have to see if I am confident with my code recognition to get on the air then.
I have not built the Lil Squall transiever but have built a couple of pixies and several Rockmite ][ and the topper. I have a 20m Rockmite kit waiting in a box for some time.
I modified one pixie to replace the crystal with a vfo that I put together from a nano ,a DDS chip, a display, and a rotary encoder. Worked nicely. I use the vfo as a frequency standard for my projects.
The pixie kits I have built have marginally acceptable harmonics. They need a LPF added to clean that up I think.?
Buildathons can be hectic. Depends on how fast you go. Rex moves right along and my problem sometimes I get a little behind, or my wife interrupts me... Doing it ahead of time can be done but the buildathon experience is different. In any case with Rex you always learn something new and useful about tools, tool use, or build techniques. In some cases how to fix problems you just caused. A great time is had by all.
? ?Enjoy,
---John AC9UV
On 02/17/2023 5:26 AM Daniel KK4MRN via groups.io <sqldan2000@...> wrote:
Hello,
By the way, I ordered the March 2023 Buildathon's Sea Sprite+ kit.? ?I still need to register for the event though.
I have some comments and questions on down.
lt
Has anybody else ordered this kit?
Anybody else participating in the Buildathon?
Anybody else getting on 7110 the weekend of March 25th and 26th?
Anybody build a QRPme Sea Sprite transceiver or QRPme Lil Squall Transceiver in the past or building one now?
Or even a Pixie transceiver?
The March 2023 Buildathon is a virtual online event.
But, if you're in Los Angeles, California, you can go in person - I think.
March 2023 Buildathon's Sea Sprite+ kit
Includes built-in antenna coupler.?
Additional items are a key and enough wire to construct a 1/2 wave End Fed Zepp antenna.
Good for a new Technician ham to build and Get On The Air.? All they need is a battery and a pair of headphones.
According to the web page, the kit's boards are on order.? So, it will take awhile for Rex to get them, then he has to put on his superman cape and turn out a bunch of kits and mail them in advance of March 25th...? I look forward to building the Sea Sprite+ and getting on the air.? ?I do suggest that anyone participating QRS (slow code) for newbies.? And hopefully I can make a few contacts - well, I hope at least one confirmed contact - with this radio especially the weekend of the Buildathon.? But more contacts the merrier.? ?Let's just make it a week long - weekend to weekend - so others who did not make a contact can keep trying.? Sometimes conditions improve.? ?So, I will be listening.? I will keep the radio on.... And if nobody pounces, I will pounce.
Would it be bad to go ahead and build SST+ kit and try it on the air before March 25th if I get it before the 25th?? Thoughts?
Map of Sea Sprite+ Builders signed up for 3/25 Buildathon
SST+ Version 6 Board layout
SST+ Version 6 Schematic
Presentation at the Buildathon on Saturday March 25th, at 10:00 PDT (1800 UTC)
2-hour session
Build a Simple Station and GOTA (Get On The Air!)
Speaker: Rex Harper W1REX
There will be a follow up session on Sunday morning.
QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo is the first and only on-line amateur radio convention, since August 2020.? ?
Event tickets and registration cost $15.00 per person for the Expo weekend and 30 day on demand period
March 25-26, 2023
Original message from Rex:
73 Daniel KK4MRN
|
John,
?
Your scope indicates an Vrms value of 5.14V.? If you trust the accuracy of the scope, the power would be 528mW.
When dialed up it showed .74w into a 50 ohm dummy.
-- Chuck, W5USJ
|
Ordered my March 2023 Buildathon's updated Sea Sprite+ kit with coupler, key, and Zepp - I have comments and questions
Hello, By the way, I ordered the March 2023 Buildathon's Sea Sprite+ kit.? ?I still need to register for the event though. I have some comments and questions on down. Has anybody else ordered this kit? Anybody else participating in the Buildathon? Anybody else getting on 7110 the weekend of March 25th and 26th? Anybody build a QRPme Sea Sprite transceiver or QRPme Lil Squall Transceiver in the past or building one now? Or even a Pixie transceiver? The March 2023 Buildathon is a virtual online event. But, if you're in Los Angeles, California, you can go in person - I think. March 2023 Buildathon's Sea Sprite+ kitIncludes built-in antenna coupler.? Additional items are a key and enough wire to construct a 1/2 wave End Fed Zepp antenna. Good for a new Technician ham to build and Get On The Air.? All they need is a battery and a pair of headphones. According to the web page, the kit's boards are on order.? So, it will take awhile for Rex to get them, then he has to put on his superman cape and turn out a bunch of kits and mail them in advance of March 25th...? I look forward to building the Sea Sprite+ and getting on the air.? ?I do suggest that anyone participating QRS (slow code) for newbies.? And hopefully I can make a few contacts - well, I hope at least one confirmed contact - with this radio especially the weekend of the Buildathon.? But more contacts the merrier.? ?Let's just make it a week long - weekend to weekend - so others who did not make a contact can keep trying.? Sometimes conditions improve.? ?So, I will be listening.? I will keep the radio on.... And if nobody pounces, I will pounce. Would it be bad to go ahead and build SST+ kit and try it on the air before March 25th if I get it before the 25th?? Thoughts? Map of Sea Sprite+ Builders signed up for 3/25 Buildathon SST+ Version 6 Board layout SST+ Version 6 Schematic
Presentation at the Buildathon on Saturday March 25th, at 10:00 PDT (1800 UTC)
2-hour session
Build a Simple Station and GOTA (Get On The Air!)
Speaker: Rex Harper W1REX
There will be a follow up session on Sunday morning.
QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo is the first and only on-line amateur radio convention, since August 2020.? ?
Event tickets and registration cost $15.00 per person for the Expo weekend and 30 day on demand period
March 25-26, 2023
Original message from Rex:
73 Daniel KK4MRN
|
John,
Very nice.? Thanks for showing us the screen shots.? It is an inspiration for others.?
I like the nice sine wave.? My TTT has 2 peaks. Another ham suggested I use the pot to turn down my power down.? But at least I get output on my scope now.
0.74W ?? ?That is more than I expected from the TTT.?
]
My final was not a can.? It was a plastic PN2222.? Not sure if A or not.? ?But then I lost it.? I replaced it with a part from Mouser.? However, I could see easily where Rex had marked where E B C was on the final.
I will be working on my TTT EZB this weekend to figure out what is wrong with it. I will be going through part by part based on the documentation to make sure it is soldered correctly.? Take some photographs of top and bottom.? Take some measurements.? And then respond to those hams who helped.
I will also build a peak detector with 50ohm dummy load for QRP this weekend.? And build my QRPme Directional Wattmeter kit that I got in the mail the other day.? So, hopefully this can help me get a closer idea of what my power level is from the TTT.??
73 Daniel KK4MRN
|
Group,
I played around with my TT EZ-build and replaced the final with a 2n2222a in a T0-18 case with a heat sink. I think I had the original transistor in wrong so got a much smaller output. (conjecture). because the printed circuit board had the round symbol and the flat side should be facing toward the Base. The socket I put on the board covered most of the writing so I just assumed the flat side orientation would be the same as the other drawings for the non-round transistors. Lesson learned.
When dialed up it showed .74w into a 50 ohm dummy.
? ?Enjoy,
---John AC9UV
|
$11.? That is a good deal.
I have a Radio Shack desoldering iron I got years ago.? I used it last Saturday to desolder pins I put in the wrong place.? And get rid of excess solder that dropped from the iron into a solder hole.? Solder in the solder hole (not sure of correct terminology here) prevented me from inserting a component lead to solder.
I got my desoldering iron at a brick and mortar Radio Shack when they were still around.? Need hook up wire or a LM386, no problem, stop by after work one day and get it.
Radio Shack desoldering iron
Yep, a soldering iron pencil, desolder bulb or pump or a hot air station did not work for me last week.? ?But the desoldering iron did.? Great tool!
73 Daniel KK4MRN
|
Gangue,
I forgot to mention that on their
de-soldering page, they have replacement tips for that tool.
Pretty cheap. I added some of those to my order. I always like to
stash away any specialty items like iron tips to extend the life
of a tool.
Rex
On 2/14/2023 9:41 PM, John Putnum,
AC9UV wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Rex,
Thanks, order
in.? I have a nice little solder sucker that is from Japan
that works well but the timing of lifting solder and
positioning the tip has always been a source of humor.
? ?---John
AC9UV
Gangue,
I just discovered this tool a couple of
days ago...
It is a de-soldering iron which is a
40watt soldering iron with build in solder sucker.
Brilliant! I just wish I had thought of it! I'd retire and
just play with my QRP stuff all day.... Oh wait! I am
retired and play with my QRP stuff all day. Well, if I did
invent it, I would at least have some money in the
bank....
Anyway, I ordered a few for me and made
sure my order was processed before I alerted you guys. I
haven't got mine yet but the reviews looked real promising
so I bought some!
Rex? W1REX
|
Rex,
Thanks, order in.? I have a nice little solder sucker that is from Japan that works well but the timing of lifting solder and positioning the tip has always been a source of humor.
? ?---John AC9UV
On 02/14/2023 8:21 PM Rex Harper <tunacankits@...> wrote:
Gangue,
I just discovered this tool a couple of days ago...
It is a de-soldering iron which is a 40watt soldering iron with build in solder sucker. Brilliant! I just wish I had thought of it! I'd retire and just play with my QRP stuff all day.... Oh wait! I am retired and play with my QRP stuff all day. Well, if I did invent it, I would at least have some money in the bank....
Anyway, I ordered a few for me and made sure my order was processed before I alerted you guys. I haven't got mine yet but the reviews looked real promising so I bought some!
Rex? W1REX
|
David Knapp
