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Kits and Parts "Organic 5Watter" transceiver kit [long]


 

It is fun to build and even more fun to operate.

Attached is photo of 5W20 for 20m, S/N 001 as Diz has S/N 000.
He used PCB#1 series and I used PCB#2 which is a production
board before a couple of minor cosmetic adjustments.

I built this rig using only a schematic.? Diz sent me two
of the binocular transformers used in the driver and final
PA sections.? I used all the other parts from my own stock,
so the photos will reflect some different parts that you
will see in the kit when it comes out in July.? Watch
the home page of kitsandparts.com for release details.
Diz will post on the 1W + 5W reflector.

Diz and I exchanged a number of emails and phone calls
to get things worked out for you guys and girls.

I will release a 200 page PDF build guide sometime after Jun 1.
Build and test.? I'm fine tuning the manual in the next
week and will have Diz review it before final release.
I will not be doing videos like I did for the 1W.? Not
worth it for only 100 people seeing them.? I took a
photo of almost every part installed, up close and
personal.

The 5W is a 1W on steroids.? The setup you see on
the workbench was the final tuneup before making an
enclosure (also in the manual).? I did the enclosure
Saturday in about an hour at lunch time as 20m was
dead as a door nail at this QTH.? Only a couple of
signals heard.

Took the rig to my local park 1km away at sunset when
the band opened up.? This to test my new GPS gel cell
you see in the photo, 9AHr 12V bought at the local
Gruber plant for $15 and some change.? Ran only
4W as I had added a small heat sink to each PA
transistor and need to run some more tests before
going to a full 5W.? I did not want to start an
exercise and lose power to the antenna.

I worked 52 Qs, 22 states and 6 1E stations.? I am
glad that I installed the optional CW speed pot.
Helped with the wide range of CW speeds.? Good to
see the new operators on the night shift as the
old guys work days and then take a long nap.? :-)

I'll give a more detailed review in July for your
consideration.? I used 3-pin 2.54mm headers for the
PA finals.? Figure they will blow if SWR is high
with the higher power level involved.? I have
several experiments to do in the next few days
on the PA section.? I added a heat sink with
epoxy to each PA transistor after the photo was taken.
The kit will use a nut and bolt system.

I also recommend a digital display and a 10T
pot as the rig tunes a large range on 20m.
I'll show a photo of the enclosure in a day or
two after the paint drys.? Used the bare aluminum
enclosure at the park as I knew what everything
was.? :-)? We have a sail covered table and bench
with water cooler and restrooms about 10 m away.

FYI

chuck, k7qo,? 22 states to new WAS on 20m
at new new power level for me.? 1 country
down for DXCC.

On 6/24/19 1:35 PM, Michael N6MST wrote:
Just came across this on the QRP Labs group, thought qrp-tech would be a more appropriate place to discuss it. This looks like a pretty fun radio to build!




k6whp
 

Chuck,

The 5Watter sounds like fun. Assuming you mean that you will have your "manual/notes" done by JULY 1st? Your note says June 1st. Smart to save your energy for the notes. The videos you did were excellent but must have been exhausting tro do and certainly not worth the effort for such a limited viewership!

Also, is this 5Watter currently available and, if not, when will Diz be offering them?

Hope you got a chance to use it during FD as the opportunity for WAS (and DXCC) would abound. (Keith, K6SIYm was working a lot of folks at 2-3 watts on his KX-1; we heard Saudi Arabia on 20m around 1800 PDT Saturday evening.)

71/72
--
William, K6WHP
"Cheer up, things could get worse..so I cheered up and, sure enough, things got worse!"


 

July 1 comes after June 1.? :-)

See kitsandparts.com for information when it comes out.? Won't be until Mid-July probably.

I did do FD.? 52 Qs and 22 states towards WAS with the transceiver.

chuck, k7qo

On 6/24/19 9:05 PM, k6whp wrote:
Chuck,

The 5Watter sounds like fun. Assuming you mean that you will have your "manual/notes" done by JULY 1st? Your note says June 1st. Smart to save your energy for the notes. The videos you did were excellent but must have been exhausting tro do and certainly not worth the effort for such a limited viewership!

Also, is this 5Watter currently available and, if not, when will Diz be offering them?

Hope you got a chance to use it during FD as the opportunity for WAS (and DXCC) would abound. (Keith, K6SIYm was working a lot of folks at 2-3 watts on his KX-1; we heard Saudi Arabia on 20m around 1800 PDT Saturday evening.)

71/72


 

Good job! Will be interesting to build ...

On Tuesday, June 25, 2019, 5:20:22 AM GMT+3, chuck adams <chuck.adams.k7qo@...> wrote:

It is fun to build and even more fun to operate.

Attached is photo of 5W20 for 20m, S/N 001 as Diz has S/N 000.
He used PCB#1 series and I used PCB#2 which is a production
board before a couple of minor cosmetic adjustments.

I built this rig using only a schematic.? Diz sent me two
of the binocular transformers used in the driver and final
PA sections.? I used all the other parts from my own stock,
so the photos will reflect some different parts that you
will see in the kit when it comes out in July.? Watch
the home page of kitsandparts.com for release details.
Diz will post on the 1W + 5W reflector.

Diz and I exchanged a number of emails and phone calls
to get things worked out for you guys and girls.

I will release a 200 page PDF build guide sometime after Jun 1.
Build and test.? I'm fine tuning the manual in the next
week and will have Diz review it before final release.
I will not be doing videos like I did for the 1W.? Not
worth it for only 100 people seeing them.? I took a
photo of almost every part installed, up close and
personal.

The 5W is a 1W on steroids.? The setup you see on
the workbench was the final tuneup before making an
enclosure (also in the manual).? I did the enclosure
Saturday in about an hour at lunch time as 20m was
dead as a door nail at this QTH.? Only a couple of
signals heard.

Took the rig to my local park 1km away at sunset when
the band opened up.? This to test my new GPS gel cell
you see in the photo, 9AHr 12V bought at the local
Gruber plant for $15 and some change.? Ran only
4W as I had added a small heat sink to each PA
transistor and need to run some more tests before
going to a full 5W.? I did not want to start an
exercise and lose power to the antenna.

I worked 52 Qs, 22 states and 6 1E stations.? I am
glad that I installed the optional CW speed pot.
Helped with the wide range of CW speeds.? Good to
see the new operators on the night shift as the
old guys work days and then take a long nap.? :-)

I'll give a more detailed review in July for your
consideration.? I used 3-pin 2.54mm headers for the
PA finals.? Figure they will blow if SWR is high
with the higher power level involved.? I have
several experiments to do in the next few days
on the PA section.? I added a heat sink with
epoxy to each PA transistor after the photo was taken.
The kit will use a nut and bolt system.

I also recommend a digital display and a 10T
pot as the rig tunes a large range on 20m.
I'll show a photo of the enclosure in a day or
two after the paint drys.? Used the bare aluminum
enclosure at the park as I knew what everything
was.? :-)? We have a sail covered table and bench
with water cooler and restrooms about 10 m away.

FYI

chuck, k7qo,? 22 states to new WAS on 20m
at new new power level for me.? 1 country
down for DXCC.


On 6/24/19 1:35 PM, Michael N6MST wrote:
Just came across this on the QRP Labs group, thought qrp-tech would be a more appropriate place to discuss it. This looks like a pretty fun radio to build!





John AE5X
 

Looking forward to building one of these. What does "organic" refer to?

John AE5X


 

On 6/25/19 6:30 AM, John AE5X wrote:
Looking forward to building one of these.*What does "organic" refer to?*
John AE5X
It's a marketing term intended to increase sales , drive up the price & make more profit :)

At least that's what it is at the local grocery stores.? Gotta work for radios too.

Diz, W8DIZ


John AE5X
 

In that case, don't forget "Free Range and Cruelty-free"!

John AE5X


 

maybe long range would be preferable to free range..

73,

Bill KU8H

On 6/25/19 9:42 AM, John AE5X wrote:
In that case, don't forget "Free Range and Cruelty-free"!
John AE5X
--
bark less - wag more


 

Meat-Free Diet???

Lee KX4TT

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bill Cromwell
Sent: Tuesday, 25 June, 2019 09:53
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [qrp-tech] Kits and Parts "Organic 5Watter" transceiver kit [long]

maybe long range would be preferable to free range..

73,

Bill KU8H

On 6/25/19 9:42 AM, John AE5X wrote:
In that case, don't forget "Free Range and Cruelty-free"!

John AE5X



--
bark less - wag more


 

We're wandering....

On the lane outside a farm near here there is a hand-written sign:
Warning! Free-range kids :-)

Michael 2E0IHW

On 25/06/2019 15:01, Lee via Groups.Io wrote:
Meat-Free Diet???

Lee KX4TT

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of Bill Cromwell
Sent: Tuesday, 25 June, 2019 09:53
Subject: Re: [qrp-tech] Kits and Parts "Organic 5-Watter" transceiver kit [long]

maybe long range would be preferable to free range..

73,
---
Diese E-Mail wurde von Avast Antivirus-Software auf Viren gepr¨¹ft.


 

Chuck,
Have you ever considered going into the toroid-winding business? That T5 is a beauty!


 

No.? Not even close.? Thanks for asking.

When the NorCal club came out with the Sierra transceiver kit back in
Sept 1994 (25 years ago!!), I remember going to PacifiCon later in the
year.? Vern Wright, W6MMA <sk>, had his assembled kit for show and tell.

I can tell you that no one else on the planet earth could wind toroids
better than he did.? His secret?? He was a dentist and he took his
toroids to the office to wind them with all the fancy optical equipment
he had.? Also, being a dentist did not hurt at all.? No pun intended.? :-)

My secret.? The same wooden skewer stick that I use as a pointer in the
videos.? Also, from time to time when I have them on the workbench, is
the fine tip tweezers for squeezing turns to get the spacing right.
Being OCD is a requirement.? Most people want to build in a hurry and
get on to the next project.? :-)??? I can understand.? The critters
are going into a dark place in a box and not be seen ever again in most
instances.

There's no money in it.

I checked.? The NorCal QRP club does not have the Sierra manuals in
the manuals or retired kit sections.? Since Wilderness Radio is shut
down, I'd think there would be a human interest story in getting the
manuals online for historical preservation.? IMHO.

I checked just now.? farcircuits.com has a 4 four set for $33.00 USD
for the Sierra in the 2003 and 2005 ARRL Handbooks.? Also in the past
few years I think a club in Germany or a group was doing boards. My
Sierra in a drawer and I just saw it yesterday when I was looking for
something.? May be time to fire it up and make sure it's still working.
Will need a realignment for sure.

thanks,

chuck, k7qo

On 6/25/19 8:00 AM, Michael N6MST wrote:
Chuck,
Have you ever considered going into the toroid-winding business? That T5 is a beauty!


 

Free Range ... the components are shipped loose
Cage Free ... does not include an enclosure
Organic ... packed in a paper bag


w8diz
 

I can't claim Cruelty-Free...too many toroids to wind.

On 6/25/19 9:42 AM, John AE5X wrote:
In that case, don't forget "Free Range and Cruelty-free"!

John AE5X


 

On Tue, Jun 25, 2019 at 09:56 AM, w8diz wrote:


too many toroids to wind.
I saw how many there were on the board, that's what inspired my tongue-in-cheek question to Chuck, but I am still game for a 30M 5W to keep my 30M 1W company. Looking forward to the release.


ajparent1/kb1gmx
 

I am not a great fan of winding toroids. But it gets good performance
partly by using enough of them in the right places. The RF engineer
in me has no problem with that. Patience is the key.

I did do a 1W for 40M and it was a very good radio. Heck I'm not much of
a CW op but I've made a few contacts using it and enjoy listening to it.

The big thing is 5 W puts it in the range of most QRP radios for performance.

The next big thing would be a DDS for those that want to wander about
further. It would be a fairly trivial change to add it though the Arduino,
display and DDS would likely double the cost.

To me the whole organic thing refers to most low power hams, where the next
logical progression is more power.

Allison


 

chuck adams writes:

Vern Wright, W6MMA <sk>, had his assembled kit for show and tell.
I can tell you that no one else on the planet earth could wind toroids
better than he did.
Ditto on that. Vern wound toroids like he was stitching up after oral surgery. And, he was a big guy with big stubby fingers to boot. He inspired many of us to wind a good looking toroid with pride like it's supposed to look. Still, nobody could wind toroids as picture perfect as Vern. I think of him every time I wind a toroid!

72, Paul NA5N

PS - I assumed "organic" means "grow your own," or Diz is using non-GMO components.


John AE5X
 

"The big thing is 5 W puts it in the range of most QRP radios for performance."

It also allows my Hardrock-50 to be driven to full output on those days that QRP doesn't cut the mustard.

John AE5X


Mark Janzer
 

There is a Sierra interest group on Yahoo.
The manuals can be found there.



Also, GQRP had (has) new band boards - which are much better than the Far Circuit band boards.


73
Mark
K5MGJ


 

Hi all...

The next big thing would be a DDS for those that want to wander about
Remember the QCX 5W monoband CW transceiver kit already contains a
synthesizer, rotary encoder and display - dual VFO, Split, RIT, memories,
messages... see and is also priced $49.

73 Hans G0UPL