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Re: Anyone built Charlie Morris ZL2CTM Simple SSB Transceiver?
I've not built it, but if you have a nano vna you can build the same filter he built, and just remove 2-3 windings at a time to get into the 3.9-4.0 range instead of 3.5-.3.6. I doubt a complete redesign is needed. On Mon, Apr 14, 2025 at 7:35?AM Daniel KK4MRN via <daniel-kk4mrn.skipper529= [email protected]> wrote:
Hello,
Has anyone built the Simple SSB Transceiver that was shown on the blog and videos by Charlie Morris, ZL2CTM?
Any suggestions?
?
?
While I was trying to figure out what parts to get for various projects I wanted to work on, I realized that he was targeting a portion of 80m from 3.5 MHz - 3.6 MHz for the Band Pass Filter.? But in the USA, I cannot do 3.5 MHz - 3.6MHz because no voice mode is allowed on that portion in my region.?
?
So, I need to move this up. ? And really, since this will be QRP, I do not expect to be getting any DX. And since I would share this with others, most hams would have a General. ? And I probably be more interested in targeting 3.8 - 4.0 MHz since this is where I hear most things anyways. ? So, this is where I need to learn how to do some of the same math he shows in his videos and his blogs to come up with his Band pass filter and IF Amp, etc.?? So, my center frequency for a band pass filter would be 3.9MHz.??
?
I looked on kitsandparts for their low pass filter board only and looked at it.? And its links and led me to LTspice which is free so I downloaded it.? So, I will try to reproduce what Charlie did first.? Then proceed with my own stuff.
?
I wanted to get toroids from kitsandparts.? But now I am not so sure.? Because now I will need to re-think the project for my region.
If I go with the NE5334 preamp and LM380 amp ICs, they both can be found at Mouser in stock.
?
Anyways, I like the video how he went about designing it.? I like the use of the double-balanced diode mixers.? Except, I want to do Manhattan construction on island pads instead of strip board.
?
Anyhow, I maybe over my head and need to learn the electronics math and theory here.? But I thought I would see if others have tried first.? I am willing to do my home work.
There are some radios I have built to compare to in the past like Curt's transceiver and Norcal 40A / 40B.? So, there might be things there I could learn from including its book EOR.
?
Charlie did mention he used the book Solid State Design for the Radio Amateur as a guide.
?
Anyways, when I was at Adafruit, I noticed they were low on their Si5351A breakout boards.? So, I ordered some.
?
I liked how Charlie Morris showed the math how he determined values he got.? So, that is a good starting point for me.? I just got to figure out where he got that from.
?
I even looked at the band pass/low pass filters at QRP Labs, but they take about a month to come from Turkey - and that is during good times.? Not sure how things would be now.?? I do have a low pass/band pass filter from them for 40m but not 80m.?? But the filter is centered for CW - not SSB voice portions of the band.
?
Thanks,
Daniel KK4MRN
?
|
I have an OHR 500, the DDS that goes with it, and a WM-1 that I have picked up along the way.? I will go through my manuals and scan/upload any that aren't on archive. org.? Thanks Chuck!
?
73 Bill K7WXW
?
|
Anyone built Charlie Morris ZL2CTM Simple SSB Transceiver?
Hello,
Has anyone built the Simple SSB Transceiver that was shown on the blog and videos by Charlie Morris, ZL2CTM?
Any suggestions?
?
?
While I was trying to figure out what parts to get for various projects I wanted to work on, I realized that he was targeting a portion of 80m from 3.5 MHz - 3.6 MHz for the Band Pass Filter.? But in the USA, I cannot do 3.5 MHz - 3.6MHz because no voice mode is allowed on that portion in my region.?
?
So, I need to move this up. ? And really, since this will be QRP, I do not expect to be getting any DX. And since I would share this with others, most hams would have a General. ? And I probably be more interested in targeting 3.8 - 4.0 MHz since this is where I hear most things anyways. ? So, this is where I need to learn how to do some of the same math he shows in his videos and his blogs to come up with his Band pass filter and IF Amp, etc.?? So, my center frequency for a band pass filter would be 3.9MHz.??
?
I looked on kitsandparts for their low pass filter board only and looked at it.? And its links and led me to LTspice which is free so I downloaded it.? So, I will try to reproduce what Charlie did first.? Then proceed with my own stuff.
?
I wanted to get toroids from kitsandparts.? But now I am not so sure.? Because now I will need to re-think the project for my region.
If I go with the NE5334 preamp and LM380 amp ICs, they both can be found at Mouser in stock.
?
Anyways, I like the video how he went about designing it.? I like the use of the double-balanced diode mixers.? Except, I want to do Manhattan construction on island pads instead of strip board.
?
Anyhow, I maybe over my head and need to learn the electronics math and theory here.? But I thought I would see if others have tried first.? I am willing to do my home work.
There are some radios I have built to compare to in the past like Curt's transceiver and Norcal 40A / 40B.? So, there might be things there I could learn from including its book EOR.
?
Charlie did mention he used the book Solid State Design for the Radio Amateur as a guide.
?
Anyways, when I was at Adafruit, I noticed they were low on their Si5351A breakout boards.? So, I ordered some.
?
I liked how Charlie Morris showed the math how he determined values he got.? So, that is a good starting point for me.? I just got to figure out where he got that from.
?
I even looked at the band pass/low pass filters at QRP Labs, but they take about a month to come from Turkey - and that is during good times.? Not sure how things would be now.?? I do have a low pass/band pass filter from them for 40m but not 80m.?? But the filter is centered for CW - not SSB voice portions of the band.
?
Thanks,
Daniel KK4MRN
?
|
Re: looking for parts polystyrene capacitors
I asked Grok and it pointed me to Parts Connection among others. Appearently out of Canada. They seem to have lots of polys for sale: | |
Probably be some tariffs involved.
Disclaimer: I have never done business with them and have no interest in the company, financial or otherwise. Caveat emptor.
--
Don, K5DW
SKCC #19269
QRP-ARCI #10145
Re: looking for parts polystyrene capacitors
Plenty of poly caps on AliExpress.? Looks like they are relatively expensive but good assortment of values. Jim WB4ILP?
On Mon, Apr 14, 2025, 1:29 AM Jim Pruitt WA7DUY via <jpruitt67= [email protected]> wrote:
Mike that page just shows you what the values
that were originally made.? If you go to Mike's order page you
will see that all he has is the 560pf which I THINK was part
number 23PS156.? The "S" indicates axial.? A "W" indicates
radial.? If you search Mouser "Film Capacitors" you will not see
Xicon listed but they were at least the last to make them and
Mouser does have ONE type in stock.? If you specifically search
for 23PW210 which is a 1000pf radial mount (I hate the axial mount
but that was all I used to be able to find). Anyway you will see
that they have 87 in stock. That link is:
1000pf 87 in stock
I recently placed an order with Mouser for some value and after a
month was told that they could find 4 (repeat FOUR) they could
ship (at $10 shipping for four capacitors weighing less than an
ounce!) and that the manufacturer (Xicon) had obsoleted their
polystyrene capacitors and would not be making any more so my
other 96 pieces got cancellled.
One ebay seller I recently bought some from was LF Components
Inc.? He lists only 3 values available and one is the 23PW210
radial mount:
and his other 2 listings are:
2200pf:
and 23PS110:
Not sure why the 100pf is more than double the price of the
others.? These are all lots of 100.? I had asked him if he had the
value that Mouser back ordered and then could not supply for me
and he said he did not have any and could not get any.? That
should tell you that they are disappearing.
I am not sure if that helps or not or if the information was
useful for others.
Good luck.
Jim Pruitt
WA7DUY
On 4/13/2025 11:12 AM, Mike N2MS via
wrote:
Try Kits and Parts:
Mike N2MS
On 04/13/2025 1:58 PM EDT Alan N8WQ via <oalanjones@...> wrote:
Gang,
Does anyone have a good source of polystyrene capacitors to point me to?
I need a 330pF cap for my current project, plus some spares :)
Thanks...
Alan, N8WQ
|
Re: looking for parts polystyrene capacitors
Mike that page just shows you what the values
that were originally made.? If you go to Mike's order page you
will see that all he has is the 560pf which I THINK was part
number 23PS156.? The "S" indicates axial.? A "W" indicates
radial.? If you search Mouser "Film Capacitors" you will not see
Xicon listed but they were at least the last to make them and
Mouser does have ONE type in stock.? If you specifically search
for 23PW210 which is a 1000pf radial mount (I hate the axial mount
but that was all I used to be able to find). Anyway you will see
that they have 87 in stock. That link is:
1000pf 87 in stock
I recently placed an order with Mouser for some value and after a
month was told that they could find 4 (repeat FOUR) they could
ship (at $10 shipping for four capacitors weighing less than an
ounce!) and that the manufacturer (Xicon) had obsoleted their
polystyrene capacitors and would not be making any more so my
other 96 pieces got cancellled.
One ebay seller I recently bought some from was LF Components
Inc.? He lists only 3 values available and one is the 23PW210
radial mount:
and his other 2 listings are:
2200pf:
and 23PS110:
Not sure why the 100pf is more than double the price of the
others.? These are all lots of 100.? I had asked him if he had the
value that Mouser back ordered and then could not supply for me
and he said he did not have any and could not get any.? That
should tell you that they are disappearing.
I am not sure if that helps or not or if the information was
useful for others.
Good luck.
Jim Pruitt
WA7DUY
On 4/13/2025 11:12 AM, Mike N2MS via
groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Try Kits and Parts:
Mike N2MS
On 04/13/2025 1:58 PM EDT Alan N8WQ via groups.io <oalanjones@...> wrote:
Gang,
Does anyone have a good source of polystyrene capacitors to point me to?
I need a 330pF cap for my current project, plus some spares :)
Thanks...
Alan, N8WQ
|
Alan,
This is what Mouser has:
-200 PPM tempco, so should work fine where the older polystyrene
caps were used for VFO temperature compensation.
72/73,
Jim, K8IQY
On 4/13/2025 1:58 PM, Alan N8WQ via
groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Gang,
Does anyone have a good source of polystyrene capacitors to point
me to?
I need a 330pF cap for my current project, plus some spares :)
Thanks...
Alan, N8WQ
|
Mouser used to sell an assortment of PS capacitors. I just looked and polystyrene doesn't yield any results for capacitors now.
Jon AE7TE
Try Kits and Parts:
Mike N2MS
> On 04/13/2025 1:58 PM EDT Alan N8WQ via <oalanjones=[email protected]> wrote:
>
>?
> Gang,
> Does anyone have a good source of polystyrene capacitors to point me to?
> I need a 330pF cap for my current project, plus some spares :)
>
> Thanks...
>
> Alan, N8WQ
>
>
>
|
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Try Kits and Parts:
Mike N2MS
> On 04/13/2025 1:58 PM EDT Alan N8WQ via <oalanjones=[email protected]> wrote:
>
>?
> Gang,
> Does anyone have a good source of polystyrene capacitors to point me to?
> I need a 330pF cap for my current project, plus some spares :)
>
> Thanks...
>
> Alan, N8WQ
>
>
>
|
Try Kits and Parts:
Mike N2MS
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 04/13/2025 1:58 PM EDT Alan N8WQ via groups.io <oalanjones@...> wrote:
Gang,
Does anyone have a good source of polystyrene capacitors to point me to?
I need a 330pF cap for my current project, plus some spares :)
Thanks...
Alan, N8WQ
|
Chuck and the Group,
It looks like I owe Jameco an apology.
I will be 70 years old on August 1st.
My short term memory must be taking a hit! :)
I received the parts on 3/28 which is excellent service from Jameco.
I misplaced the packing list that came with the Jameco parts and those parts intermingled with other parts on my work desk, lol.
Chuck I hope you get your missing parts!
73,
Alan, N8WQ
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 4/13/25 11:47, chuck adams via groups.io wrote: Alan,
I feel for you bro.? I ordered some valuable parts that I
needed for projects from China before the tariffs kicked in.
Envelopes worth $5.99, $6.34, $10.25, ... have been sitting
at the airport and harbor in L.A.,CA for a week now and I
am guessing that I will never see them.? The backlog has
got to be several warehouses full by now.
The manpower alone has got be costing a lot more than the
revenue for the small stuff.
On 4/13/25 07:26, Alan N8WQ via groups.io wrote:
Gang,
Is anyone else having a delay in getting a shipment from Jameco?
I ordered parts on 3/25/25 and still have not received shipment.
Just curious...
73,
Alan, N8WQ
On 4/11/25 17:04, k6whp via groups.io wrote:
In keeping up with the mob, I had been buying my trimmers from JameCo. They are the ceramic ones and -- importantly -- a slot screwdriver fits and can turn the little buggers. (Done with the little brown plastic turdballs!)
At increments of 10, they are 99 cents and at 100 are 89 cents.
Be warned and be ready to order $20 of stuff otherwise they tap you for the difference.
--
William, k6whp
--------------------
"Cheer up, things could get worse. So I cheered up and things got worse."
|
I must take back my words on the Ozark Patrol not being an effective cw and ssb receiver. I discovered a couple videos demonstrating very nice receiving. Problem is due to my specific build, not the design. Now I think the amount of capacitive coupling from the antenna to the regen circuit impacts its performance. Yes now I recall reading this. In my build I substituted a 2 pF capacitor for the prescribed gimmick. Maybe good for AM signals but less capacitance may be good for cw and ssb. At least one builder advocates using a variable capacitor here, or perhaps if interest is solely ham signals a lower value capacitor may do well. While these regen circuits may have fewer parts they are not simple. And my point that one may wish to explore other circuits may still be in order.?
?
Useful OP reference is http://analogdial.com/Ozark/Ozark3.html.? actually all 4 pages, this has specific discussion on the capacitor in question. I imagine with the gimmick capacitor the type of wire insulation comes into play.?
?
Curt wb8yyy?
?
|
Gang,
Does anyone have a good source of polystyrene capacitors to point me to?
I need a 330pF cap for my current project, plus some spares :)
Thanks...
Alan, N8WQ
|
Alan,
I feel for you bro.? I ordered some valuable parts that I
needed for projects from China before the tariffs kicked in.
Envelopes worth $5.99, $6.34, $10.25, ... have been sitting
at the airport and harbor in L.A.,CA for a week now and I
am guessing that I will never see them.? The backlog has
got to be several warehouses full by now.
The manpower alone has got be costing a lot more than the
revenue for the small stuff.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 4/13/25 07:26, Alan N8WQ via groups.io wrote: Gang,
Is anyone else having a delay in getting a shipment from Jameco?
I ordered parts on 3/25/25 and still have not received shipment.
Just curious...
73,
Alan, N8WQ
On 4/11/25 17:04, k6whp via groups.io wrote:
In keeping up with the mob, I had been buying my trimmers from JameCo. They are the ceramic ones and -- importantly -- a slot screwdriver fits and can turn the little buggers. (Done with the little brown plastic turdballs!)
At increments of 10, they are 99 cents and at 100 are 89 cents.
Be warned and be ready to order $20 of stuff otherwise they tap you for the difference.
--
William, k6whp
--------------------
"Cheer up, things could get worse. So I cheered up and things got worse."
--
chuck adams, aa7fo
QRP WAS 17m started Apr 2, 2025
WAS-17 QRP --> TX,FL,SC,GA,OK,AR,KS,AL,AZ,MN
PA,CA,CO,WI,NE,ID,IL,NC,NY,AL
DXCC W,VE,JA,PY,ZL
|
Re: Honbay trimmers; I took one for the team
Gang,
Is anyone else having a delay in getting a shipment from Jameco?
I ordered parts on 3/25/25 and still have not received shipment.
Just curious...
73,
Alan, N8WQ
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 4/11/25 17:04, k6whp via groups.io wrote: In keeping up with the mob, I had been buying my trimmers from JameCo. They are the ceramic ones and -- importantly -- a slot screwdriver fits and can turn the little buggers. (Done with the little brown plastic turdballs!)
At increments of 10, they are 99 cents and at 100 are 89 cents.
Be warned and be ready to order $20 of stuff otherwise they tap you for the difference.
--
William, k6whp
--------------------
"Cheer up, things could get worse. So I cheered up and things got worse."
|
Chuck,
Thank you so much for the OHR manuals. Having them available is a real find.
Hope your wife¡¯s foot heals quickly¡.. drive safe. You have a precious package. I am getting older and my wife is doing more driving. Then I can sit and enjoy the ride or watch videos on my phone¡ha!
Also while you were downloading to Google I found a very old series of emails about the OHR Spirit by a British ham. I looked him up and within a few hours he responded with the manual and the schematic for my friend in Florida. We are so blessed. Yes, the web has your life hidden somewhere but when used for good it is a miracle.
Again, thanks so much.
Dave K8WPE
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Apr 12, 2025, at 3:19?PM, chuck adams via groups.io <chuck.adams.phd@...> wrote:
?Search for OHR, Oak Hills Research and QRP should do it.
Got the Spirit I manual uploaded. Rest of them coming
as we speak. For specific rigs you might try the
name of the rig. I'm trying to get all the meta words
in the description and I'll edit what I forget from time
to time as I catch it.
My wife has a fractured bone in her foot, so I'm aperiodic
on getting things done for the next six weeks or so. I'm
Uber Drive etc, so if I seem incompetent, it's because I
am.
thanks,
On 4/12/25 10:22, David Wilcox K8WPE via groups.io wrote:
Chuck,
What parameters should I use for Oak Hills Research manuals, schematics, etc?
Thank you for doing this favor for us.
Dave K8WPE
On Apr 12, 2025, at 12:37?PM, chuck adams via groups.io <chuck.adams.phd@...> wrote: ?Gang,
Doug DeMaw, W1FB, started Oak Hills Research way back in time.
Dick Witzke, KE8KL-W7DKU-K7NL <sk>, bought the company and produced
a large number of kits that we all probably have one of or more.
The most famous being the WM-1 and WM-2 QRP wattmeter.
Then Marshall M. in CO (missing info on my part) did some of the kits afterwards
until his passing.
I think I have all the manuals from all the kits I ever built scanned in.
I will start putting them on archive.org for preservation as long as possible.
After today, if anyone needs a manual, search there first. If you have manuals
that I don't have, then you should put them there. There is no reason for the
history to be lost. Too much has already. IMHO.
I'll post list when I'm done.
de amateur-historian at large,
--
chuck adams, aa7fo
QRP WAS 17m started Apr 2, 2025
WAS-17 QRP --> TX,FL,SC,GA,OK,AR,KS,AL,AZ,MN
PA,CA,CO,WI,NE,ID,IL,NC,NY,LA
DXCC W,VE,JA,PY,ZL
--
chuck adams, aa7fo
QRP WAS 17m started Apr 2, 2025
WAS-17 QRP --> TX,FL,SC,GA,OK,AR,KS,AL,AZ,MN
PA,CA,CO,WI,NE,ID,IL,NC,NY
DXCC W,VE,JA,PY
|
Re: Oak Hills Research (SP-1 manual)
I downloaded the SP-1, 20M manual just now. Thanks, Chuck!
Steve AA7U
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 4/12/2025 9:20 AM, chuck adams via groups.io wrote: I have the manual scanned in for the 20m version that I built
back in the day.? File size is 1.7MB.
On 4/12/25 07:12, David Wilcox K8WPE via groups.io wrote:
Is there a specific groups.io site for Oak Hills Research transceivers?
A friend of mine has an OHR Spirit transceiver, and he is trying to find information about it, manual, and schematic.
Thank you.
Dave K8WPE
|
Re: Group Introduction: If you're going to post on the group, reply here!
Hi
Used to be more into VHF/ UHF microwave , but I have drifted down more into the HF region.?
Kevin ZL1UJG
|
Search for OHR, Oak Hills Research and QRP should do it.
Got the Spirit I manual uploaded.? Rest of them coming
as we speak.? For specific rigs you might try the
name of the rig.? I'm trying to get all the meta words
in the description and I'll edit what I forget from time
to time as I catch it.
My wife has a fractured bone in her foot, so I'm aperiodic
on getting things done for the next six weeks or so.? I'm
Uber Drive etc, so if I seem incompetent, it's because I
am.
thanks,
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 4/12/25 10:22, David Wilcox K8WPE via groups.io wrote: Chuck,
What parameters should I use for Oak Hills Research manuals, schematics, etc?
Thank you for doing this favor for us.
Dave K8WPE
On Apr 12, 2025, at 12:37?PM, chuck adams via groups.io <chuck.adams.phd@...> wrote:
?Gang,
Doug DeMaw, W1FB, started Oak Hills Research way back in time.
Dick Witzke, KE8KL-W7DKU-K7NL <sk>, bought the company and produced
a large number of kits that we all probably have one of or more.
The most famous being the WM-1 and WM-2 QRP wattmeter.
Then Marshall M. in CO (missing info on my part) did some of the kits afterwards
until his passing.
I think I have all the manuals from all the kits I ever built scanned in.
I will start putting them on archive.org for preservation as long as possible.
After today, if anyone needs a manual, search there first. If you have manuals
that I don't have, then you should put them there. There is no reason for the
history to be lost. Too much has already. IMHO.
I'll post list when I'm done.
de amateur-historian at large,
--
chuck adams, aa7fo
QRP WAS 17m started Apr 2, 2025
WAS-17 QRP --> TX,FL,SC,GA,OK,AR,KS,AL,AZ,MN
PA,CA,CO,WI,NE,ID,IL,NC,NY,LA
DXCC W,VE,JA,PY,ZL
--
chuck adams, aa7fo
QRP WAS 17m started Apr 2, 2025
WAS-17 QRP --> TX,FL,SC,GA,OK,AR,KS,AL,AZ,MN
PA,CA,CO,WI,NE,ID,IL,NC,NY
DXCC W,VE,JA,PY
|
20 pf ceramic trimmer caps 40? each (qty 50) delivered from AliExpress
|
bill K7WXW
Don K5DW
Jim Kortge, K8IQY
Hal Dale
Alan N8WQ
David Wilcox K8WPE