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“Kitchen Sink” Radio

“Kitchen Sink” Radio. Ham radio fun without complexity Roger G3XBM www.g3xbm.co.uk. Tonight. My approach Homebrew techniques Ideas for homebrew fun Useful links Good kits Good value commercial rigs. My Ethos. Modest power Simple equipment Simple antennas Small is beautiful

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“Kitchen Sink” Radio

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  1. “Kitchen Sink” Radio Ham radio fun without complexity Roger G3XBM www.g3xbm.co.uk

  2. Tonight • My approach • Homebrew techniques • Ideas for homebrew fun • Useful links • Good kits • Good value commercial rigs

  3. My Ethos • Modest power • Simple equipment • Simple antennas • Small is beautiful • Simplicity is elegance • Don’t waste money

  4. Homebrew Approach Bursts of energy – long gaps without building much • Go for projects that will get finished • PCBs not required for “one offs” • Projects that don’t need lots of test gear. • Go for good kits • Hasn’t got to be amateur radio related. • Use the gear you make/own.

  5. Components Choice • Ugly construction • Discrete parts • VXO/crystal controlled • Standardise on parts: 2N3904/6, MPF102, T50-2, T50-6, 0.1u, 10u, 1k, 10k etc • Re-use parts • Recycle boxes

  6. The Humble Crystal Set • Simplest radios to get going • Possible to hear real BC DX on HF • More to them than you might think • Amateur band DX reception possible • -55dBm

  7. 40m Regen Receiver 9 parts, works well CW/SSB, -100dBm

  8. Single FET transceiver • Sensitive, stable, non-fiddly, regen RX • 1 active device • Stable, crystal controlled, TX • 14 parts !

  9. VLF/LF Converter

  10. Micro 80 4 transistor HF transceiver PA is the mixer

  11. Pixie 250mW HF transceiver PA is the mixer Breakthrough problems

  12. OXO HF QRP Transmitter Any HF band, 1W, VXO controlled

  13. Pipit 15m CW transceiver

  14. Kitten 10m CW transceiver Pipit derived cct. 0.5W RF out 0.5uV sens. Full break-in 25kHz VXO 5 transistors

  15. Fredbox 2m Transceiver

  16. Homebase 10 Antenna • Simple horizontal halo for 28MHz • Low cost, easy to build and tune up • Works well

  17. 70cms Moxon Antenna • Made in 30 mins from a metal coat hanger ! • 3-4dB forward gain • 100 degree -3dB points • Best DX 327kms with 5W

  18. Earth Mode Communications • Communicating at <10kHz through the ground • Use audio power amps and ground rods • Ranges 0-10kms (typically <1km) • PC based RX/filters & QRSS for greater range

  19. Useful “Simple” Links HOMEBREW • GQRP club www.gqrp.com/ • Rick Anderson www.tricountyi.net/~randerse/radios.htm • JF1OZL www.intio.or.jp/jf10zl/ • Harry Lythall web.telia.com/~u85920178/ • Gollum’s Xtal RX www.oldradioworld.de/gollum/index.html • Hans Summers www.100megsfree2.com/hans/ • N4DKD www.n4dkd.com/ • G3XBM www.g3xbm.co.uk KITS • Elecraft www.elecraft.com • Small Wonder www.smallwonderlabs.com/ • Hendricks QRP www.qrpkits.com/

  20. Some Good Kits • MFJ Cub • Elecraft T1 ATU • Elecraft K1, K2 and K3 • Hendricks kits • SoftRock RX

  21. MFJ Cub • 15m 1W QRP CW • 8000kms DX with a dipole • Easy 3-4 hour build • Decent superhet RX

  22. Elecraft T1 Auto-ATU • Matches 160-6m • Instant retune when band changing FT817 • No-hands retune from 80-10m • 6hrs build

  23. Elecraft K1 4 band CW Transceiver • Excellent kit in the Heathkit style • 5W on 40, 30, 20,15m • Narrow CW filters • Keyer + memory modes • Auto-ATU • Works well

  24. Elecraft K2 “The best kit in the world producing a first class HF transceiver” K3 now available

  25. Future projects • 500kHz QRP TX • 10m QRP DSB transceiver • Improved single FET transceiver • A DSB Fredbox • Earthmode comms tests with QRSS

  26. The G3XBM Shack • Fits in corner of spare bedroom • Homebrew rigs plus FT817 and IC703 • “Lab” in back of the garage

  27. FT817 • Simply the best HF/VHF rig for the price • Worked 4 continents on SSB handheld!

  28. Miracle Whip • Auto-transformer matched 1.5m whip • With counterpoise is just 2 S-points (12dB) down on a decent vertical • DX 11000kms from the bedroom table with 5W SSB!

  29. IC703 • First class QRP radio • 0.5 - 10W 160-6m • Speech processor • Auto ATU • DSP filters

  30. Summary Build something simple this weekend! • Nice to own a few commercial rigs • DXCC with QRP SSB and CW possible with simple antennas (even handheld) • Operate – use the bands • Call CQ • Diversify • Have fun!

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