Amateurs and Kits

DARC 2 FEB 2010DARC 2 FEB 2010 www.wb5rvz.comwww.wb5rvz.com 11

Amateurs and KitsAmateurs and Kits

““I love the smell I love the smell of solder in the of solder in the morning”morning”

(or, Why kits?)(or, Why kits?)

Robby WB5RVZRobby WB5RVZ

www.wb5rvz.cowww.wb5rvz.comm

www.wb5rvz.comwww.wb5rvz.com 22DARC 2 FEB 2010DARC 2 FEB 2010

For Note TakersFor Note Takers

http://www.wb5rvz.com/presentations/http://www.wb5rvz.com/presentations/KitBuilding.pptKitBuilding.ppt


Why Build KitsWhy Build Kits

• ConvenienceConvenience

• EconomyEconomy

• EducationEducation

• ConfidenceConfidence

• FunFun


HistoryHistory• Knight Kits Knight Kits

(Allied Radio)(Allied Radio)


HistoryHistory


HistoryHistory• HeathkitsHeathkits


HistoryHistory• Lafayette RadioLafayette Radio


What You Should Expect in What You Should Expect in a Kita Kit

• BoardBoard

• SchematicSchematic

• Parts List/BOMParts List/BOM

• Construction DocumentationConstruction Documentation

• EnclosureEnclosure

• On-Line Support/ResourcesOn-Line Support/Resources


Some Kit SourcesSome Kit Sources

• NORCAL QRP ClubNORCAL QRP Club• 4SQRP4SQRP• SoftrockSoftrock• GenesisGenesis• Ten-TecTen-Tec• CarlsCarls• RamseyRamsey• ElencoElenco• VellemanVelleman• Quality KitsQuality Kits• AC6V Home PageAC6V Home Page Kits/links Kits/links• W1WC Kits/LinksW1WC Kits/Links• EmtechEmtech• HF ProductsHF Products (“Packer”) (“Packer”)• Jackson HarborJackson Harbor

http://www.norcalqrp.org/

http://4sqrp.com/

http://kb9yig.com/

http://www.genesisradio.com.au/index.html

http://www.electronickits.com/

http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/

http://elenco.com/

http://www.vellemanusa.com/us/enu/product/list/?id=523008

http://store.qkits.com/category.cfm/ELECKITS

http://ac6v.com/kits.htm#HAM

http://w1wc.com/kits/

http://emtech.steadynet.com/

http://site.hfprojectsyahoo.com/hf_packer-amp

http://home.att.net/~jacksonharbor/ham.htm


ToolsTools


Trouble-ShootingTrouble-Shooting


Newbie StrategyNewbie Strategy

• Start small and practicalStart small and practical• e.g.:e.g.:• Beginners - Solder starter kits:Beginners - Solder starter kits:

– HobbytronHobbytron– http://http://www.hobbytron.com/solder_kit.htmlwww.hobbytron.com/solder_kit.html– Velleman: Velleman:

http://www.vellemanusa.com/images/products/0/k-start2http://www.vellemanusa.com/images/products/0/k-start2.jpg.jpg

– Elenco: http://www.kitsusa.net/phpstore/html/AK-Elenco: http://www.kitsusa.net/phpstore/html/AK-100-2-in-1-Learn-to-solder-kit-wtools-1037.html100-2-in-1-Learn-to-solder-kit-wtools-1037.html

http://www.hobbytron.com/solder_kit.html

http://www.hobbytron.com/solder_kit.html

http://www.vellemanusa.com/images/products/0/k-start2.jpg

http://www.vellemanusa.com/images/products/0/k-start2.jpg


Newbie StrategyNewbie Strategy

• Practical: Four State Practical: Four State QRP electronic Keyer kit QRP electronic Keyer kit $17.00 $17.00 (http://www.wa0itp.com/(http://www.wa0itp.com/aa0zzkeyer.html}aa0zzkeyer.html}

• Practical (SMD): Four Practical (SMD): Four State QRP Dummy Load State QRP Dummy Load SMD Starter Kit (40 2k SMD Starter Kit (40 2k 1206 resistors) $7.00 1206 resistors) $7.00 (http://www.wa0itp.com/(http://www.wa0itp.com/dummyload.html)dummyload.html)


Newbie StrategyNewbie Strategy• Practical: Ten-Tec Thru-hole Practical: Ten-Tec Thru-hole

transmatch tuning bridge, $18.00, transmatch tuning bridge, $18.00, http://radio.tentec.com/kits/accessorhttp://radio.tentec.com/kits/accessoryfun/1051yfun/1051


Newbie - TacticsNewbie - Tactics• Be PreparedBe Prepared

– ToolsTools– Workspace and lightingWorkspace and lighting– (Re)Read Documentation(Re)Read Documentation

• Be OrganizedBe Organized– Inventory Parts Against BOMInventory Parts Against BOM– Organize PartsOrganize Parts– Don’t trust colorcodesDon’t trust colorcodes

• Be Refreshed and AlertBe Refreshed and Alert• Ideally: Ideally:

– Build a little, Build a little, – test a little, test a little, – build a little, build a little, – test a little, . . .test a little, . . .


Example – Softrock SR LIte II Example – Softrock SR LIte II RXRX• $18 SDR 20m receiver from KB9YIG$18 SDR 20m receiver from KB9YIG• Kit includes:Kit includes:

– ComponentsComponents– BoardBoard

• Documentation (via www.wb5rvz.com)Documentation (via www.wb5rvz.com)– Six StagesSix Stages– SchematicSchematic– Detailed BOMDetailed BOM– Detailed Stage Steps & TestsDetailed Stage Steps & Tests

• Support: Softrock40 Yahoo User GroupSupport: Softrock40 Yahoo User Group


Example – SR Lite II Example – SR Lite II SchematicSchematic


Example – SR Lite II PCBExample – SR Lite II PCB


Example – SR Lite II PS StageExample – SR Lite II PS StageSubschematicSubschematic


Example – SR Lite II PS StageExample – SR Lite II PS StageStage Parts PlacementStage Parts Placement

Top Bottom


Example – SR Lite II Example – SR Lite II PS Stage BOMPS Stage BOM


Example – SR Lite II Example – SR Lite II PS Stage StepsPS Stage Steps


Example – SR Lite II Example – SR Lite II PS Stage TestsPS Stage Tests


Example – SR Lite II Example – SR Lite II PS Stage Completed ViewsPS Stage Completed Views


Example – SR Lite II Example – SR Lite II CompletedCompleted


Q&AQ&A

• http://www.wb5rvz.com/presentations/http://www.wb5rvz.com/presentations/KitBuilding.pptKitBuilding.ppt

• Pick up my card.Pick up my card.

http://www.wb5rvz.com/presentations/http://www.wb5rvz.com/presentations/KitBuilding.pptKitBuilding.ppt

Amateurs and Kits

Documents

comexample sr lite

softrock sr lite

ps stage bomwww

ps stage stepswww

ps stage testswww

ps stagesubschematicwww

state qrp electronic

comhistor kits allied