QRP Amateur Radio Kits I Have Built
QRP Transceiver Kits - Rockmite - Elecraft KX-1 - Tenna Dipper - Norcal BLT Tuner -

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Elecraft K1: This is an excellent 5 watt CW-QRP transceiver kit with a very well documented instruction manual. As good of or better a manual of any Heathkit I have ever built. This is my favorite radio to operate. But I haven't bought the KX-1 yet. I never leave home without it, Hex-Key, Tenna Dipper* and my PAC-12 antenna. This little radio has it all. There is a built-in iambic (mode A or B) keyer with 2 memories, RIT, 3 position audio filter, DDS controlled VFO. I bought the internal battery option, 4 band version (15, 20, 30 and 40) and built-in Automatic Antenna Tuner. And did I say it's micro-processor controlled? Visit the Elecraft web site for kit prices including all the optional accessories.

Elecraft KX1: Here is the ultimate camper's portable rig, The Elecraft KX1. All you need is a set of headphones and a hunk of wire hurled up into a tree and you're making contacts. I never leave home without it. The internal batteries ( 6xAA) gives the rig a little more than 1 watt output. Using an external 12 volt battery pack ups the output to about 4 watts. It also comes with the optional iambic paddle but I prefer either my Code Warrior while camping or my Hex Key while operating from the home QTH. The entire station; rig, antenna, headphones, external battery pack, log book (handheld PDA Log), Code Warrior, other stuff, fits inside a small vinyl lunch pack. Click over to my Adventures page where I gave the KX1 a good workout while camping at the Texoma Hamarama. My KX1 came with all the options. 40 meters, 30 meters and 20 meters, automatic antenna tuner, self contained paddle. Since I completed my KX1 I have added the 80 meter option and a 3rd party tuning indicator. 80 meters is great for those late nights at the campsite.

Rockmite 20 meter transceiver: How about a 1/3rd watt (that's right, about 300 milli-watt) CW-QRPp transceiver that fits inside an Altoids tin? Yes, you can work 1,000s of miles with less than one watt of RF power with the proper antenna. This fun little radio comes with an iambic CW keyer and dual frequency crystal controlled direct conversion transceiver. Available from Small Wonder Labs in 20, 30, 40 and 80 meter versions and cost only $27.00 less the Altoids tin. You also supply the connectors and switches which are still available at Radio Shack, Mouser and many surplus outlets. There is a Yahoo Group where you can find plenty of help and boat-loads of modifications. Go to the Rockmite Yahoo Group.

DSW-II 20 meter transceiver: A 4 watt CW-QRP transceiver that has a DDS vfo, RIT, iambic keyer and CW frequency readout. This kit took me about 3 evenings to build and is a hot little radio. When you first turn it on it automatically comes up on 14,060KHz. With the touch of the switch you change the tuning rate from 200Hz to 50Hz then back again. Push the switch up and the transmit locks and the tuning control is now a RIT at 50Hz clicks. My 20 meter version also tunes in WWV 15MHz. Available from Small Wonder Labs in 20, 30, 40 and 80 meter versions. This kit costs $150.00 and includes the case and all knobs. A fun little radio to take out onto the backyard patio table and work DX in a fun way. I use it with my BLT tuner listed below.

SW+ 40 meter transceiver: Here is actually several kits crammed into one box. The transceiver is another great little kit from Small Wonder Labs, the SW+ 40 meter version 2.5 watt CW-QRP transceiver. Also in the picture is a Small Wonder Labs Freq-mite and TiCK Keyer now available through Kanga US. The little perf board you see on the left is a resistive bridge SWR meter driving an LED. The main transceiver board is available from Small Wonder Labs for $55.00 and comes in 80, 40, 30 and 20 meter versions. The Freq-mite also from SWL costs $20.00 and can be installed in many radios as a CW frequency read-out.

Tenna Dipper: This is one of the neatest little gizmos since flush toilets! This thing quickly helps me set-up and tune my portable antennas such as my PAC-12. It's kind of like taking your MFJ-259B Antenna Analyzer camping with you but this thing fits inside a shirt pocket. I packaged mine nicely in an Altoids Tin. On the end of the RG-174 coax is a BNC connector I hook up to my feed line. To use I set the dip switches to the frequency range of the band I'm wanting to tune my antenna to, turn the pot until the LED goes dim, press the push button switch and the resonant frequency is heard in CW. I lengthen or shorten my antenna a little bit then repeat the steps above until I get it just right. For me it usually takes about 4 to 5 tweaks and my PAC-12 is tuned! And I didn't have to haul my expensive MFJ-259B analyzer with me. Available from the Four State QRP Club for $25.00. You provide the Altoids Tin, battery and short piece of coax.

Tenna Dipper with Display: Above is the KD1JV Tenna Dipper. Here is the Tenna Dipper on steroids. Well, actually, it's the Tenna Dipper with a Digital Display added on. Although the Tenna Dipper comes with an audible CW frequency counter and the 27 wpm CW makes for good code practice, it's nice having a visible digital display. It's sort of like my expensive antenna analyzer but smaller and just tells me when I have a 50 ohm match. I have a few more pictures I took while building it. Click on these picture links: Picture 2 - Picture 3 - Picture 4. The case is the same as the BLT tuner. I bought an extra undrilled aluminum clam shell case from Hendricks QRP kits and I used it here on my Tenna Dipper.

Norcal BLT Tuner: Here's a nifty little antenna tuner (transmatch*) for those little QRP rigs that don't come with an ATU. An entire kit is available from Doug Hendricks at Hendricks QRP Kits. But I just bought a predrill clam shell case and the little PC board because I have a well stocked spare parts box. I like to use this BLT with my DSW-II shown above or my SST 30 meter QRP rig below. I can use it with vertical coax feed antennas but it's name sake is to use it with balanced feed line doublet antennas such as maybe a G5RV dipole. There is an adsorptive SWR bridge feeding a LED. You just tune for a minimum glow on the LED. Here's a picture of the rear view.

Wilderness Radio SST: How about a nifty little QRP rig that's fun to build and even more fun to operate? Then it's the SST. The cost of the kit is $90.00 plus a few bucks for postage and you get not just the PC board and the parts, you also get all the connectors, knobs and a pre-drilled aluminum case. Available from Wilderness Radio. As you might see, there's and extra little switch on the front of my 30 meter SST rig. The VXO comes with 2 different varicap diodes for 2 different tuning ranges. You chose which tuning range by selecting one of the diodes during construction. I asked, why not both? So I put a small spdt switch to select different tuning ranges. Power output is about 2 watts which is more than enough to make DX contacts.

K40 Keyboard CW Keyer:

Have I left anything out? I'll get back to you. More to come!