Amateurs and Kits

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Amateurs and Kits

• I love the smell of solder in the morning
• (or, Why kits?)
• Robby WB5RVZ
• www.wb5rvz.com

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For Note Takers

• http//www.wb5rvz.com/presentations/KitBuilding.pp
  t

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Why Build Kits

• Convenience
• Economy
• Education
• Confidence
• Fun

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History

• Knight Kits (Allied Radio)

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History
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History

• Heathkits

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History

• Lafayette Radio

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What You Should Expect in a Kit

• Board
• Schematic
• Parts List/BOM
• Construction Documentation
• Enclosure
• On-Line Support/Resources

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Some Kit Sources

• NORCAL QRP Club
• 4SQRP
• Softrock
• Genesis
• Ten-Tec
• Carls
• Ramsey
• Elenco
• Velleman
• Quality Kits
• AC6V Home Page Kits/links
• W1WC Kits/Links
• Emtech
• HF Products (Packer)
• Jackson Harbor

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Tools
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Trouble-Shooting
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Newbie Strategy

• Start small and practical
• e.g.
• Beginners - Solder starter kits
• Hobbytron
• http//www.hobbytron.com/solder_kit.html
• Velleman http//www.vellemanusa.com/images/produc
  ts/0/k-start2.jpg
• Elenco http//www.kitsusa.net/phpstore/html/AK-10
  0-2-in-1-Learn-to-solder-kit-wtools-1037.html

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Newbie Strategy

• Practical Four State QRP electronic Keyer kit
  17.00 (http//www.wa0itp.com/aa0zzkeyer.html
• Practical (SMD) Four State QRP Dummy Load SMD
  Starter Kit (40 2k 1206 resistors) 7.00
  (http//www.wa0itp.com/dummyload.html)

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Newbie Strategy

• Practical Ten-Tec Thru-hole transmatch tuning
  bridge, 18.00, http//radio.tentec.com/kits/acces
  soryfun/1051

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Newbie - Tactics

• Be Prepared
• Tools
• Workspace and lighting
• (Re)Read Documentation
• Be Organized
• Inventory Parts Against BOM
• Organize Parts
• Dont trust colorcodes
• Be Refreshed and Alert
• Ideally
• Build a little,
• test a little,
• build a little,
• test a little, . . .

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Example Softrock SR LIte II RX

• 18 SDR 20m receiver from KB9YIG
• Kit includes
• Components
• Board
• Documentation (via www.wb5rvz.com)
• Six Stages
• Schematic
• Detailed BOM
• Detailed Stage Steps Tests
• Support Softrock40 Yahoo User Group

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Example SR Lite II Schematic
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Example SR Lite II PCB
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Example SR Lite II PS StageSubschematic
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Example SR Lite II PS StageStage Parts
Placement
Top
Bottom
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Example SR Lite II PS Stage BOM
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Example SR Lite II PS Stage Steps
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Example SR Lite II PS Stage Tests
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Example SR Lite II PS Stage Completed Views
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Example SR Lite II Completed
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QA
http//www.wb5rvz.com/presentations/KitBuilding.pp
t

• http//www.wb5rvz.com/presentations/KitBuilding.pp
  t
• Pick up my card.