If you have been wanting to build a nice full featured keyer, or other fun project, you
should stop by the AMQRP site! One of the fun projects you can build and is available
now is the NorCal Keyer. I built this in a short period of time and have had a
lot of fun with it. The club provides complete building info with step by step
photos which are great aids you can use to Elmer new builders with. I consider
it a great buy.
My first project in 2006 has moved me into the digital age
a bit more, but it's still QRP. Of course
these little APRS transmitters from Byonics have been around for a few years now, but
I have just gotten around to playing with them. So far I have bought one pre-built because
I was in a hurry to put it to use for the MS150 Cycle event in Dallas to Ft.Worth.
I then had time so ordered one in kit form. The kit had every thing you need and aligning
it for operation was a snap. You will need a GPS and a computer to get started. The GPS
device to tell the TT3 Plus where it is and the computer to configure the Tiny Trak3 Plus.
Everything you need is available for free download at Byonics.com
I recommend reading Tiny Trak Packaging Ideas
page as well. For one of my Tiny Trak3 Plus units I ordered the box described on this page
from Ten-Tec. Actually I bought 3 of the little boxes so I could have some extra ones for
future projects. They are just the right size to add 4 AA batteries to the unit.
Last but not least, if you want to learn more about the little Tiny Trak project,
the experimenter's of the APRS unit can be found at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TinyTrak/.
From the members of the AZ ScQRPions comes a small
portable brass dual paddle designed by Jerry
Haigwood - W5JH with input from members of the AZ ScQRPions. The base size
is 2 inch x 2 inch and the weight is 7.5ozs. It is made almost entirely of
brass. The base,lever arms, posts and stop are all brass. Like the Norcal paddle
of a few years ago, the parts are cut, drilled, and tapped. Also like the Norcal
paddle, you get to finish and assemble them. Jerry W5JH says "I have built
a few prototypes as have a few other ScQRPions and it appears this is a 2-4 hour
kit. I am pleased to say that I am now official owner of the ScQRPions
Brass Key # 62 
Here are shots of Key #62. I decided to finish the
connections on the bottom side. Sorry the one shot came out so dark, the
highly polished brass kept faking out my camera. The plug hook up I used was
a small piece of bare wire that I decided would become a good anchor . While I
was at it, decided to place a dot of electrical tape under the connections to
make sure of no shorts to ground. To get the critical spring mounted between the
arms, I used a piece of dental floss tied to it until it was docked into it's
slot. You can see the paddle at W5JH's site , and
the updated list of key
owners is here to read. The key kit production team is taking a well
deserved summer vacation, stay tuned in to find out when they will start taking
new orders. dit dit
The Flying Pigs QRP Club International, W8PIG is the home of Pig heaven and the new and
great MP+ QRP Rig. The MP+ is a 6 stage construction project which, when
completed will give you a great multi band rig. The MP+ is the feature radio
project in the Fall ARCI QRP Quarterly.
OK,
so you want to have some fun "homebrewing" for a change or just alter an
existing circuit because you might want to work a different ham band, well
knowledge is power, it's also very satisfying when you turn on the juice for the
first time and shout to the world "IT'S ALIVE, IT'S ALIVE!" Well to get
to that point there are a few things you need to learn about on your building
journey. One of the most important tools you will need is also a creation, it is
known as the Toroid. "Toroids- A
Good Article by Chuck Adams" is a great place to start your journey. Chuck
is a master in turning muddy water into crystal clarity. Don't miss this
Class 101 in Toroids , and then venture on over to Kits and Parts and pick up
some toroids to play with. Most important, have a blast with our hobby!
Cecil (W5DXP) Has a great info site for antennas that I believe you will
all find informative and enjoyable. Just hit return when you are ready to come
back to my site.
W5DXP's No-Tuner,
All-HF-Band, Horizontal, Center-Fed Antenna
For all you who are
curious about microchips and basic programming for them, make note.
I am
pleased to inform you that John McDonough
When you complete this
course, you will be able to add many new projects to your "to do list". The
class will run on your own schedule via pdf lessons. Don't miss out on this
great opportunity.
This
serial port PIC hombrew programmer design came from an article at the ARRL.org web site for pic projects. This can be
very useful when building many of today's QRP projects where you need a simple
chip program.
Hot OFF the
Press! The NJQRP Sniffer is a tuned-input, multi band-capable FSM for
the HF amateur bands that is easily constructed using commonly available
components.
Designed by Joe Everhart, N2CX
Check out this
Cinnamon Altoids Rock Mite 20 meter Transceiver QRP in the box. To
date my greatest distance with a successful CQ is 1222 miles, Texas to Ohio! Not
bad on 1/2 Watt.
At the
bottom of the RM20 page is a MOD for Q6 to cool things down.
This is a fun
2N2/40 QRP project. Layout details are posted here now with links to more
information!
If you need to brush up on your Morse
code, or just have a nice compact key the MCD is worth a long look. It is a
great all around combo practice key/ code oscillator and is a simple design by
John Fisher, K5JHF The
MCD (morse code device), can be setup as a code practice machine, so click here to see more on building the Morse Code
Device.
I found a fun little key to use with my little QRP Rigs, at
ElectronicsUSA.
When I'm not using my ScQRPions Brass Key, one of my favorites for
now is the
MK-44
.