Off topic: beginner kit recommendations?
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Off topic: beginner kit recommendations?
 
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My 11 year old son KB3KYB has been fascinated by my recent K2 kit
building. He has never soldered but is excited about the idea of building a radio of his own. With his birthday coming up this would be the perfect chance to get him a small kit that we could build together. I thought a shortwave receiver with a few bands would be best since it's simpler & cheaper. Though I'm also considering a "cake tin special," getting the parts to homebrew one of the old tube beginner rigs built on an upside down cake pan. Any ideas would be very welcome. Thanks! Mike AB3AP Avondale, PA _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
Re: Off topic: beginner kit recommendations?
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Hobbytron has a lot of simpler kits to choose from
(<http://www.hobbytron.com/electronickits.html>), including a soldering starter kit (<http://www.hobbytron.com/solder_kit.html>). dt . --- Mike Markowski <[hidden email]> wrote: > My 11 year old son KB3KYB has been fascinated by my recent K2 kit > building. He has never soldered but is excited about the idea of > building a radio of his own. With his birthday coming up this would be > the perfect chance to get him a small kit that we could build together. > > I thought a shortwave receiver with a few bands would be best since it's > simpler & cheaper. Though I'm also considering a "cake tin special," > getting the parts to homebrew one of the old tube beginner rigs built on > an upside down cake pan. Any ideas would be very welcome. Thanks! > > Mike AB3AP > Avondale, PA > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: [hidden email] > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
Re: Off topic: beginner kit recommendations?
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In reply to this post by Mike Markowski
NOTE: they have an amateur radio kist section too
(<http://www.hobbytron.com/amateur_index.html>) dt . --- David Toepfer <[hidden email]> wrote: > Hobbytron has a lot of simpler kits to choose from > (<http://www.hobbytron.com/electronickits.html>), including a soldering > starter > kit (<http://www.hobbytron.com/solder_kit.html>). > > dt > . > > --- Mike Markowski <[hidden email]> wrote: > > My 11 year old son KB3KYB has been fascinated by my recent K2 kit > > building. He has never soldered but is excited about the idea of > > building a radio of his own. With his birthday coming up this would be > > the perfect chance to get him a small kit that we could build together. > > > > I thought a shortwave receiver with a few bands would be best since it's > > simpler & cheaper. Though I'm also considering a "cake tin special," > > getting the parts to homebrew one of the old tube beginner rigs built on > > an upside down cake pan. Any ideas would be very welcome. Thanks! > > > > Mike AB3AP > > Avondale, PA > > _______________________________________________ > > Elecraft mailing list > > Post to: [hidden email] > > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > > > Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
RE: Off topic: beginner kit recommendations?
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In reply to this post by Mike Markowski
Try the "Rock-Mite" from www.smallwonderlabs.com
Great first project starter kit. Single band CW kit. Matt - K7OE -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Mike Markowski Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2005 12:29 PM To: [hidden email] Subject: [Elecraft] Off topic: beginner kit recommendations? My 11 year old son KB3KYB has been fascinated by my recent K2 kit building. He has never soldered but is excited about the idea of building a radio of his own. With his birthday coming up this would be the perfect chance to get him a small kit that we could build together. I thought a shortwave receiver with a few bands would be best since it's simpler & cheaper. Though I'm also considering a "cake tin special," getting the parts to homebrew one of the old tube beginner rigs built on an upside down cake pan. Any ideas would be very welcome. Thanks! Mike AB3AP Avondale, PA _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
RE: Off topic: beginner kit recommendations?
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In reply to this post by Mike Markowski
To meet the criteria of being "first time" and "tube" I'd go for a one tube
regen receiver based on a 1T4 or similar tube that can be run from batteries and drive a headphone. You'd need 1.5 volts for the filament and fairly low-voltage B+ - something in the range of 27 to 45 volts depending upon the sensitivity of the phones. Use magnetic phones and you can put them in the plate circuit as the plate "load". Three to five 9-volt batteries snapped together into a series pack will handle that, eliminating any need for a mains power supply. I'd suggest covering the AM broadcast band. It's really easy to pick up signals there and get used to the receiver. Then my second choice would be the 6 to 10 MHz region of the shortwave bands: lots of signals, CW and AM to copy there. In fact, Midnight Science makes just such a kit: http://tinyurl.com/dn5vx I was just a little younger than you son when my Dad gave me a Meissner regen kit. I learned to solder building it. I still remember the look in his face when I turned it on and we heard signals! It's a good thing you are doing, Mike Ron AC7AC -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Mike Markowski Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2005 12:29 PM To: [hidden email] Subject: [Elecraft] Off topic: beginner kit recommendations? My 11 year old son KB3KYB has been fascinated by my recent K2 kit building. He has never soldered but is excited about the idea of building a radio of his own. With his birthday coming up this would be the perfect chance to get him a small kit that we could build together. I thought a shortwave receiver with a few bands would be best since it's simpler & cheaper. Though I'm also considering a "cake tin special," getting the parts to homebrew one of the old tube beginner rigs built on an upside down cake pan. Any ideas would be very welcome. Thanks! Mike AB3AP Avondale, PA _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by David Toepfer
They just look like a re-seller of Ramsey
kits: http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/ 73 Jim W7RY RamAt 12:42 PM 5/11/2005, David Toepfer wrote: >NOTE: they have an amateur radio kist section too >(<http://www.hobbytron.com/amateur_index.html>) > >dt >. > >--- David Toepfer <[hidden email]> wrote: > > Hobbytron has a lot of simpler kits to choose from > > (<http://www.hobbytron.com/electronickits.html>), including a soldering > > starter > > kit (<http://www.hobbytron.com/solder_kit.html>). > > > > dt > > . > > > > --- Mike Markowski <[hidden email]> wrote: > > > My 11 year old son KB3KYB has been fascinated by my recent K2 kit > > > building. He has never soldered but is excited about the idea of > > > building a radio of his own. With his birthday coming up this would be > > > the perfect chance to get him a small kit that we could build together. > > > > > > I thought a shortwave receiver with a few bands would be best since it's > > > simpler & cheaper. Though I'm also considering a "cake tin special," > > > getting the parts to homebrew one of the old tube beginner rigs built on > > > an upside down cake pan. Any ideas would be very welcome. Thanks! > > > > > > Mike AB3AP > > > Avondale, PA > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Elecraft mailing list > > > Post to: [hidden email] > > > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > > > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > > > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > > > > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > > > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > > > > > >_______________________________________________ >Elecraft mailing list >Post to: [hidden email] >You must be a subscriber to post to the list. >Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm >Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
Re: Off topic: beginner kit recommendations?
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In reply to this post by Mike Markowski
Since your son has his general, here are some ideas for transmitters:
1. Tuna Tin 2 See amqrp web site. 2. GlowBug 40 1W 40M one-tube transmitter. See their web site. Not as dangerous as some other tube kits. 3. K1 or KX1 He won't be able to build it himself, but you know it will work and be useful if you do it together! 4. And last, because it is not available now The Norcal QRP Tin Ear DC receiver. You may be able to get one from a kit hoarder. See the AMQRP site for details. Too bad they don't have them. 73, Leigh / WA5ZNU On Wed, 11 May 2005 12:29 pm, Mike Markowski wrote: > My 11 year old son KB3KYB has been fascinated by my recent K2 kit > building. He has never soldered but is excited about the idea of > building a radio of his own. _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
RE: Off topic: beginner kit recommendations?
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In reply to this post by Mike Markowski
Hi Mike: You're in for a lot of fun. My daughter, Zane, who is now 16
built (95% --- I wound the toroids) a K2 at the age of about 12 or 13, including the SSB/160M/60M/DSP/Noise Blanker/100Watt etc. etc. The rig came out great, and it is in regular use. The warm up was an MFJ receiver kit and a couple of little kits from Ramsey --- I think a strobe light and some other small thing. These kids have great vision, nice small fingers, and pretty good focus. Zane and I double-checked every component before she soldered it in, and the basic K-2 was near perfect the first time. Once they learn to solder, everything else comes easily. We worked on it only 2-3 hours a weekend, but it was a great father/daughter experience. Zane would rather build kits than operate them, which is just fine. I get to use the gear! If you are an adept builder, I think there is no reason to shy away from a complicated kit as a first or secong project. Just make sure you're working side-by-side with your son. 73 de Brian W3BW -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Mike Markowski Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2005 15:29 To: [hidden email] Subject: [Elecraft] Off topic: beginner kit recommendations? My 11 year old son KB3KYB has been fascinated by my recent K2 kit building. He has never soldered but is excited about the idea of building a radio of his own. With his birthday coming up this would be the perfect chance to get him a small kit that we could build together. I thought a shortwave receiver with a few bands would be best since it's simpler & cheaper. Though I'm also considering a "cake tin special," getting the parts to homebrew one of the old tube beginner rigs built on an upside down cake pan. Any ideas would be very welcome. Thanks! Mike AB3AP Avondale, PA _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
Re: TNX! - Off topic: beginner kit recommendations?
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In reply to this post by Mike Markowski
Mike Markowski wrote on 05/11/05 15:28 ET:
> My 11 year old son KB3KYB has been fascinated by my recent K2 kit > building. [...] Wow, guys, I want to say thanks to each and every one who responded both on and off list! I didn't expect nearly so many replies. All are very helpful, and now I have some web surfing and a whole lot of thinking to do. Thank you very much! Mike AB3AP Avondale, PA _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by W7RY
Just finished building my KX1, and I have a question:
Does the KX1 internal antenna tuner automatically re-tune as the frequency is changed within a band, or does it require tuning each time the frequency is changed? For example, if I tune the antenna at 14015, and then move to 14050, do I need to manually retune? Thanks. Matt - K7OE _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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