On Sat, 20 Mar 2004 13:00:48 +0000, Brian Howie
wrote:

In message , Airy R. Bean
writes
I wonder if we as a NG might put together a design
for an HF rig that could be built with ease by novices
and experienced constructors alike?

Elecraft already do a range of these

http://www.elecraft.com/

Good but expensive, aren't they?
It would be great to see the people on this group design one here. It
would be invaluable info for those interested in furthering their
knowlege of the hobby and maybe the end product could equal or exceed
the Elecraft specs at a lower price?

p.
--

The BBC: Licensed at public expense to spread lies.

I have no experience of the Elecraft kits, but I suspect
that the packing density of components on their PCB's
would mediate against future maintenance and fault-finding?

Also, for Britland, AIUI, there are problems for the man-in-the-street
having to organise his own shipping and passage through customs?

A kit of our own design would not be subject to proprietary
trade secrets. If the AF amp was specced at, say, 1mw into
600 Ohms, then almost any AF amp chip would do the job.

While on the subject of fault -finding, one RX which sticks in my
mind as being very easy to repair was the R210, because all the
aluminium chassis (pl?) folded out on hinges for easy access.

As part of being a _REAL_ Radio Ham is maintaining our own
gear, then there is food for thought in this area.

"Paul Burridge" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 20 Mar 2004 13:00:48 +0000, Brian Howie
wrote:
In message , Airy R. Bean
writes
I wonder if we as a NG might put together a design
for an HF rig that could be built with ease by novices
and experienced constructors alike?
Elecraft already do a range of these
http://www.elecraft.com/
Good but expensive, aren't they?
It would be great to see the people on this group design one here. It
would be invaluable info for those interested in furthering their
knowlege of the hobby and maybe the end product could equal or exceed
the Elecraft specs at a lower price?

Airy R. Bean wrote:

I have no experience of the Elecraft kits, but I suspect
that the packing density of components on their PCB's
would mediate against future maintenance and fault-finding?


No, I don't think so. Have built a K2 #4030 about 8 weeks ago
with SSB balanced modulator and DSP options. It uses no SMDs
(except one case described below) and you can get at most things
for both DC measurements or for attaching a scope probe to.
On the DSP, there is a piggy-back board pre-manufactured with
the DSP chip as an SMD. Elecraft publish a DC voltage table
to assist in trouble shooting. The email reflector had plenty
of knowldeable Elecraft owners to assist or make suggesstions
and the Elecraft post-sales support is also good.

Also built a KX1 for a white stick op ham friend. If anything,
the component density on that and the add-on boards is higher
than the K2. It uses a couple of SMDs, the main one for the DDS.
But apart from that, most things are accessible. The KX1
was an ideal rig for my friend to take on holiday since it's
small and supports eyes-free operation with CW feedback.

73, David, M0DHO

Airy R. Bean wrote:

I have no experience of the Elecraft kits, but I suspect
that the packing density of components on their PCB's
would mediate against future maintenance and fault-finding?


No, I don't think so. Have built a K2 #4030 about 8 weeks ago
with SSB balanced modulator and DSP options. It uses no SMDs
(except one case described below) and you can get at most things
for both DC measurements or for attaching a scope probe to.
On the DSP, there is a piggy-back board pre-manufactured with
the DSP chip as an SMD. Elecraft publish a DC voltage table
to assist in trouble shooting. The email reflector had plenty
of knowldeable Elecraft owners to assist or make suggesstions
and the Elecraft post-sales support is also good.

Also built a KX1 for a white stick op ham friend. If anything,
the component density on that and the add-on boards is higher
than the K2. It uses a couple of SMDs, the main one for the DDS.
But apart from that, most things are accessible. The KX1
was an ideal rig for my friend to take on holiday since it's
small and supports eyes-free operation with CW feedback.

73, David, M0DHO

I have no experience of the Elecraft kits, but I suspect
that the packing density of components on their PCB's
would mediate against future maintenance and fault-finding?

Also, for Britland, AIUI, there are problems for the man-in-the-street
having to organise his own shipping and passage through customs?

A kit of our own design would not be subject to proprietary
trade secrets. If the AF amp was specced at, say, 1mw into
600 Ohms, then almost any AF amp chip would do the job.

While on the subject of fault -finding, one RX which sticks in my
mind as being very easy to repair was the R210, because all the
aluminium chassis (pl?) folded out on hinges for easy access.

As part of being a _REAL_ Radio Ham is maintaining our own
gear, then there is food for thought in this area.

"Paul Burridge" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 20 Mar 2004 13:00:48 +0000, Brian Howie
wrote:
In message , Airy R. Bean
writes
I wonder if we as a NG might put together a design
for an HF rig that could be built with ease by novices
and experienced constructors alike?
Elecraft already do a range of these
http://www.elecraft.com/
Good but expensive, aren't they?
It would be great to see the people on this group design one here. It
would be invaluable info for those interested in furthering their
knowlege of the hobby and maybe the end product could equal or exceed
the Elecraft specs at a lower price?

In article , Paul Burridge
writes:

On Sat, 20 Mar 2004 13:00:48 +0000, Brian Howie
wrote:

In message , Airy R. Bean
writes
I wonder if we as a NG might put together a design
for an HF rig that could be built with ease by novices
and experienced constructors alike?

Elecraft already do a range of these

http://www.elecraft.com/

Good but expensive, aren't they?

Not for what you get.

It would be great to see the people on this group design one here. It
would be invaluable info for those interested in furthering their
knowlege of the hobby and maybe the end product could equal or exceed
the Elecraft specs at a lower price?

You can see what you're up against quite easily by downloading the Elecraft
manuals from their website.

73 de Jim, N2EY

I had a look at the elecraft site and it looks like the
typical Yankland commercial rip-off - by the time you've
added all the "options" you haven't got anything worthwhile
for a decent price..

So, ignoring the obvious plugs for "elecrap" how's about
designing a rig within the NG that would provide the facilities
that a newcomer and OM alike need, and which one might
build oneself?

"N2EY" wrote in message
...
In article , Paul Burridge
writes:

On Sat, 20 Mar 2004 13:00:48 +0000, Brian Howie
wrote:
Elecraft already do a range of these
http://www.elecraft.com/
Good but expensive, aren't they?
Not for what you get.

[posted and mailed]

"Airy R. Bean" wrote in
:

I had a look at the elecraft site and it looks like the
typical Yankland commercial rip-off - by the time you've
added all the "options" you haven't got anything worthwhile
for a decent price..
So, ignoring the obvious plugs for "elecrap" how's about
designing a rig within the NG that would provide the
facilities that a newcomer and OM alike need, and which one
might build oneself?

You had my offer of help both on this newsgroup and by email.

Offer still stands until 23:59 21/4/03.

Leigh....

--

#!/bin/sh {who;} {last;} {pause;} {grep;} {touch;} {unzip;}
mount /dev/girl -t {wet;} {fsck;} {fsck;} {fsck;} {fsck;} echo
yes yes yes {yes;} umount {/dev/girl;zip;} rm -rf {wet.spot;}
{sleep;} finger: permission denied

[posted and mailed]

"Airy R. Bean" wrote in
:

I had a look at the elecraft site and it looks like the
typical Yankland commercial rip-off - by the time you've
added all the "options" you haven't got anything worthwhile
for a decent price..
So, ignoring the obvious plugs for "elecrap" how's about
designing a rig within the NG that would provide the
facilities that a newcomer and OM alike need, and which one
might build oneself?

You had my offer of help both on this newsgroup and by email.

Offer still stands until 23:59 21/4/03.

Leigh....

--

#!/bin/sh {who;} {last;} {pause;} {grep;} {touch;} {unzip;}
mount /dev/girl -t {wet;} {fsck;} {fsck;} {fsck;} {fsck;} echo
yes yes yes {yes;} umount {/dev/girl;zip;} rm -rf {wet.spot;}
{sleep;} finger: permission denied

I had a look at the elecraft site and it looks like the
typical Yankland commercial rip-off - by the time you've
added all the "options" you haven't got anything worthwhile
for a decent price..

So, ignoring the obvious plugs for "elecrap" how's about
designing a rig within the NG that would provide the facilities
that a newcomer and OM alike need, and which one might
build oneself?

"N2EY" wrote in message
...
In article , Paul Burridge
writes:

On Sat, 20 Mar 2004 13:00:48 +0000, Brian Howie
wrote:
Elecraft already do a range of these
http://www.elecraft.com/
Good but expensive, aren't they?
Not for what you get.