[Boatanchors] Elenco AM FM Superhet 108 Kit

[Drew P. via Boatanchors]

Bob - N0DGN wrote:

(snipped)

"*IF* anyone else did indeed buy this kit, you have my deepest sympathies
AND Apology!

The AM portion was not an issue!

The FM half was a disaster!  Not the circuit!  The blankety blank
Transistors!

I'd guess that the supplier for this kit used transistors that were
swept off the floor!"

Sorry to learn of your bad experience, Bob.  Some years ago I taught electronics at a post secondary institution, and in my class I had the students assemble and test this very kit, as per the provided instructions. The quality was reasonably good, and after the usual many problems with incorrect assembly, everyone eventually got these working, on both AM and FM. Nobody wanted to waste 9V batteries in testing, so everyone connected up a regulated power supply via clipleads to the battery connector. This was invariably a good lesson in exploding electrolytics as polarity errors were common. Later on in the course, I would induce faults in each of the students' units, and they would then get the experience of troubleshooting. A big grin would always appear on a student's face as he/she found the fault, made repairs, and the radio sprang to life.

It sounds like Elenco may have trouble these days in sourcing good components, and perhaps this is why they no longer offer the kit.  This is really a shame, this kit presents a very good learning opportunity and the end result is satisfying.   Persevere, Bob, it can be fixed and you both will be well rewarded.

Drew