[Elecraft] Re: QRP rig for backkpacking

[Wayne Burdick]

Jessie Oberreuter wrote:

>      I've taken my K1 on many a backpacking/camping trip.  With four
> bands, the internal batteries, and internal tuner, nothing else even comes
> close.....

Thanks for this endorsement, Jessie.


> For one night in the woods, however, I've
> been looking for something a little smaller and less pretty :).  I've been
> most interested in the DSW, but, as mentioned, they're currently (Dave has
> hinted at something similar in the future) out of production.  I tried the
> Rock Mite, but it just wasn't quite enough radio for me.  I recently (last
> weekend :), built an SST, and I think it might be just about right!  I
> would also recommend looking at the SW+. Both are essentially variations
> on the 40-40 design.  Indeed, it looks like Wayne started with the 40-40
> schematic and hacked on it until he couldn't reasonably reduce the part
> count any further :).  

Actually, I derived the SST from an earlier design that I did for the NorCal QRP
Club, the NorCal 40A (this was NorCal's first club project, circa 1993). For the
SST (which stands for "Simple Superhet Transceiver") I removed everything that
wasn't absolutely necessary. The only reason the SST has a signal-strength LED
is because the LED is also the AGC detector  ;)

My good friend Dave Benson (Small Wonders) has his own way of doing things. His
DSW series was derived from his earlier 40-40, etc. Both the DSW and SST are
used by many for light-weight backpacking trips and Spartan Sprints. The SST is
available through Wilderness Radio, as I believe you mentioned.

Also, if you didn't know, you can build the KC1 keyer/freq. counter into an SST.
I originally designed the KC1 for the NC40A, but it works with lots of other
rigs, and installation in the SST is described in detail. You can even shoehorn
in both the KC1 and a 9V battery for an absolute minimum-size single-band
station. 

Have fun--

73,
Wayne
N6KR