[Elecraft] any suggestions? cheap qrp xcvr kits

[Curt Milton]

Doug

part of the choice may be whether you want to build
the unit yourself vs. buying something someone else
already built to operate with.  

if you truly want to experience building the rig, it
will limit your choices.  

TT1300-series.  looks great on paper, good value over
all.  i have a 1340 - here are the limitations:

(1) the xtals in the kit are not well matched, so your
filter may be a bit wider than some other rigs.  

(2) the parts placement of the transmitter output
matching circuitry is not ideal.  check N5ESE's
website for how to address this.  i found there is one
ferrite transformer involved, and its positioning &
orientation relative to the other inductors is the
most critical (in my experience).  

(3) the PA bias network is not ideal, but it can be
fixed

(4) the single FET mixer in the receiver is cute but
not the highest performance.  it does work though.  

(5) the final assembly design of the rig is a pain if
you have to dissemble it for mods or debugging.  

the bottom line is the TenTec won't work well as
readily as a more refined kit, but with patience it
can be a decent rig.  

note some choices suggested are direct conversion -
great for a building experience but not as fun to use
on congested bands.  

if you really expect to do some portable operating,
rethink your expenditure into a simple rig vs. a K1 or
KX1.  

73, curt

--- DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL <dougzzz at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi all:
> 
> I am looking for an inexpensive qrp transceiver kit
> (monoband if fine)
> and I would appreciate some suggestions.  I do not
> want to be
> rock-bound.
> 
> I'm looking at the Ten Tec 13xx series adn the MFJ
> Cub (93xxK series).
>  Both are under $100.  The keying waveform on the
> MFJ (as per ARRL
> review) looks like key click city to me (looks to be
> zero rise/fall
> time).
> 
> Any comments on these radios?  Any other
> suggestions?
> 
> Thanks!
> de Doug KR2Q
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