[HCRA] Rock-mite Kit Building Project - can you help?

[Jim - KK1W]

Folks,

 

The Rock-mite kit that K1JAW has offered to order and coordinate some
'elmering' for construction is a great idea. So far he has three 'new' hams
and one experienced ham (but not a kit builder) ordering kits. Wouldn't it
be nice if a few old hands at kit building and operating built a few as
well?

 

What I'm thinking is if a few more of our experienced members either built
the kit or offered to do some CW operating on the recommended kit frequency
of 3560 kHz (or better yet even both) would really enhance the new kit
builders experience. Think back to when you built your first kit or made
your first contact, wasn't the help of someone 'in the wings' the
difference?

 

My goal here is to create a group that will be accessible for help with the
building process and another group that will be able to operate some 'slow
CW' when those kits are complete. Maybe we can even form a 'slow code' net
and get a few others interested in CW and/or QRP operating as well.

 

The folks buying the kit are taking a plunge that presents a lot of
challenges to a new ham. Soldering, testing, antennas for 80M and of course
CW to name a few. Wouldn't it be great if they had someone to call on the
phone and ask a question(s) to help them down the path to success? I've
ordered a kit and will be on tap to help out, anyone else out there want to
join me? If you want a kit please let Jim know so he can order it, if you
are able to help in any way with instruction or operation drop either of us
a note and we will put you on the list. Thanks in advance for your
participation, it's exactly this type of member participation that makes
HCRA the great club that it is.

 

'73.

 

Jim, KK1W

 

 

 

For those that may have missed the original email it is copied below: 

 

 

Another HCRA offering

Club Kit Building Project

 




The HCRA is planning on a kit building class and has decided to use the
following kit as a standard.  Included in the class will be component
identification, basic soldering skills, and if necessary some trouble
shooting skills.   3560 khz is being recommended as 80 meters tends to have
slow CW, 3560 khz is a tech frequency, and it is also a QRP calling
frequency where more activity exist.  If you are interested, please send me
an email, and send a check to HCRA   P. O. Box  562    Agawam, MA  01001
The email will alert me to go looking for the check.  Thank you
k1jaw at yahoo.com

  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


The Rock-Mite is a crystal-controlled direct-conversion transceiver
available for 80M, 40M, 30M or 20M.   It features an on-board 8-pin PIC
micro-controller which controls a T-R offset on key-down. A brief tap of a
pushbutton control switch reverses the offset to yield a second operating
frequency. Pushing and holding on the pushbutton activates the speed
adjustment routine for the built-in Iambic keyer. If you'd rather use an
external keyer or straight key, there's a 'drop-through' mode which allows
use of an external keying source.

 

You'll note in the image above that the Rock-Mite uses two crystals. The
first is used in the local oscillator for transmitter and receiver. The
second is used as a receiver front-end filter. This crystal significantly
reduces the SWBC energy present at the receiver mixer; as a result, unwanted
SWBC reception is dramatically reduced.

 

The Rock-mite uses one surface-mount part with fairly large spacing. There
are no toroids to wind, so assembly should be a snap! The Rock-Mite uses
subminiature epoxy-encapsulated RF chokes instead of toroids.

 

SPECIFICATIONS:-

 

*        Double-sided PCB 2.0" x 2.5", plated-thru-holes, solder masked &
silk screened for easy assembly

*        0.5W power output at 12V supply.

*        Supply voltage range 8-15V

 

AVAILABLE FREQUENCIES:

  3560 kHz*    (Novice/Tech)           Recommended

  3579 kHz      (Novice/Tech)

  7015 kHz

  7030 kHz*    (Novice/Tech)

  7040 kHz**      (Novice/Tech)

  7122 kHz      (Novice/Tech)

10106 kHz*

14060 kHz* 

 

   (*QRP calling frequency)

   (**Old QRP "rockbound" calling frequency)

 

*        automatic T/R offset, reversible

*        




$ 30 delivered at a meeting

  
Built-in Iambic keyer, 5-40 WPM

*        Built in sidetone, 700 Hz

*        Includes assembly instructions and operating tips

*        All on-board parts supplied in kit (as pictured above)