[HomeBrew] Homebrew Modern Day Novice Station?

[Ian Wilson]

Great topic, Tim.  I'm in a similar position, have been a ham now for a
little more than a year.  For a while, I thought that QRP was the answer.
Indeed, the QRP list at qth.net is very lively and a great source for ideas
& resources.  But living in an antenna-hostile QTH as I do, QRP is just too
hard much of the time. I recently completed a SW-20+ kit - outstanding kit,
great instructions, 100% recommended - but I can only really use it away
from home.  At the moment I'm doing some research into simple amplifiers
that I can use with the kit.  Won't be QRP any more but maybe it'll get me
on the air.

For me, a CW homebrew rig is a good idea for several reasons:
    - much easier to build and experiment with than an SSB rig
    - power output stages don't need to be linear (less heat to deal with)
    - fun to build ancillary gear (such a a PIC-based keyer)
    - people seem to answer my CQ more often on CW, and
    - I really need the practice :)

For those who are able to function QRP(p) from their chosen location, there
is a lot of interest in the Rock Mite (see http://www.smallwonderlabs.com/).

Interested to see what complete rigs people have built and operated
successfully.

No affiliation with Small Wonder Labs, etc.

73,

--ian K3IMW/6