[Lowfer] lowfer tx kit

[Warren Ziegler]

Interesting offering from North Country.

I worry about the reference oscillator being stable enough - appears
that there is a crystal on the bottom right side of the board - it
really needs to be in an oven to be stable enough for QRSS and WOLF
(BPSK).   Ten Hz frequency steps can be problematic if you are trying
to stay within a 6Hz wide ARGO/Spectran/Spectrum Lab  window AND have
the ability to dodge LORAN lines. (Although LORAN may be going away
very soon.)

I don't think that $139 is too much at all - I would be curious what
the total cost of parts from Mouser would be - and you get a nice PC
board to boot!   In short I would buy one to fool around with (I never
met an LF transmitter I didn't like!) except that I already have
virtually the same thing in the form of a Lyle Kohler's  "Synthesized
LowFER Transmitter With Built-In Keyer" which has the synthesizer,
BPSK keyer etc and it can put out 10W or so from 130-190kHz.

73 Warren K2ORS



On Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 10:31 AM, Andy Lokken <alokken at gmail.com> wrote:
> I am very intrigued by such a thing. As a guy who recently made an
> Epson Oscillator and 74HC4060 sizzle (kinda neat), such a project is
> very attractive to me. Most of my projects die on the table.
>
> 139 plus shipping plus accesories is an OK price to "add a band"- if
> you look at it that way. But I agree with Andy somewhat, it is a
> little steep. What I will wait for is comments on performance.
>
> Now if only someone would come out with space for an antenna in a kit.
>
> 73,
> Andy K0AJL
>
>
> On Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 9:06 AM, Andy - KU4XR <ku4xr at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> Paul:
>>
>> I have no experience with the kit, but repeating what I read
>> in a post from John Davis on the LWCA Message board; It's
>> basically a " souped up " version of their " AM-88 " XMTR
>> with the different keying, and modulation schemes, along
>> with the 1 Watt power to the antenna.
>> I went to their website and looked at it. It is a nice looking
>> little box; but from my personal viewpoint, the price tag of
>> $ 139.00 USD is a little steep, and most likely will scare away
>> a possible newcomer who is uncertain about lowFER operation to
>> begin with.   BUT !! carefully reading all the benefits, bells,
>> and whistles available in that little box; and the frequency
>> range covered; it has potential. One other " CON " on my side
>> is that for the price, you shouldn't have to purchase switches,
>> connectors, cables, case etc. I personally feel that it should
>> come with " All Parts Necessary " right out of the box.
>>
>> The viewpoints expressed may not be those of other group members:
>>
>> hi - hi.
>>
>> 73 all  ::::
>>
>> Andy - KU4XR - EM75xr - Friendsville, TN.
>> LOWfer Beacon " XR " @ 185.29866 KHz ( QRSS-60 )
>> Coordinates:  N:  35* 43' 54" - W:  84* 3' 16"
>> http://www.myspace.com/beaconxr
>>
>>
>> --- On Thu, 11/12/09, Paul Daulton <k5wms at centurytel.net> wrote:
>>
>>> From: Paul Daulton <k5wms at centurytel.net>
>>> Subject: [Lowfer] lowfer tx kit
>>> To: part15 at yahoogroups.com, lowfer at mailman.qth.net
>>> Date: Thursday, November 12, 2009, 12:34 AM
>>> Lookingat the internet I ran across a
>>> lowfer tx kit from North Country Radio. See
>>> http://www.northcountryradio.com/Kitpages/lfxmtr.htm
>>> It is synthesized and capable of cw or bpsk. dip switch
>>> programmable.
>>>
>>> Anyone familiar with this kit?
>>>
>>> Reasonable price of $139.00.
>>>
>>> Paul Daulton K5WMS
>>> beacon WMS 187.492 khz qrss30/slow 24/7
>>> Jacksonville,Ar 72076
>>> em34wu
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>>
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> _______________________________________
> Andy Lokken
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