Date: Mon, 13 Jun 94 04:30:36 PDT From: Ham-Homebrew Mailing List and Newsgroup Errors-To: Ham-Homebrew-Errors@UCSD.Edu Reply-To: Ham-Homebrew@UCSD.Edu Precedence: Bulk Subject: Ham-Homebrew Digest V94 #160 To: Ham-Homebrew Ham-Homebrew Digest Mon, 13 Jun 94 Volume 94 : Issue 160 Today's Topics: Beware of RADIOKIT kits (IMHO) (3 msgs) Just a test Kits (2 msgs) Make a simple scanner? midnight engineering Painting a 1.2GHz Antenna Send Replies or notes for publication to: Send subscription requests to: Problems you can't solve otherwise to brian@ucsd.edu. Archives of past issues of the Ham-Homebrew Digest are available (by FTP only) from UCSD.Edu in directory "mailarchives/ham-homebrew". We trust that readers are intelligent enough to realize that all text herein consists of personal comments and does not represent the official policies or positions of any party. Your mileage may vary. So there. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 12 Jun 94 12:28:46 EST From: ccsua.ctstateu.edu!white@yale.arpa Subject: Beware of RADIOKIT kits (IMHO) To: ham-homebrew@ucsd.edu I purchased 2 kits from RADIOKIT (New Hampshire) recently (the QRP-20 by K1BQT and the 7MHz Optimized by W7EL). First, the 7MHz kit was missing SEVEN parts (5 caps, 1 pot, 1 resistor). After 2 attempts to get these components replaced over 2 weeks, I received ONLY the pot. No explanation as to where the rest of the parts are. Now for the UGLY one...... the QRP-20 kit is a mess.....missing parts, wrong-sized standoffs for critical transistor heat sink installation, directions furnished are for the QRP 15 (!) with several "mod sheets", undrilled PCB connections, PCB layout errors, gross assumptions in directions, changes in kit that were not forwarded to customers, etc. and etc. And gee, all this fun for $100. "Easy to build ....comes with detailed manual and parts diagram [for a different RIG]..... easy to wind coils with _full_pictorials_ [NOT] ...." etc. etc. This is reckless merchandising at best. I'm no rocket scientist, but this is NOT what it was portrayed to be. ------------------------------ Date: 13 Jun 1994 00:15:05 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!gatech!news-feed-1.peachnet.edu!hobbes.cc.uga.edu!aisun1.ai.uga.edu!mcovingt@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Beware of RADIOKIT kits (IMHO) To: ham-homebrew@ucsd.edu That is unfortunate. Radiokit has been around for quite a few years; surely they wouldn't have lasted that long if that kind of performance were the norm. -- < Michael A. Covington, Assc Rsch Scientist, Artificial Intelligence Center > < The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-7415 USA mcovingt@ai.uga.edu > < Unless specifically indicated, I am not speaking for the University. > <>< For information about any U.Ga. graduate program, email gradadm@uga.cc.uga.edu. ------------------------------ Date: 12 Jun 1994 19:16:06 -0700 From: nntp.crl.com!crl2.crl.com!not-for-mail@decwrl.dec.com Subject: Beware of RADIOKIT kits (IMHO) To: ham-homebrew@ucsd.edu In article <2tg8e9$1k5@hobbes.cc.uga.edu> mcovingt@aisun1.ai.uga.edu (Michael Covington) writes: >That is unfortunate. Radiokit has been around for quite a few years; >surely they wouldn't have lasted that long if that kind of performance >were the norm. Oh, I don't know, maybe they hired a MBA to run their quality control? Jeff -- Jeff Jones AB6MB | Remember nothing is impossible to jeffj@crl.com | a sick mind! ------------------------------ Date: 13 Jun 1994 01:44:54 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!spool.mu.edu!nigel.msen.com!heifetz.msen.com!cspeck@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Just a test To: ham-homebrew@ucsd.edu Why does this remain on the news group? It's been 3 weeks! ------------------------------ Date: 12 Jun 94 17:56:08 GMT From: dziuxsolim.rutgers.edu!gandalf.rutgers.edu!troch@uunet.uu.net Subject: Kits To: ham-homebrew@ucsd.edu Howdy, I am a new ham, waiting for my license. While I wait patiently for those 12 weeks to pass I figured I would start building some things. One thing I would like to build is a CW practice oscillator. Do you have any simple instrctions and parts list for such a job, or do you know of any place that sells such kits? I really would appreciate any info you could supply. Thanks, Rod -- --PGP 2.3 Public Key Available (finger me or ask for it) If you yell try : Rod Troch | Zeta Beta Tau internet : troch@gandalf.rutgers.edu | bitnet : troch@zodiac | happyHappy joyJoy Rutgers University - Faculty of Arts and Sciences / History Dept. - Microcomputer Analyst (Network Admin) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jun 1994 06:32:15 GMT From: caen!malgudi.oar.net!witch!ted!mjsilva@uunet.uu.net Subject: Kits To: ham-homebrew@ucsd.edu In article , Rod Troch (troch@gandalf.Rutgers.EDU) writes: >Howdy, > >I am a new ham, waiting for my license. While I wait patiently for those >12 weeks to pass I figured I would start building some things. One >thing I would like to build is a CW practice oscillator. > >Do you have any simple instrctions and parts list for such a job, or >do you know of any place that sells such kits? > First of all, congrats on the new ticket. The standard simple code-practice oscillator these days uses a 555 chip and a couple of resistors and capacitors. You could pick up all the parts you need (except key?) at any Radio Shack, and I'd bet they have the circuit in one of their few books. If you key the power to the chip you'll get a slight chirp at the beginning of each tone, which drives me nuts. You might want to just switch on the oscillator and key the speaker lead. If you're looking for more stuff to build, find a store that carrys ARRL books. They have a number of books with lots of design and construction info. They also have some files available listing parts sources. Don't have the info handy, but I could dig it up. Have fun, Mike, KK6GM ------------------------------ Date: 13 Jun 94 05:40:00 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!unixg.ubc.ca!unixg.ubc.ca!bnowak@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Make a simple scanner? To: ham-homebrew@ucsd.edu erik@fishtank.equinox.gen.nz (Martin Petersen) writes: >Would anybody have any plans on how to build a *REALLY* simple scanner. >Freq range is not important really, as long as it gets something >different. And ideas/suggestions appreciated.. >Cheers.. Try a tv or vcr tuner. They can be tuned with a 4-30 volt source and some can cover up to 310 Mhz or more. The if freq is dependant on the unit so you will have to find a receiver that tunes to its if. -- 73 de VE7QBN Brad Nowak ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 12 Jun 94 12:47:00 -0500 From: uunet.ca!uunet.ca!tabb!graham.collins@uunet.uu.net Subject: midnight engineering To: ham-homebrew@ucsd.edu HI all, I have seen reference to this magazine in the past but have not come up with an address or phone number for this publication, Can someone post the above information please. Thanks, 73 Graham VE3GHM internet: graham.collins@tabb.com ------------------------------ Date: 13 Jun 1994 02:08:31 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!library.ucla.edu!psgrain!news.tek.com!soul.tv.tek.com!johnr@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Painting a 1.2GHz Antenna To: ham-homebrew@ucsd.edu Will a coat of paint degrade the performance of a 1.2Ghz antenna? I have a loop yagi from Downeast Microwave that I'd like to spray with some "camouflage" paint. Any info is appreciated. Thanks, John Reynolds NZ7J ------------------------------ End of Ham-Homebrew Digest V94 #160 ******************************