I enjoy planning projects, drawing circuit diagrams and sourcing the parts. Then, at the last minute, often can't figure out whether I really want to put the time and effort into actually building it from scratch, or would rather buy a pre-made product and go for a nice long walk outside instead!
Have others experienced this desire to get away from the shack, stop hunching over the bench, and let someone else do the work of making something? I often don't feel like reinventing the wheel.
This is amateur radio the way I like it - DX QSO's on 10M after dark! Maybe not the most incredible DX, but 5W to Argentina, with LW2DO after dark is fun. 6300 miles (10,000 km).
It's fun hearing daytime activity in the CW section of 10M, as well as late night DX activity on 20M. Looking forward to this winter DX season!
I achieved QRP CW WAS quite easily, years ago. QRPp CW WAS sounds like a worthy goal, but I'm wondering what power level would be a worthwhile challenge. 100mW? 10mW 1mW? I don't want it to be too easy but, on the other hand, 1mW might be too hard to accomplish.
Of the many projects I've scratch-built or assembled, the one I've had by far the most use from, and was by far the best value for money, was my Elecraft K2. 12 years on, it is still in daily use, and is still my main station rig. It will stay with me for the rest of my life.
When you're bypassing the DC supply to a final, it helps to connect the RF bypass cap from the +ve supply rail to ground, instead of from the output of the PA to ground. It took me a whole hour to figure out why my little QRP TX had no output!
40M crystal band pack from John at 3rd Planet Solar. Fun times ahead!
So much casual contesting fun this weekend. Various state QSO Parties, BERU, SKCC WES, SA 10M Contest. Fun, fun , fun!
My tribute to the 4096 beacon cluster. Ugly construction, with the exception of a MePAD for the IC. 51 ohm resistor for the dummy load. (This little feller ain't going on the air!) Made 18 months ago, board not lacquered, and still not looking too bad.
Strange isn't it? There are days when building stuff is a drag, and other days when it's pure Zen.
