Author Topic: New low-power amateur radio rig on the market (Read 6806 times)

mtnbkr · « **on:** October 22, 2012, 07:33:51 PM »

No, not Elecraft's beautiful KX3, but the KN-Q7A from http://www.crkits.com/.

From their website:
A popular 40m or 20m single band SSB transceiver kit designed by BA6BF. 8~10 watts output (5 watts for 20m). Good receiver. Multiple frequency options.

The price isn't bad and the reviews are good. There aren't many features, but it has the basics. I'm tempted to get one.

Chris

Sergeant Bob · « **Reply #1 on:** October 22, 2012, 09:57:18 PM »

Buying it pre-assembled is only $40 more. Definitely worth a look.

kgbsquirrel · « **Reply #2 on:** October 22, 2012, 10:16:57 PM »

Interesting. I picked up a dual band handheld recently too, very well priced. 2m/70cm, 1w/4-5w low/hi modes.

Baofeng UV-5R. Dumped the rubberduck and picked up a MFJ-1717SF antenna instead. Just using it to scan for the time being, need to stop being lazy and fetch up my technician license, but I did program in all the FRS and GMRS frequencies.

mtnbkr · « **Reply #3 on:** October 22, 2012, 10:37:53 PM »

I think it would make a nice mobile rig. The lack of features and simplicity would keep you from diddling the radio when you should be driving. :D

I looked at the Baofeng this summer at my club's hamfest, but it felt kind of cheap compared to my Yaesu VX-7 (and it should at 1/7 the price). Did you an improvement with the MFJ-1717SF? I've noticed most HTs work better with the factory antenna. Probably because they were designed together, while aftermarket models make assumptions about the radios they'll live on. Dunno. I tried a couple antennas on my VX-7 and went back to the factory one.

The tech and general exams are easy. I briefly studied for the Extra, but got busy with other things. It wouldn't really benefit me much, so I never picked it back up. I'm currently trying to learn code. My interest is in low power operating. I just picked up a completed Rockmite on Ebay. Kind of funny that this little radio is connected to my 4BTV antenna out back. Now to learn code well enough to use it... :D

Chris

kgbsquirrel · « **Reply #4 on:** October 22, 2012, 10:53:41 PM »

The rubberduck was a crap pigtail. The -1717 is a true 1/4 wave, and I've been picking up radio chatter from DIA some distance away.

Balog · « **Reply #5 on:** October 23, 2012, 01:52:23 AM »

Why is the phone jack a weird multi-pin layout instead of 1/4"? Or does "phones" not indicate headphones in the ham radio world?

mtnbkr · « **Reply #6 on:** October 23, 2012, 07:06:37 AM »

Quote from: Balog on October 23, 2012, 01:52:23 AM

Why is the phone jack a weird multi-pin layout instead of 1/4"? Or does "phones" not indicate headphones in the ham radio world?

That's the microPHONE jack. Should be labeled "mic" IMO.

Chris

AZRedhawk44 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 23, 2012, 10:58:12 AM »

OK, riddle me this, gentlemen:

What band is the "best" to get into for HAM?

Mtnbkr's radio is 40m or 20m (long wavelength, right? 40 meter?).

KGB mentioned a handheld unit that is 2m or 70cm.

Given that antennae must be designed to actually catch the wave that's being broadcast (or the particular wave you want to hear, at least), which unit is better for a novice non-HAM that is considering getting into it?

My guess is that these two units can't talk to each other at all and are essentially blind to each other.

KGB's unit appears to have USB/RS-232 capability and I infer from that, it is capable of packet radio?

cosine · « **Reply #8 on:** October 23, 2012, 11:20:28 AM »

Well, for "getting into" ham radio operating privileges depend on your license class. The current introductory license class is Technician, which gives you voice operating privileges on the 70cm, 2m, and 6m bands, and portions of the 10m band (there are small portions of other bands on which Technician class licenses can operate, but those are generally CW only: http://www.arrl.org/frequency-allocations).

To operate voice on other bands, such as 20m or 40m, a General class license is required. So, since it's required for one to take and pass the Technician license exam before the General license exam, the basic bands for "getting into" ham radio are generally the 70cm, 2m, and 6m bands. In that regard it's pretty easy to get into ham radio, since all you need to do is pass the (easy) Technician license exam, pick up a 2m (or 70cm) handheld transceiver for $100-$150, and you can operate using local VHF repeaters. To operate with voice on HF frequencies would require passing the slightly harder General license exam, and then you can use most of the 20m and 40m bands

cosine · « **Reply #9 on:** October 23, 2012, 11:27:09 AM »

Quote from: mtnbkr on October 22, 2012, 07:33:51 PM

No, not Elecraft's beautiful KX3, but the KN-Q7A from http://www.crkits.com/.

From their website:
A popular 40m or 20m single band SSB transceiver kit designed by BA6BF. 8~10 watts output (5 watts for 20m). Good receiver. Multiple frequency options.

The price isn't bad and the reviews are good. There aren't many features, but it has the basics. I'm tempted to get one.

Chris

I could use this, since, sadly, my only rig right now is a Yaesu FT-270 2m HT (and I have an Amateur Extra class license

). I could use a simple, inexpensive HF transceiver. The only hitch is that I live within 4 miles of two major Milwaukee radio stations, and I'm not sure how well it would handle that.

mtnbkr · « **Reply #10 on:** October 23, 2012, 11:42:05 AM »

Quote from: AZRedhawk44 on October 23, 2012, 10:58:12 AM

OK, riddle me this, gentlemen:

What band is the "best" to get into for HAM?

Mtnbkr's radio is 40m or 20m (long wavelength, right? 40 meter?).

KGB mentioned a handheld unit that is 2m or 70cm.

Given that antennae must be designed to actually catch the wave that's being broadcast (or the particular wave you want to hear, at least), which unit is better for a novice non-HAM that is considering getting into it?

My guess is that these two units can't talk to each other at all and are essentially blind to each other.

KGB's unit appears to have USB/RS-232 capability and I infer from that, it is capable of packet radio?

It's hard to say which band is "best". As a technician, you would have access to Phone on 10m and higher. Phone would be AM/FM/SSB. Most Techs start off with a 2m/70cm FM handheld, but that's kind of boring. It's also very limited if you don't have many VHF/UHF repeaters in your area. NoVa is lousy with repeaters, so we have great coverage for Hams on 2m/70cm. I'd get something that allows SSB for longer reach. An all-mode, 160m-70cm rig (Yaesu FT-857D for example) would give you that (just stay off the lower freq bands until you're a General or better).

Once you hit General, you have access to all bands (but specific portions). 20m and 40m are the most popular, but have their strengths and weaknesses. 20m is better in the daytime, but 40m has great reach at night. An ideal antenna for each will be quite large, but a trapped vertical does well also. My 16' tall Hustler 4BTV vertical works well and doesn't take up much space (I live in a townhome with a tiny yard).

Chris

cosine · « **Reply #11 on:** October 23, 2012, 11:49:20 AM »

Useful links for getting into ham radio:

This is the Amateur Radio Relay League's (ARRL) licensing, education, and training webpage. There's a lot of useful information there, including finding where exams are administered.

The Gorden West study guides seem to be highly regarded for preparing for the licensing exams. I didn't use them, but I know some people who did and it worked well for them.
Technician class license study guide
General class license study guide

If you want to study directly from the souce, the Amateur Radio exam question pools are available to the public so you can read directly what questions may be asked in the exam.

Lastly, there are multiple places online to take practice exams. I like AA9PW's practice exam website. I used this website to take numerous practice exams before taking the exams for my Technician, General, and Amateur Extra class license.

mtnbkr · « **Reply #12 on:** October 23, 2012, 11:49:33 AM »

Quote from: cosine on October 23, 2012, 11:27:09 AM

I could use this, since, sadly, my only rig right now is a Yaesu FT-270 2m HT (and I have an Amateur Extra class license ). I could use a simple, inexpensive HF transceiver. The only hitch is that I live within 4 miles of two major Milwaukee radio stations, and I'm not sure how well it would handle that.

You might try filters on your feed line to prevent overloading.

Chris

Balog · « **Reply #13 on:** October 23, 2012, 12:27:01 PM »

Quote from: mtnbkr on October 23, 2012, 07:06:37 AM

That's the microPHONE jack. Should be labeled "mic" IMO.

Chris

Ah, that makes more sense. It'd make even more sense if it was a standard xlr pinout like all normal music microphones use, but still...

mtnbkr · « **Reply #14 on:** October 23, 2012, 12:34:35 PM »

Actually, that's a standard connector for radio use (the other being an 8 pin modular plug).

Chris

Balog · « **Reply #15 on:** October 23, 2012, 12:47:52 PM »

Quote from: mtnbkr on October 23, 2012, 12:34:35 PM

Actually, that's a standard connector for radio use (the other being an 8 pin modular plug).

Chris

I wonder why that was settled on as a standard and not xlr? Just seems odd to have one industry standard mic connection for music microphones and another for ham radio ones.

mtnbkr · « **Reply #16 on:** October 23, 2012, 12:53:45 PM »

Quote from: Balog on October 23, 2012, 12:47:52 PM

I wonder why that was settled on as a standard and not xlr? Just seems odd to have one industry standard mic connection for music microphones and another for ham radio ones.

No clue.

I did find this site regarding radio mic connections, but it doesn't shed any light on how we got to where we are today: http://www.qsl.net/g4wpw/date.html

Chris

K Frame · « **Reply #17 on:** October 23, 2012, 01:00:46 PM »

You're tempted to get one.... so you can be a geek at lower-power than before?

mtnbkr · « **Reply #18 on:** October 23, 2012, 01:11:39 PM »

Nope, about the same power level.

Chris

mtnbkr · « **Reply #19 on:** October 23, 2012, 03:24:02 PM »

Neat tuner kit to go with the radio I linked above: http://qrpkits.com/sota.html

I wonder how hard it would be to build that tuner INTO the radio so all you need to get on the air are a couple long wires and a battery...

Chris

rcnixon · « **Reply #20 on:** October 23, 2012, 04:07:35 PM »

Quote from: Balog on October 23, 2012, 12:47:52 PM

I wonder why that was settled on as a standard and not xlr? Just seems odd to have one industry standard mic connection for music microphones and another for ham radio ones.

Push-to-talk and power to the mic in some cases. I actually like the 8-pin rj-45/rj-48 setup since what I do professionally has provided me with the tools to deal with it correctly

kf4wxd

Balog · « **Reply #21 on:** October 23, 2012, 04:17:48 PM »

Quote from: rcnixon on October 23, 2012, 04:07:35 PM

Push-to-talk and power to the mic in some cases. I actually like the 8-pin rj-45/rj-48 setup since what I do professionally has provided me with the tools to deal with it correctly

kf4wxd

Hmmm, I can see push to talk but we run 48v phantom power to condensor mics all the time on xlr connections with no issues.

AZRedhawk44 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 23, 2012, 04:26:57 PM »

Quote from: Balog on October 23, 2012, 04:17:48 PM

Hmmm, I can see push to talk but we run 48v phantom power to condensor mics all the time on xlr connections with no issues.

Mics for radios have output speakers and are half-duplex.

Audio performance mics that run on XLR do not have output speakers, and are simplex.

Totally different utilizations, not interchangeable devices, no reason to use the same plug any more than your 120vAC house plug and a guitar.

Balog · « **Reply #23 on:** October 23, 2012, 04:54:46 PM »

Radio mics have output speakers? Huh, would not have guessed that.

mtnbkr · « **Reply #24 on:** October 23, 2012, 07:57:03 PM »

Quote from: Balog on October 23, 2012, 04:54:46 PM

Radio mics have output speakers? Huh, would not have guessed that.

Some do, some don't. The accessory mic on my HT is a speaker mic, but the one on my mobile and my HF rigs are not (none of the 3 use the 8 pin mic in question though).

Chris

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Author Topic: New low-power amateur radio rig on the market (Read 6806 times)