Author Archive
uBitx multiband HF
December 9th, 2017 | 
Author: A new HF transceiver from India is about to take to market, offering multiband operation 10 through to 80metres, with the inclusion of the WARC bands and general coverage receive.
Asharr Farhan the designer of the BITX20 and BITX40 has been working on the uBitx project for quite sometime. Demonstrations, and circuit details have been made available freely to anyone on his website Phonestack.com since early Spring 2017, for those who wished to scratch build the transceiver.
But Farhan, not resting on his recent success of producing the single band BITX40 (40m) transceiver, that introduced many to HF for a small price a point of "$59" including a recent addition of stable DDS, which he called the Raduino. VU2ESE has now put the uBitx into production, and I understand will be made available soon from his HF Signals website for purchase. (Currently the website only shows the current 40m radio for sale).
Above, a recent tested production run of uBitx transceiver boards.
The uBitx will offer CW and SSB, with 10W output from a pair of IRF510's. Arduino derived stable DDS using a Si5351 for all the local oscillators.
What you will get in the package will be a fully built and tested board. My guess is it will be sold with a similar hardware package that was included with the BITX40, which will include the wiring hardware, connectors, pots, power and BNC connectors for the antenna etc. All you will have to do is wire it up, add a speaker and a case to complete the project.
The price for the uBitx has yet to be announced? But again my guess is it will be one of it's major success stories that will take the HF world by storm and introduce many to the affordable world of HF operation. Of course, I expect it will cost more than the BITX40, but you will be getting access to most of the HF spectrum, for something until now that has proved undeliverable to those on small budgets.
Exciting times, keep watching HF Signals for further details.
The latest 1/4W 1% resistor deals
Resistor deals just get better!
Last time I looked over selling websites it was a 2000 deal, but I have now found a couple of 2500 1/4W 1% metal film Res bargains.
First one is the Chinese site Banggood @ £7.42 (US $9.51) plus a 12% voucher popped up, which you have to bop in at the time of placing the order, taking the price down to a penny pinching £6.53
https://www.banggood.com/2500Pcs-1-14W-0_25W-Metal-Film-Resistor-50-Values-Assortment-Kit-110M-Range-p-1079638.html?rmmds=category&cur_warehouse=CN
I then run the details through ebay and a similar package came out at £6.99 ($9.18):
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2500-Pcs-1-4w-1-Metal-Film-Resistor-Kit-50-Values-Assortment-Pack-Mix-Selection/382146134127?hash=item58f9af406f:g:OT8AAOSwyWZZVqNd
* Please note I have no connection with either company, I just do this for service for you Hams and constructors. £ to $ conversion is done at the time, and can change with currency fluctuations.
Good luck!
The great British export – Sprat on DVD 1974 -2017
You could say amongst our Chinese purchases what is there good from the UK for our hobby?
My new SPRAT DVD arrived this morning, complete in it's jewel case. Although a collaboration of designs and work from G-QRP members from around the world, you could say it is one of the best exports from the UK, putting knowledge right back into the Amateur's hands.
The DVD is well put together as always, an excellent scan of each magazine, with good indexing. Used in conjunction with your browser and PDF reader, you are right on top of each issue.
Revised right up to this current Autumn issue 2017 it has got to be a good stocking filler.
Of course you have to buy one to see if I am right, but I don't think many will be disappointed, especially with the price!
See my previous write up about it's launch: sprat-on-dvd-2017
Review soon! G600 Microscope.
Chinese purchases have been few and far between during the last 12 months or so, apart from a few component orders and with time as scarce as hens teeth lately I have not written a review for sometime, but I have one or two interesting items coming shortly, it will nice to be back.
This one made my mouse button make a sudden impulse buy, as I thought it could be a useful addition to the workbench, especially those like me having ailing eyesight with close up work.
The G600 Microscope including screen, could be a bonus to our hobby arrived this morning, however there is one little extra that needs purchasing before I write anymore, should of ordered it when I placed the intial order. So I guess it will be another month or so before that arrives from China?
This one made my mouse button make a sudden impulse buy, as I thought it could be a useful addition to the workbench, especially those like me having ailing eyesight with close up work.
The G600 Microscope including screen, could be a bonus to our hobby arrived this morning, however there is one little extra that needs purchasing before I write anymore, should of ordered it when I placed the intial order. So I guess it will be another month or so before that arrives from China?
Sprat on DVD 2017
I have just been in touch with G3MFJ G-QRP club sales and he confirms
A new Sprat DVD is now available.
As I have explained before but for those that don't read things.
SPRAT is the journal of the G-QRP club and is well worth reading for all it's circuits
and QRP designs sent it via it's membership from around the world.
Price for "members only" is £5 (6.5 Euro, USA $8.0, AU$9.5, and NZ$10.5) plus p&p
non members price is £12 plus postage £1.20 (UK), £3.50 (EU), £5.00 (DX)
What they normally say to non members is join and you get a membership UK price for £6 which includes 4 Sprats per year, and then you can purchase the DVD at the membership price.
More details from the G-QRP Website http://www.gqrp.com/sales.htm
Join G-QRP club here http://www.gqrp.com/join.htm
A visit to Telford Hamfest & the GQRP club
My amateur radio activity has been very much on the back burner during the last few months due to other commitments.
However, rather than cut the lawns, wash the car on a Sunday morning and look forward to a roast beef lunch, sandwiches were a better offering this last weekend. I had arranged to go to the Telford radio rally and maybe pickup a few items. Don't bring back any junk, said my wife! Ugh!
So it was time to get up early dig out the badge.
The Telford radio rally had always been hosted in the centre of Telford town centre for many years, but about 10 years ago it was moved to the Enguity Centre at Coalbrookedale museum, in the centre of Shropshire where the industrial revolution started.
We arrived quite early and people were certainly up with the larks to get a place in the queue, and maybe grab a bargain?
This year the rally had teamed up with the GQRP club which had moved it's famous annual QRP convention from Rishworth. Most of the team were there, including George (G3RJV) and Graham (G3MFJ). Bringing along their wealth of experience with the rest of the crew from the hub of the club, giving members free advice, sales, and trying to recruit a few new ones to the fold:
Sadly my snap of the club stand came out blurred and I don't have another replacement, much to my disappointment! If anyone has a photo, please send me a copy and I will edit it in..
However I did purchase the mug to prove my support for the GQRP club.
If you didn't visit the convention you can always join the GQRP club, at £6 for a year's UK membership and not much more for international, it is really an amazing bargain! Including 4 Sprats (the quarterly magazine of the club) posted to your home! Sprat is packed with designs, QRP circuits, membership news etc. Edited by George Dobbs since the formation of the club in 1974. How can many say they have done a job like that for over 40 years, again amazing!
Join the GQRP club here.
The RSGB had also popped along to offer their helpful sales team with some exciting new publications to read.
Even though I didn't buy much this year it proved to be a very good social event, meeting up with quite a few other Amateurs who share the same interest which I know from around the country.We all picked up a few ideas, hints and tips, and learning news which we wouldn't of heard of online.
The rally was well supported by an excellent showing of folk, quite a few good traders had also showed up for the event. But, I can't help feeling that the Internet has taken over many aspects of the supply of components for our hobby, which are now available very quick and cheap from our friends in the far East.
It was time to have a look outside at a few traders that had setup shop, and grab a cuppa before returning back home late afternoon.
Maybe see you there next year, or you never know where I am going to pop up next!
However, rather than cut the lawns, wash the car on a Sunday morning and look forward to a roast beef lunch, sandwiches were a better offering this last weekend. I had arranged to go to the Telford radio rally and maybe pickup a few items. Don't bring back any junk, said my wife! Ugh!
So it was time to get up early dig out the badge.
The Telford radio rally had always been hosted in the centre of Telford town centre for many years, but about 10 years ago it was moved to the Enguity Centre at Coalbrookedale museum, in the centre of Shropshire where the industrial revolution started.
We arrived quite early and people were certainly up with the larks to get a place in the queue, and maybe grab a bargain?
This year the rally had teamed up with the GQRP club which had moved it's famous annual QRP convention from Rishworth. Most of the team were there, including George (G3RJV) and Graham (G3MFJ). Bringing along their wealth of experience with the rest of the crew from the hub of the club, giving members free advice, sales, and trying to recruit a few new ones to the fold:
Sadly my snap of the club stand came out blurred and I don't have another replacement, much to my disappointment! If anyone has a photo, please send me a copy and I will edit it in..
However I did purchase the mug to prove my support for the GQRP club.
If you didn't visit the convention you can always join the GQRP club, at £6 for a year's UK membership and not much more for international, it is really an amazing bargain! Including 4 Sprats (the quarterly magazine of the club) posted to your home! Sprat is packed with designs, QRP circuits, membership news etc. Edited by George Dobbs since the formation of the club in 1974. How can many say they have done a job like that for over 40 years, again amazing!
Join the GQRP club here.
The RSGB had also popped along to offer their helpful sales team with some exciting new publications to read.
Even though I didn't buy much this year it proved to be a very good social event, meeting up with quite a few other Amateurs who share the same interest which I know from around the country.We all picked up a few ideas, hints and tips, and learning news which we wouldn't of heard of online.
The rally was well supported by an excellent showing of folk, quite a few good traders had also showed up for the event. But, I can't help feeling that the Internet has taken over many aspects of the supply of components for our hobby, which are now available very quick and cheap from our friends in the far East.
It was time to have a look outside at a few traders that had setup shop, and grab a cuppa before returning back home late afternoon.
Maybe see you there next year, or you never know where I am going to pop up next!
A visit to the Telford Hamfest & GQRP club
My amateur radio activity has been very much on the back burner during the last few months due to other commitments.
However, rather than cut the lawns, wash the car on a Sunday morning and look forward to a roast beef lunch, sandwiches were a better offering this last weekend. I had arranged to go to the Telford radio rally and maybe pickup a few items. Don't bring back any junk, said my wife! Ugh!
So it was time to get up early dig out the badge.
The Telford radio rally had always been hosted in the centre of Telford town centre for many years, but about 10 years ago it was moved to the Enguity Centre at Coalbrookedale museum, in the centre of Shropshire where the industrial revolution started.
We arrived quite early and people were certainly up with the larks to get a place in the queue, and maybe grab a bargain?
This year the rally had teamed up with the GQRP club which had moved it's famous annual QRP convention from Rishworth. Most of the team were there, including George (G3RJV) and Graham (G3MFJ). Bringing along their wealth of experience with the rest of the crew from the hub of club, giving members free advice, sales, and trying to recruit a few new ones to the fold:
Sadly my snap of the club stand came out blurred and I don't have another, much to my disappointment! If anyone has a photo, please send me a copy and I will edit it in..
However I did purchase the mug to prove my support for the G-QRP club.
If you didn't visit the convention you can always join the G-QRP club, at £6 for a year's UK membership and not much more for international, it is really an amazing bargain! Including 4 Sprats (the quarterly magazine of the club) posted to your home! Sprat is packed with designs, QRP circuits, membership news etc. Edited by George Dobbs since the formation of the club in 1974. How can many say they have done a job like that for over 40 years, again amazing!
Join the GQRP club here.
The RSGB had also popped along to offer their sales team with some exciting reading and some new publications.
Even though I didn't buy much this year it proved to be a good social event, meeting up with a quite few other Amateurs I know from around the country, picking up a few ideas, hints and tips, and learning news which I wouldn't of heard of online.
It was time to have a look outside at a few traders that had setup shop, and grab a cuppa before returning back home late afternoon.
Maybe see you there next year or you never know where I am going to pop up next!
However, rather than cut the lawns, wash the car on a Sunday morning and look forward to a roast beef lunch, sandwiches were a better offering this last weekend. I had arranged to go to the Telford radio rally and maybe pickup a few items. Don't bring back any junk, said my wife! Ugh!
So it was time to get up early dig out the badge.
The Telford radio rally had always been hosted in the centre of Telford town centre for many years, but about 10 years ago it was moved to the Enguity Centre at Coalbrookedale museum, in the centre of Shropshire where the industrial revolution started.
We arrived quite early and people were certainly up with the larks to get a place in the queue, and maybe grab a bargain?
This year the rally had teamed up with the GQRP club which had moved it's famous annual QRP convention from Rishworth. Most of the team were there, including George (G3RJV) and Graham (G3MFJ). Bringing along their wealth of experience with the rest of the crew from the hub of club, giving members free advice, sales, and trying to recruit a few new ones to the fold:
Sadly my snap of the club stand came out blurred and I don't have another, much to my disappointment! If anyone has a photo, please send me a copy and I will edit it in..
However I did purchase the mug to prove my support for the G-QRP club.
If you didn't visit the convention you can always join the G-QRP club, at £6 for a year's UK membership and not much more for international, it is really an amazing bargain! Including 4 Sprats (the quarterly magazine of the club) posted to your home! Sprat is packed with designs, QRP circuits, membership news etc. Edited by George Dobbs since the formation of the club in 1974. How can many say they have done a job like that for over 40 years, again amazing!
Join the GQRP club here.
The RSGB had also popped along to offer their sales team with some exciting reading and some new publications.
Even though I didn't buy much this year it proved to be a good social event, meeting up with a quite few other Amateurs I know from around the country, picking up a few ideas, hints and tips, and learning news which I wouldn't of heard of online.
It was time to have a look outside at a few traders that had setup shop, and grab a cuppa before returning back home late afternoon.
Maybe see you there next year or you never know where I am going to pop up next!
