Figure 2: The extra harmonic filter is ready for action in this photo.
I’d used a kit for the PA output LPF in the TX box, but when I added an additional filter between the Progrock and the BS170 driver, I just put it on perf board.
I also cobbled together a little coffin for the filter. using double sided copper clad board pieces, and a lot of solder. Note the solder does the most good when it’s used on the inside seams, where there is copper-to-copper contact.
Figure 1: The “separates” approach to QRP (click to enlarge).
On page one of this blog post, I mentioned that 10 or 20 milli-watts probably wasn’t going to cut it, at least not for regular CW (and not the weak signal stuff). So, I procured an amplifier kit from the same folks who provided the “Progrock” kit, and started to assemble it. It’s nice and compact, and (hopefully) will deliver around five watts of power to the antenna when I’m done.
Figure 1: My recent purchase (from QRP-Labs.com) is shown along with homebrew TTL/RS232. Click to enlarge
I was looking at the kitsandparts “one watter” transceiver, but it’s a “one bander” rig. It looks nice, but I decided that I wanted a little more flexibility in my new QRP rig. So, I went to the QRP-Labs.com site, and found a good way to get the flexibility I wanted. In figure 1 can be seen the Progrock kit. It went together in nothing flat and cost me $18 bux. I’m a happy camper with this setup …
WB8LZR 