Category: Radio

  • 4S-Tuner

    For this installment of Kit Corner I’d like to share a build I’ve been using for quite some time both at the home QTH as well as on  some of my POTA activations. The 4S-Tuner Kit designed by N0MS and offered through 4sqrp.com The 4S-Tuner is a classic T-Match tuner for random wire and EFHW…

  • Home-brew DX Commander Field Day Project 

    This year at field day I hosted a digital station in place of our usual CW station. It was a great educational experience as we had several FT8 and FT4 demonstrations throughout the weekend and had several people get hands on and try the modes for the first time. Because we were the only dedicated…

  • QRPGuys AFP-FSK Digital Transceiver III Kit

    QRPGuys AFP-FSK Digital Transceiver III Kit

    Last fall I purchased an AFP-FSK Digital Transceiver III kit and got around to putting it together this spring. From their site “The new QRPGuys AFP-FSK Digital Transceiver III kit for 160m-10m is a low cost, multi-band, multi-digital mode, 5 watt transceiver kit, with VFO and plug-in module kits supplied for 40/30/20m.” At time of…

  • Tecsun 2P3 AM Radio Kit

    Back in March and April I had a bit of time to my self while my significant other was recovering from surgery and I found my self working on a few soldering projects. One of them was this AM radio kit I picked up off Amazon produced by Tecsun. The kit was fun and was…

  • QRPGuys Digital Power Port

    QRPGuys Digital Power Port

    This week we have another kit build! I was part of the team that organized and ran a club build for the Kalamazoo Amateur Radio Club (https://w8vy.org/ ) last weekend. We had a great turn out and had a lot of fun building the QRPGuys Digital Power Port ( https://qrpguys.com/qrpguys-digital-power-port ). The device is a…

  • First Parks on the Air Activation!

    First Parks on the Air Activation!

    My first activation was a success! Since I worked overnight Sunday and Monday mornings, I needed to stay up during the day today to try to reset my sleep cycle. So since the weather cooperated long enough and I needed to alleviate some cabin fever, I ran over to the Kal-Haven Trail State Park (K-1511)…

  • The Murania Reciever Kit

    The Murania Reciever Kit

    The Murania is a wonderful AM Reciever Kit that I recently had an opportunity to put together. Created by David Cripe (NMØS) and put out by the Four State QRP Group, The design of the radio is technically surface mount, but it uses through hole components. Each component needs to be prepped with it’s lead…

  • Getting Back on the Grind

    Getting Back on the Grind

    One of the goals I set for my self last summer was to learn Morse Code. I know from my time practicing music both as a kid and now as an adult the best way to learn an auditory skill like this is through daily practice and sometimes sheer repetition. However despite my best efforts…

  • So Where to Start?

    So Where to Start?

    No time like the present, so let’s start with the past week and get caught up. Last weekend was Winter Field Day, I joined the crew from the Kalamazoo Amateur Radio Club (W8VY) out at Fort Custer Recreation Area’s beautiful River Side Cabin and setup a 2 station operation. The cabin is gas heated, but…