Multi meater

One of the most important bits of equipment for the work space is a multi-meter.

This multi meter is years old but it’s all I need for testing when working on the bench, don’t get me wrong I would love a better meter but this has never let me down and I can use my money for other things.

Mega328

With radio I’m finding all sorts of tools to help you in the day to day of your projects for instance the mega328 I have, it tests resistors and capacitors npn pnp and mos it will test the part and give you details of what it thinks it is.

It cost me about £9.00p when I purchased it and I can’t fault it so far.

Plug the legs of the item into 1,2 and or 3 of the zif socket and lower the arm on the side then press the button and it should give you some readings of the part.

I purchased mine on ebay if you search mega328 there are lots that come up, I recommend buying pre built as I have built a few of the kits and none of them seem to work properly.

QRP Labs Qcx

I ordered the QRP Labs QCX kit it is a cw radio on 40meters (there are many types you can order) with a transmit power of 5 watts!

The kit arrived quite quickly as I ordered it with express shipping (less than a week to arrive from over sea’s)

The hardest thing to make up was the transformer windings. After this it was fairly easy to build.

I recommend downloading and reading the manual at least once just before you start the build and while your building the unit, Double check everything before you solder, some parts being fitted are hard to go back on once you solder them.

The surface mount kit is already soldered and tested on the board, I would recommend you purchase 8pin ic sockets and 14pin socket so you can replace the chips if needed and I had some header pins as I lost two of mine.

To find out more about the QCX click HERE

To see a video on the QCX build by the make of the kit click HERE

There is a facebook builders group click HERE

Carried away with eBay

Ok I found a proper metal ubitx case on eBay today and I stupidly got carried away with bidding on it, I may have bid too much. (don’t tell the wife!) in intrigued by the display that’s fitted in the front and hope it’s a little more than the listing says it is.

Let’s hope im right……

Finished my qrss beacon

Finally getting round to finishing off the QRSS beacon by qrp labs, I’m currently trying to find a way to fit the 7805 voltage dropper so I can then use any voltage when I’m off out with my equipment.

To be fair with the size of the case I think I’m more likely to leave it on the table as it’s a rather large box to carry

Ubitx Information

I started to research about the ubitx today and found one that seems to have a wealth of knowledge for most versions of the ubitx and all the things that can be done with a ubitx.

It appears to be a good place to start Ubitx.net

Ubitx arrives

Today the Ubitx arrived and it looks cool it is the version 4 board so I need to look into the board details and see if there is anything needed to be done to it.

It came with the previous owner’s case, I’m not sure if I’m going to keep the case or find something else to put it in, then I need to connect it all up.

Time to do some research into the whole thing!