QRPme Update
The QRPme shopping cart is administered BY PAYPAL, who sends an acknowledgement email to QRPme. If you completed a purchase using the shopping cart, then I have your order. If you have specific delivery questions or requirements, please include them in the special instructions section of the shopping cart or email W1REX directly at w1rex 'at' megalink 'dot' net
I helping the Hall of Science Amateur Radio Club teach makers how to solder. I designed a new kit for them this year. Pretty much the same idea as the Maker Sender key I did for them 2 years ago but this time around a nice little through hole circuit board. Kids should be able to build this version in only a few minutes. The original Maker Sender kit usually took 15 to 20 minutes for the kids to build. I listed the NEW version over on the left in case you might want to build one with a young maker you might know.
LATEST NEWS!
GQRP Club Rishworth convention! I will be traveling across the pond and giving a talk at the final GQRP Club's convention at the Rishworth School. I will also have something special up my sleeve so if you see this, you might want to catch my talk. October is shaping up to be a VERY busy month so if you are looking to purchase something from my site, you'd better do it soon if you want it QUICK...
LOBSTERCON2016! was another great weekend! Attendance was down a little and the weather forecast was gloomy but everyone had a great time anyway! We consumed about 175 pounds of VERY fresh and VERY tasty lobster at out Saturday night dinner.
A BIG batch of pics can be found here: N1RXV pics
The WORLD'S BIGGEST BUILDATHON was a resounding success!
The room wasn't quite filled to capacity as 248 WBB kits were handed out to the eager builders. I gave a quick rundown of the prep work leading up to the WBB event, set the timer and we were off! As expected, there were many builders who were having difficulties discerning the color bands or reading the tiny lettering on the caps. MANY had read my emails leading up the the WBB so there were lots of needle nose pliers and lighted pocket magifiers spread about the room. Those who missed the emails were usually within easy borrowing distance. About halfway into the build, it became apparent that some hooligan 68pf caps had snuck into the 220pf jar for a little rumble and never made it back to their clubhouse in the 68pf jar so there were a few kits kitted with two 68pf caps and one 220pf short. Unfortunately, I had a EXPRESS mail box sent the previous day with lots of spares for every part in the WBB but it didn't arrive in time to help solve the crisis. Fortunately, I had brought 350+ kits with me so I put a volunteer, Dennis from Kanga UK, on the job of stealing the 220s out of the spare kits to give to those who were 'heavy' on 68s and short a 220. That job went a little slowly until we got a volunteer with GOOD eyesight on the job and 220pf caps started flying out of the corner of the room. As WBB kits were completed and tested, we 'borrowed' those 220 caps to get the others built. There was pandimonium about but we managed to power through the problem and continue the builds. We did have 2 casualties from the tiny letering and parts but 246 WBB kits were completed, tested and declared working. So in 1 hour and 10 minutes, we has 246 of 248 WBB kits build, tested and declared working transmitters! I think that I can call that a success.....full report
New items in the QRPme lineup:
The Maker Sender ][ key from the NYC Maker Faire is pretty cute. Link is at the top left.
The TT2 40th Anniversary issue is an updated version of the TT2 which meets current FCC regulations for harmonic suppression. It is a economical design yet still has lots of 'play value' and is designed so even new hands at soldering should have no problems completing the kit.
The Sea Sprite is a merging of the EZ Build Two Tinned Tunas concept with the Lil' Squall design. I took the Lil' Squall design, simplified it for single band operation and then laid it out in the 'normal' sized tuna can thereby having the added room for BIG pads, HEAVY traces and WIDE spacing making it as near 'builder proof' as the EZB Two Tinned Tunas kit has been!
Snack on some Dole pineapple (approx. 75 cents) while building either kit and you will have the perfect can for mounting the board when you have completed construction.
A BRASS SET contains 4 small solid brass clamps which are easily installed along the edges of a circuit board under construction. The nifty little clamps then serve as a set of legs to keep the board stable while soldering the leads on the underneath side.
Check out the HOT LINKS for these 3 items at the upper left on my home page.
Rex W1REX