Radio Preppers

General Category => Technical Corner => Topic started by: gil on March 14, 2017, 05:02:42 PM

Title: Weber Soda Pop monoband CW transceiver.
Post by: gil on March 14, 2017, 05:02:42 PM
So, who else is getting one?
Build photos later  ;)

Gil.
Title: Re: Weber Soda Pop monoband CW transceiver.
Post by: cockpitbob on March 15, 2017, 07:52:41 AM
I missed it  :-[ .  Dayum they sold out fast.
Title: Re: Weber Soda Pop monoband CW transceiver.
Post by: gil on March 15, 2017, 05:16:55 PM
Yep, and there was only 20 for outside the United States...

Gil
Title: Re: Weber Soda Pop monoband CW transceiver.
Post by: cockpitbob on March 15, 2017, 11:02:30 PM
Wow, and you got one of the 20 ;D.  Congrats.

That's 2 in a row I've missed, but I'm OK with it.  This one seemed a little large and it's only one band.  It would have been a fun project, but I've got such a large backlog of projects the last thing I need is another ::)

Can't wait to hear about your build :)
Title: Re: Weber Soda Pop monoband CW transceiver.
Post by: gil on March 16, 2017, 04:34:31 AM
Now the problem is choosing which band to build it for... Parts are included for 20/30/40m but need to be purchased for 80m. Maybe 40m... I'll get a nice Hammond cast aluminum case for it, large enough to include three 18650 cells. Now I need to put my 80m 1-Watter in its case before this kit arrives!

How's your Frog Sounds progressing? ;)

Gil.
Title: Re: Weber Soda Pop monoband CW transceiver.
Post by: gil on March 24, 2017, 06:42:05 AM
I got the kit yesterday around 11AM and finished it at about 1:30AM this morning ;D

(http://radiopreppers.com/images/SodaPop1.jpg)

(http://radiopreppers.com/images/SodaPop2.jpg)

The band is 40m. I chose it partially because we are agreeing on a 40m prepper frequency in another thread. 40m does everything, including NVIS.

After the calibration, which I sort of skipped, the radio went into regular use mode but I heard nothing. I immediately suspected the soldering on the LM386, touched them up and bingo, heard a hiss. I had a dummy load connected and my paddles. When clicking on the dit or dah paddle, nothing... The hiss goes away for maybe half a second, but there is no tone. I didn't check if there was RF getting out. I can change frequency with the encoder, all that works fine. It's probably a solder joint on a transistor in the part that does the sidetone. I'll get back to it soon.

It seems every time I build a surface-mount kit the parts are getting smaller... I need one of those geeky forehead mounted magnifying lenses...

The case I plan on using is the Hammond 1590UFL, but I will look around for more options before committing.

This radio will be an excellent prepping rig!

Gil.
Title: Re: Weber Soda Pop monoband CW transceiver.
Post by: cockpitbob on March 25, 2017, 11:31:03 PM
Gil, the kit parts are getting smaller, but hard as it is to admit, after 45 the close-up vision goes to Hell, so yes, you need a magnifying visor.  I can't live without mine and bring it on business trips.  But, don't make the mistake a guy at work did and forget it's on your head when you walk into the men's room to pee.  You could hear the laughter and comments about needing tweezers down the hall. ;D

Title: Re: Weber Soda Pop monoband CW transceiver.
Post by: gil on March 26, 2017, 01:24:37 PM
QuoteYou could hear the laughter and comments about needing tweezers down the hall.

;D LOL, I'll remember that!

Gil.
Title: Re: Weber Soda Pop monoband CW transceiver.
Post by: gil on April 03, 2017, 03:49:18 PM
It works! I spent some time today reheating solder joints on the ICs and transistors. No idea which one was the culprit, but I have a sidetone now, and the Elecraft T1 red LED lights up, which means close to 10W out, really? It's supposed to be 5W. The three BS-170 finals didn't seem to break a sweat. I need to replace my QRP Wattmeter... Next kit maybe... I got a cheap Ebay Chinese frequency counter to check the IF, which was smack on 10MHz. Without a scope to check the filter I used an audio spectrum analyzer app on Android to center it on the 600Hz tone. I wasn't quite sure it was good enough, so I found a continuous tone on 7013.1 on my KX2, measured it at 452Hz, went to the SodaPop and adjusted the frequency until I also had 452Hz, bingo! I need a plastic screwdriver to peak the receiver because my metal one messed up tuning.

Anyway, I called CQ and got a report on the Reverse Beacon Network, from England. Not bad, since the band was in bad shape and it was the middle of the day, using the Hybrid Micro and 3.2m whip for testing.

Now the pain-in-the-ass next step... Drilling a cast aluminum case for the rectangle LED display :( And I still need to put my 1-Watter in its case... And the Frog-Sounds, darn :-[ No more radio building for me until they are all in their cases. I love kits with included, pre-drilled cases!

Gil.