Radio Preppers

General Category => Technical Corner => Topic started by: cockpitbob on September 16, 2013, 12:08:15 AM

Title: $21 Full Function QRP tuner - Don't Buy
Post by: cockpitbob on September 16, 2013, 12:08:15 AM
See update in Reply #49.

Anyone else seen these (http://www.ebay.com/itm/QRP-manual-days-Antenna-Tuner-Tune-Diy-Kit-1-30-Mhz-For-HAM-RADIO-CW-/251320006079?pt=US_Radio_Comm_Antennas&hash=item3a83d6f5bf) on eBay?
(http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o170/cockpitbob/tuner_zps4cf97390.png) (http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o170/cockpitbob/tuner_zps4cf97390.png)
It looks like a standard T-network tuner and has the usual QRPers bridge with LED SWR indicator.  It claims 15W and looks small and light.  You can't beat the price of $21 shipped.

So, anyone know about these, or do I have to be the guinea pig and get one?  I love end-feds but with a baby balun this could probably tune a twin-lead fed dipole on a bunch of bands.
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: gil on September 16, 2013, 01:43:02 AM
I sure had a good laugh reading the description  ;D

"shoes, frogs, octopus, etc."  :o

QuoteJust Kit For Diy !!!
This kit requires some soldering electronic technology, will recognize the device, it will weld, the basic need debugging, as long as careful assembly according to package instructions can succeed. If the novice find weld on the error, intended to build the first not handle, please contact customer service personnel will get the appropriate technical guidance.
This kit welding, making easy to understand, easier to learn, easy to use. Comes with standing instructions, Q9 type interface (such as the need to be self to M-type interface), using T-topology networks, QRP facilitate communication with the low-power transceiver (shoes, frogs, octopus, etc.) used to make transceiver and antenna valid match, meet your emission requirements, ensure a highly efficient radio communications.

Gil.
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: cockpitbob on September 16, 2013, 08:39:08 AM
I actually never read the description.  That's friggn' hysterical (http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o170/cockpitbob/Emoticons/ROF_LMAO_zps503195e3-1.gif) (http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o170/cockpitbob/Emoticons/ROF_LMAO_zps503195e3-1.gif)     (http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o170/cockpitbob/Emoticons/ROF_LMAO_zps503195e3-1.gif) (http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o170/cockpitbob/Emoticons/ROF_LMAO_zps503195e3-1.gif)   (http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o170/cockpitbob/Emoticons/ROF_LMAO_zps503195e3-1.gif) (http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o170/cockpitbob/Emoticons/ROF_LMAO_zps503195e3-1.gif)

Makes me want to buy it even more.
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: KK0G on September 16, 2013, 08:43:14 AM
$21 to my door sure seems cheap enough! That is until I have to pay someone $30 to translate the instructions. I think you should take one for the team Bob and then provide us all with the non-chingrish instructions. ;D
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: KC3AOL on September 16, 2013, 09:34:06 AM
It might be worth it for the parts alone, but the entertainment value of reading the instructions could also be fun.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4

Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: Archangel320420 on September 16, 2013, 11:19:06 AM
" ...facilitate communication with the low-power transceiver (shoes, frogs, octopus, etc.) "

I never though of using my shoes as a xcvr. Good idea. Frogs and octopus are food.
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: gil on September 16, 2013, 12:13:40 PM
Quoteplease contact customer service personnel will get the appropriate technical guidance.

Yeah, I can imagine that conversation  :o

"How do I fix that problem?"
"You solder octopus on shoe interface."
:o

LOL,

Gil.
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: KK0G on September 16, 2013, 12:35:14 PM
Quote from: gil on September 16, 2013, 12:13:40 PM
Quoteplease contact customer service personnel will get the appropriate technical guidance.

Yeah, I can imagine that conversation  :o

"How do I fix that problem?"
"You solder octopus on shoe interface."
:o

LOL,

Gil.


No, you have to weld octopus to frog interface............... sheesh! 8)


I've done a fair amount of welding in my career but welding a tiny QRP tuner would probably exceed my skill level LOL
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: cockpitbob on September 16, 2013, 01:07:56 PM
Quote from: Archangel320420 on September 16, 2013, 11:19:06 AM
" ...facilitate communication with the low-power transceiver (shoes, frogs, octopus, etc.) "

I never though of using my shoes as a xcvr. Good idea. Frogs and octopus are food.
That does it.  I'm ordering one.

I think they mean you can tune-up those things as antennas.   Shoes would be for ground wave propatation.  The octopus is clearly for multi-band operation.  I'm not sure about the frog, but maybe I can leave my antenna launcher at home.  One hit with RF might put the frog high in a tree.
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: KC3AOL on September 16, 2013, 06:40:45 PM
" ...facilitate communication with the low-power transceiver (shoes, frogs, octopus, etc.) "

I think you guys are misunderstanding. It says that shoes, frogs, octopus, etc are low-power transceivers and this device facilitates communications with them. So, with this device, you will be able to talk to shoes, frogs, octopus, etc. LMAO!

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk 4
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: KC9TNH on September 16, 2013, 07:19:07 PM
Quote from: Archangel320420 on September 16, 2013, 11:19:06 AM
" ...facilitate communication with the low-power transceiver (shoes, frogs, octopus, etc.) "

I never though of using my shoes as a xcvr.
You mean you're not Maxwell Smart?

The black PETA helos are setting up a racetrack on cockpitbob.  ;D
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: cockpitbob on September 16, 2013, 11:38:11 PM
Quote from: KC9TNH on September 16, 2013, 07:19:07 PM
The black PETA helos are setting up a racetrack on cockpitbob.  ;D
I ordered one today.  It should be here from china at the end of the month.  I promise a full report, but I'm sure assembly will be easy because "the kit comes with standing wave instructions".

This might get me to see if it will tune a twin-lead fed dipole like Davide uses up above the tree line. :)
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: gil on September 17, 2013, 12:02:37 AM
Good luck Bob, hopefully the octopus and the frog are included... We want photos!  :o

Gil.
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: KK0G on September 17, 2013, 09:03:14 AM
Quote from: cockpitbob on September 16, 2013, 11:38:11 PM
I ordered one today.  It should be here from china at the end of the month.  I promise a full report, but I'm sure assembly will be easy because "the kit comes with standing wave instructions".


Keep us in the loop. I'm especially interested in the process of SWR welding :D
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: KC9TNH on September 17, 2013, 02:41:27 PM
Quote from: KK0G on September 17, 2013, 09:03:14 AMKeep us in the loop. I'm especially interested in the process of SWR welding :D
No question, now that I'm retired that's definitely on my bucket list; the local tech will have a class I bet.
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: RadioRay on September 17, 2013, 03:56:06 PM
I always wanted a standing wave, as a child, but my parents were too poor to afford one.

-...-

It sounds like a great product, because anything that can give you a 50 Ohm(z) into shoes, a frog and an octopus MUST be quite good.



>de RadioRay ..._ ._
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: raybiker73 on September 18, 2013, 11:02:54 PM
Wasn't that an REO Speedwagon album back in the day: "You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can't Tuna Octopus" ??
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: Archangel320420 on September 18, 2013, 11:17:40 PM
Com'on you guys. These guys are trying. One semester at the University of Southern California does not give a Chineses student a lot of writing skills in English. They are doing the best with fish and shoes that they possibly can under such circumstance.
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: RadioRay on September 19, 2013, 12:25:38 AM
Nothing mean spirited intended; just some good natured musings over the odd nature of the instructions. I can assure you that their English is far better than my Mandarin; which mostly consists of "hello, thank you, see you again" at the local Chinese restaurant and for a million dollars I could MAYBE recite 2/3rds of the Mandarin sign-on announcement for China Radio International on shortwave radio.    :D


de RadioRay ..._ ._




Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: raybiker73 on September 19, 2013, 12:32:57 AM
You'd be amazed how many people show me things and ask for translations, and when I tell them, "That's Chinese. I don't speak Chinese. I speak Japanese, and not entirely fluently," they look at me and say, "Well, they're the same thing, aren't they?"  :o
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: RadioRay on September 19, 2013, 12:58:46 AM
Oh OUCH!  My Japanese was enough to be polite, carry me to food and to catch the right train.  I could also conduct a very good inventory as long as it was all numbers...   ha ha

One of the fun things happened when I was in Penang , Malaysia. I earned a company paid R&R at a high dollar hotel with an excellent Japanese restaurant.  I entered and you could tell that the greeter was Japanese/Malay mix.  He greeted me in Japanese and we exchanged bows, then in Japanese I asked him (basically) how he was doing today? 

His eyes got BIG, then he looked both ways and leaned closer to me and whispered: "I don't really speak Japanese!"  ha ha  I assured him that his secret was safe with me. Of course, like most Malaysians, he probably spoke Malay, at least one Chinese dialect, English and maybe some Dyak, so I was the lingo-slacker in that room.

Languages are fun.


>Ray

Ps.  Most Sushi Zan here are owned either by Koreans or Chinese.  I haven't seen a Japanese owned one since California and so no way to practice.
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: raybiker73 on September 19, 2013, 01:21:22 AM
Quote from: RadioRay on September 19, 2013, 12:58:46 AMMost Sushi Zan here are owned either by Koreans or Chinese.  I haven't seen a Japanese owned one since California and so no way to practice.

The only decent sushi place around here is about a 70 mile drive, and it's owned by a Vietnamese guy named Steve.  :) 

My Japanese is VERY rusty. I took a college class a few years ago because 1.) I've always wanted to learn Japanese, 2.) I needed something to exercise my mind on, and 3.) the woman teaching the class was a couple years younger than me and drop dead gorgeous. At the end of the first semester, I actually got up the courage to ask her out to dinner. As it turned out, she was dating someone, so I got a no.  :(  I waited until the day after final grades were posted to ask her, for propriety's sake. Only later in the day did I realize the date: December 7th. So yes, I got shot down by a Japanese person on Pearl Harbor Day.  8)

P.S. I ended up being very good friends with her, and took 3 more semesters of Japanese.

Ray
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: cockpitbob on September 19, 2013, 07:44:41 AM
Looking at the picture of the tuner in the first post I see some Chinese characters.  Can anyone translate them?  I'm thinking they are either switch settings for Tune Shoe or Tune Octopus, but I'm a little concerned they are the punch line to a dirty joke.
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: KC9TNH on September 19, 2013, 09:14:40 PM
Quote from: cockpitbob on September 19, 2013, 07:44:41 AM
Looking at the picture of the tuner in the first post I see some Chinese characters.  Can anyone translate them?  I'm thinking they are either switch settings for Tune Shoe or Tune Octopus, but I'm a little concerned they are the punch line to a dirty joke.
I'm sure they will eventually get better, several of the companies have once they realize what's up.  Then again, there is a cottage industry in ham's being able to publish "The Real American-version of (fill-in) Documentation."  Wouxun (pron. Oh-Zheng, or pretty close) is getting a little better.

Take heart; somewhere, someone who reads Chinese is asking just WTH is THIS:
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: cockpitbob on September 26, 2013, 02:27:05 PM
IT ARRIVED:

At first I was quite pleased.  I defenitly got my money's worth in parts.  Complete and all good quality.

But then I noticed it was missing the best part....THE INSTLUCTIONS WEREN'T INCRUDED :( !  I can figure out how to build it from the pictures on eBay, but I was looking forward to learning how to weld standing waves for best octopus interface 8) .

The good news is that reading their eBay feedback implies it was an oversight for me as no other customers compalined about this.  I sent them a message and that afternoon I got a leply with instluctions on where to downroad what I needed.  The bad news is the page was almost all in Chinese.  I figured out what to crick on and was able to see the instluctions in a viewer, but I could find no way to downroad them without lisking cricking on some Chinese chalacters that might subsclibe me to Chinese farm porn.  I had get it with screen captures  :P
Overall I'm pleased.  It's got good hardware and a PC board for the standard 50ohm bridge & LED type SWR indicator.  The box is just a little bigger than I'd hoped, but there's room in the box to add a 4:1 balun so I can use it on twin-lead fed antennas too.

I'll post pics in a week or 2 when I get around to building it.
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: KK0G on September 26, 2013, 02:55:46 PM
Rots of ruck.
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: buckeye43210 on September 27, 2013, 03:44:27 AM
Octopus refers to the Chinese version of the RockMite QRP transceiver.

The Chinese Rockmite: Meet the CRK-10 (http://kb2hsh.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-chinese-rockmite-meet-crk-10.html)
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: KK0G on September 27, 2013, 08:35:28 AM
Quote from: buckeye43210 on September 27, 2013, 03:44:27 AM
Octopus refers to the Chinese version of the RockMite QRP transceiver.

The Chinese Rockmite: Meet the CRK-10 (http://kb2hsh.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-chinese-rockmite-meet-crk-10.html)


Well I'll be, and here we were making fun of Octopus..................... it's still a goofy name for a rig. ;D
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: cockpitbob on September 27, 2013, 10:10:30 AM
Quote from: KK0G on September 27, 2013, 08:35:28 AM
Quote from: buckeye43210 on September 27, 2013, 03:44:27 AM
Octopus refers to the Chinese version of the RockMite QRP transceiver.

The Chinese Rockmite: Meet the CRK-10 (http://kb2hsh.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-chinese-rockmite-meet-crk-10.html)


Well I'll be, and here we were making fun of Octopus..................... it's still a goofy name for a rig. ;D

Along with Frog, and Pixie, and Worker Bees.   (http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Super-RM-QRP-KIT-The-40-meter-band-telegraph-transceiver-7-023MHZ-NO02/331885_890273248.html)
There's some interesting looking kits there.  A 3watt Rockmite might be of interest to me.
The descriptions are, as usual, a real hoot!
Quote1, this is the maximum power of frogs, the rated output power has increased to 1.8W (D882 output), at the same time suite power output using the American ring, so that the "Jungle" with the remote communication ability, enhance the "practical frogs"!

They have a SSB radio kit for $125(shipped) that gets good reviews (http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/10541).  This looks like good competition for the MFJ-94xx.  It won't do CW, but a CW capable MFJ9440 is over $300.
CW is the way to go, but I'm guessing only 10% of hams know Morse, so if the SHTF having a field capable SSB radio would be well worth it.
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: buckeye43210 on September 27, 2013, 02:00:22 PM
There's a prepper minded US dealer for some of these rigs over at QRVTronics.com (http://qrvtronics.com)

QRV stands for are you ready?
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: gil on September 27, 2013, 02:12:43 PM
QuoteThey have a SSB radio kit for $125(shipped) that gets good reviews.

Too bad the 20m version doesn't cover 14300...
Probably can be modified.

Which 40m frequencies from those offered would you guys choose?

Gil.
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: buckeye43210 on September 27, 2013, 02:27:57 PM
Quote from: gil on September 27, 2013, 02:12:43 PM
QuoteThey have a SSB radio kit for $125(shipped) that gets good reviews.

Too bad the 20m version doesn't cover 14300...
Probably can be modified.

Which 40m frequencies from those offered would you guys choose?

Gil.

You might get a wider frequency swing per the QRV web site, but this may make the VXO less stable.
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: KK0G on September 27, 2013, 03:16:21 PM
That Ali Express has some cool kits for dirt cheap................ great, now I'm gonna have to order one. 8)
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: KC3AOL on September 27, 2013, 04:22:51 PM
The super rock mite looks pretty good. It even has a serial port so you can use your computer to encode/decode CW.

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk 4
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: gil on September 27, 2013, 04:38:35 PM
I like the CRK-10A on paper. I wonder about filtering... I always enjoy music on my RM, along with code ::) Now if this gizmo filters better, I'll have to get one on 10106! Only two reviews on Eham: http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/11154 (http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/11154)

Gil.
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: KK0G on September 27, 2013, 04:59:49 PM
I like the concept of the Rock Mite type rigs; super tiny, compact and able to run off of minuscule amounts of current. What I don't like is the lack of a VFO to avoid QRM. But as the old saying goes: "You can't have your cake and eat it too."
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: gil on September 27, 2013, 05:21:04 PM
QuoteI like the concept of the Rock Mite type rigs; super tiny, compact and able to run off of minuscule amounts of current. What I don't like is the lack of a VFO to avoid QRM. But as the old saying goes: "You can't have your cake and eat it too."

The Weber MTR fixed that problem for me. Same size as the RM, two full bands, DDS VFO, 400Hz filter and 5W output! Unfortunately they generally are not available. No idea when the next model will come out, if ever, or if there will be another run of the latest one. Less than 300 have been sold. The last one I saw on Ebay went for about $300 ($126 new, shipped!). If only Steve Weber would sell them on http://qrpkits.com (http://qrpkits.com), like some of his other creations..

The next release, I'm jumping on it! I don't care of I have to sell something on Ebay to get the money.. There is simply nothing anywhere that can do what it does in such a small size. I did read that the next model might, on top of all the rest, have three bands, DSP and touch keying!

Gil.
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: raybiker73 on September 27, 2013, 07:16:24 PM
Quote from: KK0G on September 27, 2013, 03:16:21 PM
That Ali Express has some cool kits for dirt cheap................ great, now I'm gonna have to order one. 8)

I feel your pain. I gotta quit hanging out at this website. You jokers are putting me broke.  :D
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: cockpitbob on September 27, 2013, 07:39:51 PM
Quote from: KC3AOL on September 27, 2013, 04:22:51 PM
The super rock mite looks pretty good. It even has a serial port so you can use your computer to encode/decode CW.

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk 4
Do you think you could also do PSK31, etc with it and a SignaLink?
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: KC3AOL on September 27, 2013, 09:36:49 PM
Quote from: gil on September 27, 2013, 05:21:04 PMThe next release, I'm jumping on it! I don't care of I have to sell something on Ebay to get the money.. There is simply nothing anywhere that can do what it does in such a small size. I did read that the next model might, on top of all the rest, have three bands, DSP and touch keying!

Gil.
I was planning to try to get two, but that's if they are dual band. I was going to go with 80/40 on one and 30/20 on the other. With three bands, I'll probably just get one for 80/40/20. And maybe I'll try to get a second as a backup ("two is one, one is none").

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk 4
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: raybiker73 on September 28, 2013, 12:33:10 AM
Quote from: cockpitbob on September 27, 2013, 07:39:51 PM
Quote from: KC3AOL on September 27, 2013, 04:22:51 PM
The super rock mite looks pretty good. It even has a serial port so you can use your computer to encode/decode CW.

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk 4
Do you think you could also do PSK31, etc with it and a SignaLink?

Would a little rig like that be able to handle the duty cycle? I think PSK31 is about 75% or so. If it did, that would be awesome.
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: cockpitbob on September 28, 2013, 12:53:04 PM
Quote from: raybiker73 on September 28, 2013, 12:33:10 AMWould a little rig like that be able to handle the duty cycle? I think PSK31 is about 75% or so. If it did, that would be awesome.
I would think it would be easy to add heatsinking to the output transistor if that was an issue.  But the case is heavy aluminum and looks like it could easly spread 4W away from the transistor (I'm assuming it's screwed to the case).
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: gil on September 28, 2013, 01:29:23 PM
QuoteWould a little rig like that be able to handle the duty cycle? I think PSK31 is about 75% or so. If it did, that would be awesome.

You could control the output power with the provided voltage..

Gil.
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: Lamewolf on October 07, 2013, 04:44:09 PM
Good price, but I just finished building a T-match tuner from parts I had on hand.  I had an enclosure that is almost the exact same size as my Yaesu FT-817 so it looks like it was made for the 817 and I even had room on the front panel to add a 3/8" x 24 thread antenna mount so I can put a telescopic whip on the tuner for manpack operation.  With a 6' whip it will tune 10 thru 40 meters and with an add on coil at the base of the whip it will also tune 60 & 80 meters !  Haven't made any contacts with it yet, but the weather is nice this evening, so I'll take it to the back yard and give it a try.
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: KK0G on October 07, 2013, 04:47:58 PM
Quote from: Lamewolf on October 07, 2013, 04:44:09 PM
Good price, but I just finished building a T-match tuner from parts I had on hand.  I had an enclosure that is almost the exact same size as my Yaesu FT-817 so it looks like it was made for the 817 and I even had room on the front panel to add a 3/8" x 24 thread antenna mount so I can put a telescopic whip on the tuner for manpack operation.  With a 6' whip it will tune 10 thru 40 meters and with an add on coil at the base of the whip it will also tune 60 & 80 meters !  Haven't made any contacts with it yet, but the weather is nice this evening, so I'll take it to the back yard and give it a try.


Sounds cool. Photos?
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: Lamewolf on October 08, 2013, 11:29:57 AM
QuoteSounds cool. Photos?

I'll see if I can get a good pic of it and then figure out how to upload it.
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: Lamewolf on November 07, 2013, 09:45:47 AM
Quote from: KK0G on October 07, 2013, 04:47:58 PM
Quote from: Lamewolf on October 07, 2013, 04:44:09 PM
Good price, but I just finished building a T-match tuner from parts I had on hand.  I had an enclosure that is almost the exact same size as my Yaesu FT-817 so it looks like it was made for the 817 and I even had room on the front panel to add a 3/8" x 24 thread antenna mount so I can put a telescopic whip on the tuner for manpack operation.  With a 6' whip it will tune 10 thru 40 meters and with an add on coil at the base of the whip it will also tune 60 & 80 meters !  Haven't made any contacts with it yet, but the weather is nice this evening, so I'll take it to the back yard and give it a try.


Sounds cool. Photos?

Here ya go with the pictures of my manpack tuner.
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: AC0AX on December 01, 2013, 05:47:18 PM
Quote from: cockpitbob on September 26, 2013, 02:27:05 PM
IT ARRIVED:

At first I was quite pleased.  I defenitly got my money's worth in parts.  Complete and all good quality.

But then I noticed it was missing the best part....THE INSTLUCTIONS WEREN'T INCRUDED :( !  I can figure out how to build it from the pictures on eBay, but I was looking forward to learning how to weld standing waves for best octopus interface 8) .

The good news is that reading their eBay feedback implies it was an oversight for me as no other customers compalined about this.  I sent them a message and that afternoon I got a leply with instluctions on where to downroad what I needed.  The bad news is the page was almost all in Chinese.  I figured out what to crick on and was able to see the instluctions in a viewer, but I could find no way to downroad them without lisking cricking on some Chinese chalacters that might subsclibe me to Chinese farm porn.  I had get it with screen captures  :P
Overall I'm pleased.  It's got good hardware and a PC board for the standard 50ohm bridge & LED type SWR indicator.  The box is just a little bigger than I'd hoped, but there's room in the box to add a 4:1 balun so I can use it on twin-lead fed antennas too.

I'll post pics in a week or 2 when I get around to building it.

So did you get it built Bob? I've been thinking of getting one myself.
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: cockpitbob on December 01, 2013, 08:12:18 PM
Hal,
Nope, the kit has been sitting collecting dust.  Family life keeps getting in the way.  It's good looking kit though.  Defenitly worth it just for the parts.

I'm thinking the first day I get snowed in this winter I'll build it.  Meanwhile I think I'll run a feed line from my backup shack (home office) to the gutters so I'll have something to tune. 8)
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner - Don't Buy
Post by: cockpitbob on December 16, 2013, 11:05:43 AM
DON'T BUY THIS KIT unless you have a lot of time and a high threshold for fixing other people's mistakes.

This weekend I finally started building the kit.  As said earlier, it looked complete and with reasonable quality components.  However, the kit is about as good as the engrish translation of its instructions.

* Hole spacing for the resistors on the SWR indicator PCB are too small.  I had to make big bends to shorten the lead spacing.

* The holes in the PCB for the switch are too small and have the wrong spacing.  I had to drill out the holes a little and bend and clip the switch's leads to get it to fit.

* There's a 0.1uF capacitor in the SWR indicator circuit.  The board is layed out wrong.  It has that cap directly across the secondary of the bridge's transformer creating an AC short across the SWR LED.  I had to find a place on the board to dead-bug it to.

* Their drilling template places the BNCs too low and they interfere with the variable capacitors.  I trimmed the BNC's tails to fix that.
* Their drilling template had the anti-rotation hole for the rotary switch in the wrong location so I had to turn the hole into a slot.

* The knobs are strange collet type and the way they attach to the capacitors is "creative" but I had to glue the collets into the knobs in the fully retracted position for it to work.

* The variable capacitors are junk.  They make a plastic crackeling sound and one cap only turns 60degrees while the other turns 90. One appears to have an intermittent short across one section.  I've ordered some polyvaricons to replace them.

* The magnet wire is good quality stuff with high temperature insulation.  But that means it won't melt with a soldering iron.  On the switched inductor, for each of the 12 taps I had to scrape the insulation before twisting into a pigtail.  Very time consuming.

In summary, this was frustrating and took more time than it was worth.  Add the new variable capacitors and I'll have almost $40 into this box.  Not worth it!
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner - Don't Buy
Post by: TexasRadio on December 17, 2013, 08:50:50 PM
Aww.
I was hoping that you found ET's comm link.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk (http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1)
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: extra_class_ham on January 13, 2014, 01:51:42 PM
Quote from: KK0G on September 16, 2013, 12:35:14 PM
No, you have to weld octopus to frog interface............... sheesh! 8)

I have a nice Snap-On MM-250 MIG welder, I can weld the crack of dawn, weld a broken hear, but  I can not weld shoes on an octopus.  ;D
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner - Don't Buy
Post by: cockpitbob on January 13, 2014, 09:06:14 PM
EPILOG:
The polyvaricon caps arrived and I installed them and finished it.  It works.  It it will tune my 180' long random wire on 80M thru 6M and the SWR indicator works.  I'm pleased with what it is, but the annoyance factor was way too high.
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner - Don't Buy
Post by: demej00 on March 14, 2014, 08:38:42 PM
Hi. I am not a ham but I build the kits and radios in anticipation of getting my license this summer (am currently teaching English in China). I bought this antenna tuner here in China for 48rmb (about 8$) and discovered as you did the cap is routed to the wrong side of the diode, so wired it to the other side and low and behold it works.
Electronics are cheap here, Pixie2 kit is 3$, and am now building the Super Octopus V3 Rockmite kit that cost 15$ plus a nice aluminum case for 8$.
As to the tuner, I sent the seller the news that the circuit board is wrong but no response. Oh well.
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner - Don't Buy
Post by: cockpitbob on March 14, 2014, 09:37:11 PM
Demej00, you have an admirably high threshold of pain  ;) .  The seller has lots of negative feedback, but nothing recent on the tuner.  Maybe they've improved some of the other issues I had.  Get your ticket so you can tell me how it works ;D
Title: Re: $21 Full Function QRP tuner
Post by: Archangel320420 on March 15, 2014, 12:20:52 AM
Quote from: Lamewolf on November 07, 2013, 09:45:47 AM
Quote from: KK0G on October 07, 2013, 04:47:58 PM
Quote from: Lamewolf on October 07, 2013, 04:44:09 PM
Good price, but I just finished building a T-match tuner from parts I had on hand.  I had an enclosure that is almost the exact same size as my Yaesu FT-817 so it looks like it was made for the 817 and I even had room on the front panel to add a 3/8" x 24 thread antenna mount so I can put a telescopic whip on the tuner for manpack operation.  With a 6' whip it will tune 10 thru 40 meters and with an add on coil at the base of the whip it will also tune 60 & 80 meters !  Haven't made any contacts with it yet, but the weather is nice this evening, so I'll take it to the back yard and give it a try.


Sounds cool. Photos?

Here ya go with the pictures of my manpack tuner.


Great pictures! Thanks for posting and great job.