Category: Amateur Radio

QRP Labs VFO Review [Spoiler: we love it!]

I’ve had the QRP Labs VFO for many many months now and it’s about time I got around to actually writing a review of it. When I originally purchased my BITX40, it did not come with a digital VFO. With the analog VFO, tuning was an exercise in futility. I had never owned an HF …

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QRP Labs U3S WSPR Transmitter Build and Test

The QRP Labs U3S is a multi-mode transmitter kit. It outputs 200mw of power on any band you have a filter for, and is extendable to up to 6 bands that it can rotate through. It’s only $33 and is incredibly capable. Let’s check it out! I received the U3S in April 2017, but was …

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An Inexpensive Digital Multimeter for the Thrifty Ham

When playing with ham radio or any other electronics, it’s pretty obvious that you need a Multimeter (DVM, Meter, whatever you want to call it) and if you’re like me, you’re on a bit of a budget. For me, I wanted to accurately set the bias on the IRF510 PA in my BITX40. This requires …

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20M Inverted V with Lightweight Dipole Center

One of the many joys of being a ham radio operator is building antennas. I’ve covered the L-Match tuner and long wire antenna in the past, and while it’s a great way to get on the air, a resonant antenna is always nice- if you have the room for it. When you’ve only got 5w …

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Converting the BITX40 to 20M

A very hacked BITX40

20m BITX40 conversion IMPORTANT- READ THIS FIRST [UPDATE 11/14/2017]: After even more experimentation, I have concluded that this method works great for the Band Pass Filter, but that the BITX40v3’s PA is not optimized for operation above 40m. It will work on 20m, but at reduced output of only 1 watt. The following information is left …

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The Quest for the Genuine IRF510

The Problem Recently, I had a need to replace the IRF510 PA MOSFET in my BITX40 radio. A malfunction with my VOX PTT circuit caused it to stay keyed down for a very long time while unattended. Oops! With that fixed, it was time to replace the IRF510. The Search I scoured the usual places …

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QRP Antenna Pole: 20ft for $10

Jackite Pole Comparison

No matter whether you’re using JT65, Voice, CW, or any other mode, you need to have an antenna. When you’re QRP, you also need all the help you can get. And high is might,. right? If you are going to be portable, you need a portable antenna. At my home, I don’t have room for …

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Converting the BITX40: Dual Band HF Radio

BITX40 Dual Band Conversion

One of the beautiful things about the BITX40 is that it is very hackable. If you want to add a feature to it, it’s almost certainly possible. In a previous post, I showed a quick and dirty way to add 80m to the BITX40 by bypassing the Band Pass Filter. That method works, although it’s anything …

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BITX40 Case Build: W7RLF

I recently took delivery of a BangGood Instrument Case, which sells for about $10. Many BITX40 owners have used this case to good effect. It’s big enough for the BITX40 with some room to spare, and the price is right. Being plastic, some consider it inferior as a radio case, but for me it’s a …

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BITX40 Is it a good Beginners HF Radio?

People often look at the price of the BITX40 and assume that at such a low price point it must be a good entry into HF Radio. But is that really the case? Let’s take a look at a few facets of the BITX40, and you can see if it’s the right radio for you. …

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