are there still kits available for the novice to build such as heathkit etc?
heathkit radio
- Thread starter cmed325
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Token
Member
Sort of, yes. Although there are not near the number or selection of kit type radio things out there today as there were in the 50's, 60's, and 70's there are still a few. I can think of a couple:
Ramsey Electronics ( Ramsey Electronics ) is probably the single biggest kit maker today starting at the simple end and going up.
Ten-Tec ( Ten-Tec ) has several kits, including a superhet SW RX and a couple of regenerative SW kits.
Elecraft ( Elecraft (r) Hands-On Ham Radio ) has several kits, but theirs tend to be a bit more complex....and better.
There are many more out there, Kenneke Comms, the entire SoftRock series of SDRs, MFJ, etc. A little research will point to a lot of them. But no, there is no one "all source" of kits like Heath Kit was, about the closest today, in my opinion, is Ramsey Electronics. But Ramsey tends to be a bit more on the "simple" end, Heath ran the gamut from simple to very good and complex.
T!
Ramsey Electronics ( Ramsey Electronics ) is probably the single biggest kit maker today starting at the simple end and going up.
Ten-Tec ( Ten-Tec ) has several kits, including a superhet SW RX and a couple of regenerative SW kits.
Elecraft ( Elecraft (r) Hands-On Ham Radio ) has several kits, but theirs tend to be a bit more complex....and better.
There are many more out there, Kenneke Comms, the entire SoftRock series of SDRs, MFJ, etc. A little research will point to a lot of them. But no, there is no one "all source" of kits like Heath Kit was, about the closest today, in my opinion, is Ramsey Electronics. But Ramsey tends to be a bit more on the "simple" end, Heath ran the gamut from simple to very good and complex.
T!
K4XB
Member
Unbuilt Heathkits
You will find quite a few unbuilt Heathkits offered on eBay. For the most popular kits the winning bid is usually high.
Scotty, K4XB
You will find quite a few unbuilt Heathkits offered on eBay. For the most popular kits the winning bid is usually high.
Scotty, K4XB
k9rzz
Member
Token nailed it. That's the current state of the kits today.
K9WG
Member
With all the surface mount and asic circuits, kit building has gone the way of the giant lizards.
FWIW, I built the TenTec SW receiver - it's model #1254. It's a bit pricey but it's a nice starter kit and you'll quickly learn the building blocks of a AM/SSB receiver. I do recommend it if you're needing a challenge.
It's a fun kit to build but it does have quite a few parts. I got too excited and didn't separate my parts first. Also, your soldering skills will be tested (as will be your soldering iron.) Don't use a cheap iron with this kit. Don't use cheap RS solder. Buy some quality solder (Kester, etc.)
As with most kits (with the exception of the Elecraft K3), the instructions are usually the worst part. The 1254 is no exception. The instructions are clearly typed (on an actual typewriter) and there must be at least a half-dozen correction or part change notices.
If you decide to go with the 1254 kit then be sure to search Google before you build one. There are a couple of guys (that know what they're doing) and have re-designed certain sections for better audio quality or improvements.
If you don't have any experience with RFI then you'll get it with this one. The LED controller module is very noisy and isn't shielded -- and thus you will hear some pretty bad RFI when turning the VFO dial. It's easily fixed with some proper copper foil shielding.
I still have my 1254 and it still works fine. Would I use the 1254 for actual listening - no, not really -- but I did learn a lot about receiver design. It could be a respectable cabin radio.
FYI, there's no "coil-building" with this kit. Those are pre-made for you. You just have to solder them to the board. There are no SMT parts either.
The hardest part for me was just learning patience. I was double-checking my work but that doesn't matter if you don't have the correct part values.
PS. One funny thing was learning to read the color code on resistors. One day the green looks purple and the other day it looks black. GRR! Thankfully some newer resistors are coming with actual NUMERIC values printed on them! :twisted:
It's a fun kit to build but it does have quite a few parts. I got too excited and didn't separate my parts first. Also, your soldering skills will be tested (as will be your soldering iron.) Don't use a cheap iron with this kit. Don't use cheap RS solder. Buy some quality solder (Kester, etc.)
As with most kits (with the exception of the Elecraft K3), the instructions are usually the worst part. The 1254 is no exception. The instructions are clearly typed (on an actual typewriter) and there must be at least a half-dozen correction or part change notices.
If you decide to go with the 1254 kit then be sure to search Google before you build one. There are a couple of guys (that know what they're doing) and have re-designed certain sections for better audio quality or improvements.
If you don't have any experience with RFI then you'll get it with this one. The LED controller module is very noisy and isn't shielded -- and thus you will hear some pretty bad RFI when turning the VFO dial. It's easily fixed with some proper copper foil shielding.
I still have my 1254 and it still works fine. Would I use the 1254 for actual listening - no, not really -- but I did learn a lot about receiver design. It could be a respectable cabin radio.
FYI, there's no "coil-building" with this kit. Those are pre-made for you. You just have to solder them to the board. There are no SMT parts either.
The hardest part for me was just learning patience. I was double-checking my work but that doesn't matter if you don't have the correct part values.
PS. One funny thing was learning to read the color code on resistors. One day the green looks purple and the other day it looks black. GRR! Thankfully some newer resistors are coming with actual NUMERIC values printed on them! :twisted:
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"You will find quite a few unbuilt Heathkits offered on eBay. For the most popular kits the winning bid is usually high."
And for good reason, NIB kits are extremely rare collectors' items sold as such. The Stock Market isn't the only trading floor, each time one is resold the price goes up and the seller makes a profit. Assemble it and it's just another boat anchor no matter that it's in perfect like new condition.
And for good reason, NIB kits are extremely rare collectors' items sold as such. The Stock Market isn't the only trading floor, each time one is resold the price goes up and the seller makes a profit. Assemble it and it's just another boat anchor no matter that it's in perfect like new condition.
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