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write your own review of the Small Wonder Labs SW+ Series.
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M0BMN
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 23, 2010 12:51
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Great Value Kit
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have built the 80/40/30/ and 20m versions of this kit and i am really impressed with the performance and value. I am involved in the running of the UK chapter of FISTS and we used this as a club project a couple of years ago and may do again soon. It is a easy build radio with good clear instructions. ok the basic kit does not come with a case or pots and knobs but that means you can choose just how you want the finished set to look , if you wish you can buy a purpose made case and control set which looks very nice but doubles the price (still a good deal) only problem i have had and i have had it on all the ones i have built is that the offset between rx and tx freqs means that my TX freq as been to far off the rx freq, all i have had to do is change one caps value to change the offset, not hard, but it would be nice if a small trimer cap had been used to allow this to be set correctly, i have fitted one on mine and that fixed it. anyway for the money you end up with a very usable radio, not a toy. 2-3 watts output really does the trick on CW and very low current drain so the radio will run for days on batterys.
you can not beat it,
73 Paul M0BMN
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WB0FDJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 24, 2009 14:39
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A great kit
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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An excellent radio! I did a few things wrong but found them without help-a true learning experience-due to excellent documentation. Once I got the receiver going I encountered a problem with the final. Sent email back and forth and was receiving replies from Dave at 6pm on a Friday evening! Once the replacement final arrived and was soldered into place the radio fired up with very minimal alignment. 2Watts. Very nice clean sounding receiver. Stable. Nice QSK. Within minutes had a 30 minute QSO with a W7 near Kingman AZ from SE MN with a 559 report. This is a great QRP kit. It does all you could ask from a simpler radio. Highly recommended.
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G3CWI
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 28, 2009 00:26
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Excellent
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Dave Benson's kits are always good and this one is no exception. I built the SW-80+ and have really enjoyed using it. The VFO is amazingly stable and the overall performance is superb for such a simple design. It lends itself to customisation and I have added a few minor "bells and whistles". The book "QRP Power" discusses this design in some detail and includes a whole section on modifications.
Thanks Dave.
73
Richard
G3CWI
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HZ1SK
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 22, 2009 17:17
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Great Rig
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Hi,
Again one of the best kits I have ever built.
It worked from the first time,no problems what so ever,the tuning of the rig is very simple and doesn't require sophisticated test equipment.
The reception is Excellent and I am getting 2 watts.Today I put the kit in the enclosure,I used an old computer Switch box as I wanted good space to use the 10 turn variable resistor for tuning and also I am planning to add an electronic key and a frequency meter later on.
In Brief,an fantastic kit .
Best 73,
Samir
OD5SK , HZ1SK , KC5RYL
www.od5sk.com
www.Laselki.net
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EA5BLP
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 25, 2009 18:43
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A simple and elegant design
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Fine QSK and general performance. It gives a solid 2 watts in the output.This is a minimalist radio with a very elegant electronic design. There are some very minor mistakes in the steep by steep assembly guide, easily solved loocking to the general mounting drawn or the schema.Really, one of the best and funny QRP rigs you can get today! And yes, the near-sight glasses are a good help...
73 dx!
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VK5GI
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 26, 2009 02:43
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Just Buy One!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I dithered a lot as to which kit to buy - but eventually settled on the SW-40+. I'm really -
- REALLY glad I did. My eyesight isn't what it used to be, so with the aid of magnifiers and a few prayers, I completed the construction over about four afternoons - couple of hours each. It went together easily, the construction notes are superb, with no bits missing. I think that this would really suit a first time kit buyer if they took their time about it. I took it to a friends place (VK5XGH) to do the smoke test, and the transmitting side fired up beautifully. Couldn't hear a thing tho'! Mea Culpa. I'd inserted a wrong value capacitor, and put a couple of resistors in the wrong holes. Greg fixed those and the wee rig burst into life. It's very easy to align, and I have the phones on as I write this listening to 40 metres.
Pro: Everything - just write to Dave and buy one, there is no way you'll be disappointed.
Cons: I wish the case was a tad bigger so's I can fit in the KC-1 frequency counter and keyer. Maybe a tad higher too so's I can fit in a 10 turn pot.
In the event, the Cons don't matter. This is a superbly thought out transceiver which works extremely well, lends itself to numerous mods if you are so inclined, and all at a very modest cost. If you, too, are dithering, just go ahead and buy one. You too will not be disappointed.
Kind regards
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K3XR
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 25, 2009 10:58
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SCORE!! Another 5
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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In Feb. 06 I built the 30 mtr version for a winter project (review here). Just finished the 80 meter version, receiver worked great as soon as power was applied, no TX. Scratched my head, checked componet values, did some voltage checks, read over the 'troubleshooting' where Dave points out.... "85% of problems are caused by cold solder joints" ....Dave knows his kits. Went over all solder joints in area of the TX on the board and BINGO about 3 wtts out. First QSO 579 in N.C.. Talk about bang for the buc..can't beat it.
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AE5KM
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 15, 2009 20:52
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Good kit to build, good manuals and works well
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I built this over the Christmas holidays and I've been tweaking it some. It was quite easy to build, it worked basically the first time. The instructions are good, and the results are good. I've even souped it up a little.
You can see what I did at http://mysite.verizon.net/tcminyard/SW40_work.html
Only one small problem, I'm getting a whistle at some frequencies. Not sure why, but it may not be happy about the wide tuning range I modified it to have.
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K4ALE
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 6, 2008 19:43
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Another happy builder/user
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I just finished building this rig, had my first QSO with a great report, and wanted to add my comments. Mine is the 40m version: SW+40. I also get 3 watts out with no "rasp" on the CW tone, as monitored on my other rigs.
I have built a number of QRP rigs, and with the exception of the Elecraft KX-1, which is really in a different class, this is the best receiver. For a few more dollars over many of the other options, and little, if any, extra work, this mono-band rig is certainly worth the effort. I am NOT a technician, and so for those who aren't this is easily within reach. Take your time, and do the soldering carefully, as you must for any project. A little care will result in a rig, like mine, which worked first time.
I also strongly recommend the Small Wonder Labs enclosure, unless you are already a wiz at making your own--it bridges the gap between a good PCB and a completed project, when you really want it!
Look at the modifications on the Internet, but unless you are an advanced tinkerer, you won't need them. The details are quite nice: a hot and very tight receiver--the crystal filter really works very well, even on the crowded part of 40m; 3 watts is all you need for most QRP from a good antenna; the VXO tuning is quite effective, with the T-R switching and muting functions very effective; it has a small bit of sent signal in the rcvr, so side tone is heard while transmitting, and, alignment is easy without fancy gear, if you follow the instructions and be patient.
I took my time, watched movies while I worked over Fourth of July weekend, and did it all in a little over a day, including alignment.
As noted, in my experience, there are few rigs in this price range which will please you as much. The wait for the kit only adds to the pleasure. Go for it!
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VK4JAZ
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Rating: 5/5
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May 18, 2008 19:11
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The best kit by far!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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What a great little rig (with big performance). I am not a newcomer to kit building and think this is the best kit I have ever built and operated. What a marvelous receiver too. I operate mine at 3W and receive great sig reports. It never ceases to amaze me how good this rig is; I can almost hear the jaws dropping at the other end when I mention I am on only 3W. Thanks Dave for another great rig to add to my line-up.
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