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Author Topic: guessing there will be growth in QRP "digital appliance" space - agree/disagree?  (Read 608 times)

KO4SQK

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I'm newish to amateur radio, started like most with VHF/UHF, including digital VARA FM, as EmComm is a major driver for me.  Got my general license and am attracted to QRP and field work (both EmComm and maybe POTA for fun and practice).

The Xiegus and Elecrafts look interesting and capable, for sure.

But for starters anyway I don't care about voice and would like ultra light weight and low cost, plus pre-built.

The QRP Labs QDX 4-band digital transceiver looks really interesting:
http://shop.qrp-labs.com/qdx
since VARA HF is all I want for starters.

... but it's a kit and not where I should start learning to solder...

Wish there were a few competitors in the space... and assembled.  I'm guessing with the rise of SDR and others like me who either "just" want QRP HF digital, or would value a light and inexpensive transceiver to carry in the field, that there might be enough of a market to attract product developments in this space.

What do others think?
Thanks in advance!
Scott  KO4SQK
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W0CKI

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Check out the QRP Labs prebuilt single band rigs. Great value and they work great. Also check out WA3RNC. He has a couple of very interesting entries that are multi band.
GL, Gary W0CKI
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WB6BYU

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There usually isn’t enough difference in the circuitry to
justify leaving off voice while still supporting digital
operation (unless you always operate on the same
frequency).  The market for digital-only is relatively
small, and adding SSB greatly increases potential
sales.

That’s less true of CW, which doesn’t require linear
power amplifier stages, but still the receiver and
frequency control circuits are essentially the same,
regardless of mode.


Meanwhile, a lot of niche products are sold as kits
because the FCC certification process is much simpler
(and cheaper) than for assembled models.  Many
simple rigs would never sell enough units to cover
the cost of certification, even if assembly didn’t
cost anything.


One solution is to buy a kit and pay someone to
assemble it for you.  Elecraft had a list of such
folks for their products at one point.

W1VT

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A 100 watt rig and a lithium battery to run it for a few hours on casual voice doesn't weigh all that much more compared to what I used to operate QRP portable in the 1980s.
A Heathkit HW-9 weighs 4.6 lbs. 

« Last Edit: May 06, 2022, 03:05:17 PM by W1VT »
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N4OI

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As an example of a "digital appliance," I built a Small Wonder Labs PSK-20 many years ago and (like all my QRP kits and old rigs) I still fire it up once in a while to make a QSO or two...  Although discontinued, it is about as simple as it gets for digital...  Connect power, antenna, audio in, audio out, and get on the air...  (CW is still the best mode for simplicity, however...)

https://www.qsl.net/k5lxp/qrp/PSK20/PSK20.html

73   8)
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KO4SQK

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Thank you!  ... to those who have replied already - that's a nice diverse set of responses already, each with a valuable perspective!

If there are others with new angles, or "me too" comments, I'd be happy to see those too!

73
Scott
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DL3NAA

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https://www.venus-itech.com/product/dr4020-digital-qrp-radio/
https://qrpver.com/transceivers/qrpver-1-v-2-jt65-psk-bpsk-fsq-qrp-transceiver.html

I dont do digital but these transceivers is assembled and do digital only.

Just an advise: If you want to do digital modes in the field please consider you need an laptop or something which adds weight and comsumes power. In the field CW is much better I think.

73!
Peter DL3NAA


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N6YWU

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A Heathkit HW-9 weighs 4.6 lbs.

The QRPGuys Digital Mode FSK transceiver III kit weighs 87 gram, assembled for 1 band, a bit lighter than 4+ lbs.  https://qrpguys.com/qrpguys-digital-fsk-transceiver-iii  But it requires a small amount of SMT soldering, so not a starter kit for complete beginners.

But, if I couldn't build, instead of just waiting for and buying a pre-built appliance radio, I would hire an experienced kit builder to build a new kit for me, and maybe even have the builder let me do small parts of the assembly myself so I could start learning how the radio is constructed and works.
« Last Edit: May 11, 2022, 11:21:37 PM by N6YWU »
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W1VT

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That QRP guys kit looks like a great option for the homebrewer.  I wonder how light a complete digital station can be, including batteries, computer, visual display, and antenna?
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N6YWU

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That QRP guys kit looks like a great option for the homebrewer.  I wonder how light a complete digital station can be, including batteries, computer, visual display, and antenna?

Minus the antenna, here you go:



The digital transceiver is 87 grams, computer+display is an iPhone 13 mini at 135 grams, didn't weigh the cables and adapters.  The 9V alkaline is 45 grams; but you may want to use a larger (heavier) battery to Tx at the full 5 Watts.

An iPhone 13 has more DSP peak computational performance than most PC laptops.
« Last Edit: May 13, 2022, 09:26:54 PM by N6YWU »
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