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[W9IQ]

There is also a limit as to how many completed amplifiers you can sell if not type accepted or sold as a kit.

--Shane
WP2ASS / ex KD6VXI

No there is not if the exception that I posted applies.

- Glenn W9IQ

The story I got was just one amplifier per year.

Well, Part 97 specifically excludes the need for certification under certain circumstances as I already highlighted on this thread. There have been changes over the last several decades and some people do not keep up with the changes.

If the amp is required to be certified then the following is the only quantity type limitation:

§ 2.815(b)(3) No more than 10 external radio frequency power amplifiers may be constructed for evaluation purposes in preparation for the submission of an application for a grant of certification.

Part 15 of the regulations have various limitations for kits but this is not pertinent to a Part 97 amplifier.

- Glenn W9IQ

[KD6VXI]

Glen,

The verbiage may have changed over the years.  When I was first studying (decades ago, at the end of the CB boom) it was 4 amplifiers per year.  That stuck in my head as I was building amplifiers for pocket money in high school.

I don't know when that changed, but it helps to explain the W6PQL and the 6 land
 SK who was building the pair of 4-1000s back in the day.

For all I remember, it could have been in the 50s, as that's why at my school library had.  Great for learning tubes!

--Shane
WP2ASS / ex KD6VXI

[KB4MNG]

I "feel" like I got burned on a elecraft kit. I bought a k1 at the end of their run for the kit experience. They had obsolete parts so they had to retro fit sm chips to a board. Anyway carefully put it together and it did not work. Long story short, I had a ton of $ in the finished radio.  No more kits for me.

[AC2RY]

I "feel" like I got burned on a elecraft kit. I bought a k1 at the end of their run for the kit experience. They had obsolete parts so they had to retro fit sm chips to a board. Anyway carefully put it together and it did not work. Long story short, I had a ton of $ in the finished radio.  No more kits for me.

Kit is not for saving money. It allows some learning how device operates internally, how to do module level assembly and final testing. This along with some troubleshooting if needed. Thus it is for DIYers who is not comfortable with building from scratch. If you save some money on it - good, but do not complain if you spend on it more than on ready to use black box.

[KD6VXI]

Elecraft is known for helping people get a working radio.

Did you contact them for help?

--Shane
WP2ASS / ex KD6VXI

[VR2AX]

Agree with the last post. I assembled (rather than 'built') a K2 kit back around 2005 or 2006, thank Goodness it worked, but that was partly due to perseverance rather than skill, weeks of pouring over a esd soldering station. The K1 was not an 'easy' build, did contemplate one, quite a lot smaller than the K2, I didn't even know it had smd parts, at least, ones that Elecraft expected the kit builder to change. Try to get it going if you still have it. I think the M III is in a different league as a 'kit', it's more a refresher on what an amplifier contains in its few basic building blocks (like meccano or lego maybe, sp).

[K0UA]

Exactly. The Mercury IIIs was a "kit" in name only. There wasn't any components to put on circuit boards, All of the boards were 100% complete and tested, wrapped up and shipped all in a big box. You "assembled the boards, and their standoff's and nuts and bolts, and soldered a few coax jumpers between boards, bolted in some SO-239's and soldered their center pins on a circuit board on the back panel along with some RCA connectors, a few things like that, Oh sure a lot of nuts and bolts and boards to mount and a display to get centered and bolted in a hole in the case, a power supply to shoe horn in there and solder up its line connections. But all in all, I would consider this about a level 1 "kit". Sure you need some mechanical skills and have the ability to use screwdrivers and nutdrivers and solder a little bit, but overall it was not near the complexity of completing a K1 kit. I don't remember soldering on a single component.

[KD6VXI]

Anyone know what the guideline is for kit vs assembled?

Like in the ghost gun industry, you have to complete 20 percent of the work to classify as not a firearm (pre DoJ recent rules).

What is the limitation on a kit?  Installing SO239s be a kit, if the rest is already assembled?

--Shane
WP2ASS / ex KD6VXI

[W9IQ]

Anyone know what the guideline is for kit vs assembled?

Like in the ghost gun industry, you have to complete 20 percent of the work to classify as not a firearm (pre DoJ recent rules).

What is the limitation on a kit?  Installing SO239s be a kit, if the rest is already assembled?

--Shane
WP2ASS / ex KD6VXI

For Part 97 compliance, the FCC doesn't distinguish nor does it define a kit. If it is sold to a licensed ham for use in their station, it doesn't matter.

- Glenn W9IQ

[KD6VXI]

Thanks for the clarification Glenn.


--Shane
WP2ASS / ex KD6VXI

[K8AXW]

Heath kits, Knight kits, et al, were popular for one reason and one reason only. That was to save money!  For most of us the "kit method" was the only way to obtain and enjoy a lot of ham gear.

I built over $2,000 worth of the various available kits down through the years. They allowed me to enjoy ham radio as I did.  I simply couldn't afford the costs of commercial gear.

I learned some building kits but the basic; the primary reason was this was all I could afford.

[AC2RY]

Heath kits, Knight kits, et al, were popular for one reason and one reason only. That was to save money!  For most of us the "kit method" was the only way to obtain and enjoy a lot of ham gear.

I built over $2,000 worth of the various available kits down through the years. They allowed me to enjoy ham radio as I did.  I simply couldn't afford the costs of commercial gear.

I learned some building kits but the basic; the primary reason was this was all I could afford.

You are recalling things which were actual 50 years ago. Not anymore. Now you can order custom board made on order and fully populated with SMD components for $100 or less. If you decide to do SMD soldering yourself, you may need to spend much more on tools than the price of common transceiver like IC-7300.

At this day and age, module level assembly is the only thing left to do with a kit. But you still likely need some test tools like digital storage oscilloscope and signal generator to diagnose the possible issues you may experience. Though you will buy these tools ones and then use for many years on all your future projects. Even if you start getting into microwave with full custom build, you can purchase modules already built and tested at factory. But you will also need many more expensive test tools.

Thus today kit building and any other DIY work is generally more expensive than getting ready to use device build and tested at factory.

[KC0W]

 A Mercury III has just been posted for sale right now on QRZ..............Act now, chances are it will be gone within the next hour or so.

 https://forums.qrz.com/index.php?threads/mercury-iii-s-hf-6m-linear-amplifier.831283/


                                                               Tom KH0/KC0W

[VE7RF]

Out of interest..... how much power will the merc-3 do on modes like 6M  EME  ?   Apparently, the jst data mode used for 6M is aprx 52 secs on...and 58 secs off.

Will the merc-3 do say 500-600 watts  of 52 on / 58 off  ?

[K8AXW]

2RY:  With the exception of small inexpensive QRP transceiver/accessories kits, "kits" are no longer available.  (That I'm aware of) So this facet of the "kit" discussion is somewhat moot. But my curiosity is aroused. 

I think my last "kit" build was the Heath SB-102 5-band CW/SSB 100W transceiver.  I sent them a check and they sent me a box containing 1,619 parts.  I assembled it with a small soldering iron, nut drivers needle nose plyers and a small wire cutter.

How would I do the same thing today with the "custom, populated modules" you mention.  I am completely out of touch these days.

The only thing close is the Mercury IIIa, which I did buy and assemble.  (only way to get it at the time) However, even though it was labeled a "kit" I don't recognize it as such....but who am I?  I don't feel it meets your description either to be fair.  No offense intended....