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Author Topic: What 5-watt fully assembled HF transmitter to buy?  (Read 704 times)

K4BDA

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What 5-watt fully assembled HF transmitter to buy?
« on: November 27, 2022, 04:15:49 PM »

I just bought a great SDR receiver and need a transmitter to go with it.

I've Googled for a transmitter but there is so much clutter online I thought I'd ask for suggestions...

1 - What 5-watt +/- fully assembled HF CW transmitters are available?

2 - What kits would you suggest if I decide to build it?

3 - Any that do both CW & SSB ?

Thanks for any help.
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WB0FDJ

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Re: What 5-watt fully assembled HF transmitter to buy?
« Reply #1 on: November 27, 2022, 07:09:29 PM »

FWIW: I'm not aware of any fully assembled HF 5 watt transmitters out there. Not saying there aren't any, but doubt it. Can't imagine too much of a market. As you probably no well there are lots of QRP transceivers. 

If you wanted something cheap and easy to experiment with and didn't mind sniffing some solder I would recommend NM0S's NS-40 5 watts transmitter. It's a very easy build, few parts, some ingenious design and is available through his website: http://nm0s-electronics.com/ns40.html. This is crystal controlled but a handful of cheap crystals will give you some leeway.

WB0FDJ Doc 73
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K4LIX

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Re: What 5-watt fully assembled HF transmitter to buy?
« Reply #2 on: November 28, 2022, 05:09:25 AM »

There is an Icom IC-703, 160m thru 6m, 10 watts I think, for sale on eHam.net for $500+. I had one mobile years ago, very nice package - I think the 703 also contains the antenna tuner - same radio as the IC-706 but without the power amplifier.  Good luck in your search.  73 de Jim - K4LIX
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KD7RDZI2

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Re: What 5-watt fully assembled HF transmitter to buy?
« Reply #3 on: November 28, 2022, 06:05:08 AM »

Try the NS40 qrp transmitter. It's on ebay at 20 USD. Look also the full coverage cw/ssb uBitx https://www.hfsignals.com/index.php/ubitx-v6-buy-the-full-kit/.  The Kanga RXTX switchbox or MFJ switchbox might be needed in both cases. Look also to old transceivers like the IC751A or 765 that I guess they even have separate outputs for receivers. I have a drake tube transmitter that obviously has the separate RX port as well.
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KD2HCU

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Re: What 5-watt fully assembled HF transmitter to buy?
« Reply #4 on: November 28, 2022, 07:46:39 AM »

 I just bought a tr(usdx) on line fully assembled for about $40.  After researching it I found that there a a ton of Chinese clones available, but I decided to buy from a dealer approved by the ham who developed the system, DL2MAN ( a google search will find his website).  I can't give a review because I haven't tried it yet.  Shipping was from NJ and very quick.  It covers 20 30 40 80, but there is a classic version that does 15 20 40 80, but I don't know if its sold that way or you have to work on it. AM SSB CW.
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WA3SKN

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Re: What 5-watt fully assembled HF transmitter to buy?
« Reply #5 on: November 28, 2022, 09:06:26 AM »

Gotta budget?
New or used?

-Mike.
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K4BDA

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Re: What 5-watt fully assembled HF transmitter to buy?
« Reply #6 on: November 28, 2022, 09:23:44 AM »

WB0FDJ and KD7RDZI2,
I'll check out the NM0S's NS-40.
- That said I'm hopeful to find something that works at lease 80 thru 20 meters. Maybe the NS-40 can be modified for other bands.

KD2HCU,
I couldn't find a place to buy the tr(usdx) fully assembled. Can you give me a link?
I went to the DL2MAN website but saw no fully assembled units for sale... unless I misssed.
- Also wonder if it is  one frequency per band or a built in VFO?
- And, it say's does CW & SSB... is that transmit and receive SSB or what?

WA3SKN,
- New or Used OK.
- Regarding price... I see kits from $20 to about $40 online... but I prefer fully assembled and tested so, maybe a little more...
That said, KD2HCU just bought a fully-assembled tx(usdx) online for 40-bucks.

Thanks for the suggestions folks... keep 'em commin'.

de K4BDA


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HAMHOCK75

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Re: What 5-watt fully assembled HF transmitter to buy?
« Reply #7 on: November 28, 2022, 10:22:44 AM »

The (tr)usdx is normally about $138-160 assembled, $88 as a kit.
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N6YWU

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Re: What 5-watt fully assembled HF transmitter to buy?
« Reply #8 on: November 28, 2022, 01:04:19 PM »

I couldn't find a place to buy the tr(usdx) fully assembled. Can you give me a link?

The (tr)uSDX website has a list of "official" suppliers here:
 https://dl2man.de/where-to-buy-trusdx/
There should be a link there for an approved eBay vendor that sells both kits and fully assembled transceivers for about $140 to $145.  (select fully assembled vs. kit via a drop-down on eBay) 

I ordered one from the listed eBay vendor. The (tr)uSDX unit I received puts out a clean 5W signal.
« Last Edit: November 28, 2022, 01:06:22 PM by N6YWU »
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HAMHOCK75

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Re: What 5-watt fully assembled HF transmitter to buy?
« Reply #9 on: November 28, 2022, 01:46:02 PM »

It may be a good reminder at this point to the hear how the originators of the (tr)uSDX sees these rigs. In this video, one of the originators at about 49:30 minutes into the video says “you’re not buying a completed commercial rig…” referring to the assembled version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBPIdE0tRo0
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