Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Wilderness Sierra

Category: QRP Radios (5 watts or less)

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : Wilderness Sierra
Reviews: 26MSRP: 245 with 1 band module
Description:
A battery friendly multiband QSK CW rig of circa 3W output
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.fix.net/~jparker/wilderness/sierra.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00265
K3DGR Rating: 2006-03-25
Great QRP rig ..fast QSK!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Finished building and aligning my Sierra with KC2 option a few weeks ago and have been having a ball on 40m..Very easy kit, manual is most informative on customizing the available options, (added the KC2 keyer,wattmeter, digital display) and what a fun QRP radio to build and use. I especially liked the adjustable bandpass filter (ABX) on the front panel, wished other "big" QRP companies had that feature. Now I have spent considerable time researching the available mods offered over the years and ..yep, you got it.. will be running the Sierra at the QRP "kilowatt" level in a few days!..Love that fast QSK..Keep up the great work QRP Bob..your tech service is outstanding..See you on 30m or 40m QRP freq..Dave, AA3EJ/QRP [ham since '57, QRP CW past 30 years!]
N0NBD Rating: 2005-11-30
Fantastic Radio Kit!!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just finished building my Sierra. It all aligned perfect the first time. I had a cold solder joint on one toroid and QRPBOB was very helpfull on the phone and a couple E-Mails to help me get it running. Was not hard to build at all and the outcome is a GREAT radio. Buy one you will enjoy it.

de Paul N0NBD ar sk..
W0LC Rating: 2005-06-01
The Best Ever!!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I love this little radio! It works great, built great, hears great and get's out.
I love the fact it is a transceiver and you can use it vs. just being a transmitter. It has exceptional selectivity and sensitivity. Well documented, easy to use, etc.

Get one, you won't regret it!

W5CGH Rating: 2002-10-31
Great radio!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought my Wilderness Sierra with KC-2 in the fall of 1996, and it is truly a great portable radio. Wayne did a superb job in the design. I bought modules for 160, 80, 40, 30, 20 and 15 Meters, but have never built the modules for 160, 80 or 15. I've used the Sierra several times as the primary radio on Field Day, as well as several FYBO and Flight of the Bumblebees contests, and it has never failed to perform.

I also bought the BuzzNot noise blanker, but have never installed it.

If you're buying a Sierra, be sure to spend the extra money to buy the KC-2. It is money well spent in terms of getting on frequency. I have only used the KC-2's internal keyer once or twice as I "always" use my CMOS Super Keyer III, but the KC-2 keyer seemed to work well.

72,

Brad, W5CGH
K1ZYW Rating: 2002-04-06
Great kit, great rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I built the Sierra a few years ago and now have all plug in modules built and working to spec

Not a beginner's kit. Get a couple of easier kits under your belt or get an Elmer to check your work. I have built dozens of kits and this one - goes together very well. Tech support (Bob) is excellent.

The rig is AWESOME. Keys well, receiver is everthing it should be.

If you get one you'll like it alot.

73
Ken K1ZYW
VK2KET Rating: 2002-01-14
Great Camping Rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Similarly to AA0B I have constructed the Sierra using the FAR boards and recrystaled as per the Noga qrp club Compendium. It outperforms my comercial home rigs on CW, and is a delight to use when portable, sensitive and very current friendly. So good that I now use it as the main one for home and have built another for portable operations. Not as easy as the Wilderness kit to construct but enjoyable nevertherless.
72 Alex
KB2NTO Rating: 2001-06-09
Great QRP rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought this radio already built so did not have the thrill of firing it up the first time. Having said that the first time I operated this rig was still exciting. I have worked 8 states so far and am very pleased with my purchase. I have compared the receive to other radios in my shack. Although not new these rigs have excellant receive and the Sierra hears more. Simply put this is a great QRP rig and very battery friendly. My Sierra has the KC-2 and Buzznot options....73 Ed
AA7JC Rating: 2001-02-03
Love it Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I researched the kit market back in 1998 and was so impressed with specs of the Sierra QRP kit from Wilderness Radio that I bought one. I had a blast building it but the greatest joy of course was watching it come to life the first time I applied power. I have since taken it on all my camping trips and have logged many memerable QSOs. The receiver is top notch and the CW operation is flawless. The vfo is absolutely rock solid stable. I have a picture of my Sierra on my web site at http://www.lotts.net/ken/ham/


----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by AA7JC on 1999-10-14

I built my sierra a few years ago and have been very happy with it. The Sierra has a great receiver and can cut through the qrm very well. Its qsk is as good as or better than any rig at any price. All in all, it is a fun little radio. It was a blast to build. I take it camping and use a gel cell to operate it. I have left in on all night and not drained the battery.

You can see a picture of mine at
http://www.lotts.net/ken/ham/
AA0B Rating: 2000-07-20
Homebrew Sierra Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just finished building my Sierra from parts using the
Far Circuits boards. (Jan 2000) It took me several orders
from several parts houses. I worked on it in my spare
time. I have modules for 80, 40, 30, 20, and 15 meters,
and am working on the 160 meter module.
The Far Circuits boards don't have plated-thru holes so
jumpers had to be used to carry from top to bottom of the
boards. My 15 meter module from Wilderness Radio didn't
have this problem.
Good design, low drain, compact, well thought out rig.
G3VGR Rating: 2000-05-08
Superb little rig Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought mine from G3XJS. It had most band modules, the KC2, Buzznot and DL-QRP-PA. I've added the remaining 2 band modules and a DL-SWR LED meter. The original idea was to get the rig for portable use, but I love the receiver and QSK, so it's currently being used as the main station rig, instead of my IC735. The buzznot NB doesn't seem to do much but the ABX is excellent. I had to change the driver to a 2N5109 to get the full 5 watt output from the DL-QRP-PA on 10/12 metres. The manual is first class, QRP Bob is helpful & answers e-mails quickly. I can't recommend this rig highly enough