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Reviews For: LNR Precision Mountain Topper

Category: QRP Radios (5 watts or less)

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Review Summary For : LNR Precision Mountain Topper
Reviews: 19MSRP: 250
Description:
Fully assembled, small size, light weight QRP transceiver, 40M/30M/20M, designed by KD1JV
Product is in production
More Info: http://lnrprecision.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00194.9
WB3EVZ Rating: 2021-02-25
Power sipping 3 band rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned the original style MTR3B (with the single 7 segment LED display) for over a year now. I've put it through its paces and I'm thoroughly impressed. It is VERY battery efficient. You have loads of options to power it. You can even use a simple 9v battery. It is teeny, lightweight and well built. Perfect for day hikes. A simple, easy & fun rig. The menus are easy to use. I have zero complaints. LNR's customer service is first rate if you do ever need to use it. Larry's replies to e-mail inquiries are always prompt. 73
K7DAA Rating: 2020-07-31
MTR3B super small and fun Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
NOTE: LNR says on their website, dated 7/28/20, that they are nearing the end of the present run of MTR3B's. They are limiting sales to the USA only now as the last few go out the door. I'm sure they will be back in stock again soon enough, but if you are thinking of buying one, now seems to be the time to get off the fence!

After building the original kit into an Altoids tin, I still wanted the more finished look and feel of the LCD version.

I'm glad I bought this one. Great little radio, with quite a bit of functionality built in. I especially like having the 3 memories for CQ'ing or beaconing.

I'm just amazed that this little guy runs as well as it does with just a 9V battery, giving about 2 watts output.

My advice is to buy the optional 9V battery DC adapter kit, since it doesn't come with one. It uses the same DC connector as the Yaesu FT-817/8.
N7KM Rating: 2019-06-30
Pleasingly surprised! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I own several top of the line QRP rigs and enjoy this part of the hobby. Eight months ago I acquired a MTR3B LCD. I have used it portable while camping and hiking. I thought it would be just a fun little rig and soon found it is a masterpiece of engineering simplicity. Using eight AA NIMH batteries and a home brew half wave I can go for a week without a recharge. I’m a rag chewer and many QSOs last for 30 minutes to an hour. The reports on the keying are always superb and the receiver is excellent. It just works and works and works and everything I need fits in a tiny camera bag. I don’t usually give reviews on radios but this tiny box is so much fun I just had to. A couple of weeks ago I actually had my heart race when I worked Africa portable 3 Watts! That takes some doing for someone who’s been an active ham for 63 Years.
VA2SS Rating: 2019-05-27
Amazing! Minimalist and awesome! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought the Mountain Topper MTR3B at the FMDI vendors night, the new edition with the LCD display. Tried it for the 1st time during WPX CW contest 2019 on 20m powered only with a 9V battery, and I was using my Alexloop antenna installed atop my picnic table.

I am really amazed.... did a few contacts without much effort... so far, I am pleased using this minimalist QRP kit. This is not my first QRP transceivers.... but this one has something really particular.... tiny form factor, amazing RX current draw.... a nice QRP go kit to have fun!

73 de Jeff | VA2SS
N4RSS Rating: 2019-04-19
Great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have the original and just received the new version with LCD display.

It took some work, but using the trail friendly antenna at 6 feet off the ground, made contacts from the patio to Bulgaria and Germany this afternoon.
WD0BCT Rating: 2018-11-19
Great QRP CW rig Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
After getting into QRP with a Yaesu FT-817ND I quickly learned that CW was the most fun. I also learned that if you wished to spend a little time on the radio you needed to pack in some extra battery capacity. So for those forays into hiking trips you really needed a CW only rig and minimum power usage. My googling of such rigs brought me to the LNR MTR3B. Building modern kits with micro=electronics is not my cup of tea. So I ordered one and immediately put it to use on hikes into the foothills. The only things required are a head set with volume control (the audio out has no volume control and is a tad bit too loud for me) and a good portable antenna. The LNR 20M EF works well for me. For batteries a couple of 9 volt batteries goes a long way. My next add on will be a micro key that can be fixed to the side. I'm enjoying this unit immensely.
KD5RYO Rating: 2018-04-22
plenty of fun and features in a qrp package Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I really enjoy my five band mountain topper (MTR-5B). It's compact, battery operated, and very durable as far as I can tell.

I haven't had the pleasure of using it on the trail but it's seen a good deal of service in my back yard. It's taken a couple of tumbles off my outdoor table with no damage and has seen both hot (~100F) and cold (~25F) operating temperatures with no apparent trouble.

Changing bands is easy once you learn how the switches work and I don't know that I miss a knob for a VFO too much. Hopping frequencies and finding stations is relatively easy. The clock on this model is a wonderful touch.

My only complaint is that I wish the backlight were redish or orange instead of white to preserve my night vision as I often use this rig in the dark.

I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a compact and durable QRP CW rig.
NU4B Rating: 2018-04-02
MTR 5B An Amazing Rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I ordered the MTR 5B from LNR about a week and a half ago. After a 2 day wait the rig arrived and when I opened the package I was surprised with the solid case and construction. Even though it literally fits in the palm of your hand, the MTR 5B is definitely not a toy. Its a full fledged multi-band CW transceiver packed with features designed around portable operation. And the picture above is true, it runs on a 9 volt battery. I ran mine on and off for a week testing it out and making a handful of mostly DX contacts. My antenna was a fairly low (about 30 feet) Carolina Windom. I used an Energizer lithium battery and it has held up well.
Having read the reviews, gone over the manual several times, and watched the videos I was familiar with the operation of the radio when it came. While other reviewers have written about the rig's features, one of my favorite features is the +/- 1.55 khz RIT and the ability to instantly switch between transmit and receive frequencies.
I have since made a battery pack using 8 rechargeable 2700 mah AA batteries and an eight cell battery holder that came with covers and a switch I got from digikey. The extra voltage gives my signal a nice little bump.
Whether hiking, biking, camping, or any travel this rig makes a great cornerstone for a portable station. Depending on the accessories chosen, the whole station would take almost no room and very little weight. An amazing rig!
AE7YD Rating: 2017-11-28
so small but so powerfull Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had the FX-4a and still have the LD-5 from LNR
so I am familiar with the quality of their products.
I was so intrigued by the reviews on Youtube that
I had to have one. I mostly work QRP and QRO for
me is 20W.
I received it yesterday and of course had to try it
right away. I thought that the controls would be
cumbersome but once you understand it there is no
problem at all. With 3x14500 LiIo batteries (9.8V)
I get over 3W out on each bands. A lot of fun
in a very small package.
I love it and it is a keeper.
WB0FDJ Rating: 2017-09-08
A real radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
12 years ago, I took my FT-817 out to the park. Running 2.5 W I made three contacts, one of them DX and thought it couldn't get better than this! After 3 hours my external battery (only 1700 mAh) gave up the ghost and I went home. After a few more trips I was wishing for something that didn't eat electrons so quickly. Fast forward to now and the MTR3. This thing is amazing!

I won't go over what other posters have said but will say, this is a REAL radio. DDS VFO, three good QRP bands, tight filtering, sensitive receiver, a keyer. This has what you need and no more. It sips power. I've used the radio for over a week, listening 2 hours a day with a couple of QSO's and some CQ's in there and the 9 volt battery pack still reads 9.9 V and I'm still getting a bit more than 3 W output. This thing just works. And it's tiny compared to the 817. Fits in my shirt pocket...

It's optimized for 9 volts so I did some things. I ordered a couple of 8 cell (AA) battery holders from Jameco, (216259 Bat Holder 8-AA Snaps). The plastic wraps around the battery so they can't come out and it's got the standard 9 V snap connections. From a local store I got 8 RayOVac AA 1700 mAh rechargeable batteries and a charger. I have several snap connectors and soldered one to the 1.7mm power cord that came with the radio. This works slick. I also ordered a 9 V pack from BatterySpace that has a 5.5 x 2.1 barrel connector that I can use with the adaptor plug (1.7mm) for my 817. At this rate I can be on the air for weeks without power!

First QSO was California on 40 M, 459 from MN. I can't wait to take this out in the park to see what it'll do. I don't backpack but if I did this would be the ticket. Recommended.