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Reviews For: Small Wonder Labs PSK 20 Transceiver kit

Category: QRP Radios (5 watts or less)

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Review Summary For : Small Wonder Labs PSK 20 Transceiver kit
Reviews: 20MSRP: $100
Description:
Derivative of the SSB transceiver appearing in the April 1997 issue of QST. Streamlined for ease of construction and alignment, and many of the higher installation-skill components have been designed out. Intended as an entry- level platform for PSK31 use, it covers the 14.0695-14.073 segment of 20M where most of the PSK31 activity is found. The design retains the same relatively high dynamic range of the QST SSB rig as well as good transmit IMD characteristics.The rig is crystal-controlled and was designed to work with the popular (and free!) DigiPan software. Output power is 3W PEP. The crystal control provides excellent stability and its simplicity keeps the cost low. Performance characteristics for all versions are similar
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.smallwonderlabs.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00205
K1QN Rating: 2007-11-21
Worth the wait Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
If your first QSO was 'in a certain decade', you'll probably need something like the Kronos "Helping Hands", which Radio Shack has in stock once again. It's a soldering station with a big magnifying glass.

The kit went together in 2 sessions of maybe 8 hours total. I really missed the smell of rosin in the shack! There were a couple issues. The two surface-mount inductors were hard to install, but I got through it OK. When I put it in the enclosure, I noticed that some of the wire leads contacted the metal underneath the board on the edges. I trimmed them off as best I could (I need a new pair of diagonal cutters.), then put electrical tape over the 'danger zone'. Also - there was a solder connection and it caused the rig to transmit pops now and then. I knew it had to be in the audio in / VOX circuitry, and I finally found it and re-soldered it.

Alignment was straightforward, except that my "big rig" is at the shop, and my TenTec Century 21 backup isn't a very accurate frequency standard. To get around this, I located the 33rd overtone on my 70 cm HT. I figure this gave me a frequency accuracy of about 150 Hz, which will land me in the PSK-31 subband. I used a "normal" swr/wattmeter, and it showed relative power enough to tune the transmitter - even though the needle barely moved.

The first QSO was a "reported 599" from New England to Cuba. I find the 599 hard to believe, but he had no problem with copy.

Next up: a QRP CW kit, and an amp.

VE3SJB Rating: 2007-05-15
wonderful little kit Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just built this kit earlier this week, it went together with no problems at all. There was one capacitor that was missing, but was easy to find in the junk box... the parts are labeled nicely and the instructions that come with the kit are easy to follow. Aligning the receiver and transmitter was an absolute breeze, it took a whole 5 minutes to get things working as per the manual. In the end, I spent a whole Sunday building the kit at a slow pace, checking things as I went along.

On the air performance was excellent, before I even aligned the receiver I was copying a station in New Mexico clear as can be. After building a quick n' cheap dipole in the house made from some hookup wire spanning from my kitchen to my couch in the living room, I was on the air. I worked most stations i could receive with no problem, getting RST of 599 very consistently.

Tonight will be another night on the air with this little kit, which has me excited. Overall, for the price, this kit is a definite kit you should go buy. Easy to build, easy to align, easy to use. As simple as that.
K2QPN Rating: 2005-08-16
Great radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I built the PSK-20 about a year and half ago. I bought for use on business trips. Goes thru airport security in my lap top case without a problem.

The kit went together easily. I bought a magnifier from a needlepoint store to help my tired old eyes. Alignment was easy. I copied France before alignment.

QRP reqires a decent antenna. Hanging a wire out the window is no good. Stretch out a hook up wire dipole and life is good.

I took the PSK-20 on vacation. My antenna was an inverted vee 10 feet up. I worked stations every day - including France and Martinique.
KZ1X Rating: 2005-06-03
my 2nd one, even better! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Tis is my 2nd PSK-20 radio. The first one worked perfectly and I sold it to a friend. I missed having one and also wanted to do some antenna experiments, plus I wanted to try the newer version.

So, I ordered a new one in early April.

I got mine last week (yes, Dave is a bit backlogged sometimes, but you can check your order status on-line at all times) and I built it in only a few hours.

Kit was, as usual for this vendor, perfect, no missing parts, a pleasant build. Worked 100% on initial power up.

New model does NOT use a serial connection, so, it's great for newer laptops. Just simple audio in and out, power, and an antenna.

The new model has a really pro-grade receiver, with a high performance Mini-Circuits mixer, and an improved transmitter section. Both the driver and PA stage transistors have large heatsinks, and the PA is ballasted with individual resistors for good dissipation. The crystal-ladder filter now has case ground leads to lower blow-by. There's a W7EL type front-end clipper. Gilbert-cell mixers are used in the right places, and all ICs are socketed.

There wasn't much wrong with the old design, but the new one is a big step forward. That Dave can sell such a radio at the same price as the older model is something to yell about.

This radio represents the absolute best value in amateur radio today. A good secret can't be kept. Small Wonder they are always sold out! ;-)
NW0LF Rating: 2005-04-15
Awesome! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Built this kit for Boy Scout Jamboree on the Air 2 years ago and from S. Florida, made contact with scouts in New Zeland. They couldn't believe we were running 2.5W into a Dipole at about 30 ft while they were running 65 watts into a beam on a hill. I had lots of fun building this kit and the support was great when I had problems. Buy it, build it and have a blast on PSK!!!

73, Tom K9WLF
G6CNQ Rating: 2005-04-15
Great with minor niggles Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Hi All
Having now built this kit and smoke tested it on air I can honestly say it is a great ket that performs as well if not better than my Kenwood TS2000 and Tigertronics Signalink SL-1+

Construction time for me was a tad under 6 hours from start to on air testing, this was over a period of 2 weeks as there was an incorrect component supplied which to 7 days to arrive due to sluggish postal services.

Setting us was simplicity and output is a little under 4 watts. I found there was too much drive for my laptops soundcard so had to attenuate the output slightly.

My only critism's are:

1. Protracted delivery time (Took nearly 7 weeks)
2. I would like an on off switch and power LED
3. Pot to adjust the output to the soundcard

All in all a fantastic piece of kit

Terry Genes
AD4MZ Rating: 2004-09-26
A fantastic little radio and half the fun is building it! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Haven't melted solder in 5
years and was wondering if I could still do it and see the much smaller parts. The PSK-20 was
addictive. Before long I was on the page that said "that's it- board assembly is complete!".
Connected the antenna and DC power and followed the clearly written alignment instructions without
a hitch. This morning I saw a CQ from N7XS and made my first PSK 31 call ever. I could hardly
believe I was seeing my call sign being sent back to me from Bud in Idaho. What a neat fun mode.
He was surprised to hear that I was using the PSK-20 and an indoor attic 20m dipole from NC. My
second QSO was with an IK5 station in Italy but the RTTY contest was killing the PSK fun for me.
Dave your hard work on the design, high quality board, parts, and directions put the real fun back
into the hobby. Thanks for everything. Now I want a small all band or at least 3-band version. I
enjoy winding toroids. Is it on the drawing board?


SV1ENS Rating: 2004-05-17
Great little travel radio... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Easy to build, tune, and operate. Original RF transistor was 2.2 Watts, replaced with alternative for 4 Watts.
Both pre-sale and after-sale support was great.

This little gem is always packed with my tiny IBM thinkpad and a small zip-wire dipole when I travel.

SV1ENS
KD5WBS Rating: 2004-03-05
Great Fun. Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Easy to build and works great. I've build several kits and this one is my favorite. Its so simple to use. After 6 months I still work this more then my base rigs. 5 watts to my G5RV works almost any station I can hear.
KQ4KK Rating: 2003-08-21
Best Bang for the BUCK Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Here is a PSK 31 TRANSCEIVER, complete for the cost of a mid level RIGBLASTER! Built it in three nites, did the easy tuning. Puts out 3watts. First contact from Northern Virginia was Florida, second contact was Argentina! Good color instructions, quality parts. Give it 1A at 12 v and plug a serial cable and two stereo cables into a laptop, and you are on the air! No other pieces or parts needed.