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Reviews For: PSK-20 Small Wonder Labs

Category: QRP Radios (5 watts or less)

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Review Summary For : PSK-20 Small Wonder Labs
Reviews: 40MSRP: 95
Description:
Dedicated PSK-31 QRP XCVR kit for 20m
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.smallwonderlabs.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00405
KF4ZRZ Rating: 2002-07-15
Fun to Build, Fun to Run Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
If you are like me and thinking about buying this kit, buy it...Now...fun awaits you. The quality is so good it would be fun to build even if it did not work...but it does.

I am a new HF op and got it going while /AG. First contact into Illinois, about 700 miles. I was amazed until I got contacts in Germany, Denmark and Israel...well, you get the picture.

If you get stuck, Dave will help you out via email. Get one of these radios.
WX7E Rating: 2001-12-27
A marvel of compact design ! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I built this great kit radio in 10 hours, working very carefully. I'm a very experienced engineer and kit builder, but I took my time, as mistakes can be very hard to find. I ended up with one problem - an unsoldered end of an SMT inductor. The kit then worked the first time and has performed well. The Assembly and Checkout manual is the best I have ever had for any kit, and the owner of Small Wonder Labs, Dave Benson, was extremely cooperative in pointing out the probable location of my one problem. This is probably not a kit for a beginner builder, and I used a high power halogen spotlight and magnifier glasses, as the parts are small and very close spaced, and I am nearly 83 years old. The optional cabinet isn't necessary, but it gives the unit a very professional appearance, and protects it for mobile operation. I located a LED on the front panel, connected to TP-2, as an RF output indicator, and I operate my unit at 14.5 VDC input power. Hams I "talk" to are amazed with its QRP performance. .
WB5NHL Rating: 2001-06-22
Best way to get on PSK31 quickly Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I build my PSK20 from kit. Build generally went except for a failed SMD inductor. Troubleshooting data on the web site is excellent and Dave was very responsive to e-mail. Ultimately it was returned for repair. The unit was returned in 3-4 days at no cost because of component failure. Random failures will happen and I am completely satisfied with Small Wonder response and the unit.
Since completing the PSK-20 I have worked 22 countries using only the PSK-20 (3 watts) and an old indoor AEA Isoloop in the 3rd floor of my townhouse. I regularly work into Europe from my eastern PA QTH.
WB2FYZ Rating: 2001-03-22
Super PSK31 Transceiver Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Putting the PSK-20 together was a lot of fun.
The instructions were very good. It kinda reminded me of all the Heathkits I built in
days past. I took my time in the assembly. Spending an hour at each session to prevent errors.. It worked the first time and I am really impressed with its performance. Nice little package to take on your next trip and operate portable.
W9PMZ Rating: 2001-03-21
PSK20, no sweat Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Finally got the kit, again the hardest part was waiting on shipment from SWL.

All told about 4.5 hours to assemble and an hour to align the unit (took so long because I coundn't find a &*%*^%&*%&* serial cable).

All parts were present in the kit and it was very easy to assemble. It even worked out of the starting gate with no rework.

If you are interested in PSK31 give the PSK20 a try!!! The PSK40 is next on the list for me.
N4EKV Rating: 2001-02-03
Great package, a few QA headaches Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
SWL is to be congratulated for making PSK31 and ham radio in general so approachable and affordable. The construction quality of the PSK-20 is first-rate, as are the instructions. But my kit building experience was slightly marred by many missing parts (inventory your kit before beginning!), a faulty solder joint on a pre-installed SMD, and a bad PA transistor.

SWL replaced the missing parts immediately, but for a non-technician like me, diagnosing the PA was beyond my training and available test equipment. Through many emails to SWL, I was able to locate and fix the open solder joint, but my trusty VOM and I were unable to diagnose the bad PA.

I ended up sending the unit back to SWL for repair, and now I have a wonderful little QRP rig running at my office feeding a 20m dipole at 40ft. I get in QSO's between emails and conference calls, and yesterday logged my first DX -- a JA station who couldn't believe I was running 2W!

Used with DigiPan software this is a super combo, and I'd highly recommend SWL and the PSK-20 to anyone looking for a fun kit, a travel rig, or a rig for a second QTH. I power mine with a regulated wall wart (Jameco p/n 169391) and it works FB. I also adopted N4WFS's LM833 op amp upgrade to good effect. I can't wait to pack it on my next business trip. I'll be the one asking the hotel clerk for the room with the "best view". ;)

See you on 14.070!
AC6IJ Rating: 2000-12-04
A really small wonder. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Building this kit is probably the most fun a ham can have, except for operating it. From start
to finish it took me about 15 hrs. to complete. The instructions are very clear and had no
problem building and tuning it. Using magnifiers is a must to prevent shorts and bridges in
the soldering. I have worked many stations that can't beleive that I am only using 2 to 3 watts. My last contact was to Japan. The only antenna I use is a G5RV. The MFJ Deluxe Versa Tuner II is a good choice to use with it. Bill AC6IJ

N4WFS Rating: 2000-11-18
Well worth waiting for. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The toughest part of this project was waiting for the kit to arrive. Check the shipping status section on their web page. I found this to be most accurate. I had a few missing parts which were promptly replaced. The instructions were great. Read the part where he suggests that old men should use use some magnification. My bench now has a 5" lighted lens. Don`t wait until you are old to buy one. First rate double sided pc with plated through holes. Sockets are used for all of the chips. Rx performance is very good I can read a surprising amount of traffic with no antenna. I have received good signal reports despite my attic mounted dipole. Great fun and and an excellent way to get your feet wet in PSK31.

For a simple plug in upgrade replace the op amp with a LM833 low noise audio amp. I noticed a marked improvement in receiver performance with weak signals and strong adjacent stations. It is available from www.radioshack.com (not sold in stores) for less than a dollar
W9LSL Rating: 2000-11-14
Fantastic kit! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This kit practically fell together, with absolutely no problems encountered. I powered it up at the first "smoke test" with a bent paperclip in the BNC, and got 100% copy on a W6!

If you have ANY thoughts about trying PSK-31, this is the way to go!
K2PGB Rating: 2000-10-08
Great! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
If you own a computer with a sound card and know how to type this is
the rig you want.
Have been envolved with QRP since the Ten Tec PM2 about 30 years ago.The
PSK20 almost makes QRP operation too easy, the doubt of the station you
called returning to you is nearly gone.
I have WAC during the past month with the PSK20 into a double size G5RV.
It seems we must find a fault = the little box needs a LCD to show when power
is applied.