DIY 45W SSB HF Linear Power Amplifier Amateur Radio Transceiver Shortwave Radio Development Board Kit

COMING SOON 

I just finished building this kit that I bought online (link above).  In my opinion it meets the main requirements of a kit for hams: 1) cheap 2) fun to build 3) it actually works.

So what’s the catch?  The instructions are either in Mandarin Chinese or in Google Translate English.  Amusing to read but difficult to follow.  So with lots of cogitation, head scratching, questions to several other hams, and the assistance of the boffins at Bletchley Park we are offering CAARC website readers a decrypted version of the kit instructions.

The first paragraphs are given below as a “teaser”.

 

These instructions are my attempt to put the “manual” supplied for download on the seller’s website into more conventional English.  They are based primarily on the “RF‐AMP‐2078 debug instructor V303”  (sic) downloaded from the website.  You will note that the schematic is dated 5 August, the BoM sometime in September and the PCB is marked “20151229”.  I found more than a dozen inconsistencies in values and markings between the PCB and the documents.  Also there appear to be several “typos” on the PCB silk screening.   I have endeavored to sort this out and update my documentation to match the PCB supplied with the kit.

 

It is no doubt feasible for an experienced builder to successfully assemble the kit using only the schematic and the silk screening on the PCB.  My objective is to make this inexpensive kit available to a wider audience of radio amateurs, who may feel less confident about building their first MOFET PA without some additional guidance.  Anyone who does not have previous experience soldering the small SMD parts used in this kit is advised to practice first. 

 

 

amplifier under test

A pdf file with the complete instructions will be linked to this post within the next few days.  Watch this space.Â