[W5SFA] Build Night May 31 - Some Additional Info

Thu Apr 6 20:41:24 CDT 2017

Gil,

For WSPR mode no additional interface is necessary, the unit will transmit with no other equipment other than a power supply (like a cell phone charger) and an antenna.  Essentially it's a beacon - it's got a microcontroller and software that does it all.  You enter items into memory (like your call sign) via the buttons on the front, via a menu system.   I think this is true for the other modes as well.  So no keyboard, since QSO's have a very structured format (so doesn't look like any spontaneous messages are possible).  From the documentation, it looks like the receiver kit works in conjunction with the transmitter kit, alternating send and receive.

Link to the operating manual is here, which might explain it better than the above:  http://www.qrp-labs.com/images/ultimate3s/operation3.12.pdf 

For what you describe, you might want to get the Deluxe kit, which has most of the extras you mentioned.   Or you can build the base kit and add to it over time.

73,

Roger N5RWK

From: w5sfa [mailto:w5sfa-bounces at w5sfa.org] On Behalf Of Gilbert Franke
Sent: Thursday, April 6, 2017 4:07 PM
To: Mail List for the W5SFA Radio Club
Subject: Re: [W5SFA] Build Night May 31 - Some Additional Info

Thanks for these liinks.  I have checked out the QRP Lab pages.  I'm wondering what interface is necessary.  They say it generates WSPR beacon reports without a computer.  For other modes, does it take a computer, or at least a keyboard? Is an RPi a helpful part of the station? 

I think I am interested in the transmitter, GPS module, 6 band relay switch kit, the enclosure kit, 5watt PA, and possibly the receiver kit.  Then I may need to add an RPi and keyboard.  Hey, if I'm going to do this, I might as well do it right!

73,  de Gil WB5RFQ

On Thu, Apr 6, 2017 at 2:23 PM, Roger Klein <rwklein at katyweb.net> wrote:

Folks,

I expect to have one of the QRP Labs $33 Ultimate3S kits at the April 26 meeting that everyone can take a look at.  Also, here is a link on eHam.net with some reviews about the kit:  http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/11890 

http://www.wsprnet.org  has a lot of information about weak signal propagation, as well as maps showing activity.

So what does this kit offer?

- An opportunity to practice your soldering skills - or learn how to solder if you don't know how

- Learn more about electronics and how transmitters work

- Learn about and use some of the newer digital modes

- Compare how your antennas are working

- See what propagation is like on different bands

If anyone wants to order a kit as part of a bulk order, we can do this at the April meeting and have the kits arrive in time for May 31.

73,

Roger N5RWK

_______________________________________________
w5sfa mailing list
w5sfa at w5sfa.org
http://mail.w5sfa.org/mailman/listinfo/w5sfa_w5sfa.org

-- 

----

Gilbert A Franke <http://www.gilbertfranke.com> 
(361 442 6008 - cell)
130 N Harris Street
Bellville TX  77418

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mail.w5sfa.org/pipermail/w5sfa_w5sfa.org/attachments/20170406/d4045138/attachment.htm>