🚀 go-pugleaf

From: AIRWAVES E-PUBLISHING <rrb@deja-vu.aiss.uiuc.edu>
Subject: #730 AIRWAVES RADIO JOURNAL
Date: Mon Aug  1 03:28:55 1994
------------------------------

Subject: Low Power Transmitter Kit Sources FAQ
From: hrick@world.std.com (Rick Harrison)
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA



Here is a brief list of companies selling low power transmitter kits.
Please send me information about any companies not listed, so that I can
include them in future versions of this list.

Note to newcomers: to assemble these kits, you must be able to solder
components onto a circuit board, and it helps if you know the difference
between a resistor and a capacitor.  If you haven't reached this stage
of electronic know-how yet, consider buying some of the educational kits
available from C&S Sales, 1245 Rosewood, Deerfield IL 60015, telephone
800-292-7711.  Their electronic components course (item #ECK-10, $14.95)
might be especially helpful to newbies.

When assembling radio circuit kits, I prefer to use narrow-diameter
silver-bearing solder (Radio Shack #64-013) and a 15 watt soldering iron
(64-2051).  You may need a more powerful soldering tool for making
antennas out of large-diameter wire, soldering really large connectors
to a printed circuit board, etc., but the 15 W iron works fine for most
kits and reduces the chances of over-heating transistors and other
heat-sensitive components.

-----

Ramsey Electronics
793 Canning Pkwy
Victor NY 14564
phone 716-924-4560

The FM-10A is an FM stereo transmitter kit ($34.95 plus shipping) with
a few milliwatts of output power; it is based on the BA1404 integrated
circuit.

Ramsey kits have well-written instruction manuals, and most of the circuit
boards have lots of wide-open space which makes modifications easy.  The
company also has a good reputation for service.  These factors make Ramsey
kits a good choice for beginners, in my opinion.

Their AM transmitter kit (item #AM-1, $29.95) and their TV transmitter kit
(item #TV-6, $27.95) might also be of interest; however, there is much
room for improvement in the design of these two circuits.

-----

DC Electronics
P O Box 3203
Scottsdale AZ 85271

The Improved Stereocaster is another FM stereo transmitter based on the
BA1404 chip with a few milliwatts of output power ($29.95 plus $3.50 S&H).
It has a smooth fine-tuning control which makes it easy to get on the exact
frequency you want, and a voltage regulator for the BA1404 which improves
stability.  Documentation is not quite as lucid as Ramsey's.

-----

Panaxis Productions
P O Box 130
Paradise CA 95967-0130
(Catalog $1)

This company offers many interesting books and kits.  The REB-1 kit is a
100 milliwatt transmitter for the upper end of the AM band ($34.95 plus
shipping).  The FMO kit ($75) is a high fidelity stereo FM transmitter
kit with 2 to 20 milliwatts of output power.  The FME-500, a half-watt mono
FM transmitter with excellent technical characteristics, can be combined
with their stereo generator to build a high-quality low power station
(> $200 for the two kits).

Other items of interest include transmitters for the 1750 meter band;
a 1-watt shortwave transmitter kit; and more powerful FM transmitters
(available only for export to countries other than the USA).

Panaxis kits might not be suitable for absolute beginners; you should have
a little experience in circuit assembly before you tackle these.

-----

Supercircuits
13552 Research Blvd
Austin TX 78750

This company sells a low-power TV transmitter for channels 3 thru 6 which
appears to be of high quality ($49.95 plus $4.50 S & H).  For licensed
radio amateurs, they also sell some ham TV transmitter kits with 1 to 2
watts peak output power that can be adapted for use on UHF channels 14
thru 19, and a linear amp for boosting the output of these transmitters.

-----

Free Radio Berkeley
1442 A Walnut St., #406
Berkeley, CA 94709

Items listed in their advertisements include a 5 watt mono FM transmitter
kit ($55 plus shipping), a 1/2 to 1 watt stereo FM transmitter kit ($50),
plus kits for output filters, dummy loads, RF amplifiers, and antennas.

Some people who ordered kits from FRB have reported that they've waited
a long time before receiving their kits.  Others have said they had no
problems when dealing with FRB.

FRB is spear-heading a movement to challenge the FCC's regulations and
is trying to foster a low power broadcasting movement.  Contact them for
more info.  (Internet: frbspd@crl.com)

-----

Xandi Electronics
Box 25647
Tempe AZ 85285
phone 800-336-7389 / 602-894-0992
ok
The XFS108 kit ($41.95) is an FM stereo transmitter, probably based on
the BA1404.  Their advertisements give no specifics.

-----

Tentronix
3605 Broken Arrow
Coeur d'Alene ID 83814
phone 208-664-2312

Another BA1404-based FM stereo transmitter kit ($24).


/end/

------------------------------