Two new ARRL kits are in the final throes of production. The first is a Morse code oscillator, produced for ARRL by MFJ Enterprises. The project is a good “beginners” electronics kit. We expect the kit will be popular with members, particularly newcomers, and with clubs, instructors and teachers seeking a classroom kit-building experience.

A supplementary resource guide for students and educators will be made available by the ARRL Education and Technology Program. The guide helps cover the fundamentals of the working circuit and its components.

A second kit is a PIC programming lab and project, produced for ARRL by Cana Kit (Canada). This more substantial kit is intended to be used with ARRL’s PIC Programming for Beginners book (revised first edition). The kit includes all the necessary components, parts and boards, and follows the book’s step-by-step exercises and tutorial. The kit also includes all the necessary parts to build a microprocessor-controlled CW keyer, which is the book’s culminating project.

“We’re excited about these new projects, which help emphasize kit construction, basic electronics, and the extraordinary potential of microcontrollers," said Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, ARRL Marketing Manager. “There’s no better way to advance the radio art than by introducing more hams to project building and homebrewing.” Both the ARRL Morse Code Oscillator and ARRL’s PIC Programming Kit will be available later this fall. Watch for details at www.arrl.org/shop.