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Retro-75 QRP solid-state AM radio kit

Jul 30th 2011, 00:15

0007055157H80

Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
Per your suggestion Ed, here is my original post that was under the "ARRL Politics" topic of AM radio. You are right, it is a much better idea to have it here since it is truly a tech topic. :) :)

"...Oh, Paul I forgot to mention (not sure which thread this should really go on since they are both about AM). After having major success with just about anything I have procured from SW labs, I decided to get one of those Retro-75 kits. Not sure how many other kits for AM are available (I haven't seen any others, but that is purely anecdotal). I cannot wait to get on the air with it. Of course, I have to build it first. :)

I think something like that is a great place to start young people (potential hams). That is to say, building an AM transceiver is alot easier than biting off and aligning an SSB one. Just my opinion, but I think it has some merit. Not to mention, just plain fun. Again, I am not advocating a particular kit provider, just the AM kit(s) that might be available out there...."

As an adder, I think ARRL labs did a technical review of this little rig, too. I'll have to look it up, I think it wasn't that long ago.

Mike AB7ZU
Jul 30th 2011, 00:31

w1rfi

Super Moderator

Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
Thanks for reposting it here, Mike. By keeping threads reasonably close to topic, it will really help people find and read what they would like to see on these forums.

In case anyone was shy about postign links to other sites, it's encouraged, as long as doing so ia a natural part of discussion. So, the link to the kit is:

http://www.smallwonderlabs.com/Retro-75.htm

A google search on Retro-75 will also point to reviews of the kit, among other results.

The price sure looks right to me, and with the enclosure, that sure is a beautiful looking project!

I would take exception to one thing on the site, though -- looking at the components, that implication that AM equates to 50-year-old nostalgia is a bit off the mark.

It might even get me to give phone operation a try. I'd imagine that if I ever become interested in phone operating, it would probably lean towards AM.

73.
Ed Hare, W1RFI
ARRL Lab
Technology forum moderator
Aug 11th 2011, 12:59

WB1GCM

Super Moderator

Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
Mike,

The Small Wonder Lab Retro -75 was reviewed in the October, 2010 Product Review column in QST.

As Test Engineer at the Lab, I had the opportunity to test this QRP AM transceiver at home. The best time of day to try it is an hour or two before sunset and and hour or two before sunrise; the optimum time for one hop skip. I made a 150 mile QSO to New Hampshire from my Coventry, Connecticut QTH, using an inverted L antenna.

Bob Allison
WB1GCM
ARRL Test Engineer


Nov 3rd 2011, 00:25

gw0nvn

Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
Hi,

A group of hams close to me produce a number of kits for AM on the 80m band. Eric GW8LJJ has an interesting website with details.

http://gw8ljj.com/

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