Print Friendly Version

• 160 parts, all 1206 sized surface mount parts (IC's are SOIC).
• Receive current: 25mA
• Transmit current: 240mA
• Working Voltage: 11 to 13.8V
• Receiver MDS: better than -130dBm
• IF crystal bandwidth: 450 - 500 hz 3dB down
• Transmitter Power: 1.2 Watts
• Built In NorCal Keyer featuring variable tone and pot adjusted speed control.

The transceiver was designed by Song Kang, WA6AYQ. Here is Song at the meeting today.

Song Kang, WA6AYQ, designer of the next NorCal Kit, the SM40 transceiver.

The kit will be entirely surface mount, and we think it will be an ideal training kit for those who are planning on building the NorCal 2030, which is the Dan Tayloe designed kit that will be coming in the first quarter of 2005. Song's manual is written in sections, and the parts have been bagged to match each section. For example Bag #8 will be for Section 8, and will use the following parts in this order: L10, C73, C76, C74, L11, C77, R40, C72, and C75. As you can see from the photos below, the parts are bagged in sequence, so that parts id will be a snap.

Identifying Grid for Bag #8 parts.

Bag #8 of surface mount parts for the SM40 transceiver.

Here is a photo of the prototype that Song built. Note that he used 0805 parts, but the kit will have 1206 sized parts. The kit will not come with a case or connectors.

The prototype of the SM40 Transceiver. Note that the kit will not come with a case.

The SM40 Prototype with the color coded section bags of surface mount parts

We hope to be taking orders for the kit in about 2 weeks or so. An announcement will be made here and on qrp-l.

Bob Okas, W3CD, has designed a 75 meter phasing rig, and brought it along to show us. The rig's schematic will be posted on the web site soon. Bob says that it can be converted to any band, just by changing some coils and capacitors. Great building job, and it certainly created a lot of interest at the meeting today.

75 meter Phasing SSB rig designed and built by Bob Okas.

Mike Furman, Bob Okas and Ori Mizrahi Shalom talk about Bob's phasing SSB rig.

Frank and Ralph, two of our "younger" members are regulars at the meetings. They are looking at Bob Okas' SSB rig.

Steve Cates brought along the Cascade that Jim Cates, WA6GER built. This is one of the rigs from Jim's personal collection that Steve kept for his collection. He asked about the controls and how the rig works, and said that he did not have a manual for it, but I just happened to have one, and will be mailing it to Steve this week. The rig brought back a lot of memories for those of us who built one.

Steve Cates brought his dad's (Jim Cates, WA6GER) Cascade kit for show and tell. It is one of the rigs that Steve kept for his personal use.

One of the neat things about NorCal meetings is that someone is always bring parts to share with the guys. This month, it was Song Kang. He brought several bags of transistors, including 2N3904's, MPF102's and IRF510's. That is what makes QRP so much fun, the sharing that goes on.

Song Kang brought a bunch of "freebie" parts to give away. Bob Okas is taking some IRF510's.

But the best thing about NorCal meetings is seeing your friends again. Here are some candid shots of some of the great qrpers who were at the meeting today.

Mike Furman, Bob Smith and Steve Cates talk about hiking and QRP.

Ralph, Frank, and Lloyd talk about what they are going to order from the fabulous menu at the California Burger.

Bob Okas, W3CD, Wayne McFee and Grant Connell look over Grants latest version of his CW Decoder software.

James Bennett and Paul Maciel were at the meeting on Sunday

Guys are always visiting at a NorCal Meeting.

The exterior of the California Burger, where NorCal meetings have been held for over 11 years.

Thanks for stopping by to read the meeting report. Hope to see you at our next meeting on the first Sunday in December. 72, Doug, KI6DS