Hi every one, sorry it's been so long since I've posted. I've been experimenting extensively with rf amps building linear amps for cb radio. I've got plenty more experience under my belt and I wanna use some of these fets I have for an overdrive. By the popularity of these od/ amp type distortion I was surprised there wasn't too many designs out there. Ideally I'd like to design each stage from scratch using the data sheets but we'll see how that goes.
I've got a butt load of 2sk117 and dying to see how they sound. I know Brian is the mac daddy at pedal designs so i thought about using the 85 as a starting point.how how does every one line it? Is it better than the drboogie? Has any one use the 2sk117 as a sub? If so how does it sound. Thanks in advance
Quote from: 9Lives on January 12, 2013, 03:19:15 PM
Hi every one, sorry it's been so long since I've posted. I've been experimenting extensively with rf amps building linear amps for cb radio.
So you make little radios into big radios for over the road drivers? Have any experience with ham,I have questions.....
Ham comes from a pig/ hog / swine!
lmao. Sorry ;-)
(http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b538/9Lives004/20121231_175357_zps1137a1ee.jpg)
I'm no pro, but I have a pretty decent understanding.. trying atleast. :) and yes, that's exactly what I do, take cobra 29's and force them to put out 40 watts lol. The pic is the last amp I just built from scratch. It's NOT my design but it works well. 1 watt in produces 60 watt dead key and 250 peak, 150 avg watts.
Ask away, if I can't answer it we can figure it out some how
Well i was looking for information on building a handheld transceiver, do they make kits or PCB's?
(http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b538/9Lives004/20121231_175251_zps65fe4e3f.jpg)
(http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b538/9Lives004/20121230_223435_zpsa5aebfda.jpg)
(http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b538/9Lives004/20121231_175301_zps190a5d98.jpg)
What you trying do exactly? A simple walkie or are you wanting something more powerful? What bands are you operating on?
I haven't seen a pcb for one but I also haven't looked. Let me know some details and I'll look through my normal go-to to see what I can find.
Prolly a simple walkie talkie. I don't have my license yet, I just thought it'd be cool to build one and I've always wanted my License, so it'd be a cool time to do both.
Your right, that would be a fun project.and I don't know any off hand but it's GOT to be a pretty normal project so I'll find something. And I'm a very good at designing pcb and etching from eagle so if we can't find anything I'll etch a schematic fir you, and if you don't have any rf stuff I can help you out there as well.
I started my hobby building pedals and from being a truck driver gained interested in cb radio. Broad casting rf Is amazing man. It's so freaking interesting.
That'd be awesome, thank you.
Are you wanting cb freq? Ham has a very wide band in which they op. I don't have my licence yet either but I've messed w it some hehe.
What it's your build level if you don't mind me asking? I just googled walkie transceiver schematic and for a broad range from 2 transistor, to dual gate fets all the way to full radio schematics.
Ham frequencies are what I'm after, as far as my build level, novice. I've built 6 pedals, but if you can give me instructions, I can build it.
Ok. I've found some cool stuff on qrp sites. Looks pretty involved with multi band.. I don't suggest. I know from tuning linears unless you just got lucky and stumbled into some good radio test equip, it gets expensive fast tuning all of the rf transformers/ tank circuits.. BUT there are some easy single band transceivers that are, kind of, pick a freq and stick with it.
You need, microphone amp, audio chip, modulator, rf amp fir transmit, and separate rf amp and if filter for receiving. This may or may not sound scary to you, but it's all about the level of patience and love you have for what your doing. Just like building pedals, at first seems impossible, next thing you know your reading schematics like English.
www.vanyi.net/homemade/homebrew-hf-ssb-transceivers/
Have a looksy here and let me know what you think. These are a collection of qrp home brew transceivers specifically for ham junkies
Cool, will do. Patience is not a problem, I find building therapeutic. Never been good at diy until I found pedal building. I'll check it out and see what I think. Thanks again.
Here we go man! I've got just the thing for you.
www.tentec.com/categories/Kits/
They have kits ranging from 20m-80m band, they also have a popular 2m 6m side band kit. I think if I were you I would get one from here. I could etch pcb all day but some of these parts are very very delicate when it comes to tuning. Building a walkie talkie is one thing but when your talking ham bands I'm not sure an etched pcb would come out satisfactory unless you were very experienced with transceivers. These kits look pretty badass and you can pick and invest what you want into it.
Awesome, thank you.
Qrpkits.com is another good one. Sorry to bombard you, you just got me looking lol
It's cool, I really appreciate that.
There's a butt load of stuff out there. I would look into something that does side band. Just search for qrp transceiver kits there's literally tons to choose from, from 50$ to infinity
Which pedals have you built? Have you done this fet od? I love the way it looks bc is built almost just like a tube amp, down to the bypass caps. I think I'm going to go ahead and build it. I was hoping sone one could give me a tip on resistor value for 2sk117 bc I bread board this and couldn't get it going.. didn't try very hard, I just didn't feel like busting out the trimmers and data sheet print out.
I will do just that. As far as the pedals go,I've built the cave dweller the smoothie,an opticomp from byoc,a blues breaker from byoc, a bear hug compressor from 1776 ,just finished a paramix last night,finished one about 2 weeks ago but trashed it. Got hold of some cheap wire and the boards at gpcb have tiny holes and I couldn't get it unsoldered.Just ordred the parts for a decimator an auto wah another delay and a multiplex.
I am slowly grasping an understanding of what each section on a pcb does,but these guys are amazingly smart (including yourself) and I have still much to learn. On top of that,I'm a singer and a bass player in a band so my time is definitely broken up.
What about you?
Hmm I too started off with the byoc kits. I think I did the 2 knob vca comp. I then moved on to mad beans pcb. I really started learning by etching his artwork at the bottom of his pdf. These days I get most of my kicks from designing my own pcbs or even circuits based on what I see and study. I can't begin to give you a list lol. I've done several klon, ge fuzz, boosts, comps delays. Amp mod s... list goes on. I've done 3 linear s now and tones of radio mods.
Keep going though man, specially since you got that pt2 delay going. Back when I started messing with that it took me a while to get it working. Id say I gained a great life skill through all this. I'm a basic gadget fixer now. Very important in today age. Your on the right track. Don't be scared to try different parts using sockets and what not, that's where I started understanding why these guys use the value s they use.
As for the wire not fitting here's a tip. Get the tip of the wire good and tinned. Flip the pcb and surface mount that bad boy. It's a completely acceptable way of working. I do it all the time with radios and amps. Makes it easier to change values. Put some solder on the pad first. If you ever lift the pad, don't freak out. Use a small knife and scratch off a small portion of the trace and solder to it.
That's very cool, do you have a background in electronics or are you self taught?
O dude.. im redneck engineer at best lol. I've taught myself every thing minus what others in these forums have shared.