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You Can Build This!

A Rant Email!

One of my projects in 2021 was the P3ST (AKA PSSST), a 7 transistor SSB transceiver which even found its way onto "hackaday". I even spent more time documenting the project than actually building the hardware. An .io group was started (not by me) and the project has essentially died the death from lack of interest.



This morning several emails were generated from the group inquiring if the project was still alive. Essentially these were individuals of interest but who had done nothing on the project as they were overwhelmed by the documentation. My read was that someone wanted a kit where they could stuff parts on a board. But in reality, I realized I failed! 

Here was my response. Mind you my bent is somewhat bent because the opportunities for me personally to homebrew another project are over! But for others it is not -- get on with it!

Hi All,

 

I should confess that I spent more time documenting the P3ST than actually building the rig. My intent was to provide information to those who are not EE’s but have a love for our hobby. I now sense that I have failed. I know of about a half of dozen that are in various stages of construction and a rarity I have received no “your design sucks” emails. That is a 1st. But that likely is of no help or interest to the several who have posted

 

It is probably not a good idea to undertake this project if the documentation provided is not clear and aside from me building it for you (which I wouldn’t do) the information provided is about as good as it gets. Having a detailed parts list, resident BOM with the Suppliers and a circuit board while it makes it very easy, but this project was not intended as a kit

 

There was a unique concept presented (likely I failed in the presentation) that if you built the digital LO/BFO 1st then added the two ADE-1 mixer stages followed by the Band Pass filter and microphone amp and the audio amp – that you would have a Direct conversion receiver and a Double Side Band Transmitter. Using a modular approach (all of these are really modules) you can test if these are working while enjoying the benefit of the DCR. All of my projects are experimenter’s platforms where you can make changes to a module without destroying the whole radio.

 

The Module concept lets you learn more about the innards than simply stuffing parts on a board. The Modules can be independently tested out of the circuit. So once built and tested then the module is no longer a point of failure when all connected. Yes, you would have to learn LT Spice – but isn’t that a real part of a homebrew project –learning! You learn very little stuffing parts on a circuit board.

 

There is another very major point – no Bitx, No TIA, No EMRFD or Facebook groups. It is a new design approach and proves that you can be something other than sheep in this hobby.

 

If you want a real sense of accomplishment that you actually built something while also learning about individual circuits, then the P3ST is a good starting place. But you should not undertake the project if you feel uncomfortable with the documentation. Questions about the project can be put on this forum which I am a member and would be happy to explain the methods of my madness.

 

You can build this!

 

73’s

Pete N6QW

 



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