A bit of fun is to revisit projects that are older than 15 years because in that time span technology has quickly moved forward. That same project 15 years later would most likely have less parts and be more capable.
I think the KWM-4 is perhaps the most complex project I ever designed and built. Mind you I did not simply build someone else's project -- this one was all mine. Prior to the KWM-4, I tried my hand building a solid-state version of the Heathkit HW-100. The HW-100 project went so far as to use the Heathkit Filter and Heterodyne Crystals and ditto for the BFO Crystals. It also had the Heathkit S Meter. In my build I chose to make it a tri-band rig covering 40M, 20M and 15M. Lessons learned on the HW-100 were incorporated in the KWM-4.
Main Board
Front Panel on Three Bands
This SS HW-100 is well documented and if you follow the link, there are schematics and lots of construction photos which are presented. There is even a clever band pass filter included used solely for the Digital Display/VFO stabilizer which used a PIC16F84. Instead of the always drifty Heathkit VFO's, I modified a Ten Tec PTO from a Triton IV for the LO. How about those Ten Tec knobs?
Take a few minutes to look at the documentation as it reflects more than taking a couple of TIA amps and using those for a homebrew creation. This project was never published in QQ or SPRAT as this was not some sort of rig that could be easily replicated.
Think about it, as the SS HW-100 and KWM-4 took circuits that were employed in Tube Radios which had to be translated to their transistor equivalents. That is a far bigger job than wiring up a couple of TIA amps and showcasing the result.
Now as you look at the rig think about MMIC amplifiers, ADE-1's, a Digital LO/BFO, Color TFT displays and a much smaller footprint. The final box is 12X12X6 or half a cubic foot.
This is a one-of-a-kind project which I gave to a ham when I moved back to California in 2013. I regret I did that, but when you have to make a sudden move not all can come.
Them that know can make it go.
73's
Pete N6QW