FOXX3 Construction Pictures
The change in ownership of Kanga in
the UK has been accompanied by a change in the documentation in the new
kits that are coming out of Kanga. The pictures below are pictures I took
while assembling a 20 meter FOXX3 kit. Although it is hard to tell from
the pictures, the documentation breaks down the construction of the kit
into logical stages, and each stage is tested and working before work
starts on the next stage. The 20m FOXX3 I built and documented in these
photos worked at turn on when it was completed.
The kit comes with each stage in a
separate plastic bag, so there is no sorting parts. Even the parts list in
the documentation is split up by stage.
FOXX3 Construction Pictures
The change in ownership of Kanga in
the UK has been accompanied by a change in the documentation in the new
kits that are coming out of Kanga. The pictures below are pictures I took
while assembling a 20 meter FOXX3 kit. Although it is hard to tell from
the pictures, the documentation breaks down the construction of the kit
into logical stages, and each stage is tested and working before work
starts on the next stage. The 20m FOXX3 I built and documented in these
photos worked at turn on when it was completed.
The kit comes with each stage in a
separate plastic bag, so there is no sorting parts. Even the parts list in
the documentation is split up by stage.
The audio stage after completion.
This photo is after the keying stage
was added. It also shows the documentation for the construction of the
keying stage. You should be able to make out the schematic, parts list,
and layout of the keying stage (only) parts. The instructions for this
stage are on another page in the documentation.
The Oscillator stage is then added....
And finally the output filter is added.
One of the things that is not obvious from the photos is that there are
several connector options supplied with the kit. There are multiple ways
of connecting the key, power, and antenna. All the connectors are supplied,
and they all can be mounted directly on the PC board. All that is left for
you to do is put it in an enclosure. Directions are given for installing
the FOXX3 in an Altoids (or similar) tin.
There
is the comments and experiences with assembling the kit …
( by
Jim, W4JBM and myself Petr, OK1RP)
I was
impressed with the quality of the board. There was an omission in the
instructions that came with very early FOXX-3's (installation of capacitor
C10). The capacitor was included, there was a place for it on the board,
and it was shown in the schematic so it wasn't rocket science to figure
out I needed to install it. This omission was corrected in later releases
of the kit.
The only
problem I had was the testing after stage 4 (assembly of the crystal
oscillator). My oscillator didn't work through the full VXO range. After
some study, I decided that it would work once the oscillator was loaded by
the mixer/PA stage. This was verified with a temporary load and things
worked fine. Once assembly was complete things worked as expected.
This is an
incredible little rig. Automatic TR switching, a sidetone, VXO, RIT, and
can be powered by a 9 volt battery.
The only
weakness is total gain for the receiver. Usually if they can hear you you'll
be okay. But I use mine with an amplified speaker for more gain. This
combination works great!
I've taken
it to club meetings and ham fests. It never fails to get comments. A
couple of no-code techs have said now they understand why they should
bother to learn the code--something this simple and yet useful.
So if you
get the chance, get the kit and put one together. Maybe I'll see you on
the air for a 2-way FOXX-3 QSO!
The
best 2-way QSOs with FOXX-3 transceiver home brewed with 250/500mW power
output into the vertical radiator located in Praha, Czech Republic :
JA9, ZL1,
W1, mni EUs like G, OH, LA, PA, I, 4X4, SM, YU, LZ etc.
Technical
news…
(updated
21/7/2003)
Cause of
lots BC breakthru during the nite operations I am working hard on
improvement of the RX by the enforced filter on the basic board and
additional filter in extra minibox.
From
1st April 2003 I am still testing another beta ver. of "on board"
filter giving min. -55dB on BC freq. Last HPF gives good 40dB attenuation
on BC band but insertion loss is too high. Latest filter works good but
its larger than standard Altoids box...looking for another architecture of
the filter or another box?! J
If
its possible then use as good as possible shielding for filters and self
tcvr.
Now under
development and testing…
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