CZECH AMATEUR RADIO STATION





Last update 21-7-2003. Copyright OK1RP & OK1-35506.

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…