Welcome to 3rd Planet Solar & the shack of KC9ON
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Crystals
QRP Accessory Kits
Components
DIY Homebrew
CCK Kits*** What’s New ***
| 2021-04-25 |
*** KANGA UK KITS ARE BACK ***Although Kanga UK has retired we were able to get one last batch of kits. We plan on continuing with the new owner but do not know when Kanga UK will re-open. |
 |
| 2021-03-31 |
*** BACK IN STOCK *** |
 |
| 2021-03-21 |
CW Morse Scout KeyAvailable assembled or easy to build kit. |
 |
| 2021-02-02 |
HW-8-TR solid state T/R relay replacement board |
 |
|
2020-09-28 |
NEW HC49/U Crystal Frequencies |
 |
What’s 3rd Planet Solar all about? Check it out in the About section.
A few pictures of the shack:
 |
 |
 |
| Once in a lifetime event – The bench is clean! | 2016 Shack Upgrade | The happy trio – HW-8, CALF, and 3CPO |
The gear consists of an Icom IC-725 and MFJ 949D tuner/meter as the primary HF station with a Bencher and 3CPO for CW. The old TRAC keyer still works but mostly retired now. The main antenna is a simple 40M bowtie dipole which works pretty good on all bands. Lately my Heathkit HW-8 has taken center stage pretty much replacing the IC-725. Since my first HW-8 there is now a HW-7 and another HW-8 for camping.
The 2M primary station is an IC-251H with killer audio and RF output. For Satellite and ISS work a Yaesu FT-290RII and Kantronics KAM fills the bill. Yes, you can work the Space Station on just a watt or two and a simple vertical antenna!
When home-brewing and repairing we also use some fairly older equipment. Heathkit IG-1271 signal generator, B&K 512MHz frequency counter, Philips 100MHz scope, Autek WM-1 RF/SWR meter, Heathkit IM-1210 DMM, Ramsey COM3 service monitor, Bird Wattmeter (that I always want more slugs for!), a few handheld DMM’s, my Digital Dummy Load, bench vise, and of course a Tenma solder reworks station.
Not pictured of more old equipment I pull off the shelf from time to time to play with. A Kenwood TS-520 (under restoration), TS-530, Heathkit HW-16, HW-7, 2nd HW-8, HW-101 (under restoration), and my first rig an old Hallicrafters HT-17 (also under restoration).
Thanks for stopping by and 73!
John kc9on