Here is information about kits NFARL has sold over the past few years. Should one of these kits turn up in your parts bin, the listings include links to instructions for building them. The Code Practice Oscillator is still available in our Mart.
Code Practice Oscillator
Our Code Practice Oscillator is a great little device on which you can practice your Morse Code skills. It is simple to build and easy to use. All you need are two 3V coin batteries and your knowledge of Morse Code. Even if you are just beginning to learn Morse Code you'll probably find this practice oscillator is a handy way to practice timing and develop an ear for Morse Code.
The kit was featured at TechFest 2020 and proved to be easy to construct by hams of all ages. Soldering is required so adult supervision is suggested for builders under age 12.
Our customers are very happy with the kit. Here is a note from one:
I spent the most enjoyable evening building this code practice oscillator with my very-excited 10 year-old grandson. It was perfect: low parts count, easy assembly, blinky light, and built-in key. He is psyched, pounding away learning Morse. He must have thanked me a dozen times. Now he says he wants to get his license. Best $10 I've spent in a long time.
Buck, k4ia
Honor Roll
8BDXCC
EasyWayHamBooks.com
Kit instructions are available here. A schematic for the kit is located here. Click here to open an interactive graphic that highlights a part's location on the board when you hover over its description in the bill of materials grid. Click on the screenshot to the right to see a static example of the details it provides.
Send your questions via email to KN4OAK@NFARL.org
Click here to purchase a kit.
Joule Thief
This kit was sold to fund our 2009 Library project. It is a great kit to use in learning basic soldering, circuit fundamentals, and Manhattan construction techniques. All kits have been sold.
Click here to see instructions for building the kit.
Power Gate
The Power Gate allows you to run your station with fulltime, instantaneous power backup. A pair of Schottky diodes operate as an electronic gate to connect either of two power supplies to your rig. Usually one supply will be your normal AC connected station power supply and the other a backup battery. Switching is completely automatic in both directions; the source with the highest DC voltage will be connected automatically to your rig. All kits have been sold.
Click here to download a PDF file containing instructions for assembling the Power Gate kit.
Retro Radio
This radio is a direct conversion receiver for the US AM band. The transmitted bandwidth is limited to the usual amplitude modulation at 4.5 kHz on medium wave and therefore achieves no FM quality. But it has, especially in the evening and at night, a much greater range and can receive stations from all over America. All kits have been sold.
Click here to download a PDF file containing an overview of the radio and kit assembly instructions.