MKARS80 80M transceiver

**M0TZO** · Fri 11th Jul 2008, 01:20

]I have paids me monies for and will shortly be receiving an MKARS80 (pronounced "em cars 80") 80M transceiver from next Club meeting. It's one you have to build from a kit, which is something I have not done before.

I am not into building, and the most advanced thing prior to this (not including one of those spring loaded electronics kits), was a Morse oscillator.

This will be done with the Sutton & Cheam Radio Society, and Steve G6ALU from MKARS is giving a talk on Thursday 17th at our club.

I will use this post to let people know how I am progressing, and hopefully some regular photo updates, and any other hints, tips I learn from this.

The next update might be Thursday 17th or Friday 18th July.

Milton Keynes Amateur Radio Society MKARS80 80M transceiver link

Sutton & Cheam Radio Society

**M0TZO** · Wed 23rd Jul 2008, 00:37

Here are some photos before I start the soldering of the MKARS 80.

More photos on my Gallery - M0TZO Photo Gallery

**M0HAK** · Wed 23rd Jul 2008, 08:29

Looks like a fun little project. I recommend spending some time practicing your soldering if you're a bit rusty - I built a TinyTrack 4 and you can tell which components went on first from the dodgy soldering!

**M0TZO** · Wed 23rd Jul 2008, 23:41

First 26 resistors soldered.

A Good start for me!

**M0HAK** · Thu 24th Jul 2008, 14:59

Is the one near the C43 position supposed to be up like that?

I notice you didn't show the solder side of the board?

**M0TZO** · Thu 24th Jul 2008, 15:28

You weren't supposed to notice.

Will sort at later date when more confident as this is the first build doing on my own, and didn't pull through enough.

Hey, I was impressed didn't make any more errors!

**M0TZO** · Thu 24th Jul 2008, 23:54

OK, so some Solder Mop and a few minutes and the resistor is were it should be.

And now onto today's update. More resistors added, think upto about 65 now.

Haven't photographed the back as not a lot to see at the moment other than 130 tiny blobs of solder. Will photograph when much further on and more to see on rear.

**M0TZO** · Sun 27th Jul 2008, 01:02

Friday was drinking in evening, so non done that day. Saturday was too hot to do too much.

But got a little done and also put some tape on the helping hands rather than bits of paper which were too big and would fall out when open.

Working out in eXcel, I have completed using 26% (82 of 321) of the parts so far. Quite an achievement for me.

**M0TZO** · Tue 29th Jul 2008, 21:58

Today's Update. Did a bit over weekend, but not a lot.

Also found out I had downloaded wrong manual when some parts were different than expected, but the MKARS 80 Yahoo Group set me straight. Typically was 2 version, so I had 50/50 chance, and got the wrong one. :roll:

Resistors finally done and now onto some capacitors. Also as requested have photographed back of board. (sorry about quality, but flash light was more reflective on underside).

**M0TZO** · Sun 10th Aug 2008, 22:08

Been a bit slow recently on the Kit building, but finally finished Bag 2 tonight.

Here for you viewing pleasure as usual I have some photo of my current progress.

**M0TZO** · Tue 4th Nov 2008, 21:53

Wound (& then re-wound when someone pointed out an error I had made) Transformers T1 & T3.

I have left T4, T5 & T6 until later as they have 6 and not 4 wire connectors like T1 & T3.

No Photos at the moment as I got a new laptop a few months back and only just realised have no way to read CF cards.

Will upload some in next week or so.

**M0HAK** · Wed 5th Nov 2008, 12:01

Looking good.

Solder side of the board looks pretty neat to me (especially since you say you haven't done much kit building) though you might find some of the leads a bit long when you come to put it into the case if there isn't much clearance.

Andy

**M0TZO** · Sun 9th Nov 2008, 23:57

Now have new Card & Card reader, so here are some new photos.

Did some whilst helping with the 2E course we are running in Banstead (with some assistance this time as the windings were part of kit I was most unsure about. Worse bit I know now is where the enamal coating on the thicker wires needs stripping either by melting with soldering iron or scrapping off).

Oh, and before anyone complains, the 3 windings (black sqares near bottom of board) are not yet glued down, so probably do look wonky in the photos).

**M0TZO** · Sun 30th Nov 2008, 23:28

Woohoo! Finally finished Bag 3. Onto some ICs next.

Photos attached as usual.

Note:- These photos taken on my new camera at 8Mp (FujiFilm FinePix S5800) so maybe slow if you try to view fullsize.

**David** · Mon 1st Dec 2008, 00:19

I've been tempted to get one of these inn the past. I saw them in the flesh at the MKARS rally this year. Amazingly good value.

**M0TZO** · Mon 1st Dec 2008, 13:06

Originally Posted by David

I've been tempted to get one of these inn the past. I saw them in the flesh at the MKARS rally this year. Amazingly good value.

Should do, it's a nice kit. Obviously though you can't TX on it until you get your 2E.

I've had hours of fun and whilst I would be a little disappointed if it didn't work, I think the £45 was still well spent.

**M0TZO** · Sun 7th Dec 2008, 22:00

Didn't think I would have time this weekend, but took along when helping and operating in the 2m AFS contest this Sunday.

Well I didn't actually make a single contact myself, but logged a bit and then did some of my kit.

The sharp eye among you might notice the green caps (C59 & C60) in the centre have been removed. There was some discussion on MKARS80 Yahoo Group about replacing with Polystyrene caps. Luckily a friend sourced some from Sycom. These improve the stability of the rig resulting in less drifting off of frequency.

These photos taken with my new Nokia N95 8Gb. Left Fuji camera at home due to space, and the small Canon didn't have any charge. Think I need another new battery for it.

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**M0TZO** · Tue 17th Mar 2009, 22:11

OK, been a little while since there was a smell of solder smoke in the shack.

This has now been rectified, as 2 days this week already I have been working on my MKARS 80 (& Whitton Amateur Radio Group BITx20).

So the project continues and photos are attached as always. Enjoy.
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**M0TZO** · Mon 23rd Mar 2009, 01:50

Did a bit more tonight, but haven't taken any photos.

I worked out that I have less than 25 main board components left.

Not as great as it sounds as some involve testing and tuning, again a new area for me.

Oh well, maybe some time soon, I will finish it.

If it's still light out when I get home, I may try to get photo, but light in the Shack is not great as can be seen in most previous photos.

**M0TZO** · Tue 2nd Jun 2009, 00:25

So last 2 evenings my soldering iron has finally come out of retirement on my MKARS80.

The first 4 shots were taken on Sunday night, and last 2 Monday night (although if you check the photo time stamps, seem to all be a day out :? )

Not much to go on the board now, but I need some wire from friend to solder to the crystals as my iron is not hot enough to melt the enamal on the 22 gauge wire in the kit.

And then the testing begins. Will it work???

Even if it doesn't at first, there is a ham friend locally who is good at building, and also a Yahoo group, so I am fairly certain at some point it will work, but can't be sure if/when. All the fun of kits I guess.

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