Chris KN4GAH's 100th! SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver

This was the 100th SolderSmoke receiver!     It was really cool to see Chris KN4GAH's  receiver inhaling CW (sbove)  and SSB (below).  I especially like the ink pen markings on the pine board.  FB.  Maybe make note of memorable QSOs heard, or -- later -- contacts made with this receiver.  

Chris is an electrical engineer, so it was particularly useful for us to get his perspective on this project.  We started this at the High School knowing full well that most of the students would spend their careers in the high tech, digital world, and might never again touch a soldering iron.  But we thought it would be good for them to build something like this at least once.  Chris comments on this idea below.  

Chris writes: 

Thank you for putting this all together for all of us and creating such a great community full of knowledgeable and helpful people. I work as an RF engineer and mentor a few junior RF engineers and will be proposing this challenge to them as a learning opportunity. As this challenge provides a lot of insight into how common blocks used in RF designs operate. It is just too easy to go on mini-circuits and find a filter, amp or mixer that meets ones needs. Actually building these components provides valuable knowledge that all us RF engineers should have.

Thanks Chris, Congratulations and welcome to the Hall of Fame!

Chris KD4PBJ's FB SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver

Chris KD4PBJ is one of SolderSmoke's most loyal fans.  Over the years Chris has supplied many of the parts and ideas used in SolderSmoke projects.  We were really delighted when Chris took on the Direct Conversion challenge.  As you can see,  his build was superb. 

Chris had promissed to have the receiver completed by September 2, 2025.  As it happens, that was the day of some very powerful solar activity and very poor band conditions.  So the video above doesn't really do justice to Chris's receiver.   We hope he will send us some more video, perhaps under better conditions, and perhaps with some more SSB. 

As you can see from this message from Chris in mid-July, he is a busy guy.  We were pleased that he found time to build this receiver.  Chris wrote

Good Morning guys!
I spent my July 4 weekend and 1200 round trip miles heading up to Richmond to pick up two 50 watt decommissioned airport non directional beacons that I hope to get working on either the 630m or 2200m bands. I'll most likely just use the amplifier, power supply and matching sections as they are modulated CW which isn't permitted. 
At least I have a nice high current power supply, outdoor enclosure and inner workings. I was told one worked and one doesn't.
I got them off eBay and the seller is a television engineer in Richmond named Greg. He listens to Soldersmoke too and is a builder like I am.
He said these are government surplus from a place called Camp Peary in VA.

The DC receiver is still coming along, I've just been overwhelmed with things on my to do list as well as a new job (learning lots about  high power lasers) so I promise it will get done soon. 

Chris 

Here are a couple of pictures of Chris's receiver.  Thanks Chris, and Welcome to the Hall of Fame.     

 

Dave K5YFO's FB Texas SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver

The pine board is key.  Frank Jones (W6AJF) would approve. FB Dave.    CW video above and SSB below. 

Dave writes:  

Bill,

After many diversions from the work bench I finally got the Solder Smoke Challenge Receiver to operate.  There were the usual problems with the audio amp but my main problem was a faulty trimmer in the BP filter.

 

I hope I’m in the first 100 to complete the project. 

 

Hopefully the attached videos make it.  One is a CW and the other is SSB. 

 

73 de Dave K5YFO

Robert Sutton's Amazing SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver

It is amazing that Robert (who is not yet licensed) got this receiver to work.  Check out his homebew coil form.  Excellent work Robert.  Congratulations and welcome to the Hall of Fame.  

Here is a Dicord exchange with Robert.  I think we see the true homebrew spirit here: 

Bob K2BVR's FB SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver

Bob K2BVR homebrewed a really nice SolderSmoke Direct Conversion receiver.  On his "Proof of Life" video we hear some nice SSB signals, some great CW signals (including N7DZ/6 POTA) and even the well-known tones of FT8.  FB Bob.  Congratulations OM!  Welcome to the Hall of Fame. 

Bob writes: 

Hi Bill,

I wanted to send you a quick note of thanks. I’m very grateful to the SolderSmoke Discord users for their help, and to you and KK4DAS for all of the work you’ve both done in developing this project and sharing it through your videos.

I’ve been making progress on my build and thought I’d share a little update. I ran into some challenges with the bandpass filter – it turns out that reducing the trifilar winds per inch helped improve the performance. I also fought with a shorted test fixture along the way, which made things more confusing than they should have been.

On the audio side, my first amplifier module is still giving me trouble. I hated not getting it fixed right away, but I’ll be coming back to it. I did have to add a 470uF cap to the power rail to control oscillation but I haven't added the 220 ohm resistor. I’m thinking about putting the different modules into their own boxes so that I can experiment with them more easily in the future.

Thanks again for all of the inspiration and guidance — I really appreciate it.

73s

K2BVR

 

Tobias KK7BCO's FB SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver

Sounds great Tobias!   Congratulations -- Welcome to the Hall of Fame! 

Tobias writes: 

Bill, I have joined the few. 

You guys created a project that even I could build. Thank you for the journey!

Now I plan to make duplicates of some elements, and create some kind of a terrifying musical instrument. 

Perhaps a Theremin Tobias?  AKA Etherphone!  This was reportedly one of Neil Armstrong's favorites! 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theremin

Shane G0JNR's FB SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver -- With a Glow-In-The-Dark PTO Coil Form

I was really pleased to see Shane G0JNR finish this receiver. He has been an active member of the SolderSmoke community for many years.  For example, back in 2018 we see him commenting on KU4NO's FB rig: 

https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2018/07/a-rig-with-maximum-soul-5-band.html

Shane writes: 

Shane G0JNR here. I've just got my Soldersmoke DC rx up and running! The thing that put me off earlier in the year was the 3d printed coil former. But my son has now got one and printer and printed one for me - as an added bonus, it glows in the dark! It didn't work straight away but perseverance has paid off. 73

Thanks Shane! Congratulations and Welcome to the Hall of Fame.

Glow-In-The-Dark PTO Coil Form

Brian KI7LKB's FB Modifications to the SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver

 

Although we had strongly suggested that builders FIRST build the receiver in accorandance with Dean KK4DAS's excellent videos, we also told builders that once they got those receivers working, there was, of course, no limit on the modifications and circuit changes they could make. We are very pleased that Brian KI7KLB has followed this advice.

Brian writes:

The KI7LKB DCR has been modified to include the KK4DAS 3rd stage of the audio amp, a QRP guys frequency counter, and an enclosure made from scrap aircraft aluminum and hardware. My favorite mod, however, is the WB6AMT (SK and former Elmer) voltage regulator circuit. It allows me to power the DCR from the shack 13.8 volt power supply while simultaneously providing 9.5 volts for the radio and 12 volts for the frequency counter. While I ordered components from Digi-Key, it was fun to include a coat hangar, spare aircraft hardware, scrap wood, and repurpose the frequency counter from another project.

Grant K0GDB's FB SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver

Congratulations to Grant K0GDB on his FB SolderSmoke Direct Conversion receiver.  Welcome to the Hall of Fame Grant! That PTO former is especially FB!  Grant is a relatively new ham, making his smooth construction of this receiver even more admirable. 

Grant writes: 

Proof of life video! Many thanks for the helpful YouTube tutorials, everything went together pretty smoothly.

The windings are actually as close to the specification as I could get them on the nanoVNA. It's been a bit since I built that part, but if memory serves I had one fewer turn and had to do some bunching to get it to read correctly. The main difference in the PTO is that I made the former on a laser cutter from slices of quarter-inch plywood since I don't have a 3d printer. The center cyllinder is actually just rolled up paper.

SolderSmoke Podcast 261: Travel, AI-Apocalypse, ARRL Award, Amplifiers (with Claude) , Transcoms, Smoke released in DR, QRP, CW, MAILBAG

SolderSmoke Podcast #261 is available for download: 

Audio:  http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke261.mp3

Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rzw8lxBzRo

Alaska, Colorado, Dominican Republic

Opening:   Travel notes:    Pete to Denver.  Dean to Alaska.  Bill in the Dominican Republic. 

The future of the podcast.  We will embrace our NIMCEL status and fight on in spite of the AI Apocalypse.   Thanks to Peter VK3TPM, Hamilton KD0FNR, Sam AI7PR, Todd K7TFC  and the WayBackMachine for providing backup and transfer options for the blog. Google could end Blogspot at any time.    

Dean and Bill win the 2025 ARRL Technical Service Award.  Thanks to Bruce KC1FSZ for the nomination. And thanks to Bill Morine N2COP for letting us know.  91 receivers completed so far!  

SolderSmoke East was pleased to host Phil W1PJE, a distinguished MIT radio astronomer AND member of the SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver Hall of Fame.   

Dean:   Amplifier design,  woes, triumphs, tribal knowledge.  And help from Claude. 

KK4DAS 100W MOSFET AMP

Pete:  Project X  -- The Transcom SBT-3,  Crossroads and Decisions. 

Transcom SBT-3

SHAMELESS COMMERCE DIVISION:   FIGHT THE AI-APOCALYPSE -- BECOME A PATREON SPONSOR.

GET BEZOS TO SEND US BEZOS BUCKS!  Use the Amazon link on the upper right.   

BUY PARTS AND STUFF FROM MOSTLY DIY RF. 

Bill: 

-- Smoke released in TWO RD06 finals.  Scrounged IRF-510s to the rescue.   

-- Working VK6 on 20 SSB.  

-- My old HW-101 -- inspired by Pete and by Will N5OLA.   

-- High frequency hearing loss and direct conversion receivers. 

-- Eleven contacts on 40 with the DC RX and a Tuna Tin 2. Mike Bryce WB8VGE came back to my CQ! First ever QSO with SolderSmoke DC receivers on both sides:  K1OA-N2CQR.  

-- Do real hams use ALC? Do we really NEED ALC? 

Mailbag: 

Who is the Project 326 Guy?  A British engineer resident in China for last 20 years. 

Steve EI5DD  Ham Radio Ireland magazine.  Hey -- Why no Irish DC RX builders? 

Paul K9ARF -- Thanks for the very kind e-mail about SolderSmoke. 

Rogier PA1ZZ -- Many nice videos and suggestions on blog backup. 

Grayson KJ7UM on the EF-50 valve (thermatron!) 

Bruce KC1FSZ  Four DC RX builders at the Wellesley Mass radio club. 

Chris KD4PBJ -- Long trip to pick up two directional beacons possibly for 630m or 2200m bands! 

Alan W2AEW did a Minimum Discernible Signal test on the DC RX.  FB! 

Mike WN2A  -- Many great comments on MDS in its various forms. 

Philippe F6GUH is a FB homebrewer.  

Mike EIOCL -- Always great to talk on the air with an old friend. 

Walter KA4KXX -- I checked into the Sunrise net!  With my HW-101!  Thanks Walter. 

Farhan VU2ESE -- Watched our interview with Phil W1PJE

Phil W1PJE was an SWL with an old Halli receiver.  VOA?  Boo!  But Radio Marti is BACK! Also, the hydrogen line from the cosmic dark ages has red shifted to... 7.1 MEGA hertz!  So LISTEN UP! 

Phil W1PJE with a Halli and the Haystack Observatory Dome

Bill WA5DSS's FB SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver

 

Bill WA5DSS built this beautiful receiver back in December 2024.  Somehow I failed to include him in our Hall of Fame.  Well, better late than never, right?   Please let me know if we have missed anyone else. 

I think it looks and sounds great, on both CW and SSB.   Note the Costa Rica station in there in the SSB portion of the recording.  

Back in December 2024, Bill wrote: 

Bill, Dean,
I forgot to send you a recording. This is what I recorded last night. I did not let it “warm up” so the stability is a little better after awhile. Also, I have a knob for tuning…just haven’t hacked off the head of the bolt yet.

I have put the receiver up for now. I am trying to get a Heathkit DX-60 on the air for New Years Eve Straight Key night. It’s the only time I attempt a straight key. Also I am amazed at how difficult it was to operate these old cw radios. No wonder I didn’t get many contacts back in the early sixties...

...This has been an interesting project for me. I have built many kits since becoming interested in electronics during the 1960s but this is the first time I have started with unetched boards. I think I prefer the “dead bug” style over Manhattan. I don’t have the patience to plan out where all those islands go! 

Bill WA5DSS

Joe N90K's FB SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver

Congratulations to Joe N9OK on his homebrew build of the SolderSmoke direct conversion receiver. Welcome to the Hall of Fame Joe.  

Joe makes some very nice comments on the benefits of doing this in a homebrew way:  

I've build many dozens kits over the years, esp Knight, Heath, K2, K3, and others. This was my first receiver built from scratch. It works surprisingly well and has decent sensitivity. Thanks @Bill N2CQR and Dean @Soldersmoke for creating this challenge. It was fun and non-trivial. The only stage I had issues with was the amplifier, which was too compact on v1. v2 works well.

I think Joe should hold onto that smaller version of the AF amp. I think he could get that stablized and it could become the heart of yet another FB DC RX.

Joe went the extra mile and measured the minimum discernible signal of the receiver:

 

I see no problem with Joe's measurment technique.  I think the key word here is "discernible."  Often people will focus on the RF signal that will produce a 3 db or 10 db increase in audio signal.  But Joe has just looked at the RF signal level that will create a discernible audio signal.  That is fine.  As Joe demonstrates, this simple DC receiver is remarkably sensitive.  

The Red-Shifted Neutral Hydrogen Signal from the Cosmic Dark Ages is in the Range of our Direct Conversion Receiver

On the flight to the Dominican Republic I was listening to Fraser Cain's interview with Dr. Christiaan Brinkerink.   I was kind of blown away when they started talking about where the neutral Hydrogen signal would be NOW, after the all of the cosmological red shift.  Asked this question, Christiaan kind of casually responds that it would be "just above 7 MHz."  He talks about this at 41 minutes and 41 seconds in the video above.  He points out that this represents a redshift of about 200.   Wow, that is just where our SolderSmoke Direct Conversion receivers tune, and where their PTO/VFOs operate.  And we thought Radio Marti was a factor to consider!   No wonder Christiaan and his colleagues want to go to the far-side of the moon.  They want to get above the ionosphere, but they also want to get the shielding provided by the moon to protect them, I suppose, from signals like those being produced by the 40 meter ham band, and, (to a lesser extent) by devices like our little oscillator. 

You can watch Fraser's interview with Christiaan above.  It is really interesting and inspirational.  Christiaan talks about dipole arrays, RFI, interferometers, sensitivity, signals of "several kHz" in width, dynamic range, and other topics known to us.  Christiaan is an "Instrument Systems Engineer" at Radboud University.  I think he deserves a ham radio license.  Maybe he should build a SolderSmoke Direct Conversion receiver.  Fraser should build one too.  

Here are a couple of links to articles about this: 

https://www.universetoday.com/articles/observing-the-dark-ages-of-the-universe-from-the-far-side-of-the-moon

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10961189/

Thank you Fraser and Christiaan. 

Fritz's FB SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver

Fritz did an excellent job on his build of the SolderSmoke Direct Conversion receiver.  Fritz writes: 

Hi folks!  First-time radio builder here, and I've just completed my DCR build! (Pic and video below...)

I have a background in electronics, but mostly audio, digital, video games, tube guitar amps, etc.  My only previous experience with radio was a restoration of a small AA5-style radio for a friend.  I first saw this project featured on w2aew's site and it seemed too fun not to try.  First go with Manhattan construction, too, and I really enjoyed it!

Though I built everything on one board, I did test the modules one by one as I went.  I did build and test the audio amp "left to right" instead of the other way around, because I have enough bench gear that I could check as I went without relying on the speaker. 

My audio amp build did tend to motorboat turned about half-way up, particularly with no RF input.  It was easy to see on the 'scope that the DC power bus was the feedback path.  Threw a couple 470uF on there and that pretty well quenched it.  In addition to the coil former, I also 3d printed a battery clip and and bracket for the volume pot.

Tuning turned out to be pretty delicate/twitchy, but I am getting better at it.  I opted to start with the 28 TPI steel screw after reading some things on the blog.  I will probably end up moving some of the windings off the tuning former to try and improve this, and/or investigate a fine tuning option.

I am running right now with a 33' wire out my basement window, up the side of the house, and partway across my flat roof, plus a 16' counterpoise on the basement floor.  Will probably get more ambitious with a feedline to a vertical wire in a tall tree in the backyard away from the house this upcoming week.

No license or callsign yet, but I've definitely got the bug with this project, so am reading the materials and hope to take the exam(s) soon!

-----------------

Congratulations Frtiz -- Welcome to the Hall of Fame! 

Dan KF5DAN's FB SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver

It is a happy occassion whenever we get to announce a new member of the SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver Hall of Fame.  And Dan KF5DAN has entered the hallowed halls.   Congratulations Dan.  We are really glad you are doing the happy dance.   Above you can see Dan's receiver inhaling SSB, in the video below you see it receiving CW. 

Dan writes: 

I would like to present proof of life! I found the motorboating issue in my amplifier. R18, 1K resistor was connected from the power rail to the base of Q5, instead of the collector. I moved it, and had already added a 470uF cap from earlier troubleshooting. There is a lot of noise, probably due to some stormy weather in Arkansas this evening. I'm doing the happy dance over here.

Thank you very much! I am very appreciative of all the guidance and suggestions everyone has provided. I am very happy to be in this group of hams and homebrewers.

Alan W2AEW Measures the Minimum Discernible Signal (MDS) of the SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver

So cool that Alan did this.  Here we see a rigrourous measurement of the MDS of our receiver, with a correction for the bandwidth.  Very nice. 

It can discern signals down to -125 dbm.  I think that is pretty good for simple receiver like this.  

Alan agrees that another way to do the sensitivity test is to just listen for the band noise when you connect and disconnect the antenna.  Especially on the low HF bands,  if you can hear it, you have sort of maxed out on receiver sensitivity.  

Thanks Alan!  

Hack-A-Day on the Tao of Bespoke Electronics

https://hackaday.com/2025/06/25/the-tao-of-bespoke-electronics/#comment-8142333

My comment:  Good post with good points about the under-appreciated differences between true homebrew and kit building. I have a lot of Heathkits around me, but I never considered them to be homebrew. There is a big difference. We have been promoting and supporting the HOMEBREW construction of 40 meter direct-conversion receivers. No one would confuse these receivers with commercial, or even kit-built gear. But they work very well, and the builder earns the satisfaction that comes with building something from scratch. There are no factory made PC boards to “populate.” All four of our boards are made using Manhattan construction techniques (super glue, isolation pads, copper-clad substrate). Almost 90 receivers have been completed, in more than 15 countries. Check out the receivers. Build one if you dare: 

https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/search/label/DC%20RX%20Hall%20of%20Fame 

BTW — I own a Dymo machine, and my SSB transceivers are in wooden boxes made from junked packing material. 73 Bill N2CQR

WD4CFN Makes Contact Using the SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver and a Michigan Mighty Mite

 

Hall of Fame member Steve WD4CFN in Tennessee fired up his 40 meter Mchigan Mighty Mite (above) and made contact with ND4K in Georgia. FB Steve.  Congratulations OM! 

My Eleven Contacts using the SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver -- It is NOT a toy!

I have made 11 contacts using the SolderSmoke Direct Conversion receiver.  Ten of the 11 were after June 3, 2025. This was in very casual operation, operating with less than 1 watt with a dipole antenna.

Alan W4AMV

1. The first of course was back in February 2023 with W4AMV.   On this one I was using a simple "10 Minute Transmitter" that I threw together thinking that I would use it to demonstrate the receiver to our high school students.  "Wait a minute," I thought.  I called CQ and W4AMV answered.  I was running about 100 mW. He too was using homebrew gear.  https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2023/02/first-qso-with-high-school-receiver-100.html

2, 3, 4.  On June 4, 2025 I again fired up the 10 minute transmitter.  My T/R scheme was VERY simple: I have an MFJ coax switch that I use to select the rigs that will connect to my various antennas.  On the antenna switch I selected my 40 meter dipole.  I ran two pieces of coax from two different positions on the MFJ switch.  One I marked RX, the other TX.  The transmitter and the receiver were working off 9 volt batteries. I quickly worked N2WJW. Gil in New Jersey.  But I noticed that the 10 Minute rig was drifting.  So I pulled out my trusty old Tuna Tin 2 transmitter and used it to heartlessly replace the 10 Minute Transmitter.  Now with SEVERAL HUNDRED milliwatts, I worked W2XS, John in New York on June 5, 2025.  Later that same day I worked N9FGC in Indiana.

 

K1OA's Rig

5. My most amazing contact came on June 7, 2025. Here is my log entry: 40CW K1OA First 2 way contact with station also using a SolderSmoke DC Receiver!At around 0630 EDT on June 7, 2025 I heard K1OA calling CQ on 7030 kHz CW. This was exactly where I had a crystal.  I called him, but he didn't hear me.  I sent him an e-mail.  We tried again -- he heard me calling him and I heard him responding by calling me, but I don't think we succeeded in exchanging signal reports. It was close, but no cigar.  I had to walk the dog. Scott and I agreed to meet on 7030 kHz at 0730 EDT.  Arggh.  There was a QSO there.  I thought we might have to try to change frequency, but this would have been tough because both of us were crystal controlled on transmit.   Fortunately, the contact on 7030 kHz wrapped up.   Scott called me, I responded, and we were able to exchange signal reports.  I was so excited that I almost forgot to hit the record button on my phone.   But I caught the last minute or so.This was really something.  This really goes to prove what Dean and I have been saying all along:  this receiver is not a toy!  It can be used for real ham radio contacts.  And now we have had these receivers on both ends of a contact.  For transmit, Scott was using a KA4KXX transmitter with about 3 watts output.  I was on my Tuna Tin 2 at about half a watt output.

Jim W1PID

6, 7, 8.  Later on June 7, 2025 I worked an old friend, Jim W1PID.  Jim is a friend of Homebrew Hero Mike AA1TJ, and was involved in Mike's effort to cross the Atlantic with a voice-powered rig.  Jim also was one of my contacts with the ET-2 QRPppp rig. I also worked WZ2J  Vin in NJ. I also worked John W2XS again. 

Mike WB8VGE

9.   June 11, 2025  (Really evening of 10 June 2025) Famous homebrewer, Anchorologist, Heatkit authority and fellow member of the QRP Hall of Fame Mike Bryce called me!  40CW 0034 WB8VGE Mike Bryce came back to my CQ! Mike wrote: Nothing like quartz locked frequency control!You know it sounded pretty damn good at 500mW. You were holding your own until QSB would take you out in a deep fade. But all in all, one hell of great QRP QSO.I was running my Ten Tec Scout that I had just put back together a couple of days ago.  Got around to putting the case back on it tonight, and had it cooking in the back ground just listening to the stations come and go. I had worked a few POTA stations near by and found a quite spot. I was working on a project when I heard your CQ through the din of the 40M band. Glad I took a break and worked your QRPp signalbest 73  QRP # 4816 You get a QSL for that QSO!

Here's my post about Mike, WB8VGE:  https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2018/09/wb8vge-on-qso-today-qrp-hb-boatanchors.html

10. Around June 11, 2025 I worked W4MY in a contest. 

11.   On June 12, 2925 I worked some DX with the rig.  It was VA3ICC, Ian in Ontario. 

Ian VA3ICC

All of this reinforces something that Dean KK4DAS and I have been saying all through this build process:  this little DC receiver is not a toy.  It can be used as a serious ham radio receiver and it can -- even when paired up with a very low-power crystal-controlled transmitter and a simple antenna -- make some great ham radio contacts. 

Mike KM5Z's SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver

Congratulations to Mike KM5Z on the completion of his SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver. 

Welcome to the Hall of Fame. 

Mike writes: 

First time with 'Manhattan' style construction, although it worked perfectly and was very easy. In this video I just did a scan from about 7.100 to 7.210 MHz. As you can see, I took advantage of another ham's 3D prints.
After all, if an idea is worth doing, then... it's worth overdoing.I used a Milwaukee 1/4" Diamond Max hole saw to cut circles for the solder-points. Everything else is ground. Later, I found that I missed a point, so I used a single "MePAD" glued in that spot.I found the default audio amp to be a bit quiet. I plan to replace it with the 'push-pull' version.  I'm definitely keeping this to hang up on the wall.