SolderSmoke Daily News -- Ham Radio Blog: Search results for KQ4AOP

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Sunday, August 31, 2025

Hall of Fame Update: 96 Completed SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receivers, and 7 Honorable Mentions. Total: 103 receivers as of October 19, 2025 1649Z. More receivers are being built.

Please let us know if you spot any errors, or if we have inadvertently missed anyone. Don't worry about being late to the game -- the challenge continues. All of the info is still available (see below).

As of October 19, 2025 1649Z:

So far 96 completed receivers, and 7 honorable mentions. Total Count: 103. Receivers built in 17 countries.

NE3U (KY4EOD) Matt

KQ4AOP First ham signals ever heard!

N9TD Derek

AC3NG Ryan

VK3TPM Peter Marks

W4KAC Ken

W4KAC Ken built a second one!

N2EPE Erik

VA3NCA Wayde

KI5SRY Mark -- Gears on PTO screw

KA1MUQ Frying pan receiver

AA1N Adam

ZL1AUN Aaron -- Using SSB transmitter -- New Zealand

W8UC Never before homebrewed.

VK4PG Phil -- Nice case, "really pleased"

G7LQX Working well, video of CW and SSB. -- England

KE2AMP John Spring on PTO screw -- great

N9SZ Steve nice receiver

KD9NHZ Piotr Nice one

KE8ICE Calvin, Very cool receiver.

WV3V Jayson! Got it done!

GM5JDG Martin. -- Scotland

KF8BOG Jim: A long struggle, but success.

Chris Wales Fantastic video. -- Wales

YD9BAX Wayan! Homebrew transformer! Indonesia

N0NQD Jeff

WN3F Roy -- Made new stickers!

AB5XQ Bill
KB7ZUT Andy
AA1OF Jer

VictorKees Holland
KC9OJV John -- Manhattan-style convert
WZ5M 1, 2 or maybe even 3 receivers!
K1KJW Jim in Vermont
KC5DI Dallas -- friend of WZ5M
Gary Australian -- Wooden PTO form
LU2VJM Juan in Argentina -- Argentina
K1OA Scott "Most fun in 50 years"
KC9DLM Ben -- Had EFHW problems
PH2LB Lex Yellow, Glue Stick -- Netherlands

AI6WR David
G6GEV Dave (It was a blast!)
KC1ONM Wayne MakerLabs NH
KB1OIQ Andy MakerLabs NH
KA1PQK Jay MakerLabs NH
W1TKO Mike MakerLabs NH
K5KHK Karl
SM0TPW Mikael -- Sweden
KI7LKB Brian (coat hanger tube)
M6CRD Chris

W2DAB Dave in NYC
W4JYK Wes of VWS
KA4CDN Mike of VWS
M7EFO Adrian
VK5RC Rob
KD8KHP Dave
VK1CHW Chris
KA0PHJ Brian
W0IT Louis
W1PJE Phil

W2AEW Alan
KN6FVK John (Barkhausen-Be-Gone Spray)
VU2JXN Ramakrishnan -- India
AA0MS Doug
9V1/KM7ABZ Paul -- Singapore
VK2BLQ Stephen -- Australia
N3FJZ Rick
Daniel VE5DLD -- Canada
Student 1 Student of VE5DLD
Student 2 Student of VE5DLD

Student 3 Student of VE5DLD
K7WXW Bill
NK3H Mitch
KN4ZXG Ted
WA1MAC Paul
N4AVC Chuck
K3IY Kevin
N6ASD Ashish in Bangalore
W1DSP Rick
WD4CFN Steve

KM5Z Mike
KF5DAN Dan
Fritz Fritz
N9OK Joe
WA5DSS Bill
K0GDB Grant
G0JNR Shane Glow-in-Dark Coil Form
KK7BCO Tobias
K2BVR Bob
Robert Sutton

K5YFO Dave (Texas)
KD4PBJ Chris
KN4GAH Chris -- EE perspective
F1GMA Philippe -- France
W2TEF Todd
EI9ITB Karl -- Ireland
-------------------------
Honorable Mentions:

*AA7U Steve No PTO

*VK7IAN Ian -- No Manhattan boards -- Tasmania

*KC1FSZ Bruce's build on a PC board

*CT7AXD Graham -- different AF amp -- Portugal

* DL1AJG Andreas -- Germany

* Matthew Student of DL1AJG

* Arash Student of DL1AJG

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

Candidates for the Hall of Fame:

SA5RJS Rasmus
KA9TII James
AA7FO Chuck
VA3ZOT Tony Surface Mount -- Honorable Mention?
AB2XT John (Done, just need the video)
KO7M Jeff (Piper Cub)
VU2TUM Puneit Singh

For more information on how you too can build the receiver:

Join the discussion - SolderSmoke Discord Server:
https://discord.gg/Fu6B7yGxx2

Documentation on Hackaday:
https://hackaday.io/project/190327-high-schoolers-build-a-radio-receiver

SolderSmoke YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@soldersmoke

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Hall of Fame Update: 87 Completed SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receivers, with 7 Honorable Mentions. More receivers are being built. As of August 29, 2025 1945Z

As of August 29, 2025 1945Z:

So far 87 completed receivers, with 7 honorable mentions. Receivers built in 15 countries.

NE3U (KY4EOD) Matt

KQ4AOP First ham signals ever heard!

N9TD Derek

AC3NG Ryan

VK3TPM Peter Marks

W4KAC Ken

W4KAC Ken built a second one!

N2EPE Erik

VA3NCA Wayde

KI5SRY Mark -- Gears on PTO screw

KA1MUQ Frying pan receiver

AA1N Adam

ZL1AUN Aaron -- Using SSB transmitter

W8UC Never before homebrewed.

VK4PG Phil -- Nice case, "really pleased"

G7LQX Working well, video of CW and SSB.

KE2AMP John Spring on PTO screw -- great

N9SZ Steve nice receiver

KD9NHZ Piotr Nice one

KE8ICE Calvin, Very cool receiver.

WV3V Jayson! Got it done!

GM5JDG Martin.

KF8BOG Jim: A long struggle, but success.

Chris Wales Fantastic video.

YD9BAX Wayan! Homebrew transformer!

N0NQD Jeff

WN3F Roy -- Made new stickers!

AB5XQ Bill
KB7ZUT Andy
AA1OF Jer

VictorKees Holland
KC9OJV John -- Manhattan-style convert
WZ5M 1, 2 or maybe even 3 receivers!
K1KJW Jim in Vermont
KC5DI Dallas -- friend of WZ5M
Gary Australian -- Wooden PTO form
LU2VJM Juan in Argentina
K1OA Scott "Most fun in 50 years"
KC9DLM Ben -- Had EFHW problems
PH2LB Lex Yellow, Glue Stick

AI6WR David
G6GEV Dave (It was a blast!)
KC1ONM Wayne MakerLabs NH
KB1OIQ Andy MakerLabs NH
KA1PQK Jay MakerLabs NH
W1TKO Mike MakerLabs NH
K5KHK Karl
SM0TPW Mikael
KI7LKB Brian (coat hanger tube)
M6CRD Chris

W2DAB Dave in NYC
W4JYK Wes of VWS
KA4CDN Mike of VWS
M7EFO Adrian
VK5RC Rob
KD8KHP Dave
VK1CHW Chris
KA0PHJ Brian
W0IT Louis
W1PJE Phil

W2AEW Alan
KN6FVK John (Barkhausen-Be-Gone Spray)
VU2JXN Ramakrishnan
AA0MS Doug
9V1/KM7ABZ Paul in Singapore
VK2BLQ Stephen
N3FJZ Rick
Daniel VE5DLD
Student 1 Student of VE5DLD
Student 2 Student of VE5DLD

Student 3 Student of VE5DLD
K7WXW Bill
NK3H Mitch
KN4ZXG Ted
WA1MAC Paul
N4AVC Chuck
K3IY Kevin
N6ASD Ashish in Bangalore
W1DSP Rick
WD4CFN Steve

KM5Z Mike
KF5DAN Dan
Fritz Fritz
N9OK Joe
WA5DSS Bill
K0GDB Grant
G0JNR Shane

-------------------------
Honorable Mentions:

*AA7U Steve No PTO

*VK7IAN Ian -- No Manhattan boards

*KC1FSZ Bruce's build on a PC board

*CT7AXD Graham -- different AF amp

* DL1AJG Andreas

* Matthew Student of DL1AJG

* Arash Student of DL1AJG

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

Candidates for the Hall of Fame:

SA5RJS Rasmus
KA9TII James
AA7FO Chuck
VA3ZOT Tony Surface Mount -- Honorable Mention?
AB2XT John (Done, just need the video)
KO7M Jeff (Piper Cub)
KD4PBJ Chris
VU2TUM Puneit Singh

For more information on how you too can build the receiver:

Join the discussion - SolderSmoke Discord Server:
https://discord.gg/Fu6B7yGxx2

Documentation on Hackaday:
https://hackaday.io/project/190327-high-schoolers-build-a-radio-receiver

SolderSmoke YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@soldersmoke

Thursday, May 29, 2025

SolderSmoke Podcast #260 FDIM, Hollow State Design, Pete's Bench and the Shelf of Shame, Direct Conversion Project News, How Best to Preserve this Blog?, Dean's Bench and the Desk of Despair, Bill's Bench and the Garage of Grief, MAILBAG

SolderSmoke Podcast #260 is available:

Audio version: http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke260.mp3

Video version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZzHSjOTbSY

Quote from the Old Miltary Radio Net: "Being on the leading edge is great, but sometimes being on the trailing edge is more fun." Indeed.

Heard from an Australian on the Southern Cross Net: "My antenna needs a lot of Viagra!"

News from Dayton/Xenia/FDIM: Dayton Xenia. Again, we didn't go. But Bob Crane W8SX was there and got a nice interview with Grayson, Hans, and Farhan. We are presenting these and more. Michigan Mighty Mite Revival at FDIM! Jeff W9TH.

Farhan's review of Hollow State Design: I am compelled to set aside the future of my family and to orphan my cats to resume work on the 250v power supply that I built last year. Inshallah, Allah favors those who favor thermatrons! Grayson's book is imbued with deep experimental insights and littered with gems. You have to read it over and over to find new things each time. It goes into my reference shelf in the lab." Buy it here: https://www.ermag.com/product-category/books/

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

PETE'S BENCH:

Pete working on JF3HZB dial. Send Pete a Heath mono-bander!

MHST on shelf of shame? Even the great ones have to take a break every so often. On the importance of taking a break. Ernest Rutherford 1917 and all that: https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2025/05/on-importance-of-taking-break.html

Channelized 40 meter rig. Heard in Arizona by Andy KB7ZUT on a HOMEBREW SSB Reciever. Very rare. SWL HB2HB.

Pete: Thumb broken as a Novice? Early episode of Fat Finger Syndrome?

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

DC RX NEWS:

Quote from N6QW: "The radios do not build themselves!"

Alan W2AEW finishes Direct Conversion Receiver. And even he worries about feedback!

Phil W1PJE MIT receiver (with cool MIT stuff). Coming to see us!

KN6FVK's Barkausen-Be-Gone Spray :https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2025/05/john-kn6fvks-fb-homebrew-soldersmoke.html

Indian hams working DC RX. VU2JXN Ramakrishnan, VU2TUM Puneit Singh, Ashish N5ASD, building one in Bangalore with 3D printed form from Scott, KQ4AOP. Ramakrishnan is planning on building a second receiver with his daughter. On June 22, 2008 in SolderSmoke #86 we reported on the birth of Ramakrishnan's daughter. This is that same daughter! See: https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2024/01/long-time-soldersmoke-supporter.html How to get a PTO form in India. A tip from Ramakrishnan: "I got the 3d printing done via https://robu.in with 1:1 size. After uploading the stl, I received it by post in 5 days or so."

German students of Andreas DL1AJG. and Canadian students of Daniel VE5DLD.

Receiver built in Singapore! 9V1/KM7ABZ

John M0XJA reports 8 members of his club are building this receiver.

Chuck N4AVC got his PTO coil form 3D printed at the local library. For free! FB!

Few admit to being fooled by April Fool story. But still, inspirational. VK3HN was going for a few seconds -- SOTA AI chatbots? John West liked the 85th harmonic threat.

What next after DC RX? Choose carefully! Don't bite off more than you can chew.

Do some mods! Build something else! And remember to be a homebrew Elmer. Help someone else build the receiver.

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

SHAMELESS COMMERCE DIVISION:

Check out the SolderSmoke blog on the WayBack Machine. The blog, not the podcast. www.soldersmoke.blogspot.com Would this be a useful backup if Google were to pull the plug on blogspot? Is the format OK? Is the template recoverable? How best should we backup the SolderSmoke blog?

Be a Patreon SolderSmoke Sponsor! Please subscribe to the YouTube channel! Buy your Amazon stuff through our link. Buy stuff from Mostly DIY RF.

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

DEAN'S BENCH:

Dean has completed his Mythbuster: https://kk4das.blogspot.com/2025/05/kk4das-mb-20-transceiver-complete.html Plexiglass top!

Diode switching.

Dean: Build of the SDR receiver. Microscope required?

____________________

BILL'S BENCH:

VK6JDW and HCJB in the Kimberly.

The stages of separation: Shack, Garage, Car trunk: HP-8640B and HAMEG scope saved from garage. HP-8640B repair. HAMEG Modulation Monitor.

=================

MAILBAG

-- Wouter ZS1KE. Thinks Soviet spies COULD homebrew. Hamilton KD0FNR concurs. Agent Sonya and Soviet Spy homebrew. Copacetic Flow. I dunno....I dunno...

-- Hamilton KD0FNR grew up in New Mexico, supports my idea of Starlink deorbit. See : https://www.kallmorris.com/columns/goodness-gracious-green-balls-of-fire

-- Adam N0ZIB Heard my 10 meter beacon from the DR. 28,233.5 MHz On now.

-- Rick N3FJZ Great memory Direct Conversion messages.

-- John KN6FVK had fun with DC RX. Tattoos on Board. We need a high sign! Like the Little Rascals.

-- Adrian M7EFO DC RX builder in GQRP. FB.

-- Steve KW4H Kits not the same as homebrew, but old Boatanchor kits have value.

-- Mike WU2D -- Old buddy Charles Kitchen SK.

-- Craig -- Some really nice feedback on Hack-A-Day re DC RX and Dean's videos.

-- Peter VK3TPM proposes a certificate for SolderSmoke DC RX Honor Roll.

-- Michael WN2A used a 3 inch reflector from Northern New Jersey. Edmunds Scientific "Space Conqueror"

-- Phil W1PJE and Mike WN2A lament that our eyes don't pick up radio frequencies. This would be a great troubleshooting tool! I can SEE the IMD! Perhaps some tin foil hats?

-- John WPE9IRS SW listener! Heard my beacon. Many SWLs switching to tuning in ham stations.

-- Peter VK3YE found a homebrew 160 meter double-sideband transciever at a hamfest. He also found "Solid State Basics for the Radio Amateur -- A QST Anthology" NOT SSDRA. But good!

-- Peter VK2EMU From the Southern Cross (I took a picture of it in the DR!) Building the DC RX!

Ramakrishnan VU2JXN

Monday, May 19, 2025

Hall of Fame: The SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver -- 80 Completed Receivers, 7 Honorable Mentions, Built in 15 Countries -- Many More Receivers Being Built.

WA1MAC's Receiver

As of June 18, 2025 1049Z:

So far 80 completed receivers, with 7 honorable mentions. Receivers built in 15 countries.

NE3U (KY4EOD) Matt

KQ4AOP First ham signals ever heard!

N9TD Derek

AC3NG Ryan

VK3TPM Peter Marks

W4KAC Ken

W4KAC Ken built a second one!

N2EPE Erik

VA3NCA Wayde

KI5SRY Mark -- Gears on PTO screw

KA1MUQ Frying pan receiver

AA1N Adam

ZL1AUN Aaron -- Using SSB transmitter

W8UC Never before homebrewed.

VK4PG Phil -- Nice case, "really pleased"

G7LQX Working well, video of CW and SSB.

KE2AMP John Spring on PTO screw -- great

N9SZ Steve nice receiver

KD9NHZ Piotr Nice one

KE8ICE Calvin, Very cool receiver.

WV3V Jayson! Got it done!

GM5JDG Martin.

KF8BOG Jim: A long struggle, but success.

Chris Wales Fantastic video.

YD9BAX Wayan! Homebrew transformer!

N0NQD Jeff

WN3F Roy -- Made new stickers!

AB5XQ Bill
KB7ZUT Andy
AA1OF Jer

VictorKees Holland
KC9OJV John -- Manhattan-style convert
WZ5M 1, 2 or maybe even 3 receivers!
K1KJW Jim in Vermont
KC5DI Dallas -- friend of WZ5M
Gary Australian -- Wooden PTO form
LU2VJM Juan in Argentina
K1OA Scott "Most fun in 50 years"
KC9DLM Ben -- Had EFHW problems
PH2LB Lex Yellow, Glue Stick

AI6WR David
G6GEV Dave (It was a blast!)
KC1ONM Wayne MakerLabs NH
KB1OIQ Andy MakerLabs NH
KA1PQK Jay MakerLabs NH
W1TKO Mike MakerLabs NH
K5KHK Karl
SM0TPW Mikael
KI7LKB Brian (coat hanger tube)
M6CRD Chris

W2DAB Dave in NYC
W4JYK Wes of VWS
KA4CDN Mike of VWS
M7EFO Adrian
VK5RC Rob
KD8KHP Dave
VK1CHW Chris
KA0PHJ Brian
W0IT Louis
W1PJE Phil

W2AEW Alan
KN6FVK John (Barkhausen-Be-Gone Spray)
VU2JXN Ramakrishnan
AA0MS Doug
9V1/KM7ABZ Paul in Singapore
VK2BLQ Stephen
N3FJZ Rick
Daniel VE5DLD
Student 1 Student of VE5DLD
Student 2 Student of VE5DLD

Student 3 Student of VE5DLD
K7WXW Bill
NK3H Mitch
KN4ZXG Ted
WA1MAC Paul
N4AVC Chuck
K3IY Kevin
N6ASD Ashish in Bangalore
W1DSP Rick
WD4CFN Steve
-------------------------
Honorable Mentions:

*AA7U Steve No PTO

*VK7IAN Ian -- No Manhattan boards

*KC1FSZ Bruce's build on a PC board

*CT7AXD Graham -- different AF amp

* DL1AJG Andreas

* Matthew Student of DL1AJG

* Arash Student of DL1AJG

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

Candidates for the Hall of Fame:

SA5RJS Rasmus
KA9TII James
AA7FO Chuck
VA3ZOT Tony Surface Mount -- Honorable Mention?
KM5Z Mike Yancey
AB2XT John (Done, just need the video)
KO7M Jeff (Piper Cub)
KD4PBJ Chris
VU2TUM Puneit Singh

For more information on how you too can build the receiver:

Join the discussion - SolderSmoke Discord Server:
https://discord.gg/Fu6B7yGxx2

Documentation on Hackaday:
https://hackaday.io/project/190327-high-schoolers-build-a-radio-receiver

SolderSmoke YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@soldersmoke

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

The Hall of Fame: 71 Direct Conversion Receivers Completed (so far) with 7 Honorable Mentions. More coming. Update.

Dean KK4DAS's Receiver

As of May 19, 2025 1717Z:

So far 71 completed receivers, with 7 honorable mentions:

NE3U (KY4EOD) Matt

KQ4AOP First ham signals ever heard!

N9TD Derek

AC3NG Ryan

VK3TPM Peter Marks

W4KAC Ken

W4KAC Ken built a second one!

N2EPE Erik

VA3NCA Wayde

KI5SRY Mark -- Gears on PTO screw

KA1MUQ Frying pan receiver

AA1N Adam

ZL1AUN Aaron -- Using SSB transmitter

W8UC Never before homebrewed.

VK4PG Phil -- Nice case, "really pleased"

G7LQX Working well, video of CW and SSB.

KE2AMP John Spring on PTO screw -- great

N9SZ Steve nice receiver

KD9NHZ Piotr Nice one

KE8ICE Calvin, Very cool receiver.

WV3V Jayson! Got it done!

GM5JDG Martin.

KF8BOG Jim: A long struggle, but success.

Chris Wales Fantastic video.

YD9BAX Wayan! Homebrew transformer!

N0NQD Jeff

WN3F Roy -- Made new stickers!

*AA7U Steve No PTO

*VK7IAN Ian -- No Manhattan boards

*KC1FSZ Bruce's build on a PC board

*CT7AXD Graham -- different AF amp

* DL1AJG Andreas

* Student 1 Student of DL1AJG

* Student 2 Student of DL1AJG

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

Candidates for the Hall of Fame:

SA5RJS Rasmus
KA9TII James
AA7FO Chuck
K7WXW Bill
VA3ZOT Tony Surface Mount -- Honorable Mention?
KM5Z Mike Yancey
AB2XT John (Done, just need the video)
KO7M Jeff (Piper Cub)
KD4PBJ Chris
VU2TUM Puneit Singh
N6ASD Ashish in Bangalore

For more information on how you too can build the receiver:

Join the discussion - SolderSmoke Discord Server:
https://discord.gg/Fu6B7yGxx2

Documentation on Hackaday:
https://hackaday.io/project/190327-high-schoolers-build-a-radio-receiver

SolderSmoke YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@soldersmoke

Sunday, April 6, 2025

The Hall of Fame -- Completed SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receivers (So far --- more to come!)

Dean KK4DAS's Receiver

As of April 29, 2025 0942Z:

So far 59 completed receivers, with 4 honorable mentions:

NE3U (KY4EOD) Matt

KQ4AOP First ham signals ever heard!

N9TD Derek

AC3NG Ryan

VK3TPM Peter Marks

W4KAC Ken

W4KAC Ken built a second one!

N2EPE Erik

VA3NCA Wayde

KI5SRY Mark -- Gears on PTO screw

KA1MUQ Frying pan receiver

AA1N Adam

ZL1AUN Aaron -- Using SSB transmitter

W8UC Never before homebrewed.

VK4PG Phil -- Nice case, "really pleased"

G7LQX Working well, video of CW and SSB.

KE2AMP John Spring on PTO screw -- great

N9SZ Steve nice receiver

KD9NHZ Piotr Nice one

KE8ICE Calvin, Very cool receiver.

WV3V Jayson! Got it done!

GM5JDG Martin.

KF8BOG Jim: A long struggle, but success.

Chris Wales Fantastic video.

YD9BAX Wayan! Homebrew transformer!

N0NQD Jeff

WN3F Roy -- Made new stickers!

*AA7U Steve No PTO

*VK7IAN Ian -- No Manhattan boards

*KC1FSZ Bruce's build on a PC board

*CT7AXD Graham -- different AF amp

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

Candidates for the Hall of Fame:

SA5RJS Rasmus
KA9TII James
W2AEW Alan
AA7FO Chuck
K7WXW Bill
W1PJE Phil MIT
VA3ZOT Tony Surface Mount -- Honorable Mention?
KM5Z Mike Yancey
AB2XT John (Done, just need the video)
KO7M Jeff (Piper Cub)
KD4PBJ Chris

For more information on how you too can build the receiver:

Join the discussion - SolderSmoke Discord Server:
https://discord.gg/Fu6B7yGxx2

Documentation on Hackaday:
https://hackaday.io/project/190327-high-schoolers-build-a-radio-receiver

SolderSmoke YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@soldersmoke

Thursday, March 6, 2025

Honorable Mention: Bruce KC1FSZ's SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver ON A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD

This is obviously not the style of construction that we would recommend for new builders. Thus the "Honorable Mention" category. But Bruce is not a new builder -- in fact he has been a friend of the SolderSmoke podcast for many years: https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/search?q=KC1FSZ When Bruce sent us the above video and a report on his build of the SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver, we thought it was so cool that we wanted to share it with the community. Be sure to go to Bruce's GitHub page for more details: https://github.com/brucemack/kc1fsz-tjdcr

Bruce writes: My unauthorized modification is in the construction realm. I've built Bill/Dean's original circuit in a compact form on a commercial PCB. This was a good chance to practice with KiCad, Chinese PCB fabs, and SMD soldering. Huge thanks to Scott KQ4AOP for making me the PTO form! The rig works great. Thanks to Bill/Dean for leading such a successful/educational build project.

Hi Bill:
I had refrained from any postings of my work because the "purity" of my build may be called into question and I didn't want to create further distractions from your efforts. HIHI. If you scroll down this page you'll get an idea of what I've been up to: https://github.com/brucemack/kc1fsz-tjdcr.
I also see that you've switched away from the Schottky diodes which I have not done, so I'll make that change to see how it impacts performance.
Moving fully into the realm of unauthorized deviations, I've been experimenting with the simple "frequency offset" feature shown in SSDRA on page 218. Hanging that simple circuit from the high side of C2 seems to provide the hook needed for a simple companion CW transmitter module. Joking aside, I'd never built an analog VFO before the TJDRC project, nor did I ever learn CW, so it's been quite interesting to try to create a sister board that stays true to the TJDCR ethos but can still make legit contacts.
Thanks for all the work you guys are doing to educate the rest of us,
Bruce KC1FSZ

Dean and Bill:
What you guys have done with this project is truly amazing. I didn't build the rig in the "original wave," but I recently made one just for fun. I finally got around to looking at your Discord this weekend and was completely amazed... And Dean's tutorial videos are surely headed for YouTube platinum status!
Congrats and 73s,
Bruce MacKinnon KC1FSZ, Wellesley, MA

Bruce: There are several builders on Discord who would be very interested in your CW transmitter module.

Thanks Bruce! Congratulations! 73 Bill Hi7/N2CQR