Fred et al:

The ARRL kit-building experience you mentioned at the Orlando HamCation, was organized by the ARRL to help support our interest in committing to a kit design and to test other organizing elements for a successful activity including materials, supplies, and even volunteer support. Over 150 kits were completed by all ages and skill level (some hams and some not). See photos: https://www.facebook.com/ARRL.org/posts/10157285240707408. We are organizing a similar effort for Dayton Hamvention.

Our efforts to advance an intro-to-radio kit have been reported in In News and as recently as the February Second Century QST editorial, inviting members to share their suggestions with us by writing Product Development Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R. The effort is also cited in the 2020/21 plan (Departmental Plans p.31): “…we are exploring new products and resources to help members develop meaningful interactions through their outreach activities to introduce radio communications to others. This effort includes the creation of an ‘introduction-to-radio kit’ that can be used by anyone to learn about basic radio principles.”

Bob Inderbitzen has attended conventions around the country, and has seen a lot of examples (both good and bad) of member-volunteers organizing kit building experiences. Many of these lack any introduction to radio electronics (CPOs, flashing LED kits, etc. introduce basic electronics, but not RADIO electronics). Our efforts will be intended to introduce radio: how does radio work, radio communications, and radio electronics. We expect this effort will lead to multiple kit offerings and companion instructional (learning) materials. The most basic of these kits will include STEM-based lesson plans, similar to the curated projects found on the IEEE TryEngineering website: www.tryengineering.org/teachers/, and those produced by AOPA’s Foundation for a High School Stem Curriculum for aviation: www.youcanfly.aopa.org/high-school/high-school-curriculum (see example: Wind Tunnel Lesson Plan).

Bob has also reviewed the marketplace for similar offerings, much like the kit Fred found on Amazon. We’ve obtained sample kits from Maxitronix (available from Amazon): crystal radio, FM radio, and shortwave radio. Our goal is to produce something similar – and even better. Can you imagine an intro-to-radio kit offering on Amazon produced by ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio? That would be the ultimate goal, but in the meantime, we would give thousands of potential radio amateurs their introduction to the science of radio.

I’ve attached to this message a CONFIDENTIAL proposal drafted by Bob for the management counsel last November. This outlines our overall goals and objectives for a new product ARRL’s Build a Radio Kit. This is the ultimate goal to which our efforts to date are leading. I would appreciate this being kept confidential. You can direct any questions to myself or Bob. We’re all on the same page here, and I wanted this group to know that we’re working on it.

73,

Barry, N1VXY

From: arrl-odv <arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org> On Behalf Of Fred Hopengarten
Sent: Monday, February 24, 2020 5:35 PM
To: arrl-odv <arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org>
Subject: [arrl-odv:29728] Inexpensive Kit

To the Board:

I refer you to

https://www.amazon.com/WEmake-Soldering-Cutters-Glasses-Project/dp/B01JA8B4U2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=cnetdeals_nl-20&linkId=a1d3eb66bafe4538dff5e7390d1c9cc2&language=en_US&ascsubtag=ag%3A-%7Cvg%3A___VIEW_GUID___%7Cst%3Adtp

This is an FM radio kit, with soldering iron, solder, safety glasses, and side cutters, all for just $22.99.

It is my impression that kit building at regional conventions has been an enormous success. W1UE (our CAC Chairman) told me just this past week that he built a kit at the desk at the Orlando Hamfest, and he loved it!

I wonder if the Board of Directors should be encouraging a series of ARRL kits, similarly simple, similarly low-priced – for example:

• 2 m FM receiver,
• Short-wave receiver,
• UHF Transmitter with camera for balloon experiments,
• 40 m or 30 m CW receiver,
• 40 m or 30 m QRP transmitter,
• T/R switch for the above to make them into a transceiver,
• End-fed-half-wave antenna tuner,

(with instructions on how to make a SOTA station out of the latter four kits),

• A Blue Tooth adapter for transceivers and HT’s to use with headsets,
• A USB-stick SDR receiver controllable with ARRL software for an iPad, netbook, Raspberry Pi, cell-phone, etc., for listening to ham bands,
• A USB-stick SDR receiver for listening to digital TV in the car (plugging into the AUX jack)

Maybe we are doing some of  this already (but http://www.arrl.org/shop/Kits/ displays a fairly meager offering – and the CW Cub Transceiver kit is $105.95), but we are not packaging a major line of really low-priced kits with an ARRL Diamond brand. My idea is a branded series of kits, that are compatible with one another, all low-priced.

If it is outside of ARRL’s ability to develop such a series in the lab, could we solicit designs in our annual design contest? Or coordinate with a kit manufacturer (MFJ? An existing kit company such Elenco, Digi-key, Giga-Parts, QRP Labs, Pacific Antenna, QRPGuys, Bliss Radio, uBITX, 4sqrp, etc.?) for an ARRL-branded product line (and benefitting ARRL with commissions)?

I note that Ramsey Electronics has disappeared after 40 years, having sold a zillion kits, see https://qrznow.com/ramsey-electronics-shuts-down-its-hobby-kits-division/. But the death of Ramsey may be sui generis, and related to the fact that they were previously raided by the feds, see https://yro.slashdot.org/story/00/01/04/2316228/the-feds-ramsey-electronics-raid-blow-by-blow.

The concept of a branded product was proven with the Eton/Grundig Hand Turbine AM/FM/Weather Radio, https://www.ebay.com/c/1633862185, which sells for <$20 and contributes $1 for each radio sold directly to the American Red Cross, if I recall correctly (I may not).  

We have scads of retired engineers who might love to get involved in creating low-priced kits. I suggest that we could rally a battalion, or put the idea out to bid with the hobby-kit companies mentioned above.

I suggest consideration of such a program by our Programs & Services Committee. ARRL publishes books in competition with other publishers. How can we NOT be a leader in the “introduction to ham radio devices” kit world?

Fred Hopengarten, Esq.   K1VR

Six Willarch Road

Lincoln, MA 01773

781.259.0088, k1vr@arrl.org

New England Director

Serving ME, NH, VT, MA, RI and CT