Don't you think there should be a National Kit Month?

[NA7U]

Maybe there is, I don't know, but anyway a couple of weeks ago I decided to declare my own Local Kit Month here in TI-land. I'd just cleaned off the workbench (once a year if it needs it or not, hi hi) and thought I should finally dig out all these darn kits I've been collecting over the years (see link above for a pic of what I found). I know there are more kits stuck in my shelves besides lots of circuits and parts I've collected over the years of cool things to build. Anyway, it seems to be working. I completed two kits and am now working on a challenging one, a Softrock SDR Lite II, that I'm building for 30 meters. Stop by here and see the progress (and my blunders!). Probably I'm going to have to extend Local Kit Month into May, but that's OK!!

[KO6WB]

Well that's not a bad idea Casey. Why stop at National? Why not International? Or perhaps Galactic and to top it off the Universe?
Actually every month is Kit building month or Homebrewing month or just get on the air and do something months.
Then we can also talk about the time frame, like year, decade, century, millenium.
73
Gary

[AF6LJ]

How fun, I need to get me something to build from a kit it has been a while.

[WA9SVD]

Maybe there is, I don't know, but anyway a couple of weeks ago I decided to declare my own Local Kit Month here in TI-land. I'd just cleaned off the workbench (once a year if it needs it or not, hi hi) and thought I should finally dig out all these darn kits I've been collecting over the years (see link above for a pic of what I found). I know there are more kits stuck in my shelves besides lots of circuits and parts I've collected over the years of cool things to build. Anyway, it seems to be working. I completed two kits and am now working on a challenging one, a Softrock SDR Lite II, that I'm building for 30 meters. Stop by here and see the progress (and my blunders!). Probably I'm going to have to extend Local Kit Month into May, but that's OK!!

Why limit it to "kits?" Most of the projects I've built have been either homebrew or strictly from published schematics from the Semiconductor manufacturers; part of the fun (aka challenge) is assembling the parts and refining the design of an enclosure; at least 90% of my projects have had modifications or additions to the "original" schematic design.
I just wish I had the time to pursue such efforts as I had in the past. my next project will be a super-duper PSK-31/digital mode interface, using suggestions from about a dozen different published projects, along with my own modifications.

[WA6MHZ]

Kits are almost too easy, but they sure are convenient. I was looking at the Hendricks BitX20A SSB transciever at the Visalia DX Convention, and ALMOST bit on it, but it is WAY WAY Pricey! Almost Two Hundred bucks!!! So I kept my plastic in my wallet and walked on. Sure is a cute rig and would be great fun to build, but the question kept coming up: DO I NEED IT???? NO, but it would be fun to build. DO I NEED to spend $180 for something FUN to build? Not at this time. Wish I had an EXTRA $180 as I would be building it at this moment.
http://www.qrpkits.com/bitx20a.html

[KO6WB]

Hey Pat, there is a cheaper unit out there. It doesn't have a frequency display cause it only covers a small part of the band. To keep you from dialing up outside the amateur bands they made the unit VXO. This is very stable and covers just a small bit of the band. It should be a fun build. Check it at; http://www.nj2x.com/2012/01/kn-q7a-s...eiver-kit.html.
Have fun
73
Gary

[NA7U]

Well, maybe you don't need the rig, but once you built it you could probably sell it for the purchase price easily. But, I'd bet that once you built it you'd keep it.