{"id":25381,"date":"2017-04-26T13:05:49","date_gmt":"2017-04-26T17:05:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=25381"},"modified":"2017-04-26T13:05:49","modified_gmt":"2017-04-26T17:05:49","slug":"the-cricket-the-four-state-qrp-groups-latest-transceiver-kit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/04\/the-cricket-the-four-state-qrp-groups-latest-transceiver-kit\/","title":{"rendered":"The Cricket: The Four State QRP Group’s latest transceiver kit"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Here’s a hot tip for those of you who enjoy building transceiver kits:<\/p>\n

The Four State QRP group has just<\/em> released The Cricket<\/strong><\/a>: a simple 80 CW transceiver kit. The Cricket was designed by David Cripe (NM0S) who is behind a number of successful kits (including the Ozark Patrol<\/a> and the\u00a0Bayou Jumper).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The amazing part about this kit is that it’s super simple, has no toroids to wind and doesn’t even need to be aligned. It even includes a Morse key.<\/p>\n

All this shipped for $32.68 in the US, $39.50 in Canada and $43.50 for international orders. A serious bargain, in my book.<\/p>\n

Typically, Dave’s kits sell out the same day they are posted for sale. If you’re interested in The Cricket, don’t hesitate to order! <\/em>(I just bought three, for example.)<\/p>\n

Click here to order The Cricket.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Here’s The Cricket kit description via the Four State QRP Group website<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Kitted and Offered For Sale By The Four State QRP Group<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Cricket is a low cost entry level minimalist CW transceiver for the 80 meter band. Chosen as the build session kit for OzarkCon 2017, it bears a family resemblance to the well known but much lower performing Pixie. However it is very different and vastly improved over the Pixie. This is NOT a Pixie, it is far superior! It features low parts count, better components including MOSFETs for better sensitivity and switching, and a modern NJM2113D audio amp.<\/p>\n

A TX\/RX offset is also incuded so that you can work other stations that have zero beat you, or are using a crystal on the same frequncy. Full QSK and a sidetone complete the essential operating features. Dave’s famous etched spiral coils are included on the pc board, so there are NO TOROIDS to wind. Additionally a straight key is included on the pc board, just snap it off, mount it on the board, and the whole rig is then self contained. Also included is an electronic keyer adapter – you can use your favorite keyer with the Cricket! These are many features for such a low parts count and inexpensive transceiver.<\/p>\n

ALL THROUGH HOLE parts make this kit very easy to assemble. It will make a fine, fully functional, and educational first rig for a new builder, the new ham, or seasoned veterans wishing to just have fun with a new rig at minimal expense and effort. Note that Novices and Technicians have 80M CW privileges from 3.525 to 3.600, same as everyone else – so they also can build and use the Cricket.<\/p>\n

This simple rig is fun and functional, and made many contacts at OzarkCon after the build session. A proven design and a great choice for your next rig, it is perfect for a group build with nets and contacts after the build. This is an excellent club project.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here’s a hot tip for those of you who enjoy building transceiver kits: The Four State QRP group has just released The Cricket: a simple 80 CW transceiver kit. The Cricket was designed by David Cripe (NM0S) who is behind a number of successful kits (including the Ozark Patrol and the\u00a0Bayou Jumper). The amazing part […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[545,344,3],"tags":[4501,3270,6153,4095,3271,6152,6154],"class_list":["post-25381","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ham-radio","category-kits","category-news","tag-dave-cripe-nm0s","tag-david-cripe-nm0s","tag-four-state-qrp-group","tag-kits","tag-nm0s","tag-the-cricket","tag-transceiver-kits"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-6Bn","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":33241,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/07\/building-the-cricket-qrp-transceiver-at-hope-2018\/","url_meta":{"origin":25381,"position":0},"title":"Building the Cricket QRP Transceiver at HOPE 2018","author":"Thomas","date":"July 22, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm currently at the Circle of HOPE (Hackers On Planet Earth) convention in New York City. Yesterday morning, I grabbed some breakfast and a cup of coffee then headed to the Hardware Hacking Village--a space in the Hotel Pennsylvania with over 50 soldering\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Current Events"","block_context":{"text":"Current Events","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/current-events\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Empire-State-Building.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":15474,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/11\/new-kit-by-nm0s-the-4s-tunerantenna-coupler\/","url_meta":{"origin":25381,"position":1},"title":"New kit by NM0S: the 4S-Tuner\/Antenna Coupler","author":"Thomas","date":"November 10, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Dave Cripe (NM0S) has designed yet another QRP\u00a0kit for the 4 State QRP Group: the 4S-Tuner\/Antenna Coupler. Description (per Four State QRP Group): This excellent random wire antenna tuner is the classic T-Match design which is known for wide matching range and smooth operation. Dave has added a nice wrinkle\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"4stuner_panel","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/4stuner_panel.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/4stuner_panel.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/4stuner_panel.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10908,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/09\/the-ozark-patrol-regenerative-receiver-kit\/","url_meta":{"origin":25381,"position":2},"title":"The Ozark Patrol regenerative receiver kit","author":"Thomas","date":"September 24, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Just learned that David Cripe (NM0S) has a new kit for sale: the Ozark Patrol regenerative receiver kit. The Ozark Patrol is a simple, straightforward kit, designed with beginners in mind. The kit uses through-hole components, which is to say, mounted on pads etched on the opposite side. \u00a0All of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Kits"","block_context":{"text":"Kits","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/kits\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"k0awb_ozarkpatrol 3small","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/k0awb_ozarkpatrol-3small.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/k0awb_ozarkpatrol-3small.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/k0awb_ozarkpatrol-3small.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":35032,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/12\/neils-updated-qrp-kits-page\/","url_meta":{"origin":25381,"position":3},"title":"Neil’s updated QRP Kits page","author":"Thomas","date":"December 1, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Neil Goldstein, who writes: I know a lot of your readers (especially the QRP ones) may be interested in the update I FINALLY made to the radio kit guide. Added, removed, etc. Lots of cool stuff. http:\/\/radiokitguide.com Thanks for sharing, Neil! What a great\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/OzarkPatrol.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/OzarkPatrol.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/OzarkPatrol.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12727,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/03\/crystal-radio-credit-card-receiver\/","url_meta":{"origin":25381,"position":4},"title":"Crystal radio credit card receiver","author":"Thomas","date":"March 21, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"On a tip from my good friend Dave Cripe (NM0S), I just purchased this cute crystal receiver kit from a UK-based seller on eBay. The price is 8 GPB plus 3.50 GPB for shipping. After PayPal currency conversion, I paid $17.63 US shipped from the UK--a very fair price. The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"CrystalReceiver","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/CrystalReceiver-1024x805.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/CrystalReceiver-1024x805.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/CrystalReceiver-1024x805.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":43372,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/05\/just-pulled-the-trigger-on-the-new-qcx-cw-wspr-qrp-transceiver-kit\/","url_meta":{"origin":25381,"position":5},"title":"Just pulled the trigger on the new QCX+ CW\/WSPR QRP transceiver kit","author":"Thomas","date":"May 18, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm a real sucker for kits of any stripe. A few days ago, my buddy, Pete (WB9FLW), sent me a tip about the new QCX+ CW\/WSPR transceiver by QRP Labs. I posted an announcement on QRPer.com. I've yet to build a QRP Labs kit, but I've only heard positive reviews\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/QSX-TRansceiver.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/QSX-TRansceiver.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/QSX-TRansceiver.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/QSX-TRansceiver.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/QSX-TRansceiver.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25381","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25381"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25381\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25381"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25381"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}