Parks On The Air - I Built Another QRP Radio!

I built what is now my 4th homebrew QRP radio. I was lucky to have a friend who was willing to sell me his Penntek TR-35 kit (he had two and kept the other for himself!).
I will tear this radio apart to scale down the sidetone volume as I do have it too high currently at full rf gain and volume.
Special shoutout to my friend Andre VE2ZDX for his log/video software:
Time Callsign UTC
00:08:21 WV7W 18˸46
00:08:50 AK2B 18˸47
00:09:59 KC7WXD 18˸48
00:12:32 KI7KY 18˸50
00:13:29 WI5D 18˸51
00:15:18 KN6RDC 18˸53
00:16:21 K7ATN 18˸54
00:21:50 WA9AGG 19˸00
00:22:50 N0ANE 19˸01
00:24:31 W6TDX 19˸02
Gear used:
Penntek TR-35 - No longer available
Antenna QRP Guys No Tune (Their business is currently on pause, apparently!): qrpguys.com/qr...
EFHW wire: www.amazon.com...
Bluetooth Speaker: www.amazon.com...
Battery Bioenno 12v 3ah: www.bioennopow...
Paddle: Palm Radio Pico Single (email me on QRZ to learn more about acquiring a brand new palm pico paddle)

[@houseofhamradio]

So cool to be your first contact on that cool little rig. I am honored. 73 WV7W

[@Utahforrest]

@@houseofhamradio my TR-35 will forever be known from henceforth and forever as my Bob radio.

[@brianve7jyd943]

Almost but not quite eh Forrest lol - nice unit Sir - thanks for the contact last nite 73

[@Radio-KI7KY]

Yep.. it was your buddy Ben! :) Thx for the qso.. I was actually straight keying it. ha ha. I may have also said "ahoy forrest" for talk like a pirate day! :)

[@Paul_KE9BHN]

CW gets progressively more addicting. 73 KE9BHN

[@n1bsbri]

I really like my TR--35, I feel like it's a collector's item now. It has fantastic audio. I drilled a small hole in the case lined up with the sidetone pot to adjust it with a small screwdriver.

[@Utahforrest]

@@n1bsbri If it’s Brian approved I love it even more. Great idea! I didn’t even think about that. I think the inaugural TR-35 video audio reflects how I felt my first activation with it. Killer rig, just have to dial in the sidetone. 73!

[@JoeN2DI]

Oh man, I can’t believe you got your hands on a TR-35 kit! I’ve got bad news about the sidetone volume. The power, RF gain and AF gain pots all impact the sidetone volume even when you adjust the internal sidetone level pot. It’s maddening. Pro Tip: Drill a hole in the enclosure by the sidetone pot so you can stick a small screwdriver in through the hole to adjust it, otherwise you’re going to have to take the radio apart a dozen times to get the level “right” and even then you're still going to want to adjust it after you touch the other controls.

[@Utahforrest]

Somebody mentioned that hack! I'll definitely do that to access the sidetone volume. 73!

[@QRPCW]

Qué bonito!!!! ,,,, los tendría todos 😅 73/72

[@KYFriedHam]

Nice pickup! Glad you were able to get one. I LOVE me some TR-35!

[@Utahforrest]

@@KYFriedHam I pulled up your build 3-4 times during moments of question. Was super helpful man. I should’ve watched your entire build it would’ve saved me a few times where I misstepped!! Awesome little rig stoked to have it in the arsenal! 73 om

[@KYFriedHam]

@@Utahforrest Glad I was able to help! 73 es CUL!

[@luisgalina2770]

Genial !!! New radio

[@fokball]

Always great to work you from Florida! Mike K4NYX

[@Utahforrest]

You too, Mike! Florida is a special state for me it means my signal is getting out haha!

[@fokball]

You get out good for sure!

[@Utahforrest]

@@fokball snagged ya again!!!!

[@EvanK2EJT]

Yeah, key speed is pretty inaccurate on the Penntek radios. The thing I struggled with the most was the sidetone pitch. 700hz is just WAY too high for my ears. Brian N1BS was kind enough to loan me his TR35 for a while. I really liked the tactile feel of the switches, and the build quality was excellent. The key speed and side tone issues kinda killed it for me though. I also used Ed W4EMB's TR45 which had the same issues, but as you said, the receiver and audio quality were very good. I suspect the TR45 skinny would be the sweet spot for those radios, but that's the only one I haven't used LOL.

[@Utahforrest]

@@EvanK2EJT I need to get the sidetone volume dialed. When I’m 100% volume level + 100% rf gain trying to pullout that 229 signal, as soon as I transmit I get obliterated by shrieking sidetone volume. (Even on the TR45 with sidetone all the way down) Haha. I still love the radios. They look so cool and their receivers are killer. I’ll figure it out, I hope! 🤞🏻 73 om

[@hazer72]

do you do some test contacts at the qth or do you just send it and hit the park?

[@Utahforrest]

@@hazer72 don’t wanna brag but I all I did was send a signal to WebSDR then I just sent it to a park.

[@mikeolinblare913]

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