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“The Survivor” 

A 80 meter QRP SSB transceiver

Up to ~ 8 watts pep @ 13.8V +/- 50 kHz. 

0.2 uV receiver sensitivity

Up to 350 kHz  receiver tuning range

8 ohm  500 mw speaker output. 

“Tune” and  CW modes

50 ma Rx current (with optional Digital Dial)

small size   6” x 4” x 1.5”, 11.5oz. 

13.8V at 2A min recommended power supply

Yahoo user group at hendricks_SSB 
Manual revised 2-28-16
Operation:

Controls:  

Controls consist of Volume, Fine and Main (course) tuning. 

Volume: 

Set the volume control to a comfortable listening level. The AGC will hold the audio level to this volume for all but the weakest signals. The 
AGC has a slightly delayed response to keep it from overshooting when a large signal appears. This results in a momentary “thump”. Without
the slight delay, all audio would be lost until the AGC could recover from overshooting, which could take several seconds. 

Main tuning:

Main tuning has about a 350 kHz range in a single turn of the knob. This much range is a bit touchy to tune in a signal, so main tuning is 
augmented by a fine tuning control. NOTE: Tuning is “backwards”. Turning the tuning knob clockwise decreases frequency. 

Fine tuning: 

The fine tuning control has about a 30 kHz range, allowing you to tune between several near-by stations and to compensate for any minor 
drift the VFO has during operation. 

Microphone:

 An “electret” microphone element is required. The rig supplies the power needed for the mic. A suitable, low cost microphone is

available from www.QRPKITS.com 

Push To Talk (PTT): 

Transmitting is initiated by pushing the PTT button on the microphone and then talking (duh). The PTT switch is also used to activate “tune” 
and “CW” modes. 

Tune up mode:

Most 80 meter antennas have a fairly narrow bandwidth so therefore require an antenna tuner which needs to be readjusted every so often 
as you move up or down the band. Since a steady carrier works better then whistling into the mike to get a signal, a steady carrier or “tune 
mode” is built into the rig. 

Tune mode is activated by: 

1.

very short

 push and release of the PTT switch on the microphone, < 1/2 second. 

2.

A “beep” will sound in the audio output, announcing the tune mode is now active.    

3.

Using the PTT will now activate a 600 Hz tone which is injected into the microphone circuit to modulate the rig. The tone is also 
heard in the speaker when the rig is transmitting. Transmit power is typically about 5 watts in tune mode, but will vary depending 
on the microphone gain setting. 

4.

To exit Tune mode, perform another 

very short

 push and release the PTT switch. 

5.

A double beep will sound in the audio output to announce the tune mode is no longer active. 

CW [Morse] mode:

The Survivalist can be operated in CW mode thanks to the Tune mode and microprocessor control of the T/R sequencing in the transceiver.  
The difference between CW and Tune mode is that in CW mode, the transceiver must respond to quick changes in the state of the PTT 
switch and stay in the CW mode. Once enabled, CW  mode can only be cleared by turning the rig off, then back on again. 

CW mode is enabled by keying the character “H” with the PTT at between 5 and 20 wpm. This allows activating CW mode with either a 
straight key or external paddle.  There will be no annunciating side tone until CW mode is enabled, so you have to mentally count the key  
taps to enter the mode. If not enough pulses are detected, the rig may enter Tune mode instead of CW mode. There just has to be four on/off
pulses detected in less than ½ second to enter CW mode. When CW mode is detected and enabled, the audio output will annunciate  “CW”. 
The Survivalist will now operate as a CW transceiver, allowing for cross mode communication in the phone band.    

1

Manual revised 20160229

Summary of Contents for The Survivor

Page 1: ...ner which needs to be readjusted every so often as you move up or down the band Since a steady carrier works better then whistling into the mike to get a signal a steady carrier or tune mode is built...

Page 2: ...Parts placement diagram color coded Mostly completed board The picture illustrates how a well constructed board should look like 2 Manual revised 20160229 Picture 1 mostly assembled board...

Page 3: ...arger black cylinder 2 10 7 IF cans 1 Poly variable Tuning cap 1 70 pfd Brown trimmer cap 11 39 pfd 39 NPO disk 5 150 pfd 151 C0G MLCC 3 330 pfd 331 disk or MLCC 5 680 pfd 100V 681 C0G MLCC 3 0 001 uF...

Page 4: ...large 1 FT37 43 Black ferrite core small 2 T50 2 Red powered iron core 1 T50 7 White powered iron core 1 2 1 mm Power Jack PC mount 2 Stereo panel jack 1 BNC panel jack 1 TO 220 insulator Mica 1 4 1 2...

Page 5: ...iendly parts placement and value diagram for easy reference during assembly Experienced builders will likely only need this diagram to stuff most of the board but review the assembly instructions for...

Page 6: ...il to the bottom of the case and add the four rubber feet bumpers Attach the decals as described below The decals are applied the same as model decals Cut around each group of text or symbols you wish...

Page 7: ...U GLD GLD R11 100K BRN BLK YEL GLD R12 51 GRN BRN BLK GLD R13 5 6 GRN BLU GLD GLD R14 1K BRN BLK RED GLD R15 220 RED RED BRN GLD R16 10K BRN BLK ORG GLD R17 1K BRN BLK RED GLD R18 1K BRN BLK RED GLD R...

Page 8: ...f the socket should be at the same end of the part outline which also has the notch Note that not all the sockets face the same direction Make sure all the pins are sticking through the holes in the b...

Page 9: ...C C17 0 1 u 104 MLCC C18 0 1 u 104 MLCC C19 330 p 331 DISK C20 0 1 u 104 MLCC C21 C22 39 p 39 DISK C23 C24 0 1 u 104 MLCC C25 330 p 331 DISK or MLCC C26 330 p 331 DISK or MLCC C27 0 1 u 104 MLCC C28 0...

Page 10: ...78L05 Pale yellow C31 44 46 56 57 1 ufd 50 V Aluminum Electrolytic Long lead is Plus C15 21 47 70 2 2 ufd 25V Aluminum Electrolytic Long lead is Plus C68 4 7 ufd 25 or 16V Aluminum Electrolytic Long...

Page 11: ...red 22 turns 24 wire 14 Evenly space turns around core leaving small gap at wire ends T1 FT50 43 core large black 5 turns 24 wire bifilar 8 Fold wire in half and lightly twist together After winding...

Page 12: ...board into the case and solder the wires on to the board from the top Wire up the front panel controls Use the 24 magnet wire between the board and tuning cap Install the rear panel jacks and wire the...

Page 13: ...able to reach 9 003 000 MHz The BFO frequency can also be found on pin 7 of U1 This is a buffered signal so it will not be affected by the counter probe capacitance loading You can now install all th...

Page 14: ...vailable and dummy load to antenna jack Connect amp meter in series with power supply lead 2 A scale Re apply power to the rig Set the Main tuning to about the center of the tuning range Key the micro...

Page 15: ...able to hear the USB and carrier component of the Survivor output signal The selectivity of the filter in this low cost rig isn t stellar so some opposite side band output is to be expected On air th...

Page 16: ...a big plus Most of you will likely only have the voltmeter to use The voltage tables below can help locate a problem area Voltages can vary by 10 due to variations in voltmeters and the actual 5V reg...

Page 17: ...3 to saturate and clip causing a distorted signal Adding Q14 to reduce the input signal to U3 eliminated this problem The audio signal from U7a is routed through one of the analog switches in U4 the 7...

Page 18: ...18 Manual revised 20160229...

Page 19: ...Board layout Floating pads are grounds to ground plain which is not shown so that tracks on both sides of the board can be clearly seen 19 Manual revised 20160229...

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