 
ARRL Technical Information Service 
Kit Manufacturers List 
Rev.: July 16, 1993  File: KITS

This information package was prepared as a membership service by 
the American Radio Relay League, Inc., Technical Information 
Service, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111 (203) 666-1541.  
Email: tis@arrl.org (Internet).

From the files of the ARRL Automated Electronic Mail Server, 
(info@arrl.org):

Reprinted from: August 1993 QST, Lab Notes column 
Copyright 1993 American Radio Relay League, Inc.  
All rights reserved.

Thank you for requesting the following information from the ARRL 
Technical Information Service or the ARRL Automated Mail Server 
(info@arrl.org).  ARRL HQ is glad to provide this information free 
of charge as a service to League members and affiliated clubs.

For your convenience, you may reproduce this information, 
electronically or on paper, and distribute it to anyone who needs 
it, provided that you reproduce it in its entirety and do so free 
of charge.

If you have any questions concerning the reproduction or 
distribution of this material, please contact Michael Tracy, 
KC1SX, Technical Information Service Coordinator, American Radio 
Relay League, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111 
(email: mtracy@arrl.org).



Lab Notes: Kits Galore!

 
Summertime, and the living is easy.  It's the perfect time to 
build a kit!  You can do it all at once in a mad frenzy, or work 
on it piecemeal.  Either way, you're guaranteed fun, education and 
true pride of ownership.  Mike Gruber, WA1SVF, ARRL Laboratory 
Engineer, briefly discusses kit-building and provides a valuable 
list of kit suppliers.--WB8IMY

 
Q: I'd sure like to try an electronics project, but I'm not 
quite sure where to begin.  I'm considering kits, but is kit 
building really worth the trouble?

A: Well, when I was a youngster I would watch with fascination 
as my Dad assembled his latest Heathkit project in our basement.  
Smoke would often curl up from his soldering iron late into the 
night.  Friends and family would gather for the grand unveiling of 
his latest triumph.  A drawer full of those red plastic nut 
starters that came with each and every kit (remember those?) is 
still in our basement somewhere!  I received quite an education 
when I was finally old enough to follow in Dad's kit-building 
footsteps.  This early exposure to electronics inspired me to 
obtain an Amateur Radio license and even pursue a career in 
electronics.
 

Q: Are kits difficult to build?  What ever happened to all those 
classic kit manufacturers, anyway?  What about Heath?  I've heard 
that they're out of the kit business.  Does this mean that kit 
building is a thing of the past?

A: Whoa!  Easy, big fella.  Let me answer your questions one at a 
time.  First, the level of difficulty varies with the individual 
kit.  A very simple kit can require only minimal time, skill and 
experience to put together.  Complex kits can, of course, be 
considerably more difficult.  It is important to determine which 
kits match your abilities.  When selecting a kit, be sure to 
consider any additional purchases that may be required, such as 
knobs and cabinets.  You may also need test equipment to complete 
the project.  

    Second, it's true that many of the old kit manufacturers, 
such as Eico and Knight-Kit, are no longer in the kit business.  
Back in the days of point-to-point wiring and vacuum tubes, a kit 
manufacturer stood a decent chance of succeeding in the consumer 
electronics market.  They offered better products at lower prices-
-including products not normally available.  Today, the 
miniaturization of electronics, modern assembly techniques, and 
cheap overseas labor have taken away much of the competitive edge 
that kit makers enjoyed.  Heath, however, is still making kits, 
mostly of the educational variety.  These may be excellent starter 
kits to get your feet wet.  

    Finally, it's not true that kit building is a thing of the 
past.  True pride of ownership and the thrill of doing it yourself 
are things that mass-produced products don't always offer.  Many 
companies still make kits to fill this niche.  Just about any 
skill level can be accommodated if you know where to look.  
 
 
Q: Okay, you've sold me.  I want to run home right now, warm up 
my soldering iron!  I'll bet you've even compiled a list of kit 
manufacturers for me.  How about it?  

A: Yep, here's the list.  Happy kit-building!

 
A & A Engineering 
2521 W LaPalma, Unit #K 
Anaheim, CA 92801 
tel: 714-952-2114 
fax: 714-952-3280
 
A & A offers a wide range of amateur related kits from QRP 
transceivers to a digital frequency synthesizer and a 450-MHz 
spectrum analyzer.  Electronic components, enclosures, ICs and 
ham-related publications are also available.  Catalog available.
 

Antique Electronic Supply 
6221 S Maple Ave 
Tempe, AZ 85283 
tel: 602-820-5411 
fax: 602-820-4643
 
Numerous kits for reproducing antique and vacuum tube radios are 
available.  Antique Electronic Supply is also an excellent source 
for parts, components and documentation for antique radios.  
Catalog available.  
 
 
C & A Electronic 
PO Box 25070 
Athens, 10026 Greece 
tel: 52.42.867 
tel: 52.42.537
 
Established in Athens in 1977, C & A Electronic has now grown to 
15 employees.  Their current 53-page catalog includes over 150 
kits with, according to Simeon Krizias, SV1AYI, of C & A, more on 
the way.  The projects range from the relatively simple to the 
complex.  Kits include Amateur Radio, high-fidelity stereo, power 
supplies and instrumentation projects.  Ready-made versions are 
available for novice kit-builders who prefer advanced or 
intermediate kits.  A special US price list is available.
 

CCI (Communications Concepts, Inc) 
508 Millstone Drive 
Beavercreek, OH 45434 
tel: 513-426-8600 
fax: 513-429-3811
 
CCI's catalog features many linear amplifiers and projects from 
Motorola Applications Notes.  Amplifier boards and various 
components are offered separately as sets.  Other kit projects 
include an ATV receive converter and an audio squelch control.  
Semiconductors and other components can also be purchased 
separately.  VISA and MasterCard accepted.
 

Cirkit Distribution Ltd.  
Park Lane 
Broxbourne 
Herts EN10 7NQ 
England
tel: 44-992-444111 
fax: 44-992-464457

More than 100 kits for the radio amateur, including preamps, 
power amps, converters, speech processors and a dip meter.  
Catalog available.  Cirkit does not have a price list in US 
dollars, but does accept Master Card, VISA and American Express.

 
Curry Communications 
852 North Lima St 
Burbank, CA 91505 
tel: 818-846-0617
 
 Two kits currently available: 
 
 The 80-AU converts the entire LF/VLF band to the 80-meter 
 amateur band.  Cost is $59.95.  
 
 The SAM-1 is a transverter that enables operation on the 
 license-free 1750 meter band with an 80-meter amateur transceiver.  
 Cost is $89.95.  
 
 
Down East Microwave 
RR 1, Box 2310 
Troy, ME 04987 
tel: 207-948-3741 
fax: 207-948-5157 
 
Down East Microwave (DEM) is owned and operated by Bill Olson, 
W3HQT.  Numerous kits are offered for VHF, UHF and microwave 
projects.  Down East Microwave also carries an extensive line of 
antennas.  Office hours are 9 am to 4:30 pm Eastern Time, Monday 
through Friday.  Call anytime; Bill says to be sure to leave a 
message on the machine if no one is available.  Business and 
personal checks as well as VISA and MasterCard are accepted.  COD 
orders carry a $4 service charge.  Catalog available.  

 
FAR Circuits 
18N640 Field Court 
Dundee, IL 60118
 
FAR Circuits provides PC boards for a number of QST projects.
 
 
Hamtronics, Inc 
65 Moul Rd 
Hilton, NY 14468-9535 
tel: 716-392-9430 
fax: 716-392-9420
 
A wide variety of amateur related kits are available.  Kits 
include VHF and UHF exciters, linear amplifiers, receivers, 
repeaters, repeater accessories, preamps and receive converters.  
Some kits are FCC type accepted for commercial service.  A 40-page 
catalog is available.
 

Heath Company 
PO Box 1288 
Benton Harbor, MI 49023-1288 
tel: 800-253-0570
 
Although Heath's kit line is no longer as extensive as many old-
timers may recall, they still carry a number of "build your own" 
electronic projects.  Their current kit line includes two weather 
computers and numerous educational kits, such as a portable 
radio, an electronic cricket and a power supply.  VISA, MasterCard 
and American Express accepted.  
 

John Langner, WB2OSZ 
115 Stedman St 
Chelmsford, MA 01824-1823
 
John provides the Pasokon SSTV project kit featured in January 
1993 QST.  One empty expansion slot in a 286 or faster computer, 
640K of memory, a color monitor and a VGA display adapter are all 
you need to send and receive all popular modes of SSTV.  The 
complete kit is $199.95, or $229.95 for an assembled and tested 
unit.

 
Kanga US 
Bill Kelsey, N8ET 
3521 Spring Lake Dr 
Findlay, OH 45840 
tel: 419-423-5643 (7 pm to 11 pm Eastern Time only) 
 
Bill, N8ET, operates Kanga US as an importer of QRP kits 
manufactured by Kanga Products in England:
 
 Kanga Products
 Dick Pascoe, G0BPS
 Seaview
 Crete Road East
 Folkstone CT18 7EG
 England
 
Dick is currently the only person at Kanga in England.  Kanga 
offers over 25 Amateur Radio kits with emphasis on QRP.  Kanga's 
philosophy is to keep prices low by not supplying parts typically 
found in most junkboxes, such as the cabinet and knobs.  Send one 
unit of First Class postage when requesting a catalog from Kanga 
US.  VISA and MasterCard accepted.  
 

Lake Electronics 
7 Middleton Close, Nuthall 
Nottingham, NG16 1BX 
England 
tel: 0602 382509
 
Every Lake kit is complete, down to the last component, including 
knobs and screws.  The catalog features QRP transceivers, a 
receiver, an SWR meter, a power meter/dummy load, an antenna 
tuning unit, an audio filter and a power supply.  A special price 
list is included for overseas customers.  VISA, MasterCard and 
Eurocard accepted.

 
Mark V Electronics, Inc 
8019 E Slauson Ave 
Montebello, CA 90640 
tel: 213-888-8988 (Catalog and information)  
 800-423-FIVE orders only (outside California)
 800-521-MARK orders only (California residents) 
fax: 213-888-6868
 
More than 70 kits available including high-fidelity audio 
products, laboratory equipment, power supplies, light 
controllers, games and numerous miscellaneous projects.  Audio 
amplifiers range from 6 to 300 watts.  Kit difficulty levels are 
individually specified as beginner, intermediate or advanced.  
VISA, MasterCard and American Express accepted.  

 
M.A.S.  Enterprises 
UHF Technik 
104 King St South 
St.  Jacobs ON N0B 2N0 
Canada 
tel: 519-664-1273 
fax: 519-664-3082
 
Four kits currently available: a 6-meter SSB transverter, 2-meter 
foxhunting receiver, 24 cm FM TV transmitter, and a baseband 
processor for the TV transmitter.  These kits are not intended for 
beginners.  A catalog is forthcoming.  Prices range from $69 to 
$198.  Owner: Manfred H.  Zielinsky, VE3ZIE.  

 
Microcraft Corporation 
P. O. Box 513 
Thiensville, WI 53092 
Tel: 414-241-8144

Currently available kits: Morse-A-Word CW reader, RTTY Reader, 
Morse-A-Keyer (CW keyboard keyer), Videoscan 1000 SSTV decoder, 
Code*Star reader for CW, RTTY and ASCII.  Kit prices range from 
$140 to $595.

 
Oak Hills Research 
20879 Madison St 
Big Rapids, MI 49307 
tel: 616-796-0920
 800-842-3748 
fax: 616-796-6633
 
Founded by Doug DeMaw, W1FB, and sold three years ago to Dick 
Witzke, KE8KL.  Oak Hills Research has long been a source of QRP 
kits and components.  Several new products are now being added to 
the company's line.  Hours are weekdays from 8 am to 6 pm.  VISA 
and MasterCard accepted.  
 

Ocean State Electronics 
PO Box 1458 
6 Industrial Dr 
Westerly, RI 02891 
tel: 401-596-3080
fax: 401-596-3590
 
Kits appear on pages 56-61, 64 and 85 of Ocean State's 1993 catalog.  
Included are a QRP transceiver, several receiver and robot kits, 
a keyer and code practice oscillator, educational and training 
kits and electronic test instruments.  VISA, MasterCard and COD 
accepted; $10 minimum order.  Open weekdays 8 am to 5 pm EST, 
Saturday 10 am to noon.  Frank Pellicano, WB1GTK, President.  

 
Ramsey Electronics Inc.  
793 Canning Parkway 
Victor, NY 14564 
tel: 716-924-4560 
fax: 716-924-4555

A variety of kits ranging from complete amateur transceivers to 
mini-kit type projects for under $10.  Products include VHF/UHF FM 
transceivers, HF receivers, QRP transmitters, an active antenna, 
a CW keyer, 20 watt amplifier for a QRP transmitter, shortwave 
receiver, RDF kits and other projects.  Ramsey charges a flat rate 
of $3.95 for shipping, insurance and handling.  Call or write for 
a free catalog.  
 
 
$equence Electronics 
John Beech, G8SEQ 
124 Belgrave Road 
Coventry CV2 5BH 
England
 
Monoband direct-conversion receiver and transmitter kits 
available from 80 through 6 meters.  All parts, including a 
diecast box and printed circuit board, are included.  A three-band 
version is also available.  Other kits include a receive and 
transmit converter from 10 to 6 meters and an FM transceiver for 
50, 70 or 144 MHz.  All $equence kits are specified as 
intermediate-level projects.  

 
Ten-Tec, Inc., T-Kit division 
1185 Dolly Parton Parkway 
Seiverville, TN 37862-3710 
Tel: 1-615-453-7172 
Orders: 1-800-833-7373 
Fax: 1-615-428-4483

Available kits include 9-Band Shortwave Receiver, 2 Meter Power 
Amp (for HTs), 6 Meter Transverter, SWR Bridge/Wattmeter, RF Ground 
Counterpoise, Dummy Load, Air-core Variable Capacitor, and many 
more items.  A 2 Meter FM Transceiver is under development.  Write 
for catalog.  Minimum order $15.

 
Townsend Electronics 
PO 415 
Pierceton, IN 46562 
tel: 800-944-3661 (US Only)
 219-594-3661 
fax: 219-594-5580
 
Townsend Electronics carries kits by one of the largest kit 
manufacturers in England:
 
 C.  M.  Howes Communications
 Eydon, Davantry, 
 Northants NN11 6PT, 
 England 
 tel: 0327 60178

Townsend's 26-page catalog features receivers, transmitters and 
transceivers.  Also included are such projects as a speech 
processor, a VHF converter, a code-practice oscillator and a 
digital frequency display.  All kits are engineered by Dave Howes, 
G4KQH, a former BBC engineer, who founded C.  M.  Howes in 1983.  
Townsend Electronics accepts VISA and Mastercard.  Amateurs 
outside the United States may order kits from directly from C.  M.  
Howes (Dave requests a couple of IRCs for overseas catalog 
requests.) 

 
Tucson Amateur Packet Radio (TAPR) 
8987-309 East Tanque Verde Rd, No.  337 
Tucson, AZ 85749 
(817) 383-0000 (voice mail) 
(817) 566-2544 (FAX)
 
TAPR is a nonprofit research and development corporation with 
more than 1000 members wordwide.  It was founded in an attempt to 
develop a low-cost Terminal Node Controller (TNC) kit.  This 
effort resulted in the now famous TNC-1.  TAPR's second 
development, the basis for most TNC's currently in use, is known 
as the TAPR TNC- 2.  TAPR no longer provides complete TNC kits.  
Instead, they have licensed several commercial manufacturers to 
produce the TNC-2 design.  They still provide the TNC-2 circuit 
board and associated EPROMs, EPROM codes, schematics and manuals.  
Modems and related hardware are still available in kit form.  TAPR 
also offers an extensive selection of associated software.  
Catalog is available.
 
 
Truscott's Electronic World 
Division of Shredall Pty.  Ltd 
30 Lacey Street 
Croydon, Victoria, 3136 
Australia 
tel: (03) 723 3344 
fax: (03) 725 9443
 
Resells products and kits from Dick Smith, Altronics and Arista.  
Several other kits also available.  Most kits are not for the 
beginner and were featured projects in Amateur Radio Magazine, 
the monthly publication of the Wireless Institute of Australia.  
A catalog is now in the works and new kits are being added.

 
624 Kits 
171 Springlake Dr 
Spartanburg, SC 29302 
tel: 803-579-6262 (days)
 803-583-1304 (after 6 pm)
 
624 Kits was founded several years ago by Pat Bunn, N4LTA.  The 
name 624 was originally chosen because the company made kits for 
the 6-, 2- and 420-MHz bands.  Even though they no longer make 
VHF/UHF kits, the name remains.  Most of the products offered by 
624 are QRP in nature and many appeared in QST.  Included are 
numerous transmitters, receivers, W1FB projects, the Modified 
Cubic Incher, the Neophyte Receiver and the Gary Breed, K9AY, 
receiver kit.  Any kit can be returned for a full refund before 
assembly.  All parts are 100% guaranteed and repair service is 
also available.  Please include two units of First Class postage 
when requesting a catalog.  


 
Other sources of kits: 

 
All Electronic Components 
118-122 Lonsdale Street 
Melbourne, VIC 3000 
Australia 
NOTE: SWL, Amateur, Test Equipment 

 
Altronics 
P.O.  Box 8350 
Perth Mail Exchange 
WA 6000 
Australia 
NOTE: Test Equipment, Power Supplies

 
Auskits 
Amblecote Crescent 
Mulgrave, VIC 3170 
Australia 
NOTE: Amateur, QRP

 
Dan's Small Parts and Kits 
1935 South 3RD West #1 
Missoula, MT 59801 
Tel: 1-406-543-2872 
Note: Neophyte Rx, 40M Cub in., 20M Superhet, others.

 
Dick Smith Electronics 
P.O.  Box 468 
Greenwood, IN 46142 
1-317-888-7265 
Note: General kits

 
Digitrex Electronics 
1005 Bloomer Road 
Rochester, MI 48063 
NOTE: VHF, QRP, Amateur 

 
Eico Electronic Instruments Co., Inc.  
363 Merrick Rd 
Lynbrook NY 11563 
Note: No current kits, EICO manuals and schematics only

 
Harlech Electronics 
Noddfa, Lower Road 
Harlech, Gwynedd LL46 2UB 
England 
NOTE: QRP, SWL

 
Hosfelt Electronics Inc.  
2700 Sunset Boulevard 
Steubenville, OH 43952 
1-800-524-6464 
Note: General interest kits

 
IDIOM Press 
P.O.  Box 1025 
Geyserville, CA 95441-1025 
Note: CMOS Super-keyer II


Jade Products, Inc.
PO Box 368
E. Hampstead, NH 03826-0368
Tel: (603) 329-6995
Orders: (800) JADE-PRO (523-3776)
Fax: (603) 329-4499
Note: Complete line of battery charger kits using Unitrode's UC3906.
Available as a complete kit with enclosure and meter, just the module
and power transformer or module without transformer.  Jade has a Curtis 
keyer kit using all of the features of the 8044ABM.  Jade also has kits
of several popular antenna types.


John Beech 
124 Belgrave Road 
Wyken, Coventry CV2 5BH 
England 
NOTE: Amateur Transceiver

 
Maplin Electronic Supplies 
PO Box 3 
Rayleigh, Essex SS6 8LR 
England

 
Mercury Systems 
15 Lakeside Dr.  
Marlton, NJ 08053 
1-609-596-3304 

 
MFJ 
Box 494 
Mississippi State MS 39762 
601-323-5869 
Note: SW receiver kit, QRP kits

 
NCG 
1275 North Grove Street 
Anaheim, CA 92806 
NOTE: 15 m Mobile XCVR 

 
Q-Sat 
P.O.  Box 110 
Boalsburg, PA 16827 
NOTE: SWL Receiver

 
R & R Associates 
3106 Glendon Avenue 
Los Angeles, CA 90034 
NOTE: Amateur, QRP 

 
S & S Engineering 
14102 Brown Road 
Smithsburg, MD 21783 
Tel: 1-301-416-0661 
Note: ARK-40 QRP CW kit

 
Smith Enterprises 
408 East Mauna Loa 
Glendora, CA 91740 
NOTE: QRP

 
Steward Electronics Components Pty 
P.O.  Box 281 
Oakleigh, VIC 3166 
Australia 
NOTE: Amateur

 
Tejas RF Technology 
P.O.  Box 720331 
Houston, TX 77272-0331 
NOTE: Backpacker II, other Amateur kits


Van Gorden Engineering
P.O. Box 21305
South Euclid, Ohio 44121
Tel: (216) 481-6590
NOTE: Complete kits for ARRL oscillator/key project.  The cost is 
$18.95 postpaid.  The board can also be purchased along with the 
brass contact rod for $8.95 postpaid.  


NOTE: The ARRL does not warrant any of the manufacturers listed above, 
or their products.  Addresses subject to change without notice.

