Where To Get Stuff de Tom
Dawson - WB3AKD of Round Hill, VA
All
readers please note this is furnished to aid station builders and keepers,
and kit builders; |
Every so often, someone will post an inquiry
as to where to get X,Y or Z. If you've been a ham for a while, you've
figured out the Radio Shack has a pretty limited variety of Ham related
stuff. Here's a list of local and national suppliers I have experience
with that you can check out. |
| RF Connectors: Locally, The RF Connection in Gaithersburg - www.therfc.com is a good place to start. Almost any coaxial connector you can think of, Joel has. Along with all kinds of cable and wire. |
| On Coaxial connectors, particularly coaxial adaptors, make sure you ask for the right gender. No matter what your religious, social or political persuasion, in the case of coaxial adapters, same sex mating just don;t happen. (Well, except for the GR-874 series which is hermaphroditic.) Gender is determined by the center pin, just like biology...you figure it out. |
| In the unlikely event that Joel does not have what you want, try Trompeter Electronics - www.trompeter.com . I think their minimum order is $50.00. |
| Semiconductors: RF Try RF Parts - www.rfparts.com. The RF amplifier that we flew on the last Balloon flight cam from RF Parts. They've got a wide variety of transistors and modules etc. |
| General transistors and diodes and IC's can be found at Digi-Key - www.digikey.com, Mouser Electronics - www.mouser.com . Wide varieties of active and passive components, along with hardware, enclosures and batteries and some test equipment. |
| The following are commercial vendors and so will have a minimum order between 25 and 100 bucks depending on which one you're talking to. |
| Newark Electronics - www.newark.com has a lot of electronics parts. I buy a lot from them and well as Allied Electronics - www.alliedelect.com . Also Arrow Electronics - www.arrow.com. NU Howizons - www.nuhorizons.com , has Exar chips like the XR-2206 and XR-2211 functions generator and PLL FSK detector. |
| Motorola sold off the discrete semiconductor group. That division is now On Semiconductor - www.onsemi.com . |
| Military
and industrial Surplus stuff: Fair Radio Sales - www.fairradio.com All Electronics - www.allcorp.com Electronic Goldmine - www.electronicgoldmine.com Hosfelt Electronics - www.hosfelt.com |
| I've dealt with every one of these. There are a lot more out there. |
| Test
Equipment: Local: G & G Electronics of Maryland in Gaithersburg. Jeff has no web site. Use 301 258 7373. A lot of my lab equipment came from Jeff. If you need a scope or something call Jeff, if he doesn't have it, he can probably keep an eye out for one. I've been dealing with Jeff for 17 years or so and have never been disappointed. Jeff also sells Ham Equipment and you see him at all the Hamfests in the area. |
| Also, look at Kentronix - www.kentronix.com. I've also dealt a lot with Brian and been fully satisfied. |
| A-Comm Electronics - www.a-comm.com . Since John is out in Colorado, I've dealt a bit less with him but still been satisfied with what I've bought. |
| There are others. Watch the Hamfests. I've gotten some great deals at hamfests, although I often have to put some "sweat equity" in to the gear, and a small minority I've written off. That's the risk you take. |
| We all know about the Ham dealers, HRO - www.hamradio.com, Universal Radio - www.universal-radio.com and Grove Enterprises - www.grove-ent.com. |
| American made rotors can be had and repaired at Norm's Rotor Service - www.rotorservice.com |
| I am sure I've left some out, but this will get you started. |
Summary List
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