I’ve been at this hobby now for over two years and have gathered a decent supply of “the basics” — that is, if I get the inkling to build some neat looking circuit that I’ve come across, there’s a fair chance that I have most of what I need. Of course I have a variety of passives (resistors, capacitors, inductors, toroids, crystals, etc.) the basics in semiconductors (common small-signal transistors and diodes), and a few basic integrated circuits (power supplies, op-amps, 602/612 mixers, etc.). I have a couple local options (Radio Shack and You-do-it Electronics) but most of this gathering has been from online sources such as:
- The Toroid King – I’ve placed multiple orders here…toroids, of course, but also transistors, fets, mixers, varactor diodes, NPO caps and trim caps. Excellent service. PayPal used for payment.
- Dan’s Small Parts and Kits – currently closed for a few months (so the website is effectively “shuttered”). Dan’s offers a unique and always changing assortment of parts you might not find anywhere else and many of the basics that QRP homebrewers might be looking for. The order process is anything but streamlined so be prepared to spend some time putting your order together. But I thought is was worth the trouble given the uniques offerings made available. Be sure and check out the “close outs and special deals” site as well.
- Electronic Goldmine – lots of “grab-bag” style offerings. A fun way to get a bunch of parts, though sorting them out took a while…and sometimes you’re not exactly sure what you got!
- Hendricks QRP Kits – Polyvaircons and magnet wire. I also bought and built the BLT Plus Z-Match Tuner.
- NorCal QRP Club – Crystals on the standard QRP calling frequencies. Also bought and built the (now retired) Stinger Singer frequency counter kit.
- Palomar Engineers – Ferrite beads that fit over RG-58 Coax — used for “choke baluns”
Probably a few more I can’t recall at the moment, but that certainly represents the bulk of it. For me, this parts-gathering endeavor has mostly been done with no specific project in mind. Only a general idea of what’s good to have around when the urge to melt solder strikes!