rm96

As part of our final year project (in 2005), I built a 14 MHz SSB transceiver designed by an Indian HAM, Rama Mohan Rao,VU2RM. It is better known as RM96. Originally it was intended to work on the 7 MHz band but was later modified to work on 14 MHz. All its details can be found here. You can also have a look at the new version at hamradioindia.

I was able to get to the point where I was able to listen to the 20m bands from as far away as Russia (I was in Mumbai, India) and a few local broadcasts from Bangalore. All the hizzing and tuning was music to ears. But I didn’t get to the point of completing the transmission side for couple of reasons: 1. I did not have a HAM license and 2. It required dealing with high voltages and current (I wasn’t too confident on this front back then).

Its a dinosaur by today’s standard but the whole building process was so empowering.