Just finished building the QRP Labs QCX 40-meter kit and I'm amazed at the results! This impossibly low-cost, high performance transceiver puts out almost 4 watts and the direct conversion receiver is surprisingly good. The 152-page manual was incredibly detailed, though I needed a small-tipped soldering iron for the dense PCB layout. It worked right away once I fixed one cold solder joint on the volume control. For anyone looking to get into QRP homebrewing, this kit is a fantastic starting point!

Great choice! I built my QCX-20 last year and it's still my go-to portable rig. The built-in test equipment is really handy for field calibration. Did you get a case for yours?

That's encouraging! I've been eyeing the QCX kits but wasn't sure about my soldering skills. How challenging was the assembly for someone relatively new to kit building?

The QCX is excellent for SOTA activations. Add a small solar panel and charge controller and you've got a complete power solution for indefinite remote operation. Add a QRP antenna and tuner and you've got an effective radio system for SOTA activations. Which band did you choose and why?