40M Rockmite From QRPme

I can't remember if I said in a previous post that I had a new Rockmite on order from a few weeks back. It was the 40m version, I wanted to see if there is any difference from the old days of when I bought three 40,30 and 20M from Dave Benson K1SLW, which really got me started in building QRP.

I was aware Dave Benson K1SLW was retired and had handed the Rockmite business across to someone else, but I didn't know who, so obviously I did a bit of searching on the web and came across QRPme. QRPme is run by Rex Harper W1ERX. The other thing I didn't realise was that Kanga Products was the UK operation for QRPme and in my rush, I went straight to QRPme to order the Rockmite.

The package duly arrived from the States and of course I had to pay custom duty! This seemed to be the first of many issues. On opening up the package and inspecting the contents, I realised the "Dave Benson" personal touch had gone.

Whether it's through QRPme being bigger, or Rex hadn't the time I don't know, but that personal touch has disappeared. That easy to read instruction manual with those marvelous pictures of all the components and everything explained had gone and in its place a few sheets of accurate instructions, but not with a beginner in mind.

Waiting for parts

Sadly that wasn't all. Some components were missing and I found a mixture of different parts, but for other bands, but not all complete. For instance, I was missing 3 capacitors for the 40m kit but had the right capacitors for the 20m kit. Also where I should have the crystals for 40m I had the 20m set, which made me double check and think if I had originally ordered the 40m kit!

The wrong crystals

So in conclusion I have had to reorder some components and crystals from Kanga Products and have been left disappointed and saddened that the Rockmites that started me on the road to QRP building is in a way no more. Sure the Rockmite is alive, but slicker and corporate. It still relatively easy to build, but sadly lacks the personal touch Dave Benson seemed to add.

I think if you look at the website there's a lot products on there, I don't know how big QRPme is, but it just feels to me that everything was rushed if that makes any sense. Maybe I was just unlucky! Let me know if you've had a good experience with QRPme.