Spartan Sprint Special 40m CW Transceiver

This resource details the design and construction of the Spartan Sprint Special 40m CW Transceiver, a QRP direct conversion rig. The article, originally published in 2002 and reproduced in 2019, describes the evolution from an experimental CMOS digital IC receiver to a dedicated 40-meter CW transceiver. It provides technical specifications for a unit with approximately 200 mW output, VFO-tunable over 15 kHz within the 40m band. The transceiver weighs 73 g (0.16 lb) including its case. Receive current draw is approximately 14 mA (no signal), increasing slightly with strong signals, and transmit current draw is about 125 mA key down. The design prioritizes reduced size, lower weight, and decreased receive current drain compared to earlier iterations. The selectivity, while usable, does not match superheterodyne designs. This documentation is intended for builders interested in QRP portable operation and direct conversion transceiver design.