I just finished up "stuffing" one of the Octal Aikido boards a couple days ago, JRB had the partial kits on sale for $99 last month, and I also got one of the 20K step attenuator kits as well, kind of an unusual approach, but at $29 for the kit, it seems a bargain...
For the output coupling caps (the board accomodates two sets, with independent outputs, I used some of the Green Monster Russian 2 uF PIOs, and for the other set, the included 0.68 uF 400V WIMA caps. THose were intended for PSU bypassing, but I have more similar ones to choose from...
The biggest hamfest / swapfest in the NE ares is this weekend Friday and Saturday , at the Deerfield NH fairgrounds, in Deerfield NH, look up "NEARfest" on the net. I'll dig up the site and add it here. Always lots of good cheap parts bargains and "freebies". One man's trash is another man's treasure...
From the ARRL Letter:
NEAR-Fest to continue "Hosstraders" tradition in New England: The New
England Amateur Radio Festival ("NEAR-Fest") will take place Friday and
Saturday, May 4-5, at the Deerfield, New Hampshire, Fairgrounds, Route 43
approximately 15 miles northeast of Manchester. NEAR-Fest will continue the
tradition begun years ago by the now-discontinued "Hosstraders Tailgate
Swapfest" -- a New England tradition for more than 30 years. NEAR-Fest will
take place spring and fall at the original Hosstraders location. Gates open
Friday at 9 AM. Tickets are $10 per person ($5 after 3 PM Friday) and $10
per vehicle into the flea market. Commercial vendors will also be on site.
There are no sellers' fees or space limitations, and there's ample free
parking outside the flea market. There's no charge for camping, but RV
hookups (power and water) are $30. Check the NEAR-Fest Web site
http://www.near-fest.com/ for additional information and updates.
/ed B in NH