What is the difference between QRP Guys and QRP Builder?

[KL7MJ]

I saw a link to qrpbuilder.com on a mailing list. The website and the products look very similar to qrpguys.com
Are the two sites related?

[kc0myw]

Not an official answer, and I've never ordered from either site (although there are things I want to order from each) but a quick look at the sites reveals this:

On the homepage of qrpbuilder.com is a welcome message that ends with:

Be Creative!… Don’t be a “Passive Consumer” of someone else’s imagination.

73’s

Ken – WA4MNT, Karen – KF4EEL

On the homepage of qrpguys.com is a welcome message that ends with:

For inquiries use: qrpguys@gmail.com

The QRPGuys…

Ken LoCasale (WA4MNT) – mechanical design, pc board layout, documentation, website maintenance
Doug Hendricks (KI6DS) – beta testing, kitting, shipping
Steve Weber (KD1JV) – circuit design, firmware contributor, kd1jvdesigns@groups.io
Kazuhisa “Kazu” Terasaki (AG6NS) – firmware contributor
Yin Shih (N9YS) – technical assistance, beta builder
Dan Tayloe (N7VE) – circuit design
John Stevens (K5JS) – website assistance
Cliff Donley (K8TND) – circuit design

It looks like WA4MNT is involved with both of them and manages both of the websites so I am not surprised that they have a similar look and feel. How much overlap and difference there is between the two companies I cannot speak for, but it seems that qrpbuilder may be more of a personal project for Ken and qrpguys is more of a group effort that he is involved in, but this is purely speculation.

An email to WA4MNT may provide a bit more insight, do follow-up here if you do that.

[VE7GNR]

QRP Builder has a fantastic kit for an KX3 or KX2 CW paddle. This used to be available on QRPGuys, but it isn't any longer. I guess the QRP builder people decided there are enough Elecraft KX3 and KX2 owners that they wanted to continue to sell this product.

QRP Guys have a variety of great kits, I've build a few of them and really enjoy the kit building and then using the products too.

[Ikey]

Ordered the version of the AX Elecraft antenna.
Came with wrong parts. Spoke to Hendricks, said he made a mistake and would send correct parts
when they arrived from back order.
I noted that I live and travel in a motorhome, could he let me know when he would ship, not knowing where I would be at that time.
Answer was “we are through, keep the parts” and a credit appeared on my payment account.
Parts are in the junk box, must have been a bad day….
Ira KB2DJJ

[KL7MJ]

What is the part that you need? I have built one of these on my own using parts from the local hardware store. The only tricky part (for me) was drilling the hole in the end caps - you really need a drill press do get the holes straight and centered.

[Ikey]

Thanks for the offer.
I know what I need, it is the BNC connector which I intend to get to once this trip is over.
Yes, I do have a drill press.
Again, nice to see the spirit of a ham helping a ham is still alive.
Vy 73,
Ira KB2DJJ