Question 1

Does the kit come with some type of soldering iron, or is that something you're expected to already own?

Accepted Answer

If you're looking to do this as a frequent hobby go ahead and get a soldering station. It's more money up front but it's worth every single penny. I bought a few kits and tried them with standard 'plug into wall' irons and got so frustrated. I ended up spending probably 100+ dollars on various irons and started to think I wasn't cut out for it. I watched some tutorial videos and they all preached about getting a station. So I got a Weller WES51 (About a hundred bucks) and right out of the box I was soldering like crazy. I used a dummy board to get the hang of it and I was ready to assemble an FM transmitter I'd gotten. It gets hot fast and you can dial in the temperature. You can clean the iron with the included sponge. Huge difference and now I'm just looking for a reason to solder something. :)

Question 2

Can FM stations be selected or does it continually scan?

Accepted Answer

Stations are tuned in and continue to be tuned in one at a time. Scan to the next station and hold until you press the button to scan to the next station.

Question 3

What are the dimensions of the circuit board?  I would like to put it in a box

Accepted Answer

The board is 3-7/16" high by 5-9/32" wide by 1-1/2" thick.   The antenna mount sticks off the top left edge of the board.

Question 4

Do you recommend this kit or another for learning basic soldering skills?  I'd rather have a radio than a useless siren at the end.  Thanks.

Accepted Answer

Yes, this would be a good starter kit to learn basic soldering skills.  That was my main deciding factor when purchasing it so that I could teach my son how to solder.

ASIN	B004YHZE0G
Additional Features	Lightweight
Audio Output Mode	Mono
Best Sellers Rank	#147,935 in Toys ( See Top 100 in Toys ) #1,900 in Educational Science Kits
Brand	Elenco
Built-In Media	Owner's Manual
Color	Red
Compatible Devices	Smartphone, MP3 Player, Headphone, Earphone
Connectivity Technology	Auxiliary
Customer Reviews	4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars (1,447)
Display Type	VFD
Enclosure Material	Plastic
Frequency	108 MHz
Global Trade Identification Number	00756619008011
Hardware Interface	3.5mm Audio
Item Dimensions L x W x H	33L x 22.9W x 1.9H centimeters
Item Highlight	Build a working FM radio while learning electronics and soldering skills through a hands-on STEM project
Item Weight	1.6 Ounces
Manufacturer	Elenco Electronics LLC
Mfr Part Number	FM-88K
Model Number	FM-88K
Number of Items	1
Power Source	Corded Electric
Radio Bands Supported	FM
Style Name	Standard
Tuner Type	FM
UPC	885250561859 885348153102 756619008011
Unit Count	1.0 Count
Water Resistance Level	Not Water Resistant

Elenco FM Radio Kit

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