Which to choose?
Remember: whoever you order from,
get organised first!
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For electronic
components, I'd presently recommend
Farnell. They treat all customers the same,
and have a friendly and efficient telephone order service.
Farnell are in head-to-head competitition with
RS - both have almost the same enormous range of
stocks, at almost the same prices. The only real difference is in the service
- RS offer a distinctly cool welcome to private individuals, so why bother
dealing with them?
(For components, Rapid Electronics are also well worth
a look - they have a narrower range of stock than RS or Farnell, but often
better prices.)
Maplin are positioned
more towards the consumer end of the market; the range of electronic components
seems to be shrinking, but they do stock a wider range of consumer electronics
and related items. Maplin are still useful for smaller quantities of low-cost
items such as resistors and capacitors, which other distributors would only
supply in multiples of 5, 10 or more.
CPC are unique because of their wide range of spares
for name-brand consumer electronics and white goods. CPC also have a very
wide range of consumer electronics, accessories and some components; now that
the catalogue is available on the web, CPC will be very strong competition
for for Maplin.
However, CPC's website is not totally up-to-date about availability. Therefore
I'd recommend that you browse the online catalogue and take notes of the stock
codes, but then order by phone
Other Distributors
You can see what their particular strengths are from the descriptions below,
and then make up your own mind accordingly.
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Other distributors
If there are any other distributors that you'd particularly
like to recommend, please tell
me.
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- Altec Products Limited, Unit 4 Riverway Ind. Park, Alton
GU34 2QL
Tel 0845 359 9000
Web: www.altecweb.com
E-mail: sales@altecweb.com
Laboratory supplies, including tools and plastics (PTFE).
- Arrow Electronics, Edinburgh Way, Harlow CM20 2DF
Tel: 01279 626777
Web: www.arrowuk.com
E-mail: sales@arrowuk.com
The current name for the long-established STC/ITT Components. The place
to go for MIL-spec and special components, but prices are high.
- Axminster Tools, Chard Street, Axminster EX13 5DZ
Tel: 0800 371 822 (sales), 01297 33656 (enquiries)
Web: www.axminster.co.uk
E-mail: email@axminster.co.uk
Power and hand tools, mostly woodworking but some metalworking.
- Barenco - distribution via
Martin Lynch, and
at rallies.
Mast and antenna fittings.
- BEC Distribution,
Unit 5, Coronation Grove, Harrogate HG2
8BU
Tel: 0845 4900 405
Web: www.bec.co.uk E-mail:
sales@bec.co.uk
Formerly Bonex, and now the main UK importer for TOKO products. Their
full TOKO catalogue is on the website, and BEC also stock a general range
of components.
(Cirkit no longer exists. Order TOKO poducts from BEC instead.)
- Chronos, Unit 14, Dukeminster Estate, Church Street, Dunstable
LU5 4HU
Tel: 01582 471 900. Fax: 01582 471 920.
Web: www.chronos.ltd.uk
E-mail: sales@chronos.ltd.uk
Model engineering tools and parts.
- J A Crew & Co, Watery Gate Farm, Chipping Campden GL55 6QU
Tel: 01386 841979
Web: www.jacrew.net
E-mail: orders@jacrew.com
All sorts of tools, materials and electromechanical components, both
regular new stock and surplus as it comes.
- Electromail used to be the retail branch of
RS, but closed many years ago. Often confused with:
- Electrovalue of Egham and Manchester, who have also closed.
- GH Engineering, East Cottage, Chineham Lane, Sherborne St John,
Hants RG24 9LR
Tel: 01256 869603
Web: www.ghengineering.co.uk
E-mail: sales@ghengineering.co.uk
Specialises in a range of power amplifiers, preamps, semiconductors
etc. for the low microwave bands. Good source for GaAsFETs, MMICs and Mitsubishi
PA modules.
-
Harrison & Greenwood, Mill Lane, Halifax HX3 6TR
Tel: 01422 329003
Web: E-mail:
Custom designed transformers - typically 1kVA upwards.
- JAB Electronic Components, PO Box 5774,
Birmingham B44 8PJ
Tel: 0121 682 7045
Web: www.jabdog.com
E-mail: jabdog@blueyonder.co.uk
Recommended by a number of readers for low prices and good service.
- Mainline Electronics, Unit 1A Cutters Close, Coventry Road,
Narborough, Leicester LE19 2FZ. Tel: 0116 286 5373.
Web: www.mainlinegroup.co.uk
E-mail: anona@mainlinegroup.co.uk
Credit/debit cards accepted. Postage and Packaging charge for UK orders
is £3.75.
General range of components with a bias towards RF/microwaves, and also
some surplus. Now the makers of the
Jackson
Brothers line of capacitors, dial drives, switches etc.
- Mallard Metal Packs, 53 Jasmin Croft, Kings Heath, Birmingham
B14 5AX Tel/Fax: 0121 624 0302
Web: www.mallardmetals.co.uk
E-mail: sales@mallardmetals.co.uk
Credit/debit cards accepted. No minimum order. Postage and Packaging charge
for UK orders starts at £4.00+VAT, for orders up to £10.00+VAT.
Online and mail-order suppliers of metals for small users (also taps
& dies etc, and some plastics including PTFE rod). Useful downloadable
catalogue, prices fixed for calendar year.
- Mega Electronics, Mega House, Grip Industrial Estate, Linton,
Cambridge CB1 6NR
Tel: 01223 893 900
Web: www.megauk.com
E-mail: sales@megauk.com
Specialists in supplies for prototype and low-volume PC boards and photo-printed
panels and signs. Mega manufacture much of the PCB equipment and chemicals
you see in other UK catalogues, but their direct prices are often better.
Also their own catalogue contains many items that you won’t see anywhere
else.
- Metals
4U, online only
Web: www.metals4u.co.uk
Contact/enquiry form:
www.metals4u.co.uk/contact.asp
Shipping free on large orders over £75; smaller orders by quotation.
Many engineering metals in tube, bar and sheet, including aluminium
tubing shipped in lengths up to 5m.
- Mini-Circuits
Tel: (UK) 01252 832 600
Web: www.minicircuits.com
Use the catalogue on the US website, and then order by phone to their UK
subsidiary. Credit/debit cards accepted. Minimum order £25 + VAT.
A huge range of mixers, MMICs, filters, couplers and other circuit modules.
Mini-Circuits products are often specified in advanced amateur RF designs,
for their high performance and predictability.
UK prices are now based on reasonable conversion rates from the US$ prices
on the main website, so it's no longer worth the trouble of ordering direct
from the USA.
- Radio Structures, TRS Complex, Gatelodge Close, Round Spinney
Industrial Estate, Northampton NN3 8BR
Tel: 01604 790005
Web: www.radiostructures.co.uk
Mostly professional towers, masts, cables, connectors and accessories,
but also a source for galvanised and stainless steel hardware, including
U-bolts in a range of shapes and sizes. (For cheap ss nuts and bolts, also
see Screwfix.)
- Rapid Electronics, Severalls Lane, Colchester
CO4 5JS
Tel: 01206 751166
Web: www.rapidonline.com
E-mail: sales@rapidelec.co.uk
The Rapid catalogue is free (but only if ordered by phone) and shows
VAT-exclusive prices. Credit/debit cards accepted. Small order charge:
£4.95 + VAT on orders up to £30 + VAT; free above £30 + VAT.
Rapid stock a broad range of electronics components - not as much choice
as Farnell or RS, but often better prices. Check out the kits of resistors
and capacitors.
- Screwfix Direct, Freepost, Yeovil BA22
8BF
Tel: 0500 41414. Fax: 0800 056 2256.
Web: www.screwfix.com
E-mail: online@screwfix.com
All kinds of DIY tools and products, at very competitive prices.
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Shesto Tools and Hobbies, Unit 2, Sapcote Trading Centre, 374
High Road, Willesden NW10 2DH
Tel: 020 8451 6188
Web: www.shesto.co.uk
E-mail: sales@shesto.co.uk
A wide range of modelling and craft tools, many of which are very useful
for electronics.
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SP Wound Components, Unit 12, Stanley Green Crescent Ind Estate, Poole BH15 3TH
Tel: 01202 682828
Web: www.spwoundcomponents.co.uk
E-mail: geoffbudden@btconnect.com
Custom designed transformers - mains, audio and pulse up to 750-1000VA. Expert service from Geoff Budden G3WZP.
- Squires Model & Craft Tools, 100 London Road, Bognor Regis,
PO21 1DD
Tel: 01243 842424
Web: perpetually ‘coming soon’. E-mail:
sales@squirestools.com
A wide range of modelling tools and soldering materials, many of which
are very useful for electronics. Also a small range of electronic components.
- Sycom, PO Box 148, Leatherhead KT22 9YW
Tel: 01372 372587
Web: www.sycomcomp.co.uk
E-mail: robin@sycomcomp.co.uk
General range of components, selected to be particularly useful to homebrewers.
Excellent personal service from Robin, G3NFV.
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TABmica, TAB Components Ltd, Unit 3, Plot J, Cavalier Road, Heathfield,
Newton Abbot TQ12 6TQ
Tel: (+44/0) 1626 833 470
Web: http://www.tabmica.co.uk/page7.html
E-mail: sales@tabmica.co.uk
Manufacturer of high-quality transmitting silvered mica capacitors,
individually made to order. The 'amateur radio' range on
this page are
commercial units in a lower-cost encapsulation.
- TLC Direct, nationwide mail order and many
branches in southern England
Mail order tel: 020 8646 6866
Web: www.tlc-direct.co.uk
Electrical wholesalers, will deal with personal customers too.
Low prices on cable, and on branded and own-brand mains fittings. Good
online catalogue, with useful information on wiring regulations, cable
sizes etc. Prices exclude VAT. Small order charge: £4.99 + VAT on
orders up to £150 + VAT; free above £150 + VAT.
- W H Westlake West Park, Clawton, Holsworthy EX22 6QN
Tel: 01409 253758
Web: www.whwestlake.co.uk
E-mail: whwestlake@hotmail.com
A familiar figure at rallies, Henry Westlake supplies a range
of cables and antenna wire at good prices, and also general accessories.
Excellent personal service.
- Wires.co.uk (formerly Scientific Wire Company), 18 Raven Road, London E18 1HW
Tel: 0208 505 0002
Web: www.wires.co.uk
E-mail: dan@wires.co.uk
Exactly what the name implies - all kinds of wire for technical and
scientific purposes, including resistance and thermocouple wires, and many
exotic metals.
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Prepare your order
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You're dealing with a commercial company whose customers are
mostly other businesses - so be businesslike about
ordering. Don't give amateurs a bad name!
Before you pick up the phone, prepare your order
carefully.
If there is a pre-printed order form, use it as a checklist - yes, even
if you are going to order by phone! If you fill in the form, you know you'll
have all the information the company needs, right there in front of you when
you call.
If there isn't a pre-printed form, In Practice for September 2000
includes a sample letter that will generally 'do the business' for you.
ALWAYS order quoting stock codes. Also
respect any minimum-order quantities specified in the catalogue. When components
are supplied in multiples, read the catalogue very carefully. Don't order
quantity 5 when the stock item is actually a pack of 5 - otherwise you'll
end up with 25!
Web ordering is improving, but still patchy. Some sites are much harder
to use than others. Also, some websites do not accurately reflect stocks and
availability, so it's still better to order by phone and get live feedback.
Tip - sometimes you get most of the
way through a long telephone order, and then find that a vital component is
not available! If you ask, many companies will let you put the whole order
'on hold' while you hang up and look for alternatives. They will give you
an order number to quote when you call them back.
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