Like 7-8 bucks for this kit. Just bought it - definitely going to put this together and try it from the tops of a few mountains around where I live. If anyone out in the US picks up a real low strength and sloppy fist CW signal from Japan in the next few months, that's probably me.
Hi Dave, This is a great informational video. I built this kit and burned up Q2 while soldering , which I got a replacement for, made the repair, and the radio came to life on 7.040.0 MHz (the crystal I installed instead of 7.023.0 MHz), as soon as I attached the antenna, earphones, and battery.. That's when I discovered that the pot tuned the frequency, not the volume, and there was no side tone for CW transmission. Your video is a pretty good front end manual. A friend and I plan to transmit back and forth across the garage as he teaches me CW.
Nice to see one of these on here. I built one and put it on 5.262 MHz where there is less activity so less QRM. I had a few contacts, my first one 180 miles, and others 80 - 120 miles on my inverted Vee. The best was an SWL report from the Netherlands at 220 miles. Not bad for 350 mW out. Until it blew up, a transistor and electrolytic cap. blown, then when I tried replacing them the copper track lifted. Fun while it lasted. Not the best quality, had to solder the BNC socket six times before it took solder and the jack sockets look very fragile. Worth having a go, try one. I'll build something similar on Veroboard one day. I run nothing over 5 Watts these days. 73, Bill, G4GHB.
What I really like about the Pixie is that it has so many obvious problems. :) So I added a couple of tweakable AM filters to the front end of mine to attenuate the local AM broadcast interference. Then I noted it had insufficient selectivity, so I added a narrow audio filter. Then since it only put out about a Watt I added an adjustable low drop-out voltage regulator and a Class E stage to give me a output from less than 100 mW up to to a full 5 watts, variable. I had already added a low-pass filter to the output since it was pretty dirty. Since I'm an Extra I can operate on the frequency range of the crystal included in my kit, but who wants to chat with a limited number of Extras on a narrow range of frequencies that could be noisy or have a big gun sitting in the middle of it? It was just not sufficiently frequency agile. So I'm adding a SI5351 module and Arduino controller and display to be able to pick my frequency. Then I think I'll add a decent sidetone to it from the SI5351. I'll probably need to put another filter on that output, too. All in all it's turning into a real Rube Goldberg radio, and I'm having a ball with it. I use a NanoVNA for filter tuning, and a TinySA to see how well they work, since fortunately those 2 devices are now available as cheap consumer grade test gear. It is all so much more fun than just plugging in my appliance rigs and talking, even the old tube rig. There's a bit of challenge to it and some real learning involved. But now I need a bigger box for it. On the air I'll just tell people I'm running a Pixie Goldberg+. :)
Thank you VERY much. I'm pretty good with most electronic components but I wasn't figuring out those inductors. Your picture made the rest of it simple. Thanks again!
I scored a few of these for $3.50 each on eBay the other day. I'll get them put together once they arrive, and I would like to try to do the classic construction in an Altoids box. I'm not sure if a 9v battery would be the best way of powering one of these. This should be interesting.
Hi Bought a version 3 pixie kit. Has a side tone sounder on board and a blinky red led that BuzzLightyear would love! I found that it needs 12volts to turn on. 9 Volts not enough. Frequency in Europe needs to be 7030KHz
Hello! Im korean. I want to ask you something. It is about antenna.I also bought as you used in video and i made it.It worked. But because of the antenna i cant talk with anyone. If you read this sentences,would you tell me whan antenna did you used?(thanks for reading)
Just assembled what looks like an identical kit. Thanks for the tip on getting rid of most of the receive buzz by switching to a 9V battery! My power output is 5 dB down from 0.5 watt so apparently my power amplifier transistor or that part of the circuit is not working. Any ideas on cause? Have kept voltage between 9V and 12V during testing. 73, KE4TH.
Just ordered one of these and I am hoping to mount it into an altoids tin and change the xtal to 7040khz. I am just wondering if it would be possible to change the 47k trimmer pot (w1) on the circuit board to something I could attach a knob to. If you had any suggestions that would be great. Thanks for the video
I just put this together, and all im getting is a loud hum. I double checked all the components and cant figure it out. Any idea how to fix this? thanks
A loud hum can be caused by the headphone jack and plug connection. Also check your soldering around the IC chip as it is an audio amplifier. Using an AC power adapter can also cause a very loud hum. So if you're using a "wall wart" then disconnect it and try batteries.
I just watched another demo of the Pixie by NG9D and I think I heard his callsign near the end of your demo. It would be amazing if he was sending with his Pixie. Do we know why 7.023 MHz was selected as the operating frequency for this kit? I ordered a Pixie about a week ago and expect to receive it in 2 or 3 weeks.
HI Dave. I just got a pixie from China that has an extra switch on top of the rig- a kind of flimsy thing- do you happen to know what the switch is for? Appreciate your videos, thank you and 73 de WA5SAT
Hi there, I bought 2 kits. Both have the same issue of 50hz Hum ( UK mains ) even on batteries. They just pick up anything mains that's nearby. A trip out away from wires might help. Its around 50% hum 20% cw 30% mush. Although you can pick out the cw of course but with difficulty. If you have any improvements please let us know . Thanks for the video.
excellent as always dave!!! mine says 7.023 -7.026, does that mean it will transmit on 7.026 , or that is the cut off, i got mine on ebay here as well, im just getting ready to complete it , and you do not need a transceiver to trans and receive just antenna and a key?
with minor mod with lm386 amplifier YESSSS!! look for "lm386 sw transmitter" on Google images, the audio is fed near where the key is with cap to ground.. 😎👍🇬🇧
dave i got a question off topic.. i am currently tracking commercial aircraft with my hobby.. i was wonder would it be possible to make a beam antenna for 1090 mhz if so how big would it have to be....
ahhh, your tracking ADS-B, etc signals...your antenna will be very small...i was into that, then got out of it, now just love monitoring HF VHF and UHF air voice comms....But definitely love the airband...
It means that this transceiver will only work on the 40m band meaning between 7.0 and 7.3 Mhz. Even then it will only work one preset frequency inside the CW portion of 40m.
KuriosPC For receiving, the antenna length isn't really important, but the longer the better. For transmitting, the antenna will need to be SWRd for either 1/1 wavelength (40m), 1/2 wavelength (20m), or 1/4 wavelength (10m). Other lengths won't work as well, including 5/8th wave antennae. Alternately, you can cut a long antenna at a random length and hook it to a tuning unit (ATU)
3' antenna will do fine. As far as antennas go...for receiving you want the largest antenna you can use. For transmitting you will need a tuned 40-meter antenna. BEWARE...you may have a problem using mobile ham-stick as they are made for the voice portion so may be a little short.
3' antenna will do fine. As far as antennas go...for receiving you want the largest antenna you can use. For transmitting you will need a tuned 40-meter antenna. BEWARE...you may have a problem using mobile ham-stick as they are made for the voice portion so may be a little short.
Check out the even smaller KeychainQRP HF Transmitter. It's fully built, ready to use and so small you can keep it attached to your car keys: www.etsy.com/listing/506756455/keychain-qrp-the-worlds-smallest-hf-ham
my daughter jut finished hers, it started to smoke haha :-) we will get another one and keep attempting until we get it right? i notice it seemed to be reverse when keyed it did not transmit when not keyed it transmitted then it started to smoke, any ideas :-)
Hello Dave, great job, and good job on your presentation, however; I guess no one believes in using dummy loads anymore? I've been licensed since 1975 and was always taught to listen twice before transmitting. It sounds like you were transmitting over another station. With everybody these days doing their best to run full lrgsl limits, ignoring FCC Rules on using only the power needed to maintain communications, we QRP operators need to be extra careful not to transmit over other stations. Dummy loads are always needed during the initial test trails. Just my 2 cents sir. But great job, and thank you for sharing. --73-- Jim K7QI/ Z81A
Well - murphy struck. Couldn't find my three prong to two prong converter to plug the soldering station in. So I ordered a bunch online. Should have them in a day or so.
+bbjunkie1023 Because he only has one frequency and I don't imagine 0.8W is going to interfere much with others. Besides it was short enough not to inconvenience anyone for more than a few seconds. Theory (what you are taught) vs Real World (what really happens)....
Like 7-8 bucks for this kit. Just bought it - definitely going to put this together and try it from the tops of a few mountains around where I live. If anyone out in the US picks up a real low strength and sloppy fist CW signal from Japan in the next few months, that's probably me.
itsumonihon
Good luck with that. It won't work for crap!
Hi Dave, This is a great informational video. I built this kit and burned up Q2 while soldering , which I got a replacement for, made the repair, and the radio came to life on 7.040.0 MHz (the crystal I installed instead of 7.023.0 MHz), as soon as I attached the antenna, earphones, and battery.. That's when I discovered that the pot tuned the frequency, not the volume, and there was no side tone for CW transmission. Your video is a pretty good front end manual. A friend and I plan to transmit back and forth across the garage as he teaches me CW.
Nice to see one of these on here.
I built one and put it on 5.262 MHz where there is less activity so less QRM. I had a few contacts, my first one 180 miles, and others 80 - 120 miles on my inverted Vee. The best was an SWL report from the Netherlands at 220 miles. Not bad for 350 mW out. Until it blew up, a transistor and electrolytic cap. blown, then when I tried replacing them the copper track lifted. Fun while it lasted.
Not the best quality, had to solder the BNC socket six times before it took solder and the jack sockets look very fragile.
Worth having a go, try one. I'll build something similar on Veroboard one day. I run nothing over 5 Watts these days.
73, Bill, G4GHB.
What I really like about the Pixie is that it has so many obvious problems. :)
So I added a couple of tweakable AM filters to the front end of mine to attenuate the local AM broadcast interference. Then I noted it had insufficient selectivity, so I added a narrow audio filter. Then since it only put out about a Watt I added an adjustable low drop-out voltage regulator and a Class E stage to give me a output from less than 100 mW up to to a full 5 watts, variable. I had already added a low-pass filter to the output since it was pretty dirty. Since I'm an Extra I can operate on the frequency range of the crystal included in my kit, but who wants to chat with a limited number of Extras on a narrow range of frequencies that could be noisy or have a big gun sitting in the middle of it? It was just not sufficiently frequency agile. So I'm adding a SI5351 module and Arduino controller and display to be able to pick my frequency. Then I think I'll add a decent sidetone to it from the SI5351. I'll probably need to put another filter on that output, too.
All in all it's turning into a real Rube Goldberg radio, and I'm having a ball with it. I use a NanoVNA for filter tuning, and a TinySA to see how well they work, since fortunately those 2 devices are now available as cheap consumer grade test gear. It is all so much more fun than just plugging in my appliance rigs and talking, even the old tube rig. There's a bit of challenge to it and some real learning involved. But now I need a bigger box for it. On the air I'll just tell people I'm running a Pixie Goldberg+. :)
Thank you VERY much. I'm pretty good with most electronic components but I wasn't figuring out those inductors. Your picture made the rest of it simple. Thanks again!
Pretty neat! Since getting my Tech ticket, I have wanted to operate QRP. Very inspiring.
Good job. There's a video show / tell "how to tame the LM 386" audio IC to diminish the broadcast reception.
Very clear air in your QTH Dave !
I scored a few of these for $3.50 each on eBay the other day. I'll get them put together once they arrive, and I would like to try to do the classic construction in an Altoids box. I'm not sure if a 9v battery would be the best way of powering one of these. This should be interesting.
Hi
Bought a version 3 pixie kit. Has a side tone sounder on board and a blinky red led that BuzzLightyear would love! I found that it needs 12volts to turn on. 9 Volts not enough. Frequency in Europe needs to be 7030KHz
My favorite is 7.110 MHz. And the 80 meter is the colour burst xtal salvaged from American TVs.
Hello! Im korean. I want to ask you something. It is about antenna.I also bought as you used in video and i made it.It worked. But because of the antenna i cant talk with anyone. If you read this sentences,would you tell me whan antenna did you used?(thanks for reading)
Hello, who could give me the value of the nominal current of the inductor L1 (22 uH)?
Great stuff - this is what AMATEUR radio is all about - thanks !
There is a mod you can do to the audio amplifier which will get rid of the broadcast break through.
So this is only for CW transmission and not voice?
Where is the incoming sound coming from, someone is sending morse ?
What model watt meter is that? I like it nice and big. Thanks for the great video
-73
MFJ-868B, in production at present (07-08-2020), catalogue price is US$170.
Just assembled what looks like an identical kit. Thanks for the tip on getting rid of most of the receive buzz by switching to a 9V battery! My power output is 5 dB down from 0.5 watt so apparently my power amplifier transistor or that part of the circuit is not working. Any ideas on cause? Have kept voltage between 9V and 12V during testing. 73, KE4TH.
I bought 2 on amazon for $4 apiece and put in a 2 pin socket so i can swap crystals.
Hrm my key has a keyer built in. I'm going to need to add a sidetone.
Just ordered one of these and I am hoping to mount it into an altoids tin and change the xtal to 7040khz. I am just wondering if it would be possible to change the 47k trimmer pot (w1) on the circuit board to something I could attach a knob to. If you had any suggestions that would be great. Thanks for the video
I just put this together, and all im getting is a loud hum. I double checked all the components and cant figure it out. Any idea how to fix this? thanks
A loud hum can be caused by the headphone jack and plug connection. Also check your soldering around the IC chip as it is an audio amplifier. Using an AC power adapter can also cause a very loud hum. So if you're using a "wall wart" then disconnect it and try batteries.
Dave Tadlock
Thank you so much! I used a 9 volt battery and it works perfectly!
Work any stations? Build a filter for it? Add a sidetone?
de kj4ezx here. where did you print out the papers you showed in the video . I did not see a link to do this...Terry
w5nor.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/SKU420968-S-Pixie-User-Manual.pdf
I just watched another demo of the Pixie by NG9D and I think I heard his callsign near the end of your demo. It would be amazing if he was sending with his Pixie. Do we know why 7.023 MHz was selected as the operating frequency for this kit? I ordered a Pixie about a week ago and expect to receive it in 2 or 3 weeks.
So question. Can it transmit voice if you hook up a microphone to it ? Or no.
That would be no. Completely different type of radio.
Neat project for a very nice price.
Nice job Dave
Is this a ham radio kit? Can it also be used as a simple shortwave receiver to listen to stations around the globe?
How do you get any workable communication within such tight bands with 1,000s of ppl having to use this?
HI Dave. I just got a pixie from China that has an extra switch on top of the rig- a kind of flimsy thing- do you happen to know what the switch is for? Appreciate your videos, thank you and 73 de WA5SAT
Hello mr. Tadlock. I'm buy that kit on Ebay and i'm looking for the tuturial. Something like "radio for dummies". Can you help me with that ? Thanks.
Do you know of a mating plug that plugs into the existing power plug?
Hi there, I bought 2 kits. Both have the same issue of 50hz Hum ( UK mains ) even on batteries. They just pick up anything mains that's nearby. A trip out away from wires might help. Its around 50% hum 20% cw 30% mush. Although you can pick out the cw of course but with difficulty. If you have any improvements please let us know . Thanks for the video.
Try installing it inside a small metal case (becareful of shorts) like a Altoids tin. That will shield it somewhat hopefully.
Amazon has a power plug that terminates with a 9v clip.
excellent as always dave!!! mine says 7.023 -7.026, does that mean it will transmit on 7.026 , or that is the cut off, i got mine on ebay here as well, im just getting ready to complete it , and you do not need a transceiver to trans and receive just antenna and a key?
Hammer USN Not sure, but I do know you can but other crystals and pull it around a bit!
Can I transmit voice on this? Thanks.
As It Is No, CW only.
with minor mod with lm386 amplifier YESSSS!! look for "lm386 sw transmitter" on Google images, the audio is fed near where the key is with cap to ground.. 😎👍🇬🇧
dave i got a question off topic.. i am currently tracking commercial aircraft with my hobby.. i was wonder would it be possible to make a beam antenna for 1090 mhz if so how big would it have to be....
ahhh, your tracking ADS-B, etc signals...your antenna will be very small...i was into that, then got out of it, now just love monitoring HF VHF and UHF air voice comms....But definitely love the airband...
+vo1um1 Check here:
forum.planefinder.net/forums/antennas-filters-etc.15/
Have a silly question. If it says 40 meters does that mean that it's for that meter range, only, or can it be used for all hf frequencies?
It means that this transceiver will only work on the 40m band meaning between 7.0 and 7.3 Mhz. Even then it will only work one preset frequency inside the CW portion of 40m.
How long of an antenna do I need in order to know I am receiving a signal? Do I need an actual 40m antenna? Thanks!
KuriosPC For receiving, the antenna length isn't really important, but the longer the better. For transmitting, the antenna will need to be SWRd for either 1/1 wavelength (40m), 1/2 wavelength (20m), or 1/4 wavelength (10m). Other lengths won't work as well, including 5/8th wave antennae. Alternately, you can cut a long antenna at a random length and hook it to a tuning unit (ATU)
3' antenna will do fine. As far as antennas go...for receiving you want the largest antenna you can use. For transmitting you will need a tuned 40-meter antenna. BEWARE...you may have a problem using mobile ham-stick as they are made for the voice portion so may be a little short.
Good luck on getting your license. I am just starting my channel sosubscribe if you don't mind. 73's and God bless.
3' antenna will do fine. As far as antennas go...for receiving you want the largest antenna you can use. For transmitting you will need a tuned 40-meter antenna. BEWARE...you may have a problem using mobile ham-stick as they are made for the voice portion so may be a little short.
Good luck on getting your license. I am just starting my channel sosubscribe if you don't mind. 73's and God bless.
Check out the even smaller KeychainQRP HF Transmitter. It's fully built, ready to use and so small you can keep it attached to your car keys: www.etsy.com/listing/506756455/keychain-qrp-the-worlds-smallest-hf-ham
no side tone with the radio? that will prob mess me up some.
You must add all your own options. Every one!
Nice job….good demo…Thanks Dave
Amazingly cheap to buy now! I just bought one for less than $5.00! WOW
Ohai josh! :D
my daughter jut finished hers, it started to smoke haha :-) we will get another one and keep attempting until we get it right? i notice it seemed to be reverse when keyed it did not transmit when not keyed it transmitted then it started to smoke, any ideas :-)
The Johnny O Show sound alike you put a capacitor in backwards
Where can I get a crystal for a Technician frequency?
+Patrick McNamee yes check out kc9on.com/ham-radio/crystals/
techs can use 40 meter for CW at the bottom end of the range.
Bought one.. Now sir, how do i learn morse and best way to construct a key.
First, get your Amateur Radio license.
awesome video thanks for putting it up
And is there a encasing for this?
Its a kit. Use a project box.
Ok. Gotcha
can you put microphone to talk or only mores
Jihad khalil i was wondering this too. a microphone would be great.
Jihad khalil Are you an amateur radio operator?
+Jihad khalil No, it's CW (morse code) only.
If you do not know then you need to purchase a CB radio and stay as far away as you can from Amateur Radio equipment!
+Cisco8484 0.8w or 1.2w what the max range give you on meters please
I have one and can't get anything on it
Anyone making contacts with QRP with this very-low power?
Found on google images "lm386 sw transmitter" diagram and looks like adding audio in is pretty easy😁👍🇬🇧
Could you convert this to TX voice? 😯
can you share the paperwork with me
mine did not comewithmanual
thanks
eaa
w5nor.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/SKU420968-S-Pixie-User-Manual.pdf
Didnt see n e smoke!
I hooked up a microphone and it worked as a 2 way radio. Got 50 miles on 9 volts
yeah man wicked!! 🇬🇧👍😎
curious if you use an audio source where the key is is it that simple?? google "lm386 sw transmitter" and it would appear so😁
Yeah, and I connected it to the mains supply and did moon-bounce!
I bet this would transmit audio with LM386 as audio input on the key circuit.. Also, use better transistors with heat sink😎👍🇬🇧add filter too
mine dosent work it just gives me a low buzzing :(
possibly you have the headphone in the key jack. i did that, too!
Link to kit?
Beautiful instruments and experiment but lack of focus and 720p/1080p (better resolution video) ...
Hello Dave, great job, and good job on your presentation, however; I guess no one believes in using dummy loads anymore? I've been licensed since 1975 and was always taught to listen twice before transmitting. It sounds like you were transmitting over another station. With everybody these days doing their best to run full lrgsl limits, ignoring FCC Rules on using only the power needed to maintain communications, we QRP operators need to be extra careful not to transmit over other stations. Dummy loads are always needed during the initial test trails. Just my 2 cents sir. But great job, and thank you for sharing.
--73--
Jim
K7QI/ Z81A
gotta get myself one of those.
Well - murphy struck. Couldn't find my three prong to two prong converter to plug the soldering station in. So I ordered a bunch online. Should have them in a day or so.
Two things Dave; 1) did you check for spurious emissions? 2) why did you attempt to transmit on a busy frequency?
+bbjunkie1023 Because he only has one frequency and I don't imagine 0.8W is going to interfere much with others. Besides it was short enough not to inconvenience anyone for more than a few seconds. Theory (what you are taught) vs Real World (what really happens)....
And have been so busy I still haven't put mine together. Sigh!
no filters careful of the harmonics 73
Nice kit. I work all over EU with it. 73 de Joop
I like it. Thanks.
RX sounds smooth but no power likes like...
Available for $2.90... hi
Nice job
KM4GKD 73
heh, what are the odds, KM4GKG here.
Well dam lol
Good timing for straight key night! Might be a fun kit. 73 - W7BBQ
Cool !
If you are a tech get a 7.030 Crystal because a 7.026 crystal does not exist
Mine came with a 7.023 MHz xtal, if that's any good. I have our QRP frequency of 7.030 as well but opted to go on 5.262 Mhz instead.
G4GHB
Now it's $4
Now it's $2.50. I paid $3.50 for one that had a little faster ship.
这种机器接收灵敏度很差，我DIY过。
Have several of the old ones. They work well. Kv4li
Just ordered for 2.99€ ~ $3.16
73 DL8CY
So you fell for the 0.8 watt output bullshit, did you? The Pixie is basically a $10 piece of shit.
Neat project for a very nice price.
Nice job Dave