Pixie Transceiver - 4 Simple Modifications And Testing
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- Опубліковано 14 лип 2024
- 4 simple modifications for the Pixie transceiver kit. No AM broadcast band interferences, side tone circuit and VXO. Still as simple CW transceiver.
Thank you Sverre ( LA3ZA ) for the help with the side tone circuit.
73, YO6DXE
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Well done buddy. Nice mods. Connecting it to the audio band pass and you’re good to go! 👌🏻
Since I re-made this video on the Pixie... turns out you already know what us the next one I will re-make 😅😅😅. 73 my friend.
Sounds good, try a ceramic resonator with a variactor diode and you will receive the ssb portions of the band too, great work, enjoy the hobby👍
Thanks so much. I would try but then it won't be great on transmit. Is fun to try things, but I think what I will try in the future... is a simple analog VFO... something simple. Most probably just for the CW portion of the band. 73, YO6DXE.
I've not had sidetone in 30+ years until I got an FT817ND in 2017. I never got round to putting it in my h/b rig.
I think the heatsink on the O/P transistor is a good idea as I think that's what blew my Pixie up, O/P transistor and electrolytic. I tried replacing them but the copper track was lifting.
I put mine on 5.262 MHz with 350 mW out. Some say it's a toy, not at all, 180 mile QSO with a SWL report from 220 miles. I need another one.
G4GHB
I don't get to use it on transmit as I am still as "student in class" learning the code ))). I find it easy to use it with no sidetone also. You just imagine the sound and I think is great also. But having a sidetone is better )). Ohh yes I also blew a few of them doing tests as they heat up a lot even with a proper dummy load. I only had one of those heatsinks left and I'm glad I put it to good use. No more issues now haha. I did a test actually and pressed the key down for 1min continuous. It didn't burn so that must be a good sign. About the toy part.. it is indeed a toy... a fun one. Put used well it can do a lot in my opinion. And there are many other more similar to the Pixie. Like the Micro-80 and lots more. That is why I am so excited about learning the code. With simple equipment you can accomplish a lot. Thank you for watching. 73 DE YO6DXE.
@@dxexplorer Yes, a fun toy, not as bad as some people make out. Compared to a modern tcvr it is indeed bad! It's what your expectations are. My standards must be low Hi.
Having taken time to learn the Code to get this licence at that time as required I was not going to let it get away and use it a lot. I used to have 100 Watts ssb some 40+ years ago on 80m and got nowhere, endless CQ's. I listened and came to the conclusion all people did was talk to their buddies as they have for 25 years on the same freq, same time, same night, same subject then switch off so I went on c.w. and made contacts.
Went QRP 30+ years ago. Brilliant, especially QRP to QRP.
Yes, must buy or make something like a Pixie, I have my junk box (component spares box) and probably enough to make something.
I made a one valve BT61 xtal tx several years ago, 40m and 60m, and thinking a regen rx as I have bought some PM2 type valves. Technology going backwards Hi. I like 60m because it's not as crowded as 40m for a simple rx to cope.
73, G4GHB
Sorry for the late reply. I was at my sister's to help a little and didn't had much free time. Ohhh the stories you have are amazing. Indeed technology going backwards. I do that as well. Especially after my past years moving from analog to digital at my last job... realizing all the headaches that comes with... I rather go back than move forward ))). I always believed that simple is most of the time much better. I have just found a few really nice schematics of simple transceivers I want to build. Not sure I will keep all. Maybe I make presents to young kids that want to start in the hobby. But I do want to build and try them. Is nice when you open the junk box... you take out a few components... and a few hours later you have something that works nice haha. Is like grandpa used to say.. if you can take a pile of crap and turn it into treasure... you do magic ))). Fits perfectly here hahaha. 73 and I hope you have a wonderful Sunday.
@@dxexplorer Hi, tnx for reply,
I built a one valve BT61 xtal tx some years ago, 40m and 60m about 1.5 Watts out. I keep saying I'll build a regen rx using a PM2 type valve as I have several from rallies. Really took things back in 2017 when I got a Wireless 19 Set circa 1944, it needed a lot of work to get it going and it was extremely deaf on rx. I recently replaced all R's and C's in the audio filter, much better now. Use it mainly on 5.262 MHz, where it's not as crowded, low H.T. so 2 Watts out and I xtalled it for stability on tx. Best so far 280 miles into Mallaig. I still think there's something wonderful about valves.
73, Bill, G4GHB
@@bill-2018 Good morning Bill. Ohhh I think the same. Even though... I don't know much about valves. When I was a kid and started learning about receivers.. all I found was on valves, but for me it was hard to get my hands on. Later I discovered transistors. But if things go well... next year I only dedicate the videos and blog posts to valves circuits. There is something about them that makes everything sound so.. different. So I am looking forward to gather all I need and learn a little more on this )). 73 DE YO6DXE
Muy buen trabajo. 73.
Gracias amigo 😁. 73
I thought I had a bad BNC connector. I just had a dodgy crimp.
Half decent BNC connectors last years. The really good ones last decades in the weather. I’m using pretty much all BNC and only pull out a UHF connector (shielded banana plug) when in the car as that’s what’s on the current antenna feedline
Nice effort on the Pixie.
I put a couple of S8050 transistors in mine. One in the oscillator, the other in the mixer / PA and I can get close to 900mW on a 13.8V supply (15V less the two diodes in the full bridge rectifier that protects against swapped polarity)
Managed a QSO on my Pixie with a station 1000Kms away.
Used a tuned mag loop antenna which helps with the broadcast interference. 2.7m across for 40m. Rather large, but mush smaller than a 1/4 wave vertical.
Right now I have an EFHW from 80 to 10m and works great. On RX seems so much better than the 40m version I had before. This one being longer... I just changed it to an inverted V as well. Let's see the difference now. The Pixie is great. I want to try a 2N2219 now for the PA and see if it gets any better. I think if I adjust the filter a little more I can get 800mW with no problems. About the BNC connectors... I have a few that I got when I was in Miami on my sailboat and those seem to be fine still. Got them in 2014. For some reason... the new ones I got recently... even if expensive... not sure where are they made... but the quality is still bad. If I connect them and disconnect them a few times... that is enough for the contact to be bad. They also seem to rust really quick. Very strange. I also like BNC because of the size. Maybe I can find some better quality ones and stick to these. 73 DE YO6DXE.
@@dxexplorer sounds like a dodgy batch. I just bought some new ones. Hopefully they’ll be OK
Just make sure they’re for RG58 and not RG59 as the money size is slightly different. RG59 sockets don’t make always good connections with RG58 BNC plugs. Peter Parker pointed this out on one of his videos.
The nano VNA is handy for finding those kinds of faults. I have a piece of coax that’s isn’t very good at being 50 ohms and shows 2:1 SWR on some frequencies and a perfect match on others. Pre made 10m BNC lead.
You can’t trust a bargain these days, but you tac take a punt and often it will work out, otherwise, you’ll learn something :-)
Maybe rig up an extra output stage for the pixie using an IRF510 and punch out a few watts :-)
You just made me think of something. I'm sure it may not be the right way to test a coax... but if I put a dummy load instead on the antenna all the way at the end... and on the TX side I check with the nanoVNA... it should show me the impedance right ? I guess )). I will try that tomorrow. About the connectors... you may be right about RG59 as all of them are a bit large on the coax side and I must always put some extra insulation to fit the cable tight inside. I wonder why they sell them as RG58 BNC if they are not )).
On the Pixie... ohh yes Nigel ZL1NAY told me to put a stage with an IRF 510 and get a bit of juice out of it haha. One day I should try that.
@@dxexplorer on the VNA set up a trace with Log Mag and have it listen on S2. Then calibrate your NanoVNA making sure you’ve calibrated the “through” measurement
Then hook your coax between the S1 and S2 connector. Log mag will show your losses over the length at whatever range you’ve set. I test from 0.5 to 30MHz
If your coax is a little funny, or your connectors are dodgy, you’ll see losses and noise as you move it around.
There’s a couple of UA-cam videos that show you this step by step.
A test with a dummy load will give you whether or not you have a match. It won’t tell you losses. Good enough to check for a dodgy connector.
But an S1 to S2 through connection will give you the losses over the length which may give you a better idea of where the problem lies.
@@MidlifeRenaissanceMan Perfect... ohh yest it makes sense now. Thank you so much. Then I guess this coming week I have more to do ))). Time to order new connectors and coax soon anyway. All I have now is over 20 years old. Well... except the new bad connectors )). 73
Hi, Love your improvement! I am beginner. All of the morse code sounds are too fast. Do they operate the key with their hand? How listener decode?
Morning Raj.. I am also learning the code and trying to learn it at high speed just so it will be easier for me once I know the code. There may be a few using a computer now and then but most of the time is by hand yes. Is pretty easy to get speed once you know the code. Decoding goes the same... you don't thinks in dots and dashes as they are written on paper... you take them more like musical sounds... each letter is unique so is easier to learn this way... both to send and also to receive code. Talking about the receiver... I hope today I finish it and post the video soon. Maybe tomorrow if I have the time. Have a fantastic weekend. 73, YO6DXE.
You could have saved yourself a lot of time and just bought a forty 9er it has everything you need???
I have that one as well. This Pixie was a present... is fun playing around with these simple kits. Still doesn't sounds as nice as the forty 9er... but is a lot of fun as well. Love it )). 73
It's not about saving time this is about learning
@@5x9withQSB Also true indeed 😁. And most of the time just for fun... and curiosity as well. 73
The pixie is for pussy's, as so many have said before you!... Peter Parker was right (vk3ye) the pixie is child's play!!... but there are many ham amateurs who can't fix them when they go wrong???.... unbelievable but true!!.. your pixie is 5 and 9 and 20db over??... 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣