Posted: 3/2/2014 6:06:16 PM EDT
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In another post I asked the OP about the parameters of his NVIS antenna; the reason I asked is because I have a pixie II that I built yesterday. I wasn't getting any signal (which is pretty common when your antenna for 40m is a 3 ft piece of brazing rod). Anyway, after reading the description of the OP's antenna, I remembered I had a big spool of twisted pair wire upstairs. I grabbed 35', untwisted the pair, sent the 'hot' lead outside and left the counterpoise inside. Eureka, I've got CW signal in the headset (actually, quite a number of CW signals, but it's easy to determine which are which).
I think I'll talk to somebody this week in the club and see if we can do a short radio test; nothing much, probably a little CW practice only - I'll have to learn my own call as I have to identify myself, and his call so I can identify it - but, I have high hopes! ETA: To those of you who have been so helpful about recommendations for rigs to buy, don't worry - this isn't a long-term thing for me. Our club is having their yearly swapfest next weekend and so I've been holding the purse strings waiting to get a radio at the swap. Once I do that, I'll have a real radio, with real power, for my first forays out into the world. This pixie II thing is just to keep the juices flowing, the go along with the iambic key I built, and the keyer I built, and the 7 component transmitter I built, etc., etc., etc. (Can you tell my wife is out of town?) ETA(2): After unsuccessfully trying to connect with another ham (wdlsguy) I figured I'd go at it a different way. There is a remotehams rig hooked up in Dallas that doesn't get much use and so I tuned it to 7040 and keyed up the pixie2. Eureka, I could hear my callsign! After screwing around a little bit it doesn't seem like it transmits spot on 7040, about 7039.2 or .3 (the reason I heard it on 7040 was because it was LSB and my signal was within in bandwidth. Anyway - pretty freakin exciting to know that my $15 xcvr is sending out a signal - now, all I have to do is get a real contact coming in - stay tuned. |
I want to build a Rockmite II (probably for 20m) for some reason. The original version used a surface-mount SA612 mixer, but the new version uses a socketed a dual in-line package, so it should be easier to build. 
What frequency did you build your pixie2 for? I'd be happy to give you a call and/or listen for your call. |
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I want to build a Rockmite II (probably for 20m) for some reason. The original version used a surface-mount SA612 mixer, but the new version uses a socketed a dual in-line package, so it should be easier to build.
What frequency did you build your pixie2 for? I'd be happy to give you a call and/or listen for your call. The RockMite is very interesting - their kit now ($40) really includes a lot. I looked at that one first, but couldn't resist $15. If I get the hendricks qrp SOTA antenna tuner I have a feeling I'll end up with more of these types of xcvrs. I already have a big selection of little bitty tins to put them in, plus I've got keyers to build (and keys too). I built for 7040, I should be able to participate in a QSO by the end of the week (my CW is going very well, I'm comfortable with letters through K (and the number 5) and I've got lots of time this week) I'll at least be able to pick out your call (and mine) - after we exchange them, of course. Are you in the arfcom map project? |
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I don't think I'm in the arfcom map project. I'm located in Montgomery County if that helps.
It's pretty amazing what these little QRPp rigs are capable of (this guy was ripping along at a pretty good clip): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAWr6QkyIwY |
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Here is a thread on my Pixie: https://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=10&f=22&t=658988
The receive on these things is awful. I have never made a contact with the receiver on the radio. However, I am in NY and I have pulled up the online websdr http://www.websdr.org/ site in NJ to see if my transmit was getting out and was surprised to hear a response to my CQ that I did not hear on the Pixie. I have made a couple contacts this way. Here is my thread on the Rockmite. http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_10_22/659491_30m_Rockmite_build_so_far_.html I have made several contacts with this both transmit and receive it is head and shoulders over the Pixie. Best contact I think is right around 800 miles. Hoping to get one over 1000 one of these days. I am using a ZS6BKW antenna which is not ideal for 30M and I have to tune it. Fun radios. |
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Here is a thread on my Pixie: https://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=10&f=22&t=658988 The receive on these things is awful. I have never made a contact with the receiver on the radio. However, I am in NY and I have pulled up the online websdr http://www.websdr.org/ site in NJ to see if my transmit was getting out and was surprised to hear a response to my CQ that I did not hear on the Pixie. I have made a couple contacts this way. Here is my thread on the Rockmite. http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_10_22/659491_30m_Rockmite_build_so_far_.html I have made several contacts with this both transmit and receive it is head and shoulders over the Pixie. Best contact I think is right around 800 miles. Hoping to get one over 1000 one of these days. I am using a ZS6BKW antenna which is not ideal for 30M and I have to tune it. Fun radios. Thanks for both of those posts, nice detail - one question, how did you determine what your receive frequency was? ETA: I like the RockMite, they're offered now by QRPme.com - unfortunately I can't find a source for the SW40+, the VFO-able radio. |
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Williamson County to Montgomery County should be a chip shot on 40m during the daytime: http://www.voacap.com/predictions/5314a415839b7/rel.png Ha! Like I'm anywhere near home during the day  ETA: except on the weekends of course, when I'm building all my stuff.
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You need another receiver to compare it to but it just doesn't work very well on receive at all and the broadcast stations kill you. . Broadcast hasn't been a problem so far - and I know what I should do is borrow a radio. Hopefully the swap meet this Saturday will have a radio for me - might be a cheap-o rcvr, just so I can hear what's happening with this thing. I also think I should buy a 7114 crystal, since that's the SKCC QRS frequency - I hate to slog along @ 5 (or less) WPM on the QRP freq. on the couple of phrases that I know/have programmed into my keyer. |
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That's an excellent idea. I see the Rockmite II can be ordered with that crystal. Quoted:
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I also think I should buy a 7114 crystal, since that's the SKCC QRS frequency That's an excellent idea. I see the Rockmite II can be ordered with that crystal. I'm wondering if it makes more sense to buy the MFJ 9340 as a next step, what with the full VFO. Otherwise, it's another rock bound box, albeit with much better selectivity. |
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You can buy crystals HERE
The Pixie receiver is just a couple of notches above a crystal set, so don't expect too much from it. The Ten-Tec model 1056 is a nice direct conversion receiver for about $40. The kit contains the parts to make it operate on any of the most popular HF ham bands. I built mine for 40 Meters and found it to be very sensitive. In fact, I copied a South African ham on it the other night. I worked a guy in Ohio running a MFJ-9040 last night. He had a very clean, stable 559 signal here in NE Tennessee. Some hamfests have club booths that will check out rigs for a donation. They power it up into a dummy load and check for output. Some go so far at to check sensitivity with a signal generator and monitor the output signal on another receiver. Well worth the $10 or so they ask. |
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You can buy crystals HERE The Pixie receiver is just a couple of notches above a crystal set, so don't expect too much from it. The Ten-Tec model 1056 is a nice direct conversion receiver for about $40. The kit contains the parts to make it operate on any of the most popular HF ham bands. I built mine for 40 Meters and found it to be very sensitive. In fact, I copied a South African ham on it the other night. I worked a guy in Ohio running a MFJ-9040 last night. He had a very clean, stable 559 signal here in NE Tennessee. Some hamfests have club booths that will check out rigs for a donation. They power it up into a dummy load and check for output. Some go so far at to check sensitivity with a signal generator and monitor the output signal on another receiver. Well worth the $10 or so they ask. $12 (plus shipping)? I'll pass - Expanded Spectrum Crystals has them for $2.55/each + shipping (<$2.50) Barring crappy weather, the club I joined last month has a swap meet this weekend - I'll be taking advantage of some of their test gear at the swap I think! |
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I have one of these, very solid rig. I wish it had a digital frequency readout though. Quoted:
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I worked a guy in Ohio running a MFJ-9040 last night. He had a very clean, stable 559 signal here in NE Tennessee. I have one of these, very solid rig. I wish it had a digital frequency readout though. I found a kit on electronics-diy.com for $50 (+/-) And, I'm trying to figure out if I can roll my own using arduino/attiny...... |
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I found a kit on electronics-diy.com for $50 (+/-) And, I'm trying to figure out if I can roll my own using arduino/attiny...... Quoted:
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I worked a guy in Ohio running a MFJ-9040 last night. He had a very clean, stable 559 signal here in NE Tennessee. I have one of these, very solid rig. I wish it had a digital frequency readout though. I found a kit on electronics-diy.com for $50 (+/-) And, I'm trying to figure out if I can roll my own using arduino/attiny...... Update to original post...... |
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Quoted:Some hamfests have club booths that will check out rigs for a donation. They power it up into a dummy load and check for output. Some go so far at to check sensitivity with a signal generator and monitor the output signal on another receiver. Well worth the $10 or so they ask. Sounds cool, I'd like to get my X1M Pro checked out like that. I contacted the ARRL Lab today, if they don't respond, or won't do it, I guess I'll keep looking for one at a hamfest. |