Jorge KI4SGU has started a new blog specifically to document building a QRP PIXIE2 transceiver Manhattan style. It promises to be a good read and I for one will be following it with interest.
I've been intending to build one of these little Pixies myself for a long time but I have never got around to ordering up the parts needed. Or rather, I have never managed to put my mind to deciding what other parts to buy at the same time to make up a worthwhile order.
5 comments:
Julian
I fear that you will find the Pixie disappointing. It is inferior even to the DC-xxb radios.
The only simple design that I have ever used that actually works quite well is the Rockmite.
73
Richard
G3CWI
Hi Richard.
I know what people say about the Pixie. But I think the point of the Pixie is seeing how simple a circuit you can get and still make a contact with it. It isn't about making an everyday use QRP radio.
There is no doubt that one can make contacts with such simple equipment. I used a very similar design nearly 10 years ago for this:
http://www.qsl.net/g3cwi/themint.html
They work - but not very well!
73
Richard
G3CWI
Agreed - The PIXIE is poor radio, but an simple and elegant design for the radio amateur that seeks to understand how circuits works. My aim towards the first time builders and for folks that lack an EE, trade school or even a Military Radio training.
Also with the advent of QRSS and the like of PC controlled beacons even a poor radio can make a 1000km+ contact, once the patience of a computer is employed to monitor it and pro grammatically call CQ.
That's an interesting idea, Jorge. In fact, it could perhaps be used to introduce the idea of PIC programming, developing a simple QRSS keyer to key the Pixie and send a beacon message.
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