I just finished this kit and cant get it to work, I was wondering if you could help? First off I bought two kits (GOOD THING) cause the first one was missing parts! In the instructions for circuit "L3" Inductor 2.2uH 80meters(slvr,red,gld,gld)or40 meters(brn,blkgld,gld) soo I leave that circuit for last and the "inductor" they refer to looks like a "resistor" not a coil like I would guess is this normal? anyway I put in the one for 80 meters, put in an 80 meter crystal, cant tune it in on my sw!
Ok I found one problem, lol in haste I forgot to solder the positive down lol! Heres the next problem the two contacts designated for the key when connected do not trigger the beep :( only when one key wire is contacted to the end leg of the IC! I can hear it through my scanner!
Well, looking at this video more than a year later, I understand a lot. The oscillator in this circuit is "always on" but is frequency shifted on transmit. It's a very basic circuit. The op-amp is motorboating, because I didn't give it enough voltage. Well, you live and learn.
I bet the buzz in your audio is due to the 9volt battery. Add a filtering cap in the dc line and that should remove the buzz. This is a common problem with these small kits.
Great Pixie Videos. Can you give a link for where you got your kit? I really like having a memory chip to hold the CQ call and I see many different sites with kits. I have yet to find a kit with the memory modification. Did you add that later?
Your transmitter sounds normal you are keying a running oscillator. That's the pixie design, not quite sure about the RX , it doesnt sound healthy. Have you tried keying the big Kenwood on this frequency to see what the Pixie hears??
Definitely right! If you follow the chapters, I raised the voltage to stop the motorboating in the OPAMP, and things got better. I still haven't made a contact on this rig--but I learned a lot.
If you are interested in radio/CTCSS you can buy great little kits from cstech.co.uk, take a look now! x
ukvideogirl 1 year ago
QRP SDR transceiver KIT watch this video: f3hhHaSkowo and also this one: VXkEr4ZzebA
vk1aa 2 years ago
I just finished this kit and cant get it to work, I was wondering if you could help? First off I bought two kits (GOOD THING) cause the first one was missing parts! In the instructions for circuit "L3" Inductor 2.2uH 80meters(slvr,red,gld,gld)or40 meters(brn,blkgld,gld) soo I leave that circuit for last and the "inductor" they refer to looks like a "resistor" not a coil like I would guess is this normal? anyway I put in the one for 80 meters, put in an 80 meter crystal, cant tune it in on my sw!
sz42781 3 years ago
Well, inductors often look like resistors. That is normal. This circuit is SO simple, that any problems should be findable quickly.
kc7fys 3 years ago
Ok I found one problem, lol in haste I forgot to solder the positive down lol! Heres the next problem the two contacts designated for the key when connected do not trigger the beep :( only when one key wire is contacted to the end leg of the IC! I can hear it through my scanner!
sz42781 3 years ago
You'll have to show me photos.
If you can hear it in your scanner--key your rig that way. This minimalist rig is meant to be extremely simple.
kc7fys 3 years ago
Well, looking at this video more than a year later, I understand a lot. The oscillator in this circuit is "always on" but is frequency shifted on transmit. It's a very basic circuit. The op-amp is motorboating, because I didn't give it enough voltage. Well, you live and learn.
kc7fys 3 years ago
@kc7fys I have just built the kit and I seem to have similar issues. What voltage are you giving it now?
seattledutch 1 year ago
I still don't quite understand but a good try and a very good start, genius!
criticaccount 4 years ago
I bet the buzz in your audio is due to the 9volt battery. Add a filtering cap in the dc line and that should remove the buzz. This is a common problem with these small kits.
Robert
VE3RPF
valveman12 4 years ago
Great Pixie Videos. Can you give a link for where you got your kit? I really like having a memory chip to hold the CQ call and I see many different sites with kits. I have yet to find a kit with the memory modification. Did you add that later?
Thanks,
thepodger 4 years ago
Your transmitter sounds normal you are keying a running oscillator. That's the pixie design, not quite sure about the RX , it doesnt sound healthy. Have you tried keying the big Kenwood on this frequency to see what the Pixie hears??
73 good luck
w8fg 4 years ago
Definitely right! If you follow the chapters, I raised the voltage to stop the motorboating in the OPAMP, and things got better. I still haven't made a contact on this rig--but I learned a lot.
kc7fys 4 years ago
If this helps anyone building this project, mine also sounded like yours, and the problem with the RX was just the reversed diode.
mchvs 4 years ago
You should head over to qrz(dot)com and post this to the forums there. There are a lot of helpful people on the zed. :)
73, KE5NRH
fireball74 4 years ago