2 Ounces of Radio - Attempting SOTA with a Mini Pixie Transceiver in a Mint Tin

Фильм және анимация

Here we go again! I brought the latest Mini Pixie out for a spin on a SOTA activation of "Windy Peak" in eastern San Diego county. Is 600 mW enough to get the job done? Let's find out...

Пікірлер: 94

  • @MegaCadr
    @MegaCadr4 жыл бұрын

    The “it turns on when you open it” thing is cool!

  • @cwguy8960

    @cwguy8960

    4 жыл бұрын

    I know! That thing is like a spy radio!

  • @porkyfedwell

    @porkyfedwell

    4 жыл бұрын

    My fridge does that too

  • @goathiker
    @goathiker4 жыл бұрын

    AMAZING, Adam!! Your Cool Waving Pixie is almost small enough to be worn as a wrist radio a la "Dick Tracey" ...@600mW proves your EFHW is doing the heavy lifting ...QRP rocks and never ceases to amaze us! Very clever exemplary work and execution!! You da GOAT, Dude! ~~ wGOAT

  • @Adui13

    @Adui13

    Ай бұрын

    In testing my Pixie into a Dipole up 28' I reached a webSDR in San Francisco from Mesa AZ (Phoenix)

  • @ricsanders69
    @ricsanders694 жыл бұрын

    Wow...watching both sides of the cw qso was the coolest thing I've seen! I do plan on getting in to cw sometime soon! Thank you...de kn4ftt

  • @KX4UL
    @KX4UL3 жыл бұрын

    The ultimate QRPp rig! Adam, the way you have that little Pixie mounted inside that little tin with the wire key is just SO cool! Nice work!

  • @michaeldina1103
    @michaeldina11034 жыл бұрын

    Wow that’s a beautiful sight. It just shows that as technology improves it allows us Hams to keep innovative solutions coming.

  • @radio655
    @radio6554 жыл бұрын

    Impressive location, impressive operating and solid video skills. Great video!

  • @MatthewHeiser
    @MatthewHeiser4 жыл бұрын

    Wow! Very impressive, thanks for the video and sharing, because I wouldn't have believed it had I not seen it, including NJ7V reception of you. My whole approach to my SOTA has some new inspirations thanks to this video, thanks! 73, de W7SWA

  • @michaelscoofield
    @michaelscoofield3 жыл бұрын

    Absolutely amazing idea to have both sides at the same time...love it!

  • @cwguy8960
    @cwguy89604 жыл бұрын

    Awesome! I'm all for QRP, but would never have considered trying a Pixie for a SOTA activation. Gutsy move - but successful. Proves again and again the importance of a good antenna - regardless of the radio. I heard you on one of the online SDRs, but not directly here in CO. Maybe when condx improve 👍!

  • @ut4uum462
    @ut4uum4624 жыл бұрын

    Very nice Altoids QRPP radio. Thanks for Your video! 73!

  • @randyvanvliet226
    @randyvanvliet2264 жыл бұрын

    Sunspots are getting better, Adam... I'm sure you have lots of fun ahead with the 600mW Pixie.

  • @CovertGamingET
    @CovertGamingET3 жыл бұрын

    I just got a pixie QRP with 9 crystals. I am currently learning CW ( signed up with CW academy ) and am about to take my General. But in the mean time the pixie will be helpful to practice sending with a dummy load attached. I could just use my IC-7100 or FT-950. but something about the Pixie seems a little more fun. Hopefully after I get a little more proficient and the weather gets a little more stable here in CO I can do some SOTA activations using the Pixie, and maybe my FT3DR and Aroww II for sat contacts. Great video! I just subbed and am looking forward to watching your other videos. Keep up the great work!

  • @michaelevan9184
    @michaelevan91844 жыл бұрын

    Woooooooo qrp rocks! Awesome dual vid

  • @JerryAGreene
    @JerryAGreene4 жыл бұрын

    I showed this to my wife. She’s not a ham, but wants your radio :) 73 de KB2IOF

  • @KB1HQS
    @KB1HQS4 жыл бұрын

    I'm impressed you could do that without a side tone. Nice work! 73 de KB1HQS

  • @K6ARK

    @K6ARK

    4 жыл бұрын

    I know, I was actually surprised at how good my code was when I heard the audio from NJ7V's recording. Muscle memory, I guess.

  • @Ei2iP
    @Ei2iP4 жыл бұрын

    Who needs qro...these are brilliant videos

  • @bntravelin2

    @bntravelin2

    4 жыл бұрын

    i think he was running qro!

  • @WFSteury
    @WFSteury Жыл бұрын

    Wow. You’re amazing the way you can make that tiny key work and copy so well. I’m in my 70s and have a hard time with CW but have made quite a few contacts with my three pixies at home. 73s N9EGT

  • @M0RSF
    @M0RSF4 жыл бұрын

    Brilliant! That certainly looked fun. I’ve had many a similar experience with a 2M yagi and strong winds. 73 Chris M0RSF

  • @randomthinkingindividual
    @randomthinkingindividual2 ай бұрын

    amazing!

  • @thuff3207
    @thuff32074 жыл бұрын

    Thats crazy and it works. Cool.

  • @joeblow8593
    @joeblow85933 жыл бұрын

    Excellent

  • @ke6mt
    @ke6mt4 жыл бұрын

    Absolutely incredible. Well done! 73, Rex KE6MT

  • @gordonmiller4439
    @gordonmiller44394 жыл бұрын

    Adam, you are an incredible inspiration for me as I begin my HAM journey! Thanks for sharing such a wonderful channel. 73 de KO4AYC

  • @Brendan8440

    @Brendan8440

    4 жыл бұрын

    Gordon Miller I’ve been a ham 50 years and I’m inspired! High five!

  • @K6ARK

    @K6ARK

    4 жыл бұрын

    Well jeez, thank you both! I sure have fun doing it, and that's what counts the most. I also really enjoy sharing with you all. There were others who were similar inspirations to me and I am stoked that I can do the same in return.

  • @joeblow8593

    @joeblow8593

    3 жыл бұрын

    I've been a ham for 29 years and I'm inspired too

  • @rn3kk
    @rn3kk3 жыл бұрын

    Perfectly!

  • @claudem.p.7969
    @claudem.p.79694 жыл бұрын

    simply amazing claude va2sob

  • @backcountryamateurradio
    @backcountryamateurradio3 жыл бұрын

    What a brilliant key solution. I just bought one of these pixie kits. But I don't think it fits into a mini Altoids tin. You sure do make this fun and especially interesting. Thanks again for a great video!

  • @K6ARK

    @K6ARK

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yes, it took a lot of trimming! Once you start evaluating the circuit board you discover there's actually a lot that can be removed. 😁

  • @backcountryamateurradio

    @backcountryamateurradio

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@K6ARK brilliant! Well, that’s definitely over my head. Your work is admirable! I was thinking of a similar antenna idea. I have some small ferrite cores coming in an attempt to dry my eyeballs out on your tiny EFHW video!

  • @K6ARK

    @K6ARK

    3 жыл бұрын

    Send me an email, I have kits that make the build easier, and we can talk ideas.

  • @backcountryamateurradio

    @backcountryamateurradio

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@K6ARK right on! Will do! Thanks Adam.

  • @willian.direction6740
    @willian.direction67404 жыл бұрын

    Ge you do good work Mate. Sound like a postal clerk with the clacker fb job. vk5cz

  • @vatolocooperations6111
    @vatolocooperations61113 жыл бұрын

    Very cool I wanna get a pixie qrp cw radio

  • @JT-py9lv
    @JT-py9lv3 жыл бұрын

    Hey... I know NJ7V - Looks like a FUN time - I really wanna learn code.

  • @cd2stw
    @cd2stw9 ай бұрын

    That antenna is just like the one I need, did you make it? do you have instructions or a video? 😁, I'm scrolling though your videos, but haven't found it yet.

  • @gabrymir-radio
    @gabrymir-radio3 ай бұрын

    Very nice ! 73

  • @dougtaylor7724
    @dougtaylor77243 жыл бұрын

    Every time I watch a video like this, I with they would put subtitles of the message for us cw impaired folks.

  • @K6ARK

    @K6ARK

    3 жыл бұрын

    I do on many of them, check my other videos

  • @TridentMissileTech

    @TridentMissileTech

    3 жыл бұрын

    I agree

  • @fthorup
    @fthorup3 ай бұрын

    I need subtitles for the CW part of the video... feeling left out 🙂

  • @sleeve8651
    @sleeve86513 ай бұрын

    That thing needs a Side tone ! 👉😫👈

  • @larspregge6420
    @larspregge64203 жыл бұрын

    nice. the share of qso as video.

  • @JennyEverywhere
    @JennyEverywhere3 жыл бұрын

    I saw your other video with the 2.7gram micro pixie. I'd love to have one of either of those! I love the one in the Smalls tin that turns on when you open it! I know how much trouble it is to kit a radio, but maybe you could just put the board on FAR Circuits and publish the BOM and some assembly instructions someday. That'd be a real kick, to have a rig that small! I'm going to be building the QCX-mini for 40m and a Japanese VN-2002 for 20m, and they're pretty darned small, especially given that each is ~5w. I built a Soda Pop II, but something's flaky in either the filter stage or the PA stage, because I only get 1/4 watt out. That 1/4 watt was STILL heard on RBN halfway across the country (Philadelphia to northern Illinois), so I know it works, but I really want to get that 5w stage working on that rig. It's the only KD1JV radio I have, and I'd like it to work, hi hi! I just found out about your videos, and they're great! Keep it up as long as they're still fun! DE NG3P

  • @K6ARK

    @K6ARK

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for the kind words! The problem with the micro pixie as a kit or just a bare board is that the 0402 size components make for a very difficult build. It's really not possible to assemble them with just a soldering iron. My eyes are pretty darn good, and I still use a magnifying lens, tweezers, solder paste on a needle tip, and a hot air rework station to build them. If someone is truly interested and understands the requirements to assemble one of these, I'd be happy to mail a spare board and send the bill of materials. If that's you, let me know.

  • @HALEdigitalARTS

    @HALEdigitalARTS

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@K6ARK I had the same question. Thanks for answering. 73- KO4FVK

  • @stargazer4574
    @stargazer45742 жыл бұрын

    Hello, nice video! I have also bought a similar pixie kit, but I don't know how to make an antenna. Did you use the 7Mhz 50ohm antenna as specified in the kit instructions? If so, how?

  • @K6ARK

    @K6ARK

    2 жыл бұрын

    See my other videos. I build EHFW antenna for most of my QRO rigs. I also have kits for my antenna matching units now. Check www.k6ark.com and email me if interested.

  • @sleeve8651
    @sleeve86513 ай бұрын

    Is the Orange mast an, " Eagle One " ? 🤔....?

  • @williamgrice4790
    @williamgrice479011 ай бұрын

    I have been looking for the Mini Pixie Transceiver that you have in your mini tin but no luck in finding it. Do you have a link to where you got yours at? 73's KI5IUF

  • @claudem.p.7969
    @claudem.p.79694 жыл бұрын

    Wow

  • @QRPMonkey
    @QRPMonkey4 жыл бұрын

    Is that a kit or something you put together? Very Cool!!

  • @K6ARK

    @K6ARK

    4 жыл бұрын

    The pixie itself is a kit, but I heavily modified it to make it fit in the Smalls tin. The wire straight key was a simple solution to the problem, and the Auto-on switch in the lid eliminated the difficulty of managing tiny battery connectors.

  • @bill-2018
    @bill-20183 жыл бұрын

    QRP is wonderful. Great stuff. Let the QRO'ers use lots of power and pay a huge electricity bill to achieve the same results. 73, G4GHB.

  • @thebuggy736
    @thebuggy736 Жыл бұрын

    Hi how long is your 40m longwire antenna and the counterpoise? Thank you. 73

  • @K6ARK

    @K6ARK

    Жыл бұрын

    A 40 m EFHW is 66 ft long (half a wavelength)

  • @arniep740
    @arniep7402 жыл бұрын

    Cool video and thanks for showing us how well it can work. SO the question is, where can one get the mini-pixie that you were demonstrating? Tnx de Arnie W8DU

  • @K6ARK

    @K6ARK

    2 жыл бұрын

    They aren't available just yet. I need to make some final design tweaks, then I can have some manufactured for sale. Just need to find the free time...

  • @arniep740

    @arniep740

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@K6ARK Thanks for the fast reply! Yes, free time is furtive. GL de Arnie W8DU

  • @Brendan8440
    @Brendan84404 жыл бұрын

    Nice video! How tall is that pole?

  • @K6ARK

    @K6ARK

    4 жыл бұрын

    The orange one is a 31 foot Jackite pole. It's up about 22 ft in this video... Too much wind!

  • @tonystephen6312
    @tonystephen63123 жыл бұрын

    What's the QRP calling frequency on 10 is it .116 nowadays?

  • @K6ARK

    @K6ARK

    3 жыл бұрын

    I honestly have no idea. I just find an open spot and call. 🤷‍♂️

  • @juanfgonzalez2039
    @juanfgonzalez20392 жыл бұрын

    Do sell them? 🤔

  • @juliusphiletta5171
    @juliusphiletta51715 ай бұрын

    Wat was the maximal range you have got with the pixie?

  • @K6ARK

    @K6ARK

    5 ай бұрын

    With this 40m unit, probably about 800 miles. I was able to reach Pennsylvania from San Diego with a 20m version. Right now, nearing the peak of the solar cycle, a 10m or 15m build should easily reach EU or ZL/VK from San Diego, CA.

  • @janetwinslow2039
    @janetwinslow20394 жыл бұрын

    There are some simple mods which really improve this little kit. Join the Pixie fb group and look in the files section. facebook.com/groups/881071735273852/ The Pixie Max article published in Sprat is particularly helpful.

  • @michaelscoofield
    @michaelscoofield3 жыл бұрын

    Which battery you did used?

  • @K6ARK

    @K6ARK

    3 жыл бұрын

    The battery is a 3s 150 mAh lipo that I assembled myself from individual cells. I charge it with a balance charger.

  • @bobking7347
    @bobking7347 Жыл бұрын

    Seems to be pretty noisy, whats all those other sounds? Others talking too?

  • @K6ARK

    @K6ARK

    Жыл бұрын

    The Pixie transceiver circuit is so simple that it has very poor filtering. As a result, it received signals from a broad scope of the band, and even outside the band in some cases (broadcast AM, for example).

  • @bobking7347

    @bobking7347

    Жыл бұрын

    @@K6ARK Ahh I see, it does sound pretty cool though.

  • @msnepaliman
    @msnepaliman3 жыл бұрын

    Hi, What was the distance between two radios?

  • @K6ARK

    @K6ARK

    3 жыл бұрын

    Contacts on the Pixie were between 300 and 1,300 km, including stations in CA, AZ, UT, OR, and WA.

  • @msnepaliman

    @msnepaliman

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@K6ARK WOW! Can you tell me the final PA transistor number? And supply voltage? Or exact schematic?

  • @imhidingintheshop8889
    @imhidingintheshop88894 жыл бұрын

    Hard core death metal Qrp

  • @jordan1234564
    @jordan12345643 жыл бұрын

    What portable antenna should I get for 40m?

  • @K6ARK

    @K6ARK

    3 жыл бұрын

    For a Pixie? Or a different radio? I'm a big fan of end fed halfwave antennas for portable operations because you don't need any bulky coaxial cable. I always recommend building your own. Www.QRPGuys.com has some good kits, as does KM4ACK but if you're not up for the task, consider a Packtenna antenna.

  • @jordan1234564

    @jordan1234564

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@K6ARK well the 49er 7.023 cw.

  • @jordan1234564

    @jordan1234564

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@K6ARK are you able to post a link please?

  • @MarkPentler
    @MarkPentler3 жыл бұрын

    Did you replace any of the final transistors to get any more power out of this? I am working on my own PCB version of the Pixie with everyone's mods built into it, and I'm calling it the Megapixie. I started a thread on Reddit here but it never really went anywhere. I know one of the mods is to replace a few transistors and get way more power out, but then you probably don't want to be using it in an Altoids tin and would want proper heat dissipation etc. Even so, a cracking build, and I love the contact switch. Here's the thread if you want to see where this ended up (a PCB that I haven't fabbed yet) www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/ft29qx/i_want_to_build_a_megapixie_pcb/

  • @K6ARK

    @K6ARK

    3 жыл бұрын

    No, this one is just stock. I am familiar with the mod and it certainly works. You can also tweak some of the components in this circuit to get more out of this transistor. thanks for the link!

  • @DE2TRF
    @DE2TRF4 жыл бұрын

    Cool video 73 de DE2TRF loc jo60el

  • @awaismushtaq5719
    @awaismushtaq5719 Жыл бұрын

    It's even painful to watch. I mean rolling your finger over a small tin housed TX and tapping a wire as a key. Believe me, you could fix easily a voice transmitter in that tin. A simple 3 transistor SW TX at, say, 7.2 MHz. With SMDs, it could be reduced in size even more. Anyhow, your life, your choice!

  • @K6ARK

    @K6ARK

    Жыл бұрын

    Make a video, show us how it's done. Or not. You can choose to be a helpful mentor and inspire others, or you can choose to act like this. Your life, your choice.

  • @awaismushtaq5719

    @awaismushtaq5719

    Жыл бұрын

    @@K6ARK no offence, I'm no mentor material but yes, it'll be an experience, even I could do a silent one. For your information, I've already made the TX I mentioned in my last. If you have an email address, please, do provide me and I'll try to mentor you as best as I can.

  • @on4mgy_radioamateur
    @on4mgy_radioamateur Жыл бұрын

    What a great video. Very nice to see you making QSO's with hte Pixie, love it. 72 de ON4MGY Nic

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