Smallest (ever?) HF transceiver? Let's take it out for some SOTA

Фильм және анимация

You've seen the Mini Pixie in the Altoids Smalls tin ( • 2 Ounces of Radio - At... ), but this prototype Micro Pixie (aka "Choking Hazard") that I built brings tiny to a whole new level. What better way to put it to the test than to attempt a SOTA activation with it?
So today, we take this ridiculous little thing out to a never-before activated SOTA summit to see what it can really do. Is 2.7 g of radio and 850mW of output power enough to get the job done? Watch and see.
KZreadr Tees:
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Пікірлер: 387

  • @bobmueller4653
    @bobmueller46533 жыл бұрын

    You should 3d print an enclosure that makes it into a wrist watch!

  • @gliderrider

    @gliderrider

    2 жыл бұрын

    Or a keychain.

  • @debbiecurtis4021

    @debbiecurtis4021

    2 жыл бұрын

    I'd buy one

  • @Randrew

    @Randrew

    Жыл бұрын

    Hmm, how about a printed thumb-tip holder for the radio with a flat contact on one face, another printed fingertip "key" with a bump contact on it. Run a fine wire from radio to fingertip. Then key by tapping your thumb and finger together. A cold-day glove variant would keep your hands warm on those blustery mountain tops. Observers might think you're just fidgeting your fingers while instead you're having a conversation ;)

  • @persons8979

    @persons8979

    7 ай бұрын

    In-the-ear transceiver?

  • @aarongriffin81

    @aarongriffin81

    6 ай бұрын

    quadriplegic version: In the mouth transceiver and the tongue presses the roof of the mouth to key and swap the speaker for a phone vibrator for deaf people to do CW. The tongue key is akin to quadriplegic using a mouth device to communicate.

  • @dexterslaboratory5155
    @dexterslaboratory51553 жыл бұрын

    Smaller the station the more beer you can carry

  • @haramanggapuja
    @haramanggapuja2 жыл бұрын

    Year some ago before the plague, I set out to do a bunch of POTA/SOTA actos. Being 75 I figured it was my way to get out of the house, off the couch and into the world while I still could. Got a couple nice QRP packable boxes, antenna set ups, all that. Then the plague hit and, well, you know the story. Your video inspires me, now that I'm vaccinated and can bite people, to get the hell out and do some crazy stuff like you've done. I love the mini pixie thingie. Before the essential tremor hit, I was building tiny radios myself. Never got as goofy as your stuff but, well, crazy is as crazy does. Thanks for the sweet and inspiring video. Stay safe and sane, amigo. 73 de W8IJN

  • @gblan
    @gblan3 жыл бұрын

    I'm brand new to ham. My son is disabled and can't pass the ham test so we got Wouxun KG-805G GMRS radios. Love 'em. I was an Electronics Tech in the Navy, over 40 years ago, and thought I'd give the Tech cert a whirl. Passed easily and now I'm learning about the different things that can be done in the hobby. This, to me, seems the most fun. Gotta work on the Morse!

  • @AnotherPilot1

    @AnotherPilot1

    2 жыл бұрын

    I had great Navy-contract Electronic Instructors in the late 70's...got a great education from them...utmost respect!

  • @anonyninja7737

    @anonyninja7737

    Жыл бұрын

    FYI THERE ARE MEDICAL WAVERS AVAILABLE FOR HAM LICENSE!!!

  • @awaismushtaq5719

    @awaismushtaq5719

    Жыл бұрын

    I pray your son gets well soon, sir! My prayers

  • @HamRadioCrashCourse
    @HamRadioCrashCourse3 жыл бұрын

    That is just crazy. Well done sir.

  • @oh9boc-un9df
    @oh9boc-un9df3 күн бұрын

    Thanks for this video. This is where my "craziness" started. I have not built anything before, now the 1st antenna building kit is ready except for tuning. It's your fault and I thank you for that.

  • @davidnunkt4751
    @davidnunkt47513 жыл бұрын

    Just awesome, this is real hamradio to get the most out of nearly nothing. There are so many pixies out there but never seen more than one qso on any video. This vid will go viral. Best 73 de DL1DN

  • @edmoreno9308
    @edmoreno93083 жыл бұрын

    Always entertaining, fun, educational and amazing videos. Great job Adam!

  • @Wheelabarraback
    @Wheelabarraback2 жыл бұрын

    One of the most amazing videos I have seen on KZread for some time ! Well done 👍

  • @delicious_lunch3823
    @delicious_lunch38233 жыл бұрын

    Wow. Wow. This is absolutely insane! Fantastic work!

  • @kylesnavely6165
    @kylesnavely6165 Жыл бұрын

    What an amazing build. Thanks for the content.

  • @n5wxw462
    @n5wxw4623 жыл бұрын

    Wow! That's incredible @K6ARK great work. This is really an inspiring video.

  • @52Warlock
    @52Warlock3 жыл бұрын

    I can't LIKE this enough!!! Well done. Well done.

  • @aldewitt9
    @aldewitt92 жыл бұрын

    Adam, loved this. So cool!

  • @Chris.Schulz
    @Chris.Schulz3 жыл бұрын

    If I keep watching your videos I am going to have to leave the flatlands. Love all the hiking. Love the open landscape. Great videos!

  • @tim46767
    @tim467673 жыл бұрын

    Yes! Home brew, sota and qrp rules!

  • @ReedAB8AS
    @ReedAB8AS3 жыл бұрын

    Amazing as usual. Thanks for sharing.

  • @Ei2iP
    @Ei2iP3 жыл бұрын

    Man this is nuts, compared to all the gear we have in our shacks, you are a Legend, Adam, de Ei2iP

  • @briangroh444
    @briangroh4443 жыл бұрын

    Insane. Incredible work.

  • @GroverCleveland43
    @GroverCleveland433 жыл бұрын

    You are great to watch partly because you exude fun. I love these little radios and have a couple in Altoids cans. My QRO friends just don't understand.

  • @miketaylor6700
    @miketaylor670011 ай бұрын

    What a fantastic little rig!! Thank you for putting the contacts and info scrolling across the bottom.. that helps me to learn!!

  • @vk3xe
    @vk3xe2 жыл бұрын

    That is my kind of ridiculous fun, glad to see it went so well for you

  • @TheTechPrepper
    @TheTechPrepper3 жыл бұрын

    Well done, Adam. You certainly have a gift for taking SOTA to the next level.

  • @danmorgan3685
    @danmorgan36852 жыл бұрын

    WOW! That's some impressive work with such a tiny radio. I came here from the HAM Radio Crash Course channel.

  • @va3sfa
    @va3sfa3 жыл бұрын

    And I thought my new QCX-Mini is small.. Great job on the micro-pixie! It’s amazing how many contacts you have made.

  • @jberk8529
    @jberk85293 жыл бұрын

    That was amazing, great job!!!

  • @kao354
    @kao354 Жыл бұрын

    It is ridiculously funny and imressive to see how all this works! Thank you for the video! :-)

  • @tonyk1amt806
    @tonyk1amt8062 жыл бұрын

    What a cool micro radio! I appreciate you showing the morse as it comes in, as I'm just now learning morse, and it's helping my confidence. I can just barely copy your sending with no side tone. Cheers KJ7SHW

  • @bbowling4979
    @bbowling49792 жыл бұрын

    Very cool little rig! Do you publish the schematics and gerbers anywhere by any chance?

  • @Ruben-8689
    @Ruben-86892 жыл бұрын

    Amazing and exciting experience.....! 73 and congratulations from Buenos Aires, Argentina

  • @KM4ACK
    @KM4ACK3 жыл бұрын

    That is crazy small. Well done! 👍

  • @graphitepencil
    @graphitepencil3 жыл бұрын

    The next level. Well done.

  • @Derrick6162
    @Derrick61629 ай бұрын

    Well done, thanks for sharing.

  • @beefstuart8769
    @beefstuart87692 жыл бұрын

    Newish ham here but long time backpacker, I just got into SOTA (VHF) and now this is my inspiration to learn CW. Well done man! 👍

  • @K6ARK

    @K6ARK

    2 жыл бұрын

    CW is an amazing tool for SOTA, and learning it well enough to make SOTA contacts isn't all that difficult once you get over the initial hump. Do it! You'll be glad you did.

  • @HakanKoseoglu
    @HakanKoseoglu3 жыл бұрын

    Fantastic, and I was thinking I was carrying small amount of kit with a SPixie, FT-818 and an ATU. I really need to learn a lot more.

  • @derekcopsey6989
    @derekcopsey69893 жыл бұрын

    Fantastic, I'm going to have to take up, learning morse.

  • @pufango4059
    @pufango40592 жыл бұрын

    Excellent ,just learning the code and could understand the subtitles ! Hurray it’s starting to make sense !

  • @AB1Vampire
    @AB1Vampire2 жыл бұрын

    I like the plant and pottery explanations you gave . Leave only footprints take only pictures. 850 mW, wow!

  • @cwguy8960
    @cwguy89603 жыл бұрын

    That was great! So fun to make contacts with such a minimalist radio. Always like your videos - keep them coming!! // NØDET

  • @n5pa
    @n5pa3 жыл бұрын

    Unbelievable Adam! 19 contacts with 850 mw! You do have elevation in your favor that us low-landers do not have! Great little radio!

  • @davidkopeckyok4kop
    @davidkopeckyok4kop3 жыл бұрын

    It's amazing, great job Adam!!! HNY & 73

  • @patring620
    @patring6203 жыл бұрын

    Enjoyed it.

  • @temporarilyoffline
    @temporarilyoffline3 жыл бұрын

    Fantastic Job... I can't wait to swear over building this thing!

  • @KU9L
    @KU9L Жыл бұрын

    Oh, so much fun! I made my first Qrpp rig in 1982 as one of my class semester projects in community college, only with dinosaur 2n2222a parts I could see to solder without a microscope, LOL. Makes my tuna tin projects seem huge, LOL. Best, Dave, KU9L

  • @brianjester123
    @brianjester1233 жыл бұрын

    Super cool, well done!

  • @BatColonyEvictor
    @BatColonyEvictor3 жыл бұрын

    Good stuff Adam!

  • @herbk8489
    @herbk84893 жыл бұрын

    great job Thanks much K2LNS

  • @5x9withQSB
    @5x9withQSB3 жыл бұрын

    That's crazy thanks for sharing!!

  • @brianjester123
    @brianjester123 Жыл бұрын

    Beautiful!

  • @backcountryamateurradio
    @backcountryamateurradio3 жыл бұрын

    This made my day. Can’t believe it worked! Haha! Awesome!

  • @mindfulmunchkin1215
    @mindfulmunchkin1215 Жыл бұрын

    This is awesome !

  • @M0RSF
    @M0RSF3 жыл бұрын

    Nice summit and scenery. Awesome video and well done on the QSO’s. All the best for the New Year and keep up the good work. 73 Chris M0RSF

  • @paulinmt2185
    @paulinmt21853 жыл бұрын

    FB! Could even copy your fist sans sidetone. Used to do 80M

  • @stevecrawford3551
    @stevecrawford3551 Жыл бұрын

    That pixie is amazing. Too small for me. Thanks for sharing. 😀

  • @andrewd4890
    @andrewd48903 жыл бұрын

    Neat work and you were indeed fortunate to find a day with short skip on 40m. It has been so long for so long! Anyhow well done and it blows away my full size pixie, the $5 kit! BTW I did hook up my Pico keyer to the pixie just to be able to use a paddle and I monitored the transmitter using an ft817! Hard to send on a paddle without some sidetone! 73 Andrew VK1DA another SOTAnatic

  • @Steve-GM0HUU
    @Steve-GM0HUU3 жыл бұрын

    👍 Well done. Thanks for sharing.

  • @w1tggradionerds882
    @w1tggradionerds8823 жыл бұрын

    wow I have to check this one out.

  • @stridermt2k
    @stridermt2k3 жыл бұрын

    Thst is so insane! It was a thrill to watch you make contact after contact on such a...a... Wow. Must bone up on CW

  • @QRPCW
    @QRPCW3 жыл бұрын

    Realmente asombroso!!!! Muy bien Gracias por mostrar 72!!!

  • @shadowlab9543
    @shadowlab95433 жыл бұрын

    cool little piece of kit

  • @milekokotov1964
    @milekokotov19643 жыл бұрын

    Amazing! Another proof that Amateur Radio is very interesting hobby with various different activities... With amateur radio, you will never be bored! 73 de Z33T

  • @OM0ET
    @OM0ET3 жыл бұрын

    Great stuff! I wish I know CW... Life would be much easier :D Good luck and HNY! 73, Paul.

  • @GigaBrand
    @GigaBrand3 жыл бұрын

    Would love to see a video on that tiny radio you built!

  • @michaelscoofield
    @michaelscoofield3 жыл бұрын

    Finally you will need to bring the magnifier with you on the hill...😂 great job, I like it!

  • @dickhsv
    @dickhsv Жыл бұрын

    It was great you had a budget for a 2nd videographer to capture your low angle hiking shots. Please pass along my praises to your editor, video producer and best boy as well. 73, Dick W1TV

  • @K6ARK

    @K6ARK

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks Dick! Yes, I paid a lot for that crew out there, and boy did they complain about all the hiking. 😆 Thanks for the comment, and I'm glad you enjoyed the show. 👍

  • @rfdave3980
    @rfdave39803 жыл бұрын

    Well done Adam. You have some micro phonics going on there, ceramic caps? Interesting only ~800mW Kool S2S contacts.

  • @frequencywatchers
    @frequencywatchers Жыл бұрын

    THIS IS SIMPLY AMAZING!

  • @YV5EN
    @YV5EN2 жыл бұрын

    Adam, that was amazing. This is what I call enjoying the QRPp outdoor. Keep QRPping 73 es 72, from Edwin YV5EN

  • @ben2e0omr
    @ben2e0omr3 жыл бұрын

    Got to be the best Sota activation ever!!!

  • @Liberty4Ever
    @Liberty4Ever Жыл бұрын

    I have some Pixies but have never seen the Micro Pixie. So cool. Thanks for sharing, Adam. 73 de NI4B

  • @stridermt2k
    @stridermt2k3 жыл бұрын

    I have to get my CW chops up!

  • @jackhaefner9237
    @jackhaefner92372 жыл бұрын

    Adam, great prez at FDIM today. Very inspiring. Jack, NG2E

  • @K6ARK

    @K6ARK

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks so much, Jack, appreciate it.

  • @dxexplorer
    @dxexplorer2 жыл бұрын

    You are going to get me addicted to this hahaha.

  • @mabo4848
    @mabo48483 жыл бұрын

    Wow fantastic 😁😁

  • @paulmueller3230
    @paulmueller32303 жыл бұрын

    Nice QRPp activation with the Micro Pixie, Adam! I look forward to a S2S between W6 and CT7 some day! 73 de CT7/K9PM

  • @kaptenalgysson8540
    @kaptenalgysson85402 жыл бұрын

    Nice QSO man, 73 from SM6AAL in Sweden...

  • @KD9ZHF
    @KD9ZHF24 күн бұрын

    You're so crazy. Love it.

  • @LandNfan
    @LandNfan2 жыл бұрын

    Wow! How incredibly small, especially compared to my circa’72 novice rig, an SX-101A and DX-60. Your whole rig is smaller than one tube from my old xmtr.

  • @johnsinclair3067
    @johnsinclair30673 жыл бұрын

    I just finished building your "shouldn't be your first soldering project" random wire antenna today. I learned two things: time to go to the eye doctor for a new eyeglass prescription (the well inside the BNC was tough to see at 2.0) and you, Sir, have some mad soldering skills on display in that beauty you created. Well done! 73 KO4HZH

  • @K6ARK

    @K6ARK

    3 жыл бұрын

    Lol, thanks. Worth noting, this is not something you can solder with an iron. This is solder paste and hot air or reflow oven territory. With that, it's doable, but still very difficult as a result of the really tight component spacing I forced to keep this thing as small as possible.

  • @georgemyth
    @georgemyth3 ай бұрын

    lovely !!!

  • @uslines
    @uslines3 жыл бұрын

    Nothing silly at all. Absolutely fantastic! What the whole game is about. True cw QRP Zen. Minimalist radio possible outdoors AND in (for those who are housebound). Couple bucks worth of equipment, not a couple of G's. Congratulations fm F8WBD Dick.

  • @caulktel
    @caulktel3 жыл бұрын

    That was really cool.

  • @mattiasabom
    @mattiasabom3 жыл бұрын

    Amazing!

  • @persons8979
    @persons89797 ай бұрын

    Very, very cool.

  • @mnpd3
    @mnpd33 ай бұрын

    That's even smaller than those CHICOM Pixie kit transceivers that output 300mw. I found a source for those some years back for $3 apiece and bought a couple dozen kits. Still got most of them, gave a few away and actually built just one. Used it to make a single contact on daytime 40m just to say I did. You now have me interested in this peanut!

  • @randyvanvliet226
    @randyvanvliet2263 жыл бұрын

    So awesome and so much fun... 2.6 grams leaves lots of room for lots of camera, tripod, and lens, in the pack!

  • @HALEdigitalARTS

    @HALEdigitalARTS

    2 жыл бұрын

    ...and a few Altoids?

  • @guitarist975
    @guitarist975 Жыл бұрын

    love the anza borega when i was out in san diego

  • @helraiser666painkil
    @helraiser666painkil Жыл бұрын

    That's a brilliant little radio for QRP and I'm going to start morse code lessons in my local amateur radio club very soon and hopefully if I get really good at the morse code then I will be able to buy a transmitter like the one you've got and try and do the same thing and it would be interesting to see how many people I could work with just a tiny transmitter like the one you've got in the video so it's just a little idea for the future for me. Thanks and best 73's cheers. Stephen M3SNV 73's.

  • @MarcdHotman
    @MarcdHotman2 жыл бұрын

    Im subscribed and have activated the bell, only saw this today after a friend showed me. KZread recommendations suck.

  • @K6ARK

    @K6ARK

    2 жыл бұрын

    Ain't that the truth! It's really annoying - I experience the same thing all the time. 🤷

  • @MarcdHotman

    @MarcdHotman

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the great videos. I wanna do this it looks fun.

  • @RobMacKendrick
    @RobMacKendrick2 жыл бұрын

    The only thing almost as delightful as jumping cactus is goatsheads. Because evolving in the desert makes organisms bitter and vindictive. Great video! I love QRPp rigs. You can modify them forever. They're like Lego for grown-ups. (Or kids; why not?)

  • @srinivasnyayapathi9083
    @srinivasnyayapathi90833 жыл бұрын

    This is what I call Field Operations.........😍😍

  • @phildurall7466
    @phildurall74663 жыл бұрын

    Absolutely mind blowing!! How in the world did you build that with that tight layout of surface mount components?

  • @K6ARK

    @K6ARK

    3 жыл бұрын

    Very very carefully! Solder paste, tweezers, a magnifying glass, and hot air... And no coffee.

  • @agplay2290
    @agplay22902 жыл бұрын

    Awesome.

  • @Danielmiller4
    @Danielmiller43 жыл бұрын

    Savage. Legendary. I sense a new QRP. Do spray on antennas! eBay sells the materials that Drexel U discovered.

  • @veyburani
    @veyburani3 жыл бұрын

    Adam, you amaze me with your video and cw information. I live in you the things that I have always dreamed of but could not do. Especially, your cw sticking with this pixel radio made me live my dreams, thank you, good luck you are. 73 DL1VBO

  • @bubbas3rd
    @bubbas3rd3 жыл бұрын

    Very Very Cool!!!!

  • @barneymerrill3188
    @barneymerrill31882 жыл бұрын

    If you ever make a kit out of it...would definitely be interested!🇺🇲🎙👍

  • @jplacido9999
    @jplacido99993 жыл бұрын

    If you had the chance to publicise the caractheristics of your set up, you would have hundreds of contacts 😁 people would go nuts on rádio/antenna/power supply 👍👍👍

  • @TheFimbriatus
    @TheFimbriatus Жыл бұрын

    That is awesome. Is there any chance you could share schematic? Or even better, if it’s gonna be commercially available I’d happily buy one.

  • @mikemiles3068
    @mikemiles30682 жыл бұрын

    Great video❗️👍 I got you EFHW QRP KIT in today, I will see if this old man can still see well enough to solder it together. 73 KV5P

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