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| Reviews Summary for Small Wonder Labs Rock-Mite |
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Reviews: 57
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Average rating: 4.9/5
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MSRP: $$25
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Description: Crystal-controlled direct-conversion transceiver operating on 7040 KHz
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More info: http://www.smallwonderlabs.com
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You can
write your own review of the Small Wonder Labs Rock-Mite.
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NP4ZB
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 4, 2008 12:26
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Great QRP Transceiver.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Well what can I really say.
I have had own this this great Rockmite 40m radio more than a year. I have made some great dx contacts mostly to Spain and Germany. I did Changed out the Q6 transistor to a 2n3053 and R18 to 2.2ohms. The power output is set at 1 watt. I will never trade or sale this great QRP radio. I also have took it to a camping trip with a end-fed antenna and a homebrew antenna tuner for the end-fed antenna. I found the diagram for the antenna tuner in the internet. If you want to fun again with Amateur Radio you can buy this radio build it within 1 to 5 hours, or take your time and build it in two weekend, it's up to you really. Then just connect a antenna, a 11vdc to 14vdc power supply or battery and cw key and headsets and get ready to have fun.
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GM0ELP
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 7, 2008 15:34
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Simply the best :-)
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Bought it, built it, love it! Put it straight on the air and worked Southern Ireland and England within 1 hour. I'm waiting for the mitty box to complete the package but have it 'rats nest' style on the bench at the moment and just can't leave it alone. Great value and great fun!
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NU4B
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 12, 2007 07:24
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Amazing little radio
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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The Rock-Mite is an amazing little radio. The price is great. The amazing thing is you can make QSO's with 500mW of power and a DC reciver. But what I think makes this radio so great is that you can easily build it. You can easily modify the rig, add audio filters, add or change keyers, cryatals, VXO circuits, etc... For 27 bucks you can get away from mundane appliance operation. From there you can play and/or learn about circuits without getting too techincal.
Many hams enclose these rigs in an Altoids can, but you can put it in anything or nothing if your experimenting with it.
And you definitely can make QSO's. I have run mine at the standard 500mW output into a Butterfly Beam and made contacts with over 14 countries, including several into Europe. This is with a 20 meter Rock-Mite.
The 30 meter Rock-Mite comes with a 10.106Mhz crystal which is the QRP frequency. However that freq. also attracts several DX stations at times.
So on several levels this rig rates a 5
1) Price - you can't beat the price
2) Easy project - its a simple project that's loads of fun to build and operate
3) Learning experience - This is a great kit to teach and/or learn about basic circuits, and mods
4) Loads of support - Not only from SWL, but the various web pages and groups dedicated to this little rig
5) You really can make QSO's with it.
6) Nostalgia - DC receiver, XTAL controlled.
7) Just plain fun
My best QSO was a Rock-Mite to Rock-Mite QSO with HK3CQ in Bogota. Both running 500 mW. I had a big smile after that one.
So if you want to have some great fun for less than a tank of gas, get one
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N4QA
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 28, 2006 10:40
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Noooo problem!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Howdy, WS4V.
Looks like your Hi-Mite (and many others') ships tomorrow, 29 Nov 06. Enjoy!
Now, I am on the top of the backlog list.
My Hi-Mite-10 will ship any day now!
Small Wonder Labs rocks!
Long live DSW-, SW+-, RM-, HM-, PSK-, etc etc- series rigs!
72.
Bill, N4QA
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WS4V
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Rating: 0/5
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Oct 30, 2006 08:25
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Ordered 11 months ago and still no kit
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I ordered the Hi-Mite tranceiver in November 2005, right after the QST article came out. The kit was for 17 meters and I have still not received it. I'm still on the NOT SHIPPED list. They used to answer emails (I have sent three total) but now no replies.
They have had design problems with the RX section and it has been resolved but that was mmonths ago and still nothing in the mail or no emails. At the very least they need to appologize to the amateur radio community for this long delay. Today their web site won't even come up... Who knows, maybe it has crashed. I still am looking forward to building the kit if I ever get it but I hope it gets there before my failing eyesight due to diabetes keeps me from building it.
Hey guys, we deserve some REAL feedback about what the heck is going on!
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K3MD
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 2, 2006 16:37
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Fun
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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My rock-mite 40 went together in 1 day, mounted in a plastic hardware-store box. It does suffer from some broadcast interference from the 50KW station 1 mile away. Made 2 contacts on it, which takes patience with no real VFO and 0.5 watt output. Fun to amaze your friends with at the local radio club. No adjustments-nice! Built-in keyer works well, after you get over the fear of soldering the surface-mounted IC. Business owner very friendly.
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KB5JO
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 7, 2006 15:43
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Novel and cheap fun!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I built the 40 meter version, and found it to be a novel little rig, easy to build and simple to operate. In the process, I found a large community of folks building, modifying and operating these little rigs, a yahoo discussion group and a web page dedicated to the Rock-mite and its offspring the Hi-Mite. There are a lot of third-party parts for modifying these little rigs to overcome their shortcomings. Rather reminds me of my ham radio early days using a low power crystal controlled transmitter years ago.
Based on advice of some experienced users, I changed the keyer chip to a $5 replacement that incorporates two message memories and increased the power to 800 MW from the stock 500 MW. The rig invites experimentation and most users incorporate machined pins for major components to accommodate modifications without ruining the circuit board. I’m planning to add a simple VXO to my next Rock-mite, for 30 meters.
Having built this rig to try QRPp (< 1 watt), successfully snagging QSOs is a challenge. Because the receiver is direct conversion, selectivity suffers. Being “rock-bound” means that calling CQ is strategy suggested by experienced users, but with less than 1 watt power, most folks on 40 meters hardly notice the signal. I have had two solid QSOs in two weeks, both with stations about 350 miles away. This was before increasing power to 800 MW by changing the final amplifier transistor. By contrast, using my SW+40 at 2 watts, QSOs with Europe are common.
If your goal is an efficient and high performance QRP rig I would instead suggest one of the SW+ series that don’t cost much more, but have single conversion receivers with crystal filters. If experimentation and operating with true minimalist equipment is exciting, then the Rock-mite is the ticket.
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KB2FCV
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 5, 2006 08:23
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Fun little rig!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have the 40 meter Rockmite. This kit went together in one or two nights (one night to build, one night to mount everything). The instructions were easy to follow and the operating instructions were clear. Using a long piece of wire I was able to hear stations on the first night. Having the built-in keyer is a really nice feature as well, all you need is paddles and an antenna and you're ready to go.
I tested the rig out at a friends house. It took a while calling CQ, but eventually someone from Indiana answered back! I'm in NJ, so that's a pretty nice catch for 500 mW! Mine is mounted in the boring $1.79 radio shack aluminum project box (but it does fit my 8 AA's in there!)I reccomend this kit to someone interested in kit building. Satisfaction is guaranteed.
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KC9IIM
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 1, 2006 17:15
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Cool Kit
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I just ordered a Finger Tip Tapper and a whip antenna the other day. I haven't had time yet to transmit. However, today, I was able to test out the receive with our school club's 40m vertical. After a little listening, I was able to hear several CW signals. It was amazing!! As for kit building, I have minimal experience with electronics. As far as I go is an eighth grade engineering course in which we spent a couple of weeks on electronic components. I found all the soldering easy enough for a beginner. I decided to use an American Morse MityBox. It looks really snazzy!!
Try it out,
KC9IIM
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AB5CC
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 16, 2006 18:52
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This must be the best value in ham radio!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I have built many QRP kits over the last 14 years and I must say that the RockMite is the best value of all. It is elegantly simple. And, best of all, it works wonderfully. The use of an extra crystal to narrow the front end of the direct conversion is a stroke of genius. Where else can you get a QRP transceiver kit With Built-In Keyer for $27? Don't forget to get a Mity-Box to go along with the kit and it becomes a work of art. And, unlike many inexpensive QRP kits, you can actually make contacts on this rig. I purchased the Finger Tip Tapper key and the ALT (Altoids Longwire Tuner) to use with the RockMite. If you build kits, you must try this one.
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