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Category: Ham Radio Education & Exam Prep Materials

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Review Summary For : picoFrog code practice oscillator (review B)
Reviews: 1MSRP: 24.95
Description:
a battery powered (2 AAA cells) code practice oscillator with a sinusoidal tone
Product is in production
More Info: http://https://www.picofrog.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0015
WB5AGF Rating: 2019-05-22
generates a nice tone Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
(background)

I collect Morse keys and that has led to an interest in code practice oscillators (CPOs). I do not like 'raspy' CPOs which put out non-sinusoidal tones (almost any CPO based on the 555 IC will be guilty of this unless the design includes some circuitry to filter the waveform). I am always on-the-lookout for CPOs which mention that they generate sinusoidal audio.

(Note : The picoFrog URL is : https://www.picofrog.com/ )

(now the review)

I came across the 'picoFrog' code practice oscillator while searching-the-Web and decided to order one.

Two things that immediately caught my attention were the audio created is sinusoidal and has shaped rise and fall times (i.e. no 'clicks').

The picoFrog code practice oscillator is exactly as shown on the Web site - it consists of a circuit board (surface mount components) mounted on a two-cell AAA battery holder - nothing else (i.e. there is no case, no headset, no cable to connect to a Morse key - those are the responsibility of the user to provide).

I found the documentation on the Web Site to be 'minimalist'. The picoFrog device has two 3.5 mm connectors and I used the photographs on the Web site to figure out which one was for the headset (I plugged-in an old pair of Sony headphones) and which one was for the cable that then connects to a Morse key. (Note: the picoFrog is a code practice oscillator ... NOT an electronic keyer ... it simply generates an audio tone whenever it sees a circuit closure on the Morse key input).

Be sure that you have two AAA batteries in good condition - at first I installed a couple of old ones and the picoFrog CPO didn't work - with new batteries the picoFrog worked just like it was supposed to.

The picoFrog arrived in a static protective bag; my plan is to put a small case together to install the picoFrog in - it's not a good idea to directly handle an unprotected circuit board (too easy to damage because of static electricity).