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Reviews For: Small Wonder Labs Rock-Mite

Category: QRP Radios (5 watts or less)

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Review Summary For : Small Wonder Labs Rock-Mite
Reviews: 74MSRP: $25
Description:
Crystal-controlled direct-conversion transceiver operating on 7040 KHz
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.smallwonderlabs.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00744.9
WD6DBM Rating: 2008-11-28
TOTAL BLAST Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It's all been said--these kits are about the most fun you can have with your clothes on. I've built two so far, and ordered three more. With both kits I plugged them into an antenna and worked someone immediately. They are easy to build (no toroids) and when put in the the MightyBox are just about bulletproof. Lead time is often a month or more (like now) so get your order in. There is even a built-in keyer!
former_WA6L_JG Rating: 2008-10-31
Fun, Fun, Fun! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I am getting ready to build my third Rockmite. This one will be a 40m version to go along with my others.

For the price of a nice dinner, you get a beautifully designed kit that is easy and fun to build. And once you are finished, you have a real, working CW rig that actually makes QSOs!

I can't add to much to the many thoughtful reviews already submitted. However, I do have to say that one of the big attractions for me is the ability to experiment and modify with this rig. You can add a nice keyer chip for just a few bucks. You can add a VXO, or you can change the output transistor to see what affect it has on power out. You learn a lot, and the worse that can happen if you blow it up is that you are out $30.

Dave Benson provides a great service with these kits and the others at Small Wonder Labs. I hope he never stops!

73,

John, WA6L
NP4ZB Rating: 2008-06-04
Great QRP Transceiver. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
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.
GM0ELP Rating: 2008-03-07
Simply the best :-) Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
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!
NU4B Rating: 2007-04-12
Amazing little radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
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
N4QA Rating: 2006-11-28
Noooo problem! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
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


----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by N4QA on 2003-06-07

While the Rock-Mite is fun to use as a CW xcvr, it's a real scream in RadioTeleTYpe mode !

I've made Rock-Mite-RTTY contacts with 13 states and 5 countries since adding RTTY mode on 06 May 2003. Using it with JE3HHT's 'MMTTY' software and a very simple interface circuit.
For details, see:

http://www.qsl.net/n4qa/rockrtty/rockrtty.html

Dave (K1SWL) really gives you lotsa bang for your buck with the Rock-Mite. ATTABOY, Dave!




FORMER_WS4V_KS Rating: 2006-10-30
Ordered 11 months ago and still no kit Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
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!
K3MD Rating: 2006-09-02
Fun Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
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.
KB5JO Rating: 2006-08-07
Novel and cheap fun! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
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.

KB2FCV Rating: 2006-06-05
Fun little rig! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
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.