Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Pixie2

Category: QRP Radios (5 watts or less)

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : Pixie2
Reviews: 38MSRP: 10
Description:
Ultra simple HF QRP transceiver
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.halted.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00383.1
N7OC Rating: 2004-01-09
Save your money! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Greatly disappointed in this rig! Documentation was very poor and few parts were labeled as shown in the parts list. Completed rig had a very miserable receiver that was hurtful to the ears to try to use! Tried it on several voltages from 9 vdc to 13.8 vdc and no contacts beyond my ham neighbor 3/4 mile away. He said the local oscillator was nearly as loud as the keyed signal.
The kit was ordered with the accessory kit offered, which consisted of a SO-239 and a PL-259 for RG-8U coax! Also in the kit was a hank of hookup wire approximately # 16 insulated wire impossible to use. Only the two RCA jacks could be salvaged. The 80 meter crystal was half as big as the board, and was not possible to install there, so I installed the 40 meter crystal instead. Where do you find a Pixie II for $10.00? Surely not from Kenneke Communications! My kit was $25.00 for the kit, $12.00 for the extra 40 meter crystal, $9.95 for the useless connector kit, totaling $46.95.
I am disappointed in this rig compared with other QRP kits I have built, like the Rockmite-40, the Tuna Tin 2, the SideKick-40, NorCal BLT tuner, and other homebrew rigs. Elecraft is the only way to go!
KG4LFZ Rating: 2002-12-24
Nice Rig Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I bought mine off a QRP radio club for $10. Problem is that on 80 meters I have 2 xtals and I can't make a contact. I have a 160 meter dipole up 22 ft in the middle and 50 + ft on the ends. I take my MFJ SWR analyzer and get the SWR to 1.1:1 and call CQ for hours and no return. But if I keep trying I might get one or two QSO's. 73's Ed KG4LFZ
DJ5CW Rating: 2002-10-17
great fun Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I built a PIXIE II for 80m about 3 years ago. It worked on the first try, however the RX noise is painful in the ears since there is no AF-Filter. After adding a RC-Network, it improved a lot.
I worked lots of stations with the pixie, up to ca. 600km..
It's definitely not a good performer but a very good fun project and good for learning the art of homebrewing..
N3TXC Rating: 2001-12-09
fun project Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
ive built two of these, one 80m other 40m. fun project about 30 min assembly. only complant wrong part in one kit and documentation poor at best. but for$10 cant complain, shippinf cost about half as much as product. but i had fun and they both work n3txc
JL1KRA Rating: 2001-11-08
You can hear and send with this small Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
It is kind of mysterious when you hera the band with the tiny circuit. With an appropriate induc tor and variable capacitor in series to X'tal, I can tune in 20KHz width I need. 40m-band integration is recommended. I am running 400mW with the original 2N3904 and really formidable to the others. Most of the kit this kind recommend 3.579545MHz crystal for the cheap experiment. But this will reduce your chance to achive QSO. 40m-band is much better for the QRPp. You should invest a little for 7040KHz crystal. In addition full-sized DP is needed. Otherwize you can not hear anything at all.

One can use the tiny machine is absolutely the QRP expert !




N1YRK Rating: 2001-11-06
cheap Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I expected a bit more from the HSC (Halted) kit. It doesn't take much money to write up & print a good instruction sheet. I also had a problem with the foil lifting from the board. I'd rather have paid another dollar or two and had these resolved. Still, the design does function well considering the small number of parts. Dynamic range is horrible but what can you expect. I've sometimes thought about doing some of the improvements I've suggested above and selling the kit myself.
KD5OGZ Rating: 2001-11-06
Great radio for $10 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Rating based on fun per dollar ratio.
DC receiver picks up lots of BCI but there are mods to help with that. Received an RST of 589 from a station 250 miles away, that's 1 mile per mW from a $10 radio. Reception was pertty weak from his 2 watt radio though.
Lots of info on the net about mods etc.
KC0GXX Rating: 2000-06-23
fun, fast, educational. Good starter! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Fun rig! Not a lot of time required to build. Some probs with R3. Kit sent me a 7.5K, I needed a 1.5K. Big difference! No worries, RS had 5 for 2 bits! The instructions could be a bit more descriptive for a newbie like me, and folks, remember (I didn't) the oscillator is aways on! A slight (mine was about .06V RMS) sig is always being sent out. You WILL hear it in a receiver tuned to your xtal freq! No worries tho, the rig has its own receiver too! Would be nice if it had sidetone, but I guess thats asking too much for a $10 rig!
Get this you'll love it! Amaze your friends when you show them your "rig" in an Altoids tin!
72
KCØGXX