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Peter DL3PB has sent details of his version of the Pixie transceiver. He claims no broadcast breakthrough by using this configuration and lots of QSOs.

These little QRP transceivers first made an appearance some 20 odd years ago. They are extremely simple transceivers that use the TX PA as the RX mixer to save parts.

I built a Micro 80 some years ago and my best QSO was around 300km.  Biggest issue (for me) was broadcast breakthrough from strong broadcasters just above the 80m band. Variations included the Pixie 2 which added some refinements at the expense of more parts. Kits are available, but the circuits are so simple it is not work paying over the odds for these. The Micro 80 uses all discrete components whereas the Pixie and Pixie 2 use an LM386 for the RX audio.

If you build one, be prepared to fight for contacts. It is not the TX power that is the problem: it is the receiver that is the limitation.Given good conditions and little broadcast breakthrough, these rigs work.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/pixie .

The same basic schematic will work on any HF band with changes to the output filter. Watch out for chirp on the higher HF bands: don’t be tempted to try to pull the crystal too much, especially on the higher HF bands.

David Sumner, K1ZZ, of the ARRL presented a presentation “Amateur Radio Across the Pond” to the Norfolk Amateur Radio Club in the UK. I thought the hour-long presentation was quite enjoyable.

G1KQH informs me this Chinese transceiver is available for an introductory prce of £399.99. Personally I think this is MORE than I would expect. To me it still looks like a “back shed” design. I notice this supplier has sold out.

See http://www.sinotel.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=20&products_id=183&zenid=oi6qsdgfla6p73q0c5vhs40kj3 .

This is an introductory price for the basic version without TCXO and noise blanker. The FT817ND is now available for well below £500 with cash back offers and, to my mind, is a well proven MF-UHF design.

The X108 claims ” minimalist industrial design”. Read NO industrial design in my book! Still waiting for the Chinese “killer” radio to out-smart the Japanese. This, in my opinion, is not it.

Just when you thought you’ve seen (nearly) everything….

If you use the Chrome browser (for best results, apparently), check this out:

http://morsecode.me

This feels like Groundhog Day… again. My old wireless router has given up the ghost and I’m looking for a replacement. I feel like these things just tend to go bad every few years. Maybe they overheat? I dunno.

I hopped over to Amazon and to check out the WiFi routers on their bestsellers list:

1. TP-LINK TL-WR841N
   Amazon wants a very reasonable $18.32 for this, including free shipping. Can I go wrong?
2. ASUS RT-N66U
   I’ve owned several ASUS products, including a netbook. They have been well built. This model router is a little pricey at $126.99.
3. NETGEAR RangeMax WNR1000
   Another popular brand, NETGEAR routers have always have a good reputation and the price is right at $24.99.

I’ve owned both D-Link and Linksys routers and have been happy with those, too. Maybe I should even go with the old stand-by Linksys WRT54GL which can be easily flashed with the latest DD-WRT firmware. Not built for speed, certainly, but generally reliable? Probably.

As a side note, I installed a Securifi Almond for a relative a few months ago. Despite over 5,000 Amazon glowing reviews saying it’s the bee’s knees, I thought it was pretty mediocre. Oh, it’s pretty and all. It has its own screen on the front and has a nice GUI, but that’s where the niceness ended for us. Some of his devices wouldn’t even connect to it. What I thought was going to be an easy experience ended up being very disappointing. We sent it back.

So, there are but a few of my options. If you’ve replaced your wireless router in the last year or so, would you offer me any thoughts about the good/bad of your experience? Would love some recommendations!

I don’t know why, but I’ve never been a big fan of checking out Amateur Radio forums. Whether it’s the forums on eHam or QRZ, for some reason, I never got “into it”. I always preferred perusing and reading the various QRP e-mail reflectors.

A couple of weeks ago, I received an e-mail invitation from Nicola IZ5ZCO, to check out his QRP Club Forum.  When I got there, I liked what I saw.  The atmosphere is friendly and international – an international society of QRPers, as it were.  But …. like all forums, I guess it could use more activity. You should check it out – you might like it!  Here’s the URL: http://www.qrpclub.org/qrp

I just posted something about the EARCHI antenna that we used this weekend, as it’s always good to share.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP – When you care to send the very least!