Elmer 001 - The Pixie 2 Project (An Introduction to The Pixie 2)

Elmer 001 - The Pixie 2 Project

"An Introduction to The Pixie 2"
By Brice D. Hornback, KA8MAV
Date: Thursday, January 17, 2002 5:57 PM

The Pixie 2 first appeared in the June 1995 issue of the NorCal QRP Club's magazine called "QRPp". Based on the Micro-80 mini-transceiver by Oleg Borodin, RV3GM, the Pixie 2 circuit was designed by Dave Joseph, W7AMX (previously WA6BOY). Based on Dave's sketches and ideas, Doug Hendricks,
KI6DS drew a schematic and designed the original PCB layout for the Pixie 2 transceiver as we know it today with it's LM386 audio amplifier IC. It's this same layout and design that the kit sold by HSC Electronic Supply uses today.

This small HF CW transceiver uses a crystal controlled Colpitts oscillator, a second transistor providing Mixing, Detection (conversion to audio), and RF Amplification, an Audio Amplifier, and a Low Pass Output Filter. This transceiver can operate at a wide range of RF frequencies by simply changing
the output filter and crystal.

Over the years, many modifications to the original circuit appeared within the pages of the NorCal QRP Club's "QRPp" as well as the G-QRP Club's "SPRAT". Some of these modifications included the addition of a TX/RX offset, a VXO, and better output filtering. The latest transceiver based on the Pixie 2 called the Tiny-Tornado by KA8MAV uses a double-sided plated-through hole PCB with a ground plane, onboard TX/RX offset, improved output filtering, a simple audio filter, and a reverse polarity protection diode. Many of these modifications can be implemented on the Pixie 2 kit and will be discussed further in detail as we build the kit.

The Pixie 2 is a classic QRPp transceiver enjoyed by many hams throughout the world. It is a minimalist rig and is beautiful in it's simplicity. Communicating with other people over hundreds or thousands of miles using so few parts seems almost magical. Throughout this course and its related
discussions, it is hoped that you not only build a working CW transceiver, but also develop a better understanding of how and why a ham radio transceiver works.

73/72/71! de Brice KA8MAV
ka8mav@arrl.net

Previous

Next

Additional Pixie 2 information can be found within the pages of the "Pixie Information Project".

BACK

If you arrived here from a search engine and do not see the
navigation bar at the left of the screen, please Click Here.

The QRPp International Radio Club is funded by the generous contributions of users like yourself. Please click the "Donate" button below and donate any dollar amount you like. Your support is appreciated. Thank you!

Search WWW Search QRPp-I

All images and information found on this site are copyrighted and MAY NOT be used without permission.
All copyrights and registered trademarks are those of their respective owners.

QRPp International and this Web site are not affiliated with the publication called "QRPp", the Web site "QRPp.com", Doug Hendricks, KI6DS, the NorCal QRP club, the QRP Amateur Radio Club International (QRP ARCI), or any other club or organization.

The names "QRPp International", "QRPp International Radio Club", "QRPp-I.com", "QRPp-I", "Tiny-Tornado", and the "TT-xx" series of transceiver kits are copyright protected and are trademarks and/or service marks of the QRPp International Radio Club and/or KA8MAV and may not be used without permission.