Elmer 001 - The Pixie 2 Project (RF Probe and Basic Electronics)

Elmer 001 - The Pixie 2 Project

"RF Probe and Basic Electronics"
By Brice D. Hornback, KA8MAV
Tue Mar 19, 2002 12:10 pm

Does everyone have a RF Probe? If not, you'll need to build one. Check out RF Probe that I use. I've also made a kit available if you don't have the correct parts.

It's VERY simple to build and produces fairly accurate results when used to measure power. I say fairly accurate because for the most part... it's approximate. But... it'll do for what we want it to. Obviously, you don't need to build it as small as I did... and I've been told at HF it doesn't really need to be shielded (but it can't hurt).

Anyway... it uses a germanium diode (1N34A), a .01uF capacitor, and a 4.7M ohm resistor. It forms a voltage divider using the resistor built into your DVM to measure RMS voltage. If you don't have a DVM (Digital Volt Meter)... you really need to get one. I've seen them as low as $10 and you can't really do anything with electronics without one.

I've been working on an Excel spreadsheet of common calculations that we'll use. Simply plug in a number and it does the work for you... without having to look up formulas, etc. in the *Handbook*. If you don't use MS Excel, almost all spreadsheet programs can import from an Excel file. StarOffice reads it just fine.

As for the Basic Electronics text portion of the Elmer 001... below is a list of Web sites that already offer excellent tutorials on electronics... no use reinventing the wheel here. Also, if you don't have a copy of the "ARRL Handbook for Radio Amateurs" you need to get one. I have the 1997 edition and it's great. This or newer if fine.

Ian Purdie's VK2TIP's Electronics-Tutorials
http://www.electronics-tutorials.com/

Radio & Electronics School - Study Notes (.pdf)
http://www.radioelectronicschool.com/raecourse.html

Elements of AC Electricity - Tutorials
http://www.sweethaven.com/acee/

So... warm up your soldering irons... build a RF Probe. Read through some of the tutorials listed above if you need a refresher in electronics. We'll begin building the Pixie 2 kits and discuss some of the theory as we go.

Download the Elmer 001 Excel spreadsheet

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

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