Cricket 40/Cric-Key Combo - Minimalist QRPp Demo

[@dwlawson78]

You always show a unique and interesting perspective of the hobby. Thanks.

[@RobMacKendrick]

I like playing around with QRPp kits too. I see audio filtre kits online that look like they might give us a little more privacy, but haven't tried one yet. And as you no doubt know, there are ways to get a little more frequency agility, too. (I mean short of just building a VFO, which is on my list eventually.) That's the kind of thing these kits are great for; you can upgrade them forever. Give me enough time there'll be an KX3 where that Pixie used to be on my desktop. Speaking of which, that loudspeaker is brilliant. I see you were so eager to get on the air with it you didn't even rinse out the pepper bottle! Great video, Stan. Thanks!

[@stanscoyote]

Thanks Rob, for noticing the black specks ;-) Actually, I've already added a 3.3 uH inductor and a 70-140 pF variable capacitor in series with the crystal. Now I can shift the frequency from a bit below 7030 to about 7031. Also, I bought the 4SQRP Hi-Per-Mite 200 Hz CW filter and that makes a BIG difference. But there's a catch that I'm working on. The Cricket uses a differential amplifier with a floating ground and the stereo lines are in series with the sidetone oscillator and the audio input. That's causing me to lose the sidetone. Just another fun "Covid Era" project to spend time on.

[@RobMacKendrick]

@@stanscoyote Thanks for that interesting information, Stan. I've saved it to my notes. I have the NS-40, which I believe is based on the same xmtr circuit as the Cricket, and like it a lot. Like you said in the video, this stuff really recaptures the original joy of ham radio, with its relative simplicity, affordability, and endless modification possibilities. It's like a step-up Lego set.

[@gsansoucie]

That’s funny, I thought that QSO you overheard at the beginning on 7.030 sounded familiar, I just checked my log because I’ve been all over 7.030 this year, my year of a QRP CW QSO A Day. That was me (W1ND) with Jeff (W2YRL), he was telling me he was about 10 miles from DC in that short clip you had there. I’ve been working a ton of folks in the US and EU on 1W or less, 100mW into Ireland and then later Scotland too. Hope to catch you. W1ND

[@stanscoyote]

Well, now I know your name and callsign, Glen!! That is funny ;-) Small world. QRPp CW QSOs are a blast. I just completed my 10th, submitted it, and I am now Cricketeer #14. Next project is to include a series variable cap and a series inductor to see if I can move the crystal frequency up and down a bit. Won't be a VXO, but I'm only looking for a couple kHz either side of center. 72....Stan.

[@jamescoffey5225]

Head copy in CWOPS. A long way from copying the Fox Schedule on a typewriter, eh? Very interesting QRPp kit. Thanks. 72 de AE5ZX

[@ka2pbo]

Great video! Just curious; how did you get the sidetone to work while using a mono output? The manual says the audio output was designed for stereo headphones and if mono headphones are used, it will still work but the sidetone will not be heard. Thanks Rick KA2PBO

[@melanie_doggo8995]

Stanscoyote is dead :( so might want to a diffrent video

[@TimHarperW5TAH]

Does your Cricket take 12 volts? Can you explain your setup? The box with the crystal in it, the plastic container marked Cricket only 12 volts and so on.

[@stanscoyote]

Hello, Timothy. It's not rocket science. The Cricket 40 apparently doesn't like metal enclosures so I used wood. I put the Cricket ON TOP of the wooden box and inside there is simply a female receptacle for a DC power plug. The plastic box contains a couple of diodes to drop my 13.8 bench supply to 12 VDC which produces 1 watt "forever". The 9V battery, as mentioned in the video, doesn't last long and it doesn't put out much more than half a watt. I prefer reliability since I operate QRPp inside my house with a decent antenna vs. trying to mess around "in the field" with suboptimal setups which usually end in frustration (at least for me). The only other thing "in the box" is the two wires leading up to the crystal socket which, as you can see, is on top of the box and easily accessible for QSYing. Like I said, it's not rocket science, complicated or expensive. Just something to pass the "Covid time" we are currently in and fun to get back to basics. You can build the kit EXACTLY as it arrives with the instructions provided, use a 9 volt battery and make contacts. I just like to monkey around with things.

[@TimHarperW5TAH]

Thank you! I was wondering how much voltage the Cricket can take. I am going to use 7 AA batteries to produce about 10.5 Volts, 8 batteries makes 12 volts. I have a case for the batteries, and will give me decent capacity. Thanks for the tip on metal enclosures, I will avoid them

[@stanscoyote]

@@TimHarperW5TAH The designer told me that 12 volts is OK. More than that is dicey. I suspect that the on-board inductors may be the reason why metal enclosures have caused "problems" for some. Good luck and have fun. I got my Cricketeer certificate in just a couple of weeks so this little fun kit *does* work quite well.

[@TimHarperW5TAH]

Does the Cric Key use a mono or stereo cable to connect to the Cricket radio?

[@frankartieta4887]

A regular stereo headset

[@F8FCA]

oh wow ! I enjoyed your vidéo I will buy a cricket too yes its a fantastic qrpp 🙋73 Stan