REVIEW: CR Kits CPK-1 Pixie2023 7 MHz QRP transceiver

Reviewing the CR Kits CPK-1 Pixie 7 MHz CW transceiver kit.
It's similar to other Pixie kits except for two features that both make it more versatile. In this video I build it and put it on the air to see if you can really make contacts with such a basic 2 transistor / 1 IC transceiver.

Suggested modifications (for this and other Pixie kits)

PS: If you liked this video please consider supporting Amateur Radio VK3YE by:
* Subscribing on YouTube
(then if you buy something I'll get a small commission at no cost to you)

[StreakyP]

I have 2 similar CRK-10A's from CR Kits & would like to say the quality of many other misc origin Chinese Pixie kits can sometimes be a little "hit or miss" (to put it mildly) however I have nothing but praise for CR Kits & Adam. His boards are great quality, everything has been included in the kits, the instructions are great & well illustrated & in clear English, I've not found any dodgy spec transistors/chips used & silly things like having properly matched pin/hole spacings made the build a delight.
CR-Kits THOROUGHLY RECOMMENDED. (worth checking out his other kits too).

[gliderrider]

I was sending a few “cq’s” on a Chinese pixie just to see if I was showing up on the reverse beacon network. Someone answered me and I got a qso out of it. Happened to be recording at the time so that was great. 73’s de n5vwn

[WFSteury]

I have made many Pixies and I am excited to try this one. I will probably put a 2N2222 as the final. N9EGT

[Tonyjr]

I wonder if a vfo could be used instead of the crystals?

[ziyayergok]

very good pronouncation..good english..thank you..Peter..73..DE TA3IID...

[TheArtofEngineering]

It would be fun to see if the Progrock from QRP labs could replace crystals?

[timbarnett]

Great QSO Peter, it sounded very nice my end, as you could hear. 73, VK3TBR

[WFSteury]

I have worked over 20 states with my Pixie, which I converted to 20 m.

[jeromeGrzelak]

Someone has put a pixie on am of all things kg6mn

[tonywright]

Built 2 pixies, both work no problem . Just have to learn Morse now! 🤣

[Steve-GMHUU]

👍I have a Pixie kit. On the list of things to do and will look at the mod's suggested. Using similar basic DC receiver circuits, the modification that I found made the biggest difference was adding a 700Hz AF active filter. In EU at least, when 40m conditions are good, there is a lot of activity around 7030KHz. Being able to filter out nearby stations really helps.

[cleverson_sa_]

👏 interesting. I own an old version of Pixie, but no way to TX on 40m here at my QTH. May be if I find a 28mhz cristal, will this kit work?

[SergiuCosminViorel]

The RC filter, is 8800 cps, must be lowered, to some 3300 cps for SSB, or 1000 cps for CW. Act on R or on C, depending on the inpedances

[bill-]

I recently bought a single frequency Pixie but be aware. As you say there are several manufacturers.
No audio on my Pixie but everything looked o.k. I eventually theorised there was a fault on the p.c.b.. Sure enough after destroying the audio jack socket to remove it I found when the plug goes in it was shorting the audio to earth. The copper track on mine needed cutting to isolate it.
I put my last one on 5.262 MHz but unfortunately it blew up, transistor and electrolytic capacitor and the track lifted when I tried to repair it so binned it. Not a thing to do with that nice expensive Yaesu but these are cheap enough.
G4GHB.

[snarfusmaximus]

All my bills are via email so getting physical mail is definitely exciting.

[F_Tim]

Adam Rong -- do you realise how sarcastic "Even makes contacts " is ?

It's dry Ozzie humour but sarcasm anyway.... I guess --- let it ride.

[tmmlrd]

Could you pls explain how the potentiometer works? I didn't find in this video. Many thanks.

[TheArtofEngineering]

Nice save on the freq error! Pixie is fun to play with. Well done on the QSO. Mine was QRO at 2 plus watts (with the wrong transistor) but no go on receive!!! Chris (VK2NAP) and I had a full "World Pixie Day" go at making QSO's we got a couple of QSO's....but more importantly had fun (and a bottle of wine too!!). 73 loved this video!!