How bizarre! I’ve been thinking about the PP3 challenge this week and I was thinking about digging up this thread to see if any PP3 QSO’s were still happening.
Due to this years successes in my home brewing activities (along with some failures!), I’m seriously considering building a rig so that I can join in with the PP3 challenge.
I’m not going to be pushing any boundaries, I’m thinking along the lines of a RockMite configured for 9V operation. I’m thinking it will be built Manhattan style, using pretty much standard circuitry with a few tweaks. The main thing I need to decide is whether to pull a 7.032MHz crystal to 7.032MHz or whether I go for 30m with the rig somewhere near 10.118 MHz. Not sure which band would be best.
Well done with your latest efforts Richard, I’m assuming that the rig you are using is still your ‘Top Gun Special’. Only 46 QSO’s to go then!
It was Kjell and Aage’s fault. They reminded me of the Challenge at the G-QRP Convention.
Incidentally, anyone is welcome to join in. The rules are simple: how many contacts can you make using a single PP3/MN1604 battery - no methods of charging allowed. Log you results here. Rockmites are a good start.
Hello M0CGH Colin and G3CWI Richard.
Winter is soon here so this is a fantastic way to go up to activate.
You would be surprised how mny you can qso. Best band I believe is 10MHz.
You have no contest and less BC. Please remember that the DC RX as in Rockmite is the mayor drawback in the rig. Power in range 70-100mW is no problem. Most SOTA chasers are real keen op. with excellent rigs and filters.But the DC RX is relative broad banded.(At least mine) A xtal higher up is nice.I talfed with DL2FI Peter on the G-QRP and he has a small super RX Miss Moscito for the 7Mc band. This can be put to reliable 100mW out for long battery life. If I soon go to Berlin I will get me one and have this for a try.
Please remember that all radio and equipment must use the same PP3 battery.
Like option ATU, keyer, audio filter, audio amp etc.
(Flashligt and cellphone excluded.Not in challange)
In hot autom wx +10c I took a new battery out. Same type as before.
Kjell-
I have already built a RockMite with a VXO using 10.116 crystals. I built this as a QRO version, >500mW :-), however, I’m so proud of my work, I wouldn’t want to risk taking it on a SOTA expedition with me, and I don’t want to modify it!
I think you are right, 30M is probably the best band, I was just thinking that I would achieve more RF out for the same amount of current in, for a transceiver at 7MHz than at 10MHz. The lack of QRM on 10MHz will probably make up for the lower output power.
I tried to have a QSO on my 7.015MHz RockMite yesterday evening, but as the front end is quite wide, like you suggest, it was just wall to wall with many CW stations being received at once. I went back to CQ’ing on 7.030MHz using a Lil’ Squall from QRPme at about 400mW, however all seemed pretty quiet up at that end!
I hope to start building my 9V Challenge SOTA rig sometime next week. I have a few parts in my ‘stores’ already including a RockMite keyer chip and the mixer chip. I think I’m going to use a different audio amplifier chip than a usual RockMite in order to save some mA’s.
My aim is to have the rig finished for the beginning of December, when the Winter bonus kicks in.
Really nice to meet you at G-QRP convention.
72
Colin
M0CGH
(RockMite addict)
M0CGH Colin
Compliments on your achievments. 500mW is still qrpp but to high power to operate with pp3 battery. If you want my mail it is qrp AT online DOT no
In reply to G3CWI:
My compliments Richard, You may press out a lot of qso out of the left overs on your PP3.This My battery nr 4 was discarded due to a short circuit in rucksack.
Please read opp-date on log for 29/10 writing/reading error. (10qso not 11 as first counted, LA1DNA was 2m Phone.)
Stats:31/10/2011
Battery: #5
Activation: #4
Summit: LA/TM-049
Band: 30m
Finish Voltage:not checked
QSOs: 16
DXCCs: 9 DL,ES,G,HB9,I,LY,LX,OK,S5
Cumulative QSOs: 60
Cumulative DXCC: 17 (DL,ES,F,G,HA,HB9,I,LA,LY,LX,OE,OK,OZ,PA,SM,SP,S5 )
To day so quite on 10.120 +/- 1Kc.
No one else activators to day active? Strange, WX in LA/TM sunny +6c no wind.
I am at school(Not writing class hi) Monday and Thursday until mid December
So these days I am finish 14:30 NT (1330 GMT) So drive direct to Holtankollen for QRPp fun. Thanks to all chasers for your superb Op skills and for letting me have so nice time.
I’ve finished building the circuit for my 9V rig last night. All I have to do now is fit the board into it’s case (festive tin!) and wire up the connectors etc. The rig passed it’s ‘smoke’ test with flying colours
A colleague pointed out a cheap source for 9V batteries to me this morning.
They have Duracell ProCell 9V batteries, which are reputed to be the highest capacity batteries available according to some sources, they also have the Philips Extremelife batteries at a very good price.
In reply to M0CGH:
Hello Colin.
LA1ENA Aage an I talked about battery capacity, but could not find any comparation of capacity between diferent producer.
I recomend best possibel battery aviable. Price/brand do not nessesery give this info.
My Philips battery is made in China. I get them from our electrical suplyer. (work)
Gl and hope you enclose some photos of rig/activation.
