Date
1 - 13 of 13
Cricket 20 parts labeling
|
Good evening, Any and all assistance is greatly appreciated.
|
|
|
|
Yeah, rookie error. Always look at the back of the components. Lol. Still though, the IC was incorrect. Jason |
|
|
|
Well gang, I got it together but it seems that the cricket is in continuous transmit. Does this sound right? It doesn’t seem right as I’m using a local HF rig to monitor the signal. One would think it would only transmit when the key is pressed. Let me know your thoughts. Jason |
|
|
|
Robert Campbell
Jason, Are you sure you're not just hearing the local oscillator? It's a direct conversion receiver, so it would be normal to pick up the local oscillator on the operating frequency with a nearby receiver. -- Rob Campbell KG6HUM On Mon, Feb 21, 2022, 2:25 AM Jason - WV3V <meteorseeker@...> wrote:
|
|
|
|
Jason,
The 6 pin IC socket is cut in half with the middle pin snipped close to the case..... this becomes the Xtal socket. It’s always a good idea to measure the components to be sure that (1) they work and (2) the values are good. On my 20 the volume is less than the other 3 Crickets that I have built, not sure if it’s a problem yet or not. Enjoy ! John -- John, KK4ITX # 1603 |
|
|
|
Press the key down and if the signal gets a lot stronger you will know the signal in question is the oscillator. Make sure you are using a 50 ohm dummy load.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
David J. Wilcox’s iPad On Feb 21, 2022, at 5:40 AM, Robert Campbell <kg6hum@...> wrote:
|
|
|
|
Karl Schwab
I was unable to finish my Cricket 20 build as I am missing one additional 180p capacitor. I too, had two additional caps in the kit; one marked 151 on one side and K2J on the other, and the other cap marked "102". 73, de Karl, KO8S, 1772 On Mon, Feb 21, 2022 at 8:59 AM David Wilcox K8WPE via groups.io <Djwilcox01=yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote:
|
|
|
|
Gm Karl Check the BOM on the web page. there was a typo on the BOM. You don’t need a 180 p, it was shipped by mistake. You need a 100 p Which should be marked 101. If you don’t have one email Bill Vogel the kitter and he will send you one. The BOM the web page is correct. 72 Johnny On Mon, Feb 21, 2022 at 10:40 AM Karl Schwab <schwab.karl@...> wrote:
--
Check out the 4SQRP website at 4sqrp.com |
|
|
|
I am live and testing and since this is the first Cricket of any kind I have built some of the design characteristics and behaviors are completely new to me. What I am seeing now that I am connected and actually sending SK-CW is a shift in the frequency from when I first press the key. It take about a half second or so to shift up about 100hz. When I do my DAHs and DITs every one starts at the lower frequency and shifts up. The DAH obviously is extremely visible on the waterfall as it almost appears as a saw tooth.
Is this also an expected behavior? I would think the TX signal should be constant..... One other note that I did, I didn't care for the feel of the telegraph with just the spacers so I added the washers designated for the adapter under the spacers to give my a larger gap from the key-pad -- 73 KI7PBR Gary SKCC 22566 |
|
|
|
Gary-KI7PBR <ki7pbr@...>
All,
Got my kit built on Friday and everything is up and running. I also had an extra capacitor as well. Went into my parts bin, my score. lol. I had trouble with the constant tone being generated on the output when not keyed and found out, as mentioned in here, that's normal for a direct conversion receiver like this. I also thought I had the wrong socket till I read thru the instructions and saw it was used for the XTAL. I suggested to Dave NM0S and Virginia NF5V that if they do a turn of the PCB that they utilize the "extra" half socket as a storage for the unused XTAL and mount it in the ground plane or other open part of the board. I may drill little holes and scrape mask away on mine and mount it in the upper left corner. Else I know I am going to lose it.. So bottom line, I am 100% functional. Now that the DX contest is over, I can go play with it....holy cow, they had the unofficial SK frequencies blasted. -- 73 KI7PBR Gary SKCC 22566 |
|
|
|
Folks,
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Let’s try to keep Cricket related posts in the Cricket Sub Group, that way when new owners come along they have a chance to easily find clues and secrets pertaining to the Cricket Family. TU, John KK4ITX 🙃Each mistake is a learning opportunity.🙂 On Feb 21, 2022, at 12:39 PM, Gary-KI7PBR <ki7pbr@...> wrote:
--
John, KK4ITX # 1603 |
|
|
|
Stan Levandowski
I got an extra cap too, labeled "151". I also got weird readings on a couple of caps using my inexpensive Proster LCR meter (yes, I plugged the caps in directly).. On power-up, my Cricket 20 had very low receive volume. On transmit into an Elecraft dummy load to my Fluke DMM, I did the math and on a new 9 volt battery it was putting out almost a full watt which seemed a bit much. After a few minutes in receive mode on my resonant antenna with no signals heard on the band - but my own KX2 at 100 mw heard with a "raspy tone" - the Cricket 20 died. FYI - the Cricket sidetone was NOT raspy but also very low volume. I did the usual re-checks, solder bridge checks, solder touch ups, etc. but nothing obvious. Without a voltage chart to refer to, and because I wasn't confident of the cap situation during building, I just tossed it. on I'm new to this group but not new to Crickets. I've built one 80 and several 40 meter Crickets for myself and others with no problems. This doesn't mean I didn't screw something up. It just means I'm not a first time builderofr 4SQRP offerings. I ordered two more Cricket 20s a few days ago. At least I can compare inventories and I look forward to a more successful build session. Twenty meters is a really fun QRPp band. BTW, if anyone has successfully figured out how to couple the Hi-Per-Mite filter to the Cricket, I'd appreciate some guidance. The differential amp chip seems to be the reason I can have the filter OR the sidetone but not both. Various resistors from the tip to the shell of the input jack were unsuccessful in bleeding off enough of the sidetone to be useful. Stan WB2LQF Cricketeer #14 |
|
|
|
Gary-KI7PBR <ki7pbr@...>
John, KK4ITX,
Thanks for that, I am brand new and was not even aware there were sub groups. I guess I should look over the left side menu a little better..I just applied for Cricket Sub-group. -- 73 KI7PBR Gary SKCC 22566 |
|
|