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HamRadioDuo Store

Pebble HF - Ultra-Affordable QRP HF Radio - EARLY SUPPORTER

Pebble HF - Ultra-Affordable QRP HF Radio - EARLY SUPPORTER

$100.00 USD
$100.00 USD
Sale Sold out

Pebble HF

An ultra-affordable HF radio for anyone.

Note: This is the Early Supporter version. Purchases of this version are essentially a "group buy" and the purchase goes to support the development and get the project get started!  The purchase price of the early supporter version is $100 and the goal for the production version is under $50 (final price still to be determined).

What makes Pebble HF different?

  • Ultra-affordable (target price for initial public release under $50)
  • Easy to build (only 10 surface mount parts to solder)
  • ~ 5W output with 12V input
  • ~ 1W output powered by USB-C 5V
  • Built in CW key and microphone

Pebble HF was born from the idea of how to make a capable QRP radio ultra-affordable and easy to build. It is ultra-affordable by being a single band radio with minimal parts and almost all pre-populated surface mount parts, which makes it easy to build. It uses an existing and well proven design, the uSDX, which suites these goals. **

Pebble HF is a low power QRP radio for morse code (CW), voice, and digital modes*. Pebble HF can output ~5W on battery power but can also output ~1W powered by USB, so that you can get started even without investing a special battery yet. Weighing less than 0.5 lbs (8oz), it is a great option for trying out portable radio.

* digital modes requires an external adapter.

** Pebble HF is an open source design based on the classic uSDX. Hardware design by Barb WB2CBA and firmware by Guido PE1NNZ and modified by Mike N4FFF.

Why?

Amateur radio is a fantastic hobby for learning, connection, and adventure. Many people get into amateur radio with inexpensive voice radios and a tech license. Now anyone looking to explore the wonderful world of HF radio will now have an ultra-affordable option. Now upgrade to your general license and start having fun!

Small and portable radios are perfect for learning HF radio, connecting with people, and outdoor radio adventures. They allow you to have fun with the expanding world of Parks on the Air and Summits on the Air. Pebble HF is an ultra-affordable, ultra-portable HF radio kit for anyone to get into HF amateur radio, to open up those possibilities.

Pebble HF is an ultra affordable kit that is easy to build, to get more people into the hobby and having fun.

Pebble HF was born out of passion from HamRadioDuo, in collaboration with Barb wb2cba, as a way to give back.

Features

  • Ultra-affordable, single band, all mode capable radio kit for HF ham radio
  • CW, SSB (USB/LSB), and digital mode capable*
    (* an external usb sound card is required for digital modes)
  • Band: 20 meters (40 meter version may be available in the future)
  • Up to 5W output (7-14V input) or 1W on USB-C (5V)
  • DSP filters: full open, 2500, 1700, 500, 200, 100, and 50 Hz
  • VOX (auto transmit for digital modes)
  • AGC and noise reduction
  • Open hardware + firmware
  • Kit-friendly build (most parts pre-soldered)
  • Weighs less than 0.5 lbs (8oz)
  • Power consumption: ~80mA RX, 500-600mA TX @ 12V
  • Very power efficient

Backstory

Pebble HF was born out of passion from HamRadioDuo, in collaboration with Barb wb2cba, as a way to give back. The backbone of Pebble HF is from Barb's hardware design and an existing firmware design by Guido PE1NNZ. Thank you so much to both of them!

This project is a day dream that Mike, N4FFF, has had since before becoming a ham. He got started in amateur radio with the believe that a cheap kit radio called the PIXIE is all he needed. He never was able to make a single contact on the PIXIE, but it was it's existance that allowed him to get started. The PIXIE's lack of filterning and tuning ended up being a problem he couldn't get passed. Now we are on a mission to make sure that a great option exists for anyone needting to get started!

Mike was introduced to Barb wb2cba by a viewer who was using his TinyDX QRPp radio for digital use. After a decade of actively looking for someone with the right experience, Barb's existing uSDX design was a perfect baseline. He modiied the design to make it ultra-affordable by making it a single band and, importantly, making as much of the design as possible surface mount so that it can be ordered super low cost. It is a brilliant design for this purpose because the base open source project is a software defined radio making it possible to pack a ton into a tiny package with super low cost!

There are many fantastic QPR radios already (QMX and CFT1 are great examples). If you are already interested in one of those, please get one! Pebble HF was created for all of those people who need an ultra low cost option with minimal effort to build as a kit.

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