(Work in progress … really!)

The PicoRX was introduced to the MWRS at the June 2025 Lecture as one of the projects for the shack.

Since then, many members have ordered and acquired the kit and started the build process. A Buildathon was organised for those who wished to build their PicoRX together in a supported environment, with a gathering at the Club house for a 9:00am start, including a break for a BBQ lunch. Many club members joined us, a douzen for the buildathon and few more for the social and the sausages and associated ‘fixins’ (that’s a Texan Term). Snacks were also available for morning tea. Some members who were building the NTP clock and wanted some help also came along.

All set to go!

All were setting up the club house from about 8:30am, bringing their own tools necessary for your build as listed in the Construction Manual.

The first item on the build event was to support everyone successfully soldering the two SMD components to the main PCB. Phil VK2BDF was on hand to demonstrate/teach/assist how to successfully solder these SMD components by hand. Richard VK2ARH brought an hot air soldering station which turned up to be handy.

SMD Soldering station with Phil VK2BDF

You can see the concentration.

EGGcellent idea Richard, what a good container to carry/hold your parts!
Tea anyone? Russell’s offering!
Morning tea thanks to the catering service!
Deserved break!
Thanks to Russell VK2BYN Cook
It’s now 13:49 and Phil and Glenn have almost finished their PicoRX!
Et voilà, a working PicoRX with the waterfall screen fully operational … deserves TWO thumbs up!!!

From Richard VK2ARH

Well, it’s over :), and from all accounts it was a very enjoyable and successful day. It was very gratifying to see so many PicoRx’s completed and operational along with the delight from the builders enthused by their success. A big thanks to Russell VK2BYN for skillfully manning the BBQ and looking after Lunch, Sean VK2THT for setting up the clubhouse for the event, and Brian VK2AXC for purchasing the supplies.

Thanks to Phil VK2BDF we all gained an insight into his incredibly successful SMD hand soldering technique, which was instrumental in tackling the perhaps most daunting element of the build quickly and easily. I was so impressed by his skill that I put a short video together to share his technique and this can be viewed here:

From Glenn

I was very pleased when my radio worked straight away. A fun morning. Thanks Richard for a great design and excellent build instructions. Thanks to my fellow builders for a great sense of camaraderie and assistance when required. Soldering the SMDs was a new experience, and once shown the right way was not as difficult as I thought it might be. Now I need a better antenna! The 5m piece of random wire in the lounge room is not quite good enough.

Participated to the day

  • Brian VK2AXC
  • Glenn
  • Phil VK2BDF
  • Phil VK2JPK
  • Phil VK2XPL
  • Richard VK2ARH
  • Richard VK2NRA
  • Russell VK2BYN
  • Sean VK2THT
  • Simon VK2YU
  • Stuart VK2BMX