Ha ha, well I'm not a POTA/ SOTA guy, don't like those short QSO's. But I like to go somewhere in the field on a quiet place and make some rag chew QSO's😊
I find my qcx mini on 20 mtrs better than my KX2 in some conditions, filtering is better, I can of course use more of the tools in the KX2 to extract signals, tbf the QCX sound is more natural. Waiting for my QMX then it may make comparison interesting… I like both transceivers, QCX is great for my type of field operation, especially when transportation is on my cycle…
Tnx om. I'm waiting for more filter settings on the QMX. The 300 Hz with steep skirts is technical better of course but the analog filter of the QCX mini sounds more natural in my ears. I'm sure Hans has something in his mind
Fantastic!, I've been wanting to build my own single lever paddle with mag tension. I'm going to give your design a try. I was going to make some sort of copy of the Begali Sculpture mono but this looks way simpler. Good Job!
Hello @fintronics, Thank you for your reply. Yes, a simple design. Later I've changed the 'steel ball' pivot to a ball bearing, which is more stable. And also made a switch for paddle/ sideswiper. Good luck and hope to hear from you!
Thanks for the video! I’ve been having fun with mine and making lots of contacts. 73 Ron ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-y21NLwDvJAM.htmlsi=tX6Vv67oUjx47RQL
No problems with the finals so far. I usually run the rig from a 3 cel 18650 battery and try to keep the SWR as low as possible using a hb ATU. I'm a CW op only, using keyers, sideswipers and bugs. But try not the keydown for a longer time than needed. This is my 2nd QMX. In my first build one of my small PSU boardshort went into a short when I was experimenting with lower firmware versions. I'm very pleased with the radio. Still some firmware steps neede i.e. keyer update, ACG and variabele filter settings. SSB or digi is not my cup of tea. Don't know about that. I'm sure Hans will come up with something.
Yes the QMX can receive SSB. You have to select Digi for that and in the menu structure you can select USB or LSB. In future firmware it must be possible to transmit in SSB as well. Just want and see..
Congrats for your successfull build. Now I know what "feels" wrong with mine: My LCD colour is *blue*, not green... 73 and hoping for a 2xQMX QSO. By rhe way, a few days ago I worked Hans (TA4/G0UPL) on 7015 kHz. I was on the QMX, he used a QCX classic and his 35W amp. 😊
Hello Willy Yes I've build a QCX in the past with a blue LCD. I'm glad Hans sticked at LCD displays. I have a (tru)sdx as well which has a very small OLED display which is very hard to read in bright sunlight (I like to be /p occasionally). Congrats on your QSO with Hans TA4/G0UPL.
Build the QMX by QRP labs. Hans did it again! First impression of the little rig. Made a few QSO's already. Works fine but have to find some settings. Minimal volume is not zero. Don't know if thats adjustable in the menu. Btw I use a small amplifird speaker here.
hello Charles, thanks for asking about this simple paddle. Well, it is made from scab actually. I've used two long relay contacts which were soldered to a post. On the other end there are two buttons from the my wife sawing box (hi) which are used as finger pieces. In the front there is another post, just between the two relay contacts. The braid of the cable is attached to this centre post. The two contacts are attached to one of the two relay contacts. (tip= dot, ring= dash, broad ring= common of the 3mm headphone connector). Besides the two relay contacts there are two adjusting screw for the right contact spacing. 73 Durk PA3BYW
SUPER Durk! Thanks for the QSO today. I like single lever paddles made from .025 inch feeler gauges but that magnet approach is superior. I use magnets on a straight key and find I can set real small gaps because there is no spring torsion to mess it up, but I am going to try it on a single lever paddle now. 73 All the best...Fred G4HOM
Hello Yuri this is a Rev01 version. Had some problems, had to replace an IC and had to replace an trace on the circuit board. But easy to locate using common sense.
Great little radio. I’m building the REV1 board and have a bunch of problems. I’ve already replaced 2 IC’s and there is still something wrong. Ugh. I had not heard of that IC9 pin one to the C21 cap. The OPA-2277 op amps IC 6-10 are REALLY difficult to find right now. I substituted an NE5532 and it’s not working like it should. I’ll get it going eventually. I guess I have more to learn. I’m sending it to a friend with a scope to help get it going. Great to see one working. Enjoy yours !! 73. KB2QQM
@@julianopificius6910 yes. Sent it to somebody with better skills than me and better test equipment. There were 4 dead IC’s. Replaced those and it came to life. 4 watts out. It was the original Revision 1 board. They have fixed the design since the original boards. I purchased a 30 meter radio I have yet to build. :)
@@GreyGhost-r4z Good to hear you're up and running. I asked because I'm what you might call a "sanctioned volunteer", and I provide volunteer repair and calibration services for the QCX products here in the 'States for the cost of return shipping and optionally a cup of coffee. Yes, there were batch issues with the op-amps: all resolved now; and the Rev 2 board set solves a regulator problem. I have a 15m Mini on the way; I'm looking forward to getting my teeth into that. It'll join my 20m and 40m classics, and a 30m Plus, when I get around to building it. I'm working on a design for a digital AGC circuit, and the Plus is an excellent development platform. Good luck with the '30 !
@@julianopificius6910 thanks Julian. I used Ron in Arizona, he offered his services on the bulletin board. Looking forward to operating soon. Thanks fir the comment. Great designs and looking forward to the new circuits. :)
Hello Yes it is s homebrew key. Can be used as a single lever paddle and as a sideswiper key (cootie). Underneath I've glued 4 tiny magnets in the base to attache it to a iron ground plate. Btw I've discovered it is best to use Iambic -B mode with this single lever keys. Iambic-a gives extra dots. That's what happend here. 73 Durk PA3BYW
Many people asked me about this magnetic loop. The idea is really simple. Just bent a piece of coax into a loop. A variable capacitor (2x 450 pF in paralel) is connected between the ends of the loop. This works fine for 6-15 MHz. If you want to cover the lower HF bands, just add more capacitance between the two ends of the loop. In my case I had to add 1.9 nF (nano Farad) to peak the loop on the 80m ham band. It is a matter of trial and error, just see if you can find a noise peak on the frequency of your choise by turning the variable capacitor. The loop has a very low impedance (<< 50 Ohm) and most modern receivers need an antenna impedance of 50 Ohm. Somehow you have to match the low impedance of the loop to a 50 Ohm receiver antenna input. This is done as follows: I use a ferrite core. The coax loop goes through the centre hole. About 20 turns of magnet wire going around core. This way we make a transformer: the loop is the primary winding (1 turn) and the secundary winding has 20 turns. Which will match the very low impedance of the loop to the 50 Ohms you need. Connect of piece of RG58 (or so) to the secondary winding and solder an antenna connector to the other end and there you are. In this video I've used my Tecsun radio. This radio has an antenna input for external antenna's. Don't know what the antenna input impedance is of this radio. But all is working fine. I sure would have added a circuit diagram if I had to do this video again but I hope when you read my explanation you'll understand how it's done..
Hello, did you encounter any interference from tuning encoder ? I can't hear any on your recording. I have two quite loud chirps per each encoder step, even when scrolling through menu. Pushbuttons are free of any effects.
hello SnapPilot When you are listening to a weak station and suddenly a strong signal appears, the volume will blow away your ears without an AGC. Basic principle of this circuit: The Light Dependant Resistor gets a much lower resistance value when the LED is on. This LDR will reduce the ampification of the audio final. When then LED is off, at low signals, the LDR will have a very high resistance and then the final will have its max. amplification.
Hej Marc, Very faint signals but got all info RST 339. Enjoyed the QSO. First weekend using this new radio. Sorry for QSD. One of the contacts was bounching :) 72/ 73 hope cuagn. Stay safe! Durk PA3BYW
