Jill I learn much about how assembly of pc board/winding toroids and transformers. I follow/watch a lot of yours and Jillian’s videos. You and OH8STN have made a BIG difference in helping me with the hobby. Thanks
Have built a couple of QRP LABS transceiver, and thoroughly enjoy the builds and using them in the field. I am looking forward to this build, and will be placing my order today. Thanks for the video!
I agree with everything you said, including the idea that Hans is doing true good in his creation of these little rigs. Even though I have plenty of radios I ordered 2 of them. I may order 2 more, because even with their tiny power they can communicate where nothing else can. BTW, to remove tiny SMT parts, simply put a bunch of solder on your iron tip. It makes removing SMT components simple. In fact, as counter intuitive as it seems, all desoldering, both through-hole and SMT is done more easily by using a lot of solder on the iron tip to transfer the heat.
Gil - I just repaired a QDX built by someone else and it had the same issue as yours. I found that some of the pads and traces were lifted when the little SMD inductors were removed from the board. A quick check for continuity from the top of the new inductor to the adjacent MOSFET to the right will show if that indeed happened to you as well. In my case 3 small jumpers were added to replace the missing traces. These were the 3 filter select switches so no filters were being selected and RF could not get to the antenna. Hope you find your issues. Good luck. Best 73 .. Ron WA7GIL
Great vid. I have tried to set up my radio on WSJTX and get the same on TX. I also need to bottom that out as I use it to check my station. Looking forward to the next episode. Great look Gil.
Awesome! I did not get a unit from the first batch but will definitely try again when more come in. I plan to set up a hyper portable mini digi station with the new and stronger raspberry pi zero and then just use the mobile phone as a vnc client/screen. then all I need is an antenna and a small 4ah lifepo (with 5v downstepper) and a wire and 💥
I trust your 'intuition' Gil, Hans at QRPLabs is truly exceptional. And important. The 90+ page manual itself could pass as a text for for a contemporary RF product design course. He is remarkable in the way he delivers features and superior performance for the price every time. Thanks for your QDX story. No need to apologise for making a video about a kit build that didn't work, every build has problems. By the way, you do the Wild Man from the Bush look well, I normally only get close to it after I've been on an Aussie beach for3 days, except that you're not sunburned!
gil... great video! as hams we need to understand the tools we are using so if they break we can fix it. thanks for your openness and willingness to share. I too follow julian ..he does do interesting work as well
This looks absolutely phenomenal for low-cost, low power, ultra-portable prepping radio using JS8. All it really needs now would be an micro-USB or USB-C data connector instead (who still uses USB-B?!), maybe even USB-C 9V power. And if there was an Android JS8Call app that would really remove the need for a bulky laptop, which is quite ironic when you got a radio that small and portable. I wonder even if it could be made even flatter by using a smaller antenna plug, but that would probably be a tradeoff.
Agreed on the form factor, but wiring and controlling that connector is relatively simple. We may continue to see hobby builds favor it over USB-C. You need to be able to source good components and know what you're doing to convert it. Even the IC-705 does not have USB-C.
It is nice to see a build fail occasionally and remind us that it happens to everyone. Component or integration failure is a normal part of the engineering process and sometimes leads to design improvement.
Great video. I am a licensed general ham radio operator but have only availed myself of a handheld two meter handheld. I don't know much about digital modes and don't have an HF rig yet. This seems to me revolutionary if it is more efficient than CW! We're talking up there with Nicola Tesla! The possibilities for unfettered worldwide communication is unreal!
Hi Gil. Great video. At exactly 3.00 mins into this video, you probably cut something out, and a new scene begins, and in that new scene suddenly a 700? Hertz tone starts, and goes on. Wonder what that sound was. 73 de Robbert / PA3BKL aka TA2IX The tall dutch guy living in Istanbul…
Very intriguing, I this is excellent, yes Julien has a great channel, this will be a a supurb radio for JS8, a real pleasure watching you construct as always, inspiring 😊
Could you explain why you have to remove the surface mount inductance. I am not quite hearing the reason why. If it's a mistake by the MFG do new kits also have to have the inductors removed. Thanks,
Hey Gil, great video as always! One complaint though... I hear all the time that SD cards in the Raspberry Pi are unreliable. In the early RPi boards this was true, but it hasn't been a problem in a very long time. I have several RPi Zero, RPi 3 B/B+, and RPi 4 boards and have never had an issue. And for those who still don't believe me then I offer this advice - buy two (or more) of everything! For the cost, size, and weight of the RPi, you can bring along spare devices into the field for what you'd get with a Windows computer. I don't think that you'll need it, but you have an extra just in case
Not a bad idea just plug up and go. I would agree we need to get away from just windows for digital modes. Tablets are much lower power and for lower power emergency operations power really matters.
interesting.....is there a reason he doesn't sell the kit already made for us elderly hams that want the kit but can not solder etc ? It would be worth the money to me to get a already built kit that i know works
An excellent looking package. Wondering if this conforms to IR2028 Standards in order for a British Foundation licensee to use? A very good and compact looking system... Just the type I am looking for. Part 2 will be interesting.
Testing the PTT may not generate audio to drive the amp to generate any noticeable RF. Did you attempt to try the Tune button on the main JS8 interface and verify audio level is adequate for the usb audio device?
I'm an old guy not interested in digital modes, however I enjoy your do-it-yourself work for prepping and I just plain love radio work. I will ignore digital modes so I'm stupid lol.
Three years ago Hans said the QSX would soon be released. It is still not available. It should have been his first priority. The QDX should have 10+ watts out to be practical.
Indeed, and we are all grateful for the awesome kits you produce Hans. As If said it goes beyond business, as these radios might be a lifeline some day. BTW my JS8 signal was received by my friend Ray in Virginia, 6756km using less than 2W into my magnetic loop!
Hi Gil, regarding SMD de/soldering, you really need a hot air "rework" station, it's relatively cheap today, less than 50€, and will make you much more comfortable, when dealing with SMD, which you might admit is more and more frequent these days. One golden rule when desoldering a SMD component is always to push it sideways, using flux grease liberally to form a "fry bath" around the component, but never pull it up, as there is a very high risk of tearing out the tiny pads and tracks around it, it should literally float adrift, on top of melted solder, around 350°C. And you might also need Kapton tape to make a heat shield for the neighbour components during this surgical operation, because a excessively strong ventilation might simply blow them away, because they too are floating on top of melted solder, and could be even lighter than your target component. PS: Je suis un régional, et mon dernier bureau (suis pré-retraité) était dans un certain campus de Sophia-Mougins. Amicalement.
Congratulations Gil! My QDX has just arrived yesterday , so your video is very timely for me to watch before I grab the sokdering iron myself! Just one thing regarding the PTT test in your video. It seems to me that when you are in the settings mode and test the CAT and PTT , you should not expect the radio to emit any RF while pushing the PTT button. It's like you push CAT and if it goes green than the CAT is OK, and than you push PTT and it goes red and it should just send your radio into the TX mode but not actually transmit anything cause there is no audio signal present in the TX path. It's just the testing of the TX/RX switch. So it's OK for the radio just to go into TX and back while pushing the PTT test button. You can only test the RF output from the working window in the WSJT-X app pushing the TUNE button. At this moment the CAT/PTT circuitry puts the radio into TX mode and the app supplies the audio tone to the transmitter and you may see the RF output. So, may be nothing's wrong with your QDX since the CAT and PTT work just fine? Looking fwd to the part II ! 73! Linas LY2H
@@RadioPrepper I'm sure you've red Hans's long post on this matter on the group posted to the group on Monday? 1h. Re: QDX has no power out From: Hans Summers Date: Mon, 08 Nov 2021 10:12:59 EET
Just on a whim, does your nifty digital radio require a CODEC to properly function? Some time ago, I learned that CAT control was not sufficient for complete function of my FT991A and IC-705. For those radios, the audio portion requires a proprietary USB CODEC, too. Without them, the softwares appears to function, but similar to your circumstance, no RF. Regardless, I wish you well in your endeavors. Thank you for sharing your successes and frustrations.
Gil… I missed out on the kit… they sold out fast! I did buy the 20m QCX Mini w/TXCO & enclosure (assembled). Having watched this, I still want it! Even though I solder worse than a chimp eating a banana! QRP Labs goes beyond the call, no doubt! Ridiculously low prices, amazing quality, design, and function. Worth every penny! 72! de W7UDT (dit dit)
Gil, there is no way I am as disappointed as you. I am disappointed but I have 22 minutes invested you have hours of work involved. I know you'll fix it and then the joy will be great. I enjoy your videos. I am anticipating your next release. 73
I know that it would add to your expenses, but perhaps you might make good use of a temperature controlled solder station and an selection of solder tips of varying sizes and configurations, especially of the smaller sizes for all the crowded circuit components that you must solder onto crowded circuit boards. Perhaps also a SMD solder reflow work station that has been suggested by another commenter). 73/72 de AE5ZX
Hi there! Are you sure there is any modulating signal when testing PTT? Because, if there is no signal, you are not transmitting anything. There is no modulation. You just check the PTT command Instead, you should try the TUNE button, from the main window, which will transmit a tone. 73 de YO9JAZ
May the Eddie Currents be with you. Hamradio is when it is not supposed to work in the first place. If it is a radio you can fix then I can fix it too. If it is a radio that is supposed to work on the first try and mine does not then I might have a problem. 73 Peter DL2FBA
Nice video! I also have a QDX and my output issues were solved by hitting all the LPF inductors again. That board really dissipates a lot of heat! I hope you don't mind me posting a link to my entire build series here: ru-vid.com/group/PLDP9oGiu60jJdiQOQx6-5DRn3l5GrfQQM I covered every step except the smallest. And yes- this radio isn't difficult to build, but it sure is fiddly! I am sure you'll get the output problem solved soon :) I also think the QDX has the potential to outdo the QCX radios as it has a potentially larger customer base, especially as the bands pick up. It's a fantastic little radio. You're gonna love it! 73 de W7RLF
Ok Gil to Julian, in the real world sht happens so this, you are brave to work normal component on smd board with that big solder!!! Waiting to second part where problem are solved... hope to see soon qrplab on air in the filed! 73 de iz3qvb
@@RadioPrepper maybe one wouldn't, but maybe two in parallel would. 🤔 With the advent of lithium ion rechargeable 9 volt batteries, it might be possible to wire a few to the main board and be able to recharge the pack with a single use plug. 🤷🏻♂️ Most 9v batteries are 500mah, so .5 amps would be 1c discharge? Two would provide 1amp continues. Honestly i don't see why one wouldn't provide 1amp for 20-30min. 🤷🏻♂️
@@RadioPrepper another option might be to glue or attach a cr123 battery case on the back and wire three rechargeable cr123 or for regular cr123. This would give the 12-volt required by the radio. You can get rechargeable cr123 that accept a USB micro to recharge them. This would be easier and smaller than trying to figure out a charge controller. 🤔
ARGG! Just noticed (01.22.22) that I had been UN-SUBSCRIBED! Why? Who knows, but it is now fixed. Was it just me or did Gil lose multiple subs? It was Gil's vids that showed me that the EFHW antenna would be my first choice for most HF ops including 80/40 NVIS when configured as an inverted EL. I'll be searching UTOOB for missed Gil vids.
Bonjour ,je cherche désespérément une vidéo "" en langue française "" sur le monde du uSDX , Kit QDX ou autre émetteur-récepteur QRP à construire .Si au moins il y avait des sous titres ....On a pas tous eu la possibilité d' apprendre l'anglais .......et on passera , comme beaucoup , par la case CB/Aliexpress .
Arrrggghhh! It really pains me to see you struggling to solder with the pcb flopping around! Most of your soldering "problems" might be solved if you had a device to SOLIDLY hold the boards while you do ir! You can get a good one on-line for less than USD20 that flips to give access to both sides of the board. Removing SMD parts is more easily done - without ripping the pcb pads off - by using 2 irons. The hot ends go each side of the SMD and you simply lift both at the same time. You can even wrap a piece of 14AWG bare copper around a soldering bit, and bend the ends forward so that they can apply heat to each end of the device. A little bit of such ingenuity can save you a LOT of frustration! (But I haven't yet worked out how to easily deal with 3 pin SMDs!)
@@RadioPrepper And a cell tower will not work when they switch the power off. I can use my transceiver with my battery then charging it with my solar cells or manual charger.
