Hi
My QMX arrived last week and I built it over the weekend.? I found it harder to build than expected!? satisfyingly challenging mainly due to high density and I was surprised at how much head was needed to properly solder the components, specially soldering to ground.? I guess that's the thick multi-layer board and big ground-planes.? I was using a good Hako soldering station, 60+W set to 400C.
I powered it up as per Hans's advice using a power supply set to 7V and limited at 250mA.? Initially it was dead!? Brief panic but I quickly traced it to a dry joint right at the ground of the main DC power socket.? Resoldered it and tried again.? This time it came to life immediately and the firmware was loaded without incident.
Receive seems fine.? Tried transmitting and got an almost immediate response from John M0STQ in Gloucester, about 300 miles, on 40m.? My QMX is built for 12v but I kept the power supply at 9V and current limit at 1A, just in case.? All seemed good and it was putting about a solid 3W.? Similar power out on all bands.? I turned it up to 12V and it was putting out just over 5 watts.
I really only want it for cw so may not explore its digital capability and it doesn't matter to me if it ever does ssb.? I love it, its everything I'd hoped for and I can't wait to take it on holiday in September.
And compliments to Hans on the engineering design to fit such a complex radio into such a tiny box.??
73
Peter, GM0EUL
Peter GM0EUL