Some quick thoughts.
You noted that the current consumption went up to 0.8A. That to me says the output power transistors have come on.?
So ... Do you have a SWR/Power meter with dummy load? I've been using one from QRPGuys which works great.?
I too had a similar condition where the Power meter showed RF coming out when in the Load position but when set into the Through position WSJT-X didn't actually 'send'.?
Traced that problem to actually two possible conditions when running WSJT-X:
1) My PC time was off a lot. ( Strange behavior in a Lenovo IdeaPad Dual I sometimes use ).
2) I hadn't set the time in the QMX.?
Check both time setting values, especially the QMX.?
The time in the QMX should be set to UTC time.
Hope it's that simple for you.?
?73 Greg KI4NVX
On Sun, Mar 24, 2024 at 1:36 AM, deckerg42@...
<deckerg42@...> wrote:
Dear Friends - Sorry for the extended post but I wanted to explain what actions I've undertaken thus far.
?
As my build was for 12 volts and I could find no place in the instructions which stated one should not use a 12 volt lead-acid battery I started using QMX for CW training using a 12 volt lead-acid battery.
Then started experimenting with WSJT-X and FT8.? Was able to get the PC and QMX to talk to each other and was receiving signals on the 20 meter band.? When I attempted to respond to a CQ call, I would never receive a response. Checked to ensure my power slider was at maximum output (which it was!).
Switched to WSJT-X WSPR mode and still received but would not send.
Established a terminal connection between the PC and QMX and checked the SWR in the QMX Hardware Configuration Menu. The graphic for the 20 meter band showed a SWR of under 2.0 all across the 20 meter band.
I then tested the send and receive functions in the Diagnostics screen and both the PTT signal and RF output response indicated failure for both as described in the Operations Manual and the supply voltage indicated an ¡®over voltage¡¯ condition.
At this time, I placed a buck converter between the battery and QMX and set the input voltage at 11.9 volts.? The ¡®over voltage¡¯ condition resolved and the PTT signal and the RF output started showing a normal response.? Still no transmit response on the WSJT-X WSPR app.
?
Since I knew my SWR was below 2.0, I disabled the SWR protection to see if that had any effect on the transmission.? It did not.
I then set the QMX up for ¡®Beacon¡¯ mode and began transmitting WSPR on 20 meter band.? The buck converter which I had purchased shows both voltage and amperage and when WSPR went into transmit mode the amperage would increase to 0.80 amps whereas in non-transmit mode the amperage was 0.10.? I let this program run for about ? hour but still no reception from stations on the WSPR network.
?
I then modified the station configuration such that power and SWR were displayed in the QMX window.? The SWR bounced around between 1.2 and 2.0 but during transmission periods the power window showed nothing.
I have concluded that, when I used a 12 VDC unregulated power supply, I fried some component in the transmission side of the QMX.? If that is the case, I must admit I am disappointed that nowhere have I seen a warning not to use anything greater than a 12 VDC power supply.? There is nothing in the operating manual and a search of the user¡¯s blog yields no warning that I could find.
What do you all think? Have I fried my transmitter?? If so, can it be replaced/fixed?
Thanks for any input .
73, KQ4LXI, Gary
