QMX+ SWR sweeps with SSB firmware?

#142419

My QMX+ seems to be working fine but I just did an SWR sweep and something looks bogus. The SWR is approximately correct for the chosen band but it is flat across all of the frequencies with only a little bit of wiggle. I know my 6BTV SWR is all over the map as you move out of the band limits but the SWR sweep does not show it.?

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I have never noticed this before but I kinda don't want to go back one firmware level and lose my calibration. So, I was hoping some of you are running the SSB code and can tell me if your SWR sweeps look OK?

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Thanks,

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Tony

AD0VC

Re: RTC battery mistake

#142418

Well ...

Certainly not hidden.?

Both Assembly and Operating manuals for the QMX+, in all its versions, are in the section titled 'Documentation' on the main QMX+ web page.?

GREG

Show quoted text

On Thu, Apr 3, 2025 at 11:53 AM, Chris
<chris.rowland@...> wrote:

On Thu, Apr 3, 2025 at 06:07 AM, Paul G8MAD wrote:

The GPS Vbat/Vdd settings - I couldn’t see these in the menu system so are these configured via a terminal connection
This is a jumper on the board, it is only relevant if you have a GPS module.? It's mentioned in the QMX+ assembly manual which is hidden in the QMX+ section of the QRP Labs website.

Re: RTC battery mistake

#142417

On Thu, Apr 3, 2025 at 06:07 AM, Paul G8MAD wrote:

The GPS Vbat/Vdd settings - I couldn’t see these in the menu system so are these configured via a terminal connection

This is a jumper on the board, it is only relevant if you have a GPS module.? It's mentioned in the QMX+ assembly manual which is hidden in the QMX+ section of the QRP Labs website.

Re: SWR and PWR does not show lcd

#142416

What does Hans's comment mean?
That there's no TX PWR & SWR display on the QMX+?

Re: Available Hand Mics for QMX SSB ?

#142415

Because there isn't an order page. Just send me a private email and I will send you the details.?

Re: QMX+ Power Output Question

#142414

Jim - How do the LPF (Low Pass Filter) sweeps look for the upper bands?? If the low pass filters are kicking in a little too low, you can back out a turn or two on the LPF coils to raise the cutoff frequency.? I had to do that on my QMX+ to keep the LPFs from reducing my output on the higher bands.?

--

Steve KA0SM

Re: SWR and PWR does not show lcd

#142413

I've tested it in DIGI mode.
And yes, I'm transmitting on multiple bands and everything is OK.
Another colleague is reporting the same issue on QMX+ Rev 3 with the latest firmware.
I've tested it with the beta SSB firmware and the same thing happens. There's NO POWER or SWR indication.

THX

Re: QMX+ rev 3 freezes shortly after boot

#142412

I have some tentative good news. I inspected and reflowed a couple of solder joints on the display panel and on the main board, and have so far had (at time of posting) nearly 25 minutes of uninterrupted, powered-on time, working both in the terminal and in RX (I haven't tried transmitting yet, being very cautious).

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Consistent supply draw at between 0.08A - 0.1A, consistent voltage between 11.99V - 12.02V.

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The joints I reflowed:

the 2-pin sides of both rotary encoders (the pins on the lower encoder in particular looked a bit rough once I removed the nylon nut)
all 6 pins for T401
all 12 pins for Q503 through Q506
created more separation between the two very close pins on both display panel 3.5mm stereo sockets

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I'm going to let it run in RX for as long as it functions and will report back!

Re: Gibberish characters appended onto end of Message 1

#142411

Dummy load maybe?

Re: Gibberish characters appended onto end of Message 1

#142410

I got the gibberish as well.? Now I am nervous about broadcasting it.?

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Is there any way to play back the message without transmitting?? When I try it in practice mode, it won't play?

Re: Gibberish characters appended onto end of Message 1

#142409

I also got gibberish characters.? I am a little nervous about broadcasting them again, and can't figure out how to play back the message without transmitting.? When I try it in practice mode, I can't hear anything on the message.?

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Is there a way to play it back without transmitting?

Re: SWR and PWR does not show lcd

#142408

I see power and SWR displays with my QMX+ firmware 1_01_003 in CW, digital, USB and LSB modes.

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I don't recall it not working on 0_27, I would probably have noticed.

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Have you configured it correctly?

Are you actually transmitting?

What modes have you tried?

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Chris, G5CTH

Re: QMX+ Power Output Question

#142407

Might not be the issue but ....

Just the other day I installed the latest version of FLDigi on one of my Win 11 laptops. Then both the new and old versions of FLDigi AND WSJT-X quit recognizing all of my Q's. Even though the expected com ports would appear and disappear in Dev Manager when power cycling the Q's?

Got lucky on a Google search ...

There were a bunch of hidden USB and Audio Devices in Dev Manager ( click on show hidden devices). Uninstalled all the zombies, rebooted and all good again.

*

Now, if I can get McAfee to check and bless the latest hamlib release which gets immediately quarantined when I try to pull it off SourceForge I can try out the latest WSJT-X version. Sigh ....

GREG KI4NVX?

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On Thu, Apr 3, 2025 at 9:30 AM, secondchancesailor via groups.io
<jagillaspie@...> wrote:

Thanks for your input Dave (and Jeff).? It's good to know my QMX+ is not too far out of line with others.? ?I am not losing any sleep over the lower output on the higher bands, I was mostly concerned about 10 meters.? I did try to more evenly space the windings on the toroids as Jeff suggested, but ended up with the same results, so I think I am done.? Now I am focused more on why WSJT-X refuses to run on one of my my Windows 11 computers.? ?It was working, and then just stopped.? Have uninstalled and reinstalled it with no joy. (No big deal, it runs fine on my other computers).

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Tnx and 73,

Jim (w8ykg)

Re: CW Filters

#142406

After playing with CW filters, I have a few comments...

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When a single (not cascaded/compounded) 300 Hz or 500 Hz filter is selected, the ultimate rejection is not great. I can still hear a moderately strong station, 2 kHz away.? However, selecting a 400 Hz filter, which internally cascades 300 Hz and 500 Hz filters, results in excellent ultimate rejection.

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It would be nice to be able to select a lower center frequency. Personally, I prefer 400 Hz.

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73,

Steve, N2IC

Re: SWR and PWR does not show lcd

#142405

Hi Braden

Doesn't show on my pre-assembled unit, either. But since they haven't bothered to put out a QMX+ operating manual, I can't be sure it's supposed to show.?

I've stated multiple multiple times that the firmware and the operating manual for QMX and QMX+ are the same. Where there are minor differences between QMX and QMX+ these differences are stated in the manual.?

73 Hans G0UPL

Re: Possible QMX/QDX PA Improvement Idea

#142404

开云体育

Good point. I probably didn't run the sim long enough for that effect to show up.

Tony

AD0VC

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From: QRPLabs@groups.io <QRPLabs@groups.io> on behalf of Jerry Gaffke via groups.io <jgaffke@...>
Sent: Thursday, April 3, 2025 7:13 AM
To: QRPLabs@groups.io <QRPLabs@groups.io>
Subject: Re: [QRPLabs] Possible QMX/QDX PA Improvement Idea

?

Good idea!

Though I'd think a DC bias at the gates of 0v would mean the 5v swing?

is now going from -2.5v to +2.5v, not enough to fully turn on the BS170's.

Perhaps that 2k should go to 2.5v when TX is true, and to 0v when TX is false.

Getting a bit more complicated.

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Could go to a solid 2.5v rail, except that Hans has found reason to keep the?

DC supply to the final on during receive.

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Jerry, KE7ER

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On Thu, Apr 3, 2025 at 05:53 AM, mux_folder2001 wrote:

It occurred to me that the Interface between the ACT08 drivers and the BS170 gates could be AC coupled. A quick simulation with 100nf and a 2k to ground on the gates shows no ill effects. The advantage is two-fold. First, a BS170 failure that puts 12V on the gates is less likely to damage the ACT08 outputs. Second, any failure that leaves the ACT08 outputs high for a long time is less likely to fry the BS170s.?

?

Just a thought.

Re: Possible QMX/QDX PA Improvement Idea

#142403

开云体育

Yes, probably so. Still, I might play with the idea a bit more. It's all part of the fun.

Tony

AD0VC

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From: QRPLabs@groups.io <QRPLabs@groups.io> on behalf of Hans Summers via groups.io <hans.summers@...>
Sent: Thursday, April 3, 2025 7:35 AM
To: QRPLabs@groups.io Notification <QRPLabs@groups.io>
Subject: Re: [QRPLabs] Possible QMX/QDX PA Improvement Idea

?

Hi Tony

In my experience, practically there are undesirable effects including loss of bandwidth (meaning reduced power at higher frequencies), lower power output and lower efficiency. It's my opinion that AC coupling would cause more problems than it would solve.?

73 Hans G0UPL

On Thu, Apr 3, 2025, 14:53 mux_folder2001 via <canthony15=msn.com@groups.io> wrote:

It occurred to me that the Interface between the ACT08 drivers and the BS170 gates could be AC coupled. A quick simulation with 100nf and a 2k to ground on the gates shows no ill effects. The advantage is two-fold. First, a BS170 failure that puts 12V on the gates is less likely to damage the ACT08 outputs. Second, any failure that leaves the ACT08 outputs high for a long time is less likely to fry the BS170s.?

?

Just a thought.

?

Tony

AD0VC

Re: SWR and PWR does not show lcd

#142402

Doesn't show on my pre-assembled unit, either. But since they haven't bothered to put out a QMX+ operating manual, I can't be sure it's supposed to show.?

Re: RTC battery mistake

#142401

Hi Braden

The QMX+ has its own assembly manual. The operating manual is the same for QMX and QMX+, and any differences between them are identified where they occur.?

73 Hans G0UPL

Show quoted text

On Thu, Apr 3, 2025, 15:34 Braden Glett via <bradenglett=gmail.com@groups.io> wrote:

I didn't even know that the clock settings could be preserved, or that there is a place for a cr2032 battery in my QMX+. I didn't see anything about it in the manual, but of course the Plus doesn't seem to have a manual that I could find.

Re: Possible QMX/QDX PA Improvement Idea

#142400

Hi Tony

In my experience, practically there are undesirable effects including loss of bandwidth (meaning reduced power at higher frequencies), lower power output and lower efficiency. It's my opinion that AC coupling would cause more problems than it would solve.?

73 Hans G0UPL

Show quoted text

On Thu, Apr 3, 2025, 14:53 mux_folder2001 via <canthony15=msn.com@groups.io> wrote:

It occurred to me that the Interface between the ACT08 drivers and the BS170 gates could be AC coupled. A quick simulation with 100nf and a 2k to ground on the gates shows no ill effects. The advantage is two-fold. First, a BS170 failure that puts 12V on the gates is less likely to damage the ACT08 outputs. Second, any failure that leaves the ACT08 outputs high for a long time is less likely to fry the BS170s.?

?

Just a thought.

?

Tony

AD0VC