Been away for a while but thanks for your comments. No digital for this ham. I guess I'm impatient after a few years with no update on the QSX. So I got a Lab599 TX-500 and am enjoying that as a CW op. The DIY599 PA500 amp provides a little bump to 50W if I feel the need.
--
73, Norm/KC1BMD

John,

I've done the measurement of all 4 outputs of IC405 and IC406. They looked pretty good to me, so I believe the issue is quite likely in PCM1804. I enabled IQ mode and used Audacity to monitor/record the I/Q channels.

In the screenshot of Audacity, the left part of the waveform was recorded with no input signal. The middle part was recorded with an 100mv Vpp input CW signal tuned at 1KHz higher than the VFO frequency. The right part was recorded with no input signal again. The meter above was showing that, when there was no input signal, the right channel was about 40dB higher than the left channel which is abnormal.

I also checked VcomR of PCM1804 and it was 2.5V. But VrefR was only 0.6V (instead of 2.5V) which probably indicates PCM1804 is malfunctioning. Having seen a few other cases of damaged PCM1804, I tend to think it's not caused by user error. Anyway, I've already ordered a hot air rework station and a microscopic to get ready for the repair. Thanks for suggesting checking the op-amps output - I've learned quite a lot from doing that!

73 DE N6HAN

Roy:
? ?Yes, if I use my standard Lifo batteries they are 13+ so that's not going to end well. So for my QMX abd QDX I have been running a Talentcell that unloaded measures about 12.3Vs then I put a diode in line and that's about 12ish under load.?

? ? 73, Don, Kc9zmy

Alan G4ZFQ wrote:
I do not think HDSDR works with Hamlib. Use Omnirig.


Actually it does.? Sort of.? Almost.? Let me document the procedure before I forget:
1.? Download and install HDSDR
2.? Download and install the latest version of hamlib V1.? Do NOT try to use hamlib v2 or v3 - they won't work.
3.? Download the hamlib Extio.dll from the HDSDR website.?
4.? Copy the entire contents of the hamlib bin directory in the HDSDR directory.
? ( which for me was c:\Program Files (x86)\HDSDR )
? ( You don't really need all of it - but I didn't feel like figuring out what it needed and what it didn't need ).
5.? Edit the CFG file for the hamlib_EXTIO.dll - I forget the exact name.? You need to specify the rig type ( 202 ), and the COM port that it's on.? Mine wound up on COM13, but
?YMMV.
6.? Plug in the QMX and then turn it on.
7.? Start up HDSDR

I'm listening to CW on 40M right now.? Receive only.? I click on "TX" and HDSDR complains the the Extio DLL does not support TX or SDR hardware not connected.??? Wouldn't
make much sense anyway.? Hans hasn't done SSB support yet, and how would you send CW?

OK, so I have a semi related question.? I am using a HAKKO adjustable temp soldering station,? But I have to push up to 700-750 degrees F to get my solder to flow even then its a bit "iffy" at times. ?? What am I doing wrong?? Its Kester 24-6337.8800 50 Activated Rosin Cored wire Solder roll. 245 NO-Clean 63/37 Alloy. .031" dia.? Is this no lead solder?? I assumed it was 63% lead and 37% tin, but now I see it says 63% tin and 37% lead.? Any suggestions on a better solder brand or formula??

For about 25 years I found this stripper made in Germany called the Ultimate Stripper by Buchanan made in Germany.? I used it to wire a house, a couple of shops, church fellowship hall, and countless other projects.? 12g to 20g with no adjustments at all and just hung and new light at the house 30 minutes ago and worked perfectly.? ?It does have trouble with some slick insulation, aviation wire comes to mind.? I could never find a second pair until Harbor Freight started selling a version made under to Quinn brand which I bought and works just as well.? Just looked and they don't list the Quinn model but Pittsburgh now carries it at a slightly cheaper price.? ?I can't say how much these work for FAST no brainer sripping!
??

Thanks to everyone for your input.

I have decided to go forward with the?FNIRSI DPOX180H shown in the video - on order and should be here Friday.

It seems like the right price as a starter scope and as someone said, it may not be the last one I ever buy.
?

Great input - I have one of the Knipex tools on order - should be here Friday!

Thanks to all.

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Gary,

Murray ZL1BPU sadly passed away about two years ago. He had many good ideas! According to Jordan KN4CRD, the creation of JS8CALL was much inspired by Murray's FSQ mode.

73 Johan SM6LKM

Jim,

I just got an updated version of my old TS-100 soldering iron, the TS-101. It has a better-designed case, and can be operated with a coaxial DC plug on a mains power supply, or by a PD charger or power bank with a USB-C cable. I think it's a little lighter as well, but that's just a few grams if that.

1. The temperature I just used on a small antenna kit I built was the default 300C. I didn't need it to be hotter. It worked fine, because the kit construction was optimized to not try to solder large pieces of metal sucking heat away from the iron. On some kits, I will use 320-330C because some of the parts are beefier, or there are transistors or diodes that should be heat sinked to keep them from being damaged by heat. Since I sink the heat away from the transistor/diode body with a pair of fine needle-nosed pliers, the actual join will need a higher temperature to allow the solder to flow on the other end of the lead where it goes through the board.

2. I use an ILS tip, which is long and narrow with a small flat spot at the sharp tip on the bottom side to increase the surface contact without increasing the size of the tip. I like it because the narrow tip isn't crowded by a densely-populated board.

I hope this helps. I paid around the same amount for the new soldering iron package as I did a number of years ago for the original one, around $70 on Amazon. I know some sites have the same kit for a bit less, but that's offset by a longer -- sometimes MUCH longer -- shipping time. I got the one from Amazon overnight, as I have a Prime subscription.

73,
Gwen, NG3P

There was no JS8 in 2017 when this article was written. Anyway shift keying modes are not possible with QDX and QMX....
73!
Peter DL3NAA

Hmm…I thought the QRP Labs amp only worked on “one” band. It is hardwired for only one band.
QMX is multiple band transceiver.

Playing around with this idea a bit, I think what I'm going to do is get a voltage booster, and put it in a small separate device.? On that device I'll do an RCA PTT jack from the radio, put the 78L05 regulator in that case tapped off the 12v input, and then the +5v output to the amp.? That way the amp can remain 'stock', and I have another small companion device that will stay with it to boost the voltage to 22v, and provide the +5vdc keying signal.

I was surprised to see he didn't mention JS8.
--
73, Dan - W2DLC

Hi folks,
does anyone have a short explanation of the steps I have to do to ?pair“ my QMX with the QRP Labs 50W PA? Thanks a lot Matt DL5MAY
--
Matze

Sent mine in a couple of days ago. ?Hans is awesome.

Todd K4MSW

Another sent by me...I know nomination deadline appears to be today. but can additional supporting
emails be sent into Steven Ewald up until May???

72,

Mark

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