Re: Tone or birdie every 500 Hz in USB mode
Stan,? Yes, I'm sure about that. After I read reports of that I checked for tones and birdies. I found a few birdies here and there, but not these tones. They also were not there at first with the SSB software, but appeared after I started experimenting with band settings and calibration. I noticed the case got very warm after about 2 hours of trying different configurations, and then at one point I got a high pitched, very loud screech on one band. I noticed these in and off beeping noises after that, and it seemed like the birdies became more noticeable too. Something changed.?
--
73, Dan - W2DLC
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Re: Windows WSJT-X audio input level adjustment
If you recently used the QMX+ system menu to switch from USB to LSB, that could be the problem.? If you did, and it is set back to USB, try setting it to LSB again, exiting the menus, then go back in and set it to USB.? I had one occurrence of changing back to USB not 'taking', and had to toggle it again.? Perhaps a firmware error, and perhaps associated with me changing CW-R mode at the same time.
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Re: I just ordered a QCX+ kit
Mike and Gary, Thanks for your comments. Building and then repairing the QDX was the most I could do. I'm using a soldering station set to 750°F with a very fine tip. I've carefully studied the QCX+ manual; the PCB is low-density, and I'm familiar with through-hole components. I plan to mount all the ICs on sockets. What I also like is the multitude of pin header pads, which will allow me to experiment with a circuit I understand well. As for choosing the 20M band, solar activity will start to decrease, and at my age, the higher bands will become permanently unaffordable, even if the 10M band is currently very active; it won't last. Hi!
73 - Pierre - FK8IH
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Re: Windows WSJT-X audio input level adjustment
I just had the same thing happen on mine. 3 kHz off in Digi mode. I have no idea what sequence of events triggered this or fixed it, but it's a bug of some sort in Hamlib, WSJT-X, or the QMX+ firmware.
73,
Steve
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If you are using a fully charged bioenno "12V" lifepo battery,? you are likely putting in well over 13V to your QMX+, and your voltage protection is disabling your transmit, which also disables the sidetone.
?
Turn on the QMX+ battery voltage display by going into the 'Display/controls' menu, selecting 'Battery display', then enable it in voltage mode,? and set 'Batt. full' to 12,000 which I think is the default.? Exit the menu and you should see the measured input voltage in the upper right corner of the display.? The dots under the number represent additional 10ths of a volt.? If the number is flashing, your voltage protect has triggered and is inhibiting tx.
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You don't want to run your QMX+ at over about 12V.? A couple of simple silicon diodes in series will probably reduce your bioenno output to a safe voltage.?
?
Stan KC7XE?
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When this happened to me, it was because I had forgotten to put it in CW mode. It was in DIGI mode!
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Ellis
GM4GZW
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How do the terminal mode diagnostic tests look? Don't forget to run the button and knob checks as well as the paddle check. Be sure the setting for what paddle mode you are using is set in the menu and that your paddle plug matches the required pin out to the paddle jack. Another item that might need checking is whether the menu is set to expect a GPS input on the paddle jack.?
And ... There are numerous warnings in the docs to not exceed 12 volts (or 9 if built for that), essentially ... ever ...
On Mon, Mar 31, 2025 at 5:06 PM, Braden Glett via groups.io <bradenglett@...> wrote: I received my QMX+ unit preassembled a few days ago. I just want to use it for CW, be able to hear the sidetone, transmit, receive, use the automated messaging to call CQ.?
So far I am not getting any sidetone, no transmit that I can detect, my paddle doesn't seem to respond (I'm set to Iambic A). Power is a 12v Bienno, voltage protection is set to 13v. My EFHW shows 1.0 to 1.2 SWR when tested with the RigExpert.?
Is there a list somewhere that tells "here are the settings you need, to make this thing actually work for CW" ? There are soooo many menu items and I must be doing something terribly wrong.?
Thank you all. 73 KD8ZM?
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Re: QMX V4 will not mount
Many thanks for these suggestions Stan.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Mar 31, 2025, at 4:46?PM, Stan Dye via groups.io <standye@...> wrote:
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Jim, it seems that there is plenty of time before July for us to help you get this figured out.
Reading the reference Ludwig pointed you to is very useful.
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Something is probably shorting inside your unit.? There should be zero current draw when a power cable is connected, before pressing the 'on' button.? So the first thing is to find out why and remove that problem.
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The first thing I would do is to remove the bottom cover, and look very carefully for any metallic surfaces touching where the control/front panel and main cards come together.? The clearances are so small in the QMX that it is easy to have this type of
problem.? A few typical issues are: the display mounting tab that needs to be bent over further, the soldered-in leads between the display and display mounting board, the sides of the encoders, and the back of the power connector.? If there are none of these
mechanical shorting issues, there could be a simple soldering issue somewhere, like a little solder blob in the wrong place.? For this, I carefully examine the whole board with a good magnifying lens (bottom side first, since it is easy to see, and saw most
of the soldering action).? Taking a well-lighted photo with your phone's camera and zooming in on it can also give a great magnified view.
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Let us know what you find, and we'll help you figure out the next steps.
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And if you're not up to debugging it yourself, Jeff W1NC will fix it for you and have it back to you in short order.
Stan KC7XE
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I received my QMX+ unit preassembled a few days ago. I just want to use it for CW, be able to hear the sidetone, transmit, receive, use the automated messaging to call CQ.?
So far I am not getting any sidetone, no transmit that I can detect, my paddle doesn't seem to respond (I'm set to Iambic A). Power is a 12v Bienno, voltage protection is set to 13v. My EFHW shows 1.0 to 1.2 SWR when tested with the RigExpert.?
Is there a list somewhere that tells "here are the settings you need, to make this thing actually work for CW" ? There are soooo many menu items and I must be doing something terribly wrong.?
Thank you all. 73 KD8ZM?
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Re: QMX V4 will not mount
Jim, it seems that there is plenty of time before July for us to help you get this figured out.
Reading the reference Ludwig pointed you to is very useful.
?
Something is probably shorting inside your unit.? There should be zero current draw when a power cable is connected, before pressing the 'on' button.? So the first thing is to find out why and remove that problem.
?
The first thing I would do is to remove the bottom cover, and look very carefully for any metallic surfaces touching where the control/front panel and main cards come together.? The clearances are so small in the QMX that it is easy to have this type of problem.? A few typical issues are: the display mounting tab that needs to be bent over further, the soldered-in leads between the display and display mounting board, the sides of the encoders, and the back of the power connector.? If there are none of these mechanical shorting issues, there could be a simple soldering issue somewhere, like a little solder blob in the wrong place.? For this, I carefully examine the whole board with a good magnifying lens (bottom side first, since it is easy to see, and saw most of the soldering action).? Taking a well-lighted photo with your phone's camera and zooming in on it can also give a great magnified view.
?
Let us know what you find, and we'll help you figure out the next steps.
?
And if you're not up to debugging it yourself, Jeff W1NC will fix it for you and have it back to you in short order.
Stan KC7XE
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Re: QMX V4 will not mount
Ludwig,
I am glad to have this reference for later.
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As I read it, it assumes firmware is installed.?
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I cannot get my QMX to mount to my Ubuntu computer so that I can install the initial firmware.
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73, Jim
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Re: QMX(+) Build experience, Poor Audio Filter Sweep/RF Filter Sweep/Image Sweep/ADC IQ test and resolution with new PCM1804
and note that the band select should send the RF through only the selected coil, not through the others, so you shouldn't see it on the other output pins of IC408 or the other input pins of IC402.? Those two chips are multiplexers - send the input sig to only the selected output or vice-versa.
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Re: QMX(+) Build experience, Poor Audio Filter Sweep/RF Filter Sweep/Image Sweep/ADC IQ test and resolution with new PCM1804
Nice, good sluething so far.? I agree with your assessment.? Hopefully the fault is easy to find now.
For 20m, the band select should be set for filter "3", which is B4 or pin 1 on IC408.? So that means the signal is going out on pin 1, through L403, and back to pin 2, so you see it on both of those pins.? That also means those two connections to L403 are likely good (or shorted).? The signal at the input of IC402 (pin 11) verifies that something happened in that coil which shouldn't have happened.? Maybe shorted or open windings, or its output not soldered well..
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The signal doesn't split into I/Q until after the T401 trifilar transformer, from its outputs into IC403.? The frequency of the signal will change to about 12kHz out of IC403 and into the reset of the path to the PCM1804, since IC403 is the mixer.
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Stan.
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Re: #qmx #SSB Firmware beta 1_01_003 release
#qmx
#ssb
Hi George, all
Should be noted that CESSB does not introduce distortion or splatter.?
Compression does introduce distortion (though still not splatter), including in-band audio harmonic content. Though I spent many weeks designing techniques to minimize the distortion arising in the compression processing, as much as possible.?
73 Hans G0UPL
On Mon, Mar 31, 2025, 20:42 George Korper via <georgekorper= [email protected]> wrote: There is plenty of room in the QMX+ on the development board for the best solution in QRP SSB mode, which is neither compression
or CESSB but rather linear amplification, a tried and true solution. It appears to me that the QMX+
is a good exciter....but let's be real. We often criticize too much compression or other faults, .on the bands. Nobody tolerates distortion very long.?
?
But as Grandma said, "Never show a fool, half a job." And I am easily fooled. HiHi.
'Go for it, Hans!"??
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Re: QMX(+) Build experience, Poor Audio Filter Sweep/RF Filter Sweep/Image Sweep/ADC IQ test and resolution with new PCM1804
Stan, signal present at BNC, pin 5 IC408 and not present at pin9 IC402.
The signal is also present on pins 1&2 IC408 but not on pins 3,4, 12 thru 15. The signal pins 1&2 IC408 are same phase. The signal thru L403 arrives at pin 11 of IC402 a mess about 4 x the base freq of 14.074 mhz, reduced amplitude.
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Might be bad joints in L403 and probably L401, 404 & 405....
--
73
Karl
KI4ZUQ
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Re: Tone or birdie every 500 Hz in USB mode
On Mon, Mar 31, 2025 at 11:44 AM, Daniel Conklin wrote:
I didn't notice it in digi mode before the SSB beta
I see it on a QMX+ I haven't yet updated with the SSB beta, maybe with a bit lower amplitude; are you sure it wasn't there before?
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Re: Tone or birdie every 500 Hz in USB mode
On Mon, Mar 31, 2025 at 02:41 PM, Daniel Conklin wrote:
I hear mine most on LSB. The sound changes on USB, and it's an on and off tone that repeats. I can hear them from 17 meters to 6 meters, and strongest on 12 meters. They seem to have gotten worse/stronger the more I mess with the configuration.?
--
73, Dan - W2DLC
I didn't notice it in digi mode before the SSB beta.
--
73, Dan - W2DLC
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Re: #qmx #SSB Firmware beta 1_01_003 release
#qmx
#ssb
There is plenty of room in the QMX+ on the development board for the best solution in QRP SSB mode, which is neither compression
or CESSB but rather linear amplification, a tried and true solution. It appears to me that the QMX+
is a good exciter....but let's be real. We often criticize too much compression or other faults, .on the bands. Nobody tolerates distortion very long.?
?
But as Grandma said, "Never show a fool, half a job." And I am easily fooled. HiHi.
'Go for it, Hans!"??
|
Re: Tone or birdie every 500 Hz in USB mode
I hear mine most on LSB. The sound changes on USB, and it's an on and off tone that repeats. I can hear them from 17 meters to 6 meters, and strongest on 12 meters. They seem to have gotten worse/stronger the more I mess with the configuration.?
--
73, Dan - W2DLC
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Re: Tone or birdie every 500 Hz in USB mode
I'm just wondering if they might be the reason it seems "deaf" on MSK144 mode, since there is a birdie right at 1500 which is the center of DF frequency in MSK144..
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Daniel Conklin
Pierre - FK8IH
Braden Glett
Karl