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Re: QCX Mini Displaying //???/??/
Would definitely appreciate a blind reset procedure.
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I agree it seems like a loose connection but there doesn't seem to be any shorts I can find and all the pins have continuity between the processor and screen's board. The only thing I can think is there is something in between which is dropping some signal so the screen isn't getting the proper 1's and 0's but I'm not sure how to test for that. What's really getting me is all the troubleshooting I'm seeing is for a screen that doesn't work at all, mine definitely is working and I get the start up text then it's only when characters try to change on screen that it starts bugging out. I'm getting to the point where I might directly wire the screen to the processor pins and bypass all the board/jumpers but that kind of kills the "mini" form factor :D |
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Re: Here's hoping for QMX+ v2
I've been thinking that with diode switched filters you could make a multifilter stack.? Each board in the stack would connect to the?common input, output,? bias, and filter select lines, one filter select line for each filter in the largest possible stack.? The board would contain a filter and the diodes to switch?the filter in or out.? The filter select lines would be simple logic that could be set by an i2c i/o extender.? Each board would be jumpered or somehow assigned to its own filter select line.? (It seems like the stacking order ought to be able to define the select line, but I haven't had the dream that explains how to do it yet.) Then you could assemble your QMX with the bands you want to use, and share filters between bands, if you like, or use band specific filters instead.? Then rewrite the band definition table so the QMX knows what it's doing, too.? Then, when you?decide to use a different set of bands you can reassemble the?filter stacks for that purpose.? Oh, and that filter that you melted?? Just get a new filter board to replace it instead of a whole new radio. So sort of like the relay switched filter bank, but without the relays and the relay board, just the filter boards with some extra sauce on them. -- 73 -- rec -- ad5dz -- On Wed, Apr 16, 2025 at 12:09?PM RS via <glxy=[email protected]> wrote:
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Re: QMX does not send with Raspberry 4 and 5 with wsjtx
As noted in other posts here and in the QMX user manual ... for Linux-type computer
(such as the Raspberry Pi), it's something like "click on the speaker icon in the tray
(or whatever you need to do with Raspbi to find something like "Sound Settings" ...
that's what it's called on my Linux Mint machine), then locate the QMX output
sound device, and then set its volume to maximum."
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I had exactly that symptom (two dots under the A) and finding and setting to maximum
of the QMX sound output device was the cure.
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- Bruce K1FFX
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Re: Trying to capture 2x16 LCD signal...
Hans,
I like the idea of your LC CAT command. However instead of replacing custom characters with spaces, I think that it would be more convenient if you could replace them with UTF-8 encoded characters that approximate their appearance. This would make it really simple to replicate the appearance of the screen without having to invoke additional CAT commands. For example, see Unicode 2580 to 259F, which become UTF-8 \xE2\x96\x80 to \xE2\x96\x9F for block elements that could be used to build up the bar graphs. I've also seen some creative use of Unicode Braille characters 2800 to 28FF to do text based graphics. Of course I also like the idea of commands to get Power, SWR, etc. Peter LaRue AI7YN |
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#qmx SSB Firmware beta 1_01_004 release
#qmx
I know its a little cheeky but any idea how long to an update.
None of my QMXs will calibrate and I have to turn the pre phase and amplitude off.? |
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Re: Trying to capture 2x16 LCD signal...
Is there a list of CAT commands? used by QMX+?? Sorry if they had been posted on the reflector before I joined. I cannot search the website of the reflector because the browser on my phone returns an error message every time. 73! de Bekir TA2RX 17 Nis 2025 Per 00:04 tarihinde Hans Summers via <hans.summers=[email protected]> ?unu yazd?:
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Re: Trying to capture 2x16 LCD signal...
Hi Mike Nothing wrong with trying to reverse engineer the LCD for the challenge or some practical purpose. I think it would end up quite a difficult way to do things because of the custom character writing etc., if you wanted to replicate everything. It's almost trivially easy for me to add a CAT command called say "LC;" which returns a 32 character string containing the whole LCD contents. Any custom characters need to be replaced by a space. Custom parts of the display need to be derived in other ways, it seems silly to have some kind of special extra definitions in the LC return string to define the bit maps of custom characters. The three characters at the top right are used for Power + SWR on transmit, and S-meter + AGC (optionally) on receive. It's equally easy to have four CAT commands that return power, SWR, S-meter and AGC values. An S-meter command exists alewady if I recall. Another CAT command could return the transmit status (1, 2 dots or the solid underline). Battery voltage too. What VFO is active is already available, the RTC can be read, and decoded CW, all available with existing CAT commands. With all this one then has all the necessary information to completely replicate what's on the display. And with a few other commands to virtually press buttons and rotary encoders you have one other way of controlling QMX. I don't mind adding these in the next firmware version because it's the work of minutes not even hours. And nobody should mind that. And it moves things in a direction I think is the correct one.? In my opinion the desired end state is that there's conceptually a headless SDR inside QMX. Various views into QMX can then control QMX, even at the same time:
Of course some actions on the real SDR require mutually exclusive access. You already see this, for example if you run certain things in a terminal session it locks the main LCD/Controls and vice versa.? I'd like to see complete remote capability developed too. Run your QMX over the internet. I think control is fairly straightforward using one of these WiFi Serial ESP32 boards; but I didn't manage to figure out yet how to stream audio to and from QMX to a remote internet browser. For everyone else reading this and worrying about things getting complex and wishing they'd remain simple; don't worry. Just use QMX with it's LCD and buttons and don't worry about anything else you don't want to use. It remains totally invisible to you. But provides a lot of fun for certain people who want to explore different ways to use QMX.? 73 Hans G0UPL On Wed, Apr 16, 2025, 23:02 Michael LaBlanc via <mlablan1=[email protected]> wrote:
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Re: QMX does not send with Raspberry 4 and 5 with wsjtx
Sounds like the audio output volume is either set incorrectly for the output or set too low. I've not been down the pulseaudio/linux audio path to guide you exactly where to look, but I'd check those. --?
On Wednesday, April 16th, 2025 at 1:28 PM, Reinhard Gr?nz via groups.io <rgraenz@...> wrote:
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QMX does not send with Raspberry 4 and 5 with wsjtx
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýHi, My QMXs work great under Windows with wsjtx. I have wsjtx installed on the Raspberry Pi 4 and 5. There's no control. Only two dots appear under the A in the frequency display. But that's not enough for the QMX to transmit. What could be the cause, and what should I do? ? Vy73 Reinhard DL3AS ? ? |
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Re: Trying to capture 2x16 LCD signal...
Hi Hans,
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Thank you for responding to this email.??
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Yes, I am attempting to create a virtual 1602 display to allow for a totally "headless" operation of my QMX transceiver.?
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I do have some level of technical curiosity to see if I can accomplish this, but I am also a pragmatic person that will take any solid solution to fill the need.? However, I feel like only a very small percentage of QMX/QMX+ users will want to take advantage of this potential new feature.? Therefore, given all the other more popular features that might be considered I am very hesitant to have this idea thrown into the mix.
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Having said that, most of what is needed seems to already be in place between the serial console interface and the existing CAT commands.? What I think is essentially missing are the ability to run the real time SWR antenna tuning utility (a GREAT feature on the QMX), the real time SWR feedback during full power transmit, real time feedback of power output and some way to tell if the radio is in the shutdown state from detecting a high SWR.
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I really hate myself for asking this question, but when you say "I will soon add CAT commands to return the LCD contents", do you have any rough idea of when this might be fit into a very tight schedule?
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As always, thank you for your outstanding engagement with your user base.
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Kind regards,
Mike (KC2EHR) ?
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QMX+: Hearing a tone only when LSB is selected
Hello everyone,
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Ive been trying to clean up the transmit audio on my QMX and QMX+. I can¡¯t seem to get rid of the distortion on either one. I have been able to get rid of background noises by reducing gains on different parameters. I¡¯ve tried pretty much every suggestion I¡¯ve read on the groups but it¡¯s still distorted. It is usable but a bit distorted. I¡¯ve tried different microphones. I¡¯m currently running the QRP Guys microphone. I tried a rewired Baofeng spkr mic and while the mic works the audio quality on the QRP Guys mic is much better. Another benefit is it doesn¡¯t drag the radio around like the coiled mic cable does.
This appears on both the QMX and the Plus version.?
I¡¯ve noticed on the Plus that whenever I¡¯m in LSB mode above 17 meters I get a constant low level whistle or tone. If I switch to any other mode it goes away. It almost sounds like an AM carrier. It varies a bit in time and amplitude. It doesn¡¯t do this on the QMX. Could it be the GPS on the QMX+ Causing it? I¡¯ve disconnected the antenna but that doesn¡¯t stop it. ?
Is anyone else seeing this?
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On another note, what¡¯s the possibility that Hans could have a troubleshooting seminar for the QMX line of radios at the Hamfest next month? Perhaps a course or workshop targeting the most common issues and how to resolve them. Like tx audio distortion and calibration issues. I¡¯m still on the fence about going to the event. I could probably find a reason to fly across the country if a class were to happen.
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Don. |
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QMX Blown Finals. Will a DC-DC Adjustable Buck Converter prevent future failures?
I suspect that my factory built QMX has a blown BS170.
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I was running FT8 on 15m into a resonant antenna tuned with an external SWR analyzer. The rig measured the SWR at 1.26:1. I don't believe that the SWR changed at all during the operation. I checked it again when I noticed the power drop, both on the rig and with the external meter. It was still about 1.26:1. I think I can rule out high SWR.
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Here is a list of output powers that I measured when new with the battery, as recorded at the factory, and after the failure:
20m has 3.7 watts on Talentcell battery (Factory 3.8 watts) (After the failure 2.2 watts)
17m has 4.5 watts on Talentcell battery (Factory 4.5 watts) (After the failure 2.2 watts) 15m has 4.7 watts on Talentcell battery (Factory 4.6 watts) (After the failure 1.9 watts) 12m has 3.5 watts on Talentcell battery (Factory 3.4 watts) (After the failure 1.9 watts) 10m has 3.8 watts on Talentcell battery (Factory 3.6 watts) (After the failure 2.0 watts) ?
I use a dummy load and a mini QRP Power Meter like this one to measure power:
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I use a Talentcell YB1203000 (12v, 3Ah) battery which my DVM is measuring 12.3v fully charged. Could it be that the extra 0.3v is too much for the BS170's especially on higher frequencies? If so, would a "DROK DC-DC Adjustable Buck Voltage Converter Stabilizer 6-32V to 1.25-32V LCD Display Constant Volt Amp 6V 12V 24V Step Down Voltage Regulator Power Module" prevent future failures if I reduce the voltage to 11v?
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I've read about the addition of a couple of zener diodes (1N4756A) to the BS170s of QDXs. Would this also provide protection on the QMX?
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I haven't inspected the rig yet but will follow these instructions found here to repair it:
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I know that FT8 is 100% duty cycle and that can be hard on rigs but I'm wondering if I should just use my QMX for CW. I'd rather be operating than changing blown FETs.
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Thanks.
Paul VA3ZC
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I managed to get the QMX+ working with the FreeDATA software yesterday using the 1_01_003 firmware in SSB mode. ?Setup is a Raspberry Pi 5 running the latest Debian 12 using a USB connection to the QMX+ for CAT and audio.
I am in Maine, and managed to exchange several messages with a station in Ohio last night with 2.6 watts on 20m.
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Great little radio!
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-Dj
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Re: Here's hoping for QMX+ v2
QSX? - That file is already closed: /g/QRPLabs/message/140815Tnx, missed that one ... Good discussion on the complexity and point of adding a 10W linear considering you essentially already have one with CESSB (for SSB at least). To me, main success factor of the Q range is that they are small,? lightweight and only require small batteries. So that shouldn't change whatever lies in the future design path. |
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Re: Here's hoping for QMX+ v2
Seems it would be good to have a QMX that has several options for a final amp.
BS170's are cheap but can fail, would be good to have a more expensive option that is bulletproof at 5W,
and some might want an option for higher power.
All should be EER with an appropriate modulator and driven from CLK2 for power efficiency.
If more power is an option then that would need bigger LPF's,
so need pretty much all of the final page of schematics on that other board.
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Here's one possibility:
A cheap all in one board like the QMX we have now, but plug in filters for band switching to keep the price rock bottom.
A connector on that board that can go to an optional second board in the same enclosure,
that second board can have some other final amp with appropriate band-switched LPF's.
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An optional RPi-Zero (or similar) with a color touch screen mounted on the top surface of the enclosure
for those that want such a thing.??
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And of course, I think the SMPS's should use standard IC's as per this thread: ?
Far more robust, no additional cost, no CPU overhead, working great for me.
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Jerry, KE7ER
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On Wed, Apr 16, 2025 at 06:28 AM, RS wrote:
Adding a robust 10W MOSFET PA would be welcomed by many, but of course this is a major design change with a heap of consequences? e.g. cooling, larger toroids, higher cost, etc. etc. and we would be leaving the pure QRP segment. |
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Re: QMX+ with WA3TFS amplifier
Hi Jim:
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I have C16 on a front panel switch to choose slow or fast. I thought about using the PTT function from the QMX as well but using it as a switch to ground going to the diode at the relay. But it wouldn¡¯t do anything about the switching time. Your idea sounds intriguing.?
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Keep me posted on this - if it works, I¡¯ll do the same thing !
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73, Jamie
WB4YDL |
Reinhard Gr?nz
Dj Merrill
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