Re: A Useful Aid for QCX Builders
It is really handy. I have one made by a different company but it is exactly the same. ? Robert (N5RHA) ? ? ?
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From: [email protected] [mailto: [email protected]] On Behalf Of Brian George via Groups.Io Sent: Tuesday, November 7, 2017 3:42 AM To: [email protected]Subject: [QRPLabs] A Useful Aid for QCX Builders ? I bought one of these a few weeks ago in readiness for the arrival of my QCX kit :-
It is proving to be SO useful and at just ?4.79 it is a great purchase. It should also make mounting "L1" a breeze !?
No connection with the manufacturer or retailer but thought it might be worth a brief mention here.
73
Brian
G3ZOH
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Re: QCX 7mhz Output Filter
Have you got an FFT function on that scope ? It would be interesting to
look at the harmonics present.
PeterO
G0DZB
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Re: A Construction Aid for QCX Builders
Another good one is the Stickvise but more expensive at $30.00. Best used when screwed on a board and using spacers to elevate the jaws.
Jean-Claude
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Re: QCX 7mhz Output Filter
This is strange as the passband insertion loss should be fairly constant. At higher frequency the attenuation should increase, not decrease. Do you have any ripple in the passband?
Could it come from the resonant circuit at the input of the filter (L4)?
Jean-Claude
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Re: QCX 7mhz Output Filter
Oops, forgot to add the screenshots! Sorry
J
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Hello all.
I've been having a great time operating my 7mhz QCX. Worked Russia, Switzerland, Denmark etc and had a great time.
This afternoon I hitched up the 'scope to a 50 ohm dummy load and checked the RMS voltage across it at 7.030 mhz. It was 11.6 volts RMS, equating to an RMS power output of 2.69 watts (I'm using a good 12 volt power supply, exactly 12v on both receive and transmit).
The waveform was a nice approximation to a sine wave. I'll upload a screenshot, in case any one is interested.
I then checked the output at frequencies above and below, at 100khz intervals. The highest output was around 7.9mhz, 14.1 volts RMS, i.e.3.97 watts.
I can type in the full range of results, again if anyone is interested.
Now I know that 50% more power doesn't make a huge difference, and the rig works very nicely as it is, but I am curious to know whether I could try tacking? some capacitors across the ones in the existing low-pass-filter and move the 3.97 watts into the 7mhz CW zone? Or might I risk messing up the filtering and causing mayhem? I seem to be okay at winding toroids, they have the specified number of turns and are tidy (my T1 winding went very well, first time!), so I don't think they are to blame.
Any advice or comments gratefully received.
Best wishes,
Julian
G4ETS
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Re: A Construction Aid for QCX Builders
Aven 17010 Adjustable Circuit Board Holder
Sold by: Amazon.com
$11.34
In Stock
73,
Jim N3SZ
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On Tue, Nov 7, 2017 at 12:19 PM Jim Sheldon < w0eb@...> wrote: For USA builders, Amazon carries it under several different manufacturers names.? On their website search for "pc board holder in tools & equipment.? I got mine for under $12 (plus shipping if you don't have a prime account or free shipping if you are an Amazon member).? Either way it's fairly inexpensive and is exactly like the one shown on the UK site.
W0EB
--
Jim Sturges, N3SZ
Amateur Radio operators do it with frequency.
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Re: A Construction Aid for QCX Builders
For USA builders, Amazon carries it under several different manufacturers names.? On their website search for "pc board holder in tools & equipment.? I got mine for under $12 (plus shipping if you don't have a prime account or free shipping if you are an Amazon member).? Either way it's fairly inexpensive and is exactly like the one shown on the UK site.
W0EB
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Re: A Construction Aid for QCX Builders
The Duratool D03170 ?PCB holder looks exactly like what I have been hunting for . The ?Duratool part can be purchased on eBay from several UK sellers, but the international shipping to USA is prohibitive. To date, I have only found Panavise holders that are >>very<< expensive.
After some additional searching on eBay, ?I believe I have found ?the same item from some USA sellers. - just search for ?"Adjustable PCB Printed Circuit Board Soldering and Assembly Holder Frame" which runs about USD $13
Happy soldering!
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Looks like they are finally getting that huge backlog cleared.? The website shows "Next # to ship" as 890 as of Nov 5.? My 40 meter QCX is #934 and I just got the email this morning (U.S. Central time) that mine had shipped.? Hopefully it won't take too long to get here from wherever they are kitted & shipped.? I have had the manual downloaded & printed out for a couple months now (ordered it in August) and, having a fairly well stocked toroid core bin, I have my coils already wound for both 40 meters and 20 meters so when it gets here, I'll flip a coin to see which band I build it for.
W0EB
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Thanks.? Had a look at that section and because I never touched the chip... and that the display was fine up until is wasn't, then I'm figureing the chip is fine.? ? But... I'll have a second look.? Thanks.
Barry
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Hi Barry,
I've seen that a couple times but power off/on solved it in my case, in your case have you looked at trouble shooting 6.3 in the manual (around page 124)?
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Re: QCX T1 installation: A better way?
Hi Karl,
All you have to do is Read The Fine Manual.
[Page 50 in the A4 version of v1.08]
A good read, while you wait.
Best Wishes
David, GM8XBZ
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-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto: [email protected]] On Behalf Of Karl Schwab via Groups.Io Sent: 07 November 2017 13:51 To: [email protected]Subject: Re: [QRPLabs] QCX T1 installation: A better way? While I await my QCX kit to arrive, where can I find " WA4MZS's drawing" for the T1 windings? Tnx, Karl
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Re: QCX T1 installation: A better way?
While I await my QCX kit to arrive, where can I find " WA4MZS¡¯s drawing" for the T1 windings?? Tnx, Karl
On Monday, November 6, 2017 4:19 PM, Bob Sutton via Groups.Io <zl1rs@...> wrote:
On 7/11/2017 12:41 AM, Roger G4IUP
wrote:
I followed the instructions and made loops and
still got it wrong! I noticed before I soldered it in place so
it was easy to correct.
The hand drawn diagram by Ed WA4MZS that is included in the manual
version that I downloaded the other day was a great help in ensuring
the turns went onto the toroid the right way and the wires went into
the correct holes.? Between that and Hans' instructions, winding T1
and fitting it to the board was fairly straight forward (just a few
'deep breaths' and mutterings of "patience, patience"!)? However, I
did manage to break the wire at the ground/earth end of the BPF
winding while moving T1 about to get it sitting neatly on the PCB
after it was soldered into place.? Fortunately that could be easily
fixed without removing T1 by soldering the very short broken wire
end directly to the solder pad on the top side of the through-hole.
The rest of the assembly went well, and after doing the recommended
modifications the QCX powered up and aligned without a problem.?
Updating the .hex file from 1.00a to 1.00c with eXteme Burner
software and a "$2" e-Bay USBASP program interface was easy and made
a good difference to the performance (in particular, reducing the
back ground 'digital'/'popping' noises) and the QCX's overall
operation.? There is plenty of audio and a 0.1uV signal from my
sig-gen is readily detected.
A cursory listen about 40m in the late afternoon and last night with
the QCX connected to a base loaded 20ft vertical netted stations
from NA, AS, OC and EU.? Best 'DX' heard was an EA1 near my antipode
about 2 hours before my sunset.
73, Bob? ZL1RS
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QCX on 30 metres, firmware 1.00b, 12V from a battery
I've posted regarding some audio woes I've had regarding the QCX.?
Last night, I wanted to check transmission, so I thought I'd try the WSPR Beacon.? I set it up on 30 metres and away it went!? The front panel told me things were well... and I went to bed pleased as punch that at least it was transmitting. I also connected a QRP Labs GPS for time etc.? All good.? ?Checked spots at the breakfast table and saw that two state side locations had seen my station.? Only two??? I went to the man cave, aka, shack, to find the QCX had reset itself. The splash screen was visible but refuses to respond to button pushes.? ?So either I made some mistakes during construction, T-1 continues to torture me, or I just have a duff unit.? ( I've had T-1 in and out three times )? When I recycle the power now... the splash screen will not come up... just a top row of blocks on the LCD.? So I think the unit is dead.
Yesterday, while going through pin voltages on the op-amps... I was seeing a higher voltage that what should be on ic 9 and 8.? The specs said expect .67 where I was seeing 3.5
So, I've ordered another unit - because I love these kits... but any thoughts as where to start the postmortem??
Many thanks.
Barry? ?- VE3ZLB
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Re: A Construction Aid for QCX Builders
Great item. I modified mine so board does not sit in groove so deeply. Just file or sand down the holder blocks. ?72 George/W2BPI
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The switch and the powerconnector are 8 mm from the bottom .
73 John pd7maa
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Re: A Construction Aid for QCX Builders
I also use one of these - a really useful tool! ?It is widely available, from Amazon, through ebay, and likely many other sources. ?Hard to beat Farnell's price though.
Ben - K0IKR
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Re: A Construction Aid for QCX Builders
Good shout Brian, thanks. ?I¡¯ve ordered one. ?I¡¯ve been making do with a thirty year old ¡®helping hand¡¯ and a splodge of blu-tac when it comes to holding PCBs in place.
73 Keith
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I bought one of these a few weeks ago in readiness for the arrival of my QCX kit :-
It is proving to be SO useful and at just ?4.79 it is a great purchase. It should also make mounting "T1" a breeze !?
No connection with the manufacturer or retailer but thought it might be worth a brief mention here.
73
Brian
G3ZOH ?
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A Construction Aid for QCX Builders
I bought one of these a few weeks ago in readiness for the arrival of my QCX kit :-
http://cpc.farnell.com/duratool/d03170/pcb-holder/dp/SD02126It is proving to be SO useful and at just ?4.79 it is a great purchase. It should also make mounting "T1" a breeze !?
No connection with the manufacturer or retailer but thought it might be worth a brief mention here.
73
Brian
G3ZOH
?
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Jim Sheldon
Tom Clifton
John PD7MAA
Keith, G6NHU