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Re: QRP rags to riches/Fortran #qcx

 

When I first got interested in programming microcomputers, I was teaching at Econ at Butler. There was no CS department there, so a colleague and I taught a one-day seminar for the business community on how small computers would benefit their businesses, using the funds to purchase and build 8 SOL-20 kit computers for a COBA computer lab (mainly stats and Lotus 123). Shortly after that, I applied for an NSF grant to study microcomputers in education and got to attend a week-long class with a small group of other professors. The class was taught by David and Peter (Rony). They taught us assembler on a KIM-1, a computer with 256 bytes of memory! Fun times!

Jack, W8TEE

On Wednesday, April 10, 2019, 8:41:49 AM EDT, n4qa at_hotmail.com <n4qa@...> wrote:


How could I forget David Larsen et al of the Blacksburg Group when mentioning the Bugbook series?!
Sorry Dave.
I remember when you guys would come over for a visit and a chat.
72 / 73,
Bill, N4QA


Re: QRP rags to riches/Fortran #qcx

n4qa at_hotmail.com
 

How could I forget David Larsen et al of the Blacksburg Group when mentioning the Bugbook series?!
Sorry Dave.
I remember when you guys would come over for a visit and a chat.
72 / 73,
Bill, N4QA


Re: Listening to WWV & WWVH on 5000 kHz this morning, on the QCX-80

 

Hi Bill,

Like Ben perhaps, I am left with more questions than answers/understanding.? I am sure many would love to understand more about what you have been doing if you are so inclined to describe it in more detail.

73,

Robert, WA2T


Re: Well, it appears that the QCX-17 is getting out on 15m too...

n4qa at_hotmail.com
 

Thanks, Mike.
In fact, "Leave the low pass filter in place and just put the bandpass/band stop after the output." is exactly what I've been doing.
It's better than butchering the rig, I suppose, but there is that slight loss of signal...both ways.
72 / 73,
Bill, N4QA


Re: QRP rags to riches/Fortran #qcx

 

Ah yes, same Fortran IV era. 1971 MBA thesis "Counterculture and the Business World", predicting a softer, gentler capitalism (ha!). Hauled stacks of punchcards with survey data up to the Computer Center at Cal Berkeley, returning in about two days for the printout.


Re: Well, it appears that the QCX-17 is getting out on 15m too...

 

Consider either a bandpass or band stop filter. ?You can use Elsie LC program (downloadable free) to test out the filter. ?My bandpass filters matched the test circuit very well.

Leave the low pass filter in place and just put the bandpass/band stop after the output.

Mike. ? VE7EPQ?


Re: Qrp-labs and a Huff and Puff circuit board

 

First step will be to get a PTO up and running. ?I also am looking at a Vackar. ?Very fascinating. ?One reason to try the PTO is to see if it is quieter than an ARDUINO VFO. ?It also draws significantly less current and doesn¡¯t require programming. ?Having said that, my first venture with my VFO for the Heathkit DX-60b is my Qrp-labs ARDUINO shield.

thanks Hans, for the great projects. ?I have a qcx to build as well as a 5 band filter board for the ARDUINO shield. ?Having a great time lately?

Mike. ?VE7EPQ?


Re: QRP rags to riches #qcx

n4qa at_hotmail.com
 

Well, if my dad were still here ( W4MAI - sk 2006 ), he could tell you about how a single 8-bit accumulator would fill an entire equipment closet :0)
Many years ago, he worked for IBM? somewhere in upstate New York.
Eventually, he became a college professor, teaching a bunch of kids all about highs & lows and a whole lot more.
Anyone remember the Titus bros and the Bug Book series?...
72 / 73,
Bill, N4QA


Re: QRP rags to riches #qcx

 

??
Does mastering (= PHD) the 8088 count in the contesr?

: o ))
ham 1957
retired 1997
72 73
John
N3AAZ


Re: Listening to WWV & WWVH on 5000 kHz this morning, on the QCX-80

n4qa at_hotmail.com
 

Yes, "we" are.

Simply put, it was fun discovering the parameters of, and avoiding running afoul of Hans' encoder debouncing state machine as I experimented with the "My_encoder_de_N4QA" PC app.

72 / 73,
Bill, N4QA


Re: QCX Repair

 

And remember a few weeks ago a new build went thru this... with fried finals, the rx was deaf until finals were changed... receive signal was rf-grounded thru the damaged finals so "nothing" was left for the receiver to work with... Last report here was that it was alive and working after replacing finals.


On Tue, Apr 9, 2019, 15:20 Peter GM0EUL <gm0eul@...> wrote:
Hi Roger
Where about are you?? If its doing everything except transmitting then you're probably right that the output transistors have failed because of transmitting without a load on it.? I'd be happy to have a look if you can't find anyone closer or better qualified.? It is probably a matter of replacing Q1, Q2 and Q3 and confirming that the other transistors are OK.? I'm in south east Scotland.

All the best
Peter, GM0EUL


Re: Panadapter #qcx

 

IC5 pins 1 and 7 and it did seem to be baseband audio at that point. I got at least 0 to 24kHz bandwidth
Simon, Michael,

They will be IQ signals but the QCX is not intended to be wideband.
I'd think C4,7,43-46 would really need reducing.

73 Alan G4ZFQ


Re: Panadapter #qcx

 

Hi Michael,

I've tried it from IC5 pins 1 and 7 and it did seem to be baseband audio at that point. I got at least 0 to 24kHz bandwidth feeding my homebrew panadaptor. It was a little experiment into 'what if' rather than anything else so I didn't pursue it.? However, just looking at the circuit diagram it is meant to be DSB at that point so I wonder if it really is baseband audio there.

Be interested to know.

73 Simon
G0FCU.


On Wed, 10 Apr 2019, 04:54 Michael Bridak, <michael.bridak@...> wrote:
Hello, I was thinking that an add-on pan adapter would be a fun project to try.
And knowing just enough to know that I know nothing about this, I thought I'd ask what may be a "simple" question.
Can I get I&Q from pins 1 and 7 from IC5 of the QCX to feed an external pan adapter?
And is it Analog baseband at these pins?
And what's the bandwidth?
and is QSX coming out during hamvention or FDIM, Wink Wink Nudge Nudge say no more.
?


Re: QSX display #qsx

 

And with VNC (built into Raspbian) you can operate remote from anywhere! I'm honestly surprised I'm not playing radio from work every day ?


Re: Panadapter #qcx

 

Hello, I was thinking that an add-on pan adapter would be a fun project to try.
And knowing just enough to know that I know nothing about this, I thought I'd ask what may be a "simple" question.
Can I get I&Q from pins 1 and 7 from IC5 of the QCX to feed an external pan adapter?
And is it Analog baseband at these pins?
And what's the bandwidth?
and is QSX coming out during hamvention or FDIM, Wink Wink Nudge Nudge say no more.
?


Re: QSX display #qsx

Michael Sharp
 

One thing I was looking at was using FLDIGI running on a RPi3 as a ¡°front end¡± for the QSX. Hans says the QSX should interface nicely with JACK (Jack Audio Connection Kit). Coupled with a touch screen, such as the RPi Official Touchscreen, and this will be an awesome rig =)

73,
-Michael
KD9MED


QSX display #qsx

 

Earlier today I was codgertating on "ain't it a shame the QSX is rolling out with an underwhelming display".

But then I got to thinking abt my K3 and how rarely I actually touched the FP controls or looked at the display after getting it well connected to the station PC.? Between LP-PAN? DX Lab and NA3P and a few others the K3 basically became a handy transceiver accessory for my PC.?

At least as I currently understand the situation, the QSX will have.pretty much the same capacity to integrate with a PC, pan-adapter and all, and that's very likely to be how I will end up using one.? So rather than package it for portability, I'll probably box it up with a 100W PA and call it a main station rig.?? I haven't heard anything resembling performance numbers but the potential with a 24 bit ADC is quite high.

If I were planning on using it PC-less, a more sophisticated display would high on my wish list,?? Another way to get there, which i'm sure isn't an original thought, would be to go the Flex Radio route and offer a separate large touch screen display as an "accessory".?? That would allow Hans to keep his code proprietary and wouldn't mess up the low price point for folks that don't want to spend $$ on a better display.

73 Jack KZ5A

. .??
? .?


Re: QRP rags to riches #qcx

 

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Garry,

My coding wasn't nearly so interesting.?

I was building one of the first generation "Network Operations Centers" for the Telco? GTE of the SW in the 80's.?? We primarily did remote monitoring and control of the first gen of computer controlled Central Offices.

Pretty mundane but we wanted a lot more out of these PDP-11 systems than the vendor wanted to supply, so I was tasked with developing the desired "enhancements".?? It went pretty well, I got some good training, and my stuff got adopted in several other of the GTE Telcos.?

I never did any more commercial coding but that work set my career path, I was the head technical weenie for the NOC's for the first few gens and also got to design, implement, and support the associated data networks (remember X.25?)? Toward the end of my career I pulled a stupid move and took a job as a NOC Director for Verizon Wireless, a job for which I was not well suited due to my complete lack of social skills.? I knew it was a dead end job for a number of other reasons but it did get me a company paid relo back "home" to the DFW area and gave me an oppurtunity to help advance some deserving associates.?? After about 2 years to "Sopranos" wannabe's in New Jersey that run Verizon closed my NOC, and pissed me off, so I pulled the ring on my golden parachute and retired at 54.

These days I'm looking forward to coming up to speed on Arduino C and seeing if I can gen up? something useful and fun.?

73 Jack KZ5A


On 4/9/2019 6:07 PM, Garry48 wrote:

Jack / KZ5A,

It's more like riding a 'unicycle'!? I'm 'here' to save you from hours of frustration!? I have a box of IBM cards (new) and a FORTRAN coding ruler so you can find coding errors!? :)

Sorry, I couldn't resist!!? I programmed in FORTRAN (IV/VII/95) for 20 years!? USAF B-52G/H, F-15C/E flight simulators, and F-15S maintenance simulator.

Garry / WD0DUD

On 4/9/2019 4:49 PM, Jack Brabham - KZ5A wrote:
i finally got tracking on the replacement uP for my QCX40, looks like it will be here in a week or so.?? That shipment also includes a new QCX 20 to build after I get the QCX40 percolating.? Today I ordered a uBITX (via DHL) which may get here from India before the QCX20 makes it from NY.? Oh, also have a BaMaTec QCX cabinet due any day (should have bought 2.....).

I'm going to a very busy boy here ......"SOON"... group... "how soon?"? (great big grin). REAL SOON!!!

Meanwhile back on planet 10.... I'm digesting Jack P's excellent book on Arduino C and ordered a few Arduino's to play with.

I was pretty good with Fortran and DEC PDP-11 assembly language around 3 decades ago..? Hopefully it's like riding a bike and you never really forget how.

73 Jack KZ5A



Re: QRP rags to riches #qcx

n4qa at_hotmail.com
 

Ten statement Fortran plus Fortran IV for the IBM 360, featuring the WATFOR and WATFIV compilers.
1st ed. 1970 - my senior year in high school.
Hard to believe I was perusing that book nearly a half-century ago, wondering whether I might like to become a programmer.
Majored in girls instead...lots more fun !

72 / 73,
Bill, N4QA


Re: QRP rags to riches #qcx

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Jack / KZ5A,

It's more like riding a 'unicycle'!? I'm 'here' to save you from hours of frustration!? I have a box of IBM cards (new) and a FORTRAN coding ruler so you can find coding errors!? :)

Sorry, I couldn't resist!!? I programmed in FORTRAN (IV/VII/95) for 20 years!? USAF B-52G/H, F-15C/E flight simulators, and F-15S maintenance simulator.

Garry / WD0DUD

On 4/9/2019 4:49 PM, Jack Brabham - KZ5A wrote:

i finally got tracking on the replacement uP for my QCX40, looks like it will be here in a week or so.?? That shipment also includes a new QCX 20 to build after I get the QCX40 percolating.? Today I ordered a uBITX (via DHL) which may get here from India before the QCX20 makes it from NY.? Oh, also have a BaMaTec QCX cabinet due any day (should have bought 2.....).

I'm going to a very busy boy here ......"SOON"... group... "how soon?"? (great big grin). REAL SOON!!!

Meanwhile back on planet 10.... I'm digesting Jack P's excellent book on Arduino C and ordered a few Arduino's to play with.

I was pretty good with Fortran and DEC PDP-11 assembly language around 3 decades ago..? Hopefully it's like riding a bike and you never really forget how.

73 Jack KZ5A