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Re: Both QDX units lost ability to transmit?

 

On 16/01/2024 18:57, KB9NBL wrote:
but no transmit power.
James,

Possible that you accidently caused the WSJT-X power slider to drop?

73 Alan G4ZFQ
Both QDX units lost ability to transmit?

 

Greeting,
Have been using this set up for 6 months on this computer. no problem except the dreaded Hamlib issue that I resolved.
I have 2 QDX units Low 5 band and High Mono version. Using a tuner at all times for 1.1 SWR.
Using Linux Mint, Virginia
Using WSJT-X 2.6.1
Issue:
?Sudden loss of transmit power during QSO with high band mono on the 13th of January. Receiving, but not transmitting.
Restarted WSJT-X thinking.... Hiccup.... Still receive, but no transmit power.
Tried QDX low band and same issue.
When I went into putty to check .....They both transmit fine as expected into my QRP O' Meter.

Anyone else run into this??
Any help is greatly appreciated

James?
Re: QMX: almost zero power out all bands

 

Make sure the BNC isn't damaged or shorted.
--
73, Dan - W2DLC
Re: Electronic Magnifier

 

I find that having binocular magnification is essential for my work, modifying and reverse-engineering electronics items.?
Monocular magnification, like the USB camera/screen combination lacks the critical depth information which binocular vision provides.
I have an Amscope microscope like this one:??? I usually use it at 8X magnification or so.
73, Don N2VGU
Re: Electronic Magnifier

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

My wife does head and neck surgery and recently upgraded her surgical loupes. She passed the old pair down to me. I also have a Nikon SMZ series binocular microscope.? Both items help with detailed PCB work but an LED-lighted magnifier on an articulated arm has worked best. It has four brightness settings and a "C" clamp mount to quickly and easily move it around. ?Amazon link below:

?

?

?

Paul, W9AC

?

?

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of simonbeliveau.1@...


Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2024 12:46 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [QRPLabs] Electronic Magnifier

?

I use an Andonstar AD209 from Ali express. Solid performer with a 10in HD screen. Well worth it for SMD work among others.?
--
Simon VA2NM

Re: Electronic Magnifier

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

I paint miniatures as another hobby. Over the years I¡¯ve tried multiple magnification things.

Lighted helping hands: ok, but not quite enough magnification and the focal point can be fiddly. I found I had to move my head in and out a lot.

Optivisor: the gold standard, but I find them hot and uncomfortable after a short period.

6x reading glasses: cheap on Amazon. Works pretty well to give me binocular vision, but I have a hard time seeing anything else that isn¡¯t quite close to my head. Not great for soldering, since I have to be so close. But I also have a vent system.

Craft Optics: horribly expensive. But worth it. Uses your prescription to create glasses and a high power magnifying system. This is close to the system that dentists and doctors use, so the focal point is comfortable, the lighting is good, etc. battery life is good.

Magnifying screen: I don¡¯t use a USB magnifier, I use my phone. I mount it in a small tripod that fits on my bench (and holds my POTA antenna). If the screen needs to be bigger, I connect it to my workbench TV.

The three I find myself reaching for the most are the reading glasses, my phone, and the Craft Optics. Get them at www.craftoptics.com

Dan
--
. Please pardon any mispelings or errors.


On Jan 15, 2024, at 9:55?PM, Leland L. Bahr <w5drc@...> wrote:

? My eyes are not what they used to be. I'm thinking of buying one of those electronic magnifiers with an attached 7-9" screen or something close to that size. ? Can anyone give me some insight as to what I should buy?? (I'll spend up to $175 if required.)? I've been using a lighted magnifying glass for vision impaired and that works OK if I don't fog it up but keeping proper distance is a pain.? I thought maybe an electronic one might work better.?? My eyesight is just typical old guy eye sight.

Lee, w0vt

Re: QMX: almost zero power out all bands

 

Larry,

Post an image of your Diagnostics page while in TX. What is the PA voltage showing? What is the PIN bias current showing?
Also, check C526. It may have been cracked during assembly.

JZ KJ4A


On Mon, Jan 15, 2024 at 8:04?PM Larry VE7EA <lagagnon@...> wrote:
Yeah, what kind of throws me is I was very diligent about scraping off enamel on every toroid beforehand and double checking continuity. Oh well, back the soldering iron I go....

Re: Qcx Mini as a 6 Meter CW Beacon

GIUSEPPE
 

Hi John, yes I can roughly remember what I did to build the QCX MINI for the 6m band.? Starting from T1, 2+2+2+18 laps, L1, 7 laps, L2, 9 laps, L3, 7 laps, L4, 6 laps.? I followed the windings for the construction of the LPF for the 6 m with relative capacitors, I transmit that for T1 and L4, I could not find anyone for advice and help, I sent emails several times on this group but no one could tell me what to do, in fact they advised me against building it because according to them it wouldn't work.? John, until 01/14/2024 I received beacon reception reports, after two years of uninterrupted 24/24 h transmission it always outputs 3 w and lately I use a 2 element directive antenna, it also transmitted for a period in CW with excellent ratings , however in WSPR I REACHED 3000 KM, the attached photos are the ones I sent.? Don't be discouraged to build it, in fact if you have any advice to give me for modifying the windings or anything else I would be happy to accept them, if you need send an email.? On my YouTube channel iu8eun I put some videos of the beacon also on 2 meters with U3S.? Bye and have a good day.

Giuseppe iu8eun

Il Mar 16 Gen 2024, 03:13 John Olsavicky <kc3pby@...> ha scritto:
Hello Giuseppe,
I read your posts from a few years ago about this 6-meter beacon you wanted to build and I'm very happy to hear that it has worked so well for you. When you built it, do you recall any problems you had to work out? I just received my kit in the mail today and plan to start the build tomorrow. Hans suggested using 1 or 2 turns less on the L4 coil and the long winding of T1.? Can you remember if that is what you did?

I'm very encouraged by your success. Anything you can remember would be very helpful.

Thanks, John - KC3PBY

Re: Electronic Magnifier

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Lee,

Try this magnified visor:


I had used two of them in my medical practice for 30+ years and kept them when I retired. ?They are available from MicroMark and Amazon with different lenses. There are cheaper knockoffs also. ?I have the extra loup for mine and the LED light set from MicroMark and find both are very helpful for my 78 year old eyes.

I also have the microscope with the screen but found it to be clumsy ( maybe that¡¯s me) compared to actually looking at a pc board with my OptiVISOR.

I also use my cell phone as a camera/magnifier when looking for faults.

Dave K8WPE?

David J. Wilcox¡¯s iPad
Traverse City, Michigan

On Jan 15, 2024, at 3:48?PM, Leland L. Bahr <w5drc@...> wrote:

? My eyes are not what they used to be. I'm thinking of buying one of those electronic magnifiers with an attached 7-9" screen or something close to that size. ? Can anyone give me some insight as to what I should buy?? (I'll spend up to $175 if required.)? I've been using a lighted magnifying glass for vision impaired and that works OK if I don't fog it up but keeping proper distance is a pain.? I thought maybe an electronic one might work better.?? My eyesight is just typical old guy eye sight.

Lee, w0vt

Re: Electronic Magnifier

 

Andonstar are good. ? Check out their full range- Look out for those called (not all are) soldering microscopes. ? This indicates there is or can be a big gap between the lens and the objective item in use. ? ?This is of course not a requirement for a coin or biological microscope?

Without this gap boards with tall items on them or trying to get a soldering iron or finger in there is difficult or impossible?

Re: Electronic Magnifier

 

I use an Andonstar AD209 from Ali express. Solid performer with a 10in HD screen. Well worth it for SMD work among others.?
--
Simon VA2NM

Re: Get to know your dental hygienist!

 



¡ªTim NC0Q?

Re: QCX+ MIni IC Bad Behavior

 

Update: I performed all the tests that Ronald suggested, and the rig passed all of them! The buttons showed all of the proper voltages at pin 26 when each was pressed. R44 and R45 values were also confirmed.

The problem still persists, although I did find several less-than-perfect solder joints along the way, which I've cleaned up.

I've ordered a replacement IC2, which is scheduled to arrive at my house this week, along with a couple of other QRP Labs kits to justify the shipping expense. Fingers crossed!!

Re: troubleshooting QMX rev 2 high bands transmit #qmx #transmitpower #troubleshooting

 

Thank you for the response and ideas. I will check again, but based on this my problem may be the enamel, since not all 8 points of T507 are passing the continuity check against each other.?


73, Eduardo - KC8R

Re: QMX (80-20m) Rev 2 Harmonics

ReefKeeper2K23
 

Quick update:

The second attenuator arrived (30db 10w). I connected it in series with the existing (10db 25w) attenuator I already had here and tested again. The harmonics look better across all bands. The highest they get is on 60 meters. I think it was the second harmonic that was ~44dbm below the fundamental. On other bands they appeared to be suppressed enough they were not detectable or significantly suppressed. Next on the list is an antenna analyzer. Just using the built in SWR sweep for the moment to tune the 20m EFHW I put together this past weekend. Seems to be working well.

Thank you all for the help in figuring out the measurements.?

Re: Qcx Mini as a 6 Meter CW Beacon

 

Hello Giuseppe,
I read your posts from a few years ago about this 6-meter beacon you wanted to build and I'm very happy to hear that it has worked so well for you. When you built it, do you recall any problems you had to work out? I just received my kit in the mail today and plan to start the build tomorrow. Hans suggested using 1 or 2 turns less on the L4 coil and the long winding of T1.? Can you remember if that is what you did?

I'm very encouraged by your success. Anything you can remember would be very helpful.

Thanks, John - KC3PBY

Re: QMX: almost zero power out all bands

 

Yeah, what kind of throws me is I was very diligent about scraping off enamel on every toroid beforehand and double checking continuity. Oh well, back the soldering iron I go....

Re: QMX: almost zero power out all bands

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

First place to look from what I read is T507 and the solder connections. The heavy wire and ground plane make soldering difficult. If you didn't scrape the enamel off before soldering you will have difficulty burning it off. Takes lots of heat, but don't wreck the board either.

73,
Cliff, AE5ZA



On Jan 15, 2024, at 18:46, Larry VE7EA <lagagnon@...> wrote:

I recently finished building the QMX kit, 20-10m version, Rev 2. The receiver works great on all bands, and all systems function well except transmit.
I have built 4 other QCX Mini kits successfully and yes, I suspect toroid shorting or lack of continuity in the Tx circuit somewhere but would like some hints as to where to start.
(PS: all Tx testing was done with a 50 ohm dummy load/wattmeter).

These are my symptoms:
  • If ¡°Protection Enabled at SWR 3¡± and transmitter is keyed "S" immediately appears and no output - all bands
  • If "Protection Disabled" quick key down at low voltage (9v on a 12v wiring) and test with nearby receiver shows extremely weak signal on 20-17m and slightly stronger signal 15-10m but QRP wattmeter reads nil

    Given the lack of power out on any band I suspect problem lies before the band filters, and possibly around T501. However, if there is little to no power out why is the SWR circuit even involved?
    Thanks for your attention.
    Larry VE7EA

QMX: almost zero power out all bands

 

I recently finished building the QMX kit, 20-10m version, Rev 2. The receiver works great on all bands, and all systems function well except transmit.
I have built 4 other QCX Mini kits successfully and yes, I suspect toroid shorting or lack of continuity in the Tx circuit somewhere but would like some hints as to where to start.
(PS: all Tx testing was done with a 50 ohm dummy load/wattmeter).

These are my symptoms:
  • If ¡°Protection Enabled at SWR 3¡± and transmitter is keyed "S" immediately appears and no output - all bands
  • If "Protection Disabled" quick key down at low voltage (9v on a 12v wiring) and test with nearby receiver shows extremely weak signal on 20-17m and slightly stronger signal 15-10m but QRP wattmeter reads nil

    Given the lack of power out on any band I suspect problem lies before the band filters, and possibly around T501. However, if there is little to no power out why is the SWR circuit even involved?
    Thanks for your attention.
    Larry VE7EA

QMX worked briefly then died when adjusting... Help?

 

My QMX high band rev2 kit worked right away! Until I went to go do some minor adjustments to the 10m LPF and the SWR bridge (was reading 1.5-1.7 when into a dummy load) when it suddenly died.

Now, I have a strange set of symptoms. The main one is that I see 0.75V (stable on varying input voltage) on the lin_reg_en pin from the SMPS board #2, but nothing ever seems to bring up 3V3.

Current draw is consistently 0 even when pressing the encoder. The encoders seem to be making contact correctly as far as I can tell from testing on the controls board and the QMX main board.

It sure seems like something might have fried my linear regulator, but I'm not sure quite how to confirm and or if there's anything I can really do about it other than trying to order some replacement SMPS boards?

I can handle a bit of SMT rework, but I also don't really want to put the maybe still working (?) main board at risk if I don't have to?

Thanks for any advice!

Devin KN6PHZ?

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