QDX - No transmit on 80M
#qdx
Hi All,
I have a rev 3a QDX (80-20 model, firmware 1.10) that I built back around 10/2022. I used it more or less continuously for 6mo after building it, with great results. I wrapped T1 for 12v and usually ran it from my bench supply at 13.8-14.4v. I never had issues with heat - my shack is in the basement and is rarely over 60-65F, but perhaps this is the root of my problem?
In any case, I set it up again this morning and while going through the bands I discovered that 80M doesn't transmit at all. The LED pulses, but the meter on my ATU registers no output power. The rest of the bands seem fine - 5.5w on 20M, 7.3w on 30M, 5.9w on 40M, and 7.6w on 60M, tested using the built in transmitter tester. I see the same results using the tune button in WSJT-X.??
I shot a quick video here:
And have photos of the board here (I don't see anything wrong, but perhaps someone else will) -?
Any recommendations for things to check or test? I have a pretty standard complement of radio/lab gear to work with.
Thanks & 73s,
John K1QLN
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Looks like it's still available or at least it's current iteration.?
Rigol DS1102Z-E - Two Channel / 100 MHz Digital Oscilloscope
Roy WA0YMH?
Thanks for suggesting "Oscilloscope Applications for the QRP Enthusiast." Just what I was looking for.
I don't have an oscilloscope yet and the one that McClanahan bases his text on, the "Rigol DS1102E 100 MHz digital" seems to be out of production. The book was first published 2015, so I'm guessing there are a lot of newer oscilloscopes on the market.
Does anyone have a suggestion for an inexpensive digital oscilloscope? I don't have any experience with which to choose one and there are many available on Amazon and other sources. At this point, I don't really have a need for a very complex instrument, just something suitable for analyzing my herd of QRP radios and test gear. Thanks.
Cheers, Michael KE7FZD?
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Re: #qmx #firmware 1_00_017 AGC, S-meter, LPF sweep
#qmx
#firmware
Hi Roy
Yes I deleted 1_00_017 from the page...?
There's a division-by-zero someplace when the new parameter settings are zero. Ouuuuffff... OK I am figuring it out then I will stop that...?
Hi Hans. Hopefully you'll pull the release from the QMX page until this gets figured out.
My QMX does show up with it's USB Serial Device (COM4 in my case). But PUTTY won't connect to it. PuTTY finally times out with a semaphore timeout error.
I've not tried forcing it into firmware upgrade mode yet (with jumper). I suspect that's next which will hopfully let me roll back to 016 until this gets sorted.
73
Roy - KI0ER
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Re: #qmx #firmware 1_00_017 AGC, S-meter, LPF sweep
#qmx
#firmware
Hi Hans. Hopefully you'll pull the release from the QMX page until this gets figured out.
My QMX does show up with it's USB Serial Device (COM4 in my case). But PUTTY won't connect to it. PuTTY finally times out with a semaphore timeout error.
I've not tried forcing it into firmware upgrade mode yet (with jumper). I suspect that's next which will hopfully let me roll back to 016 until this gets sorted.
73
Roy - KI0ER
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Re: #qmx #firmware 1_00_017 AGC, S-meter, LPF sweep
#qmx
#firmware
OK... I nearly found it... WAIT...
On Fri, Feb 16, 2024 at 5:43?PM Hans Summers via <hans.summers= [email protected]> wrote: Hmmmm
Interesting... well best people WAIT a little bit... while I think...
On Fri, Feb 16, 2024 at 5:41?PM Danny Bower < m0sdb@...> wrote: Yes - this is my issue.? It did boot to what looked like to be a working state once however all controls were frozen.? On reboot it was back to this initializing state...
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Hans,
I do have a few of these to overnight to you if your looking for quality soldering irons that last and need quickly ?
Just trying to help......
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Re: #qmx #firmware 1_00_017 AGC, S-meter, LPF sweep
#qmx
#firmware
Hmmmm
Interesting... well best people WAIT a little bit... while I think...
On Fri, Feb 16, 2024 at 5:41?PM Danny Bower < m0sdb@...> wrote: Yes - this is my issue.? It did boot to what looked like to be a working state once however all controls were frozen.? On reboot it was back to this initializing state...
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Re: #qmx #firmware 1_00_017 AGC, S-meter, LPF sweep
#qmx
#firmware
Yes - this is my issue.? It did boot to what looked like to be a working state once however all controls were frozen.? On reboot it was back to this initializing state...
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Re: #qmx #firmware 1_00_017 AGC, S-meter, LPF sweep
#qmx
#firmware
Hmmmm,
I just followed the usual procedure to update the firmware to 17 and having placed the new file in the QMX pseudo-directory, the lights didn't come on again.
I waited a while and eventually powered down.
On powering up again it showed version 17 but the serial comms didn't work. I tried several times, checking the com port number in case it had changed, but Windows reported a problem with the USB device that was connected whenever the QMX was powered up.
I would have tried to install the firmware again but there is no QMX pseudo directory any more, when entering the boot mode, just the Windows error message on the PC.
Is that goodbye?
Regards
Bev
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Re: #qmx #firmware 1_00_017 AGC, S-meter, LPF sweep
#qmx
#firmware
Mine just got stuck there as well. Rev 2. I cycled the power and it got past it but was locked up. Cycled again and it gets stuck at that screen. Putty won't connect in either case.
Brad W8BMO
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Re: #qmx #firmware 1_00_017 AGC, S-meter, LPF sweep
#qmx
#firmware
I just upgraded the firmware to 017, and the display after it re-started just showed "A14.030.00P" followed by an battery icon indicating the battery was empty. It was in practice mode before the update. But I cannot turn the QMX off, no input controls work.
I had to pull the plug on power to turn if off (or do anything for that matter).
When it came back up it looked like this ... and again totally unresponsive to any control input on the QMX:
After pulling the plug a 2nd time, it restarted looking like it did on the first startup, with ONLY A14.030.00P showing and an empty battery symbol. Yet another restart, the QMX looks like this:
It won't let me get to the Factory Reset option.? I was running 016 firmware right before upgrading to 017. This is a low-band QMX on Rev 1 board.
73
Roy - KI0ER
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Re: #qmx #firmware 1_00_017 AGC, S-meter, LPF sweep
#qmx
#firmware
Hmm - apologies for the numerous posts.
Rebooted and it is stuck on Si5351A again.,,
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Re: #qmx #firmware 1_00_017 AGC, S-meter, LPF sweep
#qmx
#firmware
Do ignore me - a forced firmware boot and re-install and peace seems to have been restored.? Will test and report back any other findings :)
Top work as always Hans
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A few months ago I successfully built the low band QMX, and it was fully working. This week I had a short interruption of the power supply, resulting in a blown D108. I replaced it, and also updated to FW 1_00_016 (was 1_00_010 before). Connected a dummy load, did a couple of tests, and everything seemd ok. Then I connected the antenna, receive is good, but as soon as I TX, the SWR protection kicks in. I checked the SWR of the antenna with my IC7300, and it shows 1:1. Re-checked with analyzer, it also shows perfect SWR, so I'm pretty sure the antenna is good.
I disabled the SWR protection, sent a quick CW and was immediately spotted in RBN, so TX works.
If I TX into the dummy load, no/perfect SWR is indicated and TX works, but into the real antenna, it shows high SWR and shuts off.
Any ideas, what could be wrong?
Tnx Robert
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Re: #qmx #firmware 1_00_017 AGC, S-meter, LPF sweep
#qmx
#firmware
Hmm - just tried to update my rev1 lo band and it is stuck on Enable Si5351A.
Anyone else stuck at this point?
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Oscilloscopes all have very similar controls, your text should be applicable to them all.??
I have 2 Hantek 'scopes, one the box type and the other essentially identical except that it is headless; all of the controls are on an application which runs on a computer.
The box type is more portable, the headless has an arbitrarily-large display.
And don't skimp on bandwidth; 50MHz is barely adequate for 10 meter work; I went for the highest available at the time, 4 channels @100MHz.? 2 channels may be enough for your needs.
I also opted for the internal tracking generator.
Don't forget to budget for quality 10X probes if they are not included with the 'scope.??
I started my career in the '70s using Tektronix 'scopes with storage CRTs.? If you are used to those analog 'scopes you are in for a pleasant surprise as regards storage and triggering capabilities and convenience.?
Hantek, Rigol, Siglent are all respected name brands in this mid-tier space.??
73, Don N2VGU
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Re: #qmx #firmware 1_00_017 AGC, S-meter, LPF sweep
#qmx
#firmware
Bravo, Hans. ?It looks fantastic.
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Re: QMX locks up during keying practice
I believe that in the newest firmware as of now (016) that the QMX will mute the sidetone when the transceiver enters protection mode. But that should not make it lock up.
I experienced a total lock-up of the QMX while in practice mode one time earlier this week which surprised me. But it hasn't happened since. I run Iambic B at 22 WPM when practicing. I don't use a dummy load, I put the QMX in Practice mode (which prevents it from transmitting RF).
It's possible that something with your dummy load setup, like an unreliable connection somewhere, is allowing RF back into the QMX, which can definitely manifest itself as a total lock up.
If it happens to me again whilst in practice mode, I'll report back.
73
Roy - KI0ER?
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Re: IQ mode Enabled on version 16
#qmx
Thanks Hans,
Installed V17 and the digi enablement is working perfectly.? Very happy.
73 de ZR6TM
Timo
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KB9NBL
Paul Christensen
Donald S Brant Jr