Re: QMX does not turn on a second time
#qmx
On Sat, Feb 17, 2024 at 02:57 AM, @Ludwig_DH8WN wrote:
Which power supply did you use during the last switch off from normal work?
?When it was working I was using a linear-regulator, 3A, bench power supply at 9V, same as I use for my low-band QMX.
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Re: QMX HW Diagnostics: No TX?
Great news, Todd!
?Enjoy your radio! This online community is exceptional for its strong mutual support and for its engagement in alpha and beta testing of Hans' new products.
?Wonderful!
73 JZ KJ4A?
On Sat, Feb 17, 2024, 8:15?AM Todd W2TEF < w2tef@...> wrote: Final update:
I received my parts and removed the AOD403 without further incident. That was so easy I decided to go ahead and plop in the new one. I ended up not being satisfied with how it landed and, in trying to remove it to have another go, I ended up lifting the OTHER leg's pad.?
At this point I decided I may be operating a little too far out of my own current skill-level. So I contacted Jeff Moore and shipped the whole thing off.
Jeff found some suspect solder joints, a distorted (by installation heat) power connector, and added the 1N4148 suggested for my 2023 Rev 2 board. He was able to build back up both solder pads for the AOD403, which is now functioning beautifully. In doing diagnostics he noticed some high and flaky SWR readings and spent a few days head-scratching and replacing a few more parts. A lot of labor on a $100 radio!
But last night I was on the air and, despite challenging band conditions, made a QSO with a friend half-way across the country on my simple wire dipole. We gave each other similar signal reports; him running 75 watts and me, well, on the QMX at 12v.??
Thanks to John for your diagnostic help and encouragement. Thank you Jeff for doing top-notch work and providing an accessible backstop when I finally acknowledged I was out of my tinkering league!?
Two other notes:
Using my device for CW practice, in practice mode, with a QRP-Labs dummy load, it had a terrible thump that made it mostly unusable for that purpose. On the air with a real antenna that thump completely disappeared and it is extremely well-behaved. Ironically, Hans pushed out several firmware improvements while I was without my unit, and v.16 -- with the fixed CW algorithms, was released the day I got it back.
And today comes yet more new firmware with AGC. Wow. I feel like Hans has really cornered the market on a usable, portable, affordable, and uniquely feature-ful QRP transceiver. Brilliant!?
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Re: #qmx #firmware 1_00_017 AGC, S-meter, LPF sweep
#qmx
#firmware
Just a quick note: while changing "Audio gain" in band config. menu from the terminal, I observed that the S-meter and the AGC are heavily affected by it, i.e. if I set 0dB of "Audio gain", there's barely any S-meter or AGC action displayed on the screen.
This can be also be observed on "The Lab" (see what you have done? :-)) )
OTOH, if I change the "Audio atten." value, S-meter and AGC level seem to be unaffected by it.
Is this how it's supposed to be? I'm thinking that, at this momemnt, if you're changing "Audio gain" to anything other than the default value of 54, the S-meter is losing it's calibration. Or so it appears to me, I'm known to have been wrong before :-))
Yes, you are correct. But this is also how I have declared that the system works. If you look in the operating manual section on the AGC I described all the stages the signal goes through from the antenna BNC port through to the 3.5mm earphone output. You'll see that I said the band configuration gain value comes before the AGC action. The audio attenuator and volume control gain come later. This is why they don't affect the S-meter. So the intention was that the band configuration gain can be used to equalize and calibrate, to cancel out any differences in BPF attenuation etc between the bands.?
On my unit a band configuration gain of 54 on 40m calibrates the S-meter correctly. Note that the S-meter is logarithmic with 6dB/bar. This doesn't depend on anything in band configuration, it's linearity as 6dB/bar is always accurate. But the number of bars for a given level such as S9 would vary and that's what needs calibration by adjusting the gain in the band configuration screen.
So what you observed is the correct behavior for how the system is written now. But if you think I should improve it somehow please let me know.?
And one other thing, if I set the "Audio gain" to, say, 30dB on one band and 0dB on all other bands, the audio seems to honor the 30dB for all bands. The reverse is also true, If I set 0dB on one band and 30 on all the others, the 0dB seem to take over
Yeah that really doesn't seem right, I should have to look into that.?
73 Hans G0UPL
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Re: #qmx #firmware 1_00_017 AGC, S-meter, LPF sweep
#qmx
#firmware
Awesome work Hans, when I watched the YouTube video last night I thought wow is the QRPLabs group going to be going wild tomorrow!!
Thanks for your incredible commitment to satisfying your supporters!
John?
K7KTM?
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Hi Randy - Sorry I didn't try keying the QMX on CW via the cat interface in N1MM+.? ?I used mine with a winkeyer which interfaces directly to N1MM+.? I tend toward using the external keyer so it is usable with multiple rigs without me worrying about getting keying over CAT interface working for different rigs. It also eliminates any lags, which is rig dependent and baud rate speed dependent.? I have been bitten more than once attempting to get the CAT interface to work in the heat of battle.?
-Steve K1RF
------ Original Message ------
Date 2/17/2024 11:43:56 AM
Subject [QRPLabs] N1MM config for #QMX
I know I've had this working before, but I can't get it going today for the DX contest. N1MM gets the QMX frequency, but won't go into transmit or send CW when I select an N1MM message. Here's what I have:
Port COM 12 (this works with Putty, and N1MM follows the QMX frequency setting)
Radio TS-480
CW/Other checked
SET:
? Speed 38400
? Parity N
? Data Bits 8
? Stop Bits 2
? DTR CW
? RTS Always off
? Radio Nr 1
? PPT Delay 30
? Radio polling rate Normal
? Enable Both Hardware & Software PTT Checked
? PTT via Radio Command CW Mode Checked
? Two Radio Protocol None
? Footswitch None
When sending an N1MM message, the QMX does not go into transmit, so PTT isn't getting set, and no CW is sent.
The QMX is on firmware 016, but I'm going to update to 017 while I'm waiting for an answer to my problem. I doubt changing to 017 will have any impact to the N1MM CAT interface...
Appreciate any help!
73,
Randy, KS4L
?
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I know I've had this working before, but I can't get it going today for the DX contest. N1MM gets the QMX frequency, but won't go into transmit or send CW when I select an N1MM message. Here's what I have:
Port COM 12 (this works with Putty, and N1MM follows the QMX frequency setting)
Radio TS-480
CW/Other checked
SET:
? Speed 38400
? Parity N
? Data Bits 8
? Stop Bits 2
? DTR CW
? RTS Always off
? Radio Nr 1
? PPT Delay 30
? Radio polling rate Normal
? Enable Both Hardware & Software PTT Checked
? PTT via Radio Command CW Mode Checked
? Two Radio Protocol None
? Footswitch None
When sending an N1MM message, the QMX does not go into transmit, so PTT isn't getting set, and no CW is sent.
The QMX is on firmware 016, but I'm going to update to 017 while I'm waiting for an answer to my problem. I doubt changing to 017 will have any impact to the N1MM CAT interface...
Appreciate any help!
73,
Randy, KS4L
?
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Re: QDX High bands question
Hans,
Ah yes, I see now. Thank you for the heads up. I have the correct assembly manual (and the other two). Appreciate the heads up!
?
--
William, k6whp
--------------------
"Cheer up, things could get worse. So I cheered up and things got worse."
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The power/current will change with SWR.? The direction will depend on the impedance of the load.? A 2:1 SWR can be 25 or 100 ohms for a 50-ohm system.? ?It also depends on the PA circuit's characteristics and the load impedance's reactive part.? My off-center fed dipole always has a higher power reading than the 50-ohm dummy load.??
73
Evan
AC9TU
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Re: #qmx #firmware 1_00_017 AGC, S-meter, LPF sweep
#qmx
#firmware
Hans,
Just a quick note: while changing "Audio gain" in band config. menu from the terminal, I observed that the S-meter and the AGC are heavily affected by it, i.e. if I set 0dB of "Audio gain", there's barely any S-meter or AGC action displayed on the screen.
This can be also be observed on "The Lab" (see what you have done? :-)) )
OTOH, if I change the "Audio atten." value, S-meter and AGC level seem to be unaffected by it.
Is this how it's supposed to be? I'm thinking that, at this momemnt, if you're changing "Audio gain" to anything other than the default value of 54, the S-meter is losing it's calibration. Or so it appears to me, I'm known to have been wrong before :-))
And one other thing, if I set the "Audio gain" to, say, 30dB on one band and 0dB on all other bands, the audio seems to honor the 30dB for all bands. The reverse is also true, If I set 0dB on one band and 30 on all the others, the 0dB seem to take over.
Regards,
YO3GFH
op. Adrian
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Re: Really trivial bug on GPS display QMX
Another nit... if I recall, there was something about December.? I think it said "Dev" instead of "Dec" or something.? Obviously I can't check now.? But can you check on it Hans?
Thanks,
Robb
K5RAB
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I'm having a blast with this thing. I've not done much else this week other than operate on 20m with the QDX I finished on Monday. Built as a low band 12V, I started running at 8V and worked my way up to 12 basically a volt at a time checking the RF power and current draw. Power output seems a bit more than I expected based on the manuals and I seem to be getting out well even with a compromised antenna. Here are some numbers with the QRP Labs dummy load.
19.4V at 12V (est 5.5W from graph)?710mA?current draw
17.9V at 11V (est 5W+ from graph)??665mA?current draw
16.25V at 10V (est 4W from graph)?625mA?current draw
14.6V at 9V (est 3W+ from graph)?580mA?current draw
12.9V at 8V (est 2.5W from graph)?549mA?current draw
I mostly run it at 11V for some extra safety margin on SWR. I've managed to keep the SWR less than 1.2 though. If my SWR was getting high would I expect to see higher current draw? I do see maybe 30mA more with the?antenna than dummy load but it varies +- 15mA or so.
Thanks QRP Labs for a great kit!
?
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Re: WSPR Receive Frequency on QCX Mini With TCXO
Thanks, Alan. I'll have a look at the schematic.? That sounds promising.?
On 17/02/2024 08:13, dl3naa via groups.io wrote: > Karl, there is another possibility Which reminds me, it is possible to bypass the QCX filter with a switch. Makes SSB receive possible but not good. WSPR does its own filtering. 73 Alan G4ZFQ
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Re: QMX HW Diagnostics: No TX?
Final update:
I received my parts and removed the AOD403 without further incident. That was so easy I decided to go ahead and plop in the new one. I ended up not being satisfied with how it landed and, in trying to remove it to have another go, I ended up lifting the OTHER leg's pad.?
At this point I decided I may be operating a little too far out of my own current skill-level. So I contacted Jeff Moore and shipped the whole thing off.
Jeff found some suspect solder joints, a distorted (by installation heat) power connector, and added the 1N4148 suggested for my 2023 Rev 2 board. He was able to build back up both solder pads for the AOD403, which is now functioning beautifully. In doing diagnostics he noticed some high and flaky SWR readings and spent a few days head-scratching and replacing a few more parts. A lot of labor on a $100 radio!
But last night I was on the air and, despite challenging band conditions, made a QSO with a friend half-way across the country on my simple wire dipole. We gave each other similar signal reports; him running 75 watts and me, well, on the QMX at 12v.??
Thanks to John for your diagnostic help and encouragement. Thank you Jeff for doing top-notch work and providing an accessible backstop when I finally acknowledged I was out of my tinkering league!?
Two other notes:
Using my device for CW practice, in practice mode, with a QRP-Labs dummy load, it had a terrible thump that made it mostly unusable for that purpose. On the air with a real antenna that thump completely disappeared and it is extremely well-behaved. Ironically, Hans pushed out several firmware improvements while I was without my unit, and v.16 -- with the fixed CW algorithms, was released the day I got it back.
And today comes yet more new firmware with AGC. Wow. I feel like Hans has really cornered the market on a usable, portable, affordable, and uniquely feature-ful QRP transceiver. Brilliant!?
|
Really trivial bug on GPS display QMX
I spotted a really trivial bug in the GPS display from terminal on the QMX in version 1_00_016 of the firmware The month is a month out - took the following snap on 17th Feb, not Jan. ?The UT Date is out by a month. ?Really not an issue but mentioned in case the code is used elsewhere. 73 Paul M1CNK 
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Re: #qmx #firmware 1_00_017 AGC, S-meter, LPF sweep
#qmx
#firmware
Danny, ? I failed to mention that the high Smooth Samples setting related to receive only to minimize the background “frying” noise.? During Tx, I still hear some clicks, mostly on a crowded band like this weekend’s DX contest.? ? Paul, W9AC ?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Danny Bower
Sent: Saturday, February 17, 2024 6:17 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [QRPLabs] #qmx #firmware 1_00_017 AGC, S-meter, LPF sweep? On Sat, Feb 17, 2024 at 01:13 AM, Paul Christensen wrote: See below.? The high "Smooth Samples" setting seems to eliminate much of the audio clicks.? The remaining settings give reasonably good dynamic range while limiting strong signals. I'm still experimenting with values but this is a good start.
Paul, W9AC
I have just tried this and smoothing makes no difference to the clicking for me.? It seems much more related to the AF gain with the clicking being very much reduced with the AF gain turned down and seems to be related to the clunking that is sometimes present when keying on older firmware versions.? With S9=S9 the clunking is very pronounced and makes keying barely possible.? With S9=S0 then this is reduced to the spark like sound and with the AF gain dialled down becomes perfectly manageable but present.? However I have not tried it on air to see if the incoming signal will be loud enough to hear.
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Re: #qmx #firmware 1_00_017 AGC, S-meter, LPF sweep
#qmx
#firmware
On Sat, Feb 17, 2024 at 01:13 AM, Paul Christensen wrote:
See below.? The high "Smooth Samples" setting seems to eliminate much of the audio clicks.? The remaining settings give reasonably good dynamic range while limiting strong signals. I'm still experimenting with values but this is a good start.
Paul, W9AC
I have just tried this and smoothing makes no difference to the clicking for me.? It seems much more related to the AF gain with the clicking being very much reduced with the AF gain turned down and seems to be related to the clunking that is sometimes present when keying on older firmware versions.? With S9=S9 the clunking is very pronounced and makes keying barely possible.? With S9=S0 then this is reduced to the spark like sound and with the AF gain dialled down becomes perfectly manageable but present.? However I have not tried it on air to see if the incoming signal will be loud enough to hear.
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Re: QMX does not turn on a second time
#qmx
Which power supply did you use during the last switch off from normal work?
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Re: QMX: Requiescat in Pacem
I meant of course "uncommon scenario":
"...I think my use case to provide power to the QMX from one power supply and have a laptop conencted with a different power supply with at least one power supply ungrounded is not an uncommon scenario, if you run FT8."
--
73, DB2OO -Joerg
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Re: #qmx #firmware 1_00_017 AGC, S-meter, LPF sweep
#qmx
#firmware
Thanks, Hans, this update (AGC) really makes a huge difference! ?As a feature request, could the S meter have a peak hold function? ?
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Frequency Preset number missing
I'm not sure if this is new to 1.00_017 but when selecting a preset (as per 4.9 in the manual), the preset number is not displayed and the display format is not as per the documentation. ? I prefer how the current display shows the preset frequency directly below the VFO frequency but would like to see the preset number too, maybe to the left of the L?
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Randy
k6whp
Todd W2TEF
Paul Christensen
Andy M0VVA