My best practice for part inventory
YEA - just finished QMX and all diag look good - nice to have itt work 1st time - all that triple checking paid off. BUT: - ?had current limit too low - so it would not stay booted
- My 1st USB cable did not enumerate as flash drive.. 2nd cable worked
Was very valuable to visual inventory and pre-sort all caps w/ a printout on foam for parts/Part#
AND - I am 60 years old.. so all work was done under a MAG LIGHT
-- --------------------------------------- KINETIC LABS
14850 NW Northumbria Lane Beaverton Oregon 97006 FAX: (413) 294-7223 PHONE: (503) 382-7117 spencerbarrett@...
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Just wanted to say that the QMX+ was a pleasure to build and, now that I've actually read the operations manual, it seems to be working as advertised!? With the GPS finally syncing up.
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My power is pretty typical I guess but I am a bit surprised that the the 20 and 17 are so much less than the 15 meter output.? Built for 12V
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160? -? ?5.6
80? ? -? ?5.6
60? ? -? ?4.8
40? ? -? ?4.8
30? ? -? ?5.0
20? ? -? ?3.8
17? ? ?-? 3.0
15? ? ?-? 5.2
12? ? ?-? 3.1
10? ? ?-? 3.8
6? ? ? ?-? 2.5
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Everything seems to be as advertised with no issues when following instructions.? HI
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If any one has found a way to get 20 and 17 up a bit i would be interested.? seems they should be as good as 30 and 15!
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Anyway very nice project.? Hats off to Hans for another fun radio.
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Mark N5MF
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I wound the torid in tight groups of 6x - Note the 27 turn fills up the inside of the torid.
- When I verify the groups fo 6x.. it is not easy to count - but I find the middle of the 6x winding - and there are three windings to left and right. ?- Spencer
On Sat, Feb 22, 2025 at 3:54?AM David Wilcox K8WPE via <Djwilcox01= [email protected]> wrote: Just take a photo with your smart phone, enlarge it, count the turns easily then. ? Dave K8WPE
PS ?Now I understand…… He who dies with the most toys has probably forgotten much what he has and why……. So true!
? Dave- LOL.? Yeah, it is actually kind of relaxing to wind these things. But the counting does stress my poor little brain....
Thanks for the encouragement.
-- --------------------------------------- KINETIC LABS
14850 NW Northumbria Lane Beaverton Oregon 97006 FAX: (413) 294-7223 PHONE: (503) 382-7117 spencerbarrett@...
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I GIVE UP!
?
Pressing the encoder the +12V pad showed 11,5V, Vdd 0,01V and Vcc 1,15 V.
But then, possibly the DMM probe shorted the Vcc and Vdd pads of JP105...
Every voltage is now zero, the encoder pressed or not.
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I really would like to see a robust QMX++ with linear regulators. So much trouble (me and many many others) with the SMPS'es.
Remember the KISS principle!
Saving some hundred mA may be relevant if running with alkaline batteries, but most of us are using AC powered chargers or massive lithium batteries.
?
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73 Matti OH6BEX
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@ Jerry Gaffke,
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? Jerry, if your question was at me:? My QMX+ is Board V2 with firmware 1-00-027 when my occurrence happened less than a month ago.
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@ Mattie
?I see you checked your unit with 12.15 voltage applied.? ?Your results were no voltage at VDD and VCC when referenced with ground.? ?Please understand that these points are after transistor(s) that would kick in (switch on) after the Processer or Voltage Regulator circuit is satisfied with certain conditions.? ?Your unit is not meting those conditions.
?
I suggested earlier that you check the Resistance with your ohm meter across VDD and Ground to see what the readings are.? This will let you/ us know if you have some damage part(s) on the 3.3v rail.? As I said earlier that mine had a reading around 260ish ohm (No Good) on that rail.? That told me that I needed to go down that rabbit hole looking for an issue there.? ?Mine ended up being that D109 was damaged and pulling the voltage to ground.? This didn't let the 3.3v power get to the proper voltage to power the circuits needing that power rail i.e., the brains of the unit, the processor.? ? If you choose to, please look at my earlier post and share your findings with what you get on checking the resistance across VDD and Ground. THIS IS WITH NO VOLTAGE APPLIED TO THE QMX+.? ?I just opened up my unit and confirmed that my resistance reading taking from JP105 VDD to ground is 2.54 K Ohms on the working unit.? Let us know the results.
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?If your results with the ohm reading is not above 1k ohms, I would then try testing the unit like I said in the earlier post.? ?Apply power (If you can put your unit on a regulated power supply with 7V, 250m amp limit setting).? Place a finger on the Q109 or Q111 (my version 2 QMX+ these were found on the bottom of the main board).? While holding down the Power Button, did the transistor get hot to the touch?? If the answer is yes than something is pulling too much current and not allowing the supply rail to get to 3.3 volts.? for me, the diode had shorted and cause the issue of pulling too much current to ground (D109).
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?I just trying to help so if you could post the results of your findings this could help the group understand what your next steps is/ are.
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73 KQ4DTX
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Just take a photo with your smart phone, enlarge it, count the turns easily then. ? Dave K8WPE
PS ?Now I understand…… He who dies with the most toys has probably forgotten much what he has and why……. So true!
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On Feb 21, 2025, at 10:28?AM, Larry- WA2VKG via groups.io <lbakely@...> wrote:
? Dave- LOL.? Yeah, it is actually kind of relaxing to wind these things. But the counting does stress my poor little brain....
Thanks for the encouragement.
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N6ARA is working on a tiny-tunable-antenna (based on the "" design antenna that seems popular in...Asia) that can go directly on small QRP rigs. https://www.instagram.com/p/DD5xJzuPVHj/?img_index=1
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This may be a winner for super fast and light field use with the QMX - frankly, any QRP radio.
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Also note tiny paddle at bottom plugged right into key port - he’s built a poor-man’s KH1.
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Yoon, I have had some RF feedback using my KH1 at times in certain circumstances. ?It was usually on my deck in a stucco sided 3rd floor condo here in Florida. ?I was using my SuperAntenna MP-1 fastened to the deck railing. ?I then put a CMC out 10’ in the feedline and that solved the problem.? Dave K8WPE
PS ?Now I understand…… He who dies with the most toys has probably forgotten much what he has and why……. So true!
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On Feb 21, 2025, at 4:08?PM, Yoon KM6KJI via groups.io <yoonh.choi@...> wrote:
? On Fri, Feb 21, 2025 at 11:49 AM, Wei AG6AQ wrote:
I was inspired by your post and tried myself with MFJ1720, the major problem is RFI. Have you seen RFI problem in your handheld setting?
Wei, what was the symptom of the RFI problem? Maybe some erratic behaviors of QMX like turning off itself or the keyer suddenly not working, etc.?
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I do remember having that kind of problems when trying handheld operation with different whip antennas and certain lengths of counterpoise wire. I think the problem can be generally minimized with the lowest SWR you can achieve, although there are many other factors affecting the antenna match with HT operation - your hand, head, body and your posture, also the dry or wet ground where you stand on, etc.
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Then I found it very handy to use the reel wire as the counterpoise, with which you can easily find the best match in any circumstances, which will surely minimize the RFI problem. I haven't had the problem with my whip antenna and the reel counterpoise wire.
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73,
Yoon KM6KJI
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Yoon,
Where did you get that neat key in this photo?
A friend of mine gave me one just like it yesterday at breakfast. He thought it was a prototype as it was included as a freebie when he ordered a cap/resistance measuring device from Denmark. He uses big manly keys so had no use for it. Ha! ?I am finding that it has a nice feel and will no doubt use it with some of my QRP rigs.?
Dave (Djwilcox01 at gmail)
Dave K8WPE
PS ?Now I understand…… He who dies with the most toys has probably forgotten much what he has and why……. So true!
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On Feb 21, 2025, at 2:32?PM, Yoon KM6KJI via groups.io <yoonh.choi@...> wrote:
? It seems any photos attached to a thread are gone after a couple of weeks? So instead of posting my handheld QMX photos here again, I recommend you to visit my QRZ page to see how I'm operating QMX as HT -
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I have integrated it with the battery (3s1p 14500 li-ion cells with BMS), the internal speaker (though not much useful for noisy outdoor), and the plugin single lever cw paddle. For the whip antenna and the reel counterpoise wire combined with the QMX's built-in SWR bridge, I don't need an ATU.
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73,
Yoon KM6KJI
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Matti, and now please voltages and current when encoder is pressed. Please also voltage at "+12V".
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73 Ludwig
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Measured from JP105, Vin 12.15V, Vcc and Vdd both 0V
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73 Matti OH6BEX
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QMX+ Rev 3, Firmware 1-00-027.
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Connected to 18 V lithium battery / 12 V linear regulator.
Takes no current.
The voltage between ground and the back of the DC input socket is 12.15 V
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73 Matti OH6BEX
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QCX Challenge - February 2025
Hi all,?
Next monday,?February 24 is the next?QCX Challenge, on the regular bands.
Times are 1300Z, 1900Z and 0300Z (Tuesday).
Time to get on the air with your?QCX, QDX or QMX?rigs!?
Use any accepted mode where you can exchange a signal report, your name, rig and power.
See all info here :?https://www.qrp-labs.com/party.html
Enter your scores at?https://3830scores.com/
Join the discord page in the #qcx-qrp-operation channel to post your QRG or exchange other info, or just have a chat with other QRP Labs friends ...
https://discord.com/invite/GdZzmhuU8p
Also check out the spotting website by Tom,DK3DUA :?
73 es GL,
Luc ON7DQ
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Wes Hayward was not the norm (and still isn't).
Check the station photos toward the back of that 52 yr old QST, all appliance gear.
Lots of Heathkits, though that's hardly building your own.?
You pretty much have to go back to before WWII to find a time when most hams built their own gear.
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I'll look out for issues with the touch paddle.
Seems a common mode choke in the transmission line should cure issues with RF in the shack.
Especially at 5 Watts.
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Jerry, KE7ER
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On Fri, Feb 21, 2025 at 09:27 PM, Peter HB9EBE wrote:
Great stuff Jerry, and good to take a look back when building was the norm!
Just a word on the touch keyer. I built it, because touch is what I had in the old times. With the QCX I found it to be quite temperamental depending on the antenna (RF I guess), so moved on to the pressure paddle.
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Great stuff Jerry, and good to take a look back when building was the norm!
Just a word on the touch keyer. I built it, because touch is what I had in the old times. With the QCX I found it to be quite temperamental depending on the antenna (RF I guess), so moved on to the pressure paddle.
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73, Peter
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Go down 7 photos here, Wes working his Micro-mountaineer is the small black and white photo to the right:
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His QST article describing the Micro-mountaineer starts on page 11:
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Built it shortly after that was published in 1973.
Laid out and etched my own board with ferric cloride.
A step up from them Pixie thingies on ebay today.
Lots of plans for it, but made perhaps 2 contacts.
Climbed Mt Hood, but didn't bother taking the Micro-mountaineer.
It's in a box somewhere down in the basement.
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Also in that issue:? the WB4VVF Accu-Keyer.
Built that too, I think it's down there in the same box.
After 40 years as a digital design engineer I took another look
at the schematic, still can't figure out how all of it works.
A very elegant design, but uses some nasty tricks.
Set the standard for decades to come on how a keyer should behave.
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Another article in that issue was the third installment of W2DU's
"Another Look at Reflections".? That I did figure out a few years ago
but it was some very tough sledding.? He had some nice insights?
into how transmission lines work, but no idea how to write.
?
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I just bought some AT42QT1011's so I can add M0UKD's touch keyer to my QMX
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Jerry, KE7ER
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?
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On Fri, Feb 21, 2025 at 07:04 PM, Curt wb8yyy wrote:
Many years ago W7ZOI is pictured with a handheld cw rig. Key is attached, maybe battery in his pocket and a wire antenna is deployed into a tree. Certainly qmx can do this with a suitable key. I may have seen something pictured here recently.?
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Curt
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Many years ago W7ZOI is pictured with a handheld cw rig. Key is attached, maybe battery in his pocket and a wire antenna is deployed into a tree. Certainly qmx can do this with a suitable key. I may have seen something pictured here recently.?
?
Curt
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Re: Linear voltage regulator for QMX+
I asked to QRPkits and they answered:
- this kit is basically a filtered and regulated power supply without the transformer. Input voltage up to DC or AC 20V. Output voltage from 1.25V minimum to maximum 3V below the input voltage.?
- a schematic might be added to the manual in the next update.
They gave me the attached schematic.
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With my three LiFePo batteries connected in series I would get a filtered and regulated voltage from 11.2V (full charge)? to 9.8V (full discharge) or a filtered and regulated 9V (from full charge to full discharge), which would be even better for a QMX+.
With my 5 to 12V-3A and 13.5V to 15V-2.4A Wall Wart set to 15V I would get a filtered regulated 12V-1.5A power supply, set to 12V I would get a fitered regulated 9V-1.5A power supply.
With a computer wall wart delivering 19.5V I would get either a filtered and regulated 12V or 9V.
And it costs 20 US$, I'll think to it if I build a QMX+, it could be inserted in a QRP-Labs "large blank enclosure" with a "dev kit", an AF amplifier and speaker and possibly a 10 W linear amplifier ()...
73 - Pierre - FK8IH
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If the filters are in the default setting and the sidetone frequency and cw offset are the same, even a tone-deaf op like me can match the other station without actually zero-beating a generated tone. At least close enough that i rarely lose the QSO. JS6TMW
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What firmware revision did you have when the rig failed like that?
What hardware revision?
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Latest firmware rev is 1-00-027, and seems to have reduced the occurrence of this sort of thing considerably.
If it still happens fairly often, then the power supplies may need to be looked at further.
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Jerry, KE7ER
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On Fri, Feb 21, 2025 at 02:04 PM, Kevin (KQ4DTX) wrote:
What I found was that my Zener diode D109 had shorted to ground.? ?
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David Wilcox K8WPE
ON7DQ Luc
Peter HB9EBE
Pierre - FK8IH