?
?
I sent my QMX+ to? Jeff early in March feeling that it was beyond repair. He found a load of problems, mainly bad soldering. He felt that it could be redeemed and sent me comprehensive details of the defects and costs. He approached the project with a great deal of knowledge and enthusiasm for which I a very grateful.
I would be very happy to recommend him.
Kind regards and 73s to all,
James Silvester MJ7HEE
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Re: QMX does not send with Raspberry 4 and 5 with wsjtx
Hello Bruce, The simplest solutions are often the most effective. Maximum volume was the solution. ? Thanks and 73 Reinhard DL3AS ? Von: QRPLabs@groups.io <QRPLabs@groups.io> Im Auftrag von Bruce K1FFX via groups.io
Gesendet: Mittwoch, 16. April 2025 23:55
An: QRPLabs@groups.io
Betreff: Re: [QRPLabs] QMX does not send with Raspberry 4 and 5 with wsjtx ? As noted in other posts here and in the QMX user manual ... for Linux-type computer (such as the Raspberry Pi), it's something like "click on the speaker icon in the tray (or whatever you need to do with Raspbi to find something like "Sound Settings" ... that's what it's called on my Linux Mint machine), then locate the QMX output sound device, and then set its volume to maximum." I had exactly that symptom (two dots under the A) and finding and setting to maximum of the QMX sound output device was the cure.
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Re: Release of version 1.2 of ABS solution for QMX+ (Automatic internal antenna tuner, internal battery and internal speaker with audio amp)
#ABS
#ATU
#PSU
#QMXplus
On Wed, Apr 16, 2025 at 09:53 PM, Stan Dye wrote:
If it is OK, I will add your photo which I think is very instructive for someone else wanting to do a stand-alone verification of the ATU.
No problem.? Please go ahead.
?
73, Mike KK7ER
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Re: Release of version 1.2 of ABS solution for QMX+ (Automatic internal antenna tuner, internal battery and internal speaker with audio amp)
#ABS
#ATU
#PSU
#QMXplus
Excellent, thanks for the feedback, Mike.
I also placed that procedure in my FAQ document for the v1.2 ABS.
If it is OK, I will add your photo which I think is very instructive for someone else wanting to do a stand-alone verification of the ATU.
Stan KC7XE
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Re: QMX+ microphone ideas
Interesting,?
Thats the same as the one from QRP Guys.
?
?
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Re: QMX Blown Finals. Will a DC-DC Adjustable Buck Converter prevent future failures?
Yes, into a good SWR.?
?
Now I have to give a longer answer since someone else is going to say you are adding incredible risk of damage with anything over 12.00V.? But Hans officially states (in multiple places, red ink, in his documents): 12V max and 5W max for the QMX/QMX+, which he believes is safe for all modes.? (Except WSPR beacons, where you may also want to reduce your voltage.)? Note that his spec does not say 12.0V or 12.00V; he specifically did not want to be that precise.? He also says do not go over 13V, and sets that as the default protection threshold, and to not use 12V sources that are not really 12V - all of which I interpret as staying within a few percent of 12V. ? And he has also said (in individual message responses here) that for CW (and other low duty cycle modes) into a good SWR that he wasn't so much concerned about a few tenths over 12V.
?
I personally have a power source that I charge to 12.4V.? I use it on SSB and CW until it is down to 12.0V (less than 1/2 hour of use), then I use it for FT8 or whatever mode for the next several hours of its capacity.? And that has never given me a problem.
?
Stan KC7XE
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Re: #qmx SSB Firmware beta 1_01_004 release
#qmx
Well now when Hans does have a _004 release he will have to create a message with a new title since this one is now burned? :-)
?
Brien - KE7WB
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Re: QCX Mini Displaying //???/??/
Here's a procedure to do a factory reset on a QCX when you don't have a working display. Count carefully:
Long press left button Turn tuning encoder counterclockwise (CCW) 4 clicks Short press left button Turn tuning encoder CCW 1 click short press left button Turn tuning encoder Clockwise 17 clicks Short press left button
Good luck .. 73 .. .Ron
Have you checked at the processor pins?? A tiny bit of wire or solder flake could be bridging a couple of the processor pins that drive the display?
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Re: QMX Blown Finals. Will a DC-DC Adjustable Buck Converter prevent future failures?
Thanks for the information, Stan.
I'll certainly keep the volts down on FT8 after the repair.
?
Is it correct to assume that the 12.3v battery without a buck converter is OK on CW?
?
Thanks again,
Paul
?
?
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Re: Release of version 1.2 of ABS solution for QMX+ (Automatic internal antenna tuner, internal battery and internal speaker with audio amp)
#ABS
#ATU
#PSU
#QMXplus
Hey Stan,
?
On Fri, Feb 14, 2025 at 04:43 PM, Stan Dye wrote:
I hope that helps (and wasn't too much...)
I finally got back to this project and am sure glad I tested before soldering the ATU to the mount board.
The board behaved exactly as you described.
After reheating those solder joints, all looks good (DC short between RF in and RF out when in Fast Test mode).
Here's a picture of my test jig, FWIW:
Thanks again.
?
73, Mike KK7ER
?
?
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Re: QMX Blown Finals. Will a DC-DC Adjustable Buck Converter prevent future failures?
Paul,
That Drok buck converter requires the input voltage to be 1.5V above the output voltage, so it would work, but would only give about 10.5V to your QMX.? The mini360 would also work, but probably requires an even higher voltage difference, so again no more than 10.5V.? This is true of all simple buck converter designs.? If you changed the QMX to 9V, then either of these would work with a 12V battery to give a full 9V.
?
If you want to get 11V with your 12V battery, instead you can use a drok (or other) buck/boost converter - you can get inexpensive small ones.? It will actually run in 'boost' mode to keep the voltage at 11V with 12V in, and you can turn it to whatever voltage you like.
?
- I would be surprised if the extra 0.3V was the entire cause of your problem.? Perhaps combined with the 1.24 SWR, long FT8 sessions, maybe a weaker-than-normal BS170, and reasonably high temperatures it would fail in time.? Or maybe your antenna SWR is not completely constant - many antenna setups vary in SWR when the wind blows hard, and possibly to momentary high SWRs due to mechanical flexing of electrical contacts.
?
BUT - running your QMX at a reduced voltage will certainly reduce the possibility of failure regardless of the complete reason.? Hans has not endorsed the diodes across the finals, as they may add capacitance and may not be compatible with the SSB update (but they would probably work fine for digi mode).
?
I have run FT8 quite a lot on my QMX devices at full voltage, into antennas with <1.5 SWR and never had a failure yet.
Stan KC7XE
?
?
?
?
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Re: QMX does not send with Raspberry 4 and 5 with wsjtx
When it transmits, do you hear a warbling buzzing in the headphones? I did, and found my volume was above 100%, too much is just as bad as not enough. 100% volume seems the sweetspot.
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Re: QCX Mini Displaying //???/??/
Have you checked at the processor pins?? A tiny bit of wire or solder flake could be bridging a couple of the processor pins that drive the display?
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Re: Here's hoping for QMX+ v2
I like that stack of filter boards.
?
Could have just three pins with a binary code, each board has a 74HC85 and 3 dip switches.
Only problem is it gets kind of tall, even if the toroids are laid flat.
Perhaps make the boards long and skinny, they stack sideways across the main board.
?
And now that they are stacking sidways across the main board, we could dream of
having one more pin for the select line going directly from the filter board into the main board.
An L connector for all the filter pins snaps into one end of the stack, then the whole stack?
snaps into the main board.? I'd go with the 74HC85 instead.
?
Might somehow incorporate a receive filter (plus a pre-amp on some high bands?) into each filter board.
?
Jerry, KE7ER
?
?
On Wed, Apr 16, 2025 at 04:22 PM, Roger E Critchlow Jr wrote:
I've been thinking that with diode switched filters you could make a multifilter stack.? Each board in the stack would connect to the?common input, output,? bias, and filter select lines, one filter select line for each filter in the largest possible stack.? The board would contain a filter and the diodes to switch?the filter in or out.? The filter select lines would be simple logic that could be set by an i2c i/o extender.? Each board would be jumpered or somehow assigned to its own filter select line.? (It seems like the stacking order ought to be able to define the select line, but I haven't had the dream that explains how to do it yet.)
?
Then you could assemble your QMX with the bands you want to use, and share filters between bands, if you like, or use band specific filters instead.? Then rewrite the band definition table so the QMX knows what it's doing, too.? Then, when you?decide to use a different set of bands you can reassemble the?filter stacks for that purpose.? Oh, and that filter that you melted?? Just get a new filter board to replace it instead of a whole new radio.
?
So sort of like the relay switched filter bank, but without the relays and the relay board, just the filter boards with some extra sauce on them.
?
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Re: QCX Mini Displaying //???/??/
Would definitely appreciate a blind reset procedure.
?
I agree it seems like a loose connection but there doesn't seem to be any shorts I can find and all the pins have continuity between the processor and screen's board. The only thing I can think is there is something in between which is dropping some signal so the screen isn't getting the proper 1's and 0's but I'm not sure how to test for that. What's really getting me is all the troubleshooting I'm seeing is for a screen that doesn't work at all, mine definitely is working and I get the start up text then it's only when characters try to change on screen that it starts bugging out. I'm getting to the point where I might directly wire the screen to the processor pins and bypass all the board/jumpers but that kind of kills the "mini" form factor :D
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Re: Trying to capture 2x16 LCD signal...
Back to the original question if you are still interested,? in my opinion 1mhz sample rate is not fast enough to capture the E strobes.?
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Re: Here's hoping for QMX+ v2
I've been thinking that with diode switched filters you could make a multifilter stack.? Each board in the stack would connect to the?common input, output,? bias, and filter select lines, one filter select line for each filter in the largest possible stack.? The board would contain a filter and the diodes to switch?the filter in or out.? The filter select lines would be simple logic that could be set by an i2c i/o extender.? Each board would be jumpered or somehow assigned to its own filter select line.? (It seems like the stacking order ought to be able to define the select line, but I haven't had the dream that explains how to do it yet.)
Then you could assemble your QMX with the bands you want to use, and share filters between bands, if you like, or use band specific filters instead.? Then rewrite the band definition table so the QMX knows what it's doing, too.? Then, when you?decide to use a different set of bands you can reassemble the?filter stacks for that purpose.? Oh, and that filter that you melted?? Just get a new filter board to replace it instead of a whole new radio.
So sort of like the relay switched filter bank, but without the relays and the relay board, just the filter boards with some extra sauce on them.
-- 73 -- rec -- ad5dz --
QSX? - That file is already closed: /g/QRPLabs/message/140815
Tnx, missed that one ... Good discussion on the complexity and point of adding a 10W linear considering you essentially already have one with CESSB (for SSB at least). To me, main success factor of the Q range is that they are small,? lightweight and only require small batteries. So that shouldn't change whatever lies in the future design path.
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Re: QMX does not send with Raspberry 4 and 5 with wsjtx
As noted in other posts here and in the QMX user manual ... for Linux-type computer
(such as the Raspberry Pi), it's something like "click on the speaker icon in the tray
(or whatever you need to do with Raspbi to find something like "Sound Settings" ...
that's what it's called on my Linux Mint machine), then locate the QMX output
sound device, and then set its volume to maximum."
?
I had exactly that symptom (two dots under the A) and finding and setting to maximum
of the QMX sound output device was the cure.
?
- Bruce K1FFX
?
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Re: Trying to capture 2x16 LCD signal...
Hans,
I like the idea of your LC CAT command. However instead of replacing custom characters with spaces, I think that it would be more convenient if you could replace them with UTF-8 encoded characters that approximate their appearance. This would make it really simple to replicate the appearance of the screen without having to invoke additional CAT commands.
For example, see Unicode 2580 to 259F, which become UTF-8 \xE2\x96\x80 to \xE2\x96\x9F for block elements that could be used to build up the bar graphs. I've also seen some creative use of Unicode Braille characters 2800 to 28FF to do text based graphics.
Of course I also like the idea of commands to get Power, SWR, etc.
Peter LaRue
AI7YN
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#qmx SSB Firmware beta 1_01_004 release
#qmx
I know its a little cheeky but any idea how long to an update.
None of my QMXs will calibrate and I have to turn the pre phase and amplitude off.?
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Reinhard Gr?nz
Brien - KE7WB
Ronald Taylor