|
My QMX (kit build) had the Q103/Q104 issue that I was not comfortable in resolving so I sent the unit out to Jeff / W1NC for repair. He did a super job of taking care of that issue along with a few more that I would have run into had I applied power after completing the build. So, kudos to Jeff for a great job.
OK, now the problem - it seems that the volume control is really wonky. After a power on it 'almost" works - I get audio but not a lot of change in volume when adjusting the control. It does allow lowering the volume a little but then - no audio at all. Occasionally I'll only get audio when the encoder is on the "peak" between detents. To clear the problem I do a RESET and I'm back to having audio, although with the same initial problem. The other functions of this encoder control (mode, band, on/off) work perfectly. I am at firmware version 1_00_009.?
Hans - does this appear to you to be a hardware issue with this control or a firmware / software problem? I hate ripping the unit apart and attempting to replace the control if it isn't going to resolve the problem.
--
Jim / K7TXA
Eagle, ID
SKCC 10447C
BUG 301
|
There are known (FW) issues with the volume control... I suppose
it's possible that you'd also have a HW issue, but how would you
know until the FW is fixed? (Actually, you can go into the
terminal's diagnostics page and check the control, there!)
Paul -- AI7JR
On 10/3/23 07:21, Jim Bennett / K7TXA
via groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
My QMX (kit build) had the Q103/Q104 issue that I was not
comfortable in resolving so I sent the unit out to Jeff / W1NC for
repair. He did a super job of taking care of that issue along with
a few more that I would have run into had I applied power after
completing the build. So, kudos to Jeff for a great job.
OK, now the problem - it seems that the volume control is really
wonky. After a power on it 'almost" works - I get audio but not a
lot of change in volume when adjusting the control. It does allow
lowering the volume a little but then - no audio at all.
Occasionally I'll only get audio when the encoder is on the "peak"
between detents. To clear the problem I do a RESET and I'm back to
having audio, although with the same initial problem. The other
functions of this encoder control (mode, band, on/off) work
perfectly. I am at firmware version 1_00_009.?
Hans - does this appear to you to be a hardware issue with this
control or a firmware / software problem? I hate ripping the unit
apart and attempting to replace the control if it isn't going to
resolve the problem.
--
Jim / K7TXA
Eagle, ID
SKCC 10447C
BUG 301
|
I wish I could go there, but there is some goofy issue on my computer. I have a Mac and when I try to run PuTTY it barks at me about "cannot open display". Arrghhhh....
I'm in the process of attempting a firmware update to v 1_00_010 - wish me luck!
--
Jim / K7TXA
Eagle, ID
SKCC 10447C
BUG 301
|
Your putty error is probably that it can't open a X11 display
window.
Check out this URL:
Paul -- AI7JR
On 10/3/23 10:48, Jim Bennett / K7TXA
via groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
I wish I could go there, but there is some goofy issue on my
computer. I have a Mac and when I try to run PuTTY it barks at me
about "cannot open display". Arrghhhh....
I'm in the process of attempting a firmware update to v 1_00_010 -
wish me luck!
--
Jim / K7TXA
Eagle, ID
SKCC 10447C
BUG 301
|
Paul, thanks for the heads-up on getting PuTTY working - that fixed it for me.
To that end, I fired it up and tested the hardware - sure enough the left encoder is not working - it shows arrows in one direction only, no matter what I do with it. I also upgraded to the latest firmware version and still n/g. So, I suspect that the encoder is hosed.
--
Jim / K7TXA
Eagle, ID
SKCC 10447C
BUG 301
|
It may not be the encoder. Recheck all the pin solder connections and
the header connections for the control board and the mating header on
the main board.
-mike/w1mt
|
Will do...
--
Jim / K7TXA
Eagle, ID
SKCC 10447C
BUG 301
|
Well, I pulled it apart and checked things out under my microscope. Didn't find anything that stood out; re-heated one connection of the encoder to its board, but still no change. So at this point I'm going to replace the control and hope for the best.
It's a shame this volume control thing is going on, as the rest of the QMX is working nicely. Popped it over to DIGI mode and promptly worked several stations, first call, on 20 and 30 meters. Really looking forward to getting it on CW.
--
Jim / K7TXA
Eagle, ID
SKCC 10447C
BUG 301
|
Great! Glad to hear it!
73, Paul -- AI7JR
On 10/3/23 18:05, Jim Bennett / K7TXA
via groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Paul, thanks for the heads-up on getting PuTTY working - that
fixed it for me.
To that end, I fired it up and tested the hardware - sure enough
the left encoder is not working - it shows arrows in one direction
only, no matter what I do with it. I also upgraded to the latest
firmware version and still n/g. So, I suspect that the encoder is
hosed.
--
Jim / K7TXA
Eagle, ID
SKCC 10447C
BUG 301
|
Hi,
I know it is coming out some time these days but until Hans make his magic upon the FW of QMX - CW part - I treat the QMX CW part as being still in alpha stage!
So, I have said it.
73 Bojan S53DZ
|
I had a similar problem problem withe the other encoder.?
It wasn't possible to scroll through the menu.
One of the encoder pins was sorting to ground that shouldn't. Too much solder. Desoldering then soldering with minimum solder solved the problem. Just wondering if you have a similar problem with the volume encoder preventing it from working.
Colin G4ERO
|
Colin,
It's possible, but I did put the control bard under my microscope and couldn't see any shorts. I've got a new encoder being sent to me - will see if replacing it changes things. Keeping fingers crossed.
--
Jim / K7TXA
Eagle, ID
SKCC 10447C
BUG 301
|
I had also a volume control problem on my QMX. When turning the volume encoder CCW or CW, the volume changed erratically - high, low, middle, high, - and then the processor stopped working.
A FW reset brought the QMX back to life, but the fault persisted.
My first thought was to wait for the new FW. But--- scrolling on utube QMX vids I found a dutch OM who listened to his QMX and adjusted the volume normally... hmm.
So it could not be the FW!
I ordered 2 new encoders and replaced the old ones. This did not cure the volume problem, but the Tune switch worked better than before, to change the decimal point.
Finally I found a broken link from encoder 304 to Pin 4 of the connecting plug. The interruption lies within the small encoder board itself. All my soldering joints were fine.
Well, I soldered a tiny wire from the encoder Pin to the connector PIN 4 and it worked!! Yipieeh! Volume control is doing its job as It was intended to do.
Don't know if its a fabrication issue or a bad soldering pad on the board. Anyway problem solved and I can now go ahead and make CW QSOs!
vy73, Matthias DF2OF
|
Matthias, when it was in? the bad state, did you test the encoders on the terminal diagnostic screen?
?- Steve K1RF
------ Original Message ------
Date 10/5/2023 11:45:18 AM
Subject Re: [QRPLabs] QMX Volume Control Issue
I had also a volume control problem on my QMX. When turning the volume encoder CCW or CW, the volume changed erratically - high, low, middle, high, - and then the processor stopped working.
A FW reset brought the QMX back to life, but the fault persisted.
My first thought was to wait for the new FW. But--- scrolling on utube QMX vids I found a dutch OM who listened to his QMX and adjusted the volume normally... hmm.
So it could not be the FW!
I ordered 2 new encoders and replaced the old ones. This did not cure the volume problem, but the Tune switch worked better than before, to change the decimal point.
Finally I found a broken link from encoder 304 to Pin 4 of the connecting plug. The interruption lies within the small encoder board itself. All my soldering joints were fine.
Well, I soldered a tiny wire from the encoder Pin to the connector PIN 4 and it worked!! Yipieeh! Volume control is doing its job as It was intended to do.
Don't know if its a fabrication issue or a bad soldering pad on the board. Anyway problem solved and I can now go ahead and make CW QSOs!
vy73, Matthias DF2OF
|
The problems Matthias mentions match exactly what's happening with my volume control. I'll see if I can get time to look into it either this afternoon or over the weekend. Hopefully that'll correct the problem.
--
Jim / K7TXA
Eagle, ID
SKCC 10447C
BUG 301
|
Problem solved!! Sure enough, the connection between those two points was not there - showed an open on my VOM. I re-heated the #4 pin on the connecting plug and it made the connection. Plugged it back together and the volume control now works properly. Many thanks for the tip, Matthias!!
Unfortunately, I'd had the radio turned on for only a couple minutes and as I moved it a few inches across the desk when there was a loud POP and an ugly smell. Won't power up, so something shorted out inside. Ughhh.... Back to the bench.
--
Jim / K7TXA
Eagle, ID
SKCC 10447C
BUG 301
|
The motto of bug fixers could be: don't cause another bug by fixing it.
--
Gyula HA3HZ
|
Paul - AI7JR
HA3HZ