Have you downloaded the firmware from the QRP Labs website?

You need to do this, then unzip the folder and then copy the firmware across to the empty QMX folder.

Your QMX sounds alive and responding as it should at this stage.

Read the instructions again. ?Slowly?

Thank you all for responding. It is very much appreciated!

I have reread the firmware installation directions many times before and after completing the build 2 weeks ago.

There is nothing on the display for the qmx. I believe it should be showing options like my other qrpl abs radios (without a backlight).

Initially my PC showed that there was a device connected to the computer and a qmx folder was downloaded to my pc but there were no eeprom or firmware files to unzip. I deleted the folder in an effort to reattempt to download the files and tried again with the same lack of results. When I tried some 20 more times the computer would not acknowledge that there was anything attached to the c port.?

It would be helpful if there were a video that walks the builder through all the steps after the build is completed. I have looked on the internet have not seen any videos.

I do hear a "click" in the ear phones when I press download on the left rotary encoder.

开云体育

Note that you download FROM QRPLABs, and copy the files TO the QMX.

73

Roger

On 10/01/2024 15:15, Dbbagley@... wrote:

I have reread the firmware installation directions many times before and after completing the build 2 weeks ago.

But you do not read the pages here

it says "Note that a new QMX must have firmware installed on it before you can use it; you must press the left encoder shaft button to switch on QMX for this to happen; during firmware update mode the LCD is blank and the backlight is off. Please refer to the assembly manual carefully for instructions and checks before applying power. "

Note NO DISPLAY

Firmware must be unzipped and copied to the empty folder you see.

Maybe you have damaged the QMX if this folder no longer appears.

Only read the web pages any Youtube videos may not be reliable.

73 Alan G4ZFQ

On 10/01/2024 16:21, Alan G4ZFQ via groups.io wrote:

But you do not read the pages here

开云体育

I stumbled a bit when I got to this programming step. The manual doesn't appear to state that power needs to be applied to the 2.1mm connector to perform the programming step, but I found that it was necessary to have power applied for the QMX to be consistently recognized as a USB device.

On 10/01/2024 16:39, Steve Beckman wrote:

I stumbled a bit when I got to this programming step. The manual doesn't appear to state that power needs to be applied to the 2.1mm connector to perform the programming step,

Steve, Jay,

That could be a problem for a ready-made radio.
I do not know what information is provided but some details should be provided.
Although reading all the web pages would be very helpful for a buyer of a built radio. He is not necessarily going to do that reading first.
It would then be obvious that the QDM (or QDX) is not powered by USB and needs a PSU every time.
Also it should be stressed that in Windows the QMX and QDX need powering up every time after inserting the USB. In Windows they do not behave like other USB devices.

73 Alan G4ZFQ

开云体育

Just checking: Did you supply power (9/12 volts) on the QMX power connector? QMX doesn't use USB power...

I have completed the construction of my QMX. It does not power on. This is a list of what I have done to try to get to work:

Connected it to my PC via a USB C cable

Downloaded folder from QMX but no files were listed in the download
folder

The QMX did not show menu

Deleted the folder and performed another download and again saw no files, deleted the folder

The next morning I tried again and the computer did not acknowledge the QMX

I tried several more times with no results

Checked all connections and found a poor connection in the left rotary encoder, resoldered it and checked both encoders with a DVM for a short and there were no shorts

Rechechecked all connections, smds and through hole components for visible damage and no damage found

I connected the QMX again and the computer did not acknowledge the QMX

There has been "click" and it looks like it is using 155 ma on my power supply when I push down the encoder and then the amps go to "0" when the switch is not depressed

I have tried the jumper according to the manual and the computer does not acknowledge the QMX

I have downloaded puTTY and the computer does not acknowledge the QMX when the rotary
encoder is pressed (probably because the QMX doesn't turn on)

Do you have any suggestions?

-- 
Paul -- AI7JR

开云体育

Your display will be blank until firmware is successfully loaded to the QMX. To do that, download the firmware zip file from QRP-Labs, and unzip the file. One of the contained files has a QMX extension. Drop that file onto the QMX flash drive. The QMX should reboot and the display become active.

All of this is covered in the manuals--don't just skim them assuming you already know. You don't. ;-) (Ask me how I know!)

73, Paul -- AI7JR

Thank you all for responding. It is very much appreciated!

I have reread the firmware installation directions many times before and after completing the build 2 weeks ago.

There is nothing on the display for the qmx. I believe it should be showing options like my other qrpl abs radios (without a backlight).

Initially my PC showed that there was a device connected to the computer and a qmx folder was downloaded to my pc but there were no eeprom or firmware files to unzip. I deleted the folder in an effort to reattempt to download the files and tried again with the same lack of results. When I tried some 20 more times the computer would not acknowledge that there was anything attached to the c port.?

It would be helpful if there were a video that walks the builder through all the steps after the build is completed. I have looked on the internet have not seen any videos.

I do hear a "click" in the ear phones when I press download on the left rotary encoder.

-- 
Paul -- AI7JR

Paul,

Do you download the firmware file separately to the computer. I thought that they would be downloaded after I started the firmware update by pressing the rotary encoder after I had attached the 12v power supply. All I had seen on the computer was the QMX folder and there were no files associated with it. I waited for about 15 minutes and no response on the QMX or on the computer. I checked to see if the files were hidden somewhere on my pc but they were not. I deleted the QMX folder.

I tried again and the same scenario. The QMX folder was downloaded with no files. I deleted the folder again. I gave up for the night.

Now the pc does not detect the QMX at all when I connect it via the usb c to my pc.

Mike,

Thank you. I have downloaded the link that was in your reply. I have extracted it. What should I do at this point? I can only open it with word and it looks like an encrypted file. My pc does not respond to the QMX when I connect it to the pc.

开云体育

"I thought that they would be downloaded after I started the firmware update by pressing the rotary encoder after I had attached the 12v power supply."

No, the process is in no way automatic. Read and perform exactly what is described under "Firmware Installation" in the Assembly manual for the QMX. I'm looking at page 62 of the "i" version of the manual.

Also note that you should use a 7 volt power source with a 250ma current limit for the following procedure! (Successfully loading the firmware will activate the switching mode power supply boards. Build errors and defective parts can lead to damage of the MPU, which is currently about the only non-replaceable part in the QMX. Be careful!)

The QMX flash drive is quite limited. It's purely for initially transferring the unpacked QMX firmware file from your computer (where you had previously downloaded and unpacked it into some other folder on your computer), to the QMX.

From what you've written below, your QMX is coming up and appearing as a flash drive on your computer. That's very good, but it's only the first step:

1. Before you start, I'd suggest turning the trim pot on the display board fully CW, then back off about 1/4 turn. That's a good preset to see characters in the display; it can be readjusted later.
   
2. Go to the QMX page at QRP Labs and download the current firmware (the zip file for version 14, currently.) The Downloads folder of your computer is a good place to put it.
3. Right click on that zip file and select "extract here". It will create a new directory with the name of the zip file. Look inside that directory and you'll see a file with the extension "QMX". This is the firmware file for the QMX.
   
4. Right click on that QMX file, and select "copy".
5. Now, go into the QMX folder on your QMX. Right click and select "paste". That will copy the QMX file from where it was downloaded and unpacked, to your QMX. Copying it into the QMX folder causes that file to be read into the QMX, and the QMX will restart when it's been read.

If all goes well, the display will come on, it will flash the firmware version, and move on to the default frequency display. (If it doesn't come on automatically, press the left hand power switch--I don't recall if it turns on first time automatically, or if it's manual.

If it doesn't appear to come up, refer to all the power-on troubleshooting that's documented in this group.

Good Luck, read and follow the steps in the manual, my friend!

73, Paul -- AI7JR

Paul,

Do you download the firmware file separately to the computer. I thought that they would be downloaded after I started the firmware update by pressing the rotary encoder after I had attached the 12v power supply. All I had seen on the computer was the QMX folder and there were no files associated with it. I waited for about 15 minutes and no response on the QMX or on the computer. I checked to see if the files were hidden somewhere on my pc but they were not. I deleted the QMX folder.

I tried again and the same scenario. The QMX folder was downloaded with no files. I deleted the folder again. I gave up for the night.

Now the pc does not detect the QMX at all when I connect it via the usb c to my pc.

-- 
Paul -- AI7JR

Paul,

Thank you for your help. I looked over the soldering joints with a combination of a magnifier and a jewler's loupe before powering it up (and many times since). The qmx is no longer connecting to the computer. It connected about a week ago and downloaded the qmx folder to my computer. When I tried to download the firmware and extract/ unzip the files I did not see what is shown on page 66 of the REV 2 manual. That is why I thought that the qmx would initiate the firmware download while it was connected to the computer. I tried to do all of this when I first attempted to activate the qmx. The "EEPROM" and "1_00.QMX" icons that are shown on page 66 of the assembly manual never revealed themselves on my computer.? I have sincerely appreciated everyone's assistance with this.

Brian

开云体育

Hey Brian, let's correct a bit of your terminology because they reflect a misunderstanding of what's going on...

Nothing on the QMX is getting "downloaded" to your computer (e.g., on your computer's hard drive), what's happening is that the QMX presents itself as an external storage unit (like a USB hard drive), and what you're seeing is the directory listing of that drive.

So you could say "I see the directory of the QMX", but it's not present ON your computer other than being plugged into the computer like a portable hard drive or memory card.

---

Re the "1_00.QMX" file: The name is just an example for the manual, I think. The number reflects the version number of the installed software. I don't recall what the file looked like before I loaded the firmware...

When you say "When I tried to download the firmware and extract/ unzip the files" are you speaking of downloading from QRP Labs, or copying from your QMX? (Nothing from your QMX directory would work!) The QMX is shipped WITHOUT firmware, so you have to load it via the procedure starting on page 64 of the manual you're using.

Are you saying the QMX directory no longer appears when you connect the QMX to your computer? Be sure you have power connected to the QMX (7 volts, 250 ma current limit) and click the left encoder to power on. The QMX is not powered from the USB at all.

If, after you've done all that, there's still no QMX drive showing on your computer, it's a different problem to troubleshoot.

Good Luck, Brian!

73, Paul -- AI7JR

Paul,

Thank you for your help. I looked over the soldering joints with a combination of a magnifier and a jewler's loupe before powering it up (and many times since). The qmx is no longer connecting to the computer. It connected about a week ago and downloaded the qmx folder to my computer. When I tried to download the firmware and extract/ unzip the files I did not see what is shown on page 66 of the REV 2 manual. That is why I thought that the qmx would initiate the firmware download while it was connected to the computer. I tried to do all of this when I first attempted to activate the qmx. The "EEPROM" and "1_00.QMX" icons that are shown on page 66 of the assembly manual never revealed themselves on my computer.? I have sincerely appreciated everyone's assistance with this.

Brian

-- 
Paul -- AI7JR

开云体育

When you extract that file, don't open it in Word-- That could damage the file! (I'd remove it and re-extract it at this point!)

Before you connect the QMX to the computer, make sure QMX power (7v, 250ma) is applied, and click the left encoder to turn power on. Then plug in the USB. You should see the 'QMX' drive appear on your computer. (If you don't, there are other issues to address first!)

Drag the file with the QMX extension extracted from the ZIP file, to the QMX drive, and drop it. At that point the QMX should restart, show the firmware version for a moment, then go into its normal frequency display. The QMX drive on your computer will disappear, too.

Paul

Connect the radio and copy the file to the radio

On Wed, Jan 10, 2024 at 15:59 <Dbbagley@...> wrote:

Mike,

Thank you. I have downloaded the link that was in your reply. I have extracted it. What should I do at this point? I can only open it with word and it looks like an encrypted file. My pc does not respond to the QMX when I connect it to the pc.

-- 
Paul -- AI7JR

Paul,

The qmx directory no longer exists. There was something that went wrong in the initial power up. I did not have a variable power supply or the equivalent available so I used a 12 v cell phone battery supply.

?The qmx is now in the scrap bin.

Thank you for taking your time to clarify the procedure. I wish there was a video that shows the power up of a newly completed qmx. I will keep your responses and use them as a guide if I build another qmx. They give an accurate outline of the power up process.

Thank You
Brian
KF4TJK