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First of, yes I’m sure this topic has been covered a thousand times, but I can’t find it and I’m stuck…. ?
I finished my QMX Rev1 and need to install firmware. I’m not the least bit computer oriented and could probably be classified as useless on a computer. ?At 68y/o, it doesn’t take much!
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I plugged my QMX into my PC via the USB and powered up my 12v version with 11 volts. The screen was dark and ?I could see folder F and then I worked my magic and…..well, here I am begging for help. ?I should have stopped there!
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Now when I plug my QMX into my power supply and connect the USB, I get a lit LCD that’s blank and I can’t find “F” in the files.
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Anyone have any suggestions? ?For me, the build was the easy part and this was the part I was dreading!
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Please keep in mind my lack of knowledge around computers and don’t worry about insulting my smarts.
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Thanks,
Brent
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Brent
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At 83 I get it.
re discussed before...
?I tucked the following away for when it became my turn to down load and install new stuff?
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"" Try opening up the QMX and manually entering DFU mode. Unplug radio from everything, wire up a jumper as shown in the diagram below, plug in your USB cable, then power on and try again. Then (hopefully) it powers on.?
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Note the radio will stay in DFU/firmware flashing mode until you undo the jumper""
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72
John
N3AAZ
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John, thank you for your reply, I appreciate it.
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Does it appear to you that I have a QMX issue or a windows issue? ?Everything worked the way it should on initial start up but now my computer doesn’t recognize the QMX and the screen will light up when I turn the QMX on.
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What am I trying to do when I enter that DFU mode? I’m sorry I don’t understand…
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Brent
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Before you plug in the USB, connect the 12V power to the
QMX (and turn on the power?) Then plug in the USB.
I think that will help. The sequence is documented in (I think)
the build manual, else the operations manual.
Paul
On 12/16/24 16:26, Brent via groups.io
wrote:
First of, yes I’m sure this topic has been covered a thousand
times, but I can’t find it and I’m stuck…. ?
I finished my QMX Rev1 and need to install firmware. I’m not the
least bit computer oriented and could probably be classified as
useless on a computer. ?At 68y/o, it doesn’t take much!
?
I plugged my QMX into my PC via the USB and powered up my 12v
version with 11 volts. The screen was dark and ?I could see
folder F and then I worked my magic and…..well, here I am
begging for help. ?I should have stopped there!
?
Now when I plug my QMX into my power supply and connect the
USB, I get a lit LCD that’s blank and I can’t find “F” in the
files.
?
Anyone have any suggestions? ?For me, the build was the easy
part and this was the part I was dreading!
?
Please keep in mind my lack of knowledge around computers and
don’t worry about insulting my smarts.
?
Thanks,
Brent
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Paul -- AI7JR
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Paul, I plugged in the power and then connected the USB. I was hoping my problem would go away but it didn’t hihi
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This is an initial install of firmware on a new build.
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Thanks,
Brent
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Did you press the left encoder, to turn the QMX on? Did the
display backlight turn on (once the firmware was loaded)? If you
got that far, you could be seeing stuff on the display?
IIRC, you succeeded in loading the firmware because you saw the
flash drive and copied the firmware to it. Then the drive went
away. But when you power it back on, you don't see a device (it
won't be a flash drive, if you succeed in loading the firmware!)
BTW, once the firmware is loaded, when you turn it back on you'd
expect to see the display light up and stuff on the display. I
take it, that's not happening? :-(
Paul
On 12/16/24 17:53, Brent via groups.io
wrote:
Paul, I plugged in the power and then connected the USB. I
was hoping my problem would go away but it didn’t hihi
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This is an initial install of firmware on a new build.
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Thanks,
Brent
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Paul -- AI7JR
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?Paul,
I didn’t successfully copy the firmware to the flash drive. I don’t know how to do that (even after reading the manual) and I messed that part up trying. I wish I could send you a pic to show you what my screen looks like.
I don’t understand why my LCD is lighting up now before the firmware is installed. You’re right, it’s lighting up but there’s nothing showing.
I struggle with computers, as you’ve no doubt noticed…
Brent
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Did you adjust the LCD contrast pot...
If the display lights up, the firmware is installed and operational.?
73 Hans G0UPL
?Paul,
I didn’t successfully copy the firmware to the flash drive. I don’t know how to do that (even after reading the manual) and I messed that part up trying. I wish I could send you a pic to show you what my screen looks like.
I don’t understand why my LCD is lighting up now before the firmware is installed. You’re right, it’s lighting up but there’s nothing showing.
I struggle with computers, as you’ve no doubt noticed…
Brent
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ALL of us struggle, at one time or another! ;-)
The first time you turned in on to load the firmware, did the
backlight already come on, or is this new with your abortive load
attempt? (I expect it was dark until you loaded the firmware.)
If the backlight came on after the load, try adjusting the
contrast pot on the display board. For that matter, try it anyway!
Turn it full clockwise, then back off a bit. Do you see black
boxes, or maybe even actual characters?
This is a QMX or a QMX+?
Persist, you can do this!
73, Paul -- AI7JR
On 12/16/24 18:34, Brent via groups.io
wrote:
?Paul,
I didn’t
successfully copy the firmware to the flash drive. I don’t
know how to do that (even after reading the manual) and I
messed that part up trying. I wish I could send you a pic to
show you what my screen looks like.
I don’t
understand why my LCD is lighting up now before the firmware
is installed. You’re right, it’s lighting up but there’s
nothing showing.
I struggle with
computers, as you’ve no doubt noticed…
Brent
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Paul -- AI7JR
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Hi Hans:
Yes, I’ve slowly adjusted the LCD contrast pot up and down again this morning but nothing appears. ?After applying power I can turn it on by pressing the left encoder but the only way of shutting it off is by removing power.
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Good morning Paul :)
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No, the backlight did not come on when I first turned it on, only after my abortive load attempt. ?Now I can turn the LCD on with the encoder switch but can’t turn it off without disconnecting power.
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This is a QMX, Rev1 kit I purchased in the spring of 2023. I’m familiar with the process of adjusting the contrast pot from past experiences with my QCXs and other rigs. ?I’ve carefully adjusted that pot every which way and nothing appears….
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Brent
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Hans, sorry, correction, I can also turn it off via the encoder. I wasn’t holding it down long enough.
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Paul, actually my encoder functions to turn the LCD on and off, I wasn’t holding it down long enough.
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With regards to the contrast pot adjustment, I’ve tried multiple times and nothing appears.
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Brent,
Once you have downloaded the firmware, extract it and open the folder to find the firmware file. Then, plug in your QMX to the USB port of the computer. Depending on how you have your computer set up, a widow will open, like a USB drive, or a dialog box will open to ask you to open the drive, or you will have to open your file manager folder and open the QMX USB drive folder. Then drag or copy the firmware file from your computer's folder to the open QMX USB drive folder. The QMX should restart and you will now notice information on the LCD screen. Once the QMX has pasted the opening splash screen, you will have to turn the right encoder button to select the bands you have built it for.? Hope that helps.
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73, Dan - W2DLC
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Good morning Dan and thanks for replying to my post. ?Your message and instructions seem to make perfect sense to me but I’m in over my head here. I’ve messed something up on my computer, etc. I’ve built QCXs and associated PAs with little issue but when it comes to firmware downloads, etc, I’m a brick.?
I’d like to get this QMX up and running and I’m considering asking if someone would like to take on this project. Of course I would pay shipping back and forth, etc.
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Those are my thoughts now anyway….
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Hey Brent,
It sounds like you're nearly there! If you can turn the backlight on and off with the encoder button, then it sounds like you did, in fact, get the firmware loaded! It's much easier than you would think.
No display, even though you've adjusted the brightness pot, that's tougher: maybe a connection problem.
If you are in the U.S. and you don't have local gurus to ask for help, Jeff Moore, W1NC, has helped a lot of us (including me!) when our QMX was almost, but not quite, operating. You can find his contact info on qrz:
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Brent,
There is no need to do another software upload because you have done one.? The LCD backlight coming on shows this.? Hans says so and he should know.? A long press on the volume button closing the system down also shows this.? These things rely on there being firmware installed and working.
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Given that you have a working processor one reason for the lack of a display is some connection issue on the display.? The four connectors between the main board and the display board or the multitude of connections between the display board and the LCD.? Check all these connections carefully.
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I would normally suggest using PuTTY to get into the Terminal applications as described in the Operation Manual.? Do you have someone locally who is computer savvy?? They don't need to know about radio.? The person who normally fixes things with your PC.
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Chris, G5CTH
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On Tue, Dec 17, 2024 at 04:45 PM, Chris wrote:
I would normally suggest using PuTTY to get into the Terminal applications as described in the Operation Manual.? Do you have someone locally who is computer savvy?? They don't need to know about radio.? The person who normally fixes things with your PC.
Brent, like Chris wrote using the terminal is the best way to go on. If you go to your computer helper show him the operational manual. Section 3 provides the information about the terminal connection. One important thing is the order to connect:
- Start the computer and the OS (Windows or LINUX or ...)
- Connect QMX via USB cable to the computer
- Turn ON the QMX. A COM-port should appear at the computer
You may test one hardware thing. Check voltage at the middle pin (2) of the blue trimmer. When rotating the voltage should go from 0 V to 5 V. The middle pin is connected to the upper side of R304, the SMD resistor direct above the blue trimmer.
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73 Ludwig
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Brent,
As others have said, if your QMX is turning on and off and the backlight is on, then your firmware is working properly. I suspect the problem is in the connection between the LCD and the main PCB. Two likely places to look: 1. Make sure all 16 pins are properly soldered on both the LCD and the board it's soldered to. 2. Make sure the plugs/sockets(2 on QMX, 3 on QMX+) are soldered properly. The check the contrast pot again. Good luck.?
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73, Dan? NM3A
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Thanks for your email with all the assistance. I’ve printed off all these emails and will keep for future reference. In the meantime I’ve reached out to another amateur who has been highly recommended.
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I appreciate your help Dan.
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73,
Brent
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Paul - AI7JR
Daniel Conklin
Todd W2TEF