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Hi all
QDX batch #2 sales will commence at 1800Z on Friday 17-Dec-2021, at
QDX batch #2 is 375 kits. Some of these have to be allocated to batch 1 leftovers due to the QRP Labs shop over-selling in last few seconds of the frantic 14 minutes?on 11-Oct-2021. There are also several promises to be fulfilled and various other special cases. So the actual number that will be available for general sale will be a bit less than 375. The QRP Labs server has been upgraded to a higher performance machine and so maybe we won't see the same overload issues as last time.?
Regrettably, I have to announce a price increase from $60 to $65. The original batch 1 QDX kits?were manufactured in January 2020, a whole different world ago. Unfortunately many aspects of the manufacturing and logistics have increased in price. Even the main microcontroller chip STM32F401RBT6 procurement cost me in excess of $5 extra now, compared to the price in January 2020 before the global semiconductor?shortage crisis hit. Just check Digikey, Mouser, Arrow etc., and you'll begin to understand the difficulty of finding these at all, at any price. And this is just ONE part of the QDX. So I have no choice, but to pass some part of the cost increase on, by increasing the price of the kit; $65 is the best I can do at this time. The price of Aluminium has also seen large increases since batch 1 and this has affected the manufacturing cost of the enclosure too; however at this time I am not increasing the price of the QDX enclosure. I ask for your understanding on this small increase and let's all hope for better days in the not too distant future.?
QDX batch #2 has a new Revision 2 PCB. In particular, Rev 2 PCBs no longer need the four 47uH SMD inductors to be replaced with through-hole components, nor do they need the 220uF capacitor at the DC input, nor do they need the 25MHz TCXO daughtercard installation. So the assembly is easier to do. The full list of changes for PCB Rev 2 is as follows: - The SMD pullup resistors R5, 10, 11, 12 and 14 that pulled up MOSFET gates to +5V were deleted, as they were not necessary.?
- QDX batch 2 boards will be supplied with firmware 1.03 ready installed (which will be made available for download shortly), which drives 5 I/O pins in Push-Pull mode rather than Open-Drain mode, this is required to be compatible with the pull-up resistor removals mentioned above.?
- L1, 5, 7 and 9 (47uH SMD) have been replaced with through-hole axial molded inductors that are installed in the PCB properly, like all other through-hole components, rather than tacked on the bottom as a modification.
- IC2 (5V regulator) has been replaced by 78M05 which is a very robust regulator and this removes the need for the added 220uF capacitor. Additionally IC1 (AMS1117-3.3), the 3.3V regulator, is now powered at 5V from the 78M05. It is therefore working much less hard with only a 1.7V drop.?
- The 25MHz TCXO, decoupling capacitor, and coupling capacitor are no longer on a separate tiny TCXO daughtercard; they are now SMD components installed directly on the underside of the board by the SMD assembly factory.
- A P-channel MOSFET is added at the DC input socket as reverse polarity protection. The device used is AO3407. It is rated 4.1A and has a specified typical ON-resistance of 34 milli-ohms. At 1A (say) on a 9V QDX the voltage drop will therefore be 0.034V which is of little consequence.
- A potential divider circuit added to bias the BPF switch IC3 at mid-rail; this was neglected in the original and does not seem to cause any issues but perhaps in the case of very strong signals, could have a few dB impact on dynamic range.?
- IC7 has been moved a little further from the board edge following some reports that it could conflict with the PCB rail in the aluminium extrusion; this seems to be a manufacturing tolerance thing since I did not see it on my builds here, but it did affect some people.?
Please let me know any comments or questions.?
73 Hans G0UPL
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Congratulations, Hans!
A clarification on firmware, please: Rev 1.03 will be compatible with the earlier board rev, with the pull-up resistors? And not that anybody would do so, but just to be clear, the new board rev without those pull-ups must be used with firmware 1.03 and all later revs?
On behalf of everybody, thank you once again for your hard work.
--
Julian, N4JO.
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Hello Julian
YES! Firmware version 1.03 is compatible with the earlier board revision (Rev 1, having the pull-up resistors), yes.?
YES! The new PCB Rev 2, must use firmware version 1.03 (and future revisions). It cannot use version 1.02 or earlier.?
73 Hans G0UPL
On Wed, Dec 15, 2021 at 12:03 PM Julian N4JO < n4jo@...> wrote: Congratulations, Hans!
A clarification on firmware, please: Rev 1.03 will be compatible with the earlier board rev, with the pull-up resistors? And not that anybody would do so, but just to be clear, the new board rev without those pull-ups must be used with firmware 1.03 and all later revs?
On behalf of everybody, thank you once again for your hard work.
--
Julian, N4JO.
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I hope the QRP Labs' ecommerce server is ready for the onslaught!
Fingers crossed!
--Al
WD4AH
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There should be a betting game on how long it will take to sell out. I say ~6 minutes :)? Great work on the updates btw!
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I say sell them in batches of 10, spaced out evenly over the course of a week, so that the server has a fighting chance :D :D :D -- Ryan Flowers - W7RLF
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Sell them Fight Club style!? Oh never mind.. We don't talk about that, do we??
I say sell them in batches of 10, spaced out evenly over the course of a week, so that the server has a fighting chance :D :D :D
--
Ryan Flowers - W7RLF
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...or dig into your junkbox and put a <= 28k8 bps dial-up modem between the webshop server and "the Internet" to ease the burden on the server :) Much cheaper than replacing the server HW :)
73/SM6LKM
Ryan Flowers wrote:
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I say sell them in batches of 10, spaced out evenly over the course of a week, so that the server has a fighting chance :D :D :D
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Or use the same method that is used for vanity callsigns - a lottery.
--
Julian, N4JO.
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I'm wondering, is there any limitations on these? One per customer, or people who didn't get one in the first round? They'll probably be gone in a flash!
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I think it would be a good idea to limit ordering to one per customer with this small batch.? It would be nice if those who did receive one of the first batch QDX's would hold off ordering from this batch......
73 Dave AE9Q
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Fairness on limited batch would be 1 per customer and no reordering from batch 1 unless they return a smoked rev 1 unit.?
Best Regards,
Jonathan Webber
+61473755965
On Thu, Dec 16, 2021 at 13:08, Dave AE9Q via groups.io < dsdzen-AE9Q@...> wrote: I think it would be a good idea to limit ordering to one per customer with this small batch.? It would be nice if those who did receive one of the first batch QDX's would hold off ordering from this batch......
73 Dave AE9Q
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Hi all?
I don't have a technical way to enforce one per customer. Checking each order to make sure they hadn't ordered in batch 1, and contacting them if they had to ask why, would be an excessively time-consuming task that I nowhere near have resources for.
We will have to rely generally on good nature,?
However, don't overestimate the size of the problem. This isn't a QCX which is a single band radio available in 7 different band versions. QDX is one radio, one version. Why would anyone in general, want to buy more than one? They might want to build two together with a friend. Which really is the same anyway as one per customer except we don't know who the other customer is. Similarly if someone already has a working QDX, in general they don't need another one.?
I should focus on the REAL problem. Which is: in our difficult world today, how to get the parts to be able to produce enough QDX kits so that, like QCX, everyone who wants one can have one.?
The current difficulty is the AK5386 (ADC chip) which isn't just marked as out of stock, but following the fire at the AK factory in Japan, is now also marked obsolete. Like most other electronic parts dating back to the 807 and further... There's always going to be a few somewhere, but that isn't the same as being able to buy thousands at a reasonable price to make a batch of kits. I've identified a possible alternative ADC chip and procured samples for testing. If I can get that to work then I can make more QDX.?
73 Hans G0UPL http://qrp-labs.com
-------- Original message -------- From: "Jonathan Webber via groups.io" <jonathanjwebber@...> Date: Thu, Dec 16, 2021, 8:06 AM To: [email protected]Subject: Re: [QRPLabs] QDX batch #2 availability, Friday 17-Dec-2021 1800Z Fairness on limited batch would be 1 per customer and no reordering from batch 1 unless they return a smoked rev 1 unit.?
Best Regards,
Jonathan Webber
+61473755965
On Thu, Dec 16, 2021 at 13:08, Dave AE9Q via groups.io < dsdzen-AE9Q@...> wrote: I think it would be a good idea to limit ordering to one per customer with this small batch.? It would be nice if those who did receive one of the first batch QDX's would hold off ordering from this batch......
73 Dave AE9Q
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...not sure I can be up at 0300...x'ing ma fingers there might be one left by 0530 (my time)
Cheers
Scott
JS6UEY
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I know I _need_ one to replace the one that blew up before the firmware was stable.
And then I could use another one for my other QTH to make a remote station with a Raspberry Pi.
And I wouldn't mind having a spare. But I'll be good and save some for others. Assuming I get thru the checkout process. 8*)
On The Other Tentacle, a re-design with more availability, so I could order one any day of the week would not only reduce the initial sales crunch, but result in more overall sales, so let's hope for that!
1800Z is going to be a much easier time for everyone, I suspect you'll be sold out in under 5 minutes.
Thanks again for all you do for us, and Happy Holidays!
73, Willie N1JBJ
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On Dec 16, 2021, at 1:24 AM, Hans Summers <hans.summers@...> wrote:
However, don't overestimate the size of the problem. This isn't a QCX which is a single band radio available in 7 different band versions. QDX is one radio, one version. Why would anyone in general, want to buy more than one? They might want to build two together with a friend. Which really is the same anyway as one per customer except we don't know who the other customer is. Similarly if someone already has a working QDX, in general they don't need another one.
I should focus on the REAL problem. Which is: in our difficult world today, how to get the parts to be able to produce enough QDX kits so that, like QCX, everyone who wants one can have one.
The current difficulty is the AK5386 (ADC chip) which isn't just marked as out of stock, but following the fire at the AK factory in Japan, is now also marked obsolete. Like most other electronic parts dating back to the 807 and further... There's always going to be a few somewhere, but that isn't the same as being able to buy thousands at a reasonable price to make a batch of kits. I've identified a possible alternative ADC chip and procured samples for testing. If I can get that to work then I can make more QDX.
73 Hans G0UPL
-------- Original message --------
From: "Jonathan Webber via groups.io" <jonathanjwebber@...>
Date: Thu, Dec 16, 2021, 8:06 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [QRPLabs] QDX batch #2 availability, Friday 17-Dec-2021 1800Z
Fairness on limited batch would be 1 per customer and no reordering from batch 1 unless they return a smoked rev 1 unit.
Best Regards,
Jonathan Webber
+61473755965
On Thu, Dec 16, 2021 at 13:08, Dave AE9Q via groups.io <dsdzen-AE9Q@...> wrote:
I think it would be a good idea to limit ordering to one per customer with this small batch. It would be nice if those who did receive one of the first batch QDX's would hold off ordering from this batch......
73 Dave AE9Q
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Just an observation.
There is(was) so much "a bad press" about FT8, many from CW community. Here they go like a hot cakes.
Well done Hans, you not only make a great kits, but change perception and attitudes.?
---------------------------------
73 de Marek SP9TKW
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Hello Marek
But QDX is much more than just FT8...?
I first turned to FT8 when testing during QDX development. It's fun but I don't think it would hold my attention for very long. These days I'm having a lot more fun with JS8. I remember making many new friends when I started CW, on 80m, back in 2002. I have made new friends on JS8 too. Lots of nice chats. I don't see how one could make friends on FT8 ;-)?
In the end I think amateur radio is a very broad hobby and this is one of the best things about it, that we should all appreciate the most. Let the CW fan hammer brass and the FT8'er's computers handshake. Bounce signals off the moon, build enormous antennas or a piece of wet spaghetti, a kilowatt or a milli watt. Talk, beep, whisper. Build, buy. Climb a mountain, sail to an island, walk in the park. Whatever takes your fancy! Just live and let live!
73 Hans G0UPL http://qrp-labs.com
-------- Original message -------- From: Marek SP9TKW <sp9tkw@...> Date: Thu, Dec 16, 2021, 3:40 PM To: [email protected]Subject: Re: [QRPLabs] QDX batch #2 availability, Friday 17-Dec-2021 1800Z Just an observation.
There is(was) so much "a bad press" about FT8, many from CW community. Here they go like a hot cakes.
Well done Hans, you not only make a great kits, but change perception and attitudes.?
---------------------------------
73 de Marek SP9TKW
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Wow , i love QRP, I only did QSO in voice and I would like to start this adventure with enthusiasm and I hope to be able to get a complete kit to be able to exhibit in portable field days ! Tanks to all and Happy Radio Holidays
?Massimo Caiani IU5ATN
Florence Italy?
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"Whatever takes your fancy! Just live and let live!"
Amen!
--
73, Dan? NM3A
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FT8 is where is started,
?
For a new M7 it is great as you can get a long way on few watts,
?
It is still my main digital mode (along with QRSS & WSPR) as it is easy to do, sites like PSKreporter & WSPRNet make it easier to see where you can get to,
?
The other thing I like about ft8/4 i can do it sat on the sofa without the wife complaining I am abandoning her for the radio, so less static indoors?
?
But the other good thing is like wspr it is easy to see from you signal reports if changes to an antenna have produced the expected results, and as they are produced by software they are repeatable rather than subjective like a human on
the far end of an SSB QSO
?
To run FT8 you still need to understand conditions and propagation, as the bleeps and whistles are affected by the same atmospheric effects as a SSB Signal
?
73
?
Peter
?
M0PWX
?
?
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Hello Marek
But QDX is much more than just FT8...?
I first turned to FT8 when testing during QDX development. It's fun but I don't think it would hold my attention for very long. These days I'm having a lot more fun with JS8. I remember making many new friends when I started CW, on 80m,
back in 2002. I have made new friends on JS8 too. Lots of nice chats. I don't see how one could make friends on FT8 ;-)?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
-------- Original message --------
From: Marek SP9TKW <sp9tkw@...>
Just an observation.
There is(was) so much "a bad press" about FT8, many from CW community. Here they go like a hot cakes.
Well done Hans, you not only make a great kits, but change perception and attitudes.?
_._,_._,_
?
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Julian N4JO
Vojislav [YU4HAK]
Fred Spinner
Dave AE9Q
Marek SP9TKW
Peter M0PWX