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Screenshoot 80m phase error after factory rest
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I have a similar pattern in the ‘80m phase error vs DAC’ as Mario Vano AE0GL. I have done a factory reset, no change. Any ideas for troubleshooting?
Many thanks to Hans for the SSB software. I made the first SSB attempt successfully with a 40m SOTA chase.
Stephan, DD6DO
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On Mon, Mar 24, 2025 at 02:31 AM, Chris wrote:
What is the power output during normal CW or digital transmit or Transmit in the diagnostics?
I just did a quick test at 12.0v using Transmit in the diagnostics, all bands are around 5w except 60m this was 6.4w.
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Just to emphasise this is just an observation as some people were have problems with finals whilst carrying out the calibration.
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On Mon, Mar 24, 2025 at 02:02 AM, Paul Devlin wrote:
I did another calibration with a digital SWR/ power meter hooked up, and noticed that the output was 6 watts at times during the calibration.
What is the power output during normal CW or digital transmit or Transmit in the diagnostics?
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AIUI the calibration has to be done over the full range of power output so I would expect it to be the same as normal non SSB transmission.
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Chris, G5CTH
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Just an observation re power output when calibrating.
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I did another calibration with a digital SWR/ power meter hooked up, and noticed that the output was 6 watts at times during the calibration.
I was running 12 volts from a bench supply. It isn’t an expensive meter so I accept the power meter may also not be accurate.
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Not sure if this could be a problem in some cases
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Paul.
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Hans:
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I tried changing the 80/20 band swap advanced setting and it didn't fix the problem, but it changed the behavior a lot. It now runs longer before quitting.
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In another thread, others with this problem are suggesting that the configured center frequency in the band table might have something to do with the problem. I believe that's used as the frequency to run the tests.
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I'm thinking I may have to improve the BPF center frequencies to fix the problem.
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M
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On Sat, Mar 22, 2025 at 03:09 PM, Brien - KE7WB wrote:
Reloading the version 3 software also does not correct this.? VFO A is now basically disabled as when VFO A is selected the QMX only transmits on the Band Configuration Frequency center.? I don't know how to fix this.
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I re-ran calibration and that seemed to fix the VFO A issue.? Very counter-intuitive as I am not sure why calibration would have anything to do with the usage of the VFO.? For now this is fixed.
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Brien - KE7WB
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Reloading the version 3 software also does not correct this.? VFO A is now basically disabled as when VFO A is selected the QMX only transmits on the Band Configuration Frequency center.? I don't know how to fix this.
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Running SSB version 3.? On 20 meters if I tune from VFO B it tunes on the correct frequency.? If I? switch to VFO A it tunes on the frequency that is the Frequency center defined in Band configuration, not the frequency in VFO A. ? ? Prior to this happening I accidently had a Frequency center stored as 0? for 20 meters.? After I corrected it to 14175000, I noticed this behavior.? Cycling power does not appear to correct this.??
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Brien - KE7WB
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Well SSB sure works. Yesterday I worked S51DX in Slovenia on 20 metres. That's 8,700+ km with less than 3 watts! My MIC settings were pretty basis but I did add a little compression (set to 5).
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I'm a happy camper!
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73, Rick
VE7TK
Website:
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Hello Hans
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Thanks for the detailed analysis and info.?
I had a suspiction that CPU overload may be the reason…
I agree, it is not necessary to update the graph when on TX. User will use a websdr or another radio to check anyway.?
Even on RX I think it is not necessary, can be done once when the setting is confirmed and saved.?
73
Pawe? SO8FM
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Hello Pawel
The issue I observed is when you transmit and want to play with equalizer settings at the same time, the QMX+ menu freezes from time to time, especially if you want to make significant change (more than one step, eg. change from +3 to -6 with single fast encoder turn). It unlocks afer a while or after release and press PTT again. Back to RX after PTT release is also delayed then, sometimes stuck on TX. Tested with dummy load. No difference if you are talking to the mic or not, I would assume this is not RF-in-the-shack topic.
This is due to the little graph that gets plotted to show the equalization response. The problem is that this graph is not calculated formulaicly, it's actually a measurement. The internal soft-DDS produces a tone for each graph point, then runs it through the equalizer, and measures the output. Then the next point. It's done as fast as possible (not at the realtime sample rate) but still it's a lot of calculation.?
Theroerically it should be possible to calculate mathematically what the response of the biquad shelf filters are, not have to actually measure it. That would be very fast not involving a. 1/4 million simulations as now. It was something which I know can be done better but, my brain was so so so fried of the project by the time I did it, and it appeared not too critical. I'll come back to it.?
The simulation takes less than a second but I think the problem is that during transmit with the microphone as the audio source, the CPU utilization of the QMX is around 93%. So if you are TXing at the time the simulation is started, the simulation only gets 7% of the CPU. And even if you let go of the PTT button the simulation finishes before that fact is noticed and actioned.?
The fix for now until I feel like facing the mathematics, will be to simply suppress the simulation if SSB transmit is in progress. Then the max delay is 1 second and not all that noticeable.?
?Functional comment for Equalizer settings: when you go to the max setting (+20) it should stop increasing and not turn over to -20. Same may apply for other settings where 0 is in the middle.
Noted 73 Hans G0UPL
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QMX+, updated to 1_01_003 without any problem. Calibrated without a problem. Already couple SSB contact made.
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The issue I observed is when you transmit and want to play with equalizer settings at the same time, the QMX+ menu freezes from time to time, especially if you want to make significant change (more than one step, eg. change from +3 to -6 with single fast encoder turn). It unlocks afer a while or after release and press PTT again. Back to RX after PTT release is also delayed then, sometimes stuck on TX. Tested with dummy load. No difference if you are talking to the mic or not, I would assume this is not RF-in-the-shack topic.
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Functional comment for Equalizer settings: when you go to the max setting (+20) it should stop increasing and not turn over to -20. Same may apply for other settings where 0 is in the middle.
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73
Pawe? SO8FM
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I saw weird calibration results, so my question is should I compare performance with/without calibration?
I assume a factory reset removes calibration or just turn off Phase and Amplitude distortion in the SSB menu.
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Chris
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Hans,
The CW decoder / messaging system has a minor mistake still.? The dictionary used translates the <VE> prosign as? "!"??? ...-. displays "!"? when it should display "VE".? Using a "!" in a stored message plays "VE"
Alternatively, I appreciate that the ! is in the decoder dictionary and do not think it should be removed, but it should be dah-di-dah-di-dah-dah? -.-.--
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Thank you,
Adam KD9AIE
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Hans,
On 003 (20m to 10M QMX), 12m and 10m in DIGI mode seem to have reduced output when using wsjtx.? I unfortunately did not check this on Beta 001 or 002, but it is a noticeable difference from what I had previously experienced on those bands prior to Beta firmware. ? Looking at baseline dB between cycles:
20m 20+dB
17m 20+dB
15m 20+dB
12m under 10db? (prior, also 20+dB)
10m under 10db (prior, also 20+dB)
Thank you,
Adam KD9AIE
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On Sat, Mar 22, 2025 at 06:53 AM, Hans Summers wrote:
You might try switching OFF the 80/20m BPF swap in the advanced configuration
Hans,
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I have been having a similar issues on 20m. (20M to 10M QMX). When first running calibration, I used "R" run mode to do everything via the console.? On both 20m and 11m the Phase Error vs DAC plots finished very quickly and looked strange.? SSB effectively did not work and was just distortion on Tx.?? I re-ran BOTH Phase and USB for 20m using "O" once mode and while the Phase plot still looks strange it did change. Tx improved and I have been making contacts.?? The Phase plot changed when I ran it in "O" mode.?? Items to note:?
1) with 003 I used "R" run mode and was able to replicated the original problem with the plots on 20m and 11m.
2) this happens both when using the terminal via USB, and when just using the QMX menus disconnected from USB.
3) with 003 I can make SSB usable using "O" once mode for phase / USB / LSB calibration, but the plot is still strange:
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An observation
If you have CW practice on and use "tune" it will show a SWR of about 1.7 no matter if a dummy load is connected or nothing is connected. A power meter shows that there is no RF out. It might be better to give a message to the user rather than a false reading.
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? 73
??? KD8CGH
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Hi Mario
You might try switching OFF the 80/20m BPF swap in the advanced configuration to see if that makes any difference. That was intended to fix the TX/RX switch instability in QMX PCB Rev 2, which was subsequently properly fixed by a diode.?
73 Hans G0UPL
I'm still seeing some strangeness in the 80M sweep:
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Not enough signal at the test frequency?
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I'm enclosing it and the BPF filter sweep for reference:
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Hi all,
Just to say the SSB firmware is working great and getting better with each iteration - this is fantastic work Hans! But I hope you are going to take a break soon, you deserve it :)
One anecdote: I was using the new firmware with Winlink & Vara HF to successfully make contact with a node in Switzerland, but I was a little bit concerned as the power meter reading on the QMX wasn't showing anything at all, it wasn't budging - but I wrote this off as a quirk of the firmware and how it was interacting with the modem.
But nope. Operator error, of course! I had, somewhere along the line set the output volume of the QMX on my PC down to 50% - and despite, what must have been extremely low transmitted power; VARA HF was still working successfully. Suffice it to say it's working even better now with the volume adjusted back up to 100%.
Once again, fantastic work Hans - thank you for this amazing product,
Dave
EI3HIB
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DD6DO
Brien - KE7WB
Rick Williams - VE7TK
Bob Benedict, KD8CGH