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Hi all SSB firmware was released into beta on 17-Mar-2025 after 9+ months of development. Many thanks to everyone who bravely helped test it and patiently provided their feedback and observations. There are now quite a few YouTube videos, forum reports and other social media mentions about on-air successes with QMX SSB. Now that it has been at least 6 weeks in beta and I believe most of the issues have been resolved, it's time to promote it to an official version. I have called this version 1_02_000 and published it on the QMX page http://qrp-labs.com/qmx where I have also published the updated operating manual, which grew from 111 pages to 134 pages. The main changes are: SSB (obviously!) including CESSB, TX Equalization, Mic AGC, VOX, Pre-distortion and and and... Addition of up to two more USB Virtual COM serial ports (up to three total). All of the hardware tests such as RF and SWR sweep, and Diagnostics, are now available on the LCD too. New CAT commands for LCD contents, S-meter, AGC-meter, Power meter, SWR meter, SSB source Complete list (relative to 1_00_027 the previous official version): SSB modes added (USB and LCB), with CESSB, TX Equalization, Mic AGC, VOX, Phase pre-distortion and more Rationalization of menus, grouped into CW, Digi and SSB submenus (now Keyer and Decoder are submenus of CW) Added up to two more USB Virtual COM serial ports (configurable) LCD versions of AF, RF, Image, LPF, Test ADC I/Q sweeps (miniature graph on LCD) New function PA mod. test to check operation of amplitude modulator Diagnostics screens are now available on the LCD interface too Now remembers previous menu location on ALL menus regardless of nesting level Add way of forcing factory reset, press Menu (left) button during power-up Change TX color in diagnostics screen from red to blue, to avoid confusion since red things are errors Added CAT LC command to retrieve LCD contents Added CAT commands SA (AGC meter), SM (S meter), PC (Power meter), SW (SWR meter) Added CAT command SS (get/set SSB input source) Bug fix: PTT P did not work properly Bug fix: Incorrect PA voltage display on the Diagnostics screen 73 Hans G0UPL http://qrp-labs.com https://www.buymeacoffee.com/g0upl
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QMX plus - just did it in
5
... by supplying 30 Volts by mistake. :-( . It generated an ugly smell. The QMX plus is now completely dead. When opening the case I saw that a component next to the DC connector was cracked and deformed. I also smelt real bad and is labeled "LG". Whatl else might be damaged - or is it FUBB? In which case I might have to order another kit.... (?) 73, Holger, Dk4LX
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Wanted to give a heads up - I haven't seen this battery in stock for a bit and I think it is a perfect match for the QMX. I thought they were discontinued... It's the Turnigy 9xR 3S LiPo cell, very small (approximately a stick of gum sized, a little larger), and it has a protection PCB built in to prevent over discharge or over current. 2.2AH of capacity, 3.3A max continuous current, 12.6v fully charged Can't argue with the price either at under $10 https://hobbyking.com/en_us/turnigy-9xr-safety-protected-2200mah-3s-1-5c-transmitter-pack.html
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QMX+ VOX
4
I waited for and yesterday installed the 1_02_000 firmware. I did a bit of tinkering with the EQ to get some more emphasis in the mid-range (and worth noting that when I do live sound at folk dance events, I always cut back the bass and emphasize, not too much, mids and highs to improve intelligibility of the dance leader, just as Hans suggests). And I made 4 SSB contacts on 20 meters with some Italian stations in a contest setting .... running about 75 watts with the QMX+ and my HR-50+ amplifier. Worked great. Thank you, Hans ... you are a wizard! One glitch ... I cannot get VOX to work. I'm using one of Erik Larsen's microphones, which clearly works fine in PTT mode and sounds OK. I set microphone gain using the built-in Mic Test ... goes red on just the loudest peaks. On USB, speaking into the microphone apparently triggers the VOX, but it then cycles on and off until I manage to get QMX+ mode out of USB over to LSB. LSB doesn't work at all ... speaking into the microphone does not trigger VOX. Input device is set to "External Microphone". And I'm using TRS (stereo) 1/8" mini cable between the microphone and the QMX+. Any hints will be much appreciated! Thanks - Bruce K1FFX
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QMX 40-10?
2
Is it possible to build a QMX that would cover 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12 & 10? I¡¯d much prefer that instead of 60-15. Don W6CZ
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Feature Request List?
29
Hi Hans, Is there a maintained Feature Request list available somewhere where we can check if what we¡¯d like to see has already been asked for, and perhaps add a vote? I know posts can get lost in the volume, and I expect that is why there was no answer on my question on having variable TX power available as a setting (/g/QRPLabs/message/143397), but I don¡¯t want to bug anyone, so if there was a tracker we could look at, it might save you getting duplicate requests or being bugged by people like me :-) Love the pre-built QMX, am going to get a QMX+ kit to have a go at¡ 73, Stefan MI0PYN
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QMX 9v Power Supply
11
#9v
Hello, I am getting ready to build my QMX and want to do so in the 9v configuration. Question is the manual says it runs at 9v or "a little over", so the question is. Will the radio be happy and safe to operate with a Bioenno 9v battery. Their website says the battery is regulated to discharge "around 9.6v" Anyone have any experience with using this configuration of Bioenno 9v and the QMX? If so how is it working for you? Thank and 73's W7YWF. (Mike)
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QMX current too high
3
#troubleshooting
#qmx
Hi, I recently finished building my qmx and after checking for shorts and not finding any I plugged it in but it draws too much current (200mA when applying 7V (which drop to 3.7V)). I can connect to the device via the serial console where it outputs the following data: Supply Voltage: 3.7 V 5V SMPS Status: Error Voltage: 3.34 V Duty max: 85 % Duty cycle: 85 % The 3V3 SMPS is working fine. When testing the 5V SMPS board it seemed to work. Any ideas where I should start looking? Cheers Lieven DF1CN
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SWR overshoot and SWR protection
7
The following report is for the latest (SSB-)firmware 1_02_000, 80-20m band version and SSB-mode. When transmitting in dummyload or resonant antenna, the same occurs: At the beginning of the transmit the SWR-meter of the QMX overshoots to maximum level for a very short time (about half a second) and then goes down to the real SWR. Generally not a big problem. But on 80m band the SWR protection kicks in every third or so TX-cycle. I think it is because of the overshoot(?). The other 4 bands do not have that problem Has anybody experienced the same?
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QMX+ with WA3TFS amplifier
36
I recently built the WA3TFS linear amplifier featured in the March QST. The build went very well and with my old MFJ 20M QRP CW radio, 3W in gives 20W out with a peak 4A draw. So, I tried to interface my QMX+ to it and was surprised to see the QMX+ stop transmitting after the first dit. It would recover after a time and would transmit fine by itself or through the amp but it didn¡¯t like it all when I activated the amp. The firmware hasn¡¯t been upgraded in awhile so I¡¯m not sure if this has already been addressed. I¡¯m not sure the RF detection is maybe not fast enough ?? Any ideas appreciated. 73, Jamie WB4YDL
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First VARA (Winlink) tests with the new SSB-firmware. CESSB is turned of for that. Looks like that it works flawlessly.
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SSB firmware and QRP Labs
6
Hi All, At 63 my mind id blown at how fast and cooperative these projects are going. I do not have the balls or knowledge to dare install a Beta firmwhere on my QRP QMX, but I am eagerly waiting for the official release. Thank you all! Rgds, a.
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CW with I/Q on
12
#audio
#QMXplus
I really appreciate this idea. I'm addicted to panadapter/waterfall displays when using CW. That said, I must be missing something. When I enable I/Q output to USB and use CW mode, I seem to totally lose front panel earphone audio, except keyer sidetone. I was hoping it would still be CW audio, as when I/Q is disabled. Is this the expected behavior? -- Brent DeWitt, AB1LF Milford, MA
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Thanks Mustafa TA2MUN for sharing this one with me! The enthusiasm is so infections, might even get ME on SSB eventually! https://youtu.be/P09N-t1U1-E?si=xLUi5bMmboDOEnrL&t=396 73 Hans G0UPL http://qrp-labs.com https://www.buymeacoffee.com/g0upl
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New QMX+ Calibration victim
Hi, I¡¯ve had my QMX+ for a number of months and had tested the then beta now regular SSB firmware with good results except pretty low output power in SSB. As I had never gotten around to fine tune the LPFs when building it I decided this was the logical next thing. So I fiddled with spreading and compressing turns on the toroids and managed to get all bands to between 4 and 5w output for CW except 160m that was already at 6w. Running 12.0v input and build for 12v Being happy with results I then first tested resetting to factory defaults, and then tested SSB output power. Still max 2-2.5w according to the Bird. I then decided to run the SSB calibration again. Worked fine til perhaps 12m or 10m phase. I then heard some terrible noise from the speaker and saw the QMX crashing with all blocks in the display and turning itself off. I tried powering on again, but won¡¯t start now. Just blank display and current protection on PSU kicks in due to over current. I suspect maybe finals are fried with internal short as result? Jonas 7 maj 2025 kl. 23:12 skrev Stan Dye via groups.io <standye@...>: ? On Wed, May 7, 2025 at 01:38 PM, Wiggle Pig wrote: It¡¯s D503 and D504 These are placeholders for diodes that could be placed across the BS170 outputs, as was commonly done with QDX. Hans included them in the design, but has not encouraged installing the diodes, which he believes are unnecessary for QMX. They may suppress spikes, but they also add additional capacitance to the PA, which may affect it adversely in other ways. There were many posts on this list regarding this topic a year or so ago. Stan KC7XE
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QMX gets a full POTA trial
4
Park US-3843 today, central NC. Low humidity after yesterday's storms. Slight breeze. QMX built for 9w Dork regulator DROK Adjustable Voltage Regulator... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089ND7PTH?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share Bioenno 9v battery SOTA Beams Bandhopper Palm pico paddle Why I love this rig: even though it is menu-driven, it seems SO INTUITIVE that it doesn't seem difficult to do what I want. Hans must have done some serious human factors analysis with the rig. Also, the receiver is outstanding. I made 24 QSO in 45 minutes on 20. The beacon CW message capability is superb. Thanks to all for the Drok regulator suggestion. And thanks to Hans!! Mark Lunday wd4elg@...
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Firmware updated to 1.02_000 - QMX has changed from 60/40/30/20/17/15 to 80/60/40/30/20?
2
Hello! As the title says, I've just updated the firmware and now seeing my radio is showing as 80/60/40/30/20m rather than the 60/40/30/20/17/15 version that was built. I wondered if anyone has any ideas of how this might have occurred? Many thanks! Alastair 2E0UOE
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QMX, WSJT-X 2.7.0, Hamlib 4.6.2 DLL - Odd Behavior
6
When I power up my low-band QMX, put it into DiGi mode, then start WSJT-X in FT8 mode, I get tons of decodes. If I then enable transmit, it will transmit with about 3.5 watts on 20m and my signal, as reported by pskreporter.info, covers the entire United States (at least today). However, after that first transmission my decodes stop. Even though the QMX is still in DiGi mode, I can no longer hear FT8 stations. If I then put the QMX into USB mode then I can hear lots of FT8 stations and decoding resumes, but as soon as WSJT transmits it puts the QMX back into DiGi mode, I can no longer hear FT8 stations, and the decoding stops. My transmitted signal continues to be heard throughout the United States. Any suggestions as to what I'm doing wrong? Best, Jim / K8DDV
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For sale...QMX+
I have for sale a QMX+ kit with GPS and case. This is an R1 board. $130 obo shipped to CONUS. Paypal preferred. Dirk Tanis WA4DT eight one too.204.5600 for text or good e.mail on QRZ
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Why I think QMX Calibration Kills PA
25
I just hooked my scope up to the drain of one of the PA transistors in my QMX+ and kicked off a 160M Phase cal (O button). I am seeing 120 volt spikes during the cal. Here is a link to a screen shot from my scope: 160PhaseCalGlitch.jpg This is going to fry some BS170s for sure. Tony ADoVC
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Sat 8:39am
Sat 8:39am