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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 Failure
4
#qmx
Hello, My QMX had low output power (2W vs original 5W), so I have replaced the BS170. When I switched on, high supply current and a burning smell. I have detected a failure in one of the new BS170 (Chinese supply ... ) . I removed all the BS170, and the two power supply boards, but now I have a short between Vdd and ground (Vcc is OK). I started to desolder the VDD pin of IC501, IC502, IC407 ...... no change .... Before starting to desolder the CPU, have you perhaps an idea ?? Best 73, Nico
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Hi everyone. With the release of the SSB firmware out of beta, I thought I would make my offer to source K6ARKs wonderful little microphones, which can be found here: https://www.printables.com/model/320559-mini-microphone-for-qmx-trusdx-usdx-kx2-and-kx3, one more time. Adam (K6ARK) made a super fantastic little miniature mic case, and they work with the QMX quite nicely. I print the cases in PLA, and have the following colors available: Black, White, Grey, Navy Blue, Orange, Light Green, Red, Gold, Purple, Sand Stone, Light Blue Stone, Turquoise stone, and Marble Stone (The stone colors look like marble or granite - little flecks of darker color in them - The marble one winds up looking like bleached bone). The kit includes: 3D Printed case in PLA 3.5mm jack Electret Mic Element Microswitch for PTT For each mic, $10 for kit, $15 fully assembled and tested. This price includes shipping in the US. I am happy to make you more than one, some people want one for home and one for the go bag, that's great. You will need to provide your own AUX cable (3.5mm male to male) to go between the mic and the radio. I have had several ask what cord I am using, So I have included this link to one I am using and that I test all my assembled mics with; it seems to work quite well: https://a.co/d/36GDDXf (This is a shortened, non-affiliated link to Amazon.com page for the cable I use) If you are interested, send me a private email, and I will send you payment details. My email address is good on QRZ.
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Hamvention Flea Market CMX
4
At Hamvention last week, I found an unbuilt CMX, #345 at a nice discount with case, board is REV 1. No markings to indicate low band, mid band or high band. Is it likely low band? Thanks, Mark W4ZIP
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Michigan QRP weekly Zoom Chat
We had four folks join the MI QRP Zoom Chat on 15 May. Please join us Thursday, May 22 (and every Thursday) at 4PM Eastern for the Michigan QRP Club weekly QRP Chat where the main topics will be QRP and other ham interests. New hams are encouraged to participate and ask questions. It's fun, it's easy, and it's free. You only need a computer, a smart phone, or a tablet that can connect to the Internet. OR if you can't be close to any of those you can join by audio with any standard phone. Just follow the directions below. No software needs to be loaded or installed. Anyone can join and non members are welcome. Details are here: https://www.miqrp.net/zoom Zoom ID: 811 0835 6229 We had 3 check ins today. Stan, Casey and - they talked mostly about satellites. I listened and did paint touch up in my radio room as I disassembled it. Have Fun and don¡¯t forget to visit U.S. Tower booth if they have one. Pete WK8S Stan WB8QJZ Casey KC9IH Tom WW8AL They talked mostly about satellites. The topic for Thursday, 22 May will be FDIM, Michigan Mighty Mite Revival and Hamvention. The agenda for the 22 May QRP Chat: Ernie to do a short introduction and acknowledge any new folks to the Zoom chat. The topic for next May 22 will be FDIM, Michigan Mighty Mite Revival and Hamvention. During the open forum anyone can take the floor. We will go one by one until all have had a chance to have the floor. Files, pictures and presentations can be shared if you have any. Please try to stay muted when someone has the floor. Thanks Ed AB8DF
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QMX Microphone capsules in EU
3
Hey guys. Any idea where i can buy the electret capsule, working with the QMX - AOM-5024L-HD-F-R? I have found it only in Mouser and Digikey and the minimum shipping price is 20 euro. Any ideas of other compatible mics with -24db sensitivity? Thanks in advance, 73 de LZ3OM
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QMX+ LCD blank on new build
I finished my QMX+ build last week and it is time to admit this is the first kit in my entire life that doesn't work right away, dating back until about 1980. Since all those other kits worked just fine, I never invested in lots of bench hardware nor are my trouble shooting skills well developed. So, having just finished my piece of humble pie, I am trying to figure why my LCD remains blank. The backlight works. There are no characters or blocks, regardless of the potentiometer setting. I haven't hooked up an antenna or earphones so I don't know about the RF/AF sections. I was able to get my Linux Mint PC to connect via USB-C and using Putty, I put the QMX+ into firmware update mode. It was 1.0.27, now it's 1.02.00 as the firmware update worked fine. The terminal mode confirms that the firmware update went okay. I can browse the terminal mode. All of the front panel controls show "Press", right or left arrows as is appropriate for the control. The only thing is the display never shows anything. It is completely blank. I disassembled the case and removed the front pcb and checked every solder joint on the connectors on both the main and front pcb's. All look good, shiny, no bridges, dry joints, nor whiskers. I'm looking for advice. All I have is a DMM to test with. Lincoln N9IN
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I am just having some fun in the King of Spain contest . AGC is giving me some trouble. apart from vy strong stns overpowering the Rx the AGC is too slow to recover. Can anyone direct me what settings to change to ge a quick AGC ? - Martin DK3UW
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Difficulty with the SSB compressor
3
I am having difficulty getting the compressor to work on my QMX+ on software 1_02_00. There are no performance issues with this build and the SSB calibration runs fine. When I use the config settings shown in the manual pictures the audio sounds good on a nearby receiver using an external mic. This is with the compressor off, the default. If I go back into the terminal and turn on the compressor I get high distortion. It is nearly solid noise and transmits near peak power continuously. It doesn't matter what compression value I use, always the same. Even a value of zero. If I unplug the external mic and plug in just a PTT switch, I get the same noise. The only way to get the noise to go away is to do a factory reset. Again, SSB is all good until I turn on the compressor. I have done factory resets twice now. I would really like to use compressor to add some punch but I haven't been able to figure out what I am doing wrong. -- Regards, Earle KC0KVR
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QMX short during SSB calibration?
7
Hello all, Recently completed a mid band QMX build. First serious electronics kit build and I'm a bit out of my depth for sure. But after correcting a few mistakes during the build I powered on the QMX with a current limiting PSU and ran through hardware test last night on a dummy load. All appeared well, or at least the sweeps matched what the manual describes and what others have posted. CW transmit into the dummy load was no problem and between 4-5W on all bands. This morning I decided to try SSB Calibration. Hooked up to the benchtop PSU and a dummy load and let the QMX run while I did some computer work. About a third of the way through I heard a faint crackle and looked up to see 1.5A draw on the power supply and 7V. QMX was still trying to perform calibration. I shut down the PSU and smelled some hot electrical components. Disassembled and do not see anything obviously wrong. I decided to power it back up and this time connect to the terminal diagnostics. QMX powered up but right after the firmware splash screen it immediately began drawing 1.5A again. I quickly connected to the terminal application and as soon as I did the increased draw went away and the diagnostics screen showed normal readings. The moment I disconnected the terminal app the draw came back. Hot electronics smell persists. This is where I don't know enough to continue to track down the issue and am looking for help. Any advice would be great. Thanks, Mike KR4CNM
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#clock #QMXplus
20
#clock
#QMXplus
The clock on my QMXplus seems to drift many minutes every day. When I do an operating session or a POTA activation I will need to remember to set the clock when I sit down and power it up. I set the time to UTC to make paper logging easier. I have a new quality CR2032 battery in my QMXplus in case you wondered. i haven¡¯t yet measured the clock drift, but was surprised it was significant. I think a number of contacts I uploaded to LoTW had no QSL because my estimate of the correct time was wrong. (A day or two later I discovered the time was way off before I uploaded, and changed the times in my electronic log to my estimated corrected time) Or I could get the OLG3 GNSS module which I think will set the QMXplus time, but that requires another component and setup to my portable kit. I probably won¡¯t bother but keep thinking about other solutions. My Home QTH transceivers are spot on the correct UTC time. I can take a PC or IPad and do my logging on it. Another component to take. Q: Before I decide what to do, How much does your QMXplus clock drift?
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Hello, I'm currently building a QMX kit. I'm unable to get the L511 and L512 toroids flush with the PDB. The surrounding capacitors and diodes prevent the toroids from fitting. I have the toroids mounted just above the crowding components. What impact, if any, is there from mounting my toroids this way? Cordially, Rob, AH6X Boise, ID
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I have not been able to see on the initial first power up any means of loading firmware on my QMX+ radio. I was able to see some evidence of 2 files on E drive which is the USB drive on my computer by shorting AUX2 to ground before power on. The two files in E drive are file 1_00_027.QMX and EEPROM. EEPROM is an empty file.. Have I missed something here or do I have a bigger problem that cannot be solved easily? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Ron W6ZQ
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QMX 40-10 Follow up
5
I posted here before about building a 40-10 qmx. I did a little more looking and thinking. Looking at AI6XG's mod: https://www.ai6xg.com/post/a-40-10-meter-qmx#viewer-cl0z424097, it seems to preform well and has motivated me to go out and buy a QMX. However there are some questions that I have that I want to confirm/ask. In the blog, he mentions: "According to simulation, adding 100pF to the already installed C402 56pF should lower the peak frequency to about 11MHz. I found that adding 150pF instead, for a total of 206pF, provides good results" In the conclusions, he says to use a 210pF capacitor in C402. However, such a capacitor does not seem to exist. There are plenty of 200pF and 220pF capacitors on the likes of digikey and mouser, however I can't find a 210pF capacitor. Since he says adding 100pF should work, would a 150pF, 180pF, or 200pF capacitor work in the place of a 210pF one?
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QMX SWR measurement is not correct while using with PA
Hello! I've noticed that SWR protection stops TX when I try to use QMX with one of my PA. When I measure SWR with connected PA threw QMX hardware test it shows 1.8-1.9. And it causes SWR protection actuation (even if SWR protection level is 3 or 4 by the way...). When I do SWR measurement with Nano VNA or another transceiver they measure SWR = 1.1. So it looks like QMX is incorrect. That is strange... When I do not use PA then QMX SWR measurement tool provides correct figures (compared with Nano VNA). Any ideas? BR/Sergey UB3AZK
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QMX SSB in mobile?
3
I have a QMX coming soon and was wondering now that SSB is included, do you think the QMX would perform well in a mobile environment? Perhaps with a amplifier/tuner? TY! Jeff
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My next CW practice session will be May 19 at 18:00 EDT / 22:00 UTC on 40 meters. Anyone and everyone is welcome. These practice sessions are intended for operators who are new to CW or they need some practice. IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW POOR YOUR CW IS. Mistakes are OK. Poor fists are OK. Slow speed is OK. Really slow speed is OK. This practice is meant for you to improve your CW. I will do my best to adjust to your skill level. Operate at any power level. If several stations show up, I will operate as a round-table control station. I will do it as a round-table so everyone gets a chance to transmit. Please listen to my directions. Details: Date - May 19 Time - 18:00 EDT / 22:00 UTC Band - 40 Meters How to find me - I will find a clear frequency and call CQ. Go to the Reverse Beacon Network and search for my call sign AB8DF. That will tell you what frequency I am on. Tune your station to that frequency and if you hear me give me a call. If there is a QSO in progress, please wait for a break in the action. Then send your callsign. If I hear you, I will invite you to join the QSO and start a round-table QSO. Reply to this email if you have questions. IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW POOR CW IS Ed AB8DF_._,_._,_
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Hi, When running the various diagnostic sweeps I find all bands except 160m seem reasonable similarities to those shown in the manual. But the 160m seems way off. Any ideas what may be causing this and what I should be checking? I'll include screenshots of the sweeps. Many thanks Ian
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When Elecraft introduced the KH1 a year ago, I was immediately enthusiastic about the concept. A small and lightweight shortwave radio with an integrated telescopic antenna. This means that, weighing less than 400g, it can be used in any suitable location on shortwave. So I wanted to build something myself. I immediately began my own experiments with telescopic antennas for 7-30 MHz. This confirmed that a counterweight is absolutely necessary. This wire, which is a quarter of the wavelength long, contributes significantly to the radiated energy. So the idea arose to forgo the telescopic antenna and experiment with end-fed wires twice the length. Of course, it makes sense to stretch the wire as high as possible. But I also got respectable reports with EFHW lying on the ground or in bushes. In this place the antenna may detunes itself, so a tuner is necessary, as well as the standard 1:64 transformer (Unun). The tried-and-tested resonance circuit (Fuchs Kreis) performs both tasks. Once the antenna issue was resolved, QRP Labs brought out the QMX. The ideal TRX for my projects, and now even capable of SSB. Now all that was missing was a suitable housing with an integrated battery and a speaker with an amplifier. Then a paddle for CW as a contactless touch key directly on the device. And the QMX Carrot was finished. But it wasn¡¯t that simple, because everything had to be as small and light as possible. It now weighs 340g and measures 15x8.5x3.0 cm. I¡¯m happy with that. 73 Chris https://youtu.be/0kksiWVOtnQ
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Hello everyone! I think this is my first post in the forums and I wanted it to be a good one. I've been thinking about a good cover for the QMX+ since i pack very compact, but don't want my QMX+ frontpanel to be destroyed. So i came up with the 3D-model below. I'd love if you like the model and come with suggestions. I am open to modify or add versions as needed! https://www.printables.com/model/1300629-qmx-frontcover-stand-and-storage The panels are all dual-sided and can be put on the front or back of the QMX+. Below are some photos:
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Sat 8:39am
Sat 8:39am