Sticky
#qmx #Firmware release 1_02_000
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#qmx
#firmware
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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Calibrate the QMX's time through Android APP(FT8TW)
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I wanted to try using WSPR, but every time I reboot, I have to set the time on the QMX again. A friend told me there's a GPS module that can help calibrate the QMX's time. I thought to myself¡ªmy phone already has GPS, so why buy an extra GPS module just to set the time on the QMX? So, I added a feature to calibrate the QMX's time through FT8TW. https://youtu.be/l8dey0vc6_E
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At Dayton Hamvention we are seeing a revolution in amateur radio before our eyes
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(Right: Gerald Youngblood, Flex Founder) They launched their new product "Aurora", 160-6m, 500W transceiver that uses polar modulation just like QMX Hans: "So they visited me to admire QMX and I visited them to admire Aurora" https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Brw3LK9zY/ 73 DE muhsin TA1MHS
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Jeff Moore
Jeff has done it again! Repaired my mid-band QMX - a couple suspected cold solder joints and improperly wound T507 (how¡¯d I do that?). Included was a free wax and polish (Jeff removed caked solder flux and scrubs the board with alcohol). All done in a day or two. I had my QMX back in ten days (could have been faster but that¡¯s our slow postal service). it is so nice to know that Jeff is available to bail you out should your build fails. I¡¯ve built two QMXs and he¡¯s made them right for me. Thank you Jeff! And Hans! (his info is on QRZ) Phil K3UT
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T507 and SSB SWR
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Hello everyone, I've seen in different topics that T507 solder joints should be checked & reflowed in the event of a high SWR spike on SSB transmit... a problem that several of us have mentioned, and in my case, makes the rig completely unusable on SSB. I do understand, looking at the schematic, how this could cause the protection circuit to trigger. What I do not (yet) understand is why this would be a problem that I see on SSB only, and not on CW. I have not witnessed this on CW. A theory I have is that maybe if the joint is just on the edge of continuity, then a higher duty cycle CW signal would temporarily "anneal" the bad joint, but that on SSB you don't have that effect. I am a skeptic about my theory...in any case, I do plan on trying reflowing T507 and associated circuitry. This was a factory assembled unit so I was hoping to avoid this, but I appreciate all that Hans is doing. I'm not complaining at all... just looking for guidance and thoughts so I can get this amazing rig on SSB. God bless, Joel W9JFK
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Release of version 2.0 of ABS solution for QMX+ (Automatic internal antenna tuner, internal battery and internal speaker with audio amp)
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#PSU
#QMXplus
#audio
#ABS
#ATU
Hi, I have released a version 2 of ABS solution. Please refer to the readme front page file at the git repository for full details and release notes: https://github.com/AC8L/QMX_Plus_Autotuner_Internal_Battery_Speaker/ The release includes new PCB fabrication files, BOM and detailed build instructions. This release took into consideration lessons learned and a feedback from first group buy participants fearlessly organized by Cal (AD8Q) and Stan (KC7XE). -- 73, Sardar (AC8L, 4K6SA, VA3DUA).
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Hi SWR, sometimes
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This seems to be a complex problem because I do not understand what is happening. I will try to explain as best as I can. QMX mid bands built for 12 volts and Z-11 Pro auto tuner. I start on 40 meters and go to hardware then SWR tune and start the tune. The tuner light move and ends when a <1.5 SWR is reached. I then go to iambic and send CW at about 20 wpm. After about 10 dits the tuner jumps up to over 4 and the S protection letter shows on the screen after the last number. I cycle the menu, go to hardware, SWR tune and it shows <1.5 SWR. I go back to normal CW and the same pattern shows up again. It happens on multiple bands and is frustrating because I can't complete a POTA contact let alone a ragchew. My sBITx is also low power 1 - 4 watts and does not do this action with the tuner. Any ideas where to look? 73, Dean/ N2TNN
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3 cell lipo battery, how to use it anyway
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By doing this you recharge the pack with storage function and will have only 3.85 volts per cell at the end of the charge for a total of 11.55 volts. Another my hobby is rc airmodell and normally put in storage mode the cell packs when finished the flights. I use charter M6 by toolkitrc. 73 Luca
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QDX Low Receive but Xmit fine
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GM QDX¡¯ers. I was gifted a QDX still in kit form so I spent a day building it this week. Except for one band, 80M, I got between 4.8 and 5.4W output which is optimal. The cure for that was to just put some more heat and re-solder leads on the inductors. I get reports of anywhere from -2 to -20. My issue seems to be with the received signal getting into WSJT-x. Although I¡¯ve made a dozen or so contacts on 20M and 30M, the db meter (I¡¯ll call the S meter) barely hits 15db maybe 20db on a real strong signal. Never higher. Most signals reports I give out are in the -17 to -10 range which would correlate with the db meter. I know from experience it should be a lot higher than that. I¡¯ve seen no signals decoded on 40M or 80M but I haven¡¯t listened at night which is going to be the most likely time to see those out in the NW. I¡¯m using a retired MacAir as the computer using OSX. All radio and audio settings are set to the QDX settings and to full audio by default. The Radio is set to a Kenwood TS-440. It gives the impression there is not enough signal/audio getting into WSJT-x but I¡¯ve got no way to adjust that. The antenna is a hexbeam for 20M and a 100ft high loop for 30/40/60/80 The version of QDX is 1.4 Any insight into this receiver issue would be greatly appreciated. I can live with the way it is now but I think with the receive signal stronger, it will show me a lot more stations. It may be MAC thing. I just don¡¯t know. Thanks. John / K7RLD
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QLG2 GPS
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I plan to build a QLG2 GPS Receiver Module to use it with my QCX+ I will add: - the blue LCD accessory kit; - the Customized case kit (enclosure). I guess I will have to order it with the "Front blank cut/drilled plate. But what rear plate will I have to order? I might better build the Clock kit with its enclosure and the QLG2 GPS but will the GPS be inside the Clock enclosure? 73 - Pierre - FK8IH
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Qmx L501 inductor Partially broken
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Received the kit from FedEx in a perfectly intact box. The content check was positive with the exception of the L501 inductor with the partially broken edge. Can this defect affect the operation of the kit?
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New QMX+ Calibration victim
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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 won't start after firmware update to 1_02_000
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Just upgraded from pre-SSB version to 1_02_000 and now the QMX doesn't start again. - Only POP at headphones - No display - No serial port visible at computer - With new upgrade all HW tests worked fine Battery voltage OK (not of course measurable from device). The device worked fine before this upgrade. What should I try to fix this?
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50 Watt Power Amplifier - Low Power, High Harmonics
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#50w
#50wpa
Hello. I'm assembling a 50 watt power amplifier for use with a QCX+ that I assembled last month, for the 80 metre band. I have very high harmonics at the output of T3 - as a result, I get only about 9.3 watts out when running at 13.8 V. Output from the LPF looks OK on the 'scope. I found the excellent videos by NA5Y which shows the output of T3 should be much closer to a sinusoid than what I get. I also found the discussion with KO1KR in August of 2020, but unfortunately I can't see his scope photos so I don't know if he had the same problem. I've since skimmed through the many discussions on this forum but haven't found the same issue exactly, though I did check out some of the suggestions given here. I found the amplifier took 67 mA with R5 fully CCW - I adjusted R5 till the amplifier drew about 70 mA with the QCX+ key-down in practice mode. Here are my scope traces: 0092 is the gate drive, yellow is Q1 gate, purple is Q2 gate - all is well here. 0090 is the drain voltage, Q1 in yellow and Q2 in purple - these look like there is oscillation ? 0091 is the voltage at the output of T3. This has a lot of third harmonic and doesn't look like the waveform NA5Y showed at this point. (QCX+ was set for 3.520 MHZ , amplifier connected to a dummy load.) I thought that perhaps my bench power supply is doing something odd when the amp is drawing power, but I probed the 12 volt line right at the barrel connector and the 'scope showed almost no disturbance of the +12 v supply. In frustration, I observed the output of T3 with the 'scope set for a long capture - it almost looks as if the distortion grows with time, for the first few tens of microsceconds the scope showed a small but sine-ish waveform, which over the span of a few hundred microseconds got wigglier and wigglier till it developed into the mess seen in my scope capture 0091. I've checked DC continuity to the windings of all the transformers and coils. I did find a bad joint on the primary of T1 but I cleaned it up and can now get power out of the amplifier. I haven't yet checked bias on all the 1N4007 diodes but the input looks quite sinusoidal at R3 closest to the input. The few watts the amplifier does produce look OK at its output. The QCX+ makes about 4.3 wats into a dummy load (43 V peak to peak) at 13.8 V DC. I'm assembling these units for a friend, and I had really hoped to have them ready for Field Day this year. The instructions are excellent and I have followed them closely. What can I look at next? Bill VE4STW
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R520 Wrong component value.
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When testing my newly built QMX+ I was getting high SWR readings while running the diagnostics SWR test. Even when connected to a dummy load the readings were around 2.7 to 1 across all bands. I removed and re-wound T507 (twice) but could not resolve the problem. So I removed T507 for a third time and started to check component values around the bridge circuit. I found that R520, although marked as 68X (49.9 R) , actually measured as 124.5 K. Has anyone else seen this problem. Regards Stephen
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RIT in N1MM
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I still use TS 480 for the setup of N1MM. When I am in Run and press the up or down key the QMX + changes to RIT .- .030 but cannot be modified then. I have to exit from that on the QMX+. It would have been perfect, if the QMx+ would follow the RIT in run. any suggestions ? -- Martin DK3UW
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Solder pot for toroid leads
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Does anyone use Solder pots for tinning and removing the enamel from the toroid leads? Any hints and tips? I see a cheap one on Amazon for about $20. Any suggestions if I should buy special solder for this, or use my normal Kester 63/37 solder in it?
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FDIM 2025 - Bringing SSB to the QMX (Hans's presentation)
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Enjoy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsDBcFXgHbY 73 DE muhsin TA1MHS
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Introducing QMX CARROT
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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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QMX+ Broken Toroid Core
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I'm in the midst of assembling my 2nd QMX+ and I just busted one of the Shiny Black T37-10 Toroid Cores... DAGNABBIT!!!! So, where's the best place to by only one or two Toroid cores in the US? 73, -Ed, WG5F- Tulsa, OK
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