Ham Radio - Review and demo of the QRP labs QCX transceiver kit.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ต.ค. 2024
- If you want to watch the kit build, click below.
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Hit me up on the echolink repeater down by my house: W9TE (Node: 519521)
Nice set of videos Kevin. Will help a lot when my kit arrives eventually. I contacted the designer re enclosure and although he’s had lots of inquiries, no decision yet on a purpose-built one. Thanks and 73, John/N6VTS
It makes sense that there is one kit per band, especially considering that it has a class E amplifier. Both the output filter and the transformer need to be tailored to that specific frequency.
I wish more people around here would send at the speed of your contact at 29 minutes. I can copy that!!
If you haven't heard they have a case now and you don't have to desolder anything, it uses extenders.
73
wd4dda
this looks like a good emergency radio after the bomb
Nicely done! Mine is on its way. You didn't mention the built-in "key," the microswitch for one-fingered Morse. Also, I'm curious about the position of C1. Per page 65 of the manual, it shows plates completely closed, which the manual says means the adjustment has hit its limits. I really enjoyed the QSO--I need to get my rusty CW back to standards! 73, de KEØOG
You'll have fun with the radio. The plates are just slightly meshed, the level dropped when completely unmeshed, so I was just inside the range.
This might just your best video I have seen. Going to order my qrp labs radio in the morning.
Qrp labs has a great users group, to help with the build and troubleshooting.
They have some good pictures of enclosure solutions.
73 Wd4dda
EXCELLENT VIDEO TOTALLY INFORMATIVE !!!!
Somebody with a 3D printer might be able to design and print a useable enclosure.
Another great video on this neat little radio Kevin; thanks for doing it as I will be referring back to it when I receive my 20m kit! 73, Karl
Those tuning pots could of had longer posts, for a project box.
Nice review Kevin. I finished my 20 meter version a few days ago, works great except only 1.6 watts out at 13.8 Volts. A lot of fellow QCX builders are having this problem on 20 meters, not sure why just yet. Im too chicken to attempt a QSO yet. Ive been using a Mic for too long:(
I hadn't heard that, about the 20 meter version. Well, on 20, with a good antenna, 1.6 will go a long way. Hunt around 14.050 for slower CW. Lot's of SKCC guys around there. Copy for awhile until you get your speed up a bit and then dive right in! There's something satisfying when you make a contact on a kit you built.
Nice Quality Video Kevin, Well thought out and it should assist those of us yet to receive our kits. I chose 20m, mostly because of "less wire" when operating portable. My CW skills (like many) needs improving, so this rig is a good incentive! 73
This receiver is sensitive. Connected my QSX+ and FT818 on the same antenna with a Y. They heard the same signals equally. Hard to tell even on the weakest signals. I have transmitted and listened via WebSDR's in western US and Australia and seen my signals. I have to recommend the QCX+ Very Highly. Thanks Hans for a fun and excellent kit.
Nice rig and video. Thanks for sharing.
73 - de Mick, WB4LSS
glad that you are back with new videos. i live in a senior living center and am not allowed out side antenna. i use a home brew Mag loop in my room. it works pretty good but i pick up all of the electric noises. i use a icom ic7300 . it filters out the noise pretty good. from texas to fla. no problem. im on the first floor of a three story concrete building. just a window. at least im still on the air at 30 watts. have a good day.
Looks really cool piece of kit, it deserves a clear plexiglass top cover👍🏼
Nice review Kevin. I did order the 40 meter version and hopefully if will be here in a few weeks. Thanks for the heads up on the features and operation. Bob - W3ARA
Excellent. And my morse is get5ing better 😂👍might buy one to add to the collection
Nick
G8SYE
I really like my QCX. Nice video. My next QRP Labs kit will be the QCX+.
Ciao mi puoi mandare lindirizzo Dove acquistare questo kit è il prezzo per favore Grazie se mi rispondi
That SMD package is a SO-16 package. It can be de-soldered either by using hot air, or by cutting all the pins carefully with an X-acto knife, and then removing them one by one with a soldering iron. You can then solder a new chip just with the use of a soldering iron.
Very good video.
Are you have bitx40 ?
Can you compare it with bitx40 ?
I don't have one to compare it to, sorry. Maybe someone will send me one.
Kevin Loughin many thanks, I try to design to buy one of them.
Bitx40, unmodified, is a SSB transceiver. This one is CW only. So that is the main difference. And I'm not sure that the source code for this QCX rig is available. (?) So if you wanted to modify the functionality of the code your hands are tied. Hopefully I'm wrong about that but so far I haven't been able to find it. The Bitx40 has fully modifiable code via easily modified Arduino "sketches".
Nice video!
Thanks for some great videos Kevin. Got my kit the other day. Ordered 3 months ago. Took a while to get it due to big demand. No problem though and they were very nice when I emailed asking what was up. I got the GPS kit also but will have to figure out what to do with it. Ill let you know how the build goes. Your vids certainly take the sting out of the process. Thank You again and 73"s Kevin Williams KA5HSY. Royse City TEXAS
You're going to love the little radio Kevin. Light on battery use and sounds great on the air. The GPS kit will let you do WSPR beaconing easily, but yes, I don't know how often that would be used. Maybe for watching the propagation change over the day?
I believe everybody is blaming it on LPF caps not being able to handle the RF. Some have changed the caps to Silver Micas or COGs and cured the problem. Im still waiting on a official answer from Hans.
Great vid! Can you adjust the filters to receive SSB?
No, it's a fixed filter. Thanks for watching!
Kevin, just wondering if you could purchase some pots with extended shafts to mount to the pcb. If you were able to get them long enough, you could then print a box to fit the QCX txr in a home brew printed case. In addition, I'm sitting here at my desk looking at a 10000mAh powerbank 5v battery with up to 3.4 amp output. Printing a case that could contain the TXR and the battery, and using a buck converter you could increase the voltage from 5v up to 9v,12v,14v or what ever you needed. With the internal 10000mAh battery, you'd have a very nice self contained rig that should run much longer than a 9v battery.
I have ordered the 40 meter kit. After I have it built I would like to exchange SKCC numbers. Mine is 349T
You've been in it for awhile! That's a low number. When you get it built and ready, email me to set up a sked.
Hey Kevin... watching the build video and this one was almost like doing it myself. Seeing you make that first contact was fun... almost like doing it myself!! I have about 10 kits in line to build and this has encouraged me to get 'em out and build 'em! Thanks for the fun! 73 KK0DJ
Very nice. Got my 40m version in the mail this week. I got the GPS and a dummy load with it. I also ordered a 3d printer because of the video you did this week. I ordered the Maker Select III 3d version 2. I haven't done any CAD since college but I figure I can work up a nice case for the whole thing... maybe even find a market for them. So thanks for the video.
Well since you have some CAD experience, check out FreeCAD. Runs on any OS and easy to use. Plenty of tutorials online as well.
However, there's a MUCH simpler option that I think you'll like. Working on the video today. Hope to have it up Wednesday.
Saw that video last night. Very nice. I'm an old C programmer from the K&R days. So far OpenSCAD is getting the admittedly basic models drawn. Made a nice BiQuad frame, a chassie/cabinet for some RB133 and RB153 RouterBoards I have laying about, a mouse trap. Who doesn't want to make YABMT? Some other little things. I just got the radio running last night and did some QSOs on it today. My second QSO with the little QCX was with a fellow in SC who was also doing his second QSO with his QCX ... Karma ;) I'm running it at 12 volts. I just have no desire to run one of those finals into a heat problem and the thing gets really hot when you turn on the WSPR beacon.
There is now a purpose aluminium case for the qcx finishes product off perfectly.
My only con is that you cannot use the add on gps module while txing cw it only works for aprs mode apparently.
72 Mark G0NMY
Good review Kevin, I was disappointed in the performance of the receiver.....primitive /
It’s $50!
A case for that, looks like a project for someone with a 3D printer 😉. Regards GI0OTC
I have an idea for a 3D printed case.... Some laymen would probably call it "pouring a bunch of hot glue all over it."
Hey Kevin! I really enjoy your videos...the two on the QCX in particular as they are very in depth and informative. I'll be buying this kit soon, the coronaverse having freed up some time for side projects. Probably will build it while rewatching as well. I hope you continue to make such excellent videos.
Nice review Kevin. What antenna were you running on the contact? The QRP-Labs guys put quite a bit of good development effort in to get these kits so good yet inexpensive. 73 N8AHT
maybe a stupid question. is thare a voice recondition software to cw converter?
I suppose you could chain individual programs. Speech to text and then feed the result into a Text to CW program.
I wonder if you could build a buffer for the signal generator output. Would require somewhere to mount a resistor and transistor though.
The DVM input could be used to show battery voltage if you use batteries for portable use. Add a buck converter to your battery source and you could control your output power.
Good idea, the DVM input. The buck mode converter would bring up the background noise level due to the hash noise it produces. You'd have to filter the heck out of it's output.
Yeah you are right about the buck - 4 x 18650 li-ions should do the trick with a protection / charging module. As you gave yours away - was wondering how you found it compared to your commercial rig?
very nice presentation Kevin I just received my QCX kit and have started to build it so your video came in very handy 73‘s bill AA1O
Thanks for the upload great incite into Morse on a board. Maybe someone could do a 3D Print of an enclose that could take the rig. Could the Code be learned this way or is there a better option to get started? as I have never touched a key.
You may have seen this already, but I see QRP Labs are doing a '+' version of this kit now that includes a few modifications and an enclosure. (I think that most of this review is still very relevant, which is why I just watched it...)
I see that they now offer a new kit fir $55 which includes a nice enclosure.
Hi, what antennas are recommended for this unit? 40 mts.
Any resonant antenna you'd use with any 40-meter transceiver. Of course there are poor antennas, better antennas and best antennas. The cheapest will be a simple coax-fed dipole mounted as high as you can get it, which is probably the most common antenna in use anyway. Verticals works well, especially for longer ranges, but you have to tolerate the dead-ground "donut" at medium distances caused by the low radiation angle. Another inexpensive option is the NVIS; an excellent receiving antenna with no dead spaces but which lacks long-range punch on transmit. Of course the greatest variable is the 40m band itself.... a solid short-range daytime band that gets longer legs after sundown. Of course if I had my druthers, I'd go for a directional log-periodic up about 200-ft. :)
Great vid. I had a 40m version in my cart, but after watching your video, I clicked buy :)
connect your RF measurement to the RF out to the antenna and then you can check the power of your radio.
I have one on order. Whoever designed this thing knew their business.
where you trying to say 78s and 88s to and yours over and out.
Very nice review. Thanks for being so thorough.
mni tnx fb vid' Kevin. 73 :-)
Excellent Video Kevin as always 73 VK6NJP
Nice good luck best 73s de a71br
I'm interested in the 40M transmitter. What is the tuning freq range in the 40M band?
The whole band, but its just a cw rig, so you can stay down in that range.
Nice informative video. Thank you.
Did you get the GPS receiver also ??
Lee, WA8QFE Indianapolis
+Francis Thompson no, he only sent me the radio.
Awesome kit and I love the wood-paddled Iambic. Is that another kit, or did you homebrew that entirely? Are you using a straight-key later in the video?
Maybe I should just call out for you on EchoLink instead? hahaha
+Matthew Sweet yes, Homebrew paddles and straight key. And o did use the key later in the vid.
Thanks for the reply. You should do a video on those sometime, if you haven't already. I've not yet had the time to go through your complete compendium of vids, but a marathon is coming soon.
Another question for you, Kevin; how did many days from order to unboxing? I ordered mine last night and it appears it's going to be a while before it gets shipped out. I'm okay with that, but just wondering.
Thanks for this info!
So are you going to print a case for this as part of your 3D printer series? Mine (40M) will probably arrive in another 3 weeks if I am gauging the fill rate.
I'd have to do it in pieces and assemble it after. The bed on my printer is only 12cm square and I think the board is longer than that. I haven't measured yet though, too busy on other things at the moment. I'll probably look at it eventually.
The letter T is often sent instead of zero (one dah vs five). Nice rig - thinking of ordering one. 73s
p.s. Now you can 3D print a case :)
I already did. :-)
Love the iambic keyer.
..... ХОЧЮ ЖРАТЬ.....)))))))...
Great video Kevin. What are all of those Ms and Ts on the screen?
+Braden Glett the cw decoder responding to noise. I'm still fiddling with it's settings trying to get it to work better
Kevin Loughin Ah, ok. Thank you. Those never work as well as my ears do! Lol
Hello, may I know if I need a license to operate one of those?
Yes. It transmits on the amateur radio bands.
Amaury Reyes Yes.