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Re: Select Button on Alignment QCX+ 20m
Could be a simple issue. Make sure you did not install the know too far on the shaft ( close to the case) or it will not have sufficient travel to activate the switch.
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Skeeter Hunt 2020 Results published.
To all Skeeters and Skeeter Hunters, You are ALL chmapions in my book! Thank you all for participating - without you, this event is a big ZERO. You folks make it what it is. And while you're tops, special kudos go to: Gene N5GW - 1st Place overall with 25,912 points
Kent as N0SS - 2nd Place overall with 21,316 points
Dave AB9CA - 3rd Place overall with 17. 806 points
Peter NN9K - 4th Place overall with 16,381 points
Marc W4MPS - 5th Place overall with 14.020 points The 2020 Skeeter Scoreboard is available for viewing in its entirety at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18QkjuDoQik9OYXQeC19l4kUPCyAgYcQU/view?usp=sharing The soapbox will follow ASAP as well as certificates to those who earned them. Thanks again to all who particpated and and to those who sent in log summaries, comments and photos. 73 de Larry W2LJ - Skeeter Hunt Contest Manager - Skeeter # 13 in perpetuity.
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Re: Thoughts on Low Power and fewer turns on LP filter toroids
@CurtisM
Phil
the 5 watt outside is specified for higher voltage than 13.8 volts. okay a few claim more, but I trust the designer's data. your rigs are working wonderfully 3 watts to 5 watts is a small fraction of one S-unit ! only your power meter knows the difference. okay to tweak a rig when building - otherwise we may as well order it already built (funny thing, that option is coming!). all seems well - enjoy its radiations - wow these QCX have wonderful receivers! 73 Curt
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Re: QCX #smoked ?
#smoked
@CurtisM
John
let's not conclude anything yet - but suffice it to say WSPR can be rough on this rig - the original QCX without any heat sinking on the bs170 finals. I can't speak to the qcx+ on WSPR, but the heatsink at least looks nice! let's see - single band rig - if you do WSPR once each 10 minutes - I would think it should work if your antenna has a reasonable match. kaput? I would think only the bs170 finals take punishment - order a batch of them from W8DIZ if you are stateside. now i did smoke some bs170 in my QCX - when I plugged in GPS and did not realize it set rig into transmit. hang in there I hope the QCX is still okay. 73 curt
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freefuel@...
Not exactly the direction I was looking to turn, but this seems to have some merit, https://www.rtl-sdr.com/rpitx-v2-released-easily-record-and-replay-with-rtl-sdr-and-a-raspberry-pi/
-Justin N2TOH
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Re: #40m qcx+
#40m
Don Blachura
Tu Ron. At 83 my mind is getting a little rusty.
Tu agn. Don...w2xb
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Re: #40m qcx+
#40m
Ronald Taylor
Page 138 in the manual... Kenwood TS-480 4.28 CAT Control commands (PC remote operation) The CAT command system is intended to allow the QCX+ to be used with logging software (general and contest) which uses CAT control commands to query the transceiver for information entered into the log, typically operating frequency, mode etc. A subset of the Kenwood TS-480 command set is implemented, with a few minor modifications. QCX+ assembly Rev 1.03 138
Need a liitle help. What rig do you select in logging software to use the "cat' on the qcx+?
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#40m qcx+
#40m
Don Blachura
Need a liitle help. What rig do you select in logging software to use the "cat' on the qcx+?
I see the port in my Device manager, but from there I am lost. Don...w2xb (using aclog by n3jfp)
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Re: QCX #smoked ?
#smoked
Most of the "12V" power supplies sold to hams are really 13.8V supplies out of the box. (Many of them can be adjusted with an internal trimmer.) A lot of ham gear is designed to operate best at that voltage, which is about what you get from a typical automobile while it is running. The power supply is probably working as designed.
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Re: QCX #smoked ?
#smoked
John Sharman
Finals are ok !
On 8 Sep 2020, at 20:45, ajparent1/KB1GMX <kb1gmx@...> wrote:
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Re: Thoughts on Low Power and fewer turns on LP filter toroids
Hans Summers
Hi all This problem has always come up at intervals on this group. It used to be that we could blame suspect capacitors for being lossy since several were found on occasion. Not any more! All capacitors are now NP0 ceramics manufactured by Vishay and procured from Digikey. All the toroids are from Diz @ kitsandparts.com. I don't think it at all likely that there are any quality issues with these US sourced parts. Which leads us just back to variations in component tolerances, winding styles, soldering (check grounded pins of capacitors which are harder to get soldered well to the groundplane!). And variations and errors in power measurement. All these variations are the most likely cause all along on most previous occasions too... but for sure the capacitors and toroids in the LPFs are really always good now. 73 Hans G0UPL
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Re: QCX #smoked ?
#smoked
ajparent1/KB1GMX
Define kaput, and what item?
Likely fried the finals in the morning and during the day repeated tries finished the job. THe PS I can only guess about. Allison ------------------------------- Please reply on list so we can share. No private email, it goes to a bit bucket due address harvesting
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Re: Thoughts on Low Power and fewer turns on LP filter toroids
Michael.2E0IHW
Apart from soldering issues, this must be the
most confounding disincentive for faint-hearted wonnabe QSX+ers
...
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
There must surely be a concise winding-checklist for genuine radio "amateurs" ? Michael 2E0IHW ...........................................................
On 08/09/2020 17:57, Phil/K3UT (ex
W3HZZ) wrote:
I've completed a 20M QCX+ and have just fixed a friend's 30M QCX+. Both are working nicely, but at 13.1 volts I get about 3watts output on both, using the onboard RF tool to measure (and less on my Elecraft wattmeter).
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Re: #u3s QCXPTXCO install
#u3s
Dean Smith
just been playing with the 25mhz tcxo for q"C"x+ in a U3s.
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Re: Thoughts on Low Power and fewer turns on LP filter toroids
Arv Evans
In addition to Allison's comments, the filters are designed to work with 50 ohms input impedance and 50 ohms output impedance. If either of those impedances are not 50 ohms the filter cutoff frequency will be impacted. Arv _._
On Tue, Sep 8, 2020 at 11:29 AM ajparent1/KB1GMX <kb1gmx@...> wrote: Phil,
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QCX #smoked ?
#smoked
John Sharman
All working well on WSPR for weeks
This morning the display is acting weird and the buttons are sometimes not responsive This afternoon the display stats flashing on and off with smell of burins from transceiver!! Hope its just the 5Reg thats blown! The power supply i'm using is 12v from RS Components ad is giving out 13.8v Is the consensus that the item is Kaput!!!! Regards John
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Re: QRP-LABS Low Pass Filter upgrade
ajparent1/KB1GMX
Also PCB conductor size and spacing are a factor as well.
For example 100W is 1.4A into 50 ohms so heavier and larger relays become a factor. 20W is easy 50W takes care, more is significant revision. Allison ------------------------------- Please reply on list so we can share. No private email, it goes to a bit bucket due address harvesting
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Re: Thoughts on Low Power and fewer turns on LP filter toroids
ajparent1/KB1GMX
Phil,
THe AL used for winding of toroids has a variation of 10-15% so depending on how tightly wound plus individual batches you get variation. The Iron powder material is really like many high volume materials to get it as close as they tend to be takes a significant bit of effort. I strongly point to the spec. Add to that the caps used are 10% maybe 5% so when you plug in the variation it does get to be significant. That said I'se used those very same table and many over a 25 filters then tested them ( 5 bands * 5 per) and then tested them and they were remarkably consistent. Parts used were not the same batches but were drawn from my own stocks some quite old. Also did you adjust L4? All 4 of those inductors interact and due to reflected impedances and determine power and harmonic content. Allison ------------------------------ Please reply on list so we can share. No private email, it goes to a bit bucket due address harvesting
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Bob Ballard
Len,
Attached above is my input regarding an “antenna tuner” question asked last week.
73, Bob – KG5SQJ
From: QRPLabs@groups.io <QRPLabs@groups.io> On Behalf Of Len W1LEN
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2020 10:46 AM To: QRPLabs@groups.io Subject: Re: [QRPLabs] QCX+ T1 Toroid Wire Length? #20m #qcx+ #toroid
Hi, what is the gauge of the magnet wire supplied with the QCX+ kit for the toroids and transformer? Also, is there a particular antenna tuner or tuners that have been found to be most useful with the 50 watt linear amplifier?
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Thoughts on Low Power and fewer turns on LP filter toroids
I've completed a 20M QCX+ and have just fixed a friend's 30M QCX+. Both are working nicely, but at 13.1 volts I get about 3watts output on both, using the onboard RF tool to measure (and less on my Elecraft wattmeter).
To achieve that output, I had to take two turns off L1 and L3 and one turn off of L2 and fiddle around a little with the spacing of the windings. I did that with both radios. Any thoughts why the number of turns differs so greatly from that specified in the build instructions? Both kits were shipped about the same time. Could it be a quality control issue of the toroids? I measured the toroids on the 20M version before I installed them, and they were spot on before I took the turns off. I didn't measure them after the turns had been removed. I'm satisfied with the power output of the units. Just curious why they aren't meeting the specs as stated in the manual? Phil, K3UT
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