In all, my QRP 10m FT8 has been spotted by 5 stations. These seem to be via Es.
UPDATE 0937z: My QRP FT8 spotted by 11 stations including ZS4ZO (9235km).
UPDATE 1405z: 12 stations have spotted me in the last 30 minutes. Best DX is a spot from South Africa again.
After about 4 hours with no spots of me on TX, I noticed the QMX+ display had an "s" after the VFO A frequency and no power, suggesting the TX had detected a high SWR and inhibited TX. A little while before I had been successfully TXing on both 10m and 6m FT8 and I knew the SWR was good. I feared the PAs had been blown, but could not understand how this could be with a good SWR and several diodes in the supply line.
In desperation, I thought I should turn off the QMX+ and turn it on again. At first the QMX+ sound cards were not recognised. I unplugged the USB cable, waited a decent while (20secs?) and reconnected it. Power was immediately visible and on 6m FT8 I was spotted all over Europe. It was NOT the PAs (thankfully) so must have been the firmware. I think there is another possible bug.
UPDATE 1930z: 49 spots of my QRP FT8 this evening on 6m with the QMX+. It is a good rig, but there are still (I think) a few teething problems.
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| Spots of my QRP 6m FT8 this afternoon |
So far this afternoon my QRP FT8 has been spotted by 13 stations with the furthermost ZS4ZO (9235km). On RX the furthermost are a couple of stations in Brazil.
Using PuTTY on Windows 10 I increased the audio settings in digital modes on 10m and 6m FT8 on my QMX+.
The audio level on FT8 with WSJT-X is now comfortably in the green whereas it was low and in the red as delivered.
Perhaps Hans should increase the default audio levels on higher bands? By default it was set to 54 on all bands and I have adjusted 10m and 6m to 99. It certainly works. I was getting 10m FT8 spots before even with the level still in the red.
The QMX+ is a great radio.
It looks like I have solved the problems I have had with PuTTY. As I mentioned yesterday, I am a total PC dummy and have never had occasion to use a terminal emulator before. I looked for guidance on the internet and was taken to a Computer Weekly page that was (for me) useless gobbledegook.
In total fairness to Hans of QRP Labs, I think the instructions in the QMX (not QMX+) operating manual are very clear for Linux users, but perhaps a few words for Windows users would make things totally clear that you have to choose "serial" and put in the COM port number. Also, I had to plug the USB cable in after waiting about 10 seconds for the QMX+ to be recognised (I think!).
Once I quit PuTTY I shall see if the new audio levels are better on the higher bands.
See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .
In the end I have come to the conclusion that I do not understand US politics at all.
I am sure the Republicans say ill of the Democrats and vice versa. I am sure we hear the political propaganda from both sides, but it is impossible to know that facts.
