10m 2.5W FT8 (Friday)

My gear was turned on just after breakfast. I was on TX very briefly (7 spots) but I am mostly RX only. 

It is amazing that something this small works so well.

See https://shop.qrp-labs.com/qdxm

UPDATE 1056z:  395 stations spotted here on RX with the best H44MS in the Solomon Islands (14814km) in the Pacific Ocean.

10m still in great shape

Stations received yesterday on
10m FT8  using the QDX-M

Yesterday I decided to stay on 10m FT8 RX all day using my tiny QDX-M which is smaller than a pack of cards. In all, 1851 stations were spotted from all around the world. We maybe on the downward side of solar maximum, but conditions remain superb.

QDX-M 10m

The map shows the stations received here yesterday on my QDX-M on 10m FT8  with just the low endfed wire.

QDX-M on 10m FT8

This is an impressive rig. 

It has only been used on FT8 but it seems to copy loads (over 1100 stations yesterday).  

I run mine via suitably rated diodes in the power lead to ensure I am below 12V when using a 13.8V PSU so I reckon the output is about 2.5W. 

At this power it has been spotted in the USA multiple times, although sometimes you get clobbered by a QRO station.  Unlike my WSPR beacon it does not change frequency randomly between TX bursts. 

It is very small and probably is smaller than a pack of cards. If, like me, you have a poor voice, it is ideal.  I think the 10m version also covers 12m and the 11m CB bands, although I have not explored these.

See https://shop.qrp-labs.com/qdxm

Thursday plans

 Later, I hope to retry 10m 5W FT8 with my QDX-M by QRP Labs.

10m 5W FT8 (Saturday)

 My QDX-M was turned on very early morning before breakfast.

UPDATE  0950z:  Spotted by 4 stations and  I have spotted 3 stations in Eastern Europe.

UPDATE 1053z:  Spotted by 16 stations.

UPDATE 1341z:   Spotted by many stations including some in the USA and Canada. See map.

QDX-M

Hans at QRP Labs makes some excellent kit. 

As mentioned yesterday, I am having issues with my built (by QRP Labs) QDX-M rig. Today is my last day trying to eliminate "finger trouble" issues. I really hope I am doing something stupid and I have a "Eureka" moment and I can say how stupid I was. If not, I shall have no choice but to return it, sadly.

As stated yesterday, I am open to things to try with my Windows 10 PC. If you have any ideas, please let  me know! At the back of my mind is "it must be me", but I cannot see anything wrong.

10m FT8 TX (Monday)

Just before tea I QSYed to 10m FT8  using my ready built 10m QDX-M. 

Although the TX works fine, I cannot work out what is wrong with the RX which appears to be totally deaf. Using Windows 10, I have (I think) exhausted everything I can try. The audio is not muted, the USB lead has been replaced, I have re-installed the drivers, the port has been correctly selected. I have tried starting the device again in case the PC is not recognising the device on RX. At the back of my mind is a hope that I will find something and it will spring in to life. Sadly, nothing tried has worked. 

Hans makes some splendid kit so I am reluctant to send it back until I am utterly convinced I am not doing something stupid, but I am at a loss. If I cannot find something tomorrow it will (reluctantly) be returned. 

If you have any suggestions of things I can try, please let me know.

QDX-M 630m

When this is available, I quite fancy one. My transverter produces about 10-12W of WSPR on this band.  It would be good to try the QDX-M next winter, on 630m, if available. I think the output would be about 5W on the QDX-M.

See https://qrp-labs.com/qdxm .