Plans for Tuesday

At first, I shall try 10m FT8 using the QDX transceiver. If successful, I may try 8m FT8 later. I am toying with trying 8m WSPR at 1W around 40.680 MHz. 

10m QRP FT8 with the QDX

This morning started with a slight panic. I went on 10m FT8 with the QDX and thought the SWR looked high. It was as if the QDX was still on 20m. Then it clicked - I was on PWR not SWR. All was well and the SWR very low!!

My gear was switched on at about 0850z. It is now 0900z and, so far, 25 stations spotted on RX and 4 stations have spotted my QRP FT8 TX.

UPDATE 0921z:  11 spots of my QRP from Eastern Europe. I assume this is F2 propagation.

UPDATE 1036z:   20 stations have spotted me with the furthermost 7Z1IS (4948km). On RX, 99 stations have been spotted here.

UPDATE 1400z:  31 stations have spotted me on 10m FT8 and I have spotted 301 stations.

UPDATE 1424z:  45 stations have spotted me with the furthermost ZS3SH (9149km). On RX, 372 stations spotted on 10m FT8. Still using the tiny QDX.

UPDATE 1542z: Today I have been spotted by 87 stations and I have spotted 487 stations. In just a day, I have been spotted on 5 continents with the QRP QDX on 10m FT8 as well as had many QSOs on 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1918z: 119 stations have spotted my QRP 10m FT8 today and I have spotted 565 stations. Not a single station has been spotted from North America.

UPDATE 2025z:  120 stations have spotted my QRP 10m FT8 today (see map) using the QDX.

QDX on 10m

It has arrived and is tiny!! 

Stations that spotted my QDX
this afternoon on FT8

It has been tried out on 10m WSPR and FT8 and seems to work fine. I have already been spotted in the USA on FT8 and heaps of stations in the USA on WSPR.  Impressive!!

UPDATE 1850z:  18 stations have spotted me on 10m FT8 TX and 250 stations spotted me on 10m FT8 RX with the QDX.

Stations spotted on 20m FT8 RX
  this evening on the QDX

UPDATE 2208z: 101 stations spotted on 20m FT8 RX with the QDX on FT8.  QRT now.

QDX transceiver

There was a good review of this in a recent QST. Mine is still showing as "being collected". QDX is a QRP, multi-band HF digital transceiver available as a kit or ready built from QRP Labs. It looks like these come from the west of Turkey.

See https://www.qrp-labs.com/images/qdx/QST_QDX_Review.pdf

QDX coming

This morning, I had an email from QRP Labs and the carrier saying that my QDX is on its way. It is due this week. It covers 20-10m at 5W FT8.

See https://qrp-labs.com/qdx.html .

QDX getting closer

When I ordered this around Christmas it was about 144th in the queue. It is now very near the top so should be here in March I expect. Hans makes some good kit. 

See https://qrp-labs.com/ .

QDX status

Hans Summers from QRP Labs has been away for a few weeks, so the status of built QDX transceivers has not been updated for a while. 

Looking at my place in the queue (updated Saturday), I think I should get mine in March. This will certainly be in time for the 2023 Es season, although I expect to span the globe this year with it by F2 propagation.

QDX diodes

As mentioned before, I have an assembled QDX transceiver on order from QRP Labs. 

Running from my standard 13.8V PSU, there is a risk of over dissipation in the PA devices, so I intend to drop the supply to the QDX with a number of silicon diodes. I can add up to 10, but will probably add 6. The diodes have arrived. This solution is noise free and the diodes are well rated.

Voltage dropping

In a few weeks' time (with a following wind) my QDX digital transceiver should arrive. With a 12v supply, there is a danger of the PA being badly over-rated and failing. Most of my gear runs from a 13.8V, so it would be prudent to run the QDX from a lower supply voltage.

My easiest solution is a string of suitably rated diodes in the supply. I have 10 off 3A silicon diodes that should be here next week. I could drop 6V with these if I want, making the QDX run safely from 9.8V.

Assembled QDX status?

 The status of the queue of assembled transceivers from QRP Labs has not been updated since late last week.

See http://qrp-labs.com/qcxmini/assembled.html .

QDX - creeping up

At Christmas, I ordered a QDX digital transceiver, ready built, covering 20m-10m from QRP labs. As it will be ready built and cased, there is a waiting list.

My place in the queue is getting better. I shall wait patiently!! 

Hans makes some great kits.

QDX - soon

Around Christmas I ordered a QDX digital transceiver from QRP Labs. Mine covers 10m and was ordered ready built. When ordered I was told the wait was about a month. Most days I check where I am on the list.  When I started, I was way down the list. At this rate I should get mine in February.

QDX arrival date

This QRP FT8 transceiver from QRP Labs is on order. I have asked for a built version covering 20-10m as I can no longer build things, sadly. It will mostly get used on 10m.

When I ordered it just before Christmas, the lead-time was expected to be about a month. At present I am 105th on the list. It is going down. I just have to be patient! Hans makes some good kit. 

QDX - creeping up

As mentioned a few days ago, I have ordered a built QDX transceiver for 20-10m from QRP Labs. This is a 5W transceiver that will be mostly used on 10m FT8 and WSPR. 

I can still use voice modes like SSB and FM, but it is much harder for me these days. 

Looking at the priority list, my order is creeping up. I can see it being my main rig and well used when it comes. My antenna is a good match on most of the bands covered by the QDX.

When will my assembled QDX transceiver arrive?

My built QDX transceiver covering 10m has been ordered. According to Hans the waiting time is currently about 1 month, so it might be ready at the end of January. As FT8 and WSPR are the main modes used because of my poor voice, I can see this transceiver being well used. It covers 20m,17m,15m,12m and 10m. My antenna is a good match on all bands except 20m. Even there it could be used on RX.

See http://qrp-labs.com/qcxmini/assembled.html .

See http://qrp-labs.com/ .

QDX 10m

Hans Summers has announced a new higher bands version of his QDX digital transceiver. It is tiny. I have just ordered one assembled as my fine motor skills prevent me building it these days sadly. 

This is a 5W transceiver covering 20m-10m. Used with a software package like WSJT-X, it should work the world on modes like FT8.

See https://www.qrp-labs.com/qdx.html .

QDX for the higher HF bands?

The QDX is a tiny,digital, 5W, transceiver for the HF bands. For some time, Hans Summers has been catching up on the kit backlog, no doubt made worse by the semiconductor shortage. As he has almost caught up, he hopes to turn his attention to doing a higher band version. I have no availability dates. As a keen WSJT-X user, this could be very useful. Hans makes good stuff. He will be around when many have given up.

See https://www.qrp-labs.com/ .

QDX digital transceiver

This looks an interesting digital transceiver from QRP-Labs. It is probably beyond my fine motors skills to build it these days and is not available for 15m, 12m or 10m, well not yet. I suspect they will make these bands available next year. It is very small.

See https://qrp-labs.com/qdx.html .