Part 1 of "The Superb Ham Radio QRP-labs QCX-Mini tweaked for maximum enjoyment."
Part 2 will follow in a few days.
The ideal Ham radio transceiver is something so small, lightweight and powerful that you can carry it in your pocket and forget its there.
If its also a joy to use and produces world-class performance, then that’s a huge bonus!
If again you can buy it for around £50 and build it yourself in an afternoon then you are talking about something of Legend status.
The QCX-Mini from QRP-Labs is all of these rare things.
Honestly, I’m amazed how good this little rig is!
Its feature rich - and I mean RICH:
- Choice of single band, 160, 80, 60, 40, 30, 20 or 17m
- Approximately 3-5W CW output (depending on supply voltage)
- 7-16V recommended supply voltage
- Class E power amplifier, transistors run cool...
- 7-element Low Pass Filter ensures regulatory compliance
- CW envelope shaping to remove key clicks
- High performance receiver with at least 50dB of unwanted sideband cancellation
- 200Hz CW filter with no ringing
- Si5351A Synthesised VFO with rotary encoder tuning
- Iambic keyer or straight key option included in the firmware
- Simple Digital Signal Processing assisted CW decoder, displayed real-time on-screen
- On-screen S-meter
- On-screen real time clock (not battery backed up)
- Full or semi QSK operation using fast solid-state transmit/receive switching
- Frequency presets, VFO A/B Split operation, RIT, configurable CW Offset
- Configurable sidetone frequency and volume
- Connectors: 2.1mm power barrel connector, 3.5mm keyer jack, 3.5mm stereo earphone jack, 3.5mm stereo jack for PTT, 3.5mm stereo jack for CAT control, BNC RF output.
- Built-in test signal generator and alignment tools to complete simple set-up adjustments
- Built-in test equipment: voltmeter, RF power meter, frequency counter, signal generator
- Beacon mode, supporting automatic CW, FSKCW or WSPR operation
- GPS interface for reference frequency calibration and time-keeping (for WSPR beacon)
- CAT control interface
- Optional 50W PA kit
- Optional aluminium extruded cut/drilled/laser-etched black anodised enclosure
--- and Automatic Gain Control (AGC) Option (more on that in this video)
This first of two videos will demonstrate the rig and explain how installing the AGC module will make your listening a lot more pleasurable.
In part 2, we install the AGC hardware and configure it to work effectively.
I will also explain what I got wrong when first building the rig -- as a learning point for others who may wish to build their QCX-Mini.
(My special thanks to Curt, WB8YYY for giving me the clue about the possibility of 'T1' being the source of my problems.)
Enjoy
73
Bruce G4ABX
‪@g4abx954‬
g4bx.co.uk