My First POTA With QRP-Labs QMX. I LOVE THIS THING!!

[@RLKD8DNS]

I have 2 QMX (high, and low band), and have built dozens of them for people. They’re absolutely amazing. The engineering that went into the design is impressive!!

[@thedoobie1]

For a new to building stuff ham, how hard is the build? I have no electronics experience before becoming a ham and limited soldering experience.

[@OttoDestruct]

I would STRONGLY recommend having it built for you unless you're an experienced kit builder.

[@the_mad_swimbaiter455]

I think part of the fun is buying a kit and building it. Just but a qcx mini, build that for practice, then build the qmx. I've built a bunch of qrp labs stuff and I can only tell you it isn't hard, just read the instructions then start building.

[@RLKD8DNS]

@@thedoobie1I have some very high-end JBC soldering stations, and reflow equipment. I also have an AmScope microscope that aids in the build of stuff like this. For me it’s not “hard”, but it is definitely a build more a more experienced builder. It’s worth a go though. It’s a more advanced build, but the instructions are very clearly laid out. And for the price, it’s a great learning experience.

[@cchalfantusa]

Do you offer building as a service?

[@vtsmee]

for powering my QDX, I just use a USB-C PD to barrel connector 12v cable and as long as your USB-C power source (battery, charger, etc) supports 12v PD you are good to go. Easy to charge and can be used to also power your cell phone, laptop, etc.

[@amnchode]

That's what I use for my X6100 and my USB-PD powered Mini-PC. I have a Ugreen 90Wh powerbank with dual USB-PD ports that can run a both ports simultaneously at 100W & 45W, which is more than enough for my rig and my PC. It is about the rough equivalent of a 6.5-7Ah battery and can be charge using a regular USB-PD charger, which can be valuable when on the go.... like during the commute between parks 😉

[@hamradiotube]

I bought one of those too but the battery I was going to hook it up to kept turning off. I guess there wasn't enough of a current draw for it to stay on when the radio was in RX. I do like the smaller form factor of the LiPo pack, and I got to build another battery!

[@natereik]

Same

[@MadGoat]

@@hamradiotube I have one PD battery that keeps shitting off and another that puts out 12v. Not sure if I'll return it or not, since it's good for a phone charger.

[@km6zth483]

For mac you don't need to download putty. You can just use the program already built in called Terminal.

[@hamradiotube]

You may be able to, but I am not a computer guy. Might as well be speaking Chinese. I'm sure I'll figure it out one day but unfortunately I think putting Putty on my Winblows computer might be easier. I tried terminal on my Mac with some computer guys there but we couldn't get it to work. It just didn't see the radio at all.

[@lua-nya]

​@@hamradiotube alternatively, someone who knows this stuff better could implement configuration for these in a more graphical program.

[@KustomRadioFrequency]

Talentcell 3000mah fits that radio like a glove they line up perfectly back to back

[@wcheng95]

Some hams don't like FT8, but a lot of people don't even like ham radio, so, just enjoy it as the way _you_ like.

[@Dusty_Ham]

That bag is awesome, everything fits so nicely in it! The QMX looks quite awesome as well, I'll have to add it to my Christmas list! Thanks for the video Mike!

[@jerryKB2GCG]

I have the QDX, both versions. Power it with a TalentCel 12V battery. KB2GCG

[@Utahforrest]

I’ve built two QMX (low and mid band) and have an assembled high band. I’ve done my builds as 9v and love the performance. The best VALUE rig on the market, by far. 73

[@cwqrpportable]

Have fun Mike; our hobby is the best! The QMX is a wonderful CW rig; looks like it's a performer on FT8 also. I've built 4 of the QCX-mini single band rigs, one QMX and now I'm working away on a QMX+. I'm a CW only OP, going on 20 yrs now....... If you ever decide to progress to the original digital mode, the CW community is filled with amateurs who will help you.

[@hamradiotube]

One of these days. I do have a lifetime membership to LICW Club for when I’m ready to take the plunge. It would be nice to be able to use the other half of this radio and put all of the cw keys and paddles I own to good use.

[@cwqrpportable]

@@hamradiotube You'll do it....... you're young, you got time

[@tookthe5th182]

Best QMX sales person in the world! I built the QMX+ as well as most of qrp labs offerings and they all work. Another fun rig is the QDX which is digital only and headless.

[@hamradiotube]

Hopefully it doesn't put too much of a strain on their already busy work flow. Serves them right for making such an awesome product though haha! I wish them all the success in the world and hopefully get them a few more orders from this video. Now if they can just get that SSB firmware pushed out...

[@brandonporter4227]

When doing POTA, always get more than the minimum number of contacts! I will say that WSTJ-X somewhat limits your ability to incorrectly copy a callsign, but I've had it happen once or twice on SSB and been saved by those one or two extra contacts I got as a buffer. If you miscounted though, those one or two could also save you. I've got a CaHR Ares (9:1) antenna, but think I want to get the Apollo (49:1) and make it a linked EFHW like this. I also have a linked dipole for 10, 20, and 40 I made using a K6ARK 100w kit. Super compact. If I could get my hands on another one of those kits, I'd probably use that instead.

[@TobotronPrime]

I have the QDX already which is tiny and I ordered one of these a few months ago. They do take a quite a while to arrive if you order a built kit (4 to 6 months) but if you compare them against eg USDX they are way better and about the same price. In all it’s worth waiting for!

[@richkimmerling3458]

Eagley Beagaly…..still building my QMX.. Big QRP labs fan. Thanks for the video!

[@thedoobie1]

Drop an old phone in that bag running FT8CN and you don't even need the computer! Smol!! 👍🏼

[@hamradiotube]

I've looked at that app, and it's pretty sweet. I just don't see myself doing FT8 on my phone. The screen is too smol.

[@ralphnunn3]

Welcome to the QMX club! I absolutely love mine! We must have ordered ours around the same time, because I just recently got mine. I mostly use mine for CW, but I did try WSPR, and it seemed to work great. I think you should be able to install PuTTY on your Mac. If it comes on Linux, it should come on Mac, too.

[@hamradiotube]

Thanks man. It's such a cool little bit of kit isn't it.

[@medicineman4040]

You could assemble and sell that battery. QMX owners like me would love to purchase one.

[@canyonjam]

So many comments about the bag (it is cool, I'll say that much). I want that ANTENNA! In particular a part list would be cool. I can't figure out the bits that you disconnect when you change bands, those tubular connectors. I can sorta figure out the rest, maybe. Great vid all around, and it definitely makes me want to buy one of those radios. A certain holiday is approaching...

[@Alex-M0OOV]

Loved the jokes, references and regional accents! Very entertaining to watch!

[@HikingSteve]

Wow. I think I want one of those radios.

[@Mike_M_KI4MRC]

Mike you have inspired me to make my Mac work for the hobby. I use Mac for everything and only have windows for ham radio but always prefer the Mac. I’ve had some trouble getting audio codec on WSJT-X but probably just need to go back and rewatch your setup video again and maybe again after that lol.

[@PaulK7VIQ]

I have one being built and hoping for it in late December. I look forward to continuing my CW practice on it. I did not finish this video with you, but if you do some CW I would LOVE to follow your progress.

[@quantumradio]

Congrats on the CW contacts!

[@hamradiotube]

Well there's only 2 so far on this radio but thank you! I'm still not a cw operator at all but I can send, and if I'm daring enough I'll actually throw my call out. POTA contacts seem to be a good place to start as were not exchanging much info.

[@quantumradio]

@@hamradiotube Yes, POTA CW may be a good next step. The hunting exchange is simple: BK TU UR 5NN 5NN TX TX BK. The activator script is also simple: K8MRD GM UR 5NN 5NN TX TX BK, and then they copy your hunting exchange above, and reply: BK TU TX 73 DE [activator callsign]. dot dot, dot dot and as you say ""Bob's your uncle". Best of luck and 73.

[@K3JRZOnTheAir]

GRAPE APE used to rock!! 73!

[@hamradiotube]

Hell yeah!

[@pcramil]

Perfect! Time to get started on CW 😂

[@hamradiotube]

I got "started" on CW years ago. I just haven't progressed much 🤣

[@pcramil]

@hamradiotube this past July 4th, I woke up and decided, "Today is the day imma make a fool out of myself trying to activate CW." I've only made 21 SSB contacts since then, compared to 632 CW 😂

[@johnwest7993]

I think building and tuning my gear is the most fun.

[@cchalfantusa]

This radio pairs very well with the KM6LYW digipi. It works natively, I think you have to set the radio as a specific Kenwood model listen in the QMX instructions. Glad to look if someone replies asking. Fun way to have everything in a tiny kit and not need your laptop. I know the screen is too small for Mike’s taste based on his FT8CN comment, but you can also use a tablet with it. The USB port on Talentcell YB1203000-USB powers a Pi Zero W2 nicely while also powering QMX/QMX+ on 12V.

[@rsimons5952]

Interesting. Fldigi component on the Digipi works with no issues?

[@cchalfantusa]

@ I used it for FT8 for sure but I didn’t use FLDIGI. If you give me a fun task to try for a FLDIGI rookie I’ll give it a whirl and report back. I just have not had a need for it but always up for a challenge.

[@KellyKE8MWQ]

Dropping out of the trees like acorns in the fall, nice.

[@cdburgess75]

You can use the Mac terminal without any additional software. SSH is built in

[@hamradiotube]

People can, I cannot. I've got my team of Mac nerds working on it so hopefully I'll know how to do it soon. I am not a computer guy at all.

[@thuff3207]

For the QMX on a Mac, you shoud be able to use the Terminal instead of Putty.

[@donwilbanks2226]

Dude! You gave me the POTA bug! I just acquired a FX-4C and have made a couple of contacts on it from home. I'm gathering the bits & pieces to take it out in the field.

[@hamradiotube]

Awesome Don! Glad to hear it. I've not used the FX-4C personally but that's a pretty sweet radio. Kevin K0KLB www.youtube.com/@hamradioqrp-k0klb uses that radio a lot and loads up some pretty interesting things on his farm to use as antennas! Jeff, K3JRZ also uses that radio a lot for his POTA activations. www.youtube.com/@K3JRZOnTheAir Hope to catch you on the POTA waves sometime!

[@joshuacrowe2752]

I loved watching grape ape. Haven’t watched it in years

[@jamescoffey5225]

You can also drop the 13.3 v of your 3 ah Bioenno battery by putting 2 diodes in series attached to your power cord. This will drop the voltage seen by your transceiver to 11.9 v.

[@hamradiotube]

I just used a buck converter before I built the battery. Simple enough fix.

[@jamescoffey5225]

@@hamradiotube Yes, you can, but I am a cheap Ham, a VERY CHEAP Ham. My junk box just happened to have two available diodes for such an important use! 😊

[@markviers998]

That was a sweet activation, and I learned something new today. Had no idea you live in Richmond for a while.

[@hamradiotube]

Yep. Loved it there. I was in Glen Allen for a couple years then "Richmond" after that. Right on Three Chopt just West of Parham.

[@markviers998]

@@hamradiotube My grandfather had a farm outside of the city in Chesterfield co, spent a lot of my summers there. Still live close enough to visit Richmond now and then.

[@bendav]

I've got the 15-60 kit! Should be building it next week. Hope it's as good as your "pro" build. Now I just have to get the antenna dialed in - I want to build one like yours with links for the different bands.

[@hamradiotube]

You are much more brave than I am, building it yourself. I'm pretty confident I could build it, but I'm not so confident I would build it correctly. 🤣

[@TheSkullman615]

Nice little rig and setup. But I’m very curious to how you get auto transmit to the first answer to your call on WSJTX

[@MadGoat]

Just buy a buck converter $20 for a 3 pack "Valefod 3 Pack LM2596 DC to DC Voltage Regulator" converts 4-40v volts input to 12v output, so you can keep using your bioeno or whatever battery you want.

[@P.SeanCoady]

Series a couple of 10 amp silicon diodes in your power cord. Each will give you 0.7 volt drop across its PN junction.

[@hazer72]

usually you can use terminal on Mac instead of Putty

[@hamradiotube]

Usually, but this is me we're talking about. I am 100% not a computer guy.

[@RabbitStu-M7UTS]

I need to finish building mine

[@gmdavisphotography3422]

Another great video, as usual. Love the "Predator" reference!

[@hamradiotube]

Haha I wondered if anyone would get that!

[@mrjikey]

Have the low band version of the QMX and it lives in my car as a ‘you never know when you want to play radio’ rig. You may have found it already, but in the settings you can have the audio turn off completely when turning the volume down. Not sure why that’s not the default setting… Enjoy! Michael - N7CCD

[@lorencooper1287]

Yes I've watch

[@arnoldgrubbs2005]

I don't think it will be very long before you see SSB added to the QMX's! I saw a vid Hans "leaked" showing SSB transmitting from one QMX and being RX on another in the lab. I bet that the firmware with SSB will be released by the end of the year if all goes well. I have both a low and a high band QMX and for this winter project a QMX+ kit is sitting on the shelf here.

[@hamradiotube]

Boy I hope you're right! I can't wait for SSB to be released on this.

[@laszlokovacs8827]

@@hamradiotube Yep. SSB will blow the doors open on orders.

[@natereik]

I certainly remember Grape Ape! 😀

[@hazer72]

ohhhh I thought you had to actually remove sections! Definitely going to build that antenna

[@hamradiotube]

Nope. Just cut for the bands you want and link them all together. In my case I cut the first wire for 17 meters. Then added a link for 20, then 30 and then the rest of the wire after 30 gets you 40. If they are all linked you'll get 40, 20, 15, & 10, but when I want 17 or 30 I can just unplug the link and I'm resonant again. At the end of the day, it's just a 40 meter EFHW with links cut for the other bands.

[@jerryKB2GCG]

I have 2xQDX, if you are just doing FT8 they are great and much smaller than the qmx

[@MyHamRadioJourney]

I know you get slammed with comments, but I have two questions. First, is your POTA spotting still working on RumLogNG? Next, can you do a video on FT8 and the setup for the ICOM radio? Thanks for all of your videos. I love your antenna. All the best 73s.

[@captdaveclearedtoland8876]

Belgley belgley

[@Kq4hcuDan]

Im curious to know how it, goes with CW.

[@hamradiotube]

Well I've only made 2 CW contacts on it (I'm not really a CW operator, but I try) but they both went very well. Check out Ham Radio Duo. www.youtube.com/@HamRadioDuo They use the QCX, which is just the CW only version of this radio.

[@Kq4hcuDan]

​@@hamradiotubeif I was a KZbinr I'd review and shill for one 😂, keep the great content coming 73

[@cwqrpportable]

Let's put it this way...... My KX3 has been collecting dust lately. Not that the KX3 isn't superb, it's just that the QMX is so much fun and has such great receive. I've been building and using them for a couple years now.....love them!

[@theinsoutsofhamradio8648]

Great video thank you for sharing. Now i want to buy one lol

[@justinmoyers1179]

Wonder how well that speaker would work with the g90

[@KN4MDE]

You should be able to use ssh from your mac to get into it without using Putty.

[@NovemberOneOscarGrouch]

Can you turn down the audio in the computer settings? Cool little radio. I'd bet you could use an android device and run FT8CN for a lighter pack.

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

I saw a QMX at a POTA event. Impressed.

[@hamradiotube]

It's a pretty awesome little radio!

[@oobihdahboobeeboppah]

Just use a buck converter set to 11.9 volts. That's what I do with my QMX, & it works fine. About the EFHW, are you hiking some distance to get to your location, making it necessary to limit the weight of your carry pouch so you don't bring a tiny tuner? I get that, I once walked a ways to the top of Mt. Davis, PA. BUT IF YOU'RE DRIVING TO YOUR LOCATIONS, WHY ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT A FEW MORE OUNCES FOR A TUNER? Ditching the devotion to half wave antennas was the smartest thing I've done in over 50+ years as a ham. For portable ops I now use either a 53 or 82 foot wire along with a hand sized auto tuner to work 80-6 meters (dependingon which radio I pull from the suv). No fussing with jumpers in the air; I just work whatever band & mode I want without getting up. Piece of cake, and easier to use than a HW. Whether

[@hamradiotube]

I did use a buck converter when I first got it, but why would I want to carry another piece of gear if I could just make a battery for this radio? Much more convenient. As far as the antenna is concerned, I'm not into tuners. They can fail, you can forget a jumper coax, the battery could die, etc. etc. etc. Any problem with a tuner means you're most likely not getting on the air. With the linked EFHW's I make, they're already resonant on 40, 20, 15, and 10. Adding links for the other bands makes them more versatile, while never having to rely on a piece of equipment to make my radio happy. That's how I roll.

[@ChrisRomp]

Grape ape!

[@TimHarperW5TAH]

Where do We get the speaker?

[@hamradiotube]

Links to my Amazon store are in the description. It will be under QMX Essentials.

[@jerryKB2GCG]

which antenna did you use Mike ?

[@hamradiotube]

This one. hamgadgets.com/efhe-end-fed-half-wave-efrw-qrp-5-watt.html I did a video a while ago on it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3ezdYhqqcaYqLMsi=zA4l6e70ybfv6c6n I just modified it from the previous build to make the extra links.

[@ynot6473]

the wait is frustrating. i ordered qmx+ in june, it arrived last week.

[@hamradiotube]

I wasn't really frustrated. I knew how long the wait was before I ordered it. It was one of those "order it and forget about it" kind of things. I told myself if it got here before Christmas I'd be happy, and it did!

[@ynot6473]

@@hamradiotube very true, i watched my order slowly crawl up the list from 600 odd.

[@rsimons5952]

Mike, I have a QMX on order. I just saw a post in QRP LABS groups. Io from an owner who cannot get fldigi to play nice, some issues with the audio. Now I see that you had to get someone to tweak the settings using putty. Would like to know more if you can do so. Concerned as I am learning cw but for the meantime intend to use for digital modes. I may rethink my purchase if this is not easily overcome. Tks K5MUL

[@hamradiotube]

If you're smarter than me with computers (most people are) and can use Putty to get into the QMX, the fix takes a matter of seconds. People say I can do it from the Terminal on my Mac but that's above my pay grade. I don't know what was done other than what I mention in the video, but it had to do with adjusting the audio levels per band. He boosted them up to 65 and that seemed to work. I think they came at like ~30.

[@rsimons5952]

Yeah, I am your level or worse with this putty and terminal stuff. Have to think about this

[@hamradiotube]

@@rsimons5952 One of these days I'm going to hook it up to my windows computer to actually figure it out. If and when I do, I'll make a video. It is certainly frustrating, but I don't think the learning curve will be that hard. Famous last words of course.

[@laszlokovacs8827]

An item for QMX to add to the firmware update list. @@hamradiotube

[@laszlokovacs8827]

Who is kosher porkrinds?

[@cjole372]

Grape ape! Yes, I remember! Great video as always! 73, KJ7QJZ

[@hamradiotube]

Yes!!!

[@Kj7uxx]

5 try’s you might as well be docking up

[@hamradiotube]

We call it space docking.

[@KS0JD]

Thank you beagley-beagley for remembering Grape Ape. QMX is a nice little rig. Thanks for Thanks! 73

[@hamradiotube]

Grrrrrrape Ape!

[@bobkopf227]

Grape ape?😂 sorry but no I’ve never even heard of grape ape, in the early 80’s I was already married and had two kids. I guess that shows my age doesn’t it.

[@linuxsuperuser]

you dont putty a mac...use terminal... Microsoft was too cheapm when os X was good - things have changed. The tables are ALMOST turned... I miss those early versions of OSX

[@sockeatinggolden8316]

I had them build it and it's completely deaf on 20m. Fairly disappointed.

[@hamradiotube]

Huh. That sucks.

[@sockeatinggolden8316]

@hamradiotube I hear there's a fix. I haven't tried it yet

[@Kj7uxx]

Ft8 is gay

[@rclewen]

I ordered my QMX in early August and I am now number 22 on the list! Soon come! N7BBQ

[@hamradiotube]

I know the feeling!!!

[@Mike_M_KI4MRC]

Mike you have inspired me to make my Mac work for the hobby. I use Mac for everything and only have windows for ham radio but always prefer the Mac. I’ve had some trouble getting audio codec on WSJT-X but probably just need to go back and rewatch your setup video again and maybe again after that lol.

[@hamradiotube]

There’s almost zero things I need a windows computer for. Maybe a couple times a year for something stupid. Just take the plunge!!