Testing a new QRP Labs QCX-Mini Field kit built in an Evergreen 56 Watertight case!

qrper.com/2022/12/testing-a-n...
Click the link above to read full details about this activation, including all equipment links, at QRPer.com.
HOW TO SUPPORT:
You'll notice I have no ads in my videos. If you'd like to directly support these videos, consider supporting me via our PayPal Coffee Fund or via Patreon. Note that both fall under the name of the SWLing Post which is a part of QRPer.com.
SWLing Post and QRPer on Patreon:
www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=74...
Coffee Fund:
www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr...
Thanks for watching!
73,
Thomas
K4SWL
Chapters
Intro: 0:00:00
Keeping your field kit affordable: 0:03:50
Tour of my QCM-Mini based field kit: 0:06:30
Evergreen Waterproof Box: 0:07:15
QCX-Mini: 0:09:37
Talentcell Battery: 0:12:40
MFJ Key (not used in this activation): 0:15:15
PackTenna Mini EFHW: 0:17:30
KM4ACK EFHW Kit: 0:19:03
RG-316 cable assembly: 0:21:13
25M Arborist Throw Line and Weight: 0:22:37
Activation setup: 0:27:51
Beginning of activation: 0:32:40
QRT & Summary: 1:02:18

[@JonathanKayne]

The QCX mini is one impressive bit of kit and honestly I think that any person who is new to CW should get one. The built in decoder is a great way to start out by giving yourself some training wheels when you miss a letter or two. The full break in and electronic keyer is top notch too, only getting beaten by the expensive radios like ICOM, elecraft, and Yaesu. (though I haven't used an elecraft or Yaesu radio so I can't confirm or deny how great their keyer is, but believe me it matters)

[@mitch_s]

Thanks for the videos and today’s pep talk!

[@lycosa2000]

I loved this video and I also loved seeing you slow down when the slower guys called.

[@larrytaylor7753]

My brothers and I have run several Field Days with QCX radios. The classic, the mini, and the Plus. One 2200 mAh li-poly battery will run the QCX for all of FD.

[@arc-turner]

Yet another awesome video Thomas!! Thanks so much for sharing!!

[@on4mgy_radioamateur]

Great video, looks like a real great CW QRP transceiver !

[@HumanTimeMachine]

Very much enjoyed this video which gives a good idea of what to expect when operating this receiver

[@philipwells2793]

Wishing you Thomas the best for 2023!

[@tcort]

Thanks for making this video. There are so many good options these days. For the cost of my FT-817ND 14 years ago and the Z817 tuner, I could buy multiple complete stations like this.

[@dandypoint]

You mentioned hitting an extra dit sometimes. I have been doing CW since 1961. When I got my QCX mini I also got a speaker soon after. I also experienced the extra dit issue. After some time of changing keys and adjusting them, I put on earphones and the problem went away. I wondered what was going on. Then I put the speaker back on and the extra dit issue was back. I think there must be a slight delay in my speaker. Just enough to mess my timing up! I now am using only earphones and no problem at all. Also if when using the speaker, if I turn it off to send and listen in another receiver I can send perfect, but as soon as I turn the speaker on I get the extra dits at random times! 73, Don N4DJ

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Very interesting! Thank you for sharing this. I may give that a go next time if I bring my inline recorder for the audio.

[@Derrick6162]

Lots of good info, Thanks for sharing...👍👍

[@ontarget1911]

Great video. Love your content!

[@TridentMissileTech]

QCX mini are my favorite. I have 3 of the minis and two of the full size. Love the QCXs most of all. Hope to get the pentek 45 one day.

[@martinmassie3843]

QCX-mini ROCK !!!!! 73!

[@JustMe-dv5ix]

Thank you Sir, after watching I bought the 2mm line as you are using, takes up a whole lot less room in my kit, my other throw line is 3/16, much bigger than I need.

[@lz5ae]

Now thats the right kind of transceiver for qrp/cw activation! KX2/3/ic-705 etc. are wayyy too heavy guns for such a task. CW is made to be simple and affordable. Even using a Pixie would be more fun than any commersial ssb radio :) Thank you, Thomas. Keep up the good (and simple) job :D

[@warplanner8852]

Thirty years ago, you could not get folks into ham radio because of the dreaded Morse code test requirement. They all pissed and moaned about how hard it was to master. (If folks put _half_ the energy studying CW as complain, they'd have been rewarded.) Today's new hams are terrific! "I can have a lighter, more portable rig for SOTA and POTA if I learn Morse code? No problem!" You "new guys" are amazing! Thanks for reviving amateur radio, folks! You're the best!

[@ChrisRomp]

Totally agree! I build EFHW and dipoles. My average cost for quality components (bulk stealth wire from DXE; toroid bulk pack from Palomar Engineers) and some 3D printing (not factored in) is roughly $20 for 40m multiband (wire is a big part of the cost). I could probably source cheaper wire or toroids to cut that down. I need to pick up some RG-316 in bulk; I already work with RG-8X and LMR-400 crimps/connectors.

[@MichaelC-pn6dy]

Thx for the video. I am trying to learn CW and I am having a mental block learning the characters. Which is all me. I was able to pick out some of the characters. Mainly because I knew what should be coming next in the QSO. I will keep at it and eventually it will all make sense.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Stick with it and consider joining a supportive CW community like the Long Island CW Club. They'll have you copying code faster than you think! :)

[@awksedgreep]

I watch a ton of your videos but this is the one I needed the most and just now stumbled across it. I'm an avid hiker and like the idea of a budget radio I can take with. Great content! Thank you 73 de KO4NDV

[@DaveW6OOD]

Now with the QMX in the mix, more bands and digital modes round out the micro sized and low$ station.

[@ellisc.foleyjr9778]

Well this was another one that I did not hear you on Tom. so still vying to getinto your cw log again. will keep looking. listening and trying good video with tons of good info. Thanks for sharing de Ellis WA1RKS

[@rustyholt6619]

this is the first vid I've watched that looks like something I can do

[@ThomasK4SWL]

You certainly can do this! Go for it!

[@Relayer1974]

I love starting my day with some Morse code practice a la Thomas

[@eljuano28]

Right?

[@UnderTheBigOak]

Do you act all excited when you can decode in your head what he is keying? I do. My code isn't perfect and decoding it is worse so when i hear it and get it I'm happy. lol.

[@eljuano28]

@@UnderTheBigOak I dunno. I'm still pretty new at this, so I get pretty giddy when I understand "It's a Ques-tion is it?" (Di di dah dah di dit) At the end of a message. 😆19wpm is a little fast for me. I'm practicing Farnsworth at 13.

[@UnderTheBigOak]

@@eljuano28 I HIGHLY recommend you practice at 20wpm, but make the spacing farther apart in the app you are using if you can. It will be harder to gain speed if you learn at 13. I was doing the same thing, and had to scrap that and re-learn at at least 18wpm where my old brain feels comfortable.

[@JonathanKayne]

@@eljuano28 I will second what everyone said. Set the WPM to at least 20 and use the spacing between letters to get your practice in. A few months ago I spent a month spending 20 minutes every day practicing on Morse machine app and then spent another month listening to Thomas's videos and then immediately went and did a POTA activation. The only part of these QSOs that should require much thought is the callsign. After listening a while you will recognize words which makes it much easier

[@russoft]

I'm 95% finished my QCX kit I bought back in 2017 which is when I got my license (kids, house purchase, life). Figured I should get back to learning Morse so I can actually use the thing. One thing's for sure, it's going to take a very patient ham to hold my hand through the first contact.

[@warplanner8852]

Keep after it! You'll love it when you get the experience. We're more than patient with hams who want to learn.

[@CovertGamingET]

I'm learning CW currently and have a QCX-mini (40m) on the way. A new letter a day, going to have to slow down a bit soon because I can tell my dyslexia is giving me a bit of difficulty with letters that are opposites of each other like K & R or A & N, but even with that I am making progress and averaging 85%+ on receiving. Sending seems far easier to me once I know a letter, I just practice without BRK-In on on my FT-950. Thanks for making these informative and fantastic videos. I can't wait to do some SOTA on 14k ft peaks here in Colorado, though it may be interesting setting up an antenna on the peaks being they are all rocky and far above tree line. The 14ers won't be my first activations though, but will give me motivation to finish the 32 more 14k ft peaks I have not summited in the state. Again thanks for the great videos and keep it up! 73

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Brilliant work, Erik! I, too, have dyslexia. Even as you become more fluent with CW, there will still be days you have to do a double take on some of the letters. It does get easier with time, though. You've got this! :)

[@CovertGamingET]

@@ThomasK4SWL Thank you for the motivation! it get's difficult some days when you hit a wall and feel like you are getting worse rather than better 😁. I won't give up though 👍

[@thequarantinecatholic]

Maybe Peppermint oil on cotton balls will ward off the mice??? [it has for my friends], great video as usual!

[@davidwilcox9110]

Thomas, you are correct. Like Larry and Lynn Pardey of sailing fame….. if you wait until everything is “right” you will never leave the dock. If you wait until you have the right radio, the right antenna, the right weather even, you will never go portable and get on the air. But again, half of the fun for some of us is preparation and planning…. and maybe a little dreaming. It’s a hobby. No rules. Just ham on.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Hear, hear!

[@Kevin-w8ni]

It appears you had some of the same issues as me with the QCX mini. Mine will throw in an extra dit or dah randomly ever now and then. When you were answering K4EES, it added a dah and your hand was no where near the paddle. I like my mini, but it is definitely a cheaper transceiver.

[@qrplife]

A little late here, but I have had nothing but trouble using that retractable cable between my paddles and the QCX-Mini. When I use a “normal” shielded cable, the keying issues clear up for me. Well, there is operator caused keying issues, but that’s my problem.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Huh. I may try that next time. I've loads of shielded cables.

[@remmington2222]

That key will give u issues if you got contacts set too close. I have one. Found that out quickly.

[@Kd4stt.]

The mice love Jiffy mix. Just add baking soda for a half and half mix. Just a thought.

[@rustyholt6619]

plaster powder works too ,,, but that's not conducive to release

[@BamaChad-W4CHD]

Great video! I must critique your hot glue job on the EFHW kit. You didn't use enough glue. You should have stuck around 5 more sticks of glue on it to make sure it's secure sir. Lol Obviously picking at you. I'm the same with things like hot glue. I use the amount that comes out and I know it will stick. Often that means 12 sticks but it very much works.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

🤣🤣🤣

[@josemiguelborges2376]

Could you please put the radio displaying the Morse code... it would just be educative for those trying to learn or even understand the conversation... Thank you for the videos.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I will try to remember to do that next time!

[@brianve7jyd943]

thanks Thomas - QCX mini was my first qrp rig and i loved it - i passed it on to another upcoming Ham and moved up to the SW-3B altho i know i will miss it - also i asked you on another video -- i have the same CW Morse paddle as you have - i find the paddles very sloppy no matter how i tight i adjust them- just wondering if you have that problem or wether i have a bad unit --thanks 73 --- PS - when u were having keying problems there i thot them hands look a lil blue - bet theyre cold lol take care

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Hi, Brian, YEs, I just replied to your previous comment. Trying to catch up today! :)

[@brianve7jyd943]

@@ThomasK4SWL thanks 73

[@bobmyers8231]

Tom, something to think about. Your keyer may be set to IAMBIC A and your fist is naturally IAMBIC B. Or the reverse of that. That assumes you have the choice in the keyer. But it sure sounds like an Iambic A or B problem. 73-Bob W1XT Arizona.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I will check this, Bob! Great advice!

[@aurtisanminer2827]

I really like that talent cell battery but amazon wont ship it to alaska. Ebay will ship it here but charges about $50 for it.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Wow--I would have never guessed that.

[@billcosgrave6232]

👍

[@KU9L]

BTW, the KM4ACK EFHW is currently Out of Stock like so many others are at this time. ;-( So please everyone check around before thinking you need to wait until the last minute for an antenna, LOL. I've been a ham for 41 years and have been inactive on and off due to career and family boy scouts/eldercare duties. One thing I rarely heard was Ham Radio on the cheap, it seems to be about bigger is better. There is a time for a $100,000 station and there is a time for a $100 HB cheapie experiment. I always enjoyed throwing a few parts together to see if my 50 UW station could be heard just down the road, LOL. Now in semi-retirement, I am excited about POTA but am intimidated about plunking $600 down on a Chinese radio so I am learning as much as I can before I throw together a bunch of stuff. I just built a battery box from Gigaparts & bought a couple of 6AH LIFEPO4 batteries from AMZ, so now and ready to find a 2-3 band QRP radio and am brushing up on CW to get these old hands to operate a keyer again. Even in 1987, I was active on 2M CW doing aurora openings and managed to get VUCC #125, exciting times. But now I am a full-time RVer in a 23' RV and will be 100% portable from picnic tables - to get away from the one billion birdies of RV pwn charge converters I will probably doing mostly field work as I am working on fixing all of the health sins of my youth, so no SOTA for a while, but POTA sounds wonderful and until I get a rig I am practicing copying CW from your videos Thomas. 72 es best, Dave - KU9L.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Excellent, Dave! I would suggest you also check out the Venus SW-3B. It's a very nice three-band radio for under $200. The CW performance is better than the X5105 and X6100 in my opinion. In fact, I prefer the QCX-Mini operation over that of the X5105 for CW--the keying and filtering is better. Not as many options or features, but purpose built for quality, cheap, CW fun! :)

[@KU9L]

@@ThomasK4SWL Thanks, will take a look. In the 90s I built a K1SWL kit called SW-40 Qrp monobander, but no RIT which confuses stations when you have to zero in on someone slightly off freq. Thanks for having a great community of followers.

[@remmington2222]

You got dit side set closer than dah

[@UnderTheBigOak]

Sorry, two posts in a row but besides N6ARK's really cool collapsible mini paddle, and the cwmorse paddles, check out that N6ARA super mini paddle. it's basically a plug and key combined. works extremely well for the TruSDX and plugs right into the side of it for that built in KX2 effect.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Actually, I mention in my field report that I'm planning to put the N6ARA TinyPaddle Jack in this kit! :)

[@UnderTheBigOak]

@@ThomasK4SWL Apologies Thomas if i missed that, I work from home as an IT geek so I often have youtube videos on one monitor and the busy work on another, might have been distracted! But that N6ARA was super cheap and a hoot to try. Thanks for another great cw video.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

@@UnderTheBigOak No worries at all. In fact, my comment was more in the spirit of "great minds think alike!" :)

[@richardp5161]

I have the mfj-561 paddle but it gives random "dits" when I'm trying to send "dahs" - frustrating because it happens at the most inopportune times, hi hi.

[@n4jaw]

I noticed you have your decoder turned off. I turned mine on for about 1 minute after building and found it to be too confusing for my brain. 😂 Its been turned off since.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Ha ha! I'l often have the decoder running on my KX2 and KX3, but find that I have to completely ignore it. Like you, it messes with my brain! :)

[@dennispeake1877]

Thomas, with this NEW QCX-MINI have they but a AGC included . Or do I need to buy extra?

[@antonanker583]

When you order a QCX-mini there is an option for an AGC, $6.00 I think, and I ordered one with mine. Was surprised that it came in a plastic bag all by itself and not installed. I’m the first to say that I’m an appliance operator and my experience inside radios is limited to replacing batteries. This AGC board is really necessary because this little radio will blast your ears off with excess audio gain without it installed. This radio is a performer. Although there are written instructions, I have not been able to find a KZbin video with a step by step AGC instillation guide for the mini. Perhaps one of Thomases viewers would be able to provide this kind of instruction. Because of this I unfortunately don’t use this radio as much as I wanted to.

[@ssmith7163]

Question for the crowd. EFHWs better horizontal, almost vertical or somewhere in between?

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I've used them as slopers, verticals and inverted vees. They'll all performed brilliantly. I know there are some antenna experts in the crowd, so you can probably get more solid info in comments here.

[@ssmith7163]

Thank you much. Really enjoy your videos while learn CW and feed my QRP demons.

[@brian-k3es680]

I'm no antenna expert, but I agree with Thomas. The common benefit of slopers, verticals, and inverted Vs is that those configurations can be deployed by hoisting only one point. That's really important for field use. BTW, I've had successful activations with all three configurations.

[@jcvee15]

Great video, Thomas. Did you have an external speaker hooked up to the QCX-mini? If so, just curious as to your take on the QCX’s internal speaker and if you find it adequate? Or, does it not have an internal speaker? 73

[@n1bsbri]

QCX does not have a speaker. It requires an external speaker or earphones. --n1bs

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Yes, Brian is correct: the QCX-Mini does not have an internal speaker. I have a link to this speaker in my field report on QRPer.com.

[@newsjunkie3000]

I am just starting out on QRP CW. If I am getting a mono band radio, which band would you recommend that I start with?

[@ThomasK4SWL]

That's a tough call. It really depends on when/where you operate and what antenna you plan to use. 20 meters is quite useful these days for daytime activations. 40 meters is good all-around, save when we have solar flaring. 30 meters might make for a good compromise.

[@newsjunkie3000]

@@ThomasK4SWL thank you!😄👍

[@michaelwheable3682]

When you are logging your contacts, you don’t record signal reports?

[@ThomasK4SWL]

No I don't. They're not used in submitted POTA logs. It saves me time not recording them. (Of course, I have a permanent record of the signal reports in my videos.)

[@PaulosAlaladzo]

Love all your unedited videos. Lots of great info. Merry Xmas ES 73 de W9AIL

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Thank you! And here's wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[@ontarget1911]

Also would have been better showing the antenna setup.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I normally do these days.

[@eljuano28]

Thomas, do you ever use a straight key? If so, what could you recommend for an enthusiastic newbie on a shoestring? Kit or plans preferred, but something better than my homebrewed breadboard "button" key I've been practicing with on my breadboard 555 oscillator. Building is what I love about this world most. I thought about buying some brass stock and constructing something really traditional, but I'm always researching alternatives. Thanks in advance. I was supposed to test last month, but life got in the way, so crossed fingers early in the new year, I'll have my ticket.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Great question! I very rarely use a straight key unless it's straight key night. That said, I really need to do a straight key activation some day. Keys? I still use the first straight ket I ever purchased: a Nye Viking. The important part is that it has a solid base (esp. for the shack) and action adjustment. Some people like a lot of travel in the action, some do not. You might reach out to my buddy Eric (WD8RIF) with this question. He has quite a collection of straight keys and could probably offer better advice: wd8rif.com/radio_equipment.htm#cw His email is good on QRZ.

[@eljuano28]

Awesome! Thank you so much, Thomas. I'll shoot him an email this eve if I can.

[@KarlHeinzKremer]

I use the American Morse KK1B in my “big” POTA kit and the MS2 in my lunch box configuration. de K5KHK

[@larrytaylor7753]

CWMorse makes an assortment of straight keys that are quite inexpensive. Many sizes and styles and adjustable to your fist.

[@Sam-sp7li]

@@ThomasK4SWL This is a good idea, I'm totally going to do a straight key activation over break! - Sam WN5C

[@Motion_0112]

Hi, love all this radio world but I don´t have a licence, because I don´t have the money or the time to pass the exams to have it in Spain, so I'm just playing with the 446 band I I wanted to enter the CB or 27MHz band because of its better rage over 446, so, is there any CB radio that can also transmit in CW? It would be an interesting way to practice with some friends that live near me. I hope I'm not asking for anything stupid. Thanks in advance.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

That's a great question. Most CB radios have no provision for CW mode. Most are AM mode only and those with SSB (single side-band) have no means of directly using a Morse Code key. I'm sure something could be built or modified, but that sounds like it's outside the scope of what you're asking. Kep in mind that the QCX-Mini is very affordable. I can't speak to license fees in Spain. I would encourage you to reach out to a local ham radio club, though! Sounds like you'd enjoy ham radio! :)

[@JonathanAdami]

I've watched a couple of your videos where you mention the keyer acting weird because of "receiving rf feedback" is that a common issue? why do you reckon that is? How would you go about fixing it for future activations? Cheers - VK4ALE

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Some radios (not all) can be a bit sensitive to RF feedback. It can make the keyer behave a bit unreliably. To fix it, just use an RF or Common Mode Choke. Typically solves the problem.

[@sepehrsahraian3051]

I am wondering why someone would get the QCX+ while QCX-mini exists!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I suppose it's just a personal preference for the form factor.

[@warplanner8852]

Some of us like a more "substantial" radio. I have both a 20m QCX+ and a QCX Mini - essentially both are the same radio internally - and will take both with me just for grins. Also, I am an inveterate builder and building and collecting are a lot of fun for we addicts.

[@JayN4GO]

I watched this on playback x1.5 speed. Good qrq but it makes you sound like you had 12 cups of black coffee and a red bull. But it was Fb 😂

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Woo hoo! That's one way I can increase my speed! :) Here's wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[@JayN4GO]

@@ThomasK4SWL Tnx om. I hear Scott is headed to your Town tomorrow to relax and hike. Might give him a shout for lunch or something N4AAJ 😆 happy new year my friend

[@doesstuffoutside]

Have you ever run a KG6HQD style zip cord dipole? If we're talking about running on the cheap, it's hard to get much cheaper than a roll of speaker wire and skipping the coax. kzbin.info/www/bejne/maLLYYGqqthofZI

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I have made and used one of this in the past and need to make one again! I think I gave mine to another local ham a few years ago. Super simple antenna!

[@jimmcdonald4034]

why do guys send 449 or 339 when they are copyable at 549or 539 , read ability is 5 no matter the strength.

[@techguy9023]

I love it when they give everyone 599 then ask you to repeat everything. Contesters seem to always give 5NN even if they barely hear you. If there is noise or QRM I often give 349 or less.

[@UnderTheBigOak]

If mice got into my tactical field bag i'd be pretty mad too!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

They're incredibly annoying.

[@Upnorthof48]

I hate mice! Bucket traps work great.

[@mank_legend5584]

I wish they would come out with the QSX!! Band mobility, multi-mode, man... but no updates since 2018... crazy

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I'm sure Hans is working on stuff. He, and other manufacturers, are truly struggling to make gear with available parts. Shortages have made it so difficult for many.