QRP Labs QCX Mini 5W CW transceiver group buy

[rho]

It’s a fun kit to put together… I still have two kits unspoken for.

I read through the build manual a few days ago and its totally a fun, low effort build. Well, fun and low effort for me, anyways. The documentation is GREAT for the build and testing. Its a lot more thorough than I was expecting.
I'm building mine with a few of the add-ons and I'm planning on making it a bit more on the robust side, as I suspect this will get used out in the field at some point when I get some semblance of chops on CW. I picked up the 40m flavor for mine.

I'll start updating this thread with build pics when I start mine, because I know everyone loves those and we're all a bunch of nerds here. One aspect in particular I'll be focusing on with my build is thermal management of the power amp, as the solutions described in the manual leave a lot to be desired and I have a large electronics boneyard (and salvaged guitar amplifiers) to pull from at home. I'm not sure if I'll machine a chunk of AL to interface with the back of the transistors and the thermal pad/vias on the board yet, but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

Next challenge will be figuring out how/where to do an HF antenna at home and then what to use for a mobile solution.

 

[M Rose]

I read through the build manual a few days ago and its totally a fun, low effort build. Well, fun and low effort for me, anyways. The documentation is GREAT for the build and testing. Its a lot more thorough than I was expecting.
I'm building mine with a few of the add-ons and I'm planning on making it a bit more on the robust side, as I suspect this will get used out in the field at some point when I get some semblance of chops on CW. I picked up the 40m flavor for mine.

I'll start updating this thread with build pics when I start mine, because I know everyone loves those and we're all a bunch of nerds here. One aspect in particular I'll be focusing on with my build is thermal management of the power amp, as the solutions described in the manual leave a lot to be desired and I have a large electronics boneyard (and salvaged guitar amplifiers) to pull from at home. I'm not sure if I'll machine a chunk of AL to interface with the back of the transistors and the thermal pad/vias on the board yet, but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

Next challenge will be figuring out how/where to do an HF antenna at home and then what to use for a mobile solution.

I’m using a MFJ 40m hamstick dipole at 20’ for my QCX Mini. Works ok for NVIS… for SOTA/POTA I use a 40m EFHW cut for the lower part of the 40m band.

 

[rho]

I had an hour or so before a trip this past weekend so I got started on my kit… wound the main transformer then got most of the caps/diodes and crystals into the board.
If I have time tonight, ill get the rest of it finished up.