Hans G0UPL of QRP Labs posted the following to the QRP Tech mailing list. Looks like a pretty good value—the base kit is only $55—and a fun kit to build……Dan
Many of you will already be aware of the QCX CW transceiver kit which was launched in August 2017, and evolved into the QCX+ in May 2020. To date, in total 11,568 of these kits have been sold (August 2017 to December 2020).
I am pleased to announce the QCX-mini: all the same performance, functions, firmware and price of the original QCX/QCX+, but in a much smaller package, a perfect Christmas stocking gift! QCX-mini is now available costing $55 for the kit (same price as the QCX+). A beautifully CNC machined black-anodized extruded aluminium enclosure is available, with laser-etched lettering, for $20. The QCX+ TCXO option is $8.25 and is compatible with QCX-mini. Sturdy and small, it’s cute in the shack or perfect for outdoor adventures.
We also will have assembled/tested/aligned/calibrated QCX-mini kits which can be pre-ordered now but probably will take several weeks to assemble since we will be busy handling QCX-mini kit order shipments as much as possible in time for Christmas. The Assembled radio pre-order page is: http://shop.qrp-labs.com/qcxminia
Special portable-friendly features:
- Small size: 95 x 63 x 25mm enclosure (plus protrusions)
Yellow/green LCD module, sunlight viewable, backlight can be switched off - Low current consumption (for example 58mA receive current, with 12V supply and display backlight off)
- Low weight, 202 grams
- Sturdy extruded aluminium enclosure
- All-metal BNC short connector, bolted to enclosure
In addition to all the standard QCX/QCX+ features:
- Easy to build, two-board design, board with main circuit and connectors, display panel board with LCD; all-controls board-mounted on a press-out sub-board. No wiring, all controls and connectors are board-mounted
- Professional quality double-sided, through-hole plated, silk-screen printed PCBs
- Choice of single band, 80, 60, 40, 30, 20 or 17m (160m, 15, 12, 10 and 6m are possible with component value changes)
- 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 Synthesized 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
A small daughtercard PCB has been included to facilitate easy modification to the uSDX software-defined SSB transceiver see https://groups.io/g/ucx (this modification is supported by the uSDX group, not QRP Labs).