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Reviews For: QRP Labs QDX kit

Category: QRP Radios (5 watts or less)

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Review Summary For : QRP Labs QDX kit
Reviews: 9MSRP: 60
Description:
Four-band (80, 40, 30, 20m) 5W Digi-modes transceiver kit, including embedded SDR, 24-bit 48ksps USB sound card, CAT control, synthesized VFO with TCXO reference.
Product is in production
More Info: https://qrp-labs.com/qdx.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
54.294.4
VE3EGA Rating: 2023-04-01
Easy FT8 with unique Portability - but beware! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
As a long time user of QDX, I have experienced several issues concerning reliability!

The PA is poorly designed and will - if you are inexperienced fail! - This is primarily due to zero protection against high-SWR and overvoltage.

Keep your voltage below the recommended and dont tune without a resistive load!

QRPLabs know about this issue but have not addressed it thoroughly enough!

QDX works but these issues need to be understood by would be buyers!

73
WB0OEW Rating: 2023-01-24
works well enough with RPi as WSPR beacon Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
A bit fiddly to build but instructions are excellent. Built the 12V version. Came up first time, no problems. Optional case works perfectly. Connected to RPi as WSPR beacon with WSJT-X. Runs fine but every 2-3 days it always looses the audio connection; fix requires I restart WSJT-X, plus sometimes cycle power on QDX. Q7 literally blew to pieces after a month. I just shorted out the Drain-Source terminals, now running fine again after 2 months. Works well but a little deaf, RX is about 10 db less than my KX3 on all bands on the same antenna. Overall, an interesting radio and worth the money.
F8FEO Rating: 2023-01-24
simple but adjust volume Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I received a QDX not in kit but assembled : version 1.07
No any indication concerning a new PTT output
for transmit it is necessary to adjust volume in PC interface to 100 per cent.
N1IG Rating: 2023-01-21
Great Kit! Works Fantastic! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I built a V3 QDX over a few days, and it was very enjoyable. The kit is extremely well designed, the installation instructions are very detailed and easy to understand, and the operation of the radio couldn't be any simpler. It can be configured for either 9vdc or 12vdc at the time of construction. It just works well!
KD9MAP Rating: 2023-01-12
Works fine, interesting design, good value Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I built my QDX v4 a month ago, and it works well. Already I've worked hundreds of new FT8 callsigns, and rcvd thousands of WSPR spot reports. The docs are excellent, the design is fascinating, and the computer setup is easy. (I sure would like to see the firmware source code! Very impressive work.) I recommend getting the optional metal case for it, because the assembled board is a bit fragile. This may be the lowest cost way to get started in HF digital modes.
KG7SUB Rating: 2022-09-23
Fun to build, easy to use and so portable! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This is a great little kit. This was only my second kit build and I had no problems at all with the clear instructions that were included. I especially appreciate the built in checks to make sure you didn't screw up up to that point.

It worked exactly as expected after being put together. I first used it on my home antenna to make sure everything worked ok. Now I take it portable in the car and use it with a wire dipole or a hamstick. I use a Raspberry Pi to run it when I'm portable. I've made many contacts with it, including FT8 and JS8Call. Next I need to read how to enable RTTY and other modes. Instructions are on the website!
K7VFS Rating: 2022-09-04
Excellent multi-band FT8 transceiver Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is another excellent kit from QRPLabs. For about $60, you get an 80-20 meter FT8 transceiver kit. Assembly is straight forward, but beginners will need some help on some of the toroids. My little rig went together very quickly and worked great the first time. Power out is about 4 to 5 watts on each band. I've had no problem making lots of FT8 contacts on each band with a 30' vertical antenna and automatic tuner.
CX8AT Rating: 2022-01-31
best digital trx kit ever Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
QDX is a awsome digital transceiver , its is not a first time builder kit: you have to be very carefully when your solder all the toroids and triple check that. Apart of that it woks perfectly along with WSJT-X (and I think with any similar software). The little embebed software in the kit let you center the band pass filters in the right spot. All you need to build it is a multimeter and that's it. I have V2 powered with 9V, in 40m I get 4.7W at 1A, similar power on 20m. Those who like ham radio in the bush and digitals: THIS IS YOUR KIT
I am really very happy with it.
Al
CX8AT (no connection with QRPLABS)
K9JRW Rating: 2021-11-17
Really good, fun to build/use, making QSOs Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The kit was fairly straightforward to build, requiring simple to moderate soldering and mostly easy inductor winding with center tapped and multiple point inductors, and one trifilial winding. Four of the surface mount inductors were replaced per instructions with discrete which requiring a bit of handwork placement. The metal case fit was very nice. All the parts matched inventory list and fit well onto the board. The thicker enameled wire for the power inductor seemed to have a thin/weak coating which was easy to scratch off pulling through that core - something to watch out for. I built with the turns ratio to run off 12V using a wall wart I supplied.
I went ahead and updated the firmware using manufacturer supplied file to 1.01c.
The unit interfaced with WSJT-X via USB as instructed. I was able to follow the manual and use a serial terminal to tweak the TCXO frequency to get just about spot on. (My unit ended up after build about 33 Hz off).
Every once in awhile, but not often, I have seen the unit fall out of sync? with WSJT-X where no audio is coming through. Re-selecting band or transmitting brings that back.
Was a lot of fun getting onto the 4 different bands and making contacts with 4-5 watts.
I would give 4.5 stars if possible - I suspect later versions will correct the built-in inductor issues on board and look forward to future firmware updates, which are pretty easy to apply.