It worked!
KG4GVL, that's me!. I decided to shut down after about 24hrs of operation and continue work on the QDX. I installed more iron donuts, until I only had one left to do. It's a trifilar (three wires tightly wrapped together) transformer. More about that below... Then I reviewed the alignment and operation procedures. I need to decide what computer to run with it. I'll probably start with my home laptop, just to get it working, aligned, and post some QSOs with RTTY, maybe even try some FT-8 and FT-4. Eventually, I'll have this in my POTA station, paired with a raspberry PI for logging and operations.
In the mean time, I've got some cleaning up to do in the shack. I just got a package from QRP Labs with some excellent goodies inside:- a GLG2 GPS receiver for the QCX boys
- a couple TCXO boards for my 20m and unassembled 40m rig
- a couple volume Pots. Notice the missing volume knob on the top radio in the vid above? it went bad, and the one in my unassembled kit came broke in transit.
I've started assembling the GLG2, had some minor setback getting an SMA connector on the board, but i have a plan for that.
I also decided to just finish the QDX. There was so little work left on it. I got it done, then after making sure it didn't blow up with power applied, I brought it inside. It sat around a day or two, then I decided to figure out if it worked. I got a battery pack of AA batteries, and hooked it up. It turned on, and after downloading WSJT-X for Windows, I got the radio connected, hooked up to a dummy load, and listening around. It works!
I even have proof:
This screenshot shows WSJT-X with my QDX hooked up, decoding myself! It was a rush to receive my signal. I'm transmitting with my QCX+ in the shack, and here I am at the kitchen table, hearing myself with a dummy load!
Perfect.
Now on to more ham radio shenanigans.
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