QCX-mini now shipped!

[Ham4CW]

While having a look through my emails I noticed one from TNT showing that the QCX-mini I pre-ordered has now been shipped, and should arrive in the next few days.

I'm not too sure where QRP Labs are based, the email shows that the item was picked up from Ortaca, Turkey  :-* (I thought the company was based in Germany?)

So yup, the 'mini' should arrive within the next two days if the tracking is to be believed. ;D

73, Mark...

 

[gm5bkc]

That's awesome, Mark !  I haven't yet played with the QCX-Plus that I recently got used..  But it is in need of adjusting for better output power, it's a 20m unit and only 2w out right now.  It should be capable of 4w, according to QRP-Labs.

Here is a video by Hans that shows how to optimize the RF output.

https://youtu.be/eN7wER05T-c

What band did you order your Mini for ?

Glenn AE0Q

 

[Ham4CW]

The QCX-mini I ordered is for 40m. Two main reasons being I prefer the lower frequency bands generally (the upper bands always seem a bit too fast paced for my liking, too much 5NN 73, next!), and I tend to listen late at night very often, so many of the higher bands have 'closed' by then.

I also listen on 30m from time to time, but the speeds used are at my limit (and beyond!) so I don't transmit on there. Just now and again I have heard a relatively QRS station, but when I do you can guarantee that I do not have he correct antenna connected, it may be say a random wire and I will not have a tuner handy. My 'station' is a bit random most times. I tend to just throw the nearest rig on to a piece of wire (or a magnetic loop), and have a listen for five minutes, then pack the items away again.

I'm more interested in the hardware of the hobby, the electronics and such, rather than working stations. I'll very often spend days or weeks fine tuning and 'perfecting' a rig, then once it's performing to the best of its ability it will be put back on the pile and I will be looking for the next project!

That's the cool thing about Morse Keys, even if you are not actually using them in anger you can always spend an evening stripping them down, cleaning them, and then reassembling them, fine tuning the adjustments as you go.

Each to their own I guess. ;D

73, Mark...

 

[OC71]

@G0KZZ Please keep us updated especially with regards to VAT and postal charges. I believe you'll have to pay VAT on arrival and potentially extra VAT collection charges (?8 from Royal Mail). I'm also thinking of ordering one, but it will be pre-built as my lab tools are non existent.

 

[Ham4CW]

@G0KZZ Please keep us updated especially with regards to VAT and postal charges. I believe you'll have to pay VAT on arrival and potentially extra VAT collection charges (?8 from Royal Mail). I'm also thinking of ordering one, but it will be pre-built as my lab tools are non existent.

I'll have to check on the charges when I get home this evening. I 'think' that VAT 'might' have been added at the checkout, but I will need to have a look at the invoice to be 100% certain.

In the past anything in kit form used to be cheaper to import than assembled items, but I'm not sure about that these days.

This is why I like the eBay global shipping program, as you can see exactly how much the whole thing will cost BEFORE you purchase an item.

Very often I've purchased items from the States, and even with all of the duty, VAT and whatnot added it still works out cheaper than buying from an emporium just down the road!

Someone here at work runs his own business as a sideline, and he found that if he had PCBs sent over from China via surface mail he didn't get charged any duty or VAT. However, when he had a rush order to fulfill he paid for some speedy airmail postage, DHL or TNT, and he got whacked for everything, pretty much wrote off his profits for that batch!

Maybe sometimes it depends who's on duty at customs, and what mood they are in! ;D

It certainly seems very random at times.

73, Mark...

 

[Ham4CW]

@ottavio

Wow, kit was waiting for me when I got home from work! :*:

Wow are these things small. With little effort it would be possible to put the kit, the case, and all of the packing around the kit inside of the case for the QCX ^-^

73, Mark...

 

[Ham4CW]

Thought I would add a few photos of the new toy...

The main PCB has quite a number of surface mount devices populating it on both sides, ans there are also a few SMD's on the display PCB too.


73, Mark...