QRP Labs QCX Mini is Here!

QCX Mini: Winding and Installing T1

QCX Mini Unboxing, and How to learn CW?

Just a week ago, the QCX Mini was released to the world. 997 units sold out in just 4 days, and we were fortunate to get one in the nick of time! It showed up at Ye Olde QTH this evening, and below is an unboxing video that shows all the contents and a review of the various components.

I also need your help: How should I go about learning CW by ear? Please check the video and leave your comments on YouTube or below. And if you’re not subscribed to the YouTube channel, would you consider subscribing? It’ll help me get the videos out to more viewers. Thanks!

Links mentioned in video:

https://miscdotgeek.com/20m-inverted-v/
https://miscdotgeek.com/qrp-l-match-tuner-build/
https://miscdotgeek.com/led-magnifier-upgrade-time/
https://miscdotgeek.com/ssb-with-a-qcx-a-usdx-update/

The Kershaw Knife: https://amzn.to/3lMehj8

The QCX Mini at QRP Labs:
http://qrp-labs.com/qcxmini.html

5 comments

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    • Fred Spinner W0FMS on December 11, 2020 at 8:46 PM
    • Reply

    So, the QRP Labs cardboard boxes from Turkey are far cooler because they literally say TNT on them.

    That thing is literally half built (the fun half unfortunately). But I do understand that you can get boards like that done on a pick and place for only a little more than a bare board so it was the right decision for Hans to do this. No awards for building all of it yourself, honestly. We still have toroids to wind! Yay!

    As for which band. Ideally that is up to you. I picked 40m because it is the only band that is open no matter the place in the sunspot cycle and is what I have time to operate right now, and in my case the last QRP rigs I built were surfing an up time in the cycle so are 20m and 30m.

    Right now based on conditions and activity I recommend 40m then 20m then 30m.

    Having said that 10m and 6m was open tonight. So never say never.

    Since you want to listen to QSOs to learn CW, between 17m and 20m go for 20m. You will have more openings and more activity when it is open.

    For learning CW. Most people use the Koch method with Farnsworth spacing at 20 WPM. It supposedly is backed up with psychological studies. Once you are comfortable getting on the air and having actual Qs is the best way. I never have been very good myself and I lose it fast if I don’t use it so I am in the same boat again as you. Some people are natural at it. Don’t stress out if you are not one of them. I certainly am not.

    Writing it down probably will be needed in the beginning for you to have QSOs. Typing is okay too but it takes awhile to do it completely in your head.

    Fred W0FMS/7

    • Kurt Zimmerman on December 12, 2020 at 6:03 AM
    • Reply

    Check out this site. https://morsecode.ninja/learn/index.html

    I’ve been a ham for over 30 years and am still looking to get my CW better.

    This site makes a lot of sense.
    Best 73
    Kurt W2MW

  1. Learn the CW alphabet, then (in your head) read every sign you see in CW and eventually you’ll start seeing/hearing whole words. ?

    1. Awesome idea, thanks Robin!

    • WB3GCK on December 13, 2020 at 2:59 AM
    • Reply

    Back when I learned the code in Navy Radioman School (50 years ago), we started out memorizing the alphabet like A = DI-DAH, B= DAH-DI-DI-DIT, etc. We learned it by sound patterns rather than thinking of dots and dashes. From there, we drilled on a few characters at a time, starting the shortest ones and working up to the whole alphabet and numerals 0-9. There’s all sorts of CW training software these days, so hopefully, someone less ancient than me will have some suggestions. Best of luck.

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