The QCX-Mini 20m QRP Rig Kit Arrives

QCX-mini: a feature-packed, high performance, single-band 5W CW transceiver kit, with WSPR beacon and built-in alignment/test equipment. Available for 80, 60, 40, 30, 20 or 17m bands. It has rotary encoder synthesized tuning, VFO A/B/Split, Iambic keyer, CW decoder, and more..

The “QCX-mini” (QRP Labs Xcvr – mini): a feature-packed, high performance, single-band 5W CW transceiver kit with WSPR beacon and built-in alignment and test equipment. It is designed specifically for portable operations where small size, weight, and current consumption are all important (see Special portable-friendly features section, below). Available for 80, 60, 40, 30, 20 or 17m bands. Experimental use on 15, 12, 10 or 6m (lower power output and reduced sensitivity).

The yellow/green LCD has a backlight which can be switched on/off via the menu system or double-clicking the rotary encoder shaft button. This provides current consumption savings; furthermore, low-current operational amplifier ICs have been used, resulting in a Receive current of only 58mA (12V supply, backlight off). The LCD is daylight and even SUNLIGHT readable without the backlight.

The Optional enclosure is black anodized extruded aluminum, very sturdy and elegant. The enclosure size is 95 x 63 x 25mm without protrusions. The top and side panels are drilled and cut to match the QCX-mini with laser-etched lettering. The enclosure includes four self-adhesive feet.

Special portable-friendly features:

Small size: 95 x 63 x 25mm enclosure (plus protrusions)
Low current consumption (for example 58mA receive current, with 12V supply and display backlight off)
Low weight, 202 grams
Sturdy extruded aluminum enclousre
All-metal BNC short connector bolted to enclosure

List of 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 a single band, 80, 60, 40, 30, 20, or 17m
Approximately 3-5W CW output (depending on supply voltage)
7-14V 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
16 x 2 yellow/green LCD screen
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
Optional aluminium extruded cut/drilled/laser-etched black anodized enclosure