With the QMX built I wanted to get out and test it and with having a park in walking distance it seemed the best place to go and try it.
As it was a nice evening I suggested to the XLY that she joins with the dogs for a walk to the park. I packed the usual IC-705 radio kit but also brought the QMX, battery kit and a 20-40m dipole figuring if the QMX does not work I can at least activate the park with IC-705.
I had seen an app for the iPhone called iFTx which would let me do digital modes with the QMX via USB-C cable so I had downloaded this before I went to the park.
We got to the park and dogs had a great time running around like a loon whilst I got the dipole and QMX set up.
The XYL took the hounds off to finish the walk whilst I started the activation.
I stuck with FT8 and 40m and managed to get some contacts whilst getting to grips with iFTx. It’s not the best interface but it does the job.
It was starting to get dark and I was still short on the contacts so I sent my CWOPS WhatsApp group a message to see if anyone was near a radio to help me with a CW contact. Whilst I was waiting for them to reply I managed to get enough FT8 to activate the park.
Hannu (OH1HAQ) said he was near and we got a CW QSO in the log. Very happy with how the QMX worked and performed.
I got packed up in the dark and headed home.
| Operation Details |
| Park: https://pota.app/#/park/GB-0021 Grid square: IO93lt WAB square: SE63 |
| Working Conditions |
| QRP-Lab QMX Sotabeams tactical mini Sotabeams Dipole Ham2K Polo iFTx |
| Operation Totals |
| 12 QSOs 7 DXCC Entities 1 Band and 1 modes 40m – 1 CW, 11 SSB 20m – 19 SSB 17m – 3 SSB 15m – 1 SSB |
