Just finished the low band kit, 9 volt option looked better to me. tough for 70 year old eyes, but its working great. Im using an old 8 inch windows net book with a puck gps for accurate off grid time . My raspberry pi works well also. Battery 3s 18650 with bms and 9 volt buck converter. All solar charged. Several hundred ft8 and some js8 contacts made. Wspr mode results are very interesting for this rig. Enjoy your videos, well done.

Again, you have covered something I've been working out myself currently. Great video & solved many of my questions.

Stop spending my money. Seriously. Stop.

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

Wait until you see the ad-hoc video that I released this morning. You are going to see a crazy new way of looking at JS8. Imagine JS8 with an offline map feature.... Also, world-wide text messaging that feels like an iPhone Messenger app... and more. Take care, bud.

@HamRadio2

Жыл бұрын

@@TheTechPrepper sounds fun!

@SGTCap1980

Жыл бұрын

I only understand a fraction of this and it's still really interesting

JS8Call is a growing piece of software. This little transceiver seems to be a good pairing for JS8Call. Can't wait to see what you are able to do with it and perhaps QRP Labs may make a version 2 that will support other digital modes.

Nice! I didn't realize it was a mini transceiver. That's really cool. A off grid messenger set up with a super small footprint. Dude, A+

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Chris. I have new feature in the works for EmComm Tools that will allow text messaging over HF, but without the nerd stuff. More coming.

I am using the QDX with a Pinephone that has the keyboard battery option so it acts like a pocket linux laptop with a nice keyboard. wsjtx rebuilt from source easily, as did js8call. For long time linux developers like me, the Pinephone is a wonderfully cheap and small laptop replacement that includes GPS so it is easy to set maidenhead and time when applied to Ham uses, and even using OSM data. Also cheap are the ĺow maintenance SLAB batteries. None of this is bling, just solid tech that works, and nice for operators on a budget - wife and several kids - so I need to be able to scale.😊 Finally, I am using your comms plans in a JSON form to build an open source app that allows NRC controlled via the CAT cable. Thank you very much for the inspiration!!! 73, VK4SSE, Rob

Great work and thank you for all of your hard work developing these modern resilient comms systems as well as sharing your progress along the way! Always impressive and inspiring work!

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

Much appreciated! It's been a fun challenge trying to stream line the gear and corresponding software.

Great stuff Gaston. That is an affordable solution for me and I'm also interested in those modes. Keep at it buddy.👍

I really like your approach to comms. During an emergency I want to be able to communicate with family who live within 20 miles.

Great show Gaston thanks for sharing

Nice video, looking forward to a future demonstration 👍

Great video G! Always fun to see what you're working on. I have the rev 3 version, i think they are on 5 now lol. Good piece of kit.

Great job, thank you Shalom

dude you're awesome! Thanks for the R&D you are doing and great videos... Really appreciate it.

@TheTechPrepper

10 ай бұрын

Glad you like them! More on the way. I'm taking a 6-week leave from work to focus on R&D later this year. There aren't enough hours in the day.

Hey Tech good to see your video, I have been doing the NVIS stuff quite a bit doing the P2P and radio only on the winlink but lately I have been looking into pushing the range so I have been able to get some winlink connections typically 800-900 miles from me.

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

Glad to see others leveraging NVIS. The US military has been doing this for decades. It's amazing what you can do with 5 watts and low-to-the-ground wire antenna.

As always, great stuff!!!!

Another great video, Gaston! Thanks for sharing your thoughts about the QDX. I am definitely interested in adding one to my kit, specifically for working JS8.

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Kenny. If my positive experience with JS8Call and fldigi continues, expect to see some game-changing software from me. Cheers, man.

@KenReynolds

Жыл бұрын

@@TheTechPrepper Looking forward to it, man! I'm becoming very interested in emcomm-focused messaging; mostly centered around APRS and JS8.

Happy Easter to you and yours, Gaston. 💯🙏🍀🛡

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

Happy Easter!

Not a surprise KZread demonetized you. What can we say that hasn’t already been said about their mission to save us from ourselves. For what it’s worth coming from me, thank you for continuing to post on KZread despite that. It is a service to many people that know only KZread, and you are there for them despite now incurring costs.

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the support. I'm happy to keep going. I'm looking at other revenue streams which look promising. More on the way.

The QDX is great for JS8, which is my favorite way to ham. I had a plan to use a solar battery powered Raspberry Pi and a QDX connected to a large 40m mag loop on the back of my house to implement a persistent node to be used as a JS8 message server. A few of these around the country could make a SHTF ham version of email over the internet... without the internet. JS8 message storage is under utilized. I tried to talk up JS8 intelligent message forwarding, like internet email routing, but it was seen as a bit ambitious and complex given how few people use JS8 message storage, but if there was a reliable persistent backbone of JS8 message servers that could do most of the relaying and JS8 supported automated message forwarding across the network, then a lot more people would use JS8 message forwarding and storage. It's a chicken and egg thing. I have had the Pi running JS8Call for a couple of years but never finished the mag loop nor built the QDX. I really should do that. I should also have all of the hardware duplicated and stored in a Faraday cage.

Looking forward to trying this out, but still setting up my shack and man pack. Budget is a bit of a factor. Good vid Gaston!

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

Good luck with your manpack build. Any old laptop will do, so the major expense here is the QDX ($135 completely assembled) and whatever you antenna you prefer.

Great video!

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it. I'll be running JS8Call daily and sending heartbeats out every 10 minutes from 1300 to 2300 UTC daily over the next couple of days with the QDX.

I definitely need 2 or 3 of these.

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

They're great little devices for given the size, price point and utility it offers. Enjoy for units when they arrive.

Love the QDX, take a look at QRP Labs QMX. Careful with SWR, QDX doesn't like an SWR above 1:1 (long story). There are ways around the issue. Thanks for the pointer Panasonic FZ-M1

14:03 Your videos are great 👍 This may lead to a way to exchange value digitally.

Thanks for the video! I've been looking for a low-cost rig for digital communications and this may do exactly what I need. One question: you're using a 12v battery pack. Did you get the 9v version or the 12v version of the transceiver?

Great video Gaston. Its been interesting watching your progress and thought processes on the EmComm Tools OS and emcomm in general. Have you considered the (TR)uSDX radio? Very similar to the QDX (QRP 20-30-40-60-80M @ 5W), and while you would also need to add the Digirig and associated cables, it would significantly expand overall capabilities on the data modes and also add SSB. Julian (OH8STN) just put up an article discussing a (TR)uSDX setup that might be of interest.

@BobBob-il2ku

Жыл бұрын

Agreed that radio seems like a better fit

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

Great question. The (TR)uSDX radio recently appeared on my radar. I like that it has more capabilities than the QDX. However, I will personally not be going in that direction. If I have to add an external device for sound+CAT, like the DigiRig Mobile, I would rather just run my FT-818ND manpack. I already have it all integrated nicely into one simple package that is a considerably more robust. While similar in footprint and budget, I see the QDX and (TR)uSDX being in slightly different classes. While the QDX is limited in features, I like the simplicity of the design. The QDX truly plug-in-play and is more inline with the appliance goals that I am moving towards. I see the QDX as a great device for EDC, but more importantly as the device that I can install and leave with friends and family. I see the (TR)uSDX as a radio that could be appropriate for a technical operator. One more thing, the QDX's enclosure appears more rugged than the cases that I've seen for the (TR)uSDX...I am hard on my gear.

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

One more thing...I see the QDX as being a complementary piece of kit assuming you already have a traditional transceiver (i.e. something like my manpack builds).

I found you a couple weeks ago and love your videos. You intersect a lot of my interests/hobbies so it was a nice surprise to find your channel. Will be buying you some coffee, appreciate what you're trying to do. Looking forward to more G stuff, YT are bunch of commies!

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

Welcome to the channel, Sean. I appreciate you taking the time to comment.Yes, KZread Overlords are definitely commies. Views are up up by 40%, and yet monetization is down by 500% to 600% the last three months. More good stuff on the way. I appreciate the coffee. Here's a bonus, ad-free video that I dropped this morning for the coffee crew. It's raw, but the info is there. kzread.info/dash/bejne/fXuK1KiEn9utl8o.html

Which Revision number is your QDX in this video? I love the video and I have made three of these to date. a Rev 3(80m-20m and sold it to a fried), Rev.4(80m-20m), and Rev. 5(20m-10m). Curious about the heat dissipation; Rev.3 I made required cooling fins to work. The Rev.4 is supposed to have fixed that issue, in the shade. Keep up the great content!

I'd greatly appreciate if you did a video going over your software stack. Perhaps it could be a series going over tools you like and what you find works best. I've seen a lot of people discuss hardware, but the software side seems to be glossed over, or perhaps I'm just not getting recommended that kind of content. I am not currently licensed, but enjoy the SDR side of things and general listening. I see you have a system76 machine so I would appreciate any knowledge you can share regarding the linux side of amateur radio as it appears to be pretty limited in scope from my understanding. This little radio seems like something that could be useful in addition to my airspy server, and probably a good gateway into getting my license. I will likely go straight for the general when/if I pull the trigger anyway. Thanks for making this kind of content.

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

I did a video called "The EmComm Tools Story" a little over a year back, but I'll like make an update video later this year.

Is the Panasonic FZG1 compatible with you EmComm tools??? By the way absolutely fantastic video love the content bro .

I like your thinking about the QDX. I’m trying out the (tr)USDX, that *SEEMS* like it will just about do all the digital modes + SSB voice on the same five bands. I’m wondering if there would be any drawbacks to using the _”linked dipole”_ approach on an EFHW? Seems like it should do the same with half as many _”moving parts”,_ just adding a 64:1 UNUN. *73 de AF6AS*

Are there alternate tablets that can be used? I'm liking this...I know where i'm spending some money the next few checks. Now to get my general lic.

Is the taletcell a regulated power supply or does the voltage drop over time?

I love the overall Idea. Unfortunately I'm a hammer swinger and barely understand half the verbiage about coms. This simpleton setup is perfect!

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

Nothing wrong with swinging hammers. Everyone has their skills. I'll try to make this as easy as I can for y'all.

@bt1959

Жыл бұрын

@@TheTechPrepper The world needs ditch diggers too...

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

@@bt1959 Absolutely.

Hello again from Toronto Ontario Canada, so what would be the optimal wire gauge for a home made dipole , not for bugging out but for home use , I would use a small gauge wire for my load out kit...

That is sweet. I can't wait for the how too video.. for nebies... js8??

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

Thanks. I am new to JS8Call as well as I've been focused on other digital modes. I am starting to use it daily, so I will take plenty of notes to share with the members. There are lots of great videos out there, but I will add this an "JS8Call for Newbies" to my video backlog if you prefer my format and style of sharing info.

Where do you get your RG316? Im catching hell trying to find with the right fittings. Did yours come with the correct fittings or did you have to add adapters?

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

I get mine from PackTenna. These were full assembled cables with BNC adapters.

Great videos, you are clearly very busy ?

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

Thanks. It's been a busy year.

Hey there. New guy here. Finally addressing my own comms. I have a rugged non-uv5r analog HT, but I’m looking to go well beyond that. Could you list discord channels, websites, forums, etc for people like me? My preference is not just basic Ham information, which is readily available, but more of the stuff you do. The emphasis being on preparedness as a group and having regional/local networking. Thanks!

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

Shameless plug, but you may want to checkout the membership link in the description. We have a lot of those resources for the members.

30m can be useful. I've had good luck getting APRS packets gated to internet on 30m band. igates in Wisconsin and Washington receive my packets from Utah.

Great video. Been looking for something to suggest to less invested family. I see that the fzm1 is quite a bit more expensive now. Can you comment on what alternatives you would expect emcomm tools to be compatible with? Would most windows tablets work? Thanks!

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

Thanks. I plan on running this setup for 10-12 hours per day, so I'll let you know how it works in practice. I settled on the FZ-M1 for myself as it meets my needs for operating portable in the field. EmComm Tools OS is compatible with any laptop that can run Ubuntu 22.10 and has a 128GB SSD drive and 8GB of memory. Windows tablets could be a challenge for EmComm Tools as touch screen support is hit and miss with the underlying base operating system (Ubuntu 22.10) that EmComm TOols is based on.

@benjaminastevens

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the reply. Ubuntu, got it - catching up on your setup. I’ll be looking around for something suitable to run emcomm tools that is cheap enough I can put together some kits for family for this coming Christmas. The GDX is a great option I wasn’t aware of.

At 6:42 I got an injected ad... Did YT restore monetization or do they do that to demonetized content too?

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

I have no strikes against myaccount, so ads are still running, but ad revenue has dropped by 600% since the beginning of the year. I'll keep making videos as long as I can, though.

I really appreciate your work, and your tools-not-toys guidelines. However, you seem to be focused on developing coms for a private, high-trust group, not providing coms to other community members when cell and internet networks go down. I imagine the following mesh network service: I set up a WiFi hotspot in my house so that neighbors could connect to it from the foot of my driveway, create an account on a server hosted in my house, fill out a simple form and send a short email to anyone. The radio would contact similar setups in the area -- a mesh -- that would seek to propagate the email to a mesh node with internet access, or simply to make the message available on other nodes. I have searched for a system that does this. AREDN comes close, but is tied to microwave devices and thus requires unobstructed line of sight, and seems to only be implemented in areas with nearby mountains. Meshtastic comes close, but is tied to particular low-power radios and high-frequency bands. The QDX is intriguing with its low-power and black-box concept that pushes the control interface to the PC. I'd even accept the limited FSK modes if the system could create a mesh. What current system like fldigi or Winlink implements a mesh network like Meshtastic?

Do you have a plan for communications with none licensed HAM radio users for SHTF ?

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

It's in the works. Not ready for public consumption.

So what is the benefit of going this digital route?

12:45 DONE?! No project is ever truly done. 😅

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

This one will be. It's time to move onto new projects in 2024.

Doesn’t that do CW? That’s the only reason I bought this.

if you are demonetized can you turn off adds or at least put them at end kind hit at just the wrong time in video ... otherwise keep up the good work

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

I am not officially demonetized, but cutting the ad revenue by 600% is close to it. The numbers looked great at the end of last year. I release the videos ad-free in advance to the members. I'll pretty sure all the ads are skippable. Sorry, but I need keep the ads on otherwise, I can't keep the channel going.

@jmollo55

Жыл бұрын

@TheTechPrepper ok thanx for info .. 👍 i understand drop in revenue of over half is i abig issue especially when they will not tell you why they are doing it

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

@@jmollo55 No problem. I am trying to make this my full-time gig and the revenue last year made it look like it was possible. It's too bad the platform is deciding do this to certain content creators without explanation. 73's

@DominicMazoch

Жыл бұрын

​@@TheTechPrepper Have you considered Romeo Uniforn Mike Bravo Lima Echo?

"These are the days of miracles and wonders. This is a long distance call."- Paul Simon

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

You're right about that. I have a feature brewing that will allow SMS texting from anywhere in the world with this little device. More coming.

Demonetized? I see 30 second add as I watch your video. Aren't you getting paid for these ads? I hope you do. Thanks for the great content!

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

I'm getting a fraction of what I was getting on these ads compared to last year. It's been close to 600% drop in ad revenue, but views are up 40%.

@EchoMeToo

Жыл бұрын

@@TheTechPrepper Frustrating!

What’s the rough price of this kit? Sorry if I missed it

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

On the low end, $200 - $300. The QDX assembled as shown is $135. You can build a monoband dipole for less than $20. Any old laptop produced in the last 15 years will run the amateur radio software fine. The TalentCell 3000mAh battery is about $30.

Too bad this won’t do winlink or varac. Will it do psk31?

@TheTechPrepper

Ай бұрын

No. Only single tone FSK modes.

Panasonic fz-m1 is now $679.96 on your link on April 07, 2023 2037hrs Hawaii time. Lol, 2 week price jump from your Pana vid.

The QDX is NOT an SSB transceiver. It will not work with PSK-31 or Winlink. Those are the 2 modes I mostly use. Hans at QRP Labs started designing the QSX, a 10 watt SSB transceiver but never finished the design. That would have been perfect for this use.

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

That would have been an amazing product if it made it to the world. For now, I am happy with the simple features that the QDX provides. It has valuable role from some limited emcomm applications. As a heavy Winlink user (ARDOP and VARA) and heavy fldigi user that uses several PSK modes it's disappointing. I have JS8Call running nicely and have had some success with fldigi using MFSK and Cont-4/250. There are some interesting features that I am building on top of JS8 that may changes people's minds. I would recommend not discounting the QDX, yet. More updates coming.

How can I get your prepper guide/handbook?

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

I'll announce it here when it's ready. It's still a work in progress.

@n3xus175

Жыл бұрын

@@TheTechPrepper Thanks very much. 73. N3XUS.

Needs to Winlink comparable. Or make one VARA/WL mode only

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

There is still value in this device, but yes, having Winlink capabilities would have been a game changer. The trick is looking at the utility that it provides.

@kylefreemason

2 ай бұрын

@@TheTechPrepper Has there been any changes in the year since this video was created to allow it to handle vara or winlink?

R.U.M.B.L.E

I see you trimmed your beard

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

My wife insists once per quarter. ;-)

Unfortunate it doesn’t support VARA HF and Winlink

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

Correct, but I wouldn't discount the utility that this little device offers. More coming on this topic. 73

KZread demonetized this channel for ... what???

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

Let me rephrase...I am not "officially" demonetized, but my ad-revenue has dropped by 600% and growing since January. It's odd as my views are up 40%. If this was my full-time, it would have been the end of the channel.

U can scratch emp off your worries. Get David Hathaway book empty hoax. It will change your mind.

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

I'll take a look. Thanks.

Define demonetized?

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

Ad revenue dropped by 600% starting January 1, 2023.

@DominicMazoch

Жыл бұрын

@@TheTechPrepper And YT adds have gone up 600% in terms of time.

@DominicMazoch

Жыл бұрын

​@@TheTechPrepper Though of Romeo Uniforn Mike Bravo Lima Echo?

I think we know why the yt demonized the channel you don’t promote compliance to the overlords. And your doors don’t match😮

Android ?

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

No. Linux.

This channel is going to cost me a lot of money #monetizethischannelKZread

“Inexpensive”… LOL

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

A $135.00 transceiver for HT is about as low as you can go when it comes to amateur radio gear. It typically costs a minimum of about $1,000.00 to start to get into HF.

@Pyro1776

Жыл бұрын

@@TheTechPrepper within 2 min you were talking about thousands for a laptop. LOL. Good gear is not cheap.

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

@@Pyro1776 Good gear is always pricey regardless of the industry. I wanted to set the stage with what I personally run day-to-day and then move into a comparison with the QDX. I was trying to let people know that while the QDX is limited in features, it has a ton of value given its size, weight, footprint, simplicity and price. Too many hams are trying to unfairly compare this little guy to things like a full-blown transceiver like I mentioned at the 2 min mark. Have a good one.

_Demonetized?_ The cure is to repeat the following incantation 3x: _”Brandon is Lord!”_ (And at least *PRETEND* like you mean it.) *73 de AF6AS*

@TheTechPrepper

18 күн бұрын

It's been two years since it happened. My views are up, my subscribers have tripled in size and I am making 600% less today than I was two years ago. ~$300 USD/mo is soul crushing given the effort. I will likely call it quits at the end of the year unless something changes.

Why would KZread demonotize you? If anything you're very non-controversial, non political, and while yo ubrand as a 'prepper' that's fairly reductive as you aren't wanting to LARP for and pray that The Doom happens. You focus on 'Hey if normal communications goes on the blink. Be ready. Also this is a fun hbby on its own.'

@TheTechPrepper

Жыл бұрын

It looks like it is likely related to a dramatic drop off in ad spending by businesses as of the beginning of the year. I have the feeling that since there is less ad spend, that KZread is running all the ads on the larger channels. But who knows? Maybe I am also setting off some signal in their algorithm. It's hard to get a human from KZread to answer any questions. The supporters are keeping the channel alive, so I am not too concerned.

@singletona082

Жыл бұрын

@@TheTechPrepper Ah right. Gotta prop up those channels that already are millionheirs. Can't let them fail. -_-