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Do you primarily operate CW (Morse Code)?
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+-- YES --> Do you want to learn RF fundamentals and enjoy simple, elegant design?
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| +-- YES --> Choose the QRP Labs QCX / QCX Mini
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| +-- NO --> Do you want multi-band CW with modern DSP features?
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| +-- YES --> Choose QRP Labs QMX or QMX+
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+-- NO --> Do you want to operate digital modes (FT8, JS8Call, RTTY)?
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+-- YES --> Do you want native USB audio and CAT control with minimal external gear?
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| +-- YES --> Choose QRP Labs QMX+
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| +-- NO --> Are you comfortable integrating external interfaces?
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| +-- YES --> QMX or (tr)uSDX
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+-- NO --> Do you want SSB voice operation?
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+-- YES --> Do you want an open-source, hackable platform?
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| +-- YES --> (tr)uSDX
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| +-- NO --> QMX+
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+-- NO --> Do you want the simplest, highest-performance CW receiver?
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+-- YES --> QCX / QCX Mini
Outcome Summary by Operating Style
🔹 CW-Focused Operators
- Best Choice: QRP Labs QCX+ / QCX Mini
- Why: Exceptional CW receive performance, educational value, minimal complexity.
- Ideal For: Learning Morse code, contest CW, minimalist stations.
🔹 Digital-First (FT8 / JS8 / Weak Signal)
- Best Choice: QRP Labs QMX+
- Why: Integrated USB sound card, CAT control, stable SDR receiver, clean digital output.
- Ideal For: Portable digital ops, laptop-centric stations, low-power DX chasing.
🔹 All-Mode / One-Radio QRP Station
- Best Choice: QRP Labs QMX+
- Why: CW + Digital + SSB across 160–6 m in a single compact platform.
- Ideal For: POTA/SOTA, travel kits, limited station space.
🔹 Experimenters & Firmware Hackers
- Best Choice: (tr)uSDX
- Why: Open-source firmware, DSP experimentation, flexible hardware ecosystem.
- Ideal For: Developers, tinkerers, experimental audio and RF workflows.
Practical Guidance
- If you never plan to operate SSB, the QCX family remains unmatched for CW purity.
- If you want “plug-in USB, open WSJT-X, operate”, QMX+ is decisively superior.
- If you enjoy modifying firmware and pushing DSP boundaries, (tr)uSDX is the most flexible.
- If you want one radio to do everything at QRP power, QMX+ is the least compromised solution.
Outcome: CW-Focused Operators
Best Choice: QRP Labs QCX+ / QCX Mini
Why not the others?
- QMX+ — Adds SSB, digital, USB audio, and multiband complexity you will not use if CW is your sole mode; higher cost and steeper learning curve.
- QMX (non-plus) — Multiband and SDR features are unnecessary if your goal is maximum CW efficiency and simplicity.
- (tr)uSDX — CW performance is acceptable, but the platform prioritizes DSP experimentation over CW-centric ergonomics and receiver purity.
Bottom line: If CW is your primary or exclusive mode, QCX-class rigs deliver the highest signal-to-noise value per dollar with minimal operational overhead.
Outcome: Digital-First Operators (FT8, JS8Call, Weak-Signal)
Best Choice: QRP Labs QMX+
Why not the others?
- QCX / QCX Mini — No native USB audio or CAT control; requires external sound cards and keying interfaces, increasing failure points in portable setups.
- QMX (non-plus) — Digital capable, but lacks the refined USB audio integration and all-band convenience of QMX+.
- (tr)uSDX — Digital modes work, but audio levels, IMD performance, and vendor consistency vary by build and firmware.
Bottom line: QMX+ offers the cleanest, least-friction digital workflow—plug in USB, launch software, operate.
Outcome: All-Mode / One-Radio QRP Station
Best Choice: QRP Labs QMX+
Why not the others?
- QCX / QCX Mini — CW-only design excludes voice and most digital workflows.
- QMX (non-plus) — Excellent for CW and digital, but limited or experimental for SSB voice.
- (tr)uSDX — Supports all modes, but long-term stability, RF cleanliness, and documentation depend heavily on the specific implementation.
Bottom line: QMX+ is the least compromised “do-everything” QRP rig in kit form, especially for operators who rotate modes and bands.
Outcome: Experimenters & Firmware Hackers
Best Choice: (tr)uSDX
Why not the others?
- QCX / QCX Mini — Purpose-built CW architecture with limited scope for DSP or firmware experimentation.
- QMX / QMX+ — Firmware is mature and stable but not intended as a sandbox for DSP or architectural modification.
Bottom line: If experimentation, modification, and open-source development are core to your operating style, (tr)uSDX provides the most freedom—even if it demands more effort to achieve polished results.