TL;DR — Which QRP Rig Should You Choose?

How to Use This Table

• If you already know your primary operating mode, pick the rig in column two and stop reading.
• If you operate multiple modes or travel frequently, default to QMX+.
• If you enjoy building, learning, and experimenting, read past the table and follow the flowchart.

Icon Legend

• [CW] – Morse code–centric operation
• [DIG] – Digital modes (FT8, JS8Call, RTTY)
• [ALL] – All-mode capability
• [DEV] – Development, firmware, experimentation
• [LEARN] – Educational / RF fundamentals
• [FIELD] – Portable / battery-powered use
• [STABLE] – Maximum simplicity and reliability

Focus	Operating Priority	Recommended Rig	Why This One	Why Not the Others
[CW]	Pure CW operation	QRP Labs QCX+ / QCX Mini	Best-in-class CW receiver, simple signal path, instructional design	Other rigs add unused modes, DSP layers, and cost
[DIG]	Digital modes (FT8, JS8Call)	QRP Labs QMX+	Native USB audio + CAT; clean, stable digital output	QCX needs external interfaces; (tr)uSDX varies by build
[ALL]	CW + Digital + SSB (one radio)	QRP Labs QMX+	Full multimode support from 160–6 m in one compact rig	QCX is CW-only; QMX limited for voice
[DEV]	Firmware hacking / experimentation	(tr)uSDX	Open-source DSP firmware and mod-friendly ecosystem	QMX/QCX prioritize stability over experimentation
[LEARN]	Learning RF fundamentals	QRP Labs QCX+	Clear RF signal flow; ideal for understanding filters and mixers	Multimode rigs abstract RF behind DSP
[FIELD]	Portable ops (POTA/SOTA)	QRP Labs QMX+	One radio, one USB cable, minimal accessories	(tr)uSDX may need tuning or firmware work
[STABLE]	Lowest complexity / highest reliability	QRP Labs QCX Mini	Fewest subsystems; extremely predictable behavior	Multimode rigs increase configuration overhead