I am torn between QMX 60m-15m and the QMX 20m-10m.
In the Philippines, we cannot use 60m and 11m, so I’ll have one less band in each version. I already MTR4B and QCX-mini 20m. If I get a QMX, I plan to sell the MTR4B. I find the QRP-Lab rig easier to use than MTR. Also, I never used 80m.
I’d like to buy once, cry once. How usable will QMX 20m-10m once sunspot cycle is over?
Thanks!
Win
73 de DV9KAY
Hi Win,
No need to cry! The QMX is worth its money! One might have to add: If you are CW operator. Hans said that he would come up with software to allow SSB, but that might take some time. I am pretty sure that this radio will be sold out as soon as the new software is available. So better hurry.
I have built the 20 to 10m version for a multi-day hiking trip where low weight was of prime importance. After all it is the year of the 10m challenge, so I chose the 20 - 10m version. Otherwise I would have built the 60 - 15m version.
I am very satisfied with the little radio and am thinking about building the other version now as the days get shorter. Might be a nice challenge to have one ready by Christmas.
73 Heinz
I asked myself this question too, but it wasn’t too difficult for me to find the answer for the following reasons:
→ I already saw several cycle maxima
→ my prioritized bands are 60, 30, 20, 17 and 15 m
So the QMX 60-15 is almost ideal for my needs and requirements for a slightly lighter CW transceiver than the Elecraft KX2/3 for portable radio.
So far, this QMX has met all my expectations in practice and even exceeded them with the built-in SWR tune utility.
If you can only have one rig I’d go for 60m-15m. Even at the peak of the sunspot cycle my most important bands for SOTA operating have been 30m and 20m. During the summer 10m has been rubbish but 15m has often delivered. When there are fewer sunspots 40m becomes a much better SOTA band.
Just my tuppence.
73 Richard
Another vote for 60m-15m. I rarely use 10 or 12 for SOTA, and I don’t see the point of 11m.
I went with 40-10 m. All the best bands for SOTA, especially with the 10 m action right now.
Dan, AI6XG, figured out how to make it work. https://www.ai6xg.com/post/a-40-10-meter-qmx
While you’re at it, upgrade your knobs too. :
Adam
K6ARK
Hello Adam.
That’s an interesting read. However, I don’t have the skills to make the mods. 
I’ll be getting it assembled.
BTW, I like your YT. Very informative and interesting.
73 de Win DV9KAY
I bought the original version (made for 80/60/40/30/20m) but modified and built as 60/40/30/20/17/15/12/10m version. It was a bit of an engineering battle due to how the T/R switch and LPF banks interfere with the receiver bandpass, but it was manageable.
However, as I learned that carrying heavy packs while hiking is good for building muscle strength, I lost a reason to go lighter equipment… I should do SOTA with a 100W rig and lead acid battery haha. (In reality I still use KX3 and LiCoO2 battery packs.)
This is the one I went for too. I ordered it fully loaded and assembled. Whittling my way down the wait list so hopefully have mine sooner rather than later.
Looking forward to it, this will hopefully be my main POTA/SOTA CW radio.
I read somewhere that the QMX can also do 8 meters? I would love to have that option but wouldn’t know how to modify the radio to do that.
I wonder can you order a QMX and ask for it to include 8 meters in the assembly?
Then a Kenwood TS520 is for you. Designed with today’s** SOTA operator in mind, the hybrid '520 runs off 12V for portable operations, and can keep you warm in blizzards in a way the the QMX most definitely will not.
** no WARC bands. Sorry. Better take a QMX for the WARC bands.
TS520 was the very first transceiver I used when I was in the fourth grade in elementary school, when SOTA didn’t exist, but I wasn’t missing much. I did a portable operation in a mountain with it, though, using a generator. I’ll let you be the today’s SOTA operator with the cutting edge innovation.
They look like rejects from a Pontefract Cake factory.
Rather the Pontefract Cake factory than the Spunk factory… 
Adam… leave them alone! They’re just jealous… because licorice smells so good!
…
I have just assembled my 60 - 15m QMX… for the time after the 10m challenge… and the times when the sun isn’t so spotty any more.
For 80m, the antenna is really a bit bulky for me on the summits.
Now I’m building the antenna that Stephan figured out:
73 Armin
Works very well indeed and was surprisingly easy to tune. Quite a neat approach!
73, Peter
Yes, building the 20-10m high bands model for 40-10 (except 30m) is the way to go. Follow the notes from @AI6XG on his website, noted above. Super easy - just need to order a few bits (caps, torroids, etc.) to mod the filters. Like many others, mine had a bad PCM1804 chip, the result being that it seemed that perceived SNR was super low on all bands when injecting signals. The reason is that the bad PCM1804 causes an insane amount of noise causing the AGC to engage constantly to reduce the sound output. You will know this is the problem if you have very low signals across all bands and then you turn off AGC (Hint: Do not try this with headphones as it will blow out your eardrums when you turn off AGC). You can get a replacement PCM1804 from TI for about $6 or, alternatively, send your radio over to W1NC and he will replace the chip for you for the cost of materials and shipping, which is what I opted to do since I did not have the proper tools/experience in replacing this chip at the QTH and Jeff has done probably hundreds of these replacements. He will also do a full review of everything on your radio and give a full report and adjust things that need adjusting. Luckily, everything on mine was 100% except for the bad chip so nothing further needed in my case, but the in-depth report was nice to confirm everything was satisfactory. I also donated some funds to his cause in helping people get their QMXs in tip top shape.
Then, if you want a little more power for your radio, you can build the QRP labs 50W PA for 10m and then build some external LPFs for the amp for operation on multiple bands. GQRP has a nice simple LPF design that can be used. You probably only need 40m, 20m, and 15m (along with the internally built 10m LPF) to cover all bands for the 40-10 QMX. Just add a 20VDC power supply for the amp! JO4MTH has a nice summary of what he did to optimize the QRP Labs 50W PA for 10m operation. He will send you his document by email upon request or I am happy to provided to anyone here by email.
