I have the 8th one produced, love the radio, they have put out updates and added new features and made adjustments. Updates are easy to do. Simply love it
I bought a X5105 three months ago (Aug 2020). It is my favorite radio when I am playing around with HF away from my office. I also have a G90, which really love, but I prefer to carry the X5105 to nearby parks because of the rig's internal battery. I can also carry a 12V 10Ah battery (very light) for power if I drain the internal battery. Also, I just added the XPA125B amplifier to give an extra boost, especially when traveling.
The FT-817 is old tech but no where near 30 years old. I bought mine when they first came out in 2000 from Comdac in St Joseph, Michigan. QST did a new product review April, 2001.
Thanks for this video, and for being willing to take an honest look at the x5105. Some amateurs I know have written it off before even learning anything about it, which is bullshit. I hope you'll put it through its paces and let us know how it's doing. I for one appreciate some 'new blood' in the transceiver market. As someone who loves to take his radios in the field, I certainly welcome a new QRP rig that doesn't cost a small fortune.
Hi Bob I was over at Ham and HiFi in Sparks Nevada and saw an ad for your You Tube channel. I collect and restore old ham Radio receivers. Was a Ham a long time ago when I was a boy I'm 67 now and thinking about getting back into it again. Oh and I also have a UA-cam channel and subscribed to yours today. My brother NU6F moved over here to Nevada and kept his Calif. Call. Keep up the good work and spread the news about ham radio 73's
I like that large display when comparing it to my FT-817ND and I'm going to assume the internal battery is going to last longer than the one in my radio does. Getting one of these via MFJ adds the security of a US based warranty that is sometimes missing for other Chinese made devices. It will be interesting to see real world usage reports. I'd like to know if it's going to overheat when used outside for typical QRP sessions with lots of RX and occasional TX in warm ambient conditions like we have in the South.
I've been having a nice look at this radio for a while Bob. Technically I think it's probably got some good features for the field operator, but for 700 bucks? At the end of the day it's a Chinese radio. It doesn't matter if mfj is selling it or not, it's still a Chinese radio, and we must wonder if that company is going to be a around very long. To be fair the Chinese are quickly catching up, but with the price so similar to the elecraft kx2, I'm wondering if I would rather spend the extra couple of hundred bucks on a KX2, than risk all of the warranty costs/issues that come along with Chinese radios. Who do we send the radio to if it's broken, how long will the radio be supported, how long will that company who produces the radio exist and will we still get spares and components for it 30 years from now?, ... Definitely time will tell. Anyway I remember your criticism about testing in the backyard 😉 Nice video Bob and I hope that radio does well. It's also on my qrp wish list. Good luck on 10k subs. 73 Julian oh8stn
What up my friend? What I do like about this radio it the fact that everything, (internal battery, external mic, three filters, SWR sweep meter, spectrum scope, plug ends and the fact that they are churning out software updates) are included for your $670.00. The KX2 can be loaded with options, at a cost. This isn't going to be a KX2 killer, the receiver is just average but to get a similarly equipped KX2 will cost close to $1200 so this becomes an entry level bargain.
K6UDA fair enough. I'm just playing Devil's Advocate. this radio is also on my wishlist and the only thing I'm really concerned about his warranty and repair.
I am interested in this radio. Your quick explanation has peaked my interest. However, 5:38 to 5:47 I agree with your assessment for US hams and other countries that permit entry level hams to operate with greater than 5 watts output, but the majority of other countries entry level have a 5 watt restriction. Probably the primary customer base. Then at 6:07 you state the FT-817 is 30 year old technology. When this video was produced then 18 years is more accurate. The FT-817 was first introduced in Japan in 2000 then in the US in 2004. Great introduction to this unit and look forward to your review. KB8AMZ
Hi Bob, nice video.. keep up the great work...the Xiego looks cool and I like the ATU and SWR sweepl The age of the FT-817 though, is 18 yrs old design not 30 years. Still an older design and like most people not happy with what they came out with the FT-818.. OMG come on. Without redesigning the whole thing, which they didn't want to do this would have been a great 818 with these features: > DSP like Bhi could have been retrofitted. This radio needs noise reduction. > 3000 mah LiIon battery, no need to redo internal charger, they can include an external adapter. > NOAA weather - Just raise the frequency on the 2m band to 163 mhz or higher, easy. For a survival, hiking, camping radio how does it not have weather? > DC Power in: More robust, larger cable. > TCXO - Include as standard using chinese type newer design that is more stable and around $25 retail If it had these upgrades I'd buy it.
I enjoyed your overview of the X5105. I wish they'd make up their mind, 3000 or 5000 mah internal battery. I also saw that in the manual. The X5105 doesn't have UHF/VHF but it has so many more included features that makes the FT 817 not as appealing as it use to be. Still a nice radio, but the X5105 is not a better choice. KU3X
I meant to say, "The X5105 is now a better choice." The "NOT" was a typo. Sorry Also, I saw the X5105 taken apart and it is NOT a 5000 mah battery. Looks like they better correct THEIR typo. KU3X
I understand the X5105 does not come with a charger. On the multiple reviews of this radio on UA-cam, I have not found a review on the best power supplies / chargers to use for the X5105 battery. What are hams using? 73.
I drilled out a 2.1mm cigarette plug charger to 2.5mm worked perfectly. Cut it, put Anderson power poles on it, use it In the truck or Alinco 30a power supply(the cigarette power output is 10a) 3a required. Or my lipo4 battery pack. Just be careful drilling the barrel connector, ripped the guts out of the first one.
Hi, I also have a xiegu x5105 and I would like to know if I can use it in the 11m band. I would like to use it on the truck as well. In Europe we use CB free band. Do you have any idea how I can open the station in 11m? Thanks for your time 73!
Hello Bob, thank you very much for the video. I appreciate a lot your reviews mostly because they are objective. When you'll go on with the next review I suggest you to use the X5105 with headphones and try to measure the RF power with a wattmeter. 73' Enzo iw7dmh
I did the beta testing on these along with Fred VE3FAL, you can see the preproduction versions that never made it to production on our you tube channel. I also started a facebook group over 2 years ago along with Fred, for Xiegu transceivers , you will find everything you need to know on there , its the Xiegu X108G & X5105 facebook group ..73 de Wayne 2e0bvj
Folks may tend to compare it with the 817 - the de facto reference for qrp I guess - but it seems that perhaps a better comparison would be with the LNR precision LD-11 which is also a modern software driven radio in similar form factor with some advantages,
The only con this radio has, is it will get overly warm if you talk for hours on end. There is actually a disclaimer about this on Amazon. If you do not use this for serious contesting,and you are the casual QRP operator, you will love this radio. I will not say anymore, because this is not my review; but I cannot wait to see your reaction after you use this little gem. KG5RA
It's pretty well sealed and has a big long lasting battery. I know it got mildly warm on me yesterday while keying it on CW hooked up to a scope so that doesn't surprise me.
Like the start of the review, curious to see a more in-depth review on how well it works in the field Bob... hey, you heading to Yuma after QuartzFest??? Any of the guys going? I won’t make QuartzFest this year!
Good evening, I would like to open the station in 11m. In Romania we use the CB band for free, on trucks. I can't use xiegu x5105 in 11m. Can you help me with this problem?
Hi Bob, Like the new intro and the videos. If I snap my fingers, will Wendy land on my lap? HiHi Saw that MFJ was going to carry the radio from another channel. I think that was a good decision. 73 WB3BJU
It's definitely not as feature packed as the KX3 and I'm going to go out on a limb and say the receiver probably isn't as good. The beauty of SDR is that the radio can evolve. But at half the price of a KX3, it looks like a viable option at a very fair price.
That's my Scientific wild ass guess too. Probably not as good as the Elecraft products but maybe good enough and good value. Hopefully it's not a horrible radio and waste of money,
Calling this an SDR is misleading... SDR usually implies a radio with a zero IF, direct conversion or DDC/DUC and all decoding done in software. On the Xiegu website, you will see this: "Double conversion + digital baseband structure, advanced digital processing unit, making the signal clearer." Double Conversion is old school superhet. NOT SDR....
I purchased three (3) mfj produced items. Their 1500 watt dummy load, a 915 RF choke, and the $225+ 828 digital/cross needle swr/power meter. I'd never purchese another mfj (produced) item again. Out of the 3 items two (2) worked. My luck being what it is the $225+ 828 didn't work properly. I sent it in for warranty repair. After it took them (mfj/Joe) three (3) weeks to find it in their warehouse, and another two weeks to (supposedly) check it out I received, the meter back with a blank repair receipt. I hooked it up. Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! IT WORKED AS IT DID BEFORE I SENT IT TO THEM. That's right!! It still didn't work. I don't even believe they ever put it on their bench. If they did they would've seen the obvious issue. I was warned about buying anything mfj, and went against the suggestions of others. And in the end i ate $225+. The fact that this qrp transceiver isn't made by mfj, and a Chinese company gives one who decides to purchase it a better chance of getting a product that works then if it had been produced by mfj themselves. But I wouldn't purchese anything from mfj! Even if it was made by Kenwood. Don't trust buying anything from mfj. No matter who produces it. My mfj experience has left me so jaded that I wouldn't even purchase an Ameritron item. Some will say mfj is a subsidiary of Ameritron, and they're two separate entities. They're not! Ameritron might have a better reputation then mfj, but I wouldn't be surprised if your 811h amplifier is going to be sent to the same repair facility as my 828 (if repairs are needed.) STAY AWAY FROM MFJ!!! YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.
K6UDA the fact you've had very few failures suggest you have had mfj equipment fail (right out of the box?) Imo it's not acceptable for brand new equipment to fail. Their reputation on and offline speaks for itself. Poor solder joints, equipment that doesn't work properly out-of-the-box etc etc etc speaks volumes for the company and the lack of quality control. It's been more than just complained about. It took me 4 months in order to save the money I needed to purchase that 828. Would you like to fix it for me? Or maybe even just take a look at it? Lack of dexterity in my hands and fingers not to mention my lack of knowledge won't allow me to open it up and begin tinkering with it. Thanks.
esta radio me quita el sueño ,pero me genera dudas su continuidad en el tiempo proviniendo de china su origen, aunque quisiera creer que iran actualizando sus productos engeneral ...parece la qrp perfecta pero me hubiese gustado 10 wats de rf ...seria un plus...si me parece un poco alto su precio para qrp... aqui en sud america los dolares son altos hi hi... cx3et
Creo que el precio es bastante justo teniendo en cuenta todo lo que obtienes. Recuerde, el KX3 solo tenía 10 vatios y mediante los cambios de software lo aumentaron hasta 15 vatios. 73, Bob K6UDA
K6UDA I’m having a heck of a time trying to turn on VOX. Just can’t figure it out. No mention of it in the manual unless I missed something. Any chance you could point me in the right direction to the VOX settings? Thanks! 73! Jim - KH2SR
K6DUA likes to talk a lot- but doesn’t even connect an antenna to the rig.- Don’t waste your time with this video., - No substance. He’s just trolling for followers. wa4d.radio
I have the 8th one produced, love the radio, they have put out updates and added new features and made adjustments. Updates are easy to do. Simply love it
I have the second one produced, I beat you :)
That radio seems really nice for QRP. I like the small form factor but yet it packs a lot of features. Great job Bob!
I bought a X5105 three months ago (Aug 2020). It is my favorite radio when I am playing around with HF away from my office. I also have a G90, which really love, but I prefer to carry the X5105 to nearby parks because of the rig's internal battery. I can also carry a 12V 10Ah battery (very light) for power if I drain the internal battery. Also, I just added the XPA125B amplifier to give an extra boost, especially when traveling.
The FT-817 is old tech but no where near 30 years old. I bought mine when they first came out in 2000 from Comdac in St Joseph, Michigan. QST did a new product review April, 2001.
Interestingly, CW and SSB are just as old if not older
Thanks for this video, and for being willing to take an honest look at the x5105. Some amateurs I know have written it off before even learning anything about it, which is bullshit. I hope you'll put it through its paces and let us know how it's doing. I for one appreciate some 'new blood' in the transceiver market. As someone who loves to take his radios in the field, I certainly welcome a new QRP rig that doesn't cost a small fortune.
Couldn't agree with you more.
Have made contacts over 1200 miles on 20m and 40m ssb. And it decodes psk31 right on the screen! also works with HRD for rig control
Thats awesome.
Hi Bob I was over at Ham and HiFi in Sparks Nevada and saw an ad for your You Tube channel. I collect and restore old ham Radio receivers. Was a Ham a long time ago when I was a boy I'm 67 now and thinking about getting back into it again. Oh and I also have a UA-cam channel and subscribed to yours today. My brother NU6F moved over here to Nevada and kept his Calif. Call. Keep up the good work and spread the news about ham radio 73's
I like that large display when comparing it to my FT-817ND and I'm going to assume the internal battery is going to last longer than the one in my radio does. Getting one of these via MFJ adds the security of a US based warranty that is sometimes missing for other Chinese made devices. It will be interesting to see real world usage reports. I'd like to know if it's going to overheat when used outside for typical QRP sessions with lots of RX and occasional TX in warm ambient conditions like we have in the South.
Well, it just so happens that I'm taking this one into the Arizona desert next week. It should all be part of my review.
I've been having a nice look at this radio for a while Bob. Technically I think it's probably got some good features for the field operator, but for 700 bucks? At the end of the day it's a Chinese radio. It doesn't matter if mfj is selling it or not, it's still a Chinese radio, and we must wonder if that company is going to be a around very long. To be fair the Chinese are quickly catching up, but with the price so similar to the elecraft kx2, I'm wondering if I would rather spend the extra couple of hundred bucks on a KX2, than risk all of the warranty costs/issues that come along with Chinese radios. Who do we send the radio to if it's broken, how long will the radio be supported, how long will that company who produces the radio exist and will we still get spares and components for it 30 years from now?, ... Definitely time will tell.
Anyway I remember your criticism about testing in the backyard 😉
Nice video Bob and I hope that radio does well. It's also on my qrp wish list.
Good luck on 10k subs.
73
Julian oh8stn
By the way the ft-817 is 17 years old not 30.
K9ARV RADIO just teasing him Tony, don't take it seriously ☺
What up my friend? What I do like about this radio it the fact that everything, (internal battery, external mic, three filters, SWR sweep meter, spectrum scope, plug ends and the fact that they are churning out software updates) are included for your $670.00. The KX2 can be loaded with options, at a cost. This isn't going to be a KX2 killer, the receiver is just average but to get a similarly equipped KX2 will cost close to $1200 so this becomes an entry level bargain.
17 +30 = 47 years old. Wow that was pretty advanced back then.:)
K6UDA fair enough. I'm just playing Devil's Advocate. this radio is also on my wishlist and the only thing I'm really concerned about his warranty and repair.
I am interested in this radio. Your quick explanation has peaked my interest. However, 5:38 to 5:47 I agree with your assessment for US hams and other countries that permit entry level hams to operate with greater than 5 watts output, but the majority of other countries entry level have a 5 watt restriction. Probably the primary customer base. Then at 6:07 you state the FT-817 is 30 year old technology. When this video was produced then 18 years is more accurate. The FT-817 was first introduced in Japan in 2000 then in the US in 2004. Great introduction to this unit and look forward to your review. KB8AMZ
At 10/15W I'd totally order one! Thanks for the vid ;)
Spot on ! Their earlier X108G pushes out 20W, shame this one doesn't match it. Looks good though.
It is an SDR so an update might give us some extra Watts as Elecraft has done with KX3
Hi Bob, nice video.. keep up the great work...the Xiego looks cool and I like the ATU and SWR sweepl
The age of the FT-817 though, is 18 yrs old design not 30 years. Still an older design and like most people not happy with what they came out with the FT-818.. OMG come on. Without redesigning the whole thing, which they didn't want to do this would have been a great 818 with these features:
> DSP like Bhi could have been retrofitted. This radio needs noise reduction.
> 3000 mah LiIon battery, no need to redo internal charger, they can include an external adapter.
> NOAA weather - Just raise the frequency on the 2m band to 163 mhz or higher, easy. For a survival, hiking, camping radio how does it not have weather?
> DC Power in: More robust, larger cable.
> TCXO - Include as standard using chinese type newer design that is more stable and around $25 retail
If it had these upgrades I'd buy it.
I enjoyed your overview of the X5105. I wish they'd make up their mind, 3000 or 5000 mah internal battery. I also saw that in the manual.
The X5105 doesn't have UHF/VHF but it has so many more included features that makes the FT 817 not as appealing as it use to be. Still a nice radio, but the X5105 is not a better choice.
KU3X
I meant to say, "The X5105 is now a better choice." The "NOT" was a typo. Sorry
Also, I saw the X5105 taken apart and it is NOT a 5000 mah battery. Looks like they better correct THEIR typo.
KU3X
I understand the X5105 does not come with a charger. On the multiple reviews of this radio on UA-cam, I have not found a review on the best power supplies / chargers to use for the X5105 battery. What are hams using? 73.
I drilled out a 2.1mm cigarette plug charger to 2.5mm worked perfectly. Cut it, put Anderson power poles on it, use it In the truck or Alinco 30a power supply(the cigarette power output is 10a) 3a required. Or my lipo4 battery pack. Just be careful drilling the barrel connector, ripped the guts out of the first one.
Looks nice Bob. Thanks for the update! 73's
Hi, I also have a xiegu x5105 and I would like to know if I can use it in the 11m band. I would like to use it on the truck as well. In Europe we use CB free band. Do you have any idea how I can open the station in 11m? Thanks for your time 73!
Hello Bob,
thank you very much for the video. I appreciate a lot your reviews mostly because they are objective.
When you'll go on with the next review I suggest you to use the X5105 with headphones and try to measure the RF power with a wattmeter.
73' Enzo
iw7dmh
Well it's been a while now. How about some follow up. Has it proven to be pretty good for the money or not? Does it overheat too quickly?
I did the beta testing on these along with Fred VE3FAL, you can see the preproduction versions that never made it to production on our you tube channel. I also started a facebook group over 2 years ago along with Fred, for Xiegu transceivers , you will find everything you need to know on there , its the Xiegu X108G & X5105 facebook group ..73 de Wayne 2e0bvj
Folks may tend to compare it with the 817 - the de facto reference for qrp I guess - but it seems that perhaps a better comparison would be with the LNR precision LD-11 which is also a modern software driven radio in similar form factor with some advantages,
I haven't seen or played with the LNR so I can't really compare it.
The only con this radio has, is it will get overly warm if you talk for hours on end. There is actually a disclaimer about this on Amazon. If you do not use this for serious contesting,and you are the casual QRP operator, you will love this radio. I will not say anymore, because this is not my review; but I cannot wait to see your reaction after you use this little gem. KG5RA
It's pretty well sealed and has a big long lasting battery. I know it got mildly warm on me yesterday while keying it on CW hooked up to a scope so that doesn't surprise me.
KX3 had similar problem and the Aftermarket stepped in with better heat sinks. proaudioeng.com/pae-kx32-ultimate-heatsink-kit-elecraft-kx3/
Interesting radio.....Good for SOTA and WWFF by the looks. Thanks Bob.....73 VK6MMB
Thanks
Like the start of the review, curious to see a more in-depth review on how well it works in the field Bob... hey, you heading to Yuma after QuartzFest??? Any of the guys going? I won’t make QuartzFest this year!
Karen has to be back to work the next week so we have to turn and burn Friday. What going on in Yuma?
K6UDA Yuma Hamfest... 👍 sorry I'm going to miss you guys at quartzfest
Good evening, I would like to open the station in 11m. In Romania we use the CB band for free, on trucks. I can't use xiegu x5105 in 11m. Can you help me with this problem?
Hi Bob,
Like the new intro and the videos. If I snap my fingers, will Wendy land on my lap? HiHi
Saw that MFJ was going to carry the radio from another channel. I think that was a good decision. 73 WB3BJU
Close your eyes, click your heels together and say "I wish she was here, I wish she was here".
It does look interesting. Maybe more than just a McHF clone? A KX3 competitor or counterfeit? Looking forward to hearing how well (or badly) it works.
It's definitely not as feature packed as the KX3 and I'm going to go out on a limb and say the receiver probably isn't as good. The beauty of SDR is that the radio can evolve. But at half the price of a KX3, it looks like a viable option at a very fair price.
That's my Scientific wild ass guess too. Probably not as good as the Elecraft products but maybe good enough and good value. Hopefully it's not a horrible radio and waste of money,
Bob, Great video. I would be interested to see how it operates at Quartzfest. Maybe you can give a demo. Hope to see you there. K6PGH
Look for me there.
Calling this an SDR is misleading... SDR usually implies a radio with a zero IF, direct conversion or DDC/DUC and all decoding done in software. On the Xiegu website, you will see this: "Double conversion + digital baseband structure, advanced digital processing unit, making the signal clearer." Double Conversion is old school superhet.
NOT SDR....
Hello hello. Nope this Xiegu is NOT SDR. It is super heterodyne double conversion radio. another fact. Yaesu FT817 (the trusty) is NOT 30 years old.
Does it do 11 meter. Would be a great CB SSB walkie talkie.
I purchased three (3) mfj produced items. Their 1500 watt dummy load, a 915 RF choke, and the $225+ 828 digital/cross needle swr/power meter. I'd never purchese another mfj (produced) item again. Out of the 3 items two (2) worked. My luck being what it is the $225+ 828 didn't work properly. I sent it in for warranty repair. After it took them (mfj/Joe) three (3) weeks to find it in their warehouse, and another two weeks to (supposedly) check it out I received, the meter back with a blank repair receipt. I hooked it up. Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! IT WORKED AS IT DID BEFORE I SENT IT TO THEM. That's right!! It still didn't work. I don't even believe they ever put it on their bench. If they did they would've seen the obvious issue. I was warned about buying anything mfj, and went against the suggestions of others. And in the end i ate $225+. The fact that this qrp transceiver isn't made by mfj, and a Chinese company gives one who decides to purchase it a better chance of getting a product that works then if it had been produced by mfj themselves. But I wouldn't purchese anything from mfj! Even if it was made by Kenwood. Don't trust buying anything from mfj. No matter who produces it. My mfj experience has left me so jaded that I wouldn't even purchase an Ameritron item. Some will say mfj is a subsidiary of Ameritron, and they're two separate entities. They're not! Ameritron might have a better reputation then mfj, but I wouldn't be surprised if your 811h amplifier is going to be sent to the same repair facility as my 828 (if repairs are needed.) STAY AWAY FROM MFJ!!! YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.
Sorry you had a bad experience. I've got many things from MFJ and very few failures.
K6UDA the fact you've had very few failures suggest you have had mfj equipment fail (right out of the box?) Imo it's not acceptable for brand new equipment to fail. Their reputation on and offline speaks for itself. Poor solder joints, equipment that doesn't work properly out-of-the-box etc etc etc speaks volumes for the company and the lack of quality control. It's been more than just complained about. It took me 4 months in order to save the money I needed to purchase that 828. Would you like to fix it for me? Or maybe even just take a look at it? Lack of dexterity in my hands and fingers not to mention my lack of knowledge won't allow me to open it up and begin tinkering with it. Thanks.
Trust me, you don't want me to solder for you. My soldering looks a lot like my welding. its a mess.
esta radio me quita el sueño ,pero me genera dudas su continuidad en el tiempo proviniendo de china su origen, aunque quisiera creer que iran actualizando sus productos engeneral
...parece la qrp perfecta pero me hubiese gustado 10 wats de rf ...seria un plus...si me parece un poco alto su precio para qrp... aqui en sud america los dolares son altos hi hi... cx3et
I wish I understood what your saying.
Creo que el precio es bastante justo teniendo en cuenta todo lo que obtienes. Recuerde, el KX3 solo tenía 10 vatios y mediante los cambios de software lo aumentaron hasta 15 vatios. 73, Bob K6UDA
when somebody makes a amp (portable prefered) for it...a lot of people will take a new look at it
A Hardrock 50 will do the trick.
Can they make something a bit more affordable..
Does anyone know if this QRP radio has a VOX feature?
Yes it does.
K6UDA I’m having a heck of a time trying to turn on VOX. Just can’t figure it out. No mention of it in the manual unless I missed something. Any chance you could point me in the right direction to the VOX settings? Thanks!
73!
Jim - KH2SR
bob please traductor spanish english this very apreciate your comments sorry this is my english poor hello.
Where’s Wendy?
K6DUA likes to talk a lot- but doesn’t even connect an antenna to the rig.- Don’t waste your time with this video., - No substance. He’s just trolling for followers. wa4d.radio