Received XPA125b Version 1.05 a couple weeks ago, lasted 3 days before it blew the final mosfet using 3 watts into it on 160m with a 1.3 SWR producing around 76 watts. The 1.05 design has changed and no longer uses the dual HHF100 Mosfets instead using a singular AFT05MP075N which is a 136-520Mhz device rated at 70 watts. Xiegu confirmed that the change was due to inability to source parts during Covid or some such. Reseller did send new output Mosfet with instructions to 'fix it yourself'. Changed the components but still having issues and fighting with the reseller. Not a lot of hope of winning this one. My advice would be to give this one a miss for now guys, Xiegu support is non existent and they won't release schematics. A nightmare!
I use it at 1w input and use a small USB fan with chokes But works fine with the G90 I don't go over 1w and watch my SWR and amp temp and but NO issues so far, but I agree it's expensive compared to a cheap 2 moto pill amp that puts out 200w 😂
Good Job on this video! It's all about the equipment and competant operator who can actually teach viewers before making informed decisions about purchases.
I was considering this amplifier and a G90 setup but I was a little put off by another UA-cam review on the output quality. The review may not tell the whole story but it might be worth a look. I won't link it in here but you can find it by searching for 'Xiegu XPA125B Signal Purity Test'. I am still enjoying every video that you make :)
I know the video you are referring to. The guy doing the tests was using an old Test Set instrument. Don’t know of it was cal’d this century or not, lol. I would NOT let that single video put you off in the XPA125B. I have one myself but have not yet out it in service.
I've had mine for a little over a week and discovered that the XPA-125B creates noise on almost all HF bands while receiving on my Icom -705. It gets progressively worse as you go higher in frequency. 6 meters is especially bad. Using the Icom 705 on the receive side, it obliterates the FM band. I've tried using the amp with a Tekpower power supply and directly from a battery and I get the same results. As soon as I turn off the amp, the noise goes away. I put ferrite beads on both patch cables to and from the amp with no change. This is unacceptable and I will be returning the amp. Not good.
Sold. Nice presentation as usual. Time to go build some antennas while I wait. I have never transmitted over 5 watts so I am pretty exited about this addition.
Hello and nice video. I need this amp for my QRP sdr radio but Any Extra cables or adapter for the Hermes Lite 2 SDR radio? What cables do I need to conect to the Hermes Lite 2 ??? That's what is stopping me to buy because I wanted for the HL2. Thank you for the video.
What I find uncanny is the quality of the received audio, which just does not sound like SSB. You could only do this with an SDR receiver. The unit itself will compliment my FT 817. It would have been interesting to have a look inside the kit. What sort of ATU? I would assume switched inductance and capacitance. Also, does the ATU work on 60 mtrs?
I bought one recently from HRO and it failed right from the box. HRO sent another and it was crap also except I had to run it through the menu first. Sent it back also. HRO did admit a problem with some of them, they don't know till the customer gets it. Never again at $650. 100-watt amp and tuner that is suppose to marry up to the IC-705.
Are you able to measure harmonics? It can be a make or brake with an amplifier, if there are too much spurious transmissions and need for extra filtering and band switching on filters.
there is a video from K8MRD - look for "Signal Purity Test" - looked dirty on 160/80 and less than great on 12, all in spite of approvals. Other bands looked good.
I see you point, but my “use case” was to connect it to the HL2. A 100% SDR radio with 100+ Watts and ATU would probably be the equivalent of a Flex Radio, and they certainly cannot be purchased for the price I paid for the 125B and HL2. I guess if you didn’t want SDR, then yep, you could easily buy a 100 watt standard radio for the money.
@@TechMindsOfficial In my understanding the hl2 has one port for rx and one for tx, that's why i asked. But if you say, it can do everything over one port, it will make me an owner of that device. :)
Do not buy a Xiegu XPA125B or any Xiegu product! This amplifier was originally introduced with a good design using a pair of RD100HHF MOSFETs to easily handle 100W. After a few years they started selling units using the a single AFT05MP075N rated for 75W without any change to published specifications. You can push these amps to 75-80W but they are now really 50W nominal amplifier to achieve the same IMD rating. For a company to engage in these unethical design practices, I'd strongly recommend to never buy any Xiegu products! This is the same practice that Huawei tried when they started to gain some market share in the US with their phones and tablets.
That’s an interesting comment. Could you link to any articles which provide proof of this please? I’ve always rated this amp, and even suggested it to others, but if that’s true then I won’t. However, I need proof for this comment to remain. Thanks
Received XPA125b Version 1.05 a couple weeks ago, lasted 3 days before it blew the final mosfet using 3 watts into it on 160m with a 1.3 SWR producing around 76 watts. The 1.05 design has changed and no longer uses the dual HHF100 Mosfets instead using a singular AFT05MP075N which is a 136-520Mhz device rated at 70 watts. Xiegu confirmed that the change was due to inability to source parts during Covid or some such. Reseller did send new output Mosfet with instructions to 'fix it yourself'. Changed the components but still having issues and fighting with the reseller. Not a lot of hope of winning this one. My advice would be to give this one a miss for now guys, Xiegu support is non existent and they won't release schematics. A nightmare!
Yes! This is now a 50W nominal amp. Stay away from Xiegu!
I use it at 1w input and use a small USB fan with chokes
But works fine with the G90 I don't go over 1w and watch my SWR and amp temp and but NO issues so far, but I agree it's expensive compared to a cheap 2 moto pill amp that puts out 200w 😂
Good Job on this video! It's all about the equipment and competant operator who can actually teach viewers before making informed decisions about purchases.
I have one and it is very robust and works perfectly. Mounted two small 12v fans on side. It stays very cool indeed.
I was considering this amplifier and a G90 setup but I was a little put off by another UA-cam review on the output quality. The review may not tell the whole story but it might be worth a look. I won't link it in here but you can find it by searching for 'Xiegu XPA125B Signal Purity Test'. I am still enjoying every video that you make :)
I know the video you are referring to. The guy doing the tests was using an old Test Set instrument. Don’t know of it was cal’d this century or not, lol. I would NOT let that single video put you off in the XPA125B. I have one myself but have not yet out it in service.
I've had mine for a little over a week and discovered that the XPA-125B creates noise on almost all HF bands while receiving on my Icom -705. It gets progressively worse as you go higher in frequency. 6 meters is especially bad. Using the Icom 705 on the receive side, it obliterates the FM band. I've tried using the amp with a Tekpower power supply and directly from a battery and I get the same results. As soon as I turn off the amp, the noise goes away. I put ferrite beads on both patch cables to and from the amp with no change. This is unacceptable and I will be returning the amp. Not good.
Excellent Matt. Best video I've seen on this to date.
Thank you 🙏
Excellent video. Pretty much addressed any questions I had. Looks like there is a Xiegu in my future. Thanks!
What ist the minimum Input Power to drive the XIEGU XPA-125B?
Sold. Nice presentation as usual.
Time to go build some antennas while I wait. I have never transmitted over 5 watts so I am pretty exited about this addition.
thank you so much for this review! very helpful. I just purchsed the amp for my ICOM705
Hello and nice video. I need this amp for my QRP sdr radio but Any Extra cables or adapter for the Hermes Lite 2 SDR radio? What cables do I need to conect to the Hermes Lite 2 ??? That's what is stopping me to buy because I wanted for the HL2. Thank you for the video.
This is a super little amp, and very very clean
I agree! Totally perfect for use with my HL2
Excellent video Matt! Thanks and 73 de WA3RSL
Thanks for the video 👍👍
What I find uncanny is the quality of the received audio, which just does not sound like SSB. You could only do this with an SDR receiver.
The unit itself will compliment my FT 817.
It would have been interesting to have a look inside the kit. What sort of ATU? I would assume switched inductance and capacitance.
Also, does the ATU work on 60 mtrs?
Great video! Thanks!
do you need the cable to key it?
will it transmit on the 42m 49m band?
Will this work with a 818 and a 705
I bought one recently from HRO and it failed right from the box. HRO sent another and it was crap also except I had to run it through the menu first. Sent it back also. HRO did admit a problem with some of them, they don't know till the customer gets it. Never again at $650. 100-watt amp and tuner that is suppose to marry up to the IC-705.
Is the output power variable?
Are you able to measure harmonics? It can be a make or brake with an amplifier, if there are too much spurious transmissions and need for extra filtering and band switching on filters.
Unfortunately I have not tested the harmonics, but as it’s FCC and CE approved I would imagine it is within spec?
there is a video from K8MRD - look for "Signal Purity Test" - looked dirty on 160/80 and less than great on 12, all in spite of approvals. Other bands looked good.
Can the XPA-125B be used with the Xiegu X6100?
May as well get a proper 100w radio about the same cost and weight
I see you point, but my “use case” was to connect it to the HL2. A 100% SDR radio with 100+ Watts and ATU would probably be the equivalent of a Flex Radio, and they certainly cannot be purchased for the price I paid for the 125B and HL2. I guess if you didn’t want SDR, then yep, you could easily buy a 100 watt standard radio for the money.
👍Thanks for video. I was curious to know if you had tried the setup on CW? Wondered what the break in was like?
Unfortunately I’m not active on CW so I am unable to test this. Thanks for watching tho 🙏
Can you reach the states with your setup?
Yep, I’ve worked USA, Canada and Brazil.
Might aswell buy another radio…crazy money
imagine a 400-600w version with a built in tuner? 👍👍
You mean like the Hard Rock 500
Do you use different antennas for Rx and Tx?
No I use the same antenna. The amplifier only had one antenna connection. 👌
@@TechMindsOfficial Ok, how do you manage the switching between Rx and Tx? Or is there only one port on the hl2 for rx and tx?
Only one port on the HL2. There is a PTT output on the HL2 which connects to the amp to make it key while transmitting
@@TechMindsOfficial In my understanding the hl2 has one port for rx and one for tx, that's why i asked. But if you say, it can do everything over one port, it will make me an owner of that device. :)
Can I use this amplifier with a function generator of square, pulse or ramp waveforms?
Yikes this is a NICE one!
Why do you use the phonetic "Mexico" instead of "Mike" when calling?
It’s a slang, and a lot of hams use it, but I personally make a conscious effort to always use Mike now.
Do not buy a Xiegu XPA125B or any Xiegu product! This amplifier was originally introduced with a good design using a pair of RD100HHF MOSFETs to easily handle 100W. After a few years they started selling units using the a single AFT05MP075N rated for 75W without any change to published specifications. You can push these amps to 75-80W but they are now really 50W nominal amplifier to achieve the same IMD rating. For a company to engage in these unethical design practices, I'd strongly recommend to never buy any Xiegu products! This is the same practice that Huawei tried when they started to gain some market share in the US with their phones and tablets.
That’s an interesting comment. Could you link to any articles which provide proof of this please? I’ve always rated this amp, and even suggested it to others, but if that’s true then I won’t. However, I need proof for this comment to remain. Thanks