FX-4CR for HF mobile POTA?
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- Опубліковано 22 лип 2024
- Trying the FX-4CR operating mobile from a POTA location. This was filmed at POTA reference G-0173, North Wessex Downs.
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#hamradio #amateurradio #coax
0:00 Intro
1:10 Equipment the vehicle
1:55 Outside
2:15 On air (20m SSB)
5:10 Closing thoughts - Наука та технологія
That FX-4CR really is a nice little rig, packing a good punch of 20W for it's size! Thanks for the video James. 73
Totally agree. I was quite sceptical at first but in the couple of weeks that I had it on loan I really grew to like it.
It's still a budget radio & the receive isn't as good as my Icom 705 (the 705 is double the price to be fair) but in a low noise environment like a SOTA summit that really doesn't matter.
If I didn't already have the 705 & I had to choose a radio specifically for SOTA, I think the FX-4CR might just win it for it's small size, light weight, 20w TX power & portable form factor.
So bloody jealous! Great vid. Regards Mike
It is a great little radio. I liked it far more than I thought I would. I found it a little bit painful having to give it back afterwards.
Have you heard of BOTA? I had a bit of a hiatus from radio for about 8-9 years and only got back on the air in 2023. Activating the bunkers has been good fun - an added bonus being that I own one 😂. Only just found your channel today but enjoying your content. I know how hard it is to keep making content but sometimes remembering to get the camera out and hitting the record button is just too much effort! 73’s and hopefully catch you on the air sometime. 2i0ROC.
Glad you're enjoying the content.
I have heard of Bunkers On The Air, and I've also heard a number of activations taking place when I've been scanning through the bands, but so far I have never got round to giving it a go.
Quite honestly, SOTA, POTA & WWFF, along with other amateur radio projects, all seem to keep me busy!
The FX-4CR seems a decent bit of kit and with the recent license changes it should appeal to Foundation license holders. Nice location for radio there James, any good for VHF?
73 Chris M0RSF
I'm really impressed with it. Shame it was a loan item & I had to return it.
I do wonder if we will see more 20 watt portable radios appearing on the market over the next few years due to the licence changes? Then again, the UK is a relatively small market when you consider the rest of the world, so will probably make little difference.
Location wise, it is a really good VHF location. It's actually the car park for SOTA summit G/SE-001 (Walbury Hill). It was also the location where I operated when I did 145 Alive a while ago.
Good old Manuel 😊
Good wee radio James. Do you think you'll buy one?
I did consider buying one. I wouldn't rule it out.
I was actually given the option of buying the loan radio which you saw in this video but I declined because I really don't think I can justify it at the moment.
I've already got the Icom 705. That's on top of the two classics, the Icom 703 & Yaesu FT-857D (both of which I will be keeping as I can't bring myself to part with either of them). That's on top of the fairly significant sums of money which I've spent on my (now fairly high end) home shack comprising of a Flex 6600, Acom 1200S amplifier, antenna switching + control, upgrading antennas etc.
I'm also watching to see what the Xeigu X6200 is like when it gets released (although from what I'm hearing I think that's going to be a massive let-down).
I really like the look of the Lab599 TX-500, which I have been saving up to buy. I know the TX-500 has less power then the FX-4CR but it looks like a really good option as I want something a bit more rugged and water resistant than the Icom 705 (or any of my other radios for that matter) for use on wet SOTA summits in bad weather.
Having said that, I've now put that idea on hold with the announcement of the man-pack version of the TX-500, which looks like an extremely attractive proposition for SOTA.
If there weren't other options just about to hit the market I would have snapped up the FX-4CR when I had the chance. It is a great radio but I wanted to hold fire to see what else appears on the market.
If I had to buy a radio for SOTA today & it had to be something that was currently available on the market, I would probably buy the FX-4CR........probably in preference to the Icom 705 (and that's saying something).
It's just the other options coming to market in the near future which are making me hesitate.
I can't buy them all, realistically I have to choose just one!
Well said James.
I also want to see what the x6200 has to offer if it's going to be 20w then I am game. On a very big ask would like to see yaesu brings something to the table to replace the 817/8.
I like my 817 but not 100% will it. Only because I don't know it's past and if it's working to it's full capacity.
I have to choose wisely, as I am not tight, I am just skint. I run a family and have a small army of children.
I haven't done SOTA for over a year now due to availability with family and health. Hence why I've been looking for a one time buy shack, FT991a plus if needed, I can do a POTA or work from the car with it.
Great news regarding our TX power going up.
73
@@AmateurRadioUK if only the 705 had an internal tuner, it would be the perfect QRP portable radio! Everything has different elements, but not one radio has it all.
@theradiorover Agree that there's no perfect radio, partly because different people want different things. Your requirements may be different to mine.
For example, I really couldn't care less about a tuner because I use either an EFHW, 1/4 wave vertical or the Slidewinder loaded vertical. None of those antennas require a tuner.
On the other hand I have one big gripe with the 705. Being a portable/outdoor radio, I really wish the 705 had better waterproofing like the Lab 599.
Morning mate. Wow very impressive. Thanks for the info on the battery too. Just been doing some R&D on them to see if it would power a FT991a if i ever get one.
Great work horse that little radio.
How do you find the HAMRS app? I tried it ages ago but wasn't too sure with it for SOTA.
73
This battery should power the FT991a, no problems at all.
I use it to power my FT-857D, even up to the full 100 watts. It's what powered the FT-857D for the livestream when we did the trip to Packing Marsh Island. I was running 100 watts for that.
HAMRS app, I'm on the fence with. Fundamentally I like the layout and the way the app works, but:-
Unfortunately lacks WWFF logging. It had templates for SOTA, POTA & general logging.
If you don't have an internet connection or enter an incomplete callsign, it constantly throws up banners in the top corner of the screen telling you that it couldn't find any information for the callsign which you entered on the internet.......you can probably turn this off in the settings but I haven't yet figured out how.
@@AmateurRadioUK thanks for the info James I will put it on the ever long list.
For a home shack I will have to save for the following:
Ft991a
Power supply
Antenna (probably a DX commander to keep the foot print small. I hoped to of have one by now for the comp Callum did for the sticker. Am sure he said in one of his videos the winner would get the new expedition. I guess I won the comp as his sticker is using my comment 🤔🤷🏽)
Headset ( would like a heil )
As for logging on the fence. I have station master, log4om and n1mm on the laptop.
Then would probably need QRZ subscription to like my logbooks.
Last a lifepo4 battery.
Oh and may as well throw a set of side rails and a dust cover hihi.
If I said the above to the XYL then the response would be or you could put a deposit down for a family holiday 🤔
It soon adds up just like you with the ultra-shack.
It's a tricky one, as there never seems to be a perfect setup with all of it, but I guess it's hard to please everyone.
I was impressed what you did with the FX4 though. 👍🏽👍🏽💪🏽
Really enjoyed watching this, the antenna and radio doing an excellent job there ! Can I ask, what is your motorhome - i'm likely to swap out my aging mazda bongo and yours looks super comfy !
73 2E0FWE
The motorhome is a 2004 Renault Master. It's a converted minibus (technically partially completed as there's still a few things to do to it to make it suitable for touring).
To be brutally honest with you, it's a bit big for my use & it absolutely drinks diesel like there's no tomorrow. I'm actually thinking about putting it up for sale later this year!
Many thanks ! its a fine motorhome and looks super comfortable to operate on. I'm getting my bongo checked next month, think the cylinder head has gone on it (again) but its do so many miles, I wouldn't be suprised. My missus finds its uncomfortable anyhow, so am looking for something a little better and nice for me to do PoTA in as well. My other vehicile is an Jag xk8 (I'll have to put it in my next PoTA vid) still, its inspiring seeing you get out with these great radios !