Xiegu X6100 SSB with a dipole
Вставка
- Опубліковано 14 жов 2024
- The Xiegu X6100 and a dipole are all you need to make excellent QRP portable ham radio contacts around the world.
Hello Operators.
Short unedited Xiegu X6100 video review of the SSB capabilities, using the internal micriphone. I was operating QRP, SSB with PI4RS Radio Scouting club. the Xiegu x6100 SDR transceiver with the internal microphone, a diy LiFePO4 battery and a 60 watt PowerFilm solar panel. My antenna was an Off Center Fed Dipole from @Chameleon_Antenna which literally weighs nothing!
This QRP rig has been on on the bench testing for a while now. It is not perfect, but it is getting closer to being an excellent "budget friendly" QRP ham radio, with a few unexpected tricks up its sleeve.
73
Julian #oh8stn #hamradio
• Xiegu X6100 SSB with a...
______________________________________________________________________________-
Want something interesting to dive in to while waiting for the next video? Visit my blog and website: oh8stn.org
If you found this post useful, entertaining, inspiring, or educational, consider becoming a channel member, joining my patreon community, dropping a buck in the tip jar, or getting yourself some Anderson Powerpole gear on eBay. It also helps if you simply share this video with someone who will appreciate it.
Become a UA-cam channel member or join the patreon community, to get bonus videos and content before everyone else.
Join the OH8STN Patreon community: / oh8stn
Become a UA-cam channel member: oh8stn.net/3G8...
Add a few bucks to the kitty with PayPal: oh8stn.net/2ZG...
Support the channel while shopping on eBay: oh8stn.net/32D... Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
Tnx for posting, not heard myself this way before. Kiitos, Erwin PA3EFR
Gotta say, that CQ at the end was rather heartwarming. Love the video too.
Indeed. Slso had a QSO with her with my other callsign. They were a great crew to work.
73
Julian oh8stn
Absolutely awesome 👏 can’t wait to see you do more with the radio
Just got one of these myself and it crashed within the first hour of fooling around with it, having to do a firmware update to bring it back to life. I've got that armbian running on mine, and have successfully got WSJT-X and JS8Call running and transmitting by looping the USB-C ports. I can't take the onboard linux stuff out portable just yet, but I'll have that sorted very soon! With all the quirks and issues this radio has, there is no other radio, to my knowledge, that can do built in WSJT-X/JS8Call. For the price I am very happy with it - hopefully you will like it too.
I think this is the first video I've seen with someone using the internal microphone, which is one of the reasons I like this radio.
This is good news. It's nice to see my buddies jumping on board. You're probably right! Haven't seen any other radio with this capability. This has always been the Holy Grail. Hope you're doing well old buddy.
That's a cool little radio! I didn't know it has a PTT button and a microphone built in. COOL!
Nice! Yes, the Dutch scouts are more and more in to HAM. I hope to hear them sometime on 40 meter inside of NL.
Indeed. It was a pleasure to work them. Even more so when the operator wasn't annoyed by my rambling. It is excellent seeing these youths on the air.
73
Julian oh8stn
My ears like the audio output on this radio. I’m sure it’s even better in person. It has a marine radio quality to it.
Yeah the audio is great. I'm not sure how they do it with such a small speaker element, but it is pleasant to listen to.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
73
Julian oh8stn
Nice and clear audio of your QSO
Thanks. The x6100 has great audio. The recording was done with e DJI Osmo mobile using its internal microphone. No compression or filtering in post production.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
73
Julian oh8stn
Batteries have improved a lot today, there should be no reason it can't provide the full 10 watts via the internal battery even if it reduces operating time.
Wire antennas are good for NVIS which makes better use of the low power when you want to make contacts.
I made a contact from Ireland to Canada with a 935C loop tuner with 13 feet of 10mm soft copper bent into a loop with just 20 watts. I put the video up on my youtube channel. I was amazed and the loop was only a few feet off the ground. I must experiment more with it.
I made contacts around Europe with just 7 feet of loop on 20m and 50 Watts. I didn't try for any DX that time as I brought the Loop and radio to a friends house to show it working but it really can handle 100 Watts SSB no problem.
The MFJ 935C Loop Tuner is very interesting to experiment with, I only used it a couple of times but I really must set it up over the weekend and make some contacts.
Sounds like you're having a blast. The MFJ 935C Loop Tuner was interesting but I really wanted a traditional magnetic loop. One thing I would try with the MFJ is feeding a full wave delta loop, just to see how it works out. The power handling is indeed very nice.
Thanks for watching adn sharing your stories.
73
Julian oh8stn
@@OH8STN That's not a bad idea Julian, thanks. Definitely impressed by it's performance for something 3 feet off the ground. If you go into my channel you should see the video.
A traditional loop is more compact and convenient for the out doors for sure. I was definitely impressed at how I could get out with the MFJ 935C to Canada and only 20W from Ireland but that was using 10mm soft copper with a 4 meter circumference as MFJ indicated was the most efficient for 20m, smaller than your traditional Mag loop but still impressive for 4 meters of copper 3 feet off the ground.
I would love to see more videos on the 6100.
Incoming 👍
@@OH8STNis there a full review of this?
That was pretty cool
53 years old very young Julian congratulation
Thanks. Sometimes I feel older, sometimes younger. Just have to keep moving forward.
73
Julian oh8stn
great real time experience Julian, 73
Thanks. Was a fun QSO.
73
Julian oh8stn
Very nice! You are running great QRP configuration for portable operation. 73 de LZ3AW
Great Julian! Nice to hear, that you have QSO with young scouts. Working portable is much more fun than QRO from home (I prefer to have 705 at large, than to spend time with my 1.2kW QRO station contest station and hexbeam)
I completely agree with you. The 705 is a brilliant radio and the one which I use the most. Having a chance to test this one with the Dutch Scouts was also a pleasure. Thanks for the comment and for watching. Greatly appreciated.
73
Julian oh8stn
I am 11 years older and he called you OLD MAN! Dang!
I took it as a sign of respect😂👍
Not only CE Operators
@Dmr Brc Yes Sir it does, I was making an apparent poor attempt at humor. Thank you and 73!
BE AWARE: Later (current) versions of the x6100 have a problem with the internal microphone - it sounds poor, and only just "works" around a gain of 30-35. Any more and the audio disappears completely. I solved the problem by making a small plug in microphone that plugs into to the RJ45 socket, hence bypassing the internal microphone all together, without loosing the "handheld" capability of this radio. I love my X6100, even more than my IC-705, but it does have this late production internal mic problem unfortunately. So just be aware of that! It is still the most fun portable HF I have used (I have many different QRP rigs to compare it with!) 73
GREAT video, as always, Julian. Soooooo, I know you have the IC-705 and love it. I completely agree with you that it's the "Swiss Army Knife" of ham radio. For the operator who has neither the IC-705 nor the X6100... what would your advice be? I already have the IC-705.... and think I'll stand pat. But at a recent trip to the nearest HRO store, I saw the X6100 in person. Dynamite form factor, PLUS a tuner. At the price, it's a compelling package. Again, always love your vids! 73, Tim KD9LAI.
I'm trying to decide my self. I really would like some kind of tuner even though we have a rigexpert stick, just like pushing the button. Come on Icom why no tuner?
Fantastic
Nice............
Thanks for watching
73
Julian oh8stn
I'm so torn. An ATU seems like a great thing in the field, but the icom 705 is so great for digital in a box. Tough decisions.
The 705 is the better radio. The x6100 is smaller but less refined.
I want to go off grid I'm thinking 100 ah battery , 40 Amp charge controller and 200 watt panel.
Sounds like a great place to start.
IMHO, we all need to have some off-grid capabilities. Even if we can't get entirely off-grid, light, some power and the ability to charge our gear is useful.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
73
Julian oh8stn
Julian I see this radio has wifi and bluetooth can It connect to a laptop or tablet wirelessly like the icom 705 can?
Hi Mike. Not like the 705 but theoretically speaking, it should. This part of the functionality is underdeveloped sadly.
Satellite phones, or starlink.
Here's a good video ua-cam.com/video/saTV4jpAAvQ/v-deo.html
Just curious what is your internal mic gain level thx
I-Mic is set to 10.
73
Julian oh8stn
Later (current) versions of the x6100 have a problem with the internal microphone - it sounds poor, and only just "works" around a gain of 30-35. Any more and the audio disappears completely. I solved the problem by making a small plug in microphone that plugs into to the RJ45 socket, hence bypassing the internal microphone all together, without loosing the "handheld" capability of this radio. I love my X6100 , even more than my IC-705, but it does have this late production internal mic problem unfortunately.
How would you compare this with the x5105?
Exponentially better. 10 watts, spectral display, internal audio and Cat control interface over a single USB port. The x5105 has a better daytime readable screen although it's not color.
@@OH8STN Awesome! Thanks for the quick response