It's a good day! Sure, I woke up to -6F with over a foot of snow still on the ground, but I found a new K4SWL activation video in my feed, I found myself first in the log, and I passed 1k hunted parks today! It's a good day! 73 de Brian - K3ES
There you go! :) I'll be the first to admit that I've grabbed a cuppa from store #1 last time I was in Seattle. Now to make a pilgrimage to Tom Bihn. That, sadly, couldn't fit in the schedule last time.
I’m learning CW and I love when I can see what you are writing in your log during the QSO. It helps me verify what I think I am hearing. I love your videos. I hope to work you on CW someday soon. -Joe N8JOE
I look forward to putting you in the logs, Joe! Give me a call next time I'm on the air. We'll work through the QSO together. BTW: I always try to show the log when I can. It can be challenging sometimes based on position of the sun, glare, my operating position, and the ability to position the camera correctly.
This is fun. I'm learning CW as well and trying to get my general class license. Xiegu is one of my considerations right now; could still go with Yaesu because of the lack of filters you mentioned.
KA6TVX just got back from an activation 13 contacts all 5 watts CW with my IC -705. Tomorrow I plan to go out to the same location with my Xiegu G90 ant compare results. Keep up the good work.
Hahaha, states "don't judge me" in reference to Starbucks coffee then proceeds to talk about the "amazing" artisan coffee roasters in the Asheville area. ; - ) 73 DE Gordon
Another great vid! Loved your comments about the x6100, only thing I'd add in the decision tree is to consider your operating style in the field. I you are a "search and pounce" operator the screen makes all the difference. If you are a "park and call" type, then I'd get consider something else. The receiver is just ok on the rig and with the BCI filter it is usable, but I'm not sure I'd recommend this as someone's only radio.
Ok...just watched your review. I purchased one from HRO 2 weeks ago. Your first mistake...you need to do all the firmware updates. If you don't, it has issues but these were addressed with the updates. I agree that the front end is pretty loose for a nearby AM station (50kw - 2 miles from my QTH) but...see below. I found a sweet spot for settings ... RF needs to be about 1/2 of full scale (approx 25)...NR needs to be on. I'm in CO and I've made contacts on every US coast, Canada and even Hawaii on just 5 watts. Even a POTA in VA using an FT818. This unit is impressive at this price point. Its not an IC705 or KX3 (I have both) but this thing does work IF you do firmware updates. Last update (1-17-22) resolved the voltage issue. Just a suggestion...if you are going to review a radio...please do the firmware updates and charge the batteries. 73
Yes, when I shot this video, a new firmware version had become available (it was shot a week before the Jan 17th firmware, though). The battery was chugging along fine, actually. I was shipping that radio the following day and since it's a Li-Ion battery, I wanted it below 30% charge. No better way to test the battery and the radio's ability to manage it than to operate from battery. I tend to test radios like this (and the X5105) by running them completely down and seeing how long the battery holds up.
Hi Thomas, where did you find that small coax at that length? I looked on the narrative section where you list the equipment, but it was not there. Tommy
Sorry about that: it's a 20' RG-316 cable terminated with BNC connectors. This one came from PackTenna, I believe. I've also purchased them from ABR Industries. Both are excellent quality.
So you can find details on the gear I used during this activation in my field report linked below. Typically when using the X6100, I use the internal battery. If I connect it to an external battery, that tens to be a 3Ah 12V LiFePo4 Bioenno battery and I simply use the cord supplied by Xiegu (I attach Powerpoles to mine).
I think the all in one radios should also include a panadapter or bandscope. Your criteria omitted that while including an ATU. I would suggest the Icom 705 is a great all in one radio if the operator values a top tier bandscope over a built in ATU. Just an alternative opinion as any of the radios you mention are also superb rigs.
Yeah, I may have forgotten to mention the ATU in the video. For me, to qualify as a shack in a box, the radio must have an internal battery and an internal ATU. It's even better when they have the ability to directly attach a paddle and/or an internal microphone.
I'll try to do that next time. It is a random wire antenna with an in-line 9:1 UNUN, so the SWR has everything to do with the ATU. The X6100 will achieve a near 1:1 match from 40 meters and up, no problem.
Hey Thomas…. My field tip is Medagalia D’Oro! An instant espresso coffee from Mexico. It’s my go to cup of Joe! I take it afield all the time, and being a coffee snob from Seattle, it’s nectar! I’d highly recommend taking a thermos of hot MD’O with heavy cream… yum! I’m also an Elecraft snob, so no comment on the deployment, but hey, to each his/her own. 72 de W7UDT Rand (dit dit)
Glad you had fun with the 6100, I am judging on the Starbucks though lol,I try to get local it at all possible. Also, I'm curious if the supply chain from China shutting down their ports again is effecting this radio.
Ha ha! Judge away! :) I was desperate for coffee--let's face it. We have some impressive roasters here int he Asheville area so I always feel like I'm selling out when I pay the Starbucks premium, yet get mediocre coffee. Supply chains are effecting everything.
Tom just received my cwmorse key and I like using it.Got it after seeing you use them.A good price and company.I wonder where you get your small dia coax runs.Love your videos and all the info you supply.keep up the great work.
Another great activation. but alas no Brass ring for me. I cud jst not hr enuf of you to call Tom. But none the less was in there listening and waiting to try. thanks for sharing. es 73 de Ellis WA1RKS
Finally got out yesterday to qrp Cw activation. Kx2 did wonderful. I wish ALL HUNTERS would move about 100hz off so we can get through the pileup easier. Man I had to ?? A guy 4x. My brain just blanked out haha. I was hoping to get a p2p with you but I just heard your chasers 🤦🏻
Yesterday the band was in poor shape--20M at least. I struggled to copy stations that normally aren't much of a problem. Thanks for trying to work me, though! It would have been great to do a P2P. Your site was probably a wee bit too close for 20M.
Is the G90 better with overloading? I found the G90 very good with handling strong close signals and of course it's 20 Watts very useful thanks Thomas de Rob G3RCE 73
I bought a Morgan broadcast band filter for my G90 at home because of problems with a local AM station and my 80m EFHW. Mainly a problem on 20m and higher. But in POTA activations in 75 parks with a 40m EFHW I've never yet needed it.
Thank you for that, Steve. I never had an issue with G90 overloading (that I recall) when I owned one. Keeping a bandpass filter on hand solves any potential issue. Great advice!
I use an arborist throw line. Typically, something like this: qrper.com/2020/09/a-field-antennas-best-friend-the-amazing-arborist-throw-line/ But in this case, it was my compact throw line kit with 2mm throw line.
PackTenna is very much a cottage manufacturer. They basically do production runs of inventory and, these days, tend to sell out quickly. The cool thing about their antennas is they're rated for up to 100W.
It's a good day! Sure, I woke up to -6F with over a foot of snow still on the ground, but I found a new K4SWL activation video in my feed, I found myself first in the log, and I passed 1k hunted parks today! It's a good day! 73 de Brian - K3ES
Woo hoo! 1K hunted parks? That's an impressive accomplishment, Brian! And thanks for the hunts, OM! Always good to put you in the logs.
Being from Seattle, I'm happy you support our local coffee shop, as well as our local bag manufacturer. ;)
There you go! :) I'll be the first to admit that I've grabbed a cuppa from store #1 last time I was in Seattle. Now to make a pilgrimage to Tom Bihn. That, sadly, couldn't fit in the schedule last time.
I’m learning CW and I love when I can see what you are writing in your log during the QSO. It helps me verify what I think I am hearing. I love your videos. I hope to work you on CW someday soon.
-Joe N8JOE
I look forward to putting you in the logs, Joe! Give me a call next time I'm on the air. We'll work through the QSO together. BTW: I always try to show the log when I can. It can be challenging sometimes based on position of the sun, glare, my operating position, and the ability to position the camera correctly.
This is fun. I'm learning CW as well and trying to get my general class license. Xiegu is one of my considerations right now; could still go with Yaesu because of the lack of filters you mentioned.
KA6TVX just got back from an activation 13 contacts all 5 watts CW with my IC -705. Tomorrow I plan to go out to the same location with my Xiegu G90 ant compare results. Keep up the good work.
Woo hoo! Let's us know how it goes.
Witherspoon...you have the gift of the gab LOL. Actually, I love the banter. Good video, thanks
😁
Hahaha, states "don't judge me" in reference to Starbucks coffee then proceeds to talk about the "amazing" artisan coffee roasters in the Asheville area. ; - ) 73 DE Gordon
Thanks for pointing that out, Gordon! ;-) Ha ha!
Original MCHF doesn't have tuner or battery on board, however there's some mods and additional boards to get these features.
Another great vid! Loved your comments about the x6100, only thing I'd add in the decision tree is to consider your operating style in the field. I you are a "search and pounce" operator the screen makes all the difference. If you are a "park and call" type, then I'd get consider something else. The receiver is just ok on the rig and with the BCI filter it is usable, but I'm not sure I'd recommend this as someone's only radio.
Good point!
I would love to see the 6100 and 5105 compared side by side to see if it warrants any upgrade. Excellent video as always.
I've put this video idea in my notes!
Ok...just watched your review. I purchased one from HRO 2 weeks ago. Your first mistake...you need to do all the firmware updates. If you don't, it has issues but these were addressed with the updates. I agree that the front end is pretty loose for a nearby AM station (50kw - 2 miles from my QTH) but...see below.
I found a sweet spot for settings ... RF needs to be about 1/2 of full scale (approx 25)...NR needs to be on.
I'm in CO and I've made contacts on every US coast, Canada and even Hawaii on just 5 watts. Even a POTA in VA using an FT818.
This unit is impressive at this price point. Its not an IC705 or KX3 (I have both) but this thing does work IF you do firmware updates. Last update (1-17-22) resolved the voltage issue.
Just a suggestion...if you are going to review a radio...please do the firmware updates and charge the batteries. 73
Yes, when I shot this video, a new firmware version had become available (it was shot a week before the Jan 17th firmware, though). The battery was chugging along fine, actually. I was shipping that radio the following day and since it's a Li-Ion battery, I wanted it below 30% charge. No better way to test the battery and the radio's ability to manage it than to operate from battery. I tend to test radios like this (and the X5105) by running them completely down and seeing how long the battery holds up.
Hi Thomas, where did you find that small coax at that length? I looked on the narrative section where you list the equipment, but it was not there. Tommy
Sorry about that: it's a 20' RG-316 cable terminated with BNC connectors. This one came from PackTenna, I believe. I've also purchased them from ABR Industries. Both are excellent quality.
Hi Thomas. I enjoyed your video. I'm still waiting for my Xiegu x6100 to arrive. What battery and cable do you use in the field?
So you can find details on the gear I used during this activation in my field report linked below.
Typically when using the X6100, I use the internal battery. If I connect it to an external battery, that tens to be a 3Ah 12V LiFePo4 Bioenno battery and I simply use the cord supplied by Xiegu (I attach Powerpoles to mine).
I think the all in one radios should also include a panadapter or bandscope. Your criteria omitted that while including an ATU. I would suggest the Icom 705 is a great all in one radio if the operator values a top tier bandscope over a built in ATU. Just an alternative opinion as any of the radios you mention are also superb rigs.
Yeah, I may have forgotten to mention the ATU in the video. For me, to qualify as a shack in a box, the radio must have an internal battery and an internal ATU. It's even better when they have the ability to directly attach a paddle and/or an internal microphone.
Excellent activation
Nice video.
I might have to get a 6100 one day….
Pleas show the swr of that antenna, it would be nice to see how it performed on different bands….👍🏼
I'll try to do that next time. It is a random wire antenna with an in-line 9:1 UNUN, so the SWR has everything to do with the ATU. The X6100 will achieve a near 1:1 match from 40 meters and up, no problem.
Hey Thomas…. My field tip is Medagalia D’Oro! An instant espresso coffee from Mexico. It’s my go to cup of Joe! I take it afield all the time, and being a coffee snob from Seattle, it’s nectar! I’d highly recommend taking a thermos of hot MD’O with heavy cream… yum!
I’m also an Elecraft snob, so no comment on the deployment, but hey, to each his/her own.
72 de W7UDT Rand (dit dit)
Medagalia D’Oro? Noted! :)
I'll often brew a cuppa Joe in the field, too. I especially like doing this on very rainy and/or cold days!
Glad you had fun with the 6100, I am judging on the Starbucks though lol,I try to get local it at all possible. Also, I'm curious if the supply chain from China shutting down their ports again is effecting this radio.
Ha ha! Judge away! :) I was desperate for coffee--let's face it. We have some impressive roasters here int he Asheville area so I always feel like I'm selling out when I pay the Starbucks premium, yet get mediocre coffee.
Supply chains are effecting everything.
Tom just received my cwmorse key and I like using it.Got it after seeing you use them.A good price and company.I wonder where you get your small dia coax runs.Love your videos and all the info you supply.keep up the great work.
I buy my RG-316 cable assemblies either from ABR Cables or PackTenna. Both have very high quality cables!
@@ThomasK4SWL Thanks Tom for the reply.Keep on QRPING.
Have the recent F/W upgrades improved your mediocre assessment of the 6100?
Not a lot yet. Battery life seems very marginally better.
I think you've convinced me that an external BCI filter is mandatory for the X6100.
It really is. Unless you know for a fact that you'll be far away from a broadcaster (not always easy to know), the BCI filter would help tremendously.
Another great activation. but alas no Brass ring for me. I cud jst not hr enuf of you to call Tom. But none the less was in there listening and waiting to try. thanks for sharing. es 73 de Ellis WA1RKS
Thank you for trying, Ellis!
Finally got out yesterday to qrp Cw activation. Kx2 did wonderful. I wish ALL HUNTERS would move about 100hz off so we can get through the pileup easier. Man I had to ?? A guy 4x. My brain just blanked out haha. I was hoping to get a p2p with you but I just heard your chasers 🤦🏻
Yesterday the band was in poor shape--20M at least. I struggled to copy stations that normally aren't much of a problem. Thanks for trying to work me, though! It would have been great to do a P2P. Your site was probably a wee bit too close for 20M.
Is the G90 better with overloading?
I found the G90 very good with handling strong close signals
and of course it's 20 Watts very useful
thanks Thomas de Rob G3RCE 73
I bought a Morgan broadcast band filter for my G90 at home because of problems with a local AM station and my 80m EFHW. Mainly a problem on 20m and higher. But in POTA activations in 75 parks with a 40m EFHW I've never yet needed it.
Thank you for that, Steve. I never had an issue with G90 overloading (that I recall) when I owned one. Keeping a bandpass filter on hand solves any potential issue. Great advice!
Thomas, what’s your method for getting the wire up in the tree?
I use an arborist throw line.
Typically, something like this:
qrper.com/2020/09/a-field-antennas-best-friend-the-amazing-arborist-throw-line/
But in this case, it was my compact throw line kit with 2mm throw line.
PackTenna is sold out of their antennas. I wonder if they will produce stock in the near future. Also, $90 for the random wire is a bit much.
PackTenna is very much a cottage manufacturer. They basically do production runs of inventory and, these days, tend to sell out quickly. The cool thing about their antennas is they're rated for up to 100W.
First! Of course....73 mate
Too bad UA-cam doesn't show down votes anymore.