Author Archive
Second batch Xiego X-108 Radio debut, well almost
December 24th, 2014 | 
Author: X108 HF Radio Second run
Those who have already received the updated radio say it is like night and day between the first batch and the second. Audio on SSB is much cleaner and clearer and the over-driving of the front end has been fixed. AM is also much better sounding according to those using the radio.
The firmware has been changed as well so the microphone buttons can be programmed by the end user to their choice and option for buttons on the microphone, as well a cw side-tone volume control has been added into the menu options.
So see what the mailman brings on Wednesday, if nothing I will update my blog once the radio arrives and load some videos to my YouTube Channel of its performance.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year one and all.
Fred
VE3FAL
TJ5A on air QRP and 3 great QSO’s at 5 watts
So this afternoon I was playing with the YouKits TJ5A Hf Transceiver running 5 watts and using my Chameleon Hy-Brid up on a 15′ pole feeding coax to my shack and running about 135′ of wire across the yard with far end up 20′ in the air. The base of the Hy-Brid and pole are grounded with a ground rod.
I called cq on 21.050 after watching the RBN to see where I was being heard, I was pleasantly surprised to hear Ted in Stockton,ME SKCC#1312 call me, he gave me a 579 with my 5 watts. QSB came in as we finished our exchange.
Then out of the blue I heard KZ5OM Jerry SKCC#10415S in California, Jerry was a 339 and he gave me a 569 and then QSB took us both down.
I then went to 20 meters and tuned the antenna and was called by Rich K4DJ in N.C., he is SKCC#11060S, he was a 569 and I was a 459 so not too bad at all..
The Hy-Brid tunes super for me and I use this set up on 160 meters as well.
Giving the new TJ5A a workout and I can say that the power stays solid and does not move and it receives very well without the filter, will be a great test when filter is installed.
Thanks to the 3 operators, Ted, Jerry and Rich for a great hour on the air.
Fred
VE3FAL
SKCC#50
PSK on 20 meters today
Turned the PRC-104 on today while I was out and left it on spotting signals.
I was using a 3 element yagi pointed South during the 6 hour period.
The radio in use was my PRC-104 military manpack using a signalink USB and Acer notebook.
The following screenshots show the stations that were heard at my location in EN58hh, or Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Xiegu X108 comparisons against other receivers
Playing around with the X108 I decided to make a few comparisons against a few of my other receivers.
In the comparisons I have used the following:
Yaesu Vertex VX1700 with no extra filters: http://youtu.be/bJ_VN7S1PHM
YouKits TJ5A 4 band 20 watt transceiver: http://youtu.be/AAdPPSfl6co
The TJ5A is about 200hz low from the listed W1AW/KP2 DxSummit frequency and that on the VX1700 and X108, but the TJ5A has very little to no background noise and AGC works well.
Antenna was same antenna for all comparisons a OCF Windom for 80-10 at 30′
Fred
VE3FAL
X108 on AM, well maybe not
X108 for Shortwave or AM listening
Ok thought I would do some shortwave listening and see how the radio performed on the AM broadcast band.
I first tuned to AM, entered the frequency of 6.000 via the microphone key pad(very cool) to listen to Radio Havana Cuba, adjusted the filters to ATTEMPT to hear the station, 15khz no go, 2.3khz no go and .5khz of course a write off. Tuned around a bit through LSB/USB and found the station was much more intelligible in USB mode.
So I figured I might as well go to 890 WLS Chicago since they have always boomed into Thunder Bay like a local station, same as 650. Anyway, was in AM at 15k on filter and could hardly make out the station, flipped through sidebands and found USB and 2.3k filter was most pleasant for listening to AM. So as a GC receiver the radio needs some work, AM should be one of the easiest modes to perfect. I will make a video of tuning in WLS and post to YouTube.
Fred
VE3FAL
X108 First Impressions
First off I want to thank Ed (Import Communications) for his patience and time with the arrival, shipment and many questions he has been asked about the X108.
Mine arrived yesterday and was packed well. The radio requires no building at all and came assembled with handles attached, power cable and USB cable and microphone.
The power connector is very small, short wires and no fuse, this would be first thing that I would change out. The other problem I have is the antenna connector, i wish all radio makers would use the BNC to prevent cross threading, cheap ends etc..
The radio display looks good, but for some of the display I need my magnifying cheaters on, but for the better part very nice.
The microphone has multifunction’s like band select, last frequency, and a whole lot more.
I made a contact on SSB on 18 megs with my windom and 10 watts into TX last night, I got a 5×4 and peaked a 5×6, audio report was good as per the chap on the other end.
This morning a made a SKCC qso on 40 meters at 1204z with a member down in Alabama, I was running 5 watts and got a 579 with Bill.
I find one does not need or require the PREAMP, I find the radio is sensitive enough and picks up stations and then some that my VX1700 does not hear, receive is fairly quiet. I need to play a bit more with the ATT as well, I can hear some slight ghosting of the very strong stations from time to time when tuning.
Have used HRD and FLDIGI/FLRIG using the IC718 settings and been able to copy psk using just the audio out jack on the back of the radio and using microphone in on netbook. Need a cable now for PTT and transmit for digital modes. CAT control seems to work well and fast.
Power output is stable on this radio, measured into a digital meter and attached a dummy load I get the following:(using cw to key rig)
160 meters 10 w
80 meter 15 w
40,30,20,17,15,12,10 18 w
Have not checked current draw yet, but I can tell you that in a dead keydown on 80 meters I popped a 5 a fuse in my power bar.
I also have yet to check out the keyer portion of the rig to see how that works, for now just trying to get to know the rig.
Looking forward to hearing from others who have received their X108’s and what their thoughts are.
Fred VE3FAL
Jamboree On The Air 2014 or J.O.T.A. 2014
City Lights in back and fire
Daytime View from Operating Position
Inside Operations Tent, this is Carl VE3DG
This weekend was JOTA, and this was the 17th year that Gary VE3ODE, Carl VE3DG and myself Fred VE3FAL have put JOTA on for some of the Otters,Beavers and Scouts in the rural area of Thunder Bay. Each year is a new location with which involves a hike and radio operations. This year we were in Oliver Paipoonge at Scouter Jerry’s home location, on his 90 acre property he has a hilltop with trails right to the top, it is about a 20 minute hike up with a backpack. Gary an I hauled our gear up in a buggy I made with gear in a tote, took us about 45 minutes to get the stuff up. A hike was done in the afternoon by the Otters and Beavers and the Scouts spend the night as well, so in our tents we braved the -2c temperatures once again, this morning though was only thick frost and no snow.
For the Otters I put on one of my manpack radios and went down the trail to talk with them, we used an open 10 meter frequency and answered many of their questions and explained how amateur radio worked. The Beavers made a few contacts with various stations around the country. The Scouts also worked stations from Coast to Coast with the best contact being into Saskatchewan with clear signals in the evening on 20 meters.
We were operating a Icom-703 at 10 watts into a windom antenna, it worked very good and of course running on battery power the entire weekend.
Campfire building skills were also part of the day and so were opening and closing ceremonies.
In total over the 2 days we had 17 participants as well as parents and leaders at the site.
Many thanks to Scouter Jerry and his family, Scouter James, Gary, Carl and the rest of the gang for a great spot and good weekend.
