3 Watts

[W2NBC]

Picture this:

Frequency: 3885, with static crashes from lightning somewhere..
Time: 6:35PM EST

Several stations, WA1HLR, WA2CYT, and others in a QSO..  Many miles north from New Jersey..

With 3 watts carrier output,  I made a "comment" to the group..

Success! All stations hearing my stock QRP transceiver (with audio fed into the back). It's an "Xiegu X108G", recently purchased on EBay from Trump's favorite trading partner..

Attached is an audio clip recorded "off air" into a dummy load..

QRP AM .. Fun stuff!

[W3RSW]

12 w pep , same as Anan 10.
Nice little rig ya got there.

[WA2SQQ]

Interesting - how much?

[KD6VXI]

I had brought this rig up about a year ago....  As a VFO!  Lol

Been hearing decent things about that radio. 

Not great, but decent.


--Shane
KD6VXI

[K1ETP]

Heard rumors that the audio is very susceptible to RF. Have you experienced any such problems over the air, Jeff?

Rich

[Pete, WA2CWA]

It only has a single conversion receiver and no AM filter. Don't know of any repair agency in the U. S. that will touch these if it needs repair.

If I was looking for a compact QRP-type rig, the Yaesu FT-817 would be my first choice. Double conversion receiver, 6 Khz AM receive, covers HF, 6M, 2M, and 420-450 MHz, lots of modes, loads of documentation, well supported,  and is on sale for $620. Chinese stuff is pretty, but generally low on value, performance, and support.

[Steve - K4HX]

Save a ton of money and get the IC-718. Want QRP, turn down the power. Easy road to hi-fi too.

http://amfone.net/Amforum/index.php?topic=35466.0


We used to mess with QRP AM late at night on 75 meters. It's amazing what one watt will do. Doing it at 6:35 PM is more difficult. Nice job Jeff.

[W2NBC]

 The interesting aspect (and the point of the post) is the "out of the box" excellent AM transmit quality which is unusual from a CHEAP imported transceiver (or most any transceiver).. The radio is NOT yet a well-refined box, and is a work in progress..

Rich, starting with the newer batch of radios from Xiegu, with serial numbers 1XX and later, the RF issues have been addressed, Apparently, the antenna connector to PC board had minimal contact in the first hardware versions.

Bob, depending on the vendor, the unit can be purchased in the $425 - $450 range.

Pete- The receiver is single conversion but is actually pretty capable.  The radio has 3 filters:  .5, 2.3. and 6 KHz for AM . In fact, the AM filter is wider than 6 KHz (more like 9) with pretty wide skirts..  Agreed that a Yaesu FT-817 is a far more capable and supported transceiver, no doubt! The only problem is,  a Western Electric carbon phone would sound better than an 817 on AM.

[W1AEX]

Jeff! That little thing shounds jush like a broadcash shtashun!

Rob W1AEX

[Pete, WA2CWA]

Pete- The receiver is single conversion but is actually pretty capable.  The radio has 3 filters:  .5, 2.3. and 6 KHz for AM . In fact, the AM filter is wider than 6 KHz (more like 9) with pretty wide skirts..  Agreed that a Yaesu FT-817 is a far more capable and supported transceiver, no doubt! The only problem is,  a Western Electric carbon phone would sound better than an 817 on AM.

I saw a demo of one in January of 2016 and it didn't have an AM filter you could switch too. There was only a filter for CW and SSB. Maybe it was an early model. Also, on this model, the noise blanker was ineffective, and when engaged, adjacent signals became more pronounced. I have yet to see any type of service manual or even a schematic for this rig. I wonder if it now has FCC approval. The one in January that I saw didn't have it.

[W2NBC]

 At least in mid-2015 it received Part 15 approval.. Maybe the vendor at the 'demo' had an old unit. The NB does not add discernable distortion or other products now (in this version) from adjacent signals in the passband.

[KA8WTK]

Sounds like they have come a long way from the X1M I had a couple of years back.
Does it cover all the ham bands on xmit? The X1M did not.

Bill KA8WTK

[n1exi]

i ran 4 watts for years with a modified dx60 and had great results - even worked into 6 land
greg - n1exi

[W1RKW]

a modified retro 75 will beat it hands down and that's without rack handles.

[KD6VXI]

a modified retro 75 will beat it hands down and that's without rack handles.

I'll take that bet.

Meet ya on 15 meters.....   😁  lol




--Shane
KD6VXI

[KB5MD]

As someone else once said, "Life is too short for QRP."  I like the bone crushers.

[KE5YTV]

You're darned right! I want to hear a clunk and see the lights dim.