Ham Radio - QRP Mega Watts with XIEGU XPA125
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ย. 2024
- The Xiegu Amplifier XPA125 enables QRP radios to generate 100W + from a relatively compact, and comprehensive, All-Mode amplifier/
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I have an ICOM 705 hooked to a XEIGU XP125B. Works OK. You have to run the amp in MANUAL mode, since currently there is not a band data cable that works between them.
You can make your own PTT line, or buy one from the "other" English Ham store.
The display is great. Tells you everything you might want to know. It is not a Elecraft KXPA100, but it doesn't cost 3 times as much.
Having a 100watt amp AND a 100 watt autotuner for around $550 USD is a good value.
Peter, I forgot to mention how much I enjoyed your monolog about 'Ham Radio Timelines' in the UK, I remember those transitions also (you forgot to mention NRD-2020 but I guess that fine radio company fell behind) the big 3)- I also fondly remember visiting 'Bandit Bill's establishment in Matlock numerous times and John Wilson was the engineer behind the 'Lowe Receivers' which have become a collectors item! 73 ega
Yes Bandit Bill is fondly remembered. In fact we ended up running a franchise there. Sadly Lowes went commercial only and then was sold off. 73 Peter.
I grabbed a Xiegu G90 last year during the Christmas sales and thoroughly enjoyed it. It did what I expected for the price break and got me back into HF in an affordable manner. That being said, the amplifier that you highlighted today is at far too high a price point to make me want to close the sale. At the price of the radio and the amp, it's very close to ICOM 7300 territory, which I ended up buying around March of last year. I'm afraid I haven't turned the G90 on since then, but it is sitting there for when the time comes and I decide to put it in my truck. If I want to do QRP, I can just turn my output down on the ICOM. If the amp were priced in the $200 to $250 price range I'd grab one just for fun, but in my ham forums I've seen far too many tales of woe concerning it to pay $500.
Many thanks for sharing your thoughts. 73 Peter
Great video. I have an Acom 1000 sitting ready to go, was a treat before Xmas but not being used yet (still 2E0). Just liked the idea of valves lol. But the point is that this small linear power amp looks great value, indeed the company appears to be producing product at amazing price points compared to usual suspects. I note your into music. I have a room full of synths by Moog et al. Then Behringer came along and made a copy of a Moog synth for about 1/10 of the price. For many synths fans this was a step too far, how dare they ! For others it brought the classic sounds if hardware to a point that many more could afford. There will always be some haters, but I have grown up (old) and it is progress. Indeed I have to admit most of my room of hardware can be emulated perfectly in software. Some of my most sophisticated synths are run on a computer now. And of course we now have SDR radio doing similar things! So I think good luck to progression and I look forward to the company producing many more amateur radio products and easier price points . Mark, 2E0MSR
Hi Mark, great to hear from you. Hope you oogn get the licence upgrade and enjoy that amplifier. Interesting about your synths. My main instrument was violin, but I had to give that up as I now have sight problems in reading music, I took up jazz drumming some ten years ago but my skilll on the keyboard is somewhat limited. All the gear I have is Korg, and although I use Logic Pro, I now rarely use any software instruments. Take care, 73 Peter.
New music. KOOL.
THE PA is going to be a must have.
According to a friend of mine from Taiwan, it's pronounced most closely by English speakers as: Zschīgu. She also said that it's unlikely that anybody will agree unless they actually speak the language lol.
Ah well, time will tell. 73 Peter
Hi Peter, Well you said (email) that you were looking at the XPA125B and, true to your word - look - like a rabbit out of a top-hat, there it is!
I am hoping that you can get your Southampton-Boys to fabricate that cable for the TX-500 (and the KX2) and give us all (read here 'the WORLD') a demonstration of those two aforementioned rigs working in 'real-time' - maybe from your back-yard, or at least your warm Conservatory!
It will make a nice accessory for many QRP Radios and it seems that a simple interface (maybe opto-isolated) would be adequate?
By the way, the TX-500 looks kinda odd sitting atop the amplifier and would probably fit better lengthways?
73 from Canada.
Thanks but cannot always perform that trick! 73 Peter
Nicely done, I was looking at the amp for my IC705. And it just might do the job. Thanks and 73... Vic de KE8JWE
Often, Chinese words with 'X' in are pronounced with a 'sshh', I believe Xiegu is "Shaygoo". Happy to be proved very wrong.
OK thanks. See if any other opinions. 73 Perer
Shee-goo.
I see you have a Korg Wavestate there! I also have one....
Thank you for the video.
Shee-goo
That seems to be the recommendation from most. 73 Peter.
From what I understand (my wife is Japanese so may not be exactly correct), the pronunciation is more like Shay-gu. I don' think we English speakers will every get it right. A bit like the tsu sound in Japanese lol.
Have trouble ordering General TSO Chicken ; ) I do not see the comparison (millennium difference) between Japanese Radios like ICOM IC-7300 or the amazing YAESU FTDX10 - NO Xiegu ; )
@@ouijim there's very little between any of the big brand radios today. They are all excellent and the Chinese are catching up fast too.
Just to underline the point I made. In early 1960s the Japanese gear was low cost, low performance copies of well established brands. Fast forward to 2020s - do you now see a similar pattern? Thanks guys. 63 Peter.
@@MrScotchpie I agree Japanese Radios are excellent as even low end YAESU FT-891 or ICOM IC-718 are refined form and function. Where Chinese radio are cheap stamped metal boxes with awful tiny screens (Xiegu G90) poorly designed SDR technology. I also think Xiegu is way overpriced at $450 for Xiegu G90 should be half that if you must have a cheap chinese radio. Yes I own all radios mentioned and would NOT buy another Xiegu G90, too many quirks.
As more SDR QRP rigs have appeared in recent years, I have wondered why this HF QRP rig plus linear combo approach has not been more popular. Is the ideal solution for manufacturers to make QRP transcievers as computer controlled boxes with no front panel but with front panel and linear available as optional extras (even allow the modules to be snapped together to form a conventional desktop rig if desired). You could even have other "bolt on" accessories such as a larger waterfall/control screen. This approach would perhaps cover the demands of most operators with one product line?
I suppose FlexRadio come closest to this. It does seem that the majority still prefer a box with knobs and switches. Maybe its an-age thing and youngsters will push for a change. 73 Peter.
Hi Guys do you know the procedure to reset the Xiegu XPA125b amp. I have found all the reset functions for all the Xiegu equipment except this any help appreciated
I'd like to see you pair it with the 705 and get your thoughts.
be interesting if we can get the connecting cables for KX3
I wonder how clean the output is ?
73 and thanks
Rob G3RCE
I had no way of checking it. It has CE and FCC and I could find no mention of user problems in this area. Thanks for watching. 73 Peter.
i now need to save up but I'm bit confused about whether shouuld by this or Elecraft KX3
Decided to share my experience with Xiegu XPA125 purchased from Radioddity USA. It arrived dead, no power, nothing. They have NO contact telephone in USA so after few days through email I was issued a RMA to return product. After waiting a week for product to get to return facility I was informed it was out of stock and my money was returned. No more communication that was it. I feel fortunate it went that well. I'll also add I am on second Xiegu G90 which came with same defect as the first one : ( Beware ; ) No more Xiegu for me : (
Sounds like the e dealer or importer did not help matters. Thanks fir sharing. 73 Peter.
As to the pronunciation, I tell people one of the features of the radio is that you can pronounce the name just about anyway you want to and you will still not be correct -- nor should you care. 8^)
Thanks John. 73 Peter
My former Chinese graduate students would say "SHAY-goo"....
I put Xiegu into google translate and it seems to pronounce it as "zie-gooh" (apparently it means sloping valley 😀)
Which propts the question how do you pronounce “zie”. - is it “zeee” or “zy”
@@watersstanton Ahh well it's Zi like Fi in Finance. 😀
I like the looks and quality of Xiegu.. but we unfortunately have other companies that are taking items like the German SDR radio and mass producing using other chips, etc, not as good as designed, and without the permission of the original designers, in an effort to make money in the QRP market, or entry HF market, but without doing any real design work..not too cool
Interesting. 73 Peter
I asked a Chinese friend about the pronunciation and what he said agrees with other posts on here......Shee gu or Shay gu
Thanks. 73 Peter
First View... Do I get a prize? ;-) Thanks for your videos! 73 DE W8LV BILL (W8LV/VE3 prepandemic)
Hi Bill, the prize this time was a bottle of wine which I unfortunately dropped! Thanks for watching. 73 Peter