Thanks for the testIng. Nicely done. It is not a Yaesu 818ND which is over 5x the price. But for a $120 HF multi mode transceiver, this does not look all that bad.
Would be very interesting to see this test repeated with the (tr)usdx rig. The SSB TX distortion is it seems a limitation of the design, not a flaw in Chinese units.
I'm playing with another version of the same design & am suitably impressed. I had a previous "brick"/controls-on-top model that proved interesting but needed some, well, work. This uSDX+ looks interesting & I may yet spring for one once we get past the Gringo Christmas infatuation. Having the battery built in is a pretty spiffy idea. One less thing to drag to SOTA/POTA activations ;-) Thanks for the video. Looking foward to your videos on the spectral purity & whatever else you find interesting. 73 & stay safe & well de W8IJN
I heard from Tech Minds that, at least on his unit, the received audio was terrible via some type of distortion or interference and that the carrier was not filtered out of SSB.
@@PremMenon I hope so. You might want to take a look at his video. It's one year old too. I don't know how he actually tested the received audio. I was thinking transmitt into a dummy load might do the trick with a receiver nearby else serious attenuator. Any way, 73 from kc2wvb here in the Catskill mountains.
@@migalito1955 thank you! Yes, I will. Two streets away I have a ham friend. I did my on-air tests with him, and thereafter did have QSOs with other stations. SSB tx audio is definitely not its forte. CW, yes! Anyway, planning to QRP from the Grand Canyon this Christmas day....that is, if our flight doesn't get affected by this ongoing storm. GL and 73! VA3UMA.
Hi Prem, Have you noticed voice distortion or carrier being transmitted just under the voice when using SSB? I currently have thw micro sdx and it makes my voice sound robotic. . Thanks for your video. Cheers
Hi! Thanks for checking out my video. I'm not sure why your audio sounds robotic. My TX audio is okay as some friends recorded my QSO. Carrier is suppressed well enough, and no distortion..... although the rig is best suited for CW. I need to dig into the circuit. It has been a while.... 73!
3 ปีที่แล้ว +4
Hello and greetings from Portugal. I have the same radio "v2 upgraded" version as yours. I have the same bug as you. I was able to work around it same as you. My 40m band only TX around 3.5W with 13.8v, but if I go down to 6.7MHz I get 5W, around 6.9MHz around 4W. Do you think I can tweak the pass-band filter inside? Did you had the chance to open it and see the board inside? Cheers! 73 de Luís, CT2FZI
Hello Luis! Greetings to you from Canada! Thanks for checking out my video. Yes, I opened it, and here's a clip of that: th-cam.com/video/kWj0ernFOHY/w-d-xo.html It's unfortunate you are getting a little lower power. Personally, I'd leave it as is if the output is clean. The Torroids are stuck to the PCB with glue. Not too difficult, but, yes, it can be "adjusted" for best performance if you have something to measure. 73.
3 ปีที่แล้ว +1
@@PremMenon Hi and thanks for the fast reply! I was able to see your other videos. I understand what you are saying about clean output vs tx power. I may have to try another power meter to be sure its not something related with sensitivity, I will build one and check real power. But I suspect I have low TX power on 40m...
@ Hi Luis, please check Menu#8.2 value. Mine it is 140. Some rigs have 128. Lower number gives lower output, but at the moment I do not know/have the exact procedure to check and adjust this value.
3 ปีที่แล้ว +1
@@PremMenon Hi and thanks for the heads up. I have 140 same as yours. After some tweaking on the pass-band filters and changing the cables and connectors I was able to get > 5W on all bands. 18MHz, 21MHz 6W. Still clean TX as measured on my TinySA. So I guess I will keep it, 5W solid on all bands. Its just too bad this firmware version does not have SWR meter, one must be really careful with SWR.
Prem.. thanks for the great video. Do you or anyone know what type cable is needed for CAT to USB PC? Any inro on a Manual? my 12 year old purchased one and heeds help Thanks 73..Greg
Thanks for checking out my video, and for your comment Greg. Nice to know your 12 year harmonic is into HAM radio. A dying hobby - with all the online gaming 😭 I'm afraid I'm not in a position to give you a "for sure" help with that CAT....coz I don't use. Besides, I believe it depends on the interface on the radio. Here is a reference - to begin with. Call them and ask: HRO (hamradio dot com) - West mountain USB to CAT 58247-1735. $79.95. Give your radio model, and I'm sure they'll have the right cable/interface shipped to you. GL and 73! Prem.
They are shipping to US and Europe only these days. I placed orders with 3 suppliers, all got refunded. How do you find the TX audio, some people say it's scratchy.
Don't build, and don't buy if SSB is the main interest. Tx audio not good. Rig is good for CW use. There are better and cheaper options for SSB. uSDx is definitely not a SSB rig. Hope this helps. GL and 73.
Hi Mike! Thanks for the info/feedback. That's awesome! I guess the power o/p is not consistent with these boards. I have 2 boards, and both behave differently. 73.
Unfortunately no. There are better and more forgiving options for a new ham. The class E amp used in this design can be a pain - if the antenna is not matched correctly. However, if all variables are favorable, then, only then, this design is okay. Very low power consumption. Low weight. Very portable. If you have the budget, go for an ICOM 705.
@@PremMenon Yes the ICOM 705 or lab599 TX-500 seem to be the ideal radios for me, but they are mighty pricey. Especially when I don't know if this hobby is for me. Maybe I'll try a Xiegu g90. Anyway, thanks for the info!
If I had the money, it's IC-705. Don't like the hobby? chances are it'll hold its value...going by the good name ICOM QRPs have. I still have my old IC-703+. Good luck. I guess it's not too early to say "seasons greetings!"
@@Balthezar The G90 is a good radio but you have to be careful to not have RF in the operationg situation. I blew up the keying line resistors with too much RF in the shack. If you're just getting into ham radio, well, I'd look for a used radio first & see if you want to spend more later ;-) I've been playing radio for nearly 60 years and have had off and on times. Too many other distractions. Stay safe & sane! 73 de W8IJN
@@haramanggapuja thanks for the advice. Currently waiting for the g90 to be delivered to me. I have a 1:1 unun for a dipole and a qrpguys efhw to hook up to it!
Well, unauthorized Chinese copies use to have such bugs… what was the span you used on the spectrum analyzer? I saw much worst results with other uSDX rigs from China, but I ran my test with at least 50MHz span
Thanks for checking out my video. I guess even I must have used a span of around 50MHz. It's been a while....but from the video it seems close to that.... The bug is now resolved with a FW mod. Yes! The output spectrum is not bad. It's better than what I've seen on the "brick" model. 73!
Hi Prem, I'm from Canada too. I ordered mine today and I'm looking for manual/datasheet. Do you have any link from what I can get info? Thank you for your excellent video. -- 73
Hello Alain! Thanks for checking out my video. The "user manual" for the standard uSDX works perfectly well for this. No change. If any issues we can connect by mail. I think you know how to get my email 😀. Shipping did not take long. Less than 12 days. 73!
@@alaintheroux7815 Hi Alain, just a heads-up. After receiving your rig, you may want to do this mod I just now posted: th-cam.com/video/AHqQjbusj8A/w-d-xo.html
@@PremMenon , I watched the video but it looks like the problem description is missing at the beginning of the video. It is not clear what was the problem. Thanks
Hey Charu! We meet again! I was in touch with you when I was in Qatar. Remember the Mizuho 9MHz IF board? 😀 No, customs fee was waived for this. Zero fee.
It seems like a dream > no way to connect paddle, bad output sigs (see your measurement of the fundamental on analyzer on some of bands!), bug in f/w and band switching issue... wow, great to waste another money...! Many thanks for your effort to show that crap.
Please check out the same measurements done using a TinySa: th-cam.com/video/v77xoeYbbJ8/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for a useful test, power levels and harmonics better than I was expecting!
Thanks for checking my video, Paul! Greetings and 73 from VA3UMA
Thanks for the testIng. Nicely done. It is not a Yaesu 818ND which is over 5x the price. But for a $120 HF multi mode transceiver, this does not look all that bad.
Thanks for checking out my video. Yes, not a Yaesu; not an Icom 703+ (my favorite QRP), but okay for the $. Something to play and learn. 73.
Would be very interesting to see this test repeated with the (tr)usdx rig. The SSB TX distortion is it seems a limitation of the design, not a flaw in Chinese units.
Yes, agree. A limitation; not a flaw.
At present I am attending to other priorities (and travelling). Will try testing/documenting the (tr)uSDx soon.
@@PremMenon I will look forward to watching your (tr)usdx review, 73
@@robc3863 73 Rob!
I'm playing with another version of the same design & am suitably impressed. I had a previous "brick"/controls-on-top model that proved interesting but needed some, well, work. This uSDX+ looks interesting & I may yet spring for one once we get past the Gringo Christmas infatuation. Having the battery built in is a pretty spiffy idea. One less thing to drag to SOTA/POTA activations ;-) Thanks for the video. Looking foward to your videos on the spectral purity & whatever else you find interesting. 73 & stay safe & well de W8IJN
Thanks for checking out my video, Nils! 73.
I heard from Tech Minds that, at least on his unit, the received audio was terrible via some type of distortion or interference and that the carrier was not filtered out of SSB.
Okay. Thanks for that info. Probably that fault is unique to his unit.
@@PremMenon I hope so. You might want to take a look at his video. It's one year old too. I don't know how he actually tested the received audio. I was thinking transmitt into a dummy load might do the trick with a receiver nearby else serious attenuator.
Any way, 73 from kc2wvb here in the Catskill mountains.
@@migalito1955 thank you! Yes, I will. Two streets away I have a ham friend. I did my on-air tests with him, and thereafter did have QSOs with other stations. SSB tx audio is definitely not its forte. CW, yes!
Anyway, planning to QRP from the Grand Canyon this Christmas day....that is, if our flight doesn't get affected by this ongoing storm. GL and 73! VA3UMA.
Wow very professional review thank you for sharing WP3VU
Thank you, Luis! 73.
Hi Prem, Have you noticed voice distortion or carrier being transmitted just under the voice when using SSB? I currently have thw micro sdx and it makes my voice sound robotic. . Thanks for your video. Cheers
Hi! Thanks for checking out my video. I'm not sure why your audio sounds robotic. My TX audio is okay as some friends recorded my QSO. Carrier is suppressed well enough, and no distortion..... although the rig is best suited for CW. I need to dig into the circuit. It has been a while.... 73!
Hello and greetings from Portugal. I have the same radio "v2 upgraded" version as yours.
I have the same bug as you. I was able to work around it same as you.
My 40m band only TX around 3.5W with 13.8v, but if I go down to 6.7MHz I get 5W, around 6.9MHz around 4W. Do you think I can tweak the pass-band filter inside?
Did you had the chance to open it and see the board inside?
Cheers!
73 de Luís, CT2FZI
Hello Luis! Greetings to you from Canada! Thanks for checking out my video. Yes, I opened it, and here's a clip of that: th-cam.com/video/kWj0ernFOHY/w-d-xo.html
It's unfortunate you are getting a little lower power. Personally, I'd leave it as is if the output is clean. The Torroids are stuck to the PCB with glue. Not too difficult, but, yes, it can be "adjusted" for best performance if you have something to measure. 73.
@@PremMenon Hi and thanks for the fast reply! I was able to see your other videos. I understand what you are saying about clean output vs tx power. I may have to try another power meter to be sure its not something related with sensitivity, I will build one and check real power. But I suspect I have low TX power on 40m...
@ Hi Luis, please check Menu#8.2 value. Mine it is 140. Some rigs have 128. Lower number gives lower output, but at the moment I do not know/have the exact procedure to check and adjust this value.
@@PremMenon Hi and thanks for the heads up. I have 140 same as yours. After some tweaking on the pass-band filters and changing the cables and connectors I was able to get > 5W on all bands. 18MHz, 21MHz 6W. Still clean TX as measured on my TinySA. So I guess I will keep it, 5W solid on all bands. Its just too bad this firmware version does not have SWR meter, one must be really careful with SWR.
Hello, I am using the same device. Have you already worked with it on 45m (EC) ssb qso? It works great also as a ssb-CB rig.... 73
Not a bad radio for the price, Wonder if some of the problems you were seeing were "Software issues?"
Thanks for checking it out, Rohn! Mostly hardware/design. Yes, great radio of what it cost. 73, va3uma.
Prem.. thanks for the great video. Do you or anyone know what type cable is needed for CAT to USB PC? Any inro on a Manual? my 12 year old purchased one and heeds help Thanks 73..Greg
Thanks for checking out my video, and for your comment Greg. Nice to know your 12 year harmonic is into HAM radio. A dying hobby - with all the online gaming 😭
I'm afraid I'm not in a position to give you a "for sure" help with that CAT....coz I don't use.
Besides, I believe it depends on the interface on the radio. Here is a reference - to begin with. Call them and ask: HRO (hamradio dot com) - West mountain USB to CAT 58247-1735.
$79.95.
Give your radio model, and I'm sure they'll have the right cable/interface shipped to you. GL and 73! Prem.
They are shipping to US and Europe only these days. I placed orders with 3 suppliers, all got refunded. How do you find the TX audio, some people say it's scratchy.
Don't build, and don't buy if SSB is the main interest. Tx audio not good. Rig is good for CW use. There are better and cheaper options for SSB. uSDx is definitely not a SSB rig. Hope this helps. GL and 73.
@@PremMenon thanks very much for the details. 73
I have one and the max power I get is 1.8 watts and that’s when connected to 13.8 volts.
Hi Mike! Thanks for the info/feedback. That's awesome! I guess the power o/p is not consistent with these boards. I have 2 boards, and both behave differently. 73.
Would you recommend this radio to a new ham getting into HF? I'm interested in QRP digital modes specifically. Thanks!
Unfortunately no. There are better and more forgiving options for a new ham. The class E amp used in this design can be a pain - if the antenna is not matched correctly. However, if all variables are favorable, then, only then, this design is okay. Very low power consumption. Low weight. Very portable. If you have the budget, go for an ICOM 705.
@@PremMenon Yes the ICOM 705 or lab599 TX-500 seem to be the ideal radios for me, but they are mighty pricey. Especially when I don't know if this hobby is for me. Maybe I'll try a Xiegu g90. Anyway, thanks for the info!
If I had the money, it's IC-705. Don't like the hobby? chances are it'll hold its value...going by the good name ICOM QRPs have. I still have my old IC-703+.
Good luck. I guess it's not too early to say "seasons greetings!"
@@Balthezar The G90 is a good radio but you have to be careful to not have RF in the operationg situation. I blew up the keying line resistors with too much RF in the shack. If you're just getting into ham radio, well, I'd look for a used radio first & see if you want to spend more later ;-) I've been playing radio for nearly 60 years and have had off and on times. Too many other distractions. Stay safe & sane! 73 de W8IJN
@@haramanggapuja thanks for the advice. Currently waiting for the g90 to be delivered to me. I have a 1:1 unun for a dipole and a qrpguys efhw to hook up to it!
Well, unauthorized Chinese copies use to have such bugs… what was the span you used on the spectrum analyzer? I saw much worst results with other uSDX rigs from China, but I ran my test with at least 50MHz span
Thanks for checking out my video. I guess even I must have used a span of around 50MHz. It's been a while....but from the video it seems close to that....
The bug is now resolved with a FW mod. Yes! The output spectrum is not bad. It's better than what I've seen on the "brick" model. 73!
Hi Prem, I'm from Canada too. I ordered mine today and I'm looking for manual/datasheet. Do you have any link from what I can get info? Thank you for your excellent video. -- 73
Hello Alain! Thanks for checking out my video. The "user manual" for the standard uSDX works perfectly well for this. No change. If any issues we can connect by mail. I think you know how to get my email 😀. Shipping did not take long. Less than 12 days. 73!
@@PremMenon , Thanks for your fast answer. Hope meet you on the air
@@alaintheroux7815 Hi Alain, just a heads-up. After receiving your rig, you may want to do this mod I just now posted: th-cam.com/video/AHqQjbusj8A/w-d-xo.html
@@PremMenon ,I will look at it and give you feedback. Thank you very much. 73
@@PremMenon , I watched the video but it looks like the problem description is missing at the beginning of the video. It is not clear what was the problem. Thanks
how much duty you paid for this product Import ?
Hey Charu! We meet again! I was in touch with you when I was in Qatar. Remember the Mizuho 9MHz IF board? 😀
No, customs fee was waived for this. Zero fee.
how did you do it can you share with me , thank you
I didn't understand your question. How did I do what? Please rephrase your question. Thanks for checking out my video.
@Prem From where to Buy this Radio...wht is the cost.
Gaurav, Search in Ali Express. There are many sellers. Depending on the seller, costs anywhere from US$70 to $130.
@@PremMenon Aliexpress is out of bounds and its access is banned in India. Any other source you cud recommend Sir
@@gaurav279 Gaurav, yes, my friends in Bangalore informed me about the restrictions. Too bad. No, that's the only source I know of.
Thank you !
It seems like a dream > no way to connect paddle, bad output sigs (see your measurement of the fundamental on analyzer on some of bands!), bug in f/w and band switching issue... wow, great to waste another money...! Many thanks for your effort to show that crap.
Petr, thanks for stopping by and checking out my video. 👍