Thanks Peter, glad to hear you're a xiegu distributor. I own a G90 so impressed with it specially the atu. I would not be surprised if it didn't tune a piece of wet string! These radios are really good value for money.
Great video and I been looking for a used one of these for a while now and was able to pick one up at a local area Ham Fest here in Texas last week end for an extremely good price. I am quite impressed so far and these little radios and in the STATES on Facebook their seem to be a large support group, I am going to get my wife to help me sign up for a Facebook account just for the X5105 73. KV5P
Great Job Peter, I have seen reviews of earlier versions of the 5105. Looks like they have made some improvements. I like the DSP adjustments. Makes it easier to hear on a noisy band whether weak signal or not. My eyesight is bad, would be nice if the information contrast on the display could be made darker.
Hi Dave. I have similar problem. In fact you can achieve a contrast improvement if you take the back light right down and then shine a bright light onto the display. i might unpack it again and double check that. 73 Oeter.
Congratulations on your new dealership, Xiegu makes some good products. I say that as a G90 owner. Please can you say if there will be service and repair facilities in the UK? Currently, both here and in the USA, there are no service facilities, it's difficult for repairers to get any service data from Xiegu at all. Although you can send a rig back to China, the American owners' group experience is that the Xiegu company is not interested and effectively, once a rig is out of warranty you are on your own and the radio becomes a disposable item. Hopefully that situation will change with Waters and Stanton linking their name and reputation to the Xiegu products.
I've had my X5105 since the spring, I bought it because I felt my IC-705 was perhaps a bit expensive and delicate with exposed, easily damaged control knobs, to be used in the field. I did a lot of comparisons, running both side by side out in the garden and the X5105 is a fantastic radio. Unfortunately the newer X6100 has control knobs that stick out like the IC-705 that would be easy to damage, great if you don't intend to do portable operating. My X5105 and a 20m long EFHW are simple and take up little space in a backpack and can hold its own when it comes to making contacts. I've had SSB contacts all over Europe and Scandinavia and CW contacts as far away as Ottawa and the Eastern USA.
Congratulations on your distributorship. Since this radio has an excellent antenna tuner, could I just connect it to my home's rain gutters/leaders, without any other hardware being necessary?
I assume your gutter is metal. BUT the priblem is that there will be corrosion at tge joints and you will also need a counterpoise. Basically it might work but with poor results.
@@watersstanton The metal is aluminium. How would I determine if I need a counterpoise, and if so, is there a "formula" or other guide as to the length of the counterpoise? Many thanks for your assistance!
The X5105 has been a great little radio. The instruction book leaves a lot of details out but there's plenty of videos on YT. I have an 80m EFHW antenna attached to it and am getting a 1.1 SWR on 40m from the ATU. Using digi and good wx conditions, it can reach across the "pond" deep into Europe on FT8 from the mid-West USA. Using WSPR, it's also reached Australia and Antartica. If you are planning to do digi (FT8, WSPR, JS8, etc) with it, I do recommend getting a compatible USB Digi-mode Interface made by another manufacturer since it makes the USB connection to the computer a lot easier with a lot less wires than the expansion card that goes with it (optional purchase). I have both and the expansion module is sitting in the box since. 73 Rene.
I’d be worried selling the x6100 as the advertised Wifi/Bluetooth doesn’t actually work, along with a whole host of other bugs. As we have seen with the GSOC offering they don’t have a good track record when it comes to sorting out the mess they release. I hope they step up for you Peter.
It's really a neat radio. You get a lot of radio for the price. I'm waiting for Xiegu to work out the many bugs on the X6100. I like the display on it. I'd like to get one but I think I have a long wait? Barry, KU3X
What I like about is that the form factor is practically that of a walkie talkie, speaker at the top near the aerial connector, microphone at the bottom and an internal battery. Connect an antenna and you are in business. Thanks for a nice review of this radio Peter.
The 5105 is a dependable, well tested reliable radio. The 6100 is buggy as hell and according to some US based reviewers is not recommended in its current form. From a business perspective, why on earth would a distributor want to recommend the 6100? Stick with the tried and true until Xiegu get their act together, if they ever do.
Maybe because the X5105 has stable firmware. Xiegu have a very nasty habit of using their customers to beta test their products. I wouldn't buy another of their products (I've had the G90 and X5105 for two years) until it has been out in the wild for at least a year.
Good review indeed! I own one. I think that the "form factor" is quite obsolete and the ergonomy is chinese style aka "no ergonomy at all". Great the antenna tuning section, superior to more well known names. Bye!
Good Review and I think this is a great little Radio, however i am not at all with My New Xiegu X6100. The X5105 is a much better Radio in my opinion. 73 KV5P
Two problems. First, no 2-year warranty. Second, if you return goods for reoajr, Customs will attempt to collect duty, and it is a nightmare to prove it is not a new import into UK. 73 Petrr.
I’d spend a little more and buy an Icom, Yaesu, Elecraft, or a kit than give money to the CCP through my hobby. You can’t always avoid buying Chinese, but you should.
For a importer margins are everything. And 50-60% compere to 20-30% for Yeasu, it's a nobrainer. I'm personally avoiding made in CCP and GERMANY, but it didn't stop me from buying Baofeng and AUDI. As long you will have service and warranty from the shop here.
@@arturk3810 I don’t mind German products, that war ended 76 years ago, and they’re a free country that innovates. In amateur radio (and everything else) , China just rips off designs and technology from western companies in Japan, the US and elsewhere to put out a cheaper -and typically slightly inferior - product because they paid nothing for the R&D. They contribute nothing to our hobby, and simply take profits back to the CCP. Amateur radio operators are a frugal bunch; but if you want to keep innovators in our hobby alive, buy products made in free countries or are at least based/designed in them. Sometimes, it can’t be avoided, but in our hobby it can and should.
I just don't like the look of any of these radio's that come out of china. That may sound like I am a snob, but quality to me means everything when it comes to this hobby. Good video as always Peter. 73
Thanks Peter, glad to hear you're a xiegu distributor. I own a G90 so impressed with it specially the atu. I would not be surprised if it didn't tune a piece of wet string! These radios are really good value for money.
Many thanks. 73 Peter
Always enjoy the music on this channel
Great video and I been looking for a used one of these for a while now and was able to pick one up at a local area Ham Fest here in Texas last week end for an extremely good price. I am quite impressed so far and these little radios and in the STATES on Facebook their seem to be a large support group, I am going to get my wife to help me sign up for a Facebook account just for the X5105 73. KV5P
Great to see another QRP/portable rig on the market. Bring on the warmer weather. 👍🏻
Working on it!
Great Job Peter, I have seen reviews of earlier versions of the 5105. Looks like they have made some improvements. I like the DSP adjustments. Makes it easier to hear on a noisy band whether weak signal or not. My eyesight is bad, would be nice if the information contrast on the display could be made darker.
Hi Dave. I have similar problem. In fact you can achieve a contrast improvement if you take the back light right down and then shine a bright light onto the display. i might unpack it again and double check that. 73 Oeter.
Nice Video! Thanks and 73 from JO30QK Germany! All the best!
Many thanks! 73 Peter
Thanks for great review and congrats on decision to sell Xiegu. Looking forward to review of the new model (I own g90).
Many thanks. 73 Peter
Congratulations on your new dealership, Xiegu makes some good products. I say that as a G90 owner.
Please can you say if there will be service and repair facilities in the UK? Currently, both here and in the USA, there are no service facilities, it's difficult for repairers to get any service data from Xiegu at all.
Although you can send a rig back to China, the American owners' group experience is that the Xiegu company is not interested and effectively, once a rig is out of warranty you are on your own and the radio becomes a disposable item.
Hopefully that situation will change with Waters and Stanton linking their name and reputation to the Xiegu products.
We offer Service Backup on all items that we sell. 73 Peter.
@@watersstanton Thanks for your reply Peter. Not quite the answer to my question but I won't press you further. Season's greetings to you and yours.
I've had my X5105 since the spring, I bought it because I felt my IC-705 was perhaps a bit expensive and delicate with exposed, easily damaged control knobs, to be used in the field. I did a lot of comparisons, running both side by side out in the garden and the X5105 is a fantastic radio. Unfortunately the newer X6100 has control knobs that stick out like the IC-705 that would be easy to damage, great if you don't intend to do portable operating. My X5105 and a 20m long EFHW are simple and take up little space in a backpack and can hold its own when it comes to making contacts. I've had SSB contacts all over Europe and Scandinavia and CW contacts as far away as Ottawa and the Eastern USA.
Thanks Nick. I am sure others will find your comments interesting. 73 Peter.
very interesting video, thanks. 73 and Merry Christmas. Rick KB3NG
Happy holidays! 73 Peter
Had mine for a couple of years. Great little radio and super value for money. I couldn't justify the big brands but this fits the bill
Many thanks. 73 Peter
Congratulations on your distributorship.
Since this radio has an excellent antenna tuner, could I just connect it to my home's rain gutters/leaders, without any other hardware being necessary?
I assume your gutter is metal. BUT the priblem is that there will be corrosion at tge joints and you will also need a counterpoise. Basically it might work but with poor results.
@@watersstanton
The metal is aluminium. How would I determine if I need a counterpoise, and if so, is there a "formula" or other guide as to the length of the counterpoise?
Many thanks for your assistance!
The X5105 has been a great little radio. The instruction book leaves a lot of details out but there's plenty of videos on YT. I have an 80m EFHW antenna attached to it and am getting a 1.1 SWR on 40m from the ATU. Using digi and good wx conditions, it can reach across the "pond" deep into Europe on FT8 from the mid-West USA. Using WSPR, it's also reached Australia and Antartica. If you are planning to do digi (FT8, WSPR, JS8, etc) with it, I do recommend getting a compatible USB Digi-mode Interface made by another manufacturer since it makes the USB connection to the computer a lot easier with a lot less wires than the expansion card that goes with it (optional purchase). I have both and the expansion module is sitting in the box since. 73 Rene.
Many thanks for sharing. 73 Peter
Thanks Peter for the look at the X5105. Hope you will do a review of the Xiegu X6100 when all the bugs are worked out. 73 Joe
I am waiting for the updated firmware version, due January. 73 Peter
I’d be worried selling the x6100 as the advertised Wifi/Bluetooth doesn’t actually work, along with a whole host of other bugs. As we have seen with the GSOC offering they don’t have a good track record when it comes to sorting out the mess they release. I hope they step up for you Peter.
Manythanks for your input.
It's really a neat radio. You get a lot of radio for the price. I'm waiting for Xiegu to work out the many bugs on the X6100. I like
the display on it. I'd like to get one but I think I have a long wait?
Barry, KU3X
Thanks for sharing, 73 Peter
Thanks for very detailed review. It will be a nice X-mas gift
Glad it was helpful!
What I like about is that the form factor is practically that of a walkie talkie, speaker at the top near the aerial connector, microphone at the bottom and an internal battery. Connect an antenna and you are in business. Thanks for a nice review of this radio Peter.
I totally agree! 73 Peter
Why are you reviewing the 5105, when others have moved onto the 6100?
The 5105 is a dependable, well tested reliable radio. The 6100 is buggy as hell and according to some US based reviewers is not recommended in its current form. From a business perspective, why on earth would a distributor want to recommend the 6100? Stick with the tried and true until Xiegu get their act together, if they ever do.
Because I wanted to.
Maybe because the X5105 has stable firmware. Xiegu have a very nasty habit of using their customers to beta test their products. I wouldn't buy another of their products (I've had the G90 and X5105 for two years) until it has been out in the wild for at least a year.
👍👏👏
Thanks.
Good review indeed! I own one. I think that the "form factor" is quite obsolete and the ergonomy is chinese style aka "no ergonomy at all". Great the antenna tuning section, superior to more well known names. Bye!
Many thanks. 73 Peter
Have you ever done one for the G90 by them ?
It’s in the queue.
Good Review and I think this is a great little Radio, however i am not at all with My New Xiegu X6100. The X5105 is a much better Radio in my opinion. 73 KV5P
Thanks Mike. 73 Oeter.
Great radio but still cheap to buy from the USA or from China and you still get the support
Two problems. First, no 2-year warranty. Second, if you return goods for reoajr, Customs will attempt to collect duty, and it is a nightmare to prove it is not a new import into UK. 73 Petrr.
@@watersstanton Oh, are you REALLY giving a 2 year warranty on Chinese goods!!!!
please put that one in writing
I’d spend a little more and buy an Icom, Yaesu, Elecraft, or a kit than give money to the CCP through my hobby. You can’t always avoid buying Chinese, but you should.
Thanks for watching.
For a importer margins are everything. And 50-60% compere to 20-30% for Yeasu, it's a nobrainer. I'm personally avoiding made in CCP and GERMANY, but it didn't stop me from buying Baofeng and AUDI. As long you will have service and warranty from the shop here.
@@arturk3810 I don’t mind German products, that war ended 76 years ago, and they’re a free country that innovates. In amateur radio (and everything else) , China just rips off designs and technology from western companies in Japan, the US and elsewhere to put out a cheaper -and typically slightly inferior - product because they paid nothing for the R&D. They contribute nothing to our hobby, and simply take profits back to the CCP. Amateur radio operators are a frugal bunch; but if you want to keep innovators in our hobby alive, buy products made in free countries or are at least based/designed in them. Sometimes, it can’t be avoided, but in our hobby it can and should.
I just don't like the look of any of these radio's that come out of china. That may sound like I am a snob, but quality to me means everything when it comes to this hobby. Good video as always Peter. 73
Yes, no prize for the shape. 73 Peter
quite right. if Hams keep buying this sort of cheap radio`s the big 3 will go out of business and all we are left with is crap.
First.............. where`s ma damn prize
Many thanks. 73 Peter
sold out
they been discontinued that's why they sold out
They are still in production.