Thanks for the great video. I just got a Nissei DG-503 second hand and was curious if you ever compared/calibrated your MFJ-849 against a Bird or something else? I did and mine seems to be spot on, but was just curious. 73, K8JLW
Something odd. On 160m when you TX the PA swithes to 75/80m (look at 3:16) ... looks like something is wrong there, at first I thought it was due to 8W you injected but when you decreased to 5W the issue is remaining. I have the combo G90 + the amp and I love it. Since last update of G90 I must turn power to 1W on 15m otherwise it overloads the power output...
In theory, the amp and the radio are supposed to talk and the 8w wouldn't actually make it... but in theory they are also supposed to stay on frequency. Later in the vid, I show that it did it on other bands as well. Its a voltage mis-match on the L4001 cable interface to the XPA and I'm pretty sure it can be fixed in firmware.
@@temporarilyofflineare you sure it's a voltage match this is a common problem for me with my x610p. With my x6100 any little bit of stray RF on keydown the amp will drop to a differnt band. I've tried choking everything and it doesn't seem to help only seems to do it on cw tho.
Good timing as several on the x6200 list are having difficulty with this configuration. SSB audio thru the amp is being clipped suggesting the ALC is not working and the amp is being overdriven as I think you have demonstrated. The problem appears to be in the 6200 not the XPA125 as it works fine with the x6100.
Nice test. I did see the auto mode acting strange. Should select manual mode . selecting wrong band may cause unwanted harmonics .All the amps I have ,Have different output power on different bands and different from amp to amp. Even when tuned,A tube amp does this. most of the amps I have ,like the middle bands the most like 15/20 meters. Now I know what you do on cold days. Key up with power into dummy load,make some heat. I am in NY and woke up cold. 56F . crazy cold and just back to field day we breaking record heat . now I am turning tubes on to do FT8. 10/12 meters been bad few weeks now. But had a FT8 on 6 meters ! just the outher day 20 meters was poor and noisy with heavy QSB but 15 meters going nice and 17 meters was ok. strange bands in NY. 73's
Do not buy a Xiegu XPA125B or any Xiegu product! This amplifier was originally introduced with a good design using a pair of RD100HHF MOSFETs to easily handle 100W. After a few years they started selling units using the a single AFT05MP075N rated for 75W without any change to published specifications. You can push these amps to 75-80W but they are now really 50W nominal amplifier to achieve the same IMD rating. For a company to engage in these unethical design practices, I'd strongly recommend to never buy any Xiegu products! This is the same practice that Huawei tried when they started to gain some market share in the US with their phones and tablets.
I think there are now 3 or 4 versions of pa design for the xpa125b I've heard of many issues but luckily my earlier version seems to be very solid besides the gimics on trying to get it to tune.@temporarilyoffline
Great video. I spoke to Xiegu about the ALC not responding through the L4001 cable and the XPA125B, and they said look for the first firmware update.
That is exactly what I'm thinking. Totally fixable in the radio (since the amp is a proven asset)
Nice looking radio, great Work ,tnx Man!
She's a beaut! Thanks
Thanks Steve, nice video.
Glad you enjoyed it
I like that Xeigu amp! 73
Its a great amp!
thank you
You're welcome, more to come
Lots of good bench space in the kitchen lab
Yeah, its not like I have time to eat.
Thanks for the great video. I just got a Nissei DG-503 second hand and was curious if you ever compared/calibrated your MFJ-849 against a Bird or something else? I did and mine seems to be spot on, but was just curious. 73, K8JLW
I haven't yet. It's on my list to do... Just need a calibrated bird to start with
Something odd. On 160m when you TX the PA swithes to 75/80m (look at 3:16) ... looks like something is wrong there, at first I thought it was due to 8W you injected but when you decreased to 5W the issue is remaining.
I have the combo G90 + the amp and I love it. Since last update of G90 I must turn power to 1W on 15m otherwise it overloads the power output...
In theory, the amp and the radio are supposed to talk and the 8w wouldn't actually make it... but in theory they are also supposed to stay on frequency. Later in the vid, I show that it did it on other bands as well. Its a voltage mis-match on the L4001 cable interface to the XPA and I'm pretty sure it can be fixed in firmware.
@@temporarilyoffline Yes they can as it's just a firmware controling output analog of the microcontroller.
@@temporarilyofflineare you sure it's a voltage match this is a common problem for me with my x610p. With my x6100 any little bit of stray RF on keydown the amp will drop to a differnt band. I've tried choking everything and it doesn't seem to help only seems to do it on cw tho.
@randal0007 I'm not sure. Just a guess
Good timing as several on the x6200 list are having difficulty with this configuration. SSB audio thru the amp is being clipped suggesting the ALC is not working and the amp is being overdriven as I think you have demonstrated. The problem appears to be in the 6200 not the XPA125 as it works fine with the x6100.
I'll be testing harder it Thursday during the FT8 poker game, we'll see
I wish they would make a 20W+ version of the x6200. I like the x6200 but I don't want to also have to buy an amp. That amp is very appealing though.
20w modern G90 rig would be nice!
Great demo brother! If I wasn't broke currently, I'd be buying these two lol...
Thanks, they'll fix it. It's really minor in the scheme of things. I use this amp with other QRP rigs and live with the "manual" part
Noticed the Amp got to full output straight away. Didn't creep up like it's boss does.
Yep. Boss man getting tired!
Will the amp work on other QRP radios like the FT817 ?
Sure will, I commented on it in the video and pointed to my video where I demoed the FT-818 working with this amp. Its a great amp.
Here is a link: th-cam.com/video/3Qx7XH0AWX0/w-d-xo.html
Has Xiegu said anything about that weird "warm-up" phase for power?
Yeah, they said they are working on it...
@@temporarilyoffline It's better than denying that it's even a thing, so that's good to hear!
@@unclemikeyplays they always fix everything they can. They appear to be a 4ish person company
@@temporarilyoffline Really? I mean, I didn't expect them to be huge, but I figured they had to be bigger than, like, QRP-Labs or something!
@@unclemikeyplays that's my guess, super small
Nice test. I did see the auto mode acting strange. Should select manual mode . selecting wrong band may cause unwanted harmonics .All the amps I have ,Have different output power on different bands and different from amp to amp. Even when tuned,A tube amp does this. most of the amps I have ,like the middle bands the most like 15/20 meters. Now I know what you do on cold days. Key up with power into dummy load,make some heat. I am in NY and woke up cold. 56F . crazy cold and just back to field day we breaking record heat . now I am turning tubes on to do FT8. 10/12 meters been bad few weeks now. But had a FT8 on 6 meters ! just the outher day 20 meters was poor and noisy with heavy QSB but 15 meters going nice and 17 meters was ok. strange bands in NY. 73's
It has been cold here the last few days. Stay warm! (What a weird thing to say in July)
Seemed to give 95W output on 10m when the amp swapped to 6m mode, but only 91W when the amp was in manual 10m mode!
@@petereverett1455 that almost makes sense too
@@temporarilyoffline Girlfriend put extra blanket on the bed . and the cat under it. first for July !
Looks like the amp get to full power faster then the radio. Hum.
Yeah, this radio has a lag on getting to full power. They are working on fixing it.
Do not buy a Xiegu XPA125B or any Xiegu product! This amplifier was originally introduced with a good design using a pair of RD100HHF MOSFETs to easily handle 100W. After a few years they started selling units using the a single AFT05MP075N rated for 75W without any change to published specifications. You can push these amps to 75-80W but they are now really 50W nominal amplifier to achieve the same IMD rating. For a company to engage in these unethical design practices, I'd strongly recommend to never buy any Xiegu products! This is the same practice that Huawei tried when they started to gain some market share in the US with their phones and tablets.
Do you have any pictures?
I think there are now 3 or 4 versions of pa design for the xpa125b I've heard of many issues but luckily my earlier version seems to be very solid besides the gimics on trying to get it to tune.@temporarilyoffline