Category Archives: Announcements

Announcements, New Products, News, QRO, QRP, QRP Radios

The Yaesu FTX-1: Packages, Pricing, and Early Observations

35 Comments

As soon as reservations opened for the Yaesu FTX-1 via DX Engineering last year, I placed my order.

Details were sparse at the time, but we understood this would be Yaesu’s modernized successor to the beloved FT-817 and FT-818—the iconic bullet-proof radios that served the community for over two decades. Indeed they still serve me well!

This past week, new information surfaced via official Yaesu channels and FCC filings. A number of YouTube videos are already circulating, but I won’t be publishing anything myself until I have the radio in hand and can take it to the field.

That said, it feels like Yaesu was preparing for a full announcement anyway, especially with Hamvention less than two weeks away. Hamvention and the Tokyo Ham Fair have historically been the venues where major product launches from Yaesu, Icom, and Kenwood happen.

Summary & Observations

Before we begin: Here’s a summary of what we currently know about the FTX-1. I’m doing my best to keep things objective—there are no performance claims here, since no one outside of Yaesu has tested the radio yet. Some features suggest real potential (like the receiver architecture), but any speculation is clearly noted as such. Until we can get hands-on, this is simply an overview of confirmed details provided directly by Yaesu and its authorized retailers.

Note: All images are sourced from the Yaesu brochure. Pricing below is based on early estimates from authorized retailers and may be subject to change.

The FTX-1Field

(≈$1,499.95 US)

The field comes with Field Head with SBR-52LI (Li-Ion Battery), SSM-75E (Microphone), and DC Power Cables.

Via the attachable battery pack, the Field Head alone will output up to 6 watts. If a 12-13.8 V external power source is connected, it can output up to 10 watts.

FTX-1optima

(≈$1,899.95 US)

The FTX-1optima system includes: Field Head with SPA-1 (100 watt amplifier), SBR-52LI (Li-Ion Battery), SSM-75E (Microphone) & DC Power Cables.

That’s the only difference between the two versions: the inclusion of the SPA-1 amplifier. At least, based on the FTX-1 brochure (PDF).

As a QRPer, I initially discounted the amplifier. I typically run 5 watts or less and rarely exceed that, maybe once or twice per year. But after a closer look, I suspect many hams will opt for the amplifier version.

Here’s why:

  • 100 watts output on HF
  • 50 watts on VHF/UHF
  • Dual antenna ports
  • Built-in 2.5-watt speaker
  • Integrated ATU for 160–6 meters

I’m guessing–pure speculation here–the internal ATU is similar to those found in base rigs—likely offering a modest matching range, perhaps up to 3:1. That’s just my assumption as I place the order, and I’ll wait for confirmation once the unit is in hand. I would love to be proven wrong as we all appreciate wide-matching-range ATUs.

Another point in favor of the Optima: the $400 price difference between the Field ($1,499.95) and Optima ($1,899.95) packages is actually less than the standalone cost of the SPA-1 amplifier ($649.95), should you choose to purchase it later.

So, although I doubt I’ll use the 100W amp often, I’ve gone ahead and ordered the Optima package.

Accessories

Here’s a list of currently known accessories with estimated U.S. pricing:

FC-80 – HF/50MHz 10W Automatic Antenna Tuner – $319.95:

SCF-1 – Cooling Fan – $54.95

FC-90 – HF/50MHz 10W Automatic Antenna Tuner (for Long-wire/50Ω antenna) – $319.95 [Note: this appears to be a stand-alone ATU, not one that attaches to the FTX-1 directly. I’ll confirm.]

SPA-1: 100W Power Amplifier (supplied with FTX-1 Optima) – $649.95
MHG-1: Side Carry Handle (for carrying FTX-1 attached with SPA-1) – $14.99

FGPS-5: GPS Antenna Unit – $69.95
BU-6: Bluetooth Unit – $54.95
SSM-BT20: Bluetooth® Headset (BU-6 must be installed in Field Head) – $36.95
SBR-52LI: (no photo) 6400 mAh Li-ion Battery Pack – $199.95

One item I’m particularly interested in is the SPG-1 Protection Guard, which is Yaesu’s own front faceplate protector. No pricing info available yet at time of writing.

You know what?

Yaesu has genuinely surprised me here.

This is a more ambitious and modernized package than I anticipated—one that smacks of 2025 design expectations. The modularity is compelling: field operators can assemble the package they need without carrying unused features into the field. It’s an approach that sets it apart from many competitors.

The concept is simple but effective—when it’s time to hit the field, you just detach the FTX-1 faceplate from your base station setup, pack it in your kit, and you’re ready to go QRP. No additional cables to disconnect, no reconfiguration required. Clean, simple, and efficient.

If you’re someone who wants a 100W radio for field work but finds $1,899 steep, don’t overlook the FT-891—in my opinion, it remains one of the best values in the market at $630 US.

Still, the modular approach of the FTX-1 is refreshing. Snap the Field Head onto the amplifier and it becomes a base station. Detach it and you’ve got a capable QRP portable. Even a dedicated OEM front protection guard is offered.

Yes, it’s in the same pricing tier as the IC-705 and Elecraft KX2/KX3, but unlike those, the FTX-1 can be bundled with an OEM 100-watt amplifier—complete with dual antenna ports, a built-in speaker, and an internal ATU—for just $400 more. I love my Elecraft KXPA100, which pairs beautifully with both the KX2 and KX3 (and virtually any other HF radio), but it’s currently priced at $1,649.95 on its own.

Given that these units are manufactured in Japan, and I’m based in the U.S., I’m hopeful that these prices already reflect the 10% baseline tariff now applied to most goods from Japan. At the moment, I’ve seen no mention of surprise import costs—but that’s always something to watch.

What’s Next?

My order is in, and you can be sure that once the FTX-1 arrives, I’ll take it straight to the field and post a full field report and activation video. We’ll take a look at it together. Four to six weeks later, I’ll post a proper review.

Addendum: Yaesu USA Overview Video

Yaesu USA recently released an official video overview of the FTX-1, where they elaborated on several technical features.

One detail that stood out in both this video and the product brochure: the FTX-1 shares receiver architecture with the FT-DX10—a very capable transceiver with excellent RX performance. While I don’t expect the FTX-1 to match the FT-DX10’s filtering or front-end capabilities, this could bode well for its overall receiver performance.

Check out the video here:

Announcements, Morse Code, News

QSOFinder: Making It Easier to Connect Over CW

6 Comments

Many thanks to Becky (N4BKY) and Mike (N4FFF) who share the following announcement:

A New Way to Connect On the Air with CW

by Mike (N4FFF) and Becky (N4BKY)

Hi everyone! Mike and Becky here, (aka the HamRadioDuo) and we are excited to share a brand new tool to make it easy to find people for CW QSOs. If you love Morse code and ham radio as much as we do, you know how thrilling it is to sit down at your rig, ready for a QSO, only to find yourself calling CQ into the void. Wouldn’t it be great if there were an easier way to tell the world that you’re here and ready OR or to look at who else is out there looking for the same type of QSO as you.

Meet QSOFinder.com, a simple yet powerful tool designed to help CW operators connect in real time. Whether you’re brand new to CW and just looking for a quick exchange or an experienced operator who loves a long ragchew, QSOFinder makes it easy to find like-minded hams on the air.

Our Inspiration

If you’ve ever done a POTA activation, you know how helpful the POTA spotting page is – it’s like shouting from a bullhorn to let others know you’re on the air. We wanted something similar but tailored for everyday QSOs. That’s how and why QSOFinder was created!  Learning Morse Code is enough of a challenge, so we wanted to try to make getting on the air and having that first or hundredth QSO a little easier.

How It Works

The idea is simple:

  1. Post Yourself as Available – Enter your callsign, frequency, preferred CW speed, and what kind of QSO you’re looking for. Maybe you’re in the mood for a quick and casual exchange, or perhaps you’re hoping for an in-depth conversation – you get to decide!

    Click to enlarge image.
  2. Find Other Operators – Browse active listings from fellow hams and tune in to their frequencies to answer their CQ and start a QSO.  They may already be connected with someone, but what a great way to find a conversation and work on your decoding skills.
  3. Leave Comments – If you try to reach someone and don’t hear them, you can leave a comment on their listing to let them know you tried.   It’s a great way to keep the community engaged and informed.
  4. Get Notifications – Want to know when a new operator posts? Enable notifications to stay updated without having to constantly check the site if your browser is open to QSOFinder.com.
  5. Filter by Band – If you’re working with a monoband antenna or just prefer a certain band, you can filter posts to match your setup.

Built by CW Hams, for CW Hams

We’ve been testing QSOFinder with our friends, and it’s already making a difference. It’s been a fantastic way to get people on the air, and we hope it inspires more operators to jump in and enjoy the magic of CW.

This is the first tool we’ve released, but if you like it and want to see more, let us know! We’d love your feedback – whether you have suggestions, run into any issues, or just want to tell us it’s working great, there’s a feedback feature built in. You can also drop us a comment on our YouTube video.

HamRadioDuo – QSOFinder YouTube Intro Video

Our main goal with HamRadioDuo has always been to inspire and encourage others to get on the air, have fun, and build their skills. QSOFinder is just another way we’re trying to make that happen.

Give it a try at QSOFinder.com, and let us know what you think!  The more people posting to make themselves available and the more operators answering those already on the site, the more fun this will be.

Happy QSOs!!!

73 Mike N4FFF es Becky N4BKY

P.S. If you haven’t already, subscribe to our channel – it’s a free and easy way to support us, and we’d love to have you along for the adventure!

Announcements, Field Reports, New Products, News, Portable, POTA, QRP, QRP Radios, Videos

Introducing the New CFT1 Five Band Portable CW Transceiver Kit!

15 Comments

My buddy Jonathan (KM4CFT) made a big announcement this morning.

He’s been working tirelessly since the start of the year, designing and testing a brand-new field-portable CW transceiver he’s dubbed the CFT1.

As of this morning, you can purchase the transceiver kit on HamGadgets.com.

A little backstory

Jonathan first mentioned his plans to design a CW transceiver back when we were doing a joint POTA activation at the end of December 2023. At the time, it was just an idea. When he said he planned to have it ready for sale in 2024, I was skeptical. I mean, he had a day job and had never designed a radio before. How could he pull that off in such a short timeframe?

Fast forward to Four Days in May/Hamvention in May 2024, and wouldn’t you know it, Jonathan had a working prototype on display! I was blown away. Within a couple of weeks, he was contacting us beta testers, eager to get revision one units into our hands.

I got my CFT1 in June and immediately put it through its paces in the shack. Even in beta, this little radio was rock solid – I was seriously impressed!

I thoroughly tested the CFT1 in the shack, both on a dummy load and with my QTH antenna. If you’re into SOTA or POTA and I worked you in June, chances are it was with the CFT1.

Vlado (N3CZ) making field day contacts.

I even took the CFT1 out for a spin on Field Day. Vlado (N3CZ) and I were both impressed with how well it performed in that crazy RF environment. Remember, this isn’t a contest radio, but it didn’t seem to overload at all. Impressive!

When I heard Jonathan was launching the CFT1 today, I figured I’d do a quick POTA activation to showcase this awesome little radio.

The Blue Ridge Parkway (US-3378)

Yesterday morning, I was heading to Mission Hospital in Asheville to visit a family member who had just been admitted. I realized I had enough time for a quick activation at the Folk Art Center on the way.

I arrived at the parking lot around 8:30 AM. It was pretty empty except for the grounds crew. I set up at my usual picnic table.

I paired the CFT1 with my KM4CFT End-Fed Half-Wave, trimmed for 30M with a 40M linked extension. I was hoping for some 40-meter action early in the morning. Setup was a breeze. My throw line cooperated beautifully – the 40M EFHW was practically vertical!

Naturally, I filmed the whole process: setup, activation, and pack-up. Before I started the activation, I spent a few minutes talking about the CFT1 – its design philosophy and what I like about it. Hopefully, this will help you decide if it’s the right radio for you.

Gear:

Note: All Amazon, CW Morse, ABR, Chelegance, eBay, and Radioddity links are affiliate links that support QRPer.com at no cost to you.

On The Air

I spotted myself on 40 meters and started calling CQ using the CW message memory I’d already programmed with “CQ POTA DE K4SWL.”

Fortunately, the band was healthy–at least, healthy enough to reply to a number of hunters. Continue reading Introducing the New CFT1 Five Band Portable CW Transceiver Kit! →

Announcements, Guest Posts, Hams, Interviews, Morse Code, News, People, POTA, Skills, SOTA, Videos

One CW Question series draws to a close after 6 months

9 Comments

by Vince (VE6LK)

Firstly, a huge shout-out and thank you to Thomas K4SWL for letting me hang out here on QRPer.com and exercise my creative writing chops, and to the community at QRPer.com for giving me such excellent feedback in my original article – both of which propelled me into this fun project.

Sometimes I begin my creative writing on a notepad with pencil, and sometimes I just type it out.

On January 20th 2024, I posted a simple question to readers of QRPer.com, If you could tell new CW learners your single best tip to learn CW, what would it be?

I was overwhelmed with the response in the comments and realized I had struck a nerve. At least one person told me that I should have bought a lotto ticket with that sort of luck, but I’ll tell you all that I am richer with the knowledge I’ve gained and shared with others as a result of the interviews I conducted with the who’s who of the English-speaking CW world.

My first key, on the right. Yes, a converted joystick. Yes, I did my exam with it.

It’s with a mixed heart that I’m here to announce that project has drawn to a close. It’s been tremendously helpful to so many people. Here’s the final episode and my personal tip to all of you aspiring CW learners.

I’m blessed to have met so many interesting people along the way and forged new friendships as a result.

Additionally, extra special thanks to Tim N7KOM, Alan W2AEW and Adam K6ARK who, along with Thomas, were my first victims interviewees where I was able to refine my interviewing and video editing process. And, Adam gave me a great idea – refine the videos into YouTube Shorts format. These refined Shorts are called 1CWQ and are the essence of each tip I recorded. The credit for the Shorts really belongs with Adam.

My entire family of keys (minus one in my truck and the others pictured above). W8BH Morse Tutor kit seen in the back of the photo. Visit my website to get your kit.

I interviewed 53 people for the series and produced well over 100 videos as a result as some gave us (you and I) more than one tip. If you missed the series, it’s not a ton of hours to binge watch. The original recordings are 2-3 minutes each and the shorts are all under one minute, or else YouTube won’t let me call them a short. You can find the Original playlist here and the Shorts playlist here.

I hope you enjoy these CW tips at least half as much as I did in recording and editing them.

One final tip, direct from my friend W5WTH who offers the following excellent advice in words better than I could ever say:

“Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. Most CW ops are patient and can recognize a new op right away. They will most likely be happy to work you at a slow speed because they recall their personal CW journey. SKCC and POTA are the two easiest, stress free ways to make a CW QSO. Once you get the numbers and letters learned then start trying to get on the air. Don’t worry if you screw up because we all screw up and try to get better…”

I’ll add here that CW means never having to say SRI (CW shorthand for sorry) <GRIN>. Also Pat W5WTH has an excellent website too!

Handmade key left to me by VE6AB

Lastly, this is the story behind the straight key featured in all of the videos and in the main photo for this article. The key was hand crafted by my friend VE6AB, Jerry Clement, now a silent key. Jerry was a creator, maker, master machinist, backcountry hiker and camper, and photographer – a real true Renaissance Man in every sense of the word. His photography graced the covers of QST Magazine often in recent years.

At a time when CW was required for HF privileges in Canada, Jerry did his CW exam with this key and he told me once it was a real attention-getter at that testing session! Upon his passing it was bequeathed to me with instructions for me to use it and to keep my [at-that-time struggling] CW skills up. The only parts he did not manufacture were the ball bearings and the rubber feet – all of the other parts were crafted in his hands. I shall always treasure this beautiful key.

Thank you, Jerry, for encouraging me from the great beyond. DididiDahDiDah

73 and dit dit,
…Vince

First introduced to the magic of radio by a family member in 1969, Vince has been active in the hobby since 2002. He is an Accredited examiner in Canada and the USA, operates on almost all of the modes, and is continually working on making his CW proficiency suck less. He participates in public service events around Western Canada and is active on the air while glamping, mobile, at home or doing a POTA activation. You can hear him on the Ham Radio Workbench podcast, follow him on Twitter/X @VE6LK and Mastodon @VE6LK@Mastodon.hams.social, check out his YouTube channel, and view the projects and articles on his website.

Announcements, News

MFJ ceases on-site production in Starkville, Mississippi

23 Comments

Many thanks to a number of readers who’ve sent me the following email announcement (that, unfortunately, I also received today) from Martin Jue at MFJ Enterprises:

Heavy Sad Heart

Dear Fellow Hams and Friends,
April 25, 2024
Dear Fellow Hams and Friends,

It is with a sad heart as I write this letter.

As many of you have heard by now, MFJ is ceasing its on-site production in Starkville, Mississippi on May 17, 2024. This is also the same for our sister companies’ Ameritron, Hygain, Cushcraft, Mirage and Vectronics.

Times have changed since I started this business 52 years ago. Our product line grew and grew and prospered. Covid changed everything in businesses including ours. It was the hardest hit that we have ever had and we never fully recovered.

I turned 80 this year. I had never really considered retirement but life is so short and my time with my family is so precious.

I want to thank all of our employees who have helped build this company with me over the years. We have many employees who have made MFJ their career for 10, 20, 30, 40 and more years.

We are going to continue to sell MFJ products past May 17, 2024. We have a lot of stock on hand. We will continue to offer repair service work for out-of-warranty and in-warranty units for the foreseeable future.

Finally, a special thanks to all of our customers and our dealers who have made MFJ a worldwide name and a profitable business for so many years. You all are so much appreciated.

Sincerely Yours, 73s

Martin F. Jue, K5FLU

Announcements, News, QRP Radios

Penntek: John (WA3RNC) is Retiring

29 Comments

Many thanks to Davey (KU9L) who shares a link to this news from John (WA3RN), owner, and designer of Penntek radios. John writes:

I have been considering for some time the future of the Penntek Instruments amateur radio products. This old man isn’t getting any younger and is in fact beginning to get tired. With the current production run of the TR-45L QRP transceiver getting close to being complete, I decided that this is a good time to finally retire at 77 years of age and maybe catch a breath. I have therefore chosen not to order parts for another run of these radios. As of late-March 2024, in-house parts remain for about 45 of the standard TR-45L units and about 70 of the “Skinny” version. The remaining TR-35 parts will allow for an additional 65 units, either kits or built radios. As I heard on a radio commercial, “Once they’re gone, they’re gone”. After these remaining radios are sold, I will remain available for repair and service of the Penntek transceivers. Thanks to all those who have purchased and enjoyed WA3RNC products over the years…

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Penntek transceivers, so this is sad news. But, I am also very happy for John to make this decision about retiring.

That said, if you’ve been on the fence about buying a TR-45L, TR-45L Skinny, or TR-35, I suggest you do so while John has new units!

These are brilliant radios with excellent audio characteristics, robust front-ends, and some of the best ergonomics you’ll find out there. Keying is smooth and provides proper QSK.

Plus, I think they’re one of the best-looking radios on the market (the TR-45L series especially).

Since all of the Penntek radios started out life as kits, they’re also easy to open and modify/repair.

I don’t have a crystal ball, but I’m willing to bet that once John’s inventory has been depleted, these radios will hold their own on the used market much like other beloved radio models (I’m thinking specifically of the KX1 and MTR-3B). It’ll be interesting to see where used pricing is in, say, 2026.

Again, if you’ve been on the fence, now is the time to make a decision, in my opinion. It looks like John will continue to provide support after his retirement, which is great news as well.

Here’s wishing John all the best in his retirement! Thanks for creating radios that bring so much QRP joy!

Announcements, News, POTA

POTA is changing park prefixes and, in some cases, park numbers

16 Comments

I’ve just learned that the Parks On The Air (POTA) admin is in the process of cleaning up and reorganizing the way Programs, Locations, DX Entities, and Parks are stored in its database.

Many thanks to Alan (W2AEW) who shared a link to this document which explains what they’re doing and even links to logs as they implement these changes.

In short, this will have an effect on activators, especially, because there’s a decent chance you will be using a new park prefix, and in some cases, possibly new park numbers.

A number of POTA prefixes have changed already.

In fact, if you’re activating in Canada, you might have already noticed that the park prefix is no longer VE, but is now CA.

As an example, in my activator logbook, what was once VE-1596 (Hog’s Back Conservation Reserve) is now CA-1596.

Here in the States, the prefix will soon change from K to US.

These prefix changes will happen for many other countries as well.

Of course there’s nothing, as an activator or hunter, you need to do other than start using the new prefix when it has been implemented. All of your old logs will automatically update in the POTA system with the new prefixes and/or numbers.

It might take time for logging applications like HAMRS to adjust to new prefixes. Activators might need to use the old prefix while live-logging during an activation, then use a find/replace string in a text editor later to fix the ADIF file.

Again, check out this document on the POTA website which goes into much more detail.

Thanks again, Alan, for the tip!

Announcements, Conferences, News, QRP

OzarkCon 2024 Registration is Open!

4 Comments

Many thanks to Ed (WG5F) who shares the following announcement:

It’s coming up quick: OzarkCon 2024, April 4th & 5th in Branson, Missouri. Once again at the Stone Castle Hotel and Conference Center.

Registration is open.

Same great slate of presentations and discussions, a fun kit build, wonderful fellowship with fellow QRP’ers and chances to win some great prizes.

Full details at http://www.ozarkcon.com

72,

-Ed, WG5F-

Thank you for the reminder, Ed!

Readers: OzarkCon is a premiere QRP gathering. If you’ve never been, I would highly encourage you to register and attend!

Announcements, News, POTA

Teri: A Request from the POTA Babe to QRPer Readers

16 Comments

For those regular readers of QRPer.com, you know that this POTA Babe has a goal of 60 new-to-me park activations for 2024. I am planning a POTA trip this summer to North Carolina and/or Virginia. I will be on the road for eleven to twelve days with nine to ten of those days potentially available for activations. I’d like to hear from y’all what one park you think I should visit and why.

You can either leave your suggested park in the comments below or email me via the address on my QRZ page. As summer will be here before we know it, I’d like to nail down my plans soon. Please share your suggestions by Wednesday, March 6th.

For safety reasons, I will not share my itinerary before the trip; however, I will give credit in the articles I write from the trip to the op (or ops if the park is suggested by more than one person) who suggested that park.

Thank you in advance for your assistance! Keep having fun with your QRP adventures!