Category Archives: QRP Radios

Steve’s MTR3B-V4 Field Kit in a Rothco Shoulder Bag

June 2, 2025 Thomas Witherspoon 7 Comments

Many thanks to Steve (KV4AN), who shares the following article about his portable field radio kit, which will be featured on our Field Kit Gallery page. If you would like to share your field kit with the QRPer community, read this post.

KV4AN’s MTR3B-V4 Field Kit

by Steve (KV4AN)

The convergence of Solar Cycle 25, lots of great new equipment offerings, many active participants in Parks on the Air (POTA), Summits on the Air (SOTA), and compatible family outdoor activities make this a great time to be a portable High Frequency (HF) QRP ham radio operator. To take advantage of this happy situation, I was recently able to purchase a MTR3B-V4 “Currahee” Mountain Topper transceiver, shown in figure (1). The MTR3B-V4 is a miniature three band (40, 20, and 15 meters) CW only QRP transceiver made by LNR Precision.

Figure 1. MTR3B-V4 “Currahee” QRP Transceiver.

Naturally, I had to form a kit around the new radio. My three goals for the kit were: small size, lightweight, and self-contained. Let’s see how I did. You can comment below if I left something out or if there’s a better choice.

The kit consists of the following items, as shown in figure (2)–links to these items are at the bottom of the page:

MTR3B-V4 “Currahee” Transceiver – 40, 20, and 15 meter QRP CW Transceiver.
Custom Faceplate Cover – A practical and reasonably priced custom faceplate protective cover. I accidentally ordered the cover for the previous version of the radio, but Joshua had no problem with me changing the order to the new one.
Morse Code paddle – This is a reasonably priced paddle with a fairly good feel that I had lying around when the capacitive knobs didn’t work out. I plan to replace it in the future with the CW Morse SP4 POTA/SOTA N0SA design paddle, which is smaller and field proven.
3.5mm Stereo Cable – A 1.5 foot, 3.5mm to 3.5mm stereo (TRS) cable.
Koss Earbuds – Nice quality stereo earbuds.
Earbud Cord Organizer – I hated to add the extra item, but I got tired of untangling the wires of my earbuds. This clever item has solved that problem and is color coordinated with the slick line.
All-Weather Notebook – All-weather notepad for copying QSO information in the field.
Miniature Pen – This is a miniature pen that says it writes on waterproof paper. It will also write upside down, although that may not be a feature you need during normal activations.
Koss In-line Volume Control – An in-line volume control for use with the earbuds. The MTR3B-V4 has a rudimentary volume control, primarily used to set the maximum volume level.
Battery Pack Pouch – A small pouch that perfectly holds the battery pack and keeps all the components together and protected. If you use Icom BP-307 or BP-272 battery packs, they fit perfectly too.
Battery Cell Holder – An eight “AA” cell holder with a 9V-style clip. Eight “AA” NiMH batteries will provide a nominal 9.6V to the transceiver.
AA NiMH batteries – Eight 1.2V “AA” NiMH 2800 mAh Low Self Discharge (LSD) battery cells.
9V Snap Clip – These are good quality 9V snap connectors that also have the coaxial power connector required by the MTR3B-V4 already attached. They are more durable than the ones with exposed thin red and black wires.
Coaxial Adapter – SO-239 to BNC adapter for use when using other antennas with coaxial cables which have a PL-259 connector.
Reliance EFHW “Bugout” Antenna – A very small and sturdy 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter End-Fed Half Wave (EFHW) resonant antenna.
Slick Line – High visibility slick line, which ties to the arborist throw bag to get the antenna into a tree and then suspends it.
Arborist Throw Bag – A well-made arborist throw bag with a good all-around weight.
Gerber Mullet Keychain – An all-in-one minimalist tool kit. Better than a sharp rock, as they say.
Rothco Shoulder Bag – A military-style shoulder bag, just large enough to hold all the kit components.
Battery Charger – The battery charger (not shown) is an eight cell NiMH charger. It does not fit in the shoulder bag and is left at home.

Of course, it all had to fit in a tacticool bag. I selected the small Rothco Excursion Organizer, The shoulder bag, shown in figure (3), has all the items from figure (2) in it (trust me). Use the orange pen as a reference for the size of the bag. Clipped to the “D” ring on the left side is the Gerber “tool kit”. The pocket on the front left has the CW Morse paddle, the pen is in its place, and the zippered pocket on the right has the earbuds. The back zippered pocket has the antenna and battery pack, and safely nestled in the main area is the MTR3B-V4 and an arborist throw bag. There is a zippered sleeve in the main pocket that contains the cable for the keyer paddle, an adjustment Allen wrench, and the SO-239 to BNC adapter.

Conclusion

One thing you may have asked yourself is why I included a Morse Code paddle when the MTR3B-V4 has a set of capacitive touch knobs. The answer is simple – they didn’t work for me. I really wanted them to, but the pad of my thumb will not activate the “dit paddle” without moistening it first. Even then, I have to press the knob hard at a point almost to the joint, which is not a natural code sending motion or feel and results in very sloppy code.

Another item I purchased, but decided not to use was a pair 9V 500 mAh Lithium Ion rechargeable batteries. The voltage of this battery right off the charger is below the specified input voltage for the MTR3B-V4.

The battery is the area in which I am most concerned. I’m concerned that the 9.6V NiMH pack may not provide enough voltage over an activation to keep the voltage above the specified minimum voltage of 9V. I may have to go to a 12V LiFePO4 battery, but that will not fit in the current shoulder bag. I may have to go with a larger bag or use a MOLLE system where I can strap together several pouches.

I think I’ve came close to achieving my three goals of: small size, lightweight, and self-contained. I’ve not completed an activation with this kit yet, so I’ll see how it all works together in a few weeks. I’m also looking forward to reading your comments and suggestions.

72,

Steve

KV4AN

Gear List Links

[Note: Most Amazon and CW Morse links are affiliate links that support QRPer.com at no cost to you.]

Field Radio Kits, Guest Posts, Kits, News, Portable, POTA, QRP, QRP Radios, SOTA, Videos

A Strong Case for the (tr)uSDX: Jamie’s Perspective

May 25, 2025 Thomas Witherspoon 15 Comments

Readers, there’s a bit of a backstory to this guest post by my friend Jamie (AA4K). During the W4SOTA campout in October 2023, Jamie showed me his favorite field radio: the (tr)uSDX. I’ve used the (tr)uSDX for a couple of activations, but I’ll be honest—I haven’t exactly shown it a lot of love. I’ve even complained about its audio and receiver performance in the past. Jamie, on the other hand, really enjoys using his and makes a solid case for it as a field radio.

Jamie showing me his (tr)uSDX during the W4SOTA campout.

I asked if he’d be willing to write a guest post for QRPer, and he agreed (eventually!). When I saw him at Hamvention this year, he told me the article was ready—and in true form, he sent it to me via Winlink… using his (tr)uSDX.

A Case for the (tr)USDX

by Jamie (AA4K)

Introduction

There are many factors that must be considered when choosing a field radio. How big and heavy is the radio? How hard is it to repair or replace the radio if it becomes damaged or lost? How hard is the radio to operate? How power-efficient is the radio? Does the radio have the desired/required modes and features? Of course, the most fundamental question is, “Does the radio work?” I will try to answer these questions as I lay out… a case for the (tr)USDX as perhaps an almost perfect field radio.

The last two contacts on this page were with my friends Carlos (KB4CO, now AE2W) and Thomas (K4SWL).

How big and heavy is it?

The first question is an easy one. Aside from small home-brew radios such as K6ARK’s “Choking Hazard”, there isn’t a smaller or lighter commercially available radio out there that I am aware of. The (tr)USDX measures 112 x 61 x 50 mm (I trimmed the encoder post and used a lower profile knob), and weighs 5.3 oz, or 151 g. The next closest currently available commercial radio is perhaps the QRP Labs QMX. This radio is very comparable in size (110 x 64 x 38 mm) and cost, but it does weigh more at 7.3 oz, or 207 g. The more rugged metal case probably plays a big part in the weight difference.

(tr)USDX with a modified case I designed to use the radio as the antenna winder.

How hard is it to replace or repair it?

The (tr)USDX is often sold as a kit for about US$86 (+$20 for the case) [QRPer affiliate links]. Any repairs should simply involve desoldering affected components and replacing, or possibly just updating the firmware. I am a relative noob when it comes to kit building and this kit is honestly not very difficult to build… about one day. The instructions and support videos provided by the hardware developer, Manuel DL2MAN, are very thorough. I learned a lot about radios from building the kit. If you have no interest in kit building, the assembled radio can currently be purchased from Amazon for US$138, complete with a case. Whether purchased as a kit, or already built, the band pass filters on the radio board will need to be tweaked to get the most out of your radio.

How hard is it to operate?

The (tr)USDX only has 4 buttons including the rotary encoder: Menu, Encoder, Enter, and PTT. The Menu and Encoder cover the majority of the adjustments, and most of the time I don’t use the Enter and PTT buttons. The PTT functions only as a ptt or cw key depending on the mode (yes, if your key breaks mid activation, you have a built-in backup key). The single-layer menu system is simple to scroll through, and the most commonly used items are near the front of the menu.

The most challenging aspect of operation for some people is the tiny OLED screen which gets obliterated in bright light. Reading glasses do help, although when you become familiar with the menu are not as important. I would love to see a version with an e-ink display and, more importantly, a push-button wheel rotary encoder (to remove the protruding knob).

How power-efficient is it?

This radio sips power. I tested the radio I built using a LiFePO4 battery that supplied 13.56v. The current draw on receive is 66.1 mA, and 570 mA on CW keydown into a dummy load. A properly tuned (tr)USDX delivers about 5w on each of the five bands when fed ~12v. A set of three 18650s in series will provide the proper voltage and power the radio through many activations.

Does the radio have the desired/required modes and features?

The (tr)USDX is not for princesses. It is a minimalist’s radio. But if you start from the perspective of an ultralight backpacker who has to justify every gram in their kit, this radio checks all of the boxes. It is a five band radio (Low, Classic, and High band models available). It is capable of doing voice, cw and digital modes. Thanks to a beta update from the firmware developer, Guido PE1NNZ, this radio will interface with a computer without requiring a soundcard. One of my favorite features of the radio is the built-in SWR meter. With the SWR feature enabled in the menu, just put the radio in CW mode and press the PTT to find out if your radio is happy with the current antenna arrangement.

This photo was taken while sending the text of this article via Winlink to Thomas, K4SWL.

Does the radio work?

Although my total activation count is nowhere near as high as many of you, I have used the (tr)USDX for a majority of my successful POTA (156 as of this writing) and SOTA (72 as of this writing) activations. My confidence in this little radio was demonstrated when I used it on an ATNO activation of Admiralty Island National Monument (US-4537) in Alaska.

Conclusion

One reason why I like to participate in SOTA and POTA is that it gives me an opportunity to practice field radio deployment and operation with the goal of being ready to communicate anywhere and anytime. This level of readiness means that I have the necessary equipment with me all the time. For me, the (tr)USDX is my EDC (every day carry) radio. It can bounce around in my backpack (in its protective case, of course) and be ready to deploy if needed. If it were to get lost or broken, I can fix or replace it easily. And I find it to be easy enough to use with the understanding that it isn’t a luxury radio.

The author at ~11,000’ in Uncompahgre National Forest.

Video

Click here to view on YouTube.

(tr)uSDX Winder Case:

Click here to download the print file for Jamie’s the modified (tr)uSDX case.

News, QRP Radios

New MTR-3B V4 Manual Now Available on LNR Precision Website

May 24, 2025 Thomas Witherspoon 3 Comments

If you own the popular MTR-3B V4 transceiver, you’ll be pleased to hear that a new and greatly improved manual is now available on the LNR Precision website.

If you’ve recently picked up an MTR-3B V4—or if you’ve had one for a while and want clearer documentation—I highly recommend grabbing this updated guide.

Click here to view or download the new manual.

Field Reports, News, Portable, POTA, QRP, QRP Radios, Videos

Parting Waves: My Last Activation with the Venus SW-3B

May 23, 2025 Thomas Witherspoon 2 Comments

On Tuesday, May 6, 2025, I made a little time in my afternoon schedule to take my Venus SW-3B on a final POTA activation.

I might have mentioned in previous posts (and certainly on the Ham Radio Workbench) that starting in April, I’ve been trying to downsize the shack a bit. This is a process I go through at least annually. My shack/office is very small, so things pile up quickly—and I like to divest myself of gear as best I can.

During this process, one of my readers here on QRPer reached out and asked—on a whim—if I’d consider selling him my Venus SW-3B. I gave it some thought and decided to do so.

I love the SW-3B, but the truth is, I hadn’t used it in a long while. It’s been tucked away in my headrest kit for more than a year, and I just haven’t been reaching for it. That and, frankly, I’ve a couple of MTR-3B LCDs, an MTR-4B, and an MTR-3B Currahee model–I’m flush with super compact transceivers.

I agreed to sell him the SW-3B but told him I wanted to take it out on one final activation—and that’s exactly what I did!

Blue Ridge Parkway (US-3378)

I had to fit this activation into a one-hour window while my daughter was in a class. Fortunately, the class was no more than a mile from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Unfortunately, if I wanted a site with a picnic table for easy operation and setup, I wasn’t terribly close to one.

Luckily, I had my complete SOTA kit packed, including my Helinox chair and Tufteln knee board. With those two items—paired with the SW-3B—I could operate comfortably just about anywhere.

I picked a spot on the side of the road, very close to the parkway entrance from US-25. I knew the drive back to her class would take no more than three minutes.

I paired the SW-3B with my KM4CFT 30-meter end-fed half-wave, which includes a 40-meter linked extension. I figured with this antenna, I could operate on 40, 30, and 20 meters (by removing the link if necessary).

Lately, propagation has been flaky, so having a bit of frequency agility is key to a successful activation!

Gear:

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

Radio:

Venus SW-3B

Battery:

Bioenno 3 Ah LiFePo Battery (Model BLF-1203AB)

Key & Cable:

Other Accessories:

Tom Bihn Handy Little Thing (HLT) Size 2
GoRuck GR1 USA
- HEROCLIP Carabiner Clip (attached to my backpack)
Helinox Chair Zero
Tufteln N0RNM Folding Knee Board
Rite In The Rain Top Spiral Notebook
uni Core Keeps Sharp Mechanical Pencil

Camera & Audio Gear:

DJI OSMO 4 action camera with Joby Telepod Sport Tripod
Sony ICD-FX312 Digital Recorder

On The Air

I hopped on the air and started on 20 meters by calling CQ POTA.

Fortunately, 20 meters seemed to be in decent shape. Continue reading Parting Waves: My Last Activation with the Venus SW-3B →

Field Reports, Guest Posts, News, Portable, POTA, QRP, QRP Radios, Reviews

The POTA Babe Tries the CFT1

May 18, 2025 Teri KO4WFP 24 Comments

By Teri KO4WFP

Jonathan KM4CFT reached out to me recently to inquire if I was interested in trying his CFT1 QRP transceiver. The inquiry both surprised and delighted me as I’ve never had such an opportunity.

I nearly said no because I am no antenna expert and, as this rig has no internal antenna tuner, I’d need to learn more about antennas, SWR, and resonance.

My limited antenna experience dates back to when I first entered the hobby. I had ZERO antennas and no idea where to start. An acquaintance suggested I make a home-brew linked dipole and gave me a few pointers in doing so. I vividly remember limping through learning how to trim an antenna. That project taught me that I want as low a SWR as possible and to cut the antenna for the portion of the band on which I want to operate.

Those of you who read my articles here on QRPer know that I use an Elecraft KX2 for my field operations. I’m very happy with this radio and love that it has an internal antenna tuner. But the CTF1 does not. Here is where my hesitation and trepidation at trying this unit entered the picture. I figured the antennas I use on a regular basis might not play nice with the CFT1 and hence my reluctance to say “yes” to this opportunity.

But this is ham radio, right? In ham radio, we relish challenges because they are opportunities to learn. This was my opportunity to learn not only about antennas in general but also to be more thoughtful as to how I deploy them in the field. This was an opportunity for growth.

I dug out the RigExpert Stick antenna analyzer I purchased nearly three years ago and tested each of the antennas I currently have, just for jollies. I understand that many factors impact SWR – height of the antenna, coax length, proximity of other objects, etc. For the purpose of this exercise, I just wanted a ball park idea as to what antennas I could or could not use with this rig without a tuner.

I found both the home-brew linked dipole and the Chelegance MC-750 would work fine. Out were the EFRW and AX1. As I’d been hankering for an EFHW in my kit, I purchased the Sparkplug EFHW and trimmed it. These kinds of projects intimidate me because I do not have much experience with them; however, one cannot learn what one does not attempt.

I used the CFT1 on three activations: April 25th at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) (US-0522) with the Chelegance MC-750, April 30th at the refuge again but this time with the Sparkplug EFHW, and Thursday, May 1st at George L. Smith State Park (US-2179) with the Chelegance again.

It was a warm day at the refuge on April 25th. I selected an open area in which I had set up in the past. There were wild blackberries growing directly under the oaks in the shade. The view was lovely and, when not engaged with the activation, the red-wing blackbirds, coots, and other birds kept me entertained. Unfortunately for me, the sun moved out behind the oak trees not long after I arrived and I soon called QRT to avoid being baked.

I was pleased with the QSO map for this activation – 27 contacts on 40, 20, and 17 meters over the course of an hour and a half.

QSO Map for Savannah NWR 4-25-2025 Source: qsomap.com

My second experience with the CFT1 was on April 30th, again at the Savannah NWR, however, this time using the Sparkplug EFHW. I found a different spot, one I passed up before but was usable today as it was freshly mowed. There were wonderful, tall oak trees at this location which afforded shade and high, unencumbered branches for installing an antenna aloft. Continue reading The POTA Babe Tries the CFT1 →

Hamvention, News, QRP Radios

Hamvention 2025 Day 2: I Couldn’t Help Myself…

May 18, 2025 Thomas Witherspoon 14 Comments

Good morning, QRPers!

Day two of Hamvention 2025 was absolutely amazing—and the weather couldn’t have been more ideal. I wish I had time this morning to write a proper recap, but I’m grabbing a quick breakfast and heading back to the Greene County Fairgrounds for day three.

That said, I wanted to drop a quick note and share a photo of a little surprise from the Flea Market…

Even though I told myself I wouldn’t buy another radio at Hamvention, I spotted one I simply couldn’t pass up:

I already own a TR-35 (a rig I absolutely love), so I let that one go. But I didn’t have an MTR-4B in my collection… and that red chassis in the early morning sunlight? Irresistible. The asking price was $200—very fair, in my opinion—so I snagged it.

Later that day, I showed it off to my good friend Joshua (N5FY), and wouldn’t you know it—he gifted me one of his MTR-4B protective covers!

As soon as I got back to the hotel room that evening, I installed it.

She’s ready for the field.

I’ve actually wrote a review of an MTR-4B I borrowed from a reader. You can check out that review with links to field report here. I’m looking forward to taking this little red machine out to a summit soon!

More to come after Hamvention wraps up.

Thanks again to everyone who’s stopped by to say hello—it’s truly been the highlight of my weekend!

— Thomas (K4SWL)

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

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

May 3, 2025 Thomas Witherspoon 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:

Field Reports, Guest Posts, News, Portable, POTA, QRP, QRP Radios, Videos

Philip’s Field Impressions of the Xiegu G106

April 24, 2025 Thomas Witherspoon 5 Comments

Many thanks to Philip (KA4KOE) who shares the following report:

Xiegu G106 Report

by Philip (KA4KOE)

Recent developments and other drivers pushed me to purchase a Xiegu G106.

This radio has dropped significantly in price recently. I figured, “Why not?!” given the paltry sum Radioddity was asking.

I will not delve deeply into the technical aspects of this radio, as others have covered this subject in great detail. In my opinion, the G106 is a viable QRP radio and excels at CW and FT8. I also made contacts using SSB, but given the lack of speech processing, I found the effort, shall we say, challenging. The firmware on my particular radio is Version 1.3.

I checked the spectral purity using the panadapter on my Flex 6300. I realize the Flex is not a lab-quality instrument, but the serious spurs and other trash around the carrier, noted by others, on a 5-watt CW signal appear to be minimal now and compliant with current FCC regulations.

Some get all caught up in demanding the absolute best specifications, performance, looks, etc., or whatever you find important in your personal metrics for a radio. As an engineer, I approach this philosophy from a different mindset. Often, striving for those final few percentage points of improvement is only noticeable under the most stringent of band conditions. The situation is essentially a cost/benefits analysis. So, my personal rationale is “good enough.”

Indeed, the Xiegu G106 is “good enough” for QRP field activations, provided one also deploys a good antenna. Here’s an analogy: will a steel sledgehammer or solid gold one (ignore gold’s softness in this example), of the same mass, both do the same job? The answer is “yes.”

The only issue I have noted, as have others, is that the radio’s AGC recovery isn’t quite correct. Occasionally, the audio will “pop” when switching from transmit to receive. Hopefully, the G106 will improve if Xiegu issues firmware updates beyond Version 1.3. The radio doesn’t exhibit this annoying behavior every time one switches from TX to RX.

I recently activated US-2190, Magnolia Springs State Park, near Augusta, Georgia.

Band conditions degraded over the course of the day due to coronal holes present on the earthward-facing side of the sun. I did manage to make 25 CW and 8 SSB contacts on 40 and 20 meters using a sloping 40–10 meter N9SAB End Fed Half Wave, supported on one end from a 32’ carbon fiber pole. See the QSO map below:

Here’s my activation video:

Bottom line: I like the G106.

Thank you for your kind consideration and attention.

Philip Neidlinger, PE

KA4KOE

Gailey (WV2P) and Frank (NM9X), pictured above, also accompanied me on this activation.

Check out their QSL cars below:

Field Reports, Morse Code, News, Portable, POTA, QRP, QRP Radios, Videos

First Field Outing with My New-to-Me Elecraft K1!

April 18, 2025 Thomas Witherspoon 4 Comments

In the chaos of the past two months, I managed to post a few field reports out of chronological order. I’m probably the only one who notices—these aren’t sequential stories, after all—but since I was there for each activation, it feels odd when the timeline’s off.

Case in point: you might recall this recent post where I shared how I finally landed an Elecraft K1 field-portable transceiver. I’d been hunting for a K1 for years, so I was thrilled when this one popped up locally in North Carolina.

Last month, I published this field report where I paired the K1 with my AX1 antenna for a low-profile (but high-performance) activation in Pisgah National Forest.

But here’s the thing: that was actually my second activation with the venerable K1. The first one? It took place along the Blue Ridge Parkway on February 24, 2025.

Taking the K1 to the Field!

It’s always exciting to take a new radio to the field—especially one I’d been chasing for so long. I purchased the K1 back in August of last year. As soon as it arrived, I tested it and realized it was in serious need of alignment.

I brought it over to my friend Vlado (N3CZ), hoping to use his signal generator to sort it out. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time that day, so I left the rig at his QTH. Then Hurricane Helene hit, and… well, suddenly it was 2025.

We finally got around to the alignment in February. As soon as it was dialed in, I hit the field.

Blue Ridge Parkway (US-3378)

I made my way to a familiar spot along the Blue Ridge Parkway—the Folk Art Center—and set up the K1.

Mine is a four-bander (40, 30, 20, and 15 meters) with both the optional internal ATU and AA battery pack. To give the internal tuner a little workout, I paired it with my trusty Tufteln 9:1 End-Fed Random Wire antenna.

Once deployed, I hit the ATU button, and the K1 quickly found a solid 1:1 match. With logs at the ready, it was time to hit the airwaves!

Gear

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Radio

Elecraft K1 (four band version with optional ATU and internal AA battery pack)

Key

Antenna

Pack and Case

Vintage Swiss Army Rucksack
Ape Case Padded Camera Insert

Logging Supplies

Battery

Bioenno 3 Ah LiFePo Battery (Model BLF-1203AB)

Camera/Audio Gear

DJI OSMO 4 action camera with Joby Telepod Sport Tripod
DJI Wireless Microphones

On The Air

I started calling CQ POTA on 20 meters, thinking I’d eventually migrate to 30 meters if things slowed down. Continue reading First Field Outing with My New-to-Me Elecraft K1! →

Guest Posts, New Products, News, QRP, QRP Radios, Reviews

First Look at the HF Signals zBitx QRP Transceiver

April 15, 2025 Vince VE6LK 16 Comments

When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade!

by Vince (VE6LK)

Dear readers, it’s been a hot minute since I’ve had time to activate POTA and write about it, and today I tried to activate a park, but a combination of equipment issues and nobody responding to my calls ended my activation. Anyways … when life gives you lemons you make lemonade, and accordingly the activation article is now a radio review article instead! <grin>

That radio is the HF Signals zBitx. An SDR radio, it was spoken about at 2024 Four Days In May and it opened up for orders on December 25 2024 – a Christmas present, if you will. Thomas and I both jumped on the ordering queue (two numbers apart, no less) as well as 248 others around the world. I thought to myself “an all-mode 80-10m QRP radio with a waterfall and weighing under 1 pound for under $200USD shipped? SIGN ME UP!” and pressed the order button. Honestly I thought about it for less than 45 seconds once I read the specs. I also thought to myself that it was an “experimenter’s radio” and not a fully finished product, meaning you can tweak it if you wish to dig into the bowels of the code on the built-in Raspberry Pi.

The 250 original orders were snapped up in two days and then the purchase button was turned off on the website. There were some shipping delays from the original date, as HF Signals discovered the Chinese New Year holiday of 3 weeks where, it seems, everything is shut down. I also discovered this with the Morse Tutor Kits my buddy and I sell, and we couldn’t ship product for a month as we could not get parts.

Showing the on-screen keyboard. It also shows the fit and finish of the shipped product. Photo credit: HF Signals

The radio arrived on March 31, about 4 weeks beyond the original estimate, and I was excited to open it up. I mean, who doesn’t like new radio day after all? I was so excited that I did an unboxing and first look video on YouTube and showed off a few quick things about the radio. TOP SECRET – it took me 5 takes to shoot, so it wasn’t quite a first look!

The radio promises much and delivers a lot. It transmits on 80 through 10 meters at around 5 watts driven by a pair of 18650 cells, or your 6 to 9V four amp power supply. It has two microprocessors, one is a Raspberry Pi Zero W and one is a Pi Pico to drive the display. It has integrated AM, SSB, CW, FT8, touch screen, built-in electret mic, built in CW keyer and keyboard, and weighing just 460g / 1 pound including the batteries. This radio seriously has lots to offer especially at the price point.

The author’s radio with a customized faceplate and VFO knob. The triangular slice in the waterfall display is a photographic artifact.

The source code, schematics and 3D print files are all available on a Github, and indeed I customized the front panel and replaced the knob with one that has a dimple on it, if only to spin the VFO more easily.

You must be made aware that I was really excited to get this radio. It has a history of many other Bitx radios before it. But I’m also aware that there’s the old axiom about “too good to be true” so I tempered my expectations. You must also be made aware that I really want this radio to work as its small form factor, low cost and integrated waterfall make it exciting an exciting prospect in my limited fleet of QRP rigs. And, for the record, I have nowhere near the QRP rig count that our gracious host has, nor are they individually named.

Besides all of that, it is the only HF radio I plan to pack for Hamvention 2025 so it’s gotta be right for that trip.

However, the zBitx may be best described as an early release and/or a work in progress. Continue reading First Look at the HF Signals zBitx QRP Transceiver →

KV4AN’s MTR3B-V4 Field Kit

Conclusion

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A Case for the (tr)USDX

Introduction

How big and heavy is it?

How hard is it to replace or repair it?

How hard is it to operate?

How power-efficient is it?

Does the radio have the desired/required modes and features?

Does the radio work?

Conclusion

Video

(tr)uSDX Winder Case:

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On The Air

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By Teri KO4WFP

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Summary & Observations

The FTX-1Field

FTX-1optima

Accessories

You know what?

What’s Next?

Addendum: Yaesu USA Overview Video

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Xiegu G106 Report

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Taking the K1 to the Field!

Blue Ridge Parkway (US-3378)

Gear

Radio

Key

Antenna

Pack and Case

Logging Supplies

Battery

Camera/Audio Gear

On The Air

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