Some of you might recall that I tested both an early prototype and a production model of the Xiegu X6200—both arranged to be sent to me on loan by Radioddity.
One of the biggest issues I had with the X6200 was that the keyer timing was off. These keying issues were most noticeable when operating in iambic mode, especially when forming letters like C, R, or K by squeezing the paddles—something I often do. For example, when I tried sending a “C,” as in “CQ,” the keyer would produce a “B” instead.
I last mentioned these keying issues on September 20, 2024, here on QRPer.com while testing firmware version 1.0.1.
New Firmware
On October 14, 2024, Xiegu released firmware version 1.0.3, which some readers told me addressed the keyer timing. But, of course, my life changed on September 27 when Hurricane Helene swept through the mountains of North Carolina. Testing firmware was the last thing on my mind, and frankly, it just slipped through the cracks.
On January 15, 2025, Xiegu published yet another firmware update: version 1.0.6.
This past Wednesday morning, I realized that I had never updated the firmware on my X6200 loaner and tested the keyer timing in real-world conditions. So, I downloaded the update, installed it, and packed up the X6200 for a POTA outing at Lake James State Park (US-2739) that afternoon.
I actually recorded this activation and will publish a full field report and video in a couple of weeks.
In the meantime, I wanted to get the word out early: the keyer timing issues are pretty much resolved!
Why do I say “pretty much”?
Before Xiegu addressed the keyer timing, making contacts was tedious due to the number of times it would miskey a character.
On Wednesday, that was no longer the case. The keyer responded as it should and worked very well.
That said, I did note three minor anomalies:
1. Occasional Miskeying of “C”:
About three times over the course of my activation, when I sent a “C” by squeezing the paddles, it produced a “B.” So, roughly 3% of the time, this happened. I plan to reach out to Xiegu and see if they can tweak this further. In truth, though, I suspect this might be a nuance of my own sending style. I may even try shifting from Iambic B to Iambic A mode to see if it resolves the issue. Either way, I don’t consider this a major concern.
2. Inaccurate Keyer Speed Indicator:
The displayed keyer speed is off. When I set it to 18 WPM, it was actually sending at 22 WPM. Likewise, 20 WPM was closer to 25 WPM. This is easy to compensate for once you’re aware of it, but it’s worth noting.
3. One Keying Pause:
Once, when I sent my callsign rapidly three times in a row for a QRP DX contact, the keyer paused briefly, as if the buffer had filled, then resumed. It was a bit odd, but it only happened once. I’m not sure if this was related to the keyer itself or another element in the radio software that needed time to catch up. Regardless, it didn’t hinder my activation.
Of course, I’ll be sending these observations to Xiegu.
Summary
Before firmware update 1.0.3, I couldn’t recommend the X6200 to operators who primarily planned to use it for CW—it would have been a frustrating experience.
Now that Xiegu has addressed the keying issues (with the few exceptions noted above), I believe CW operators won’t encounter significant problems using this radio.
That said, I’m not done with the X6200 yet. I plan to take it to the field and use it in the shack for a few more weeks before shipping it back to Radioddity (who, at this point, have probably written off this poor radio!).
Look for my full X6200 field report and activation video in the coming weeks!
PS: If you’re a Patreon supporter, keep an eye on your inbox! I’ll be sending out an audio dispatch this morning–an addendum to this post–where I share more detailed thoughts about the X6200 and discuss the key characteristics I look for in a transceiver as a CW operator.
PSS: Many thanks to Radioddity for sending me this X6200, which has amounted to a very extended loan. Radioddity is a supporter and affiliate of QRPer.com. If you use this affiliate link you’ll save 5% off your purchase.