I know this is an Amateur set but posting here for the benefit of those, like me that are stuck on CB!
The best 10m radio out there (as well as 12,15, 18, 20, 40 and 80 et al)
Still working my way thru the radio. With the make shift antennas I have here in NZ it works very well. How it copes with the 5el beam at 120ft is another question. RF gain is an attenuator, pre amp or nothing but it works OK. DNR I have yet to see. The receive on the ham bands is the surprising thing. The signals are easily copied at low levels. There is noise but the signals get over it. I do use head phones. The tuner works everywhere without the mod so can be used for SWL as well. That was the key to some bright spark working out where to look for the 'MARS' mod. I have not removed the diode yet but I will. Mike did his and proved it works. This thing has a lot of potential with future firmware upgrades. It has an element of fun about it that other radios like the FT891 don't possess due to their complexity. There is a lot to say about simplicity. Not sure if I like the noise blanker yet or not. I tend to leave it off. Definitely needs to be set up before using!
Re SWL I must say I was not impressed as I ran thru 9 and 12 mhz looking for signals. Perhaps there just wasn't a lot about? AM broadcast sounds nice on internal speaker and 5khz bandwidth. The chassis could have been made a bit lighter. The panel that the speaker is attached to is several mm thick. It sure is solid. Also if anyone comes up with a bail it needs one. I have rubber feet on mine for now but it won't work too good sitting on a rock or a patch of grass.
I will be sticking it in my pack and heading for that perfect coastal location or up the mountain somewhere with a lightweight inverted V or two. The tuner seems to be able to take care of everything I have thrown at it so far.
The knob issue? A quick press. I have to use my finger nails or else I get a long press which does nothing.
Hence the issue, "the buttons don't work."
They do; but more of a touch than a press.
TBH a lot of the button functions could all be done from the function knob because you don't tent to fiddle with the radio much once you are talking on it.
I will be very very surprised if you don't really really like this radio.
Like all SDR's if you have strong stations nearby it can get affected but the tuner is there to work as a passband filter when required.
Can't wait to hear your opinion. You will either love it or hate it. No middle ground here.
Leave the firmware that the radio came with for a while as you get used to how the radio works. Ver 1.6 is fine. That's the way ours came.
Cheers,
Dave
The best 10m radio out there (as well as 12,15, 18, 20, 40 and 80 et al)
Still working my way thru the radio. With the make shift antennas I have here in NZ it works very well. How it copes with the 5el beam at 120ft is another question. RF gain is an attenuator, pre amp or nothing but it works OK. DNR I have yet to see. The receive on the ham bands is the surprising thing. The signals are easily copied at low levels. There is noise but the signals get over it. I do use head phones. The tuner works everywhere without the mod so can be used for SWL as well. That was the key to some bright spark working out where to look for the 'MARS' mod. I have not removed the diode yet but I will. Mike did his and proved it works. This thing has a lot of potential with future firmware upgrades. It has an element of fun about it that other radios like the FT891 don't possess due to their complexity. There is a lot to say about simplicity. Not sure if I like the noise blanker yet or not. I tend to leave it off. Definitely needs to be set up before using!
Re SWL I must say I was not impressed as I ran thru 9 and 12 mhz looking for signals. Perhaps there just wasn't a lot about? AM broadcast sounds nice on internal speaker and 5khz bandwidth. The chassis could have been made a bit lighter. The panel that the speaker is attached to is several mm thick. It sure is solid. Also if anyone comes up with a bail it needs one. I have rubber feet on mine for now but it won't work too good sitting on a rock or a patch of grass.
I will be sticking it in my pack and heading for that perfect coastal location or up the mountain somewhere with a lightweight inverted V or two. The tuner seems to be able to take care of everything I have thrown at it so far.
The knob issue? A quick press. I have to use my finger nails or else I get a long press which does nothing.
Hence the issue, "the buttons don't work."
They do; but more of a touch than a press.
TBH a lot of the button functions could all be done from the function knob because you don't tent to fiddle with the radio much once you are talking on it.
I will be very very surprised if you don't really really like this radio.
Like all SDR's if you have strong stations nearby it can get affected but the tuner is there to work as a passband filter when required.
Can't wait to hear your opinion. You will either love it or hate it. No middle ground here.
Leave the firmware that the radio came with for a while as you get used to how the radio works. Ver 1.6 is fine. That's the way ours came.
Cheers,
Dave
