I've had my FX-4CR for a few months now, and while it's a pretty cool little rig, I haven't found it to be that great with CW. I have the same issue you have with the TX/RX delay vs. keyer speed. I also noticed yours makes the popping/crackling noises when you're sending. Mine does that as well. The received audio is quite good, so I can live with the sidetone weirdness. It's hard to argue with what it is though.....a 20w radio that fits in the palm of your hand, has a color waterfall, and will do bluetooth digital. If Yu can ever get the CW issues ironed out, that little rig might become one of my favorite radios.
Yes, the receiver is great...it's the transition from RX to TX that needs work. Without having a schematic I can only guess that it may be due to the wrong type of relay being used for T/R switching. I'll bet it's not a reed relay, which would be fast enough that delay setting vs. keyer speed would not be an issue.
I have a Harley Davidson I have been working on my POTA station to get it down so I can ride my bike to activate parks in South GA Thanks for the video
We're lucky to be able to ride this time of year as many others are putting their bikes into storage. That big ole HD ought to be able to take any rig you care to bring along! 73
Enjoyed watching your POTA activation. Nice setup! I have been inactive for a long time and am considering getting back on the air. POTA & SOTA look like a lot of fun.
I received my FX-4CR last week. I also purchased the cooling system. Prior to installing the cooling system the radio did get hot after about an hour on FT8. After installing the cooling system the radio ran much cooler. Still getting warm. Getting very warm after 4 hours of FT8 10w. I also plan on installing small heat sync on top. My Bluetooth window is installed on the bottom of my radio.
I thought about getting the FX-4CR but guessed that a 98 degree Central Florida day will cause the rig to overheat. At QRP levels it probably is fine. I think I'll save my money, but I appreciate your thorough demonstration of the rig in actual use. 73! - K4NYM
Enjoyed the great video. Oh Uh ! Rain....been there done that...on my bike. I like that radio and consider getting one. I need more info on performance before I get one. I have an ATU-10. That is a great little ATU to go along with that radio as well as my IC-705. Barry, KU3X
Yep, I recognize the call - thanks for the contacts! I don't think an external heat sink would be helpful. The rig has a substantial heat sink already but it's totally sealed within the rig. The interior of the radio then becomes an oven with the heat sink acting as the heating element. It's probably best to think of the FX-4CR as a 5W radio that is capable of 20 watts intermittently, when you need it. Actually, more than "intermittently" since it seems like everything is ok for 20 minutes or so at a high duty cycle. 73, John
@@AE5X I’m just thinking like a MacBook. Ppl raise concerns that they are hotter to the touch, than other laptops. That’s because its chassis is a way more efficient heat-sink than others (solid aluminum). I’m curious if this also the case (pun intended) here. Because I’m definitely thinking to snag one of these :)
Great setup. I am looking at a FX-4CR as a backup to my FT-857D in my KLR650 go-bag kit. As I am primarily SSB phone and concerned with ECOM 20W is the minimum I consider. Once a month I do a QRP with a group at a local county park. Is that a vStrom? ruclips.net/video/nShDYlZGKlc/видео.html
Nice set-up, Viron. The KLR is a great bike for dual-sport riding (have you done the doo-hickey mod?) - I had a DR650 for a while and road most of the TAT on it, with QRP gear - there's a video elsewhere on my RUclips channel. Current bike is a BMW R1150RT. 73, John
I've had my FX-4CR for a few months now, and while it's a pretty cool little rig, I haven't found it to be that great with CW. I have the same issue you have with the TX/RX delay vs. keyer speed. I also noticed yours makes the popping/crackling noises when you're sending. Mine does that as well. The received audio is quite good, so I can live with the sidetone weirdness. It's hard to argue with what it is though.....a 20w radio that fits in the palm of your hand, has a color waterfall, and will do bluetooth digital. If Yu can ever get the CW issues ironed out, that little rig might become one of my favorite radios.
Also have the popping cracking sounds on cw. Livable through my one POTA on it. But it’s really bad on straight key. Kinda unusable there. de n5vwn
Yes, the receiver is great...it's the transition from RX to TX that needs work. Without having a schematic I can only guess that it may be due to the wrong type of relay being used for T/R switching. I'll bet it's not a reed relay, which would be fast enough that delay setting vs. keyer speed would not be an issue.
I'm starting CW, and your level makes me envious, that and the rig hahaha good stuff, thanks for the video!
Just found out this little rig exists. And you said 20W. That’s a ton of power :-)
W1ND
I have a Harley Davidson
I have been working on my POTA station to get it down so I can ride my bike to activate parks in South GA
Thanks for the video
We're lucky to be able to ride this time of year as many others are putting their bikes into storage. That big ole HD ought to be able to take any rig you care to bring along! 73
Enjoyed watching your POTA activation. Nice setup! I have been inactive for a long time and am considering getting back on the air. POTA & SOTA look like a lot of fun.
They are a lot of fun. Starting out as a hunter is an easy way to begin - the activators can be found here:
pota.app/#/
I received my FX-4CR last week. I also purchased the cooling system. Prior to installing the cooling system the radio did get hot after about an hour on FT8. After installing the cooling system the radio ran much cooler. Still getting warm. Getting very warm after 4 hours of FT8 10w. I also plan on installing small heat sync on top. My Bluetooth window is installed on the bottom of my radio.
I thought about getting the FX-4CR but guessed that a 98 degree Central Florida day will cause the rig to overheat. At QRP levels it probably is fine. I think I'll save my money, but I appreciate your thorough demonstration of the rig in actual use. 73! - K4NYM
Motorbiking and POTA - love it ! Defo going to do this once I can copy fast enough 😀
Nice video, well done.
Enjoyed the great video. Oh Uh ! Rain....been there done that...on my bike.
I like that radio and consider getting one. I need more info on performance before I get one.
I have an ATU-10. That is a great little ATU to go along with that radio as well as my IC-705.
Barry, KU3X
Neat little setup. I have the ATU-10. Great little ATU. I use mine with the IC 705.
Great little radio for POTA.
Barry, KU3X
PS.....Nice Beamer.
Really nice bike and key. We need a code and cycles club. Hehe
MotoMorsers!
great station thanks for sharing this video 73 from kb2uew
I have a lot of QSOs of you in my logs, nice vid. About the rig, would it be possible to fashion a heat sink? 72 de AI5DD
Yep, I recognize the call - thanks for the contacts! I don't think an external heat sink would be helpful. The rig has a substantial heat sink already but it's totally sealed within the rig. The interior of the radio then becomes an oven with the heat sink acting as the heating element. It's probably best to think of the FX-4CR as a 5W radio that is capable of 20 watts intermittently, when you need it. Actually, more than "intermittently" since it seems like everything is ok for 20 minutes or so at a high duty cycle.
73,
John
What would this rig look like after 15 minutes of continuous CW transmission at 20W? Thanks for your video!
It would be hot if ambient was more than 27C or so.
Have you upgraded to the latest firmware? I've heard it cleans up a lot of the CW issues.
I no longer have the radio.
Link for the thermometer tape that go that high, please and thank you?
amzn.to/3O26AUH
73,
John
When you did this POTA activity did your FX-4CR have the internal Fan mod ?
No, it did not.
Just received my FX-4CR today! What are the flip out legs you have attached to the back?
Here they are:
amzn.to/43B3Gw2
How is the temperature at 5w?
Hi, great video. Need to bring mine out again. What firmware are you using? 73
V1.2 (15 April)
Considering the entire unit is a heat-sink, hot might be good in this case.
The purpose of a heart sink is to remove heat from electronic components, not encapsulate them within it.
@@AE5X I’m just thinking like a MacBook. Ppl raise concerns that they are hotter to the touch, than other laptops. That’s because its chassis is a way more efficient heat-sink than others (solid aluminum). I’m curious if this also the case (pun intended) here. Because I’m definitely thinking to snag one of these :)
Why do you get calls at 7-8 words per minute but send at over 10?
I activate (and call CQ) at 22 wpm.
The key się awesome i guess
Great setup. I am looking at a FX-4CR as a backup to my FT-857D in my KLR650 go-bag kit. As I am primarily SSB phone and concerned with ECOM 20W is the minimum I consider.
Once a month I do a QRP with a group at a local county park.
Is that a vStrom?
ruclips.net/video/nShDYlZGKlc/видео.html
Nice set-up, Viron. The KLR is a great bike for dual-sport riding (have you done the doo-hickey mod?) - I had a DR650 for a while and road most of the TAT on it, with QRP gear - there's a video elsewhere on my RUclips channel. Current bike is a BMW R1150RT.
73,
John