I appreciate that Xiegu is really jumping into this area of amateur radio, and it's obvious that their reach outstrips their grasp. But they are trying, and I expect that in 5 years they will be well established as a brand you can trust.
You mean like Sony and Panasonic after WWII? Or Hyundai/Kia currently? I 100% agree with you on this one. They will be a force to be reckoned with if they can last... and so far it looks like they are pricing right and will last.
@@temporarilyoffline That's exactly what I mean. "Made in Japan" used to be an insult, and now it's a world standard. As long as they keep iterating they will get there.
@@AG7SM Its not just Xiegu (China) and Hyundai (Korea)... I think that we are exporting our dollars to empower those countries to grow... which could be fine... or it could have the same result that it did for us in the early stages of WWII - we imported the worlds money and exported goods and became the world reserve currency. Very deep thoughts.
On point, thank you. If you're wanting a 705, this is not a poor man's 705 - look used, save up, whatever - but if you buy this intending it to be an alternate, you'll be disappointed. It's good at what it is - it's an HF radio, rough around the edges and still being factory-tweaked, for someone willing to pop the $600 price of admission and be patient. Works decently enough presently as a basic radio, NR works OK, obviously not like my FTDX10, but I was not expecting that. Scope/waterfall work well, SWR scan is great, and yeah, receiver could use some help.
I've used my 6100 on 6 POTA activations so far, and have not come home disappointed saying "next time I'm back to my IC 705". This radio is great, even with it's shortcomings with the CW Memory and CW NR issues. 73 and thanks for your update!
@@temporarilyoffline since this comment 3 weeks ago, the x6100 has been on 10 POTAs and FYBO and the fact CW memory now works kicks it up another notch for me. Thanks for all the development and work you're doing with this T.O. 73
I was just thinking about this today. Glad to have an update! Super exciting to hear you (and others) are working a firmware for it. I check TOADS when I can but it can certainly be difficult to keep up. Cheers!
I put my money on this rig after watching a couple of your vids. Thank you for being aggressive at finding issues and ultimately pressuring for updates to firmware. I’m hoping that this rig will be as good or better than the G90, pretty excited! No way would I pay $$ for the 705 and drag it to the woods or out on the boat. Keep up the great effort! Thank you 🙏
I agree with most of what you said. I think it is a great grab and go radio. I have one and have setup outside and as a HF rig it worked great and at 10 watts I was easily making contacts and having an internal tuner is great. That is what i wanted it for. I don't care about wifi and bluetooth but may use it when it is working
@@temporarilyoffline Sure. Built-in PSK31 send and receive from the radio itself with just an external keyboard. That would probably a major factor for buying this radio. Thanks
I own this radio, your right it is not for a new ham... My greatest wish is to be able to operate it from my Ipad over the internet. It has wifi- check. Now we need a ssl socket, virtual server in it! Make it so Linux Gods... 😄
Good recap. Down the road, this thing is gonna be awesome. For the price, it ain't bad now. Not perfect, but we're getting there. I do agree with you that 3 firmware releases in a month - aggressive. When you guys get raspbian on it, now that will a cool thing. Thanks bro!
Thank you! This is very nice structured and interesting thoughts about Xiegu X6100. I agree with you in your assumptions and ideas about usage of this radio. Have to say that I am not going to buy X6100 after some kind of disappointment after Xiegu G90 firmware quality but at least more radios means more choice and end user wins in this case.
Hurry up and set the radio down. This radio, once you externalize the wifi bt antennas, will be an app controlled, dual band stream controlled radio. Hang it from a tethered helium balloon, and operate knobs from a screen via wifi, and stream in/out audio using bt. With the built in tuner, it is an indepenent radio pod. Or very controllable "fox".
On the upside, I think you've probably had more 'play value' out of it just fixing it, even if wasn't a decent transceiver. Which it basically is. For 'code virgins', that's a PITA.
Great video you are spot on. BTW, did you hack my webcam on my laptop and see all my portable QRP rigs? You pretty much nailed me and many more field QRP OPs well done! KQ9L
We appreciate everything you are doing for this radio and the ham community! I had to laugh: it is too complex for a new operator, and it will be a disappointment for experienced amateurs. 73
the C64 isn't capable of decoding the audio chain of normal FT8... maybe a single 50hz directed sked. I am however (very lazily) working on getting the C64 on packet radio.
Join the TOADs discord (in the description) and there are at least two different chat rooms for it, and if they aren't obvious, just ask in the general chat, we'll be glad to lead you there.
I appreciate that Xiegu is really jumping into this area of amateur radio, and it's obvious that their reach outstrips their grasp. But they are trying, and I expect that in 5 years they will be well established as a brand you can trust.
Ha Ha Ha ha ha ha ha
You mean like Sony and Panasonic after WWII? Or Hyundai/Kia currently? I 100% agree with you on this one. They will be a force to be reckoned with if they can last... and so far it looks like they are pricing right and will last.
@@temporarilyoffline That's exactly what I mean. "Made in Japan" used to be an insult, and now it's a world standard. As long as they keep iterating they will get there.
@@AG7SM Its not just Xiegu (China) and Hyundai (Korea)... I think that we are exporting our dollars to empower those countries to grow... which could be fine... or it could have the same result that it did for us in the early stages of WWII - we imported the worlds money and exported goods and became the world reserve currency. Very deep thoughts.
After all of your and others' work, this interim summing up video was needed and greatly appreciated!
Thanks Frank! I'll keep 'em coming as long as we keep making progress.
On point, thank you. If you're wanting a 705, this is not a poor man's 705 - look used, save up, whatever - but if you buy this intending it to be an alternate, you'll be disappointed. It's good at what it is - it's an HF radio, rough around the edges and still being factory-tweaked, for someone willing to pop the $600 price of admission and be patient. Works decently enough presently as a basic radio, NR works OK, obviously not like my FTDX10, but I was not expecting that. Scope/waterfall work well, SWR scan is great, and yeah, receiver could use some help.
Sums it up perfectly.
I've used my 6100 on 6 POTA activations so far, and have not come home disappointed saying "next time I'm back to my IC 705". This radio is great, even with it's shortcomings with the CW Memory and CW NR issues. 73 and thanks for your update!
I definitely does radio, no argument there. I'm happy with mine also.
@@temporarilyoffline since this comment 3 weeks ago, the x6100 has been on 10 POTAs and FYBO and the fact CW memory now works kicks it up another notch for me. Thanks for all the development and work you're doing with this T.O. 73
@@SteelCityPA FYBO? I'm glad you are having fun! I'm taking mine with me to Orlando
I was just thinking about this today. Glad to have an update! Super exciting to hear you (and others) are working a firmware for it. I check TOADS when I can but it can certainly be difficult to keep up. Cheers!
Yeah, if you miss TOADs for a few hoursl you're missing a lot of Ham Radio's Finest.
Excellent recap on the X6100. I'm calling it "not ready for prime time...yet..."
I totally agree! Love your channel, and we'd love to have you as a guest on our Saturday or Sunday morning RUclips show. Let me know!
I put my money on this rig after watching a couple of your vids. Thank you for being aggressive at finding issues and ultimately pressuring for updates to firmware. I’m hoping that this rig will be as good or better than the G90, pretty excited! No way would I pay $$ for the 705 and drag it to the woods or out on the boat. Keep up the great effort! Thank you 🙏
Thanks Trevor! Its been a fun ride!
Tinker away TO! :) Love the updates!
Glad you like them!
I agree with most of what you said. I think it is a great grab and go radio. I have one and have setup outside and as a HF rig it worked great and at 10 watts I was easily making contacts and having an internal tuner is great. That is what i wanted it for. I don't care about wifi and bluetooth but may use it when it is working
That's exactly that outlook that makes this a great radio. Would it have been $600 without the wifi/bt?...
Thanks Steve for all your efforts on this radio
Thanks Joe! Anything you'd like to see?
@@temporarilyoffline Sure. Built-in PSK31 send and receive from the radio itself with just an external keyboard. That would probably a major factor for buying this radio. Thanks
@@joeblow8593 I think that is doable
I own this radio, your right it is not for a new ham... My greatest wish is to be able to operate it from my Ipad over the internet.
It has wifi- check.
Now we need a ssl socket, virtual server in it!
Make it so Linux Gods... 😄
Exactly!
Good recap. Down the road, this thing is gonna be awesome. For the price, it ain't bad now. Not perfect, but we're getting there. I do agree with you that 3 firmware releases in a month - aggressive. When you guys get raspbian on it, now that will a cool thing. Thanks bro!
You bet Jim!
Thank you!
This is very nice structured and interesting thoughts about Xiegu X6100. I agree with you in your assumptions and ideas about usage of this radio. Have to say that I am not going to buy X6100 after some kind of disappointment after Xiegu G90 firmware quality but at least more radios means more choice and end user wins in this case.
Agreed! I think they have the potential to go somewhere in this fairly empty market. I expect better in the future as they learn and grow.
Steve do you have a group of videos on the Xiegu x5101.
X6100 Playlist: ruclips.net/p/PL01YuCls6edZFtrAOUS03eZ_06buNECD6
I'm have an X5105 that I need to make some videos on yet. Stay tuned for that.
Hurry up and set the radio down. This radio, once you externalize the wifi bt antennas, will be an app controlled, dual band stream controlled radio. Hang it from a tethered helium balloon, and operate knobs from a screen via wifi, and stream in/out audio using bt. With the built in tuner, it is an indepenent radio pod. Or very controllable "fox".
Those are some great ideas! I'm gonna have to try that!
I’m thinking of getting one for SOTA/POTA while on business trips. I think this will fit the bill. Thoughts?
I think it would be a fun radio. Check out this video for a good way to pack it up: ruclips.net/video/YL9icxTSg1g/видео.html
Another big upgrade from users after the first few successful firmware improvements would be a touchscreen addition kit/firmware.
That would be interesting
Is there a newer SotR? Would love to have a follow up a year later.
There has been a lot of news on the channel, there will be more.
On the upside, I think you've probably had more 'play value' out of it just fixing it, even if wasn't a decent transceiver. Which it basically is. For 'code virgins', that's a PITA.
Its a decent transceiver and I've had enough fun tinkering. I'm happy with my purchase.
Great video you are spot on. BTW, did you hack my webcam on my laptop and see all my portable QRP rigs? You pretty much nailed me and many more field QRP OPs well done! KQ9L
Thanks! I may know a little about certain radios...
Thanks for the recap. I try to follow this on TOADS, but without being involved with skin or radio in the game it is not easy to keep up[.
This is the most excitement I've seen for a new radio in a long time.
I am wondering if anyone is talking to the factory directly and having a conversation about the issues and possible solutions and the future path?
I have. The factory doesn't write the software.
We appreciate everything you are doing for this radio and the ham community! I had to laugh: it is too complex for a new operator, and it will be a disappointment for experienced amateurs. 73
Its a very interesting radio.
So do the C16 and Plus4 still work?
I've not gotten around to making videos on those, so I don't know. That's the fun part!
I want to see you doing a FT8/FT4, WSPR and PSK31 app for the Commodore64
the C64 isn't capable of decoding the audio chain of normal FT8... maybe a single 50hz directed sked. I am however (very lazily) working on getting the C64 on packet radio.
@@temporarilyoffline Packet is quite easy. I was thinking an FT8 etc data modem for the C64 would be good.
@@G7VFY It would have to be an external decoder device that just fed "text" strings into the c64 as 1200baud. That part the c64 can do.
Where on discord is the X6100?
Join the TOADs discord (in the description) and there are at least two different chat rooms for it, and if they aren't obvious, just ask in the general chat, we'll be glad to lead you there.
@@AG7SM I've been trying to join it but I keep getting the "invalid invite" page.
Toads Discord: discord.gg/tsVKqfv The channel you're looking for once you land is #xiegu-6100-shenanigans Come join us!
@@temporarilyoffline cool thanks!