This Qrp Station is a beautiful kit that's aesthetically pleasing to the eye!!! However, it's unavailable, unattainable, unnecessarily overpriced, and unrealistic. All of this can be done with a G90 and a Digirig. That snakes nest of cables ( not to mention if you added data) comrpomises much about this setup. If this was about $1200-$1500 of radio equipment, maybe it would be cool, but with those prototype amps , battery packs, and tuners, this is a bad bad deal. It looks good, though ( when the cables aren't connected). Then !! The TX-500 is weather resistant, and the supporting equipment isn't! This is just for looks only. The more I think about this its terrible!! And Ive used the amp before ( it was sweet). This is almost bad for ham radio in my opinion.
Great video Josh. I bought my QRP Station back in March 2003. I'm still waiting on my battery. Ed had to rework the battery. The battery pack should work perfect now. I should receive my battery by the end of this month.
More components and cables increases the number of possible failure points. If you need 50W portable then you're better with an IC7200 or FT991A etc. you really can't call this the QRP station.
@@pnwgeek agreed to an extent but I'm talking from experience. My experience is that it's best to reduce complexity when operating portable from a summit. Ok if operating from a park bench, it's not as critical. Each to their own. Whatever keeps the hobby interesting.
If these all docked together with no external wires or cabling that would be awesome. If there was a digital clippy onny thingy with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth that would be even better. I got the IC-705 in large part due to the lack of cabling and extra components needed to do all the things.
The tricky thing is nothing really is the size of TheQRPStation that puts out higher power with the features it hosts. I think there are plenty of GOOD compromises, but that's up to the individual. I am just reporting on the cool stuff I come across!
@@HamRadioCrashCourse For field day, i just take my icom 7300 in a 'go case'. Its bigger but I've already paid for it and it does all this. Seems like a Rube Goldberg machine to me. I guess some people like the idea of it but boy, seems over the top
omg... puts his call out, 20 stations coming back. Meanwhile, in Brisbane Australia, I call CQ for 20 minutes on each of the 5 bands and leave with 0 contacts and a wasted hour and a half! lol
I'm not so sure about the TX-500. I got one because as /MM I like that it's splashproof There seem to be a few common problems and by all accounts it uses obsolete parts. I bought one recently in the UK and after one QSO it died. 3 weeks later and the supplier has still not returned it. There were no emails back from from the manufacture when I asked for support.
Apples / oranges. Different setups with different features for different folks. You wouldn't go backpacking or even a minor few mile hike with a 991. Would definitely do that with this, or, at least just the 599 and leave the amp at home.
11:07 Correction/Clarification: the model of amplifier is the "PA500" which was created by DL4KA (Oliver). There is also an even more rare model (the PA500E Expedition with 100W) ....which I should soon be receiving for use with my IC-705! 73
With stations hearing you better than you hear them are you sure that the amp switching is working correctly? If the Rx signal has to come back through the amplifier it will be attenuated.
Wouldn’t be easier just to get a radio thats 100w and can do digital? 🤦🏻 Holy moly! Carrying all of that. That radio is over priced btw! U can get a 710, FT10 or any other small radio, just hook the laptop and don’t have to carry all of these!
This Qrp Station is a beautiful kit that's aesthetically pleasing to the eye!!! However, it's unavailable, unattainable, unnecessarily overpriced, and unrealistic. All of this can be done with a G90 and a Digirig.
That snakes nest of cables ( not to mention if you added data) comrpomises much about this setup. If this was about $1200-$1500 of radio equipment, maybe it would be cool, but with those prototype amps , battery packs, and tuners, this is a bad bad deal. It looks good, though ( when the cables aren't connected). Then !! The TX-500 is weather resistant, and the supporting equipment isn't! This is just for looks only. The more I think about this its terrible!! And Ive used the amp before ( it was sweet). This is almost bad for ham radio in my opinion.
Relax. You do your own radio over there. I’ll do what I want over here. 👍
I love technology Josh that is so beautiful ❤️ I'm in love with it now💯❤️👍
Great video Josh. I bought my QRP Station back in March 2003. I'm still waiting on my battery. Ed had to rework the battery. The battery pack should work perfect now. I should receive my battery by the end of this month.
Thanks for posting this.73 W7TVS
More components and cables increases the number of possible failure points. If you need 50W portable then you're better with an IC7200 or FT991A etc. you really can't call this the QRP station.
This is kind of like saying "you shouldnt drive a motorcycle with a backpack and saddle bags, you should just buy a car instead".
@@pnwgeek agreed to an extent but I'm talking from experience. My experience is that it's best to reduce complexity when operating portable from a summit. Ok if operating from a park bench, it's not as critical. Each to their own. Whatever keeps the hobby interesting.
If these all docked together with no external wires or cabling that would be awesome. If there was a digital clippy onny thingy with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth that would be even better. I got the IC-705 in large part due to the lack of cabling and extra components needed to do all the things.
Thats real complicated, have to agree with other comments, just get a radio that already does all this. Wires running everywhere on that thing
The tricky thing is nothing really is the size of TheQRPStation that puts out higher power with the features it hosts. I think there are plenty of GOOD compromises, but that's up to the individual. I am just reporting on the cool stuff I come across!
@@HamRadioCrashCourse For field day, i just take my icom 7300 in a 'go case'. Its bigger but I've already paid for it and it does all this. Seems like a Rube Goldberg machine to me. I guess some people like the idea of it but boy, seems over the top
Sure. For Field Day. What about hiking? Want a 7300 go box for hiking?
@@HamRadioCrashCourse good point!
omg... puts his call out, 20 stations coming back. Meanwhile, in Brisbane Australia, I call CQ for 20 minutes on each of the 5 bands and leave with 0 contacts and a wasted hour and a half! lol
I'm not so sure about the TX-500. I got one because as /MM I like that it's splashproof
There seem to be a few common problems and by all accounts it uses obsolete parts.
I bought one recently in the UK and after one QSO it died. 3 weeks later and the supplier has still not returned it. There were no emails back from from the manufacture when I asked for support.
All the money just get a yeasu 991A
705 for QRP and I can pull the 7300 out of my shack - this is my solution if I need more power.
Apples / oranges. Different setups with different features for different folks.
You wouldn't go backpacking or even a minor few mile hike with a 991. Would definitely do that with this, or, at least just the 599 and leave the amp at home.
@@pnwgeek 705 would do
I like watching you but never catch live.
11:07 Correction/Clarification: the model of amplifier is the "PA500" which was created by DL4KA (Oliver). There is also an even more rare model (the PA500E Expedition with 100W) ....which I should soon be receiving for use with my IC-705! 73
Josh you came such a like Jason your videos are so good
What?
Hey Josh I like your you're hilarious with your facial expressions❤😂😊😊😊
Thank you!
RF keying amplifiers is how you kill relays in the amp... I ALWAYS hard key amps!
Josh...is the battery good enough to power both the amp and radio for an afternoon of DXing?
Team replay!
wires everywhere! nope, not today satan!
Several times here each time it sent me to another video.
Yes, I've been sent to MSNBC a lot lately, mostly after the video ends.
Never used to happen though.
Hey Josh, as usual great content. What amp are you using with your 705?
Josh....power is on 100%...shouldn't it be lowered to 25%?
As long as we are talking about unobtainiam, I’ll order an IC705 with a 100W all band amp from a customized 7100. 😂😂
You can buy two cars, or you can buy this.
lol, what cars???
It looks like the product page is down/doesn’t load content.
The only problem is that never is available, just checked again for 14 time and nothing, the website dont even show it
They sell out fast.
Sorry I was not there
With stations hearing you better than you hear them are you sure that the amp switching is working correctly? If the Rx signal has to come back through the amplifier it will be attenuated.
link for that amp?
Who is selling the kit ? HRO has only the radio in stock
The link is in the description
Is TX full open?
If you need 100 watts you're not doing it right
This really only does 50. But I generally agree.
Compare it to the kpa100
kpa100 is great, but the size isn't even close.
Wouldn’t be easier just to get a radio thats 100w and can do digital? 🤦🏻 Holy moly! Carrying all of that. That radio is over priced btw! U can get a 710, FT10 or any other small radio, just hook the laptop and don’t have to carry all of these!
Ok. You do you. 👍
Do you really think it's easier to go on a hike with an FTDX10 compared to this?
Made in Russia… no thanks.
Awesome Travis W7TVS! It's official. You are famous. 73 W7JJR