KX2 and mcHF QRP side by side listening on 20m
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- Опубликовано: 22 авг 2017
- I was asked if I could do a quick side by side of the two rigs on the bands, so here is a crude quick test using my windom and the Elecraft KX2 and the mcHF QRP Chinese Clone.
Fred VE3FAL 72/73
I enjoy all aspects of the outdoors, be it hiking, biking, hunting, fishing or canoeing.
Camping and survival are two skills I continually try and work on and stay ready and practiced
In the event these lifesaving skills are required.
I have had many teachers in my life and appreciate all that they have taught me, and I try to do the same thing.
Amateur radio is also one of my hobbies and past time, and it as well has taught me lots and has helped me meet people around the world.
Family is of course the most important aspect of my life and has brought me the most enjoyable memories in life.
Some other RUclips sites that I recommend:
Survival Russia: / moscowprepper
4DB: / @4directionsbushcraft
Adventure Time Outdoors: / @adventuretimeoutdoors
1st Thunder Scouts: / @1stthunderscouts432
Far North Bushcraft and Survival: / phreshayr
MTwoodsrunner: • Canteen Cup, Ruck and ...
This is just a very small list of those I frequently visit.
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72/73
Fred
VE3FAL
Thanks Fred .... looking forward to the review on the mcHF QRP rig =)
I’m looking at one from DX Canada right now. VE3CNA, 73!
I see so many reviews where they are trying to compare radios while hunting up transmitting stations. Too many variables in my opinon. As a tip I would recommend tuning both radios to a steady CW Beacon.
I am surprised but the MCHF seems to be quiter and better filtering
How a transciever A/B comparison becomes more usefull?
1. Use the same Antenna.
2. Use on each transciever, external, equal loudspeaker.
3. Use a Antenna switch.
4. Switch each 5 second, between A and B transciever.
5. Switch during a station is talking.
6. Use the same settings on each transciever (BW, GAIN, FILTER...)
7. Don't talk yourself during the test !!!
8. Cut out, to search stations on the video.
9. Write the mode for this video in the content; SSB; CW....
Maybe you find some more useful settings?
Best Regards
Mark
mcHF seems to have a "quieter"rx. One good way to test is with really weak signals not 579 signals. I only ever compared an ft 857 with a kx3 on really week signals . The kx3 was still hearing where the 857 was all internal and passband noise. Thanks for posting mcHF looks like a nice rig, probably cheaper than the Elecraft too.
Interesting to hear your comparison with the 857. I currently use an 897 which is the same but in a bigger box. So could look forward to better reception with any of the modern radios I guess.
@@richardcorfield9926 I find that hard to believe
I think I've got the right radios. The 897 and 857 were much the same radio, but the 897 built into a bigger box designed to take internal batteries. That is my main and only radio at the moment.
@@richardcorfield9926 How can it be the same radio? Lol
Here's the Eham page for the 897. Note a lot of reviews comparing it with the 857.
www.eham.net/reviews/detail/2432?
It gets good reviews. Makes me wonder - do I want to replace it?
I just got my 918ssb and had to go into the menu to cut the power back, mine was doing over 30 watts!
yes some of them were set way too high, but they warm up very fast I found, that little heat sink near the stand fold does no justice for the heat dissipation.
Good video!
For both SWLing and QRP, what have you found to be a good crossover rig, and does the McHF fit into that category better than, say, the KX3?
Fineout Rick I sold my mcHF as it was not the rig I had hoped it was. I sold my KX3 and my take everywhere radio is the KX2 today....Fred
One thing I noticed on the KX2 is that you had the NB on, and on my KX2 depending on how you have the level set, it can distort the signal, and I am wondering if that is why the KX2 sounded harsher than the mcHF?
Nice video. What I'd like to see you do is the following:
Before you start the camera, find a signal that you can hardly hear. Tune in both radios to the same frequency. Now let's see if
you can hear that signal on both radios.
In other words, is the sensitivity of the radios pretty much equal?
Go one more step. Set both radios to the same bandwidth. Now find a signal that is being interfered with. How do both radios
handle it? Make sure the bandwidth on both radios are the same.
By the way, keep both radios on FAST AGC, not slow. Noise blanker always off. Strange things happen when it's turned on.
Barry, KU3X/QRP
So I'm wondering if using a beacon to compare receivers would be a good idea. Also, does the mcHF have an antenna tuner? Built in batteries?
Dennis Mathias no built in tuner or built in battery. I have since sold mine off and am looking at other rigs to play with. When band cdx change it would not make much difference using a beacon other then the fact that it would be somewhat continuous vs a person passing it to another
Hi Fred. Yeah, I was thinking about the continuous nature. Nice video though so I'm not criticizing. Without internal batteries and ATU I'm sticking with my KX3. Still, it's attractive.
Yup my KX2 is my all round field radio for hiking, canoeing etc....My KX3 is too large and too many buttons to damage. Both are awesome rigs. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Hey, Fred..take us into the woods with you sometime with your KX2. I'd be interested in how you handle that from power to antenna erection. Just a thought. Thanks for the video.
will do, last February took the KX2 and Packtenna out for Winter Field day (WFD) . There is a video on my youtube channel, but plan to take it out again soon....
I'm really interested in the mcHF, but I keep seeing various reports of numerous problems. I read a lot of reviews on Amazon and several other sites, and they're kind of all over the place. I know the original design itself is a great radio. I'm just not sure who to purchase from, or through.
Escape the Matrix had one, sold it and unless was the real one and not a clone would consider. Had too many issues
@@VE3FAL1Fred Ah ha, that's probably why I was seeing a lot of bad things. Thanks for the info. I've also got my eye on the, "Minion SDR," but don't know anyone that has had any first-hand experience, nor have I seen many reviews/videos about it.
Escape the Matrix I had one in my cart but with exchange and shipping it was way too much for a radio like that, have heard both good and bad about it
@@VE3FAL1Fred Well, once again, thanks for the info. Sounds like you're the go-to guy for radios, especially QRP. *lol* I emailed the company several days ago and haven't heard back. That didn't exactly make me anxious to part with $350.
The latest firmware for the MChf decodes CW, RTTY and freeDV(digital voice mode for HF)
jimthvac100 yes it does, now for them to implement psk. Running 128 in mine as if yesterday
PSK now implemented, but it looks like the Chinese clones are out of luck, as they generally have the 512KB MCU, and the current firmware has gone just above that.
@@gerrykavanagh this one is just being built and does have PSK with latest firmware and its only $375 www.banggood.com/Recent-10-15W-RS-918-SSB-HF-SDR-HAM-Transceiver-Transmit-Power-TX-0_5-30MHz-V0_6-MCHF-p-1820335.html?cur_warehouse=CN.
Thanks for taking the time to make this video, for the next time can you put the camera on a mount? I get seasick real easy.
must be also same pitch and same bw and nb level if any ... Is it mcHF from Chris or it is Chinese clone?
michaelscoofield It was a clone and was not even close to what I was anticipating. It cane from Recent Communications and I was not happy with the communication. Live and learn.
I'd use a splitter so both units can see the signal simultaneously. It's really hard to discern much with constantly changing signals and band conditions anyway. Probably be more helpful using a weak controllable source like a signal generator or a third rig transmitting into a dummy load....
loctite222ms I used an A/B switch before but also used a splitter but it takes sensitivity out and picks up some of the signals from the other radios
Where did you get the MCHF?
I believe he is using the RS-918 from China. It's the mcHF clone. The 918 is available on ebay and Amazon.
Without the preamp it's just a radio !!
I have to agree, I seldom ever use and have used the noise amplifier(preamp) myself. Thanks for watching...Fred
The McHF seems more trebbly. I guess the question is which is the easiest to copy.
Adjust the filter and BW and the trebbly will go away.
Do not buy chinese illegal copies. You just helping to ruin project and business of original author of mcHF, Chris M0NKA!
It was not a great radio anyways, sold it ....thanks Fred VE3FAL
VE3FAL1_Fred Thanks Fred for reply. Sorry for complaint. I am pretty sure that you would be much more happy with genuine mcHF by Chris, M0NKA. Anyway good luck with your another radio mate. 73 - Petr
@MyName Here You do not know what you are talking about evidently... sorry to say. Opensource DOES NOT MEAN that you can copy it and make your own business with it! Open your eyes and read something about it. Chris allowed ham community to make own copy for own private usage. He never approved any third-party business! You will understand it when you will have some of your IP stolen...
Btw I have nothing against clever Chinese developers with their own projects and I am ready to support them by purchasing their product and even help them with improving it but I have everything against illegal copycats !
@@petrok1rp254 They're quite free to clone the mcRF. Unfortunately, the way they operate causes some problems.
1) Cutting quality reflects badly on the overall project.
2) Not providing tech support means people start bothering Chris about problems he's not necessarily responsible for.
3) Any board designs released under a copyleft license like the GPL3 require changes to be freely published which clone manufacturers don't necessarily do. Same with firmware, although I doubt the clone manufacturers change the firmware much.