A fantastic overview! I may suggest that antenna tuners more match the antenna than the radio. There are of course a myriad of antennas which do not require a tuner. So, if I am going about on foot, I am going to pick a lightweight radio, and battery. This will shove me into the QRP sector. Also, I'm going to pick an antenna that is crazy resonant in order to augment my lack of power. I truly have no need of a tuner in my radio. It's extra weight. For my experience most built in tuners are quite limited. So, if I'm going to take a non-resonant antenna with me, I'll also pack in a highly capable external tuner. Additionally, the salty operator will have a pretty good idea about how his antenna system works and should be able to make adjustments in the field. Therefore, rather than a tuner, I'm going to look for a quality SWR display, and low voltage capability so my day doesn't end prematurely. Just my take on things.
Hi Curtis, thanks for your comments. The internal ATUs in these radiis are far more capable than base station ones. Usually they will match a random wire. Otherwise my choice us EFHW. 73 Peter.
The main thing people i've spoke to love about the G90 is it's amazing for portable. The 10:1 internal antenna matcher means you can just plug a "random" wire directly into the back of the so239 hit tune and go. You just have to be aware of when you are and aren't in split mode. If the it's doing something weird that's the first thing to check. Everyone I know who owns/owned a G90 has been screwed over by split mode at some point.
@@stevet7522 This video by W2AEW explains what split mode is well ruclips.net/video/4U6pKnWQVBo/видео.html I'm not sure how to turn split on and off on the g90 as I don't have one
The Yaesu FT-817 was launched in 2001 after Elecraft launched the K2 in 1998. There is still a vibrant community for HF radio building and now you can buy HF multiband radio kit for $90+ which is pretty amazing. I still surprised that Yaesu has not come up with a more imaginative replacement for the FT-817.
It’s April 2023 and I just bought a new (possibly last to be had) FT-818ND after quite a bit of research. Robust, portable, just the basics. This also probably means Yaesu is finally going to drop a fantastic new QRP radio in a small portable form factor 😅
The question of pronunciation can be left mysterious, topical and unsolved. Sort of adds to the charm of that particular radio brand I believe. Thank you for another great video. Always looking forward to the next one 👍 M0DSK
Peter, it depends on which Chinese "Spoken" language you use. The majority you will meet are Mandarin and Cantonese. Written Chinese is the same in almost all spoken languages. It changes when you change location and it is "Spoken"!
Peter a nice upgrade on the G90 is the larger knob available on eBay for around five dollars American. Huge, huge improvement. I promise you it’s worth the investment. Lee W8RNB
Good overview and an enjoyable and informative video as always! This certainly could be considered the "golden age of QRP" given all the rigs, kits, batteries, antennas, etc. that are available on the market now. I built an HW-8 in the mid 80s, bought an FT-817 in 2001, and bought a KX2 last fall. I got involved with KQ6XA's HFpack Group after I got the '817 but drifted away from QRP portable in recent years. The KX2 has gotten me back out into the field with POTA, as well as just operating out in the yard. Yesterday I made my first test of the KX2 + AX1 antenna as an "HF HT" and had three amazing 20m SSB contacts. As Miranda's mother says, "Such fun!". 🙂
Excellent again Peter, a good 20 watt performer I used a cheap pc plugin USB sound card and it worked very well with the various digital modes I think there is a general concern about manufacturer backup if the G90 goes faulty? 73 Rob G3RCE
Hi peter! Loving al the videos mate! Keep up the work mate! Just a quick question for you! Is it still possible to buy spare parts for the Lowe HF-150 receiver! I’m looking for a 20ka alps pot replacement for mine! Cheers 👍🏻
I'm new to HF multiband transceiving - if one purchases a radio without a built-in antenna tuner/swr meter, one needs to buy a separate tuner in order to have the radio work properly? Please advise, thank you!
Very good informative video Peter ❗️👍 A question totally off topic but I am trying to help a friend find find a CW 500 HT’s Filter for his IC 718 and we have come up empty with all sources here in the US. Do you have any suggestions ❓ Thanks 73. KV5P
Nice vid but I think you could have made more of the fact that the G90 will practically tune anything and also, it has up to 20 Watts output. That’s a huge advantage over the others but you preferred to make more of the poor manual.
I built a K2/100 in 1999....took me a month to build, very expensive for its time. Terrible SSB rig, but at the time a top end CW radio. I did every SSB mod I could find but transmit audio was never good. 73/K6SDW
Hi Peter, another great video as always! I enjoy portable QRP! There's so much to choose from these days! In fact, there are quite a lot of kits currently out there besides Elecraft. Of course, you'd be here all day if you tried to mention them all!! I built my K2 with an internal ATU and it's an amazing rig. I also built a 5W transistorized CW 40m Paraset kit which also demodulates voice. The great thing about the cheaper kits, is that not only are they really affordable for all age groups, they are very educational and loads of fun to build and you can finish them however you like. See how I finished my 40m CW QRP rig: ruclips.net/video/ERVwyi9RWcU/видео.html
Hello there and good to hear from you. I did take a look at the radio and it looks great. Unfortunately my eyes are no longer good enough for that kind of work. It looks similar to the WW II Paraset layout. I am having one of these built for me so maybe it will feature in a video. 73 Peter.
Chinese Xiegu Radios are cheap copies with defects and poor performance in my experience with them for a few years to date. I would NOT purchase G90 again or any other current offerings. Previous BAOFENG is much worse.
very informative as always Peter. much appreciated and many thanks...
Very welcome. Thanks David. 73 Peter
Love the breadth of rigs you compare.
Glad you like them! Thanks for watching. 73 Peter.
I went with the IC-705 and enjoy it. That little radio has so many options it's beyond belief.
Glad you are having fun with i. Good choice. 73 Peter
A fantastic overview! I may suggest that antenna tuners more match the antenna than the radio. There are of course a myriad of antennas which do not require a tuner. So, if I am going about on foot, I am going to pick a lightweight radio, and battery. This will shove me into the QRP sector. Also, I'm going to pick an antenna that is crazy resonant in order to augment my lack of power. I truly have no need of a tuner in my radio. It's extra weight. For my experience most built in tuners are quite limited. So, if I'm going to take a non-resonant antenna with me, I'll also pack in a highly capable external tuner. Additionally, the salty operator will have a pretty good idea about how his antenna system works and should be able to make adjustments in the field. Therefore, rather than a tuner, I'm going to look for a quality SWR display, and low voltage capability so my day doesn't end prematurely. Just my take on things.
Hi Curtis, thanks for your comments. The internal ATUs in these radiis are far more capable than base station ones. Usually they will match a random wire. Otherwise my choice us EFHW. 73 Peter.
The main thing people i've spoke to love about the G90 is it's amazing for portable. The 10:1 internal antenna matcher means you can just plug a "random" wire directly into the back of the so239 hit tune and go. You just have to be aware of when you are and aren't in split mode. If the it's doing something weird that's the first thing to check. Everyone I know who owns/owned a G90 has been screwed over by split mode at some point.
Many thanks fir info. 73 Peter
What is this split mode and how do I check it? Thanks in advance.
@@stevet7522 This video by W2AEW explains what split mode is well ruclips.net/video/4U6pKnWQVBo/видео.html I'm not sure how to turn split on and off on the g90 as I don't have one
The Yaesu FT-817 was launched in 2001 after Elecraft launched the K2 in 1998. There is still a vibrant community for HF radio building and now you can buy HF multiband radio kit for $90+ which is pretty amazing. I still surprised that Yaesu has not come up with a more imaginative replacement for the FT-817.
Yes I think most us could have told Yaesu what they should included in the upgraded FT-818! 73 Oeter.
It’s April 2023 and I just bought a new (possibly last to be had) FT-818ND after quite a bit of research. Robust, portable, just the basics. This also probably means Yaesu is finally going to drop a fantastic new QRP radio in a small portable form factor 😅
@@bradl2636 Well, it's not as if Yaesu have not had enough suggestions or inspiration from other vendors or manufacturers. G7VFY
The question of pronunciation can be left mysterious, topical and unsolved. Sort of adds to the charm of that particular radio brand I believe.
Thank you for another great video. Always looking forward to the next one 👍
M0DSK
Yes it will sort itself out! 73 Peter.
Peter, it depends on which Chinese "Spoken" language you use. The majority you will meet are Mandarin and Cantonese. Written Chinese is the same in almost all spoken languages. It changes when you change location and it is "Spoken"!
Thankd Robin. 73 Peter.
Peter a nice upgrade on the G90 is the larger knob available on eBay for around five dollars American. Huge, huge improvement. I promise you it’s worth the investment. Lee W8RNB
Hi Lee, thanks fir that tip. 73 Peter
Good overview and an enjoyable and informative video as always! This certainly could be considered the "golden age of QRP" given all the rigs, kits, batteries, antennas, etc. that are available on the market now. I built an HW-8 in the mid 80s, bought an FT-817 in 2001, and bought a KX2 last fall. I got involved with KQ6XA's HFpack Group after I got the '817 but drifted away from QRP portable in recent years. The KX2 has gotten me back out into the field with POTA, as well as just operating out in the yard. Yesterday I made my first test of the KX2 + AX1 antenna as an "HF HT" and had three amazing 20m SSB contacts. As Miranda's mother says, "Such fun!". 🙂
Hi William. Yes KX2 is a nice little radio. As we climb the sunspot ladder, it should also be good above 20m
73 Peter
Excellent again Peter, a good 20 watt performer
I used a cheap pc plugin USB sound card and it worked very well with the various digital modes
I think there is a general concern about manufacturer backup if the
G90 goes faulty?
73 Rob G3RCE
Hi Rob. Many thanks for the info and thanks for watching. 73 Peter
Hi peter! Loving al the videos mate! Keep up the work mate! Just a quick question for you! Is it still possible to buy spare parts for the Lowe HF-150 receiver! I’m looking for a 20ka alps pot replacement for mine! Cheers 👍🏻
Hi there. Sadly not. Soares and back-up have long since gone, as has the Company. Sorry. 73 Peter.
Heathkit was out long before Elecraft.
I'm new to HF multiband transceiving - if one purchases a radio without a built-in antenna tuner/swr meter, one needs to buy a separate tuner in order to have the radio work properly?
Please advise, thank you!
If you have antennas that have very low VSWR, you can get away without. BUT it won’t be long before you need both.
@@watersstanton Thank you!
@@watersstanton Hmm, then your recommendation for an inexpensive, manual antenna tuner/swr meter, please?
Very good informative video Peter ❗️👍 A question totally off topic but I am trying to help a friend find find a CW 500 HT’s Filter for his IC 718 and we have come up empty with all sources here in the US. Do you have any suggestions ❓ Thanks 73. KV5P
I checked nut sadly, no. Sorry. 73 Peter.
@@watersstanton Thanks for checking Peter love your videos, we are of the same vintage, been hamming around since 1955. 73 KV5P
Nice vid but I think you could have made more of the fact that the G90 will practically tune anything and also, it has up to 20 Watts output. That’s a huge advantage over the others but you preferred to make more of the poor manual.
Yes they are good features and the ATUs in the other rigs are equally as good. But I was surprised at the User Manual. 73 Peter.
👍
I built a K2/100 in 1999....took me a month to build, very expensive for its time. Terrible SSB rig, but at the time a top end CW radio. I did every SSB mod I could find but transmit audio was never good. 73/K6SDW
Hi there. I had one too, but never added SSB to it. Perhaps I made the right decision! 73 Peter.
Will TX Factor make new videos? 73 DE W8LV BILL
No ide. 73 Peter
Nice...............
Thanks. 73 Peter
The question about Xiegu is like your pronunciation of pronounciation, only one of them is correct ;o)
I am an Essex lad!! 73 Peter
Hi Peter, another great video as always! I enjoy portable QRP! There's so much to choose from these days! In fact, there are quite a lot of kits currently out there besides Elecraft. Of course, you'd be here all day if you tried to mention them all!! I built my K2 with an internal ATU and it's an amazing rig. I also built a 5W transistorized CW 40m Paraset kit which also demodulates voice. The great thing about the cheaper kits, is that not only are they really affordable for all age groups, they are very educational and loads of fun to build and you can finish them however you like. See how I finished my 40m CW QRP rig: ruclips.net/video/ERVwyi9RWcU/видео.html
Hello there and good to hear from you. I did take a look at the radio and it looks great. Unfortunately my eyes are no longer good enough for that kind of work. It looks similar to the WW II Paraset layout. I am having one of these built for me so maybe it will feature in a video. 73 Peter.
Chinese Xiegu Radios are cheap copies with defects and poor performance in my experience with them for a few years to date. I would NOT purchase G90 again or any other current offerings. Previous BAOFENG is much worse.
I recall similar criticism of Japanese products back in the late 1950s. History sometimes repeats itself! Thanks for sharing. 73 Peter
@@watersstanton was it justified or Asian prejudice?