Great comparison vid! Nice to see them all together like that, thanks for sharing

Great video.You are giving me ideas for information ideas. If communications go down I have another option.

Thank you for very informative video! My X5105 is on the way. Cant wait ;-)

Thanks for this video; I know a lot of people were asking. You rock!! 👍🏻

I love my little X108G :) I has been all over the US & Europe with me.

I got an X5105 today, my first HF transceiver (have only done some DMR before). From your's and others reviews I figured it would be the best value with the ATU built in. Thanks for your very informative videos. //Rikard SA5KPR

Amazing review!! Thank you!

I come from the future with a 24 bit xiegu G90 SDR

I bought the chinacom x5105 thanks for the review

Very interesting video good selection of qrp radios. I like the x5105 it's more portable and the built in atu swings it also the yaesu is a superb rig. 73's Alan in the UK.

The FT-817 operates from 70cm to 160M. The 70cm and 2M bands makes it the hands down winner. It's a complete ham shack in one box. For a QRP portable that feature alone is a game changer. The LDG auto tuner for the FT-817 is cheap, battery operated, and is tiny, which answers that objection. If I was going to carry just one radio into the woods, the Yaesu will be it.

@drspastic

4 жыл бұрын

the lg tuner is too big. splash out on a t1

Excellent video by any standard. I am irritated by videos with "umms, er's, ahhs etc. Your descripyion & freedom from bias is commendable. Articulate, unbiased, professional level audio, & excellent video , without jitter, high speed incessant pans, focus difficulties etc. Thank you for a video well done.

@drspastic

4 жыл бұрын

i am irritated by your spelling

Excellent. Lots of good information. Thank you. My concern about the 5105 is that it is brand new model and has to be sent back to China for repairs if there are any issues.

Thanks for helping me make up my mine. I'm still in a toss up between the ft-817 and the X5105 so a little more research is in order. 73's KE8IXY

I know I'm a little late to the party, but QRP is where my interest lays. My FT817ND has served me well over the past 3 or 4 years and I see no reason to get rid of it. I only use resonant antennas when out and about so no need for a tuner. The Xiegu G90 HF SDR Transceiver has caught my eye and maybe in the future I might get one, but for now, hands down winner, the FT817.

Thank you for the video.

GREAT VIDEOS as always

The latest firmware for the RS918 allows for decode of RTTY and CW right on the display

Super info,thanks.

I bought my FT897d a few years ago with the idea in mind that it had everything I needed.......NOTHING HAS CHANGED.... KF7ZSA

Great video!! Thanks!

Great video Eric.. thanks for sharing..

Great video. You helped Me decide. RS918

Hoping to get my Ham License in the Summer of 2019. I would like one of these radios along with maybe the 7300 as base rig, or maybe the 450D depending on budget. What antennas are good for these QRP radios ? multiband ? long wire, dipole ? say 80-10 meters ?

Great video thanks

I love my 817. The fact that it covers HF, 6m, 2m, and 70cm makes it a winner. As a bonus it also covers the FM broadcast band for RX. If you need more than 5 watts there are amps you can get for QRP radios. Sadly the display on my 817 is starting to fail. So I will have to send my 817 to Yaesu again for repair. I might also poke around ebay for a display or cheap parts radio. 73 Jennifer KK6FVP

But what about the RF performance of each rig??!!!

Thanks for the video! In my opinion if I wanted to lug an external battery around , I would just buy the FT 891. I agree with your choice of the x5105! I didn't hear you mention that it has kick stand legs and the only front firing speaker of the group. Keep up the great work, Eric!

I was torn for days deciding on either the new Yaesu 818nd or the X5105. The shack in the box 818 kept me from buying the 5105 until I realized I always have a 2m/440 HT with me on all of my outings as well as my 710 mobile Kenwood. So thinking that, the choice was obvious to get the 5105 ESPECIALLY knowing the battery in it is ALL FREAKIN' DAY like my HTs are and the internal antenna tuner made the decision an easy one especially with the low length of battery of the 818. Hands down folks, the 5105 + dual band "bumb-fungus" HT and you're set! OH! Big one here! Order from MFJ direct and they tack on only $15 for shipping and nothing else. Amazon ships for free but charge tax to make the total $43 more than the MFJ purchase. Plus, MFJ has no excuses not to honor any 2 year warranty items if you order it directly from them. KF4ULD

Thanks so much excellant

Given the choice, I'd keep the FT-817. My second choice to keep would be X5105

Great video. I own a FT-817ND. I don't think I could give it up for one of the other 3. I like CW and enjoy 6m SSB. Having the 2m and 440 for the local communications makes puts it over the top for me.

Thank you!

Do you still have the mchf clone? Either way what were your final thoughts on it? Real brief not looking for anything detailed, yay or nay? Thanks and 73 KD2NFE

What do you think about the new Comm Radio CTX-10? Is it worth the money?

Are the color displays readable in sunshine?

what is the general coverage receive on each one?

I really enjoyed your video and I also like the xiegu 5105 as very good performer for me the way you also chose. Please can you tell me where I can get this x5105 new as you have described? I thank you very much for your suggestion.

It's great that there's a lot of different radios out there, the Chinese bringing some of these QRP rigs to market is awesome. The X108G is reasonable power for digital operations for new hams, and the X5105 definitely beats the FT817 in many ways for portable operation. I wish the 108 was a bit cheaper - it's still a big chunk for new hams, but hopefully as more of these radios come to market the price will drop. Personally I just bought an 817nd, about a year and a half after selling my old one. It's really hard to beat it as a radio to drive microwave transverters, both because of the presence of 2/70 and because of the TTL leveled mini DIN port that I can easily just use an arduino to interface with it. If I didn't need those features, I might be hard pressed to pick it over the X5105 as well - though I got the 817 for about 100 bucks cheaper. I don't carry ATUs on SOTA trips and prefer the more efficient resonant antennas, but the 5105 is slightly lighter and has a superior internal battery. I also prefer my MTR on summits - even the X5105 is a lot of weight to be carrying if I can avoid it. The 817 does mean I can avoid carrying an HT, which is a bonus as many of my activations include 2m FM. Many options for people with different needs, and there aren't a whole lot of us out there involved in the bands above 70cm that make the 817 the hands down winner for me.

@smartazz61

4 жыл бұрын

I know I'm really happy about all the good things the Chinese are exporting to the west. The best part is knowing that if they find a safety problem their record on transparency is impeccable. Their record on product licensing speaks for itself as well. You can always feel good about buying Chinese. Millions of unemployed Americans thank you for your purchase. But that's O.K. As long as its not YOUR JOB that is lost. Who cares right? Because, only uneducated folks from the flyover states would have a job that could be outsourced to China. You know, uneducated guys like software engineers, programmers, etc. Personally I could care less as long as I'm still working. If I get sick I can always take some of the 90% of antibiotics made in China now. What? Folks that work in places where antibiotics are made don't lose their jobs to China do they? What, there's not nearly the level of safety the F.DA. demands because they have no authority in China? Oh come on. No one would EVER compromise safety to increase the profit margin. That NEVER happens.

@smartazz61

4 жыл бұрын

No its not fair my making so many anti Chinese stuff with the Covid thing going on now. In my defense though, this line of thinking, and commenting, is not new for me. I did it for years before anyone ever heard of Covid. Try watching yourself and a hundred other workmates all lose their jobs at once due to Nafta and the like. I always pop back up, but it's only a tiny amount of people like politicians that end up mega rich while millions of middle class folks lose, lose, lose. And it's because of their hard work. Its guys like Hunter Biden that mske millions because he can provide favors to corrupt foreign intetests. How does he do that? Well, when pops is the vice president you can sell favors.

@pleaswaite

4 жыл бұрын

Really not sure what just happened here but sure. There is absolutely nothing US made that competes in this market segment. For new radios, your options are basically the Japanese made FT818 or the Elecraft KX2 and KX3 if you don't buy Chinese, and in the case of the KX2 you're paying twice as much for fewer features, though the receiver is one of the best on the market. The KX3 is more featureful, but you pay for it. I'd love to buy and support American, but when buying amateur radios you almost don't have an option. I'm pretty sure for base radios you are limited to Flex and Elecraft, and I hope you buy new or you're only supporting the dude you bought it from. I can't afford 4 grand for a radio. If you want top of the line performance in a portable radio, you can go with Elecraft and buy American. They don't look nearly as robust as either the Japanese FT818 or any of the Chinese rigs so I'd be a lot more hesitant to throw them in a backpack and schlep it up a mountain. There just isn't the interest in competing at the lower price tiers with any US made radio.

Where can you purchase please from a good source (trust) Will there be a seller at Dayton?

Thanks for the overview. Sorry you needed to sell radios. I've often found later, after selling stuff, that I didn't really need to. But it is good to thin things out as well. Otherwise they pile up and don't get used. The small radios are a lot of fun, A radio that does a few things very well may be more effective than a radio that tries to do everything. The user interface quality is important too, and some here are much better than others. Catch you down the log. w6akb.

Got that first view in before even the thumbnail!

@alchemypoolalchemypool

6 жыл бұрын

Matt Taylor I'm the first to give you a thumbs up!! Lol 😆

Awesome!

Thanks for the overview of all these rigs. Well done! I wish you had an Elecraft KX2 to compare along with them, even though it would be a few hundred $ more. One of my concerns/interests is the quality of the receiver in all of these. The sensitivity, noise floor, actual filtering performance are all qualities that matter when operating and whether it is enjoyable or difficult to use. Pulling out weak signals when using portable (and often marginal) antennas in the field can make a big difference in working stations or even listening to SW broadcasts, etc. Thanks again for all your work on your videos. You are providing a valuable service to the ham community. Charlie K0CKH

the multi knob mike is an hm 151 icom. that is why it works well

ft817 can fit the board of the elecraft t1 tuner in the battery compartment, and lithium polymer cells can be shoehorned under the main cover with a small charge control board. its not easy but it can be done. the best battery to use is 2.2ah 11.1v pack for rc cars and controllers. can be had for very cheap. they fit perfect in the battery compartment but if you are putting the t1 in there you need to tale the battery apart into its 3 cells and find the right places. i found way to fit the board from a bluetooth earphone inside and an insulated copper tape antenna that comes round the case lid to get a short range signal out. one each side because the bt serial port is in for remote rig control. only problem is not being able to control the rig on the same tablet as used for data modes. if anyone has ideas for that please post here. next addition will be a tiny oled panadapter on the lid.

Hey Eric are you going to sell the Yaesu 817 locally or not let me know get it off you

I have xiegu g90 and I am very happy with it.

@o00scorpion00o

4 жыл бұрын

Yes the G90 is a great radio, good Tuner too. I use it mainly On Digital as a 2nd radio in the sitting room when I don't want to go up to the shack and still want to make contacts without interfering with my XYL watching TV or reading. The screen is small but it does the job.

El xiegu 108G como puedo que transmita en 27mhz

Get a FT818nd,can not be beat by the other ones

Just for cw , which?

What a nice comparison video!!!! Please if you sell the mcHF clone ill be interested. Thanks

I'll take the MCHF

@smartazz61

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you.

Great video! I'm a new ham and I'm interested in QRP. I spend quite a bit of time in the mountains and rural areas where portable would be fun. I've been looking at the Yaesu 817, however a few people have tried to talk me out of QRP being a new ham. Their standpoint is the low power and other hams not wanting to come back to the weak signals will just frustrate me. I really want to enjoy ham radio when I'm camping and out where I can't take a bunch of equipment to support a full power setup. Should I scrap QRP for now or continue to find a lightweight setup to pack into camp? Garrett - K0RGH

@charlieb.4273

6 жыл бұрын

Hell no. If you want to go camping with a radio, QRP is the way to go. My first rig was an ft-817. I make great QSOs EVERY DAY with that rig on high frequency. If you pay some attention to your antenna you will never be frustrated making contacts. In my opinion a lot of power of QRO is lost by mismatched coax and antennas. I have well tuned monoband antennas and get surprised signal reports all the time. Yes, you don’t win a lot of pile ups. But a little patience and you WILL get through. SSB works will with 5w. I have talked from Virginia to all over the states, Europe and South America. PSK31 and CW work even better. I was given the same advice, get a “real” rig to start but my vision was portable operations so I got the ft-817. It works great at home as well but real fun when out in a park or camping. What is your vision? Follow it. 73 KM4ZZ Charlie

@charlieb.4273

6 жыл бұрын

videosbymike just want to say your videos were a guiding inspiration when getting started in amateur Radio. My FT-817 and I have made 5000 plus mike contacts while portable and now I’m doing mostly CW at 15wpm. I just wanted to say thanks. 73 KM4ZZ Charlie.

I had the 817, X2, X3, 5105. The Elecraft may be older technology and expensive but the actual audio is tons better than all the others. RX sensitivity is tops. Had to return the first 5105. Lots of features incl. tuner but sound quality is poor. The 817 is a dinosaur, but reliable PLUS VHF, UHF. So if quality is the most important issue for you get an Elecraft. Ruggedness then Yaesu. Cost the 5105.

@robliguori

3 жыл бұрын

I have the X5105 and think the loud static sound is almost as loud as the people speaking, as if the noise floor and the spoken voice are in direct competition. What is your further opinion about the receive quality on the X5105? Thanks in advance, by the way I use headphones to listen, not the tiny speaker, and the unit powers the headphones extremely well.. Rob

IF DSP would be very important to me, When I was first getting into amateur radio my elmer always told me that if I can't hear the station I would not be able to work them. Digital communications is very desirable working qrp. Thank you.

same here 5105 but if home use the sdr rig as its 15 watts ..jeff..

You still selling any rigs?

Thanks for showing me why I like the 817 even more. I don't hate these others I just see the difference. If I want an ACC. for a radio I have no problem plugging in anything to an 817. When that ACC. dies (they will) I can get another one.

anyone tested the new RS-978 yet ? I guess it is an RS-918 with built in rechargeable 3800mAh battery.

Is it true the 160 meter band is not so handy to have in a QRP rig because that band needs more than 5 watts to be heard over that noisy frequency range?

@HamRadioConcepts

6 жыл бұрын

jimthvac100 yes, pretty much....

With 4 watts SSB my best contacts are 9N1CA in Nepal and 9M2S in Malaysia sitting in Chennai India. 1765 and 2860 KMS in horrible band condition, my antenna is a resonating efhw at 60 feet height. 73🙏🙏🙏

That microphone for the X5105 looks like an Icom microphone.

Do do you plan to try the uBitx someday?

@HamRadioConcepts

6 жыл бұрын

Maybe some day. When i have the extra cash

@todop

6 жыл бұрын

HamRadioConcepts I ordered one because it's cheap and almost asembled. But you make nice reviews. kzread.info/dash/bejne/nWygmMx-gqfAYbw.html 80m to 10m I think SSB and CW .not bad for about a 100$ . I suppose it will get cheaper after time. Or there will be a chinese premade board after a year.

@noth606

4 жыл бұрын

Todor Tihomirov I doubt the uBitx will be possible to do much cheaper, it's made in India you know that right? India is cheaper than china is now...

Next version of the x5105 might have the 20 watts?!?! (fingers are now crossed)

@petchharrison

6 жыл бұрын

I WILL GET HOT THEN YOUR FINGERS WILL BE WELDED TOGETHER

...but if you go portable/qrp you have to bring with you a pre-tuned antenna (e.g. a dipole). No antenna matcher is required!

Great video as always. Has Xiegu come out with the 'waterfall unit' yet for the X5105? mICHAEL VA6XMB

Hola colegas, despues de haber leidos cuestras apresiaciones sobre los distintos modelos les comentos, que yo arme un kit del UBITX V5 de la india, y realmente es extraordinario sensillo de operar con una sencibilidad tremenda, es de 5 w ..pero con 13,8 volts tira 10 w. con comunicaciones en en 40 m de 2.000 km , con una claridad de modulacion y recepcion barbara.. tambien tengo un XIEGU G1M Y SON SIMILARES , talvez algo mejorado, este equipo chino, opero en el RECORD MUNDIAL DE ACTIVACION SOTA EN ALTURA DESDE EL ACONCAGUA A CARGO DE LA LU9MZO DIEGO 6.962METROS... Cordiales saludos.LU5MDT

the new xeugu won me when you said that you can talk with it :) and it has a abttery and ATU . its a complete kit. BTW is there any option for complete coverage? www.wouxun.us/item.php?item_id=302 you can enable extended TX from the menu.

Choose an antenna that is self resonant and you don't need an integrated autotuner. Buddypole or a loop would do nicely.Of Course,Loops have their own tuner.

Surprised you never mentioned the output under internal battery use. The FT817 will not Tx 5watts as for the Xiegu x5105 I don't know. Otherwise a good presentation. I Thank you 73 Keith M0KLL.

@timlewis2068

Жыл бұрын

It actually can do 5 watts on battery, it defaults to 2.5 on battery, but you can change it.

I wish one of them would offer an hdmi output to pipe a waterfall to what ever screen you want to use, no pc required.

I will never sell my 817nd.

Some models of the mcHF clone have internal batteries & tuners

New mcHF has auto Notch filter V6.3

KJ4YZI, KC1IEG do you have EchoLink? If not, shoot me an email maybe we could sked a QSO sometime! Would love to talk to you sometime!

No Elecraft KX3?

Everybody always talking about "features", size, color screen, weight ... but what about RF performance ? Shouldn't that be the #1 thing to talk about?

First 4 minutes yada yada yada..... then it gets interesting

redo this with xiegu g90

хоть бы один трансивер включил😂

The 5105 Power Supply Mains/Battery switchover problem is a deal breaker for me... You could EASILY have this problem. If they can fix this, it would be worth reconsidering. THAT being said, just as I predicted, the Chinese have made a serious effort to enter the HF market. This will force YIK to rethink price points, and this is a good thing. What the Chinese don't seem to understand is the importance of a PRESENCE within the US Market of representatives who appear at trade shows.

@user-sq8yl3ml9l

6 жыл бұрын

seems power supply switchover is not a problem kzread.info/dash/bejne/rK2asKt9o7Ccnbg.html

look forthe icom 705

whats with this "waats ap everyone"? hear it everywhere on utube. whats wrong with hi or hello?

Ham Radio Punster Alert: www.redbubble.com/people/coldcampcomix/works/22054702-ham-radio?asc=u&p=mens-premium-t-shirt&rel=carousel

Nice collection of radios. I will stick with my Elecraft KX3.

@timlewis2068

Жыл бұрын

Does that cover 70cm?

My 817nd is 15 years old and still work exceptional in hf. Not going to let it go anytime soon. Tried and proven and the most portable and convenient, no flashy displays bells and whistles but does it's job. 73 de vu3mes Satyan.

Just get a KX3 and be much happier !!

@gerrykavanagh

6 жыл бұрын

I have both a KX3 and a self-build mcHF, and I actually prefer the mcHF. Nicer, louder audio. Better ergonomics. Don't get me wrong, the KX3 is a good radio, but it's not the wonder-rig many make out to be.

Prepare to have your Chinese rigs fail anytime. I only rely on the Japanese brands, had no failure ever with them.

Clearly you haven't used the internal battery in the 817. That radio sucks so much current, that tiny battery inside is useless. The only purpose that it serves is as a check on a marketing checklist.

@HamRadioConcepts

4 жыл бұрын

Brian Daniels the video is on my Channel when I was standing I the surf making contacts on battery. I know it doesn’t last forever but It did work

@brianpdaniels

4 жыл бұрын

@@HamRadioConcepts I have the 817 and I have used it hundreds of times. I wish I had know how useless the internal battery was before I bought it. Had I know how hungry the VHF and UHF side were, and the useless battery, I would have bought the icom 703+.

Блин, я думал будет тест, а человек даже не включил ни одного трансивера:( Аппараты есть, а антенны нет. Выходит просто барыга :)

@rodrigoroaduterte9415

5 жыл бұрын

Traildriver 2TE10M, херово не знать английского? Он говорит, что это ЕГО трансиверы, и он вынужден продать три из них, потому что прошёл шторм, и сдох его компьютер. В результате чего приходится что-то продавать. И он объясняет, какой из четырёх он оставляет и почему.

Sad that you chose to review a Chinese product stolen directly from a fellow ham.

@HamRadioConcepts

6 жыл бұрын

David but happy you watched the video.. 73!!!!

@gfl1957

5 жыл бұрын

Nearly anything in the US is made in China, and virtually all of it was stolen technology.

Lol a review without switching on any device... blabla.. lol

My god, man...please... never more post "COMPARSION" video, without COMPARSION. I was so happy, when i find this video, and so pissed off, when the video ends...thx for waste 22mins of my life.

@HamRadioConcepts

6 жыл бұрын

Peter Ostender thanks for watching.. 73

@peterostender8627

6 жыл бұрын

This is comparsion...kzread.info/dash/bejne/eqWHyq-MdtTXpps.html ... next time, just do it.

You support cloning? Sad

too much long-winded talk, very little info and no demo.. thumb down

@HamRadioConcepts

5 жыл бұрын

Then please never watch again

@jindravavruska8170

5 жыл бұрын

@@HamRadioConcepts exactly what i do :-)

I work in manufacturing. I have first hand experience with a job disappearing thanks to Nafta and a greedy few getting rich from cheap labor. There are degrees of the bad parts of these situations. Japanese goods are not going to harm Americans nearly as much as Chinese goods. One problem with Chinese goods is that the "private businesses" making these products are not actually private. They are completely controlled by the Chinese Communist government. I won't begin to broach that subject. What I will say specifically regarding the clone is that said clone is STOLEN TECHNOLOGY. That outfit did not get permission to use that design, and they certainly did not pay for it. There is much to be said about buying non American goods. Because it's such a huge subject I won't try to address it here and now. But as far as the clone well, how would you feel if you put so much of your money, time, blood, sweat, and education into developing that radio, only to have a ChiCom steal your design? And to add insult to your injury, make it look exactly like YOUR radio so that customers can be fooled into believing and buying a sub standard radio that they in all probability believe is the radio YOU created? To top it off you know all profit from said clone goes to the thieves? Very sad. Very sad indeed. The worst part is that most folks KNOW that the clone IS a clone. Wow. I'm glad I'm not the guy that had his radio stolen. Its got to feel horrible. All you could hope for is that the hams you thought were at least a type of brotherhood would fully empathize and make sure that they only bought the ORIGINAL radio as it is available. If you like that radio you don't have to buy the STOLEN clone version but can have the high quality original which profits the guy that designed and made the radio in the first place.

@o00scorpion00o

4 жыл бұрын

The developer of the MCHF released the hardware specs, Firmware and circuit drawings along with PCP layout, parts list on the internet, what did he think was going to happen ? + he made absolutely no attempt to have this radio manufactured and it's quite popular + there are much better clones available today and there are many People quite happy with them and there's plenty of community support on Groups.io. He gave the MCHF as a gift to the Chinese. Not all HAMs have the ability to build one of the originals. No attempt to offer pre built boards, if anyone is to blame for the clone it's the developer himself. Speaking of Chinese, there's not that many U.S companies, if any at all, producing small portable radios that are affordable to the majority. The Elecraft Kx2 and Kx3 are great radios but very expensive, too expensive for many and they don't have a panadapter built in, Add a panadapter to a Kx2 or Kx3 and see the cost, it's pretty mad to be honest so what would you suggest Americans do, get out loans to buy U.S built radios when much cheaper Chinese radios work perfectly for them ? Then there's the rest of the world like the E.U who have large sales taxes which makes the Kx2 + Kx3 + PX3 panadaper prohibitive for most People making the likes of the Xiegu G90 and X5105 much more affordable and the G90 is a great little radio with 20W out +ATU. The X5105 has ATU + excellent Lithium battery that you don't have to remove to charge.

@smartazz61

4 жыл бұрын

@@o00scorpion00o Oh I see, he simply begged to be ripped off. I understand. Its like when a woman wears sexy clothes. If she gets raped she deserves it. I'm down with that.