Welcome to the ham radio video journal of K2CJB. I've been a ham since 1976 and have always enjoyed the hobby! I was fortunate to be able to retire from the broadcasting engineering business a couple of years ago. Now I have more time to explore more facets of the world of amateur radio. I'll share my adventures here...hope you enjoy them!
Good video Chris and it looked hard going at times. The G106 looks an interesting little radio and I'm sure that some will find it appealing especially due to the price. 73 Chris M0RSF
Chris was spot-on with his detailed review, such that I called up HRO and got me one ASAP. The last Eton I tried was horrible, with a side tuning and it drifted. The Elite just came in and I made Yumpers for the Headphone and Antenna coax. Am using a set of Eneloop 2600mAh AA's. Am using a set of KOSS Pro-4A cans and Boy, does this rig sound great! TNX, Chris, 73, Hal
I'm surprised at the high swr reading! 1.3 is high to me. Was thinking of buying this as a guy I talk to in New Foundland uses one. Has a flat match too. Makes me wonder if you got a Friday antenna. I use a "droopy drawer" homemade design 1/4 wave and talk around the world. Interesting..
I just got a G106. I am researching the necessary equipment to connect it. What antenna are you using? Are you using an antenna tuner? SWR meter? Any help is appreciated.
Hey Chris! I hope you’re doing well - I was just curious if there’s an email address I could contact you at. I had a couple questions in regard to your ham radio equipment. Looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks!
K2CJB and friends, I recently purchased a Xiegu G-106 and look forward to using it soon. It is my very first HF radio. I bought it for QRP and I could use help with setting up my first antenna/tuner/SWR/battery. It would be great to know more about what I need and setting up my first QRP station. Thank you, 73.
I use a bag that looks very similar but it also has small wheels and a handle like a roller bag. Makes dragging it around easier for this 72 year old man.
K2CJB, hello. Could you please do a video about setting up and using antennas on your Xiegu G 106? I am going to purchase a G106 and it would help me a lot to see how to set up a radio in the field. I have watched videos about simple, compact, and affordable batteries, but not about setting up a G106 with antennas (at the moment 10 meters for talking), grounding, and if tuners and SWR meters are necessary for the radio. Even though I have had a tech license for 20 years, I am finally able to start out with QRP for fun and EmComm. So, I am just starting out and any advice would be appreciated. Thank you, 73.
I have an 8M tall chinese fishing rod like this, EFHW with 49:1 balun & 20M (66') of 28 gauge galvanized gardening wire (weightless). The radiating element is attached to the pole so there is little weight. 2 ft wooden stake mount for the balun . The pole holds the 28gauge wire well. $25 for the fishing pole, $15 for balun, salvaged wire, scrap wood. about $50 . 1.1 SWR on 20M, 1.3SWR on 10M, 40M and most other bands i've tested.
K2CJB and friends, I've been licensed (Tech) for 20-some-odd years. I first got my license for emergency services (ARES, RACES, OEM, etc) that used 2m and 70cm back then. After I got my 2m and 70m radios, times were hard, and money was very tight. I couldn't even afford the QRP "in the field" radios that I always wanted. Back then, the 817s may as well have been $6,000. Now, we have Chinese companies that are making affordable QRP rigs. It renewed my interest in QRP, however, I will be a newbie tech. Price and situation-wise, would this be the radio to consider starting to get into QRP and eventually upgrade to General?
very nice build! for my 6meter antenna i made my own deicated delta loop which works great! a friend and i use it localy ever so often just to ragchew! 73's
I started out with my G106 doing POTA both SSB and digital from Sherwood Island. I have since switched to my Anytone AT-5555N II and my G106 is setup at home with the XPA125B amp. Great little radio, but the audio is less than desirable. Headphones do help a lot.....KC1UER
I think since the bands are not related harmonically it caused some goofy impedance mismatches that required some modification to the length. As for the spreaders i drilled the holes off center so the wire holds the spreaders in place.
The way I understand it the shunt coil routes to ground any static build up on the whip that occurs when the antenna is moving. What i learned is that the coil also improves SWR.
I used flexible corrugated plastic electrical conduit to span the gap. I used two small hose clamps to hold it in place. Works FB! I previously built a different version in 2013. During a band opening I was heard in Scotland before it faded out !
I love my G-106. I've already made tons of contacts with my inverted V. My Yaseu fried it's control board and I just couldn't justify spending another $1000 on a radio until after I get it fixed. So I bought this literally because of how bad the reviews were. And honestly I love it. The only flaw for me is that it's low power, and that's not even really a flaw because it's a QRP radio. I plan on using it for POTA soon.
Cracked coil cores are a very common problem with Mosley traps. I have a TA-33MWARC w/40m and a RV-4C trapped vertical and both have had cracked coil cores. My vertical is a 1968 model and my TA-33M is a 1982 model. Both are repaired and working as new.
Why would Xiegu G-106 not be suitable for pota? The radio typical puts out twice the power of an FT-817. I had an x5105 which really was only 5watts. G7VFY
Thanks for giving the G-106 a go and letting us watch it in action. Nice contacts. Patience and persistence are key if one wants to operate QRP and you demonstrated both. I agree with your assessment of the G-106. It's an Ok radio that performs at the same level it cost. I might purchase one just to play with. 73 my friend!
I was recently at Valley Forge NHP in PA with my FT-817. Even for CW it was tough. Over an hour for 8 QSOs and then I resorted to FT8 for to finish up with 3 more. QRP is challenging and fun but definitely not always easy.
@@k2cjbradio A month or so ago I was at Lehigh Gorge State Park also with the 817 and was working a CW contact every 3 to 4 minutes. And most of that time was actually doing the QSO. Yes really variable conditions.
This is a great field-test of this rig, nothing beats seeing something in action as you work for those QSOs!!! Great job! Of course, now I want to buy one!!!
Great job on that "I'll QSY" operator! Only thing is, you should have asked for their callsign and made another contact for your park activation log! 😎
