Choosing a field radio 

“My name is Evan and I have Radio Acquisition Disorder.” Everybody, “Hello Evan. You are among friends. Thank you for coming.”

Wow! This is probably the best and most honest comparison of the current crop of portable HF radios on RU-vid! I couldn't agree more about your comments on the G90. There's a lot of snobbery and poorly informed comment on these radios. They are a solid and reliable option. One thing you didn't mention is the quality of transmitted audio. The G90 gets more unsolicited reports of excellent transmitted SSB audio than any radio I've tried. Also, it's good to see the Yaesu ft817/818 being left out of the discussion. It's a bit of a dinosaur compared to most of these and simply can't compete on features or quality. My personal radios of choice: Xiegu G90 and TX-500. Both of them are excellent for CW.

Good video man! I agree completely on the Lab599 and KX2. They’re my two favorite. I daily carry my KX2, it stays in my backpack all the time. The Lab599 is a close second, only because of the lack of internal battery and speaker. But I grab that any time the weather isn’t great or if I’ll be somewhere harsh like the beach. I also had a G90 for a while, and it’s a fantastic radio too. I’ve also had an X5105 and an X6100, and it’s unbelievable that they’re made by the same company. The G90 is better than those in every way. All that to say, good video and I agree! 73!

This is a great overview on portable options. I picked up a G90 recently and love it. Just subscribed, thanks!

Evan! Nice overview. Thanks for putting that resource out there. See you out there. 73 de Bill

I love my G90. A great radio with an unbeatable internal tuner. Going out into the field with it and a 6 Ah battery is real good fun.

Great review! I haven't had QRP only radio for about 7-8yrs, since I broke my FT-817nd which I sold to a friend that had the skills to do repairs. Since then I've held on to two FT-857Ds and one FT-897D. My portable ops is mostly on my KLR650 motorcycle or in my car to a park where my walk is generally no more than a couple hundred feet. On my motorcycle its usually less than 10ft. I do mostly portable ops for HF as I live in a condo that has terrible QRM. Most of my portable ops is monthly QRP outing. ECOM is pretty big on my priorities so I do put a premium on 100W shack-in-the-box radios for portable NVIS operation. The only 100W shack-in-the-box radio I've parted with was my IC-706MKiig. I met a new ham that was visually impaired and the simplicity of the radio was a great match for him. As part of ECOM I do believe in backups, so your review has me thinking about a small 20W radio that I can fit on my motorcycle with my FT-857D. The thing that has turned my off on upgrading to a new radio is power consumption on recieve. Virtually all the newer SDR/direct conversion radios with waterfall displays are pigs on power consumption in recieve, especially 100W radios. The FX4CR might get my money as I am budget minded, but I could not disagree with the Elecraft KX3, Lab599, IC-705, or G90. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nShDYlZGKlc.html

Just found your channel...great content and this video specifically helped me consider my options for getting into QRP portable rigs (already have QRO rigs for POTA and SOTA). Thanks and 73! De AF2V

Great video, thoughtful and thorough ! 73

Very good video thank you Evan. Very honest, unbiased and very, very helpful. Yes, having only ventured into HF less than a year ago, my first HF radio was the G90. I have since acquired a TenTec Jupiter , an FT-891 and just recently an X6100. The G90 is still my favourite and most used radio. The X6100 only beats the G90 in one area in that it has an internal battery and is just so easy to pick and go in a hurry when "going-bush" if there might be an opportunity to play radio for an hour or so. Cheers Phil ZL2VYH

Purchased a Xiegu G90 approximately two months ago for POTA activation.👍 73 de N1XV

Great video, Evan!

Very fair and neutral review, thanks! 73 Stephan

Great video, thanks. I ended up with the Xiegu x6100 after the latest firmware update. Steve KZ5MSE

terrific Arsenal you have for communications enj0y 73

Great video great comparison on rigs. Run the ic-705 only complaints no tuner and heavy but love it. Do a lot of prepper training and I always suggest the G90 for the money and ease of use.

FT-857D and the IC-705 are what I use, the 705 if I could only own one.

Solid advice. I am a long time KX2 owner and got the truSDX for Christmas last year. I am primarily a CW and digital op. I Always do wonder about all the other choices out there. 73 de KJ5T

Would love to see you use the TR45L and give a good review of it.. thanks for the vids! I need to get it in gear and make some too..

@ 4.50, well said. and i have a G90, excellent radio.

Missing QRP-Labs radio especially QCX mini monoband or/and new released QMX. Thanks for video and good channel ❤.

Interesting info. On my budget and planning to do alot of digital, I'm keen on the X6100 but the G90 plus a digirig would be a second choice. I may get the TruSDX, just to start HF digital as I don't have HF yet. Thanks for your opinions with these radios.👍🤠

Great review! I have the G90 and FT891 and FT818 but have always wanted a rundown on the Lab599 and the Elecrafts. G90 was my gateway into HF for portable and it's still hard to beat for the power to battery need and the features like you mentioned for POTA. How is the digital noise reduction on the FX4CR for SSB?

For the price the FT891 is hard to beat considering you can QRP or use 100 watts. Is it bigger, yes but that’s not a concern for me. Im happy.

I want to love my TX-500, but only just like it. OTOH, every time I switch back to my IC-705, I absolutely love that little radio. The 705 is by far my first choice for field ops because it's just such a pleasure to use; it's worth the extra ~1lb it weighs over the TX-500. And if you want to add 2M to your SOTA activation, now you're really comparing the size and weight of the 705 vs a TX-500+2M HT. In addition to the great audio quality on the 705, I've noticed it's less susceptible to birdies, impulse noises (solar charger clicks, car ignitions, etc). I think the TX-500 is cool, but I've been contemplating selling it, using the IC-705 for camping, POTA, Field Day, and replacing the TX-500 with something really, really lightweight for backpacking/bikepacking/SOTA work.

Thanks for posting this,very interesting,have a subscribe 😊

Nice review, the FT817/818 is still near the top of robust operable rigs and they are 160m - 70cm. (I have an IC705, truSDX (super low RX current), Index Labs QRP+ and have had Elecrafts)

Love my G90 73 de KF4LBG

I love my G90. After a year I bought a "nicer" radio at about 4 times the cost. I was pretty disappointed at how much NOT nicer it was compared to the G90. The G90 is probably the best all around value in HF. I would also say that 20w is just about the sweet spot. I wish more radios would target this power level.

Jack of all trades, master of none, often times better than a master of one

I owned an IC705 but sold it as it never left the shack. If that beautiful touch screen ever got damaged you cannot use the radio. I now have an FT818 and the Xeigu X6100 which is a great radio for the price now the firmware has been updated.

I've had many of these radios, FT817, FT817D, KX3 (twice), KX2, TX500, TruSDX. I've sold most of them and bought the same KX3 twice. I've still have the KX3. It may get joined by a FX4CR as it benefits from the small size and light weight. The KX2 had to go as I hated the VFO knob, the size and internal li-ion battery I miss.

I've got a G90 and I love it. However, it is too heavy for some of the SOTA activations I do. So I bought a FX-4C and that's what I usually use on these hikes with 3000-4000 foot elevation gains. I think your advice is good for anyone who doesn't want to do these kind of hikes (or is seriously fit!). I used my G90 on Field Day and it kicked ass. The internal tuner is great. I've been thinking about the Xiegu X5105. What are your thoughts on that one?

For the TX500 and a resonant dipole antenna, what is your swr comfort level with out a tuner? At what swr levels does it start to become a concern to you? ( for cw and ssb) Thank you,

When my father passed away he left me his mint condition KX3. Under my situation would you still buy a KX2? Or would you buy a TX-500? Or would you just use the KX3 for POTA and SOTA?

705 for the win

I've been running the KX2 for years. I looked at the TX500, but didn't want to give up functionality, although, I did like the ruggedness. But it didn't even have internal batteries, you had to buy an external battery box, an ATU, and a speaker. Also, it's big. Thin, but big. And expensive. I have both the KX1 and KX3 and they are both great radios. The only thing I don't like is the lack of water resistance.

this video would have been a million times better if the poster, Evan Thorson, had specifically named the manufacturer of each radio described. For every radio except the Elecraft I had to go out and google using the radio name to find out who actually builds each of these radios.

Do you have a link for the fold out feet stands for the FCX?

So all in all - KX2 is the only choice…:) but what about KX3? Is it badas ?

Interesting video. It might be helpful if, as a primarily CW op, you explained what specifically you liked/disliked about each radio’s CW functionality. Also, why keep mentioning “built-in tuners” if you only use resonant antennas…

Have you seen the Sbit v2? 40 watt runs by a raspberry pi

Interesting, video I enjoyed this 73, kq4hcu

with the future of radio being digital IMO ALL radios need one USB digital connection and SDR , portable radios need decently rugged build, and you really want a min of 10 watts with 20+ being recommended. and you need a tuner. so with those criteria what does that leave? nothing that I know of. the market sucks. over priced stuff from the big names that is slowly being dragged into releventness from competition from china radios. but nothing I have seen tic's all the boxes. the new Xiegu X6200 is probably the closest to the ideal radio but sadly its only 8w on external battery. and yes the G90 is probably the best value in HF. Josh was talking about pota at the statue of liberty and I joked that a G90 would probably tune the statue itself.

x5105 or ft817nd?

Would have been good to see the display on each , would have been less chat.

Elecraft is like Kenwood. Living off old people nostalgia that have too much money. Over priced and living on borrowed time IMO. I suspect the next generation is not going to have near the brand name dedication. You can get 90% of what you need for about 30% of the price. Not a winning long term situation.