Its amazing that almost every time I am researching a video about something you got one haha. I have the same setup (but mine is the orange) Looking forward to try that over the weekend and then the same thing but using FT8. Its going to be a looooot of cables haha
I like almost everything about the (tr)uSDX but the ugly case and micro USB power connector. It needs a case option as attractive as those from QRP Labs even that it costs more. It also needs to adopt USB-C and support the variable power features. I've got a USB-C power block with "PD." It can supply 5 volts or 9 volts. The latter would be almost idea for this device.
The (tr)uSDX is an experimental rig designed by hams, not a commercial product like QRP Labs products. The designers aren't selling them and don't make any money from them. They wanted even poor hams around the world to be able to buy inexpensive parts and build an all mode, multi-band high-efficiency transceiver with good performance. They even set up a system for group buys for ham clubs and such to use to band together to buy all the parts cheaply. The rig's design is their gift to the hams of the world. These are not commercial appliance radios. Everyone needs to understand that. We are welcome to package them in any manner that appeals to us. We're hams. We have a government license to do what we want with and to our rigs. We are welcome to mod them in any fashion we see fit. We own them and have ham licenses to do what we want with them. So why don't you just implement the changes and features you want? Mine was a kit, and I ordered it without a case. I'm putting it in a metal box for RF shielding, and adding a battery, a larger off-board speaker, and variable voltage regulator to my RF output FET drains so I can dial up or down the output power in order to run the minimum needed, as the FCC in the USA specifies we are to do. I've calibrated my reference frequency and tuned the toroids on each band for harmonic reduction and maximum output efficiency. I'm also removing the small 12V power socket on the board and soldering wires right to it to be switched on and off from the battery. No problem. We're hams. We are fully authorized to modify whatever we want in our radios any way we see fit, and make them look and do what we want. The rigs aren't consumer appliances and don't come sealed and with 2 year warranties that such mods would void, so we're free to experiment.
Interesting. I have had very poor signal reports using my (T)uSDX with my RM Italy amplifier. I had to turn the TX drive down from 4 to 2 to get rid of the distortion. But I am still having people tell me that they hear RF on my signal. I figured that the fact the radio was in a plastic case was the issue but you are getting good signal reports so I dunno.
Nice video, i was thinking of getting back into playing with radios and just ordered a qrp transceiver the USDX+ v2 and was thinking of building a 25-50 watt linear amp. I wonder if it will work. What type of antenna are you using? Thanks
I'm digging the (tr)uSDX vids. I just got my General and am ordering one of these for my first HF rig. Were you running an external antenna tuner? For some reason I was under the impression that there is no internal ATU in the (tr)uSDX. Thanks for making these videos!
You are correct the (tr)uSDX does not have an internal ATU. This amplifier has one, thus thus the ATU reading on the front. Thanks for watching I’m glad you are enjoying the videos! 73 K4OGO
You shouldn't need a tuner between the output of a (tr)uSDX and an amplifier. They should already both be matched to 50 Ohms unbalanced by design. An antenna tuner may be needed between a (tr)uSDX and an antenna if the antenna doesn't have an unbalanced (coax cable) 50 Ohm input, or the transmission line between the radio and the antenna is not 50 Ohm cable.
Thanks much for the video. Were you able to monitor the spectrum or bandwidth from the amp? My TrUSDX has a high bandwidth and splatter I'm trying to resolve.
Walt - I'd like to connect my (tr)uSDX to a MX-P50M 45 watt amp. I went to DL1MAN's web site searching for the description of the PA keyer cable to buy/build/modify. Cannot find the information on his site. Any pointers for me? 73 AC1NY
Take a look at the pdf file on this page: dl2man.de/2-trusdx-assembly/ It has the pin diagram for the PA jack. Should be pretty easy to put together a PTT cable for the MX-P50M from this. I’m actually looking into getting a MX-P50M myself, looks like a great little amp to throw in my bag for travel. All the best and 73, Walt K4OGO
