What many people don't realize, is that code is very rarely 'ready', it gets patched, refactored, etc. If we waited until the code was perfect, it would probably never get released. The advantage of beta testing, is real users are feeding back into the design.
Thank you for my first big smile of the day! I'm not the first to review a radio, but I try to give a more in-depth look at it. Don't want to waste anyone's time with fluff.
Great video, Bob. Your voice is back to full strength! I really like my FX-4CR. I’ve also added a heat sink fully along the top. But I look forward to the handle/fan upgrade being offered as a separate purchase on Yu’s website. I bought RFDan’s amp cable and buffer relay for this radio to use with my Elecraft kxpa-100 amplifier when I need it. It’s a good, solid product!
Yup, I'm in a period where my voice is working...for now. I added a transistor buffer inside the mini plug housing (just fit!) to drive the amp. New firmware is coming soon too.
I absolutely love mine. I got the side rails but I’ve not managed to get the fan to come on yet. (SSB only) Today I spoke to Sydney Australia from England on 25m - 16,972 kilometers with only 20W using 3x 18650 batteries madness - I absolutely love this radio easily the best portable radio available in 2023.
Thanks for talking about the CW filters. So often the RU-vid reviewers dont talk about this for obvious reasons. Good luck and have fun with the rig! 73
Can't go wrong with the G90. Outstanding radio! An advantage of the FX-4CR is size and portability. If am working with a lightweight resonant antenna in one of the local parks, the FX-4CR seems like a very good choice.
Seems to be A slightly improved malachite receiver with an added on transmitter. It's not in the same league as an IC-705 but it costs less than half as much.
It may appear that way from the display, but this is a MUCH more sophisticated device. It has tight receive bandpass filters for each ham band and has to provide another full set on the way out as low-pass filters for the TX. From the performance I estimate that it is a 14 bit device throughout. The Malachite is 12 bits or less for sure. Then there is Bluetooth and built-in audio cards...electronic keyer and a bevy of other user features. It's still a bargain at $550
I am very intrigued about the 20 watts. We've seen a bunch of the qrp versions of this bit I've never seen one that gets to the 5 watts they claim. 20 watts is absolutely interesting
Very nice video, Bob. I immediately ordered one and received it after 4 days. Are the heat sinks glued on or fixed with screws? From where got you the stands? Are you from Hungary? Nagy means large in English😊. Best 73 KC3CVR, Dietmar, Pittsburgh PA
I just used carpet double sticky tape at each end and conductive paste in-between. Adding ANY heat sink material conducts enough heat away so it stays OK in any mode of operation. The stands are on Amazon...there are several types- choose what you like. I'm a NY'er living in Arkansas... yes Nagy means BIG. I'm BIG BOB.
Many thanks for the video, Robert. Perhaps you can help me solve a problem I have with the FX-4CR. The radio skips over the 20-m band. IOW ... I get no 14 MHz frequencies on the dial.
Nice case, but I got a (tr)uSDX kit, (designed by PE1NNZ and DL2MAN,) for $100, and added a $17 40W amp kit in case I needed to run power. That saved me $500 to buy other things, and I can buy a lot of other things for $500.
Yup...had a piece of heat sink material and cut it in half. Just put conductive paste under the center and double sticky 3M foam tape at the ends. Absolutely adequate to keep it cool... doesn't take much.
Great presentation, peaked my interest for sure. The one thing I cannot find when I look at the information I gathered on the internet is: There is an internal mic on the face. I cannot seem to locate the ptt function in menu or is it an external ptt button plugged into the side.
Yes, the internal mic is between the two rotory controls and actually sounds good. Indeed you can PTT it without the mic...forgot how- its in the manual.
In version 1.6 NB is now implemented. Hold M.V. Button down. Yu has built a cooling solution as well, $35 takes some soldering to install. Also, do you have the part number and brand for the elegant stands you use. I was not able to find them. Excellent review! I was looking for info on how to use/adjust the waterfall display functions. You have any insights?
Yu’s website shows this rig’s power output as up to 10 watts yet I see others saying it will do 20 watts. Which is correct? Thanks. Looks like a really neat rig.
Hee hee hee.. Well, don't feel too bad. In the last year I've had the TS-990s, IC-7851 and FTdx-101D here for months. ALL of them are gone except for the 7610. News FLASH: Icom is just releasing a firmware update to include Pre-Distortion to the 7610. Holy crap! Only Anan has been able to pull this off so far...Flex?...nope... It cleans up Transmit distortion products to create an ultra-clean TX signal. I think I'm literally going to buy another/fresh 7610 as my next rig.
I use Panasonic 18650BD LiPo cells (used in Tesla cars < 2015). I build them in little "bricks":. 15 of them is enough to power this radio for several days. Check Google for "18650 battery pack".
Oh my Bob! :D Nice interesting rig! Any radio with a given power will give the same results; difference is in consumption, portability and ergonomy which has a cost. I do have an 891, but it sure is not that portable, after all it's meant to be a mobile rig. There's always some trade-off somewhere; with all that said, I tried the Chinese x108g but it had its drawbacks, so other than some HT rigs (Retevis, Radtel) I stay away from the made in China radios (lack of support, quality is not on par with japanese radios and they are more prone to failure, functionalities need improvement).
I have been looking at Yu's website for months, and he's been out-of-stock the whole time. I wonder if any of the clones are any good? Anyone have experience with buying one of the clones?
@@bobnagy9084 Not currently in my budget, as I've been saving for my first HF rig, after getting General 9 months ago. Thought I'd decided on a Xiegu G90, but the Yeusu FT-891 is catching my eye as of late, due to it's higher power.
Sorry Bob ,but its just a glorified MCHF!. more chinese junk no service plan for it , over heats !! , can you do a drop test and take it out on a rainy day ! then see what happens ,price $500 - $800, and how many senior operators will have the patience to fath about with all that menu I recoomend you stick to stick to Elecraft ,Yaesu , Icom, they have been around for years and years FTdx10 offers amazing value for money
Overpriced clunky square box with too many multi-function buttons to remember is what I see. For not much more you can get a real radio as Yaesu FT-891, FT-710 or ICOM IC-7300. I purchased a quirky Radoddity G90, never again. I'll continue watching development for sleak design and more actual buttons and switches, analog meter, mixture of old and new with steam punk vibe ; )
I have two 891s and I love them but they have a ton of menus so if u can operate a 891 a bunch of multi function buttons on the FX-4CR should not a problem for you.
Well, my next radio review is for you. There are no menus, gorgeous amber analog meter...made in USA by a Ham. It ain't cheap, but it is SO much fun to use. (TR-45L)
@@W-733_KWX Yeah, I'm almost entirely CW, so that certainly helps. It's definitely difficult to do QRP SSB. I've done my fair share of it, so I know how hard it can be.
Not really. This is 6dB up from QRP and with a wire antenna with gain, you are totally heard on SSB. I use resonant folded dipoles. Got a 5/7 out of Russia when camping.
@@bobnagy9084 Oh, for sure. I've done lots of it too. If you use a good antenna, and propagation is decent, you can absolutely work all kinds of DX on SSB with 10w. It's definitely easier on CW though. It's kinda like cheating lol
Makes no sense to me. Portable radio needs to support 2m , 1.25m and 70cm bands. No need for anything else than that in a portable radio. Am I going to talk to someone in Australia while hiking and dragging behind an antenna?
Question: comparing this to a G90. Ignoring the G90's antenna tuner, and when used in the shack v/s portable, which radio would you prefer to use, and why? Thanks for a great video!
That is a very difficult question. OK, If I had to choose, I'd choose the G90. Why? The receiver is better. Sure, the larger screen on the FX-4C is nice, but the G90 is more combed-out engineering-wise. The RX is very similar to my IC-7610 in performance. Audio TX quality is about the same on both. the G90 is heavy too... ouch. Cool-factor? It's the FX4.
