Great vid! Just listening to a lot of your vids is, I think , helping my lousy Morse code copy to improve. Just a suggestion to try, even though you don't need an antenna matching unit with your tuned antennas, it might be nice to use a QRP matcher on some radios to provide a little more RX front end protection from out of band signals. It might be enough attenuation of the unwanted signals that the RX will be a lot happier. It looks like it was not needed for this activation, but who knows what you might run into at the next activation. 72 KA0NCR
This is a VK3IL pressure paddle. I have detasils about how you can build one in the link to my QRPer post (check the video description). It's an amazing little paddle!
Hi, John! I typically try to place it between me and the radio. It's not always easy or convenient to do, though. Sometimes, I try to place it just to the right or left of my body, too. You do a great job with your videos!
Hi Thomas, now I've watched a couple of your videos re the 106 I was thinking the same thing about the AGC, and the less than sensitive front end also the lack of basic meters vswr, power and alc are really handy to have I think for a little bit more in the budget Xiegu could have released a really good beginners portable radio, by the way some of the places I operate Box Hill, leaf hill, Reigate hill and Newland corner are very close to where I live often ridden my motor bike and Ebike around the Surrey Hills. Cheers for the video Tom.
I feel you gave a very balanced review of this radio, and I appreciate it. Some guys seem to have an agenda when they do these videos and I didn’t sense any of that here. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the Xeigu performed when you take the price point into consideration. Thank you for an honest review. KG8RRY
Hi Thomas. I enjoyed seeing the 106 in action again. If it were a 10 watt’er, I’m sure it would be a hit. Any manual tuner would filter that broadcast station. I use an Emtech. Had good luck with small MFJ tuners as well. De n5vwn
Backacha Tom. well I see Pete WA2JMG and myself WA1RKS made ur log on this one. and quite frankly I sucked! the strange thing is there is only abt 60 miles difference between Pete (WA1JMG) and myself and I run 100w to 160m dipole and he runs less than 40w to 31 ft ant. go figure. so band conditions in suck short spaces? ya never know! but glad to have made the log thanks for sharing. de Ellis WA1RKS
I really appreciate where you discuss antenna deployment. Given the noisy environment I live in this is one of my most important considerations when doing POTA
Man, I made it into this one too! Last one with my old callsign though. It's crazy, because I only started learning Morse code in mid November, my first QSO was late January, as was my first CW contact with you. I was using a straight key back then, and the difference in my sending between the January 27th video and this one is night and day. Now I'm running a Begali Expedition, so I don't have to worry about timing as much since the radio handles that for me. Thanks for another great video!
Not really, no. I have so many resonant antennas that I don't really miss having a built-in ATU. That said, I also always have an Elecraft T1 at the ready if I need it.
Nice activation Thomas. I really love your live videos. Not sure about the paddle though. But it works fine by the looks of it. I have bought the Pelican case for my KX1 as you recommended. Grant VK4JAZ.
Hey Thomas! The ionospheric gods were on your side with this activation, for sure. One question regarding launching the attachment guide-up wire. What do you use as a launcher? Is it easy to use for a guy like me who no longer has a pitcher's arm? It was another enjoyable Winterfest. I don't have enough cell-phone-derived internet throughput to support video use of Zoom, so I was one of the only, if not *the* only phone participant at the 'Fest. I look forward to seeing you once again at an in-person fest in the future.
Hi, Dean! Yes indeed it was a great SWL Fest! So you need no pitcher arm to use an arborist throw line. With a little practice, you need minimal effort to launch a line into a tree effectively. It's actually kind of fun! Check out this article: qrper.com/2020/09/a-field-antennas-best-friend-the-amazing-arborist-throw-line/ And this one: qrper.com/2022/08/arborist-throw-lines-ideal-lengths-and-weights-for-field-radio/?swcfpc=1 Thanks for reaching out! Thomas
Tom I do not think you can compare a 300 dollar radio to radios that cost three times as much.Seems like you did very well with the pile ups and 75 qso’s.With dozens of stations coming back on the same freq. it can be difficult to separate signals.I really did not think you had a problem pulling out the stations in the pile up with this $300 dollar radio.Seems like you get a lot for the cost sub,cow all bands etc.Many QRP radios do not offer all that with a bigger price tag.Just my opinion Tom.
You're right: at the end of the activation it did a fine job! Note that most of my comments are based on using a wide variety of radios very regularly. The G106 is growing on me. I do think it's either not as sensitive as some of my other radios, but I recently built a BCI filter and am eager to see if this helps the G106. It does offer a LOT for $300!
@@ThomasK4SWL Thanks for the reply Tom.I have three of the Xiegu radios the G90,X5105 and the X6100 and have been happy with their overall performance.I think their build quality is excellent.I have seen videos that bash the G106 like it is a piece of junk which and not worth the cost.You can not compare it to a KX3 or a Icom705 for the cost difference.People have got to wake up and realize most of our electronics in our homes are built in China.
Another fabulous activation video, Thomas. Many thanks. Your videos are better than a review to see the pluses and minuses of a given rig. So thanks for showing us the G106. As always you are a great teacher and an inspiration. (BTW, my AX1 is in the queue at Elecraft. Thanks for the tip!)
Hi Thomas. Really dig the real time videos. After purchasing a G106 recently I've been pleasantly surprised by how well it works overall. I have had pretty good CW chats with it (haven't tried any SSB or voice - I prefer CW even though I'm kind of lousy at it even after having my license for decades) but I agree that I think it gets out better than it hears. I am getting very good reports of solid copy but listening on my end is often not fantastic. I wonder if this is something that can be tweaked in firmware updates. Anyhow, I'll keep playing with it and catching your videos and postings on QRPer.
@@ThomasK4SWL Looking forward to your results. As a side note (no pun intended), because I like to use earbuds for cw, I purchased a very small USB powered amplifier that has a high/low gain switch and volume knob. I then found in my junk bin an RJ9 at the end of an old phone handset and wired up a headphone plug to go from the g106 to the amp rather than using the gangly plug in the speaker mic. So, now I have fine volume control of the CW separate from the rig. Works pretty well.
