HF Amplifier, QRP, Xiegu XPA125B, Ham Radio Amplifier 

Solid video Eric. I just ordered an X5105,. I dont plan on the amp, but nice to know that this pairs up so well. Good stuff

That amp makes the X5105 a legitimate first HF radio!!!

You are enjoyable to watch /listen to.

Yeah maybe this is mainly for Ham’s who want the extra power after the fact that they bought the QRP radio. Good video and it’s always nice to see you! 73

I will be buying that amp for sure!!!

For a few bucks more if your running data modes the Xiegu DE19 (to replace the CE19) has a sound card like a digirig included in the “break-out" circuitry. Digi-rig will work but makes the amp auto functions problematic because it populates the mini din on the radio requiring a "Y" connection which I haven’t tried. Also the 125b still doesn’t meet the fcc spec on 160 meters (only 30 db from fundamental carrier on harmonics). All other bands it’s fine and a great amp/total solution for minimal wiring. I think a little pricey compared to off brand separate amp and tuner. Still a great system. Yes, I am enjoying mine.

I may have to get one of these amps to go with my Yaesu 817 ND. This would make it worth while to put in my vehicle so I can have a mobile HF radio then pack the 817 and go in the field. I wish Yaesu had done something like this them selves.

I like that amp. I think I want to match it up with a Hermes Lite 2 next year. Thanks for the video. ;) 73

For those looking for portable and base operation this combination is good if expensive, they get the best of both worlds. IC7300 + X5105 or another qrp radio will cost more. For those moaning about the video showing unethical transmissions , he was transmitting to a dummy load. You could still take the amp portable if you want , bring a couple of LiPo batteries and off you go. Is the IC7300 a better radio ? I don't own one but I am sure it is but the X5105 + amp is great for someone who wants to work portable and can use it as their base station without buying another radio.

Is the output wattage adjustable on the radio, to give you 5 watts on all band or is it a fixed value?

Awesome video and beautiful dx ham equipment I got me and my sweetie 2 baofeng radios looking to build up a base station someday once I get a place out of my apa.rtment complex they don't like bleed over to we'll that's why we have portable 5 watt radios for now I'm x navy communications desert storm 73s to ya take care out there

Other than not being able to have the smaller 5w stand-alone rig, the Icom IC-7100 is only $820 after rebate, instead of $1200 for this combo. It even does 2m and 440mhz. Even the IC-7300 is $1000 after rebate.

Thanks for the helpful video quick question what do you use as a power supply or how do you power the radio / amp while using it thanks I’m new to the hobby.

I have my Icom IC-7100 for 2 mts / 440 to be used at home and for the park and field day too. Only cost me $700 after $200 rebate.

Good demo. The first non "B" version of the amp would not meet FCC spurious radiation requirements. I'm glad that Xiegu stepped up to the plate and corrected that issue with the "B" model. I see you did not get 100 watts out. Is there an ALC setting that you can adjust so you can get 100 watts out. Yes, I know the DB difference between the two power levels is not a big deal. I was just curious ? Barry, KU3X

Whoa… You sure got that amplifier nice and hot. I saw that reading go up as high as 45°C. VE7NDE

I would of liked to have seen the amp draw at different power settings.

Thanks for the review. I found it helpful. I recently picked up a G90 and have been thinking about getting the amp. The G90 is priced right for what it offers but the amp is way over priced and as others said, if you are going to spend a grand you might as well get a decent rig. If this was in, say, the $200 range it would make sense. I want to put a kit together for travel. I want to have the 100watts and power supply for back at the hotel but when I am off hiking up the side of a mountain I just want the G90 a wire ant and a couple of batteries. I would be interested to know if there are other compatible amps on the market.

Hi, great video and thanks for sharing. I have a G90 and would like to get the amp. If the amp is used in manual mode, do you have to use the CE-19 interface and connect it to the amplifier . The reason I ask is I use a SignaLink for data modes, and that uses the ACC port on the G90. If I can use the amp in manual mode then am I right in saying I could leave the cable from SignaLink plugged into the ACC port of the radio ?

X5105 is a nice little qrp rig... latest update has CW decode, along with audio equalizer, and 10 keyer/psk memories you can send with a button on the mic; the amplifier is a tad squirrely to use as first (this video demo apparently uses a dummy load; it's a lot different if you attach it to a non-resonant antenna); amp will shutdown if you don't use the exact correct approach on tuning; the manual is probably the worst i've ever read for any piece of ham gear (even the current one on-line doesn't match the amp, and still refers to the now-discontinued rig, the X108G); there is no hint on using the Xiegu G1M w/this amp, nor any hint about hooking up other transceivers; manual refers to tuning using CW at 5W, but this does not work; the amp does work with the Xiegu G90, but it's not as plug-and-play as this demo makes the operation seem; you must use a very specific approach and sequence for tuning and then transmitting - this is not documented in the manual

I like it when you repeat that an antenna tuner only matches the impedance and doesn't make the antenna perform any better. So many hams can't understand this. They think that as long as a tuner can tune, they are good to go and their antenna performs great. This is so wrong! A tuner should only be used to correct a slight mismatch between the antenna and transmitter. This is why most reputable radio manufacturers only limit their internal tuners to 3:1 SWR or less.

newb question. you stress it doesnt tune your antenna...can you still hurt your radio then? or is it still being filtered thru the amplifier before it gets to your radio?

In the 11m lane, someone managed to open the station. and how did you do it. Thanks 73!

Check out the bird 4314 C. That one does peak reading

Hi Eric, thanks for the demo. Did you ever measure the 1 dB compression-point on various bands? All the review videos I've seen so far show saturation at about 90 Watts! I'm concerned that the shown DC "supply" voltage seems to drop badly on TX.... 73! Tim

Maybe if someone is a heavy QRP operator and occasionally wants to TX from the home QTH, otherwise there are better options from the big manufacturers. Having choices is what it's all about.

Ke0 uef Chuck hear love your videos keep up the good work love the radio check them out a little bit over my pay grade Niceville really nice 73

Price of both of those components together is comparable to the IC-7300 price - Its clear to me which way to go.

Eric, if you did buy this amplifier, would you please do a demo to show it working with a non-Xiegu QRP radio? Xiegu claims it will work with any QRP radio, but then states that you need the CE-19 module for it to work with it's own X5105. If it truly does work easily with any QRP rig it makes it a more valuable purchase for me.

Looks like a good match the small radio and the amp. the radio looks to be a good value, did you mention the cost of the amp, perhaps I missed it. If the amp is a good value I would go ahead and buy it, KB9JQV

..can you do something on police scanners & the digital direction they're going & everything..? thanks..

WORKS GREAT WITH THE ICOM 705. No special cables or adapter boxes needed.

is this the only amp in the world w/o. a RCA jack for key??

Eric! Any word on MFJ selling the panadapter in the near or distant future?

My 891 is the same size and is 100w and can do qrp if I want!

I only wish the tuner in the amp was as good as the one in the G90!

The good thing about this amp is that it is running at only 50% of the output devices capabilities, which keeps it in the linear part of the operating curve. You are unlikely to blow the output.

Why is Visio so dark?

I almost gagged when I checked the price of XPA125B ($550.00) on Amazon. Have you looked at the PAX100 amplifier by Radioddity? It is designed to work with the X5105 and the G0.

Good video and review. But,, in order for me to buy this, it would have to be cheap. And I mean like baofeng cheap. 200 maybe??

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹☕☕

Cool. But at $1150 for the pair it's a pretty big ask.

ATU = antenna tuning unit

謝謝，你選擇中國產品。

MSRP?

Bacana

I never got people buying a QRP radio then spending more money on a separate amplifier, Just buy a 100W radio like a FT-891 or similar. They're small and portable for field use. Kind of like why buy an IC-703 when you can buy an IC-706. (just as an example)

I'll keep my Elecraft gear!

Buy a FT 891 for less than $600

From Red China??!!

Price is pretty stupid.

AGAIN, FM on 40m IS NOT LEGAL....

In future videos please be vigil to stay within the limits of you license. You were transmitting on the band edge in FM and AM modes. Being at the band edge, your emissions were below the limit for the license. About 4 to 6 Khz below the band edge. While you may think this is fine because you were transmitting into a dummy load, you dummy load is an antenna--just not a very good one. It is not unheard of for a QSO to occur and one station is still using a dummy load after testing. Also try to keep the FM and AM emissions up in the voice areas of the band plans so as not to interfere and disrupt CW and digital communications. Good video and looks like a decent little amp.

This hobby became only about spending money.

What a stupid combo not to say a waste of money. Why would anyone spend big bucks on a qrp radio when there are multiple portable 100w radios that you can dial back to 5w. Who is going to lug all that crap

I think the whole thing is complete waste of money. Just buy a 100 w HF radio. Now there you go. 😉

Seems crazy to me to invest that much money in a Chinese rig, very basic and just about same money I can do a lot better. WOW over a grand for the 2 ...wow brother , not for me, specially a Chinese outfit . NOWAY , NO HOW. I love your videos, I really like you, but that outfit, too me is just not practical.KD9GRP