HF SDR Transceiver RS-918 mcHF 

Those are configured that way ro be held like an ht for use. Still weird but at least its for a reason i guess

JA FALEI COM 5W NA ITALIA.. O QUE MANDA É UMA BOA ANTENA E PRINCIPALMENTE PROPAGAÇÃO...SE NAO TIVER PROPAGAÇÃO NEM COM 1000 W VC FALA... JA PEDI O MEU, AGORA É ESPERAR SER TAXADO 100% NA ALFANDEGA NO PARANA BR.. TUDO PRA GENTE É CARO...LA FORA VC TRABALHA E PODE COMPRAR TUDO SEM SE MATAR E PASSAR VONTADE.. BRAZIL LIXO

Yes it would be a nice feature to be able to connect it to something like an HDMI display. Although, with the IQ outputs and CAT control, you could connect it to a PC and control it from there using a larger display.

@@Steve-GM0HUU Cool!

Cheers! And welcome back to the hobby!

There are modifications to the output transformer that can make it more consistent, but generally speaking the Chinese clones don't implement these mods.

Perfect for SOTA! I actually forgot to show in the video but there are two little handles that came in the box, they attach to the sides.

There’s no block on RU-vid, maybe your ISP?

I'm in the US...works fine.

It is probabally a block on mobile RU-vid(which includes everything including TV based players not browser based). This has been a problem for YEARS on RU-vid, and I have never heard an explanation for why they ban a LOT of videos from playing on any RU-vid app but not on computers...

Hey Chris, I dont have this radio any longer. I would suspect its an audio input issue, assuming it transmits okay in SSB with the mic etc?

@@TechMindsOfficial got it Matt! A couple of presses on the screen where mode display is an it changed to data ext which means I’m using the rigs built in sound card for tx an Rx with cat control 😁73 Gm4zji Chris

I recently bought one of these and can confirm that indeed this looks like very very much a BS-188 with these orange knobs. It actually displays "BS-188" on the splash screen. The downside of it is that you cannot upgrade the firmware with the UHSDR updates. This will brick the display due to a different screen or display chip. However you can always revert to the original firmware. So if you don't want/need/like to tinker with these radios this seems to be a rather good one retaining all aspects of the main RS-918 / mcHF. Additionally it seems to support 6m (50MHz) and 4m (70MHz) with no guarantee on the operation (yellow frequency numbers). Maybe because it uses a different LO chip (Si5351a) instead of the Si570. Mine had no battery. The wires were actually cut short as if someone withdrew the battery but at least it shows where you should connect one and it seems an easy operation as shown in the video. Just take care of the size it will not fit a battery larger than 3 cells (hence 11.1V nominal and the highest capacity I found was 3800 mAh). A nice addition to the RS-9x8 line (I think) is the PTT by pushing the tune knob and internal mic making it a very compact radio almost a HT if you so wish.

@@RodLittle How about simply updating to the latest revision? Typicaly these clones come with old firmware.

@@RodLittle Dunno. It's your essay. You research it.

Don't update, the radio will not work with the standard firmware. I did and now I only have white screen. Lost the backup firmware. If anyone has a copy of the original backup please send to me. zs5pgm@gmail.com.

Unfortunately this wouldn’t receive satellite because it doesn’t cover the frequencies of satellites. Maybe look at SDR dongles for receive and then VHF radios for local search and rescue.

@@TechMindsOfficial thanks for the reply! Was hoping to stay away from the dongles but looks like it's best option... might have to try making your dipole you posted a vid of. (I'm looking at the noolec satellite combo on Amazon but the antenna they sell in the combo takes up about $150 CAD of the $250 system everything needed besides decoder but they recommend Linux operating system for the free decoder and I was having problems gaining root access to my tablet to change the operating system finger crossed 🤞 robot 36 will work free on Android playstore)

I guess the knobs could be pulled off and replaced if you didn’t like the look of them. I’ve seen other variations of this radio with different knobs. You’re right, I think the FreeDV will be interesting to see how well it works.

I agree. I got mine a few weeks ago and immediately changed out the main tuning knob with a solid metal knurled knob. Easy fix

@@juergennoetzel988 Have you tried the FreeDV?

@@glenwoofit Not yet. So far I have really only used WSJTX and have hit all coasts and into Canada. Haven't gone voice yet.

There's no accounting for taste, but I like the knobs. It gives the unit the look of audio gear found in professional recording studios (not to be confused with high end consumer audiophile gear that shoots for a refined appearance).

If you pause the video where I take out the battery you can clearly see the part number 11:36 It starts with NCR.

Why is this?

@@gerrykavanagh It uses SI5351a circuit for VFO instead of Si570 and some other changes... So you need a specific firmware for it. UHSDR releases will not work. Be careful while flashing bootloader. I would call this version a "RS-928", instead of a RS-918. Cheers!

@ ok. Didn't know that. So I guess whoever made these changes have not contributed back to the project. Unsurprising I guess. I have a genuine v0.5 mcHF, so no worries my end :)

@@gerrykavanagh Some "clone" sellers do warn about the changes, its all a matter of cost. And unfortunately not everyone has the skills or tools to assemble or tune a genuine kit, making the assembled unit even more expensive. I just commented it because I know a case where the wrong firmware already bricked one of these banggood units [display is now blue, but it RX].

@ thanks for making the comment. Hopefully it will save some people.

These are 'unofficial' clones, i.e. not sanctioned by the designer. One or two vendors in the UK stocked them briefly a year or so ago, but as soon as the designer got in touch, they withdrew them from sale.

With different FW, yes or you are limited to 50mw without.

They do come in and out of stock. I got mine from him and it's a great little radio and such a fun project to build.

This puzzles me a bit. The PCB's are so cheap to make and it's not like these won't sell anytime soon.

You can use HDSDR via the IQ out from the radio.

Thanks

You’re right, it’s 3 cells

around $300

Why do you think this? I have an mcHF (genuine) and it compares favourabley with my KX3 in all but the most challenging of conditions.

Completely agree!!!! I wouldnt pay more than around $200- $250 tops.

@@gerrykavanagh KX3 is a bad comparison- yea rhats a company that just thinks a little too much about their radios- way way way overpriced.

@@daveycrockett9447 fair enough. They are the only QRP HF radios I have though, so the only comparisons I can make

@@gerrykavanagh how much did yours cost once it was all said and done? Also, as far the KX3 comparison, under most average conditions I cant tell much difference between a $20 RTL SDR and my IC-7300. It's under challenging conditions where the differences show themselves.

This is actually based off a FULLY open source project by a UK Ham, link in description to the original designer. :) As it’s open source, you can modify screen design.

No offence but it's more than clear that you're totally wrong . The design (and the original ) is from the UK . Second, China folks are around the moon and they already have theyr own space stasion main module on orbit , wich mean if they want, they are good builders / engineers . Comments like this one already makes me smile, because usually it came from folks who get ripped by a 7300 or a 705 . Wich also makes me smile . Last but not least : nobody is really considering it . You sure ? I won't talk about the original but there are 2 or 3 chinese versions and this since couple years . And they sell .

@@adrianoragazzo1321 Sorry I did not know it was design in UK. Usually British people have a good designer taste, The worst designs always comes from China and Italy.

@@jamesmk2003 I have a Xiegu G-90. Amazing compact transceiver.

@@marcreynolds7948 Fantastic design. I use to put electronics in a square boxes when I was a young kid. Xiegu did not even mount the board to chassis. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-oLb1LurgsBI.html