Lab599 TX-500 Deep Dive & Ham Radio Review 

Thank-You, Josh, for the great series of videos, concerning the TX-500!

I believe this person has given the most excellent reason for someone either to want to have an internal antenna tuner or not. Of course this one does not have an internal antenna tuner. But please please listen to his explanation on this. It is compelling and the best explanation I have ever heard. Usually I trash any radio that does not have an internal antenna tuner. But I cannot do that to this one because of the compelling and excellent reasons given by this presenter. Kudo’s for him!

Great video as always. Looks like a great video for the right operations.

AM is only partial power. Power must be reserved for the modulated sideband peaks. Select FM or CW key down for full power.

Josh, great deep dive video. I bought the TX-500, I love this radio. I also bought and coupled it with the DIY599 PA500 60 watt Amplifier. This is a great supplement to the radio. The PA500 also has a antenna tuner. The PA500 is the same shape as the TX-500. This combination has become my favorite radio for POTA. Thank Josh for all your videos, keep them coming!!

thanks for the great review on this unit , I'm looking forward using this for SOTA

Awesome review. Great looking radio!

Sounds like with the battery and tuner accessory your still getting a better value with the IC705. I still have an ft817 going on a little over 20yrs and still love it especially on cw. It's in the Yaesu hospital now for some minor repairs but can't wait to go POTA with my new Wolfriver coil. Made tons of contacts with it back when conditions were better.

Beautiful shot of the QTH external - looks like Malibu Creek State Park - Gorgeous. Thanks for the time and effort and posting. You should set up a tip jar... 73

Yea, I ordered one from HRO the moment I saw your first video. This second video has me really excited to play with it. I'm a KX3 fan boy, and may now become a TX-500 one too! Super interested in seeing it perform on digital modes too. Oh, it would be interesting to to hear the filtering/audio quality compared directly with a KX3 or other familiar radio just to see them side by side. Thanks again for posting this!!

I still missing the test for the digital mode like FT8, how to connect etc

It would have been handy for me today, wanting to do CWT from the fields at the end of the village and not worry about the damp weather. I agree - very interesting for SOTA, for the spectrum display, low receive current and ruggedness.

Very neat, thanks Josh. Wonder if this could work as a primary radio, from desk, to car to field. I'm not planning on having a shack really but want a good emcomms/prepper set up.

Excellent review! Thank You!

Holy crap, best thing looks awesome! I can't wait to try qrp, but I think I need to wait a little lol. Getting my first HF radio tomorrow, it's an FT-891, I'm super excited to run digital, and also some SSB. Love the videos Josh, 73 de W8IJC!

It seems to be a radio style for those who buy old military radios are seeking. Weather resistant and tuff. Gill at Ham Radio Prepper is always looking for a radio like this.

Really enjoyed you your review of the TX-500, did not know it even existed. I may consider it vs a KX3 or IC-705. WB4KTF

good follow up on questions...helpful!

Lab599 has posted photos of a battery pack for the TX-500 that attaches to the back of the radio on it's Twitter site (Aug 26). It looks very nice.

I just love this radio. It's the first rugged portable radio that wasn't military. I also think too much is made of not having an antenna tuner. This is portable operation with limited power and you would benefit more from an antenna or two cut to resonance for the bands you plan on using. If you must you can build a small L match. They're not hard to build and at 10 watts the L match can be very small.

I have an Xiegu X5105, I would say they seem to overlap a decent bit. It would be interesting to see them side by side.

Im about to order this w/ the amp. Getting my license next week, excited to try Ham. We used to call for fire with those handsets in Iraq back in 2003. Full volume is for listening like a speaker while your sitting/guard duty/ sleeping bag, etc

Great video Josh. I have been thinking more now of radios that would fit what Gil (Radio Prepper) has experienced on his recent excursions on his boat. Will it marine? I think this radio might but curious on your take on that.

Very slick looking QRP rig! For those who want to use non-resonant antennas, you could use the LDG Z-817, Elecraft T1, or MAt-10. All are Auto Antenna Tuners, compact, lightweight, and would work great with this rig.

Can't wait for your IC-705 deep dive.

Nice review, Josh. I'm envious. I'm getting to know you like the back of your hand, haha.

I am number 12 on HRO list to get one, can't wait. PS: I am an absolute champion of the KX3 (QRP & with KXPA-100 & PX3). I run 100% portable rigs and antennas. I do not expect this radio to match a KX3 receive and filtering and flexibility ..thats not my goal here. My goal is for even more QRP portability and 'robustness' and quality build. I think the TX500 will deliver. Question: you mentioned in a new firmware CW pre recordings. Any mention of having a, like 15sec, ability to pre record a 'voice CQ call'? QRP requires a LOT of CQ CQ. Could you inquire for us please? Comments: - Tuner is coming...that's great if it didn't I would have chosen the Elecraft QRP tuner, great product a tad expensive but you get what you pay for with Elecraft. - I saw your Buddipole PowerMini. In my opinion, even if you don't use portable solar, one of the most versatile and powerful tools a portable operator can have for battery management and even better if you add solar. This product is nothing but amazing and NOTHING like it anywhere for its intended use, and it does it brilliantly. It gets little to no exposure. I would love to see you give a full review in what it can do for an operator. Anyone that owns one will say the same as I do, once you own one hard to imagine operating portable with out one. Less than handful sort of reviews and all did a poor job of it.

Thanks a lot for the video.

Great video. Ordered mine directly in Rusia. Hope to get it in August :-) 73, Stephan, DF6PA

GOOD COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW THANKS!

Love the concept. I'm looking for a compact but powerful radio that I can take on long distance bicycle tours. My issue is the proprietary nature of most of the connectors. I'm new so I'm not into wiring the different connectors yet. I'm wondering if they might provide adaptors that will allow to use standard accessories with this radio? Finally, does this radio have an antenna analyzer like the G-90? Thanks in advance.

Nice vid thanks much appreciated!

Really like these new qrp radios coming out. A little disappointing that they price them as high as full hf rigs. Would love to pick this or the new Icom 705 up instead of buying older used rigs (all my radios I’ve but used as I can’t afford “new” prices). Between an Icom 7200 and yaesu 818 I still spent significantly less then either of these new rigs go for separately.

Love the reviews and walkthrough! Would this be a good QRP for RTTY/PSK?

Thank you.

Greetings from Massachusetts

Looks good.

Perfect emcomm radio

Ah, first CW related anything I’ve seen on this radio, they buried the keyer speed in a menu, strike 1. That CW audio wasn’t too shabby though. I hear you say key clicks and relay for full break in cw, which sounds like a noisy TR relay vs pin diodes? And only one CW paddle/key at at time. My KX2 just can’t be beat. I’m still intrigued though, that panadapter looks useful.

Radio looks and sounds great in the video just curious if anyone has tried feeding free dv into the Radio where applicable or if a free dv voice profile might be added to the Radio itself don't know if there's any demand for this mode?

Thanks for the review. I'm a brand new General (as in passed the test tonight). KE8PDP/AG. I'm trying to figure out which radio to buy and like the idea of a packable radio. But I also realize I'd be paying a premium for it. Am I being too idealistic?

Great Video! Does this radio come with a built in SWR Analyzer?

Thank you for your effort but your demonstration would have been more effective for me as a newbie if we could have seen the display close enough and focused clearly enough to see what was being displayed as you worked. I suspect seasoned operators got it though so maybe that was your intention. I learned a lot while the camera was focused and close enough to see the display but that was only for a brief time. Thanks again for your help.

I have a question regarding external speaker. Have your come across a set that allows a better(louder) speaker to be used while also allowing a mic. So for example if a group or room was listening to the radio but you wanted to also be able to transmit.

Now I’m very conflicted between this and the KX2... I love the lightweight, slim, weather-resistant(-ish) form factor of this radio, but the KX2 isn’t much worse, and has more features. But this for $600 less, which I can spend on other gear sooner? Very tempting, hope to see a shootout with this and other rigs like the KX2, G90, KX3, X5105, etc soon.

How is the noise floor and sensitivity of the receive on this radio compared to the Xiegu X5105? Thanks in advance, Rob

What is the power consumption in cw tx mode?

Does it have a internal power controller? Am wondering on if it can connect to solar direct.

I had a couple of problems on this radio. when the radio selfprotect itself in case of high SWR by reducing the output power there is no way to rise it up after an antenna adjusting even at very low SWR level : I have to reset the radio (yes reset!). I had also to send it back to the assistance as a fatal problem occurred on the speaker (not RX onkly speaker) . Broken without any aparent reason. 4 months to repair and have it back. Quite disappointing indeed!

I Volunteer with Adventist Disaster Response.I'm going to take a HARD look at this radio for my Response Go Kit! This radio with a 15 Amp LiFePO4 Battery and Chameleon Antenna would be a NICE setup!

9:45 freakin' H-250, I love it!

what is with mag loop antennas? 73 de HB9GNK and KB9GNK

If you want the MARS mod, can you get that through the the USA outlets?

The connectors are too big. Especially for portable use. But the rugged design is really nice. This is missing on the Elecraft line. I hope you will show us more details soon. Vy73

Growing up with Toughbooks, I get the appeal.

By the way good video!!.

I would like to see connection to headset like Heil BM17 and Pro 7, please

Yes, I also would like to know if the CW memory message capability will support voice messages. Additionally, has anyone tested the speech processor function?

Most important question, how does it compare to your superlative Elecraft X2? Thank you and regards, de Karl KE3KWE

Josh, thanks for doing this second look at the TX-500. Have you compared the receiver to that of your KX2, and have an opinion to share about the RX difference?

I love military radios, and this TX-500 is as close as you are going to get to that with a ham radio. Also, I saw some derogatory reactions on the web about the fact that this is designed and made in Russia. Apart from the fact that such remarks reflect more on the persons saying stuff like that than it does on the radio, it is also incorrect. I have many military radios in my collection from Russia and other former East-Block countries, and I can tell you, they all are superb, both in design as well as construction. In fact, looking at this radio, I would not be surprised if the designers of this radio once were employed in the field of military radio design.... I , for sure, will be ordering this little gem. I think $800 is a very fair price for a radio as robust as this. And that ATU everyone is demanding? I will be using it with my MAT-125E tuner, 18650 Li-battery powered and having latching relays that do not need power once set. That little tuner was MADE for a radio like this!

Where can one purchase the military handset with that connector please???

How would you compare this to an Elecraft KX2?

Off target when is part 2 of the SteppIR ???

How water resistant is it? Splash/dunking?

Looking for a new radio. Have a few friends that do qrp. This may be a radio i can ise as i got to a lake house and have a nice dipole set up there.

Can you boost the legs on this (and other QRP's) with an external amp? I'm pretty new to the ham world.

Interesting piece! Yes a definite target audience still cool. 73 de N2NLQ

I love the idea of the radio, just not super crazy about the proprietary plugs for everything and I wish it landed at a little lower price point since it is a QRP radio. Also, I noticed you haven't update your shack config in the description to include the new antenna. Thanks for another great video.

What is the source for the military handset?

Josh, Lab599 is saying they don’t provide the Audio cable. Since you are well connected with HRO, please ask them about sourcing such a cable that we can order with the radio. Thank you for an excellent presentation. I

I have a radio coming next month. Will they be including one of those military style handsets or do we have to order that one in addition to the radio? I understand that the speaker/mic will come with it.

DIF may be more relevant in the presence of image signal problems.

We need to move on from twiddling buttons. What's the crystal stability like? For $900, it should be good, given that $600 rigs usually have ultra-stable TCXOs. But is it? Also, this thing is currently only for sale in the US and Sweden. Buy it from outside those countries, and if there is any problem with it, you will have zero consumer protection. Worth thinking about, at that kind of money.

Thank you for reviewing this radio. I wanted to comment the radio sounded very tinny even when you used an external speaker. Is this just the way it will always sound or is it because your external speaker is not so good?

what model number is the battery pack you're using?

Does it have an external speaker jack

Can the TX-500 transmit un the 27 Mhz band??

Love this rig !!! Are there any other microphone options for this??

for anyone watching this review: there are MANY improvements in the current firmware, including CW decoding!

Hi Josh Please can you run APRS, FT8, WSPR and receive WX Fax. Keep up the good work. Chud M1PUP QTH London

I would have liked to see it set up for digital modes. Any radio today, which doesn't have a single cable for CAT/ audio is completely dropping the ball.

SO my question ...on CW you say it's "full QSK" (aka full break-in) but is the switching silent PIN diode like the KX series OR relay switching which usually is accompanied with some physical clicking noise of the relays and delay in RX recovery time? 100-msec kinda says to me it's relay switch not PIN diodes? Only LAB599 knows? Please advise $800 is riding on this feature or lack of it . Thanks Steve/wGOAT

Josh, Have you tried this with an amp?

At this point, do you think this or the KX2 is better suited for multi-day backpacking?

look good, hard to find!

Would be nice if someone offered an HF radio in the 15-to-25watt power range (125watt amplified) with 2G/3G ALE, icing on the cake would be if it had both the MIL-STD-810G & IP65 ratings... however it's highly unlikely that such a radio will ever be offered to the HAM community.

Is there a keyer?

Josh, do you think this would be a good substitute for a G90? I really like my 20 watts with the G90 and I don't know if the one pound savings of the TX 500 is worth the loss of 10 watts.

All the proprietary weatherproof fittings kind of scare me. Does it come with adapters? Apologies in advance if I missed that in the first video.

Hello, I have a quick question. Are any of the keys illuminated since you may find yourself operating in total darkness. Also please advice if there any software to operate unit from a tablet or notebook. Thanks, MJ

I think NF is notch filter, not noise filter.

Buy camera with fixed focus please

What is your opinion regarding TX500 as a beginner radio... you have a learning curve whit every radio... or should one go for the ic705... has everything ..but twize the money....

Thanks for an excellent review! One question: Is it possible to use an existing headset-mic combo with this rig? Thanks!

I have a Fuji "bridge" camera. The case is rubberized as are the buttons. After about a year the camera case and the buttons became sticky. The buttons functioned intermittently and then not at all. Fuji wants 150 Euros to "fix" the problem. I would also have to pay the shipping costs. A new camera of the same model costs around 350 Euros. I am not inclined to pay Fuji to fix their design flaw, nor will I buy the same model of camera again, at any price. I have become very skeptical of "rubber" buttons. This radio seems to have similar kinds according to Josh's description. Buyer beware!

Isn’t that in milliamps to the right of the decimal

Are those "aircraft" plugs the same as the ones used on Military tank and long range radios?

A Elecraft KX2 or KX3 is far the better solution.

Hello! New firmware v1.03.03 with CW memory