The new Xiegu X6100: Let's see how well it performs CW in the field! 

Oh golly. Thank you--couldn't receive a better compliment. So you'll have the king of field radios in that KX2. A superb little radio!

It has been a pretty brutal winter for those in the 2 and 3 regions. :) Thank you for your comment.

Pileups are so much fun. Thank you, OM!

So glad you like them!

Oh man! That's what I get for typing on that iPhone! :) I'm going to correct the log and re-submit. History must not forget what must be one of the first X6100 to X6100 CW QSOs! :)

@@ThomasK4SWL I was thinking the same thing after I worked you yesterday. I was pretty busy with work but just had to get you in the log. The QSB was bad but heard you just well enough to call you. I knew you told me about the 6100 as well. Glad you liked it even with it's current short comings.

Thank you, David!

Many thanks!

Agreed and this is a huge plus for this particular rig!

Roger that! I'll explore this. Thank you, OM!

Indeed! It's a capable HF transceiver and proper upgrade of the X5105. The price is excellent for what you get. In the field, you don't always need contest-grade performance, so these work nicely.

Thank you, Mike! I understand. Yes, there are some issues to be sorted and you might find that in a year you may get another one. 73!

Yeah, you've got two of the best QRP radios on the market. There's no *real* reason you'd need an X6100. Of course, that never stops me evidently.

Next time, OM! :) This was a pretty short activation.

I didn't Thank you for pointing him out!

I should warn you that those QCX-Minis are insane fun! A proper cheap thrill! :) And Yaesu? Oh my goodness what I wouldn't give to see their next QRP radio!

@@ThomasK4SWL My daughter's bought them for me so looking forward to getting them built! 73 and a Happy New Year from the U.K.

Not yet, but I plan to!

It a simple "BNC Binding Post Adapter." Yes, the red post is attached to the radiator and the black post attached to the counterpoise (both are the same length on mine).

Ha ha! So the feet angle is great, I just don't like how easily they fold back in when I set the radio on a table. Truly a minor complaint, though.

@@ThomasK4SWL Got to be a 3D printed fix for that soon..

SO many people have asked that, yes, likely I will! :)

So I don't have it with me at the moment, but I know the delay was set to 200ms and (I think?) speed 17 WPM.

Yeah, I'm still trying to find my "happy spot" with delay. I think the 200ms time actually works best for me. Back home, when I lowered it to zero, the timing tripped me up a bit and didn't really deliver full-break in QSK. I think I'll keep it at 200 or 250 ms.

You guys have Morse course or app you recommend

Yes, NC is the most elusive DX :) So I've honestly had the X6100 for such a short period of time, I really can't comment about the AGC yet. I will be taking a much closer look, though (as long as Radioddity let me keep it a bit longer).

So it's not customary with park and summit exchanges. With regular QSOs, yes indeed! There's no harm in sending a trailing K if you like, though.

Send it in you are still under warranty!

Great question. Unfortunately, I sold my X6100 over a year ago. I can't remember how decoding worked on the screen. You might need to ask in our forum (qrper.net) or in a Xiegu email discussion group.

@@ThomasK4SWL Thanks Thomas, yes the X6100 does not display CW out only decodes in, which is unfortunate.

It's N0SA's "SOTA Paddle." Sadly, I don't think he's still making them. But he does make other keys. Contact him via his QRZ email address.

@@ThomasK4SWL Thank you.

So the deatils are in the field report on QRPer: qrper.com/2021/12/the-new-xiegu-x6100-lets-see-how-well-it-performs-cw-in-the-field/ The little key is the N0SA SOTA key which he no longer produces. Check with him, though, as I believe he has a new offering! 73!

Thank you! So "72" is basically the QRP version of "73". Lately, I've been sending it mainly to let the op on the other end know I'm QRP. Frankly, though, I use both of them interchangeably. :)

@@ThomasK4SWL I have learned much from your videos, and there is another nugget I was unaware of. Thx, K1GC

Hmmm...so I'm presently without an X6100. Sent the loaner off earlier this week. I purchased one in Dec, though, and it's due any day.

😁 Ha ha!

Yes, that's just a BNC binding post with no adapter. There's a LOT more detail and a QSO map for this activation in my field report on QRPer.com: qrper.com/2021/12/the-new-xiegu-x6100-lets-see-how-well-it-performs-cw-in-the-field/ Each video actually has a post on QRPer with more details. You can always find a link in the description of the video.

@@ThomasK4SWL great content, I’m going to try the same setup this weekend!

I'm not sure if they've addressed this or not. You might reach out to Xiegu or one of their retailers for more info--this would likely be in firmware update notes.

Hi, Terry, So I sold my X6100 in the fall last year. The X6100 is a cool radio, but I much prefer the KX2 personally. Keep in mind, though, that I'm not a hard-core digi mode operator. I think the X6100 would have serious appeal for field FT8 enthusiasts. The KX2 has a much better receiver, noise floor, sensitivity, selectivity, and front end. I also prefer the filtering. But you're right: the wait time is SUPER long for the KX2.

It's an N0SA paddle that is no longer made. This is the replacement: cwmorse.us/products/sp4-sota-pota-cw-morse-magnetic-paddle-by-n0sa?ref=pHGSYqNC

Not yet, but I will.

It was made by Larry (N0SA)--a brilliant little key, but I don't think he makes this same model anymore.

@@ThomasK4SWL Limited run 25 I think is all he made and I got the last one haha

@@CdnRockiesRadio lucky you! :)

If you're you're not he sort of person who enjoys firmware updates (are any of us really? :) ) then waiting a year I think would make sense. The firmware will be very mature then.

I'm not sure yet.

Yes, so noise reduction in CW mode is a known problem Xiegu is working on. I haven't tried transmitting below 50,100 kHz yet.

@@ThomasK4SWL thanks. They gave me a 6100 to play with. Going thru it today. I’m sure the little annoyances will be fixed in the near future. Fun radio.

Check this out, Dave: qrper.com/2021/08/how-to-send-a-standard-pota-cw-exchange/ The Icom IC-705 is still a much better radio than the X6100, especially in terms of the receiver.

Now that Xiegu puts out radios with a 10:1 vs. a 3:1 tuner in every radio, My expectation from any radio going forward is a 10:1 match capability.

Wow! So it sounds like something isn't working properly with your X6100. The one I had on loan did at least two activations in a row on one charge. While the internal battery doesn't last as long as the X5105, it works longer that the amount of time you noted. I think early on I got 4+ hours in RX in the shack on one charge. I will check the new one I ordered from Radioddity. It should arrive early next week. If it's getting warm/hot and not holding a charge, I'd definitely check in with the retailer. If the charge controller isn't working properly inside, you'd want to sort that out soon and avoid thermal runaways.

They're N0SA SOTA paddles, but sadly they're not being made anymore. I think he does have some new designs in the works, though.

@@ThomasK4SWL OK, thanks

So this was my first field activation with the X6100 with an initial firmware package. It works well for me in terms of keyer timing, etc. but as with most Xiegu radios, the audio leaves something to be desired. The filters are okay, but can handle those close-in adjacent signals like pricier radios.

That particular one was a one-off from N0SA. He does make them again from time to time. That said, another design of his I love that is available is the SP4 via CW Morse. It's his design, they just manufacture it: cwmorse.us/products/sp4-sota-pota-cw-morse-magnetic-paddle-by-n0sa?ref=pHGSYqNC Note that this is an affiliate link, but has no impact on my recommendation because the SP4 is one of my favorites and it a similar form-factor to the one in this video. Only slightly larger.

@@ThomasK4SWL thats brilliant thank you! ive added the SP4 to my shopping list!

It's made by N0SA.

Check out these of the QCX Mini: ru-vid.com/group/PLQwZF-uqDOfic_Bl4B45Cil-_kzBJh0s9 I've a QCX+ to build this year, so that'll be on here before long.

It is a good one! I have several pencils I love using. I always include a link the full field report. You can find it here: qrper.com/2021/12/the-new-xiegu-x6100-lets-see-how-well-it-performs-cw-in-the-field/

@@ThomasK4SWL Thanks! Placing an order. I am actually considering a purchase of the xiegu-x6100 as well. I wish they would incorporate digital and other modes into the firmware, instead of just the basic vanilla modes. I would like to think I could make a QSO using FT-8 on QRP during a zombie apocalypse LOL! I am close to just making my own Cyberdeck with a Battery, RPI 4, LimeSDR and PA. But would be nice to have something as neatly packaged as the Xiegu though. Nice channel, I subscribed! 73 DE KI7EUE

So I ended up selling my X6100 this fall. I found that the audio and battery life--especially since I have an X5105--just didn't stack up. If I were a digital mode operator in the field, I might have kept it. The overloading it experiences can get pretty bad at times--you really need an external BCI filter for it.

@@ThomasK4SWL I see, thanks for info. I might wait a little bit until they make improvement. AG6JU

Thank you!

I might very well fiddle with the sidetone. :) It sounds SO much better than the X5105 ST.

You can fast-forward?

Here you go: qrper.com/2022/07/why-i-send-72-instead-of-73/