FT8 and CW POTA Activation with the sBitx ham radio!

[@unclemikeyplays]

I've been interested in the sBitX for a while, but only just yesterday finally pulled the trigger on one, which should get here tomorrow. This is one of the few videos I've found of someone OPERATING one just like any other radio on an activation! Thank you!

[@hunt555fish]

Nice setup my friend.NB3W

[@HamRadioToday]

Thanks 👍 I am still dialing in the system a little at a time.

[@davidsaylors]

After rewatching the video I see that I made some simple transcription mistakes with the CW, I have 559 in one place and the report was actually 55N which means the same thing, but for people trying to practice copying code, this could lead to mistakes. I seem to have done this a couple of times so I am sorry about that, if I get the chance, I will edit the raw file and re-upload the video with the correct text.

[@AE5X]

Wow, CW capability seems to have come a long way since V1 of this rig.

[@HamRadioToday]

It still isnt perfect but it is usable. They are working on recoding the CW portion to work better. I used the keyboard yesterday to work cw and was surprised by how good that worked for me. It is one of my favorite POTA machines now.

[@Дмитрий-й9х6и]

Thanks for the interesting video. Question, why the image on the transceiver screen does not take up the whole screen ?

[@HamRadioToday]

Because I had a GoPro style camera setup to watch the radio and I am not very good at camera angles and such🤷🏻‍♂️😬

[@N4GW]

I wish you had some SSB as well

[@HamRadioToday]

Good to know. I will add that in on the next one then. Thank you for the feedback

[@frankENZC]

@@HamRadioToday Excellent video. I was curious as to where you purchased your sBitx V3. Also, I concur with the previous comment. Please to a SSB demo with your sBitx V3. 73 de WA3RSL.

[@HamRadioToday]

@@frankENZC I bought it directly from the HF Signals website. They are a little outfit in India and ship worldwide. The radio comes DHL which is kinda terrifying, but mine arrived in one piece so I am happy. SSB is in the que to be done now... Thank you for the feedback.

[@frankENZC]

@@HamRadioToday Thanks. I think Gigaparts sells them, if I'm not mistaken.

[@HamRadioToday]

@@frankENZC www.hfsignals.com/index.php/sbitx-v3/

[@unclemikeyplays]

What's the box you're using as a carry case for it? I'm realizing I have NOTHING that's really good for carrying something of this shape right now!

[@HamRadioToday]

These are the Apache cases from Harbor Freight and the model for this radio is the 3800. They have a couple of other sizes available as well and several colors other than orange too if you prefer.

[@unclemikeyplays]

@@HamRadioToday I actually really like the Apache cases, it just wasn't clear which size yours was. I currently have the 5800 for the FT-710, which turns out to be overkill and I'm probably downsizing, because while I like the wheels on it, it's HEAVY and it's LARGE and I don't have a truck, I have a Kia Niro 😀

[@rmwTAG]

thanks for video. What key do you use for CW?

[@HamRadioToday]

The one in this video is a Gemini travel key by CQ Ham Radio. i found it on eBay.

[@JimMarshallUK]

Hello, what is all that beeping? Is that old school Morse code (they call it CW I think?) I was under the impression that the FCC took that requirement off the test, is this still really popular? Note: A lot of Ham channels I watch, to learn, their intro’s have all this beeping at the beginning and I never understood fully

[@HamRadioToday]

Yes. It is morse and some FT8 which sounds more like a computer noise. Morse is no longer required is why people are using it. They WANT to learn it now that it is not shoved down their throat by the govt

[@JimMarshallUK]

@@HamRadioToday That is cool! Makes sense to me. I was just in Charleston on an old aircraft carrier and they had a CW room. Big old tube driven type transceivers, it was slick. I’m actually about to move from SC to NJ and the ham radio club is next door. I’ve been waiting to put up a Yagi beam and Henry 8k for the last 20 yrs, it’s finally happening

[@judodadeo1933]

Aloha, where's the link?

[@HamRadioToday]

www.hfsignals.com/index.php/sbitx-v3/

[@HamRadioToday]

Sorry, I failed to add it earlier, here it is and I am pasting it in the description now as well, thank you for reminding me.

[@judodadeo1933]

Mahalo and Aloha