How does the Xiegu X6100 perform for Summits on the Air?

I have seen a lot of videos about the Xiegu X6100 and was curious how it would perform for me in the field. Having received a loaner X6100 from Radioddity I decided to use it for my latest Summits on the Air (SOTA) activation. This activation includes a scenic hike along Saguaro Lake, a little route finding, a steep hike to the top of a cliff, and some great QSOs. After operating for a couple of hours I give you my first impressions about this radio. I also give a brief loadout of my pack.
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[@daledervin3672]

I love my Xiegu x6100. Doesn't do anything I didn'treally expect. It's a great HF portable WITH A TUNER, at a fraction of the cost of the 705. People tend to get over critical. Enjoy life.

[@RedSummitRF]

The tuner is a defined plus. So is the filtering, and price, as you point out. I have a few more activations to do before I can make a fair assessment about how I feel about it. I'm happy you like it. I hope I do too, but I call 'em as I see 'em. We'll see. Thanks for visiting the channel.

[@mostlypostie1]

30m SSB is legal in other parts of the world, such as Australia. It's up to the operator of the radio to operate within their own licence conditions, so, it's all good! :)

[@RedSummitRF]

I'm so glad you mentioned this! I didn't even think about that. I am so USA-centric sometimes in my thinking. That totally makes sense. I really appreciate the comment!

[@whitepinephotography5887]

Hi Red, I love my x6100. I only use mine on 5 watts SSB and find it runs a lot cooler. I have used a small fan and still get over 6 hours on a 6 AHR battery. I have talked to Europe several times 5 watts and a 17.5ft vertical. The birdies are there but I just work around them. Last Firmware seemed to help. For a radio with all that it does have including internal tuner it is a great deal and as good as my FT-817. Thanks for the great video.

[@RedSummitRF]

Thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts. There are always the purists out there, but the more radios I review, the less concerned I am about the criticisms many people have. Good for you to make the x6100 work for you. I agree that it IS a good radio. I am so glad we have such a divers range of quality, prices, and capabilities with the radios today. Enjoy.

[@PD1MM]

Nice video. Thank you very much for the attached Morse text, which helps me to master Morse better. Keep it up. thumbs' up. 73 PD1MM Marcel

[@RedSummitRF]

Hi Marcel. Glad it was helpful! Thanks for visiting the channel.

[@jozefbezan2501]

Danke für das tolle Video.73 von Jozef,S56CJG QTH,Wien.Österreich.😊😊😊

[@RedSummitRF]

Hallo Jozef und danke, dass du einen Kommentar hinterlassen hast. 72

[@alvarogaitan2529]

see video again fantastic Charlie

[@RedSummitRF]

Wow - a re-watch. Glad you liked it. I confess I've watched it a few time too.

[@RosssRoyce]

Thanks for sharing your journey!

[@RedSummitRF]

you bet. Thank YOU for supporting my channel.

[@dennisjacobs9625]

Thanks!

[@RedSummitRF]

Dennis I have no idea how I missed this! Thank you so very much for your contribution. It means a lot to me.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Great video, Charlie! I get it about snakes on the path. We have Copperheads here: they're silent and typically strike the second hiker in a party from the side of a trail. Very territorial. Once encountered a timber rattler while hiking and we both surprised each other. When it rattled, my body instinctively backed up quickly. Almost at the speed of sound! :) It took ages for my heart rate to go back down. It's so odd for me to imagine hiking and being able to so clearly see a summit and possible summit paths. Here, the trees and underbrush make that a challenge--especially in the summer.

[@JayN4GO]

It’s wild here in the Appalachia as well Thomas. Just over the mountain from you. There are snake hunters here. Crazy right ! Last year they killed 119 copperheads on the path to the peak of the hill. I’ll have to send you some pics. Rattlers don’t really cause a big issue but they did kill one that was 9 1/2 ft long. On their way out they thought it was a downed smaller tree until it started moving. So needless to say I might morrel hunt somewhere else for safety this spring. 🤣 generally I walk into the timber before daylight without a light. I’ll ride a bear before getting close to a copperhead.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

@@JayN4GO 100% Copperheads are horrible. 119 killed? Holy Cow!!! We have friends on our road that have loads of morrels on their property. They're worth the hunt (without Copperheads!). :)

[@RedSummitRF]

Speaking of . . .I just ran into a rattler this morning on an activation. Right on a trail with heavy traffic. The ladies that passed it first and got it to rattle took off running down the trail. I stayed for a picture (at a safe distance of course). Yes Thomas, I've done some activations out there in Georgia. Exactly what you describe with the trees. The desert is nice in that regard but then there is nothing to hang your antenna in. You have to rely on the fishing pole/mast and some scabby brush. A few times I had to hold my mast in my hand because there wasn't even rocks to pile at the base, no brush, just bare. Ugh!

[@RedSummitRF]

umm no thanks on the copper heads Jay! LOL

[@ThomasK4SWL]

@@RedSummitRF wow! And there's no mistaking that rattle! I suppose I am a bit spoiled to have trees almost everywhere I activate. I think this is the reason I've never warmed up to my Sotabeams tactical pole--I just don't need it if I have another support. Sometime, I must do some activating out west, though. Your video makes it look rather tempting!

[@Mottersmotters]

Nice video Charlie. I wanted this rig but I think I have gone back to the idea of a ft818nd. Would love the Ic705 but need to sell a body part for one of them. Just need to save hard and fingers crossed be able to buy a second hand 818 for my first HF. Motters M7TRS 🇬🇧 73

[@RedSummitRF]

Yes I get what you are saying. My go-to radio is the ft-817nd. I don't need all that fancy stuff in the x6100, but it is another affordable radio along with the 818 compared to the 705 or KX2/3. Can't go wrong with the 818. Thanks for the note.

[@gravestonemyth]

Nice review, Charlie. I just got mine last week. I made a few contacts the evening it arrived and noted many of the same issues. I tried again the next morning and the birdies on 80 were atrocious. I switched to 60M and the local AM stations were pounding through, even with the attenuator on and the RF gain all the way down. I had hoped to use this in my car, replacing the G90. No dice - it’s going back. Very sad. I use a KX2 in the field and a KX3 at my desk, and I hoped ten years of engineering advances would have made this competitive. It’s not even close.

[@RedSummitRF]

Yes sounds about right. The overheating isn't a concern for me anymore. I took it out again this morning early at sunrise, when temps are cool and made sure I found a shady spot. No overheating. Just got a little warm.

[@M0RSF]

Excellent video Charlie. Nice WX and great views I can cope with but not sure about the snakes! The Xiegu seemed a quite good bit of kit with plenty of features and a decent battery. Hope to work you on the bands soon. 73 Chris M0RSF

[@RedSummitRF]

Thanks Chris - yes, I am warming up to the radio. Some of the negatives aren't all that bad. A few are concerning. It is probably a good radio for somebody who can't afford the more expensive competitors.

[@joeblow8593]

Thanks for the review

[@RedSummitRF]

No problem 👍

[@alvarogaitan2529]

Thanks Charlie 73 from kb2uew

[@RedSummitRF]

I really appreciate you returning to the channel over and over! Thank you for leaving nice comments.

[@garyeldridge7821]

Thanks. All good information about the X6100. You point out several things that I've heard others mention which are important such as heating, hard to see screen in the sun and most importantly the front end overloading. This all may cause me to pass on this radio or at least delay long enough to see if any of these issues get fixed. Thanks again. Nice video. - Gary - KC8UD

[@RedSummitRF]

Thank you for watching Gary. It's not a perfect radio but then again there are a lot of pluses you get for the price. I have another video about overheating coming out tomorrow morning. Then the following week I'll give my final thoughts. Thank you for watching.

[@CalSextons]

Another great and informative video. Thanks for sharing and taking us along on a beautiful hike . . . I’m gonna have to go and make this one before to gets too hot . . . And before the jingle worms (rattlers) start coming out in numbers. Lol. 72 Don N8FN

[@RedSummitRF]

Hi Don - thanks. Better hurry. I just ran into a rattle today on the trail. They are out and buzzing.

[@aj2isotadxing]

Refreshing to see a video review where everything is not amazing

[@RedSummitRF]

Thank you AJ.

[@ellisc.foleyjr9778]

Great Activation Charlie,, FB on your assesment of the X6100. I also watched one on Tom's site also little while back (K4SWL) and he too found pro's and cons' about the rig. I'm wondering if that heat might not be the battery itself? not so much "Final" heat? an outside battery source would eliminate that ? Was surprised with the height and clear field of view you didn't do better on 2m. even with the external antenna. But still a great activation Charlie tnx fer taking the time to share it and your views. 72 de Elis WA!RKS

[@RedSummitRF]

Thanks Ellis - I was surprised too. I should have brought the yagi. Oh well. Regarding the heat, I activated another peak with it and I think it was mostly just the sun exposure. I intentionally got up early to beat the sun and temps and set up in the shade. It got warm but not hot. I'm not so concerned about it anymore. Video on that should be out in a few days.

[@JayN4GO]

Man you really work that cwmorse paddle well Charlie. That’s the newer version with spring tension. I’m curious how you liked it. Take care brother and be safe

[@RedSummitRF]

Hi Jay, thanks. The paddle is excellent. Of course I'll do a review soon. But it's top quality!

[@misteriks599]

Это круто, чувак:) я бы не стал так упираться и куда-либо забираться, чтобы эфир послушать или сеанс связи провести.

[@RedSummitRF]

Спасибо. Работать с вершины горы действительно весело. Я благодарю вас за посещение моего канала.

[@KhelikMikhail]

Блин, я практически только с вершин и работаю, SOTA - это стиль жизни :)

[@DonzLockz]

Great video and good practical feedback. Is there a way or room to fit a heatsink/s? I know it has ongoing issues but to me, its still attractive due to price. QRP is all I will be allowed to do once my test results come in so that's okay, I'm really keen on a waterfall to help me out. Would sitting in a car help with screen reflection?

[@RedSummitRF]

Hi Don - if you are not doing SOTA then yes, sitting in a car would help with the screen. Good news on the overheating. It didn't overheat on my last activation. Must have been too much sun. It did get a little warm but nothing too concerning.

[@Sean-AI7EQ]

Enjoyed the video. I'd be curious to know if you've had any near misses with snakes?! I imagine you see snakes on a lot of your SOTA activations in Arizona.

[@RedSummitRF]

I've already had two encounters with rattlers this year and I would guess I average about that much in a given year, so I'm ahead of schedule ... haha. I did almost step on one laying in the trail a couple of times a few years ago. Those to incidents would be my most memorable near misses. I've just started doing POTA and haven't seen any while do that - YET. Thanks Sean.

[@n1rbd]

Reminds me of Knife Edge at Katahdin. VERY narrow ridgeline.

[@RedSummitRF]

It was a bit sketchy - Sounds like Knife Edge is an adventure!

[@n1rbd]

@@RedSummitRF Once was enough for me! One of those "Been there, done that, never again" deals. :)

[@Lurkan01]

hi, Could you tell me what equipment you are using to record the video or if you have any video where you talk about the subject, I looked for it and I did not find it 73

[@RedSummitRF]

Yes - I use a GoPro Hero Black for almost all of the video and audio, just the internal mic of the GoPro. For some of the CW portion I used a recorder (ZOOM H1). The bench stuff at home was with my Android S21 cell phone. Hope this helps.

[@johnn0hj]

Great video and review. What firmware version are you at?

[@RedSummitRF]

Thanks John - at the time of this video it was v1.1.4 Feb 16.

[@daveN2MXX]

I have the 6100...for the price, it is a great transceiver. Could the heat you experienced be from charging the battery while operating at 10W???

[@RedSummitRF]

Jury is still out for me but there is a lot to like. The heat was definitely not from charging. I had the charge setting off for use with the external battery. I wasn't charging on the hill. I'll figure it out. I'm going out again tomorrow again and I'll be paying closer attention to this.

[@AA0Z]

What was the antenna setup on that narrow ridge? That shot with the fish eye lens always makes peaks look like your on a high wire. I've heard bad things about that 6100 over heating. Can't be good for the electronics inside.

[@RedSummitRF]

I just tied down the mast to a bush and then did what I could - I didn't set up along that narrow ridge. Too scary for me. It didn't overheat on my activation today. Must have been too much sun.

[@84rafaelkld]

Hello. Have you tried how it receives and transmits on AM and FM? I just received the equipment and I have opened it for the CB27 band and when I use FM they receive me well but I receive with a lot of distortion and in AM they neither receive me well nor do I receive well. I love Esraradio but it does very strange things. Thank you.

[@RedSummitRF]

Thanks for watching the video. There is a lot to investigate in this radio. I just stuck with the features I typically use for a Summits on the Air activation. So no, I didn't look at FM and AM because I don't use these modes on summits. One thing I can agree with you on, regardless of that, is "this radio does very strange things". Yes it does!!!

[@gravestonemyth]

Can you swim in that lake?

[@RedSummitRF]

For sure jay - I've done it. We took a bout out to do wake boarding and then just swam a bit from the boat.

[@kurt53641]

I’ll just stick to my IC-705

[@RedSummitRF]

705's a really good radio's I hear. Wish I could try one out.

[@TXLorenzo]

@@RedSummitRF The 705 is noticeably heavier, but in a different class.

[@Jail-Left-Wing-Traitors]

CW is soooooo boring to watch on a video

[@RedSummitRF]

I understand. I get a lot of people who really like it, but they are folks trying to learn Morse code. This is why I try to mix up the content, so there's hopefully something interesting for everybody. IDK, I hope you find something interesting on the channel.