Is The (tr)uSDX Radio Good For CW Mode?

[@madcarew5168]

Just arrived..made 12v pack..exploring memory functions and Rx only. What a wonderful little set this is.No issues...

[@W6JIM]

Thank you for demonstrating this rig. I got one a few weeks ago and find that it is very fun to use. Seems incredible that it works so well for the price, size and weight !!

[@harrymartin1661]

Enfin qqch en français! Merci pour le commentaire et la présentation. Amitiés, 73 de la Suède, ex FY.

[@alannorthdevonuk763]

Thank you for this video. I ordered one from roWaves, and as I've gone soft I am getting it assembled. Can't wait.

[@dl2man]

Hey Gil, I love the fact you´re having fun with the Radio. Hope to meet you one day, in the only true mode...... CW..... 73 Manuel; DL2MAN

[@RadioPrepper]

That would be awesome, I'll keep an ear out for you! Often on 30m...

[@germanprepper21]

It's definitely time to double down on food and water preps guys! Happy to offer help and advice if needed👍

[@tommycheshire5508]

Great to see you again. It is getting to be sailing weather. Hope that you will share one of your famous voyages this summer with some radio thrown in.

[@RadioPrepper]

I sure hope so!

[@tonyluis5025]

Salut Gil, i have this very nice Begali machine , love it !! see you !

[@jamescoffey5225]

"It's not an Elecraft K1." It is a shame that Elecraft no longer produces the K1 or perhaps even a technologically updated K1 (with wider frequency range). I suspect that there would be a sizeable market for an updated/upgraded CW-only K1. 72 de AE5ZX

[@RadioPrepper]

Absolutely..

[@on6uufrank]

yeah they should make a kx1s and k1s for all us homebuilders

[@W4TRI_Ronny]

I retract my previous statement on FB! There is a proper printed case! Why do all these cases look like they need to level their beds! Great print Gil!

[@randallhash9283]

Had one of these rigs last week…Was surprising the features it had but was very inconvenient for me to change menu for each function…Even to change the volume…That’s just me…Sent it back to seller..

[@RadioPrepper]

Small price to pay..

[@gliderrider]

Mine works ok. Only works on straight key. Locks up using iambic. No output on the meter SSB. I might get another one that is made by ‘them’. Mine is the ‘classic’.

[@joelaut12]

Thanks for another fine report!

[@johnwest7993]

I haven't reviewed the display specs or the schematic, but I'm fairly sure you can add a small adjustable linear voltage regulator to the display and run it from the 12 V supply dropped down to the display's maximum rated voltage. That will make the display as bright as possible. Right now I think it is being run on 5 volts after the display mod that was done to eliminate the switchmode power supply for the display. It was generating noise being picked up by the receiver in the (tr)uSDX, so they killed it. But a small linear regulator, while inefficient, and thus hard on the battery, is not noisy, so you can set up the display brightness you want without adding noise.

[@RadioPrepper]

Certainly, but I just don't want to bother.. I'll print a little plastic hood for the screen..

[@MW-lw8em]

Printed my case this weekend. Now to put it together

[@RadioPrepper]

It's a tight fit..

[@johnwatson2843]

Depends on the tolerance of your printer 😉

[@g4joe]

I need another Case ? Anyone??

[@jerseybob4471]

Been using my (tr)uSDX on phone and CW. I use American Morse dirt cheap paddles. Amazing for the price. Easy to build.

[@RadioPrepper]

I had paddles from them, they work great!

[@DaDitDa]

I own one, and find that the display screen is too small and dim for my old eyes -- especially in sunlight. Otherwise, it's an amazing little QRP transceiver. My "solution" for the small screen is magnifying glasses -- not a great solution, but it works. Ken WA8FCI

[@MartinDWaller]

I congratulate on your choice of tea!

[@RadioPrepper]

LOL ;-)

[@hillbilly4christ638]

too funny Gil your paddles cost more than the radio. still being updated so I think life is good!

[@RadioPrepper]

Good thing they can be used with multiple radios ;-)

[@timoschramm7058]

Hi Gil, nice Video :) Regarding the harsh sound of the tr(USDX) when using the built-in speaker: The tr(USDX) only uses the direct microcontroller output for speaker driving, that's why it sounds so "digital" and overdriven. If you take a small active speaker and plug it in the Headphones plug, it sounds a lot better. 73, Timo :)

[@RadioPrepper]

I will try that thanks!

[@dxexplorer]

I'm still working on learning the code )) I promised by Sept for my birthday I will have a QSO in CW. It's your fault because you are having way too much fun on CW than SSB ))). It is indeed a great little radio. I just got my license... finally... so I made my first QSO's around Europe on this little TRX. I just love the size of it. 73 DE YO6DXE.

[@RadioPrepper]

Excellent!

[@dxexplorer]

@@RadioPrepper I forgot to ask something... just out of curiosity hehe... what are your favorite filters both for CW and SSB ? I fell in love with this TRX... well... is all I have and is excellent for a beginner like me. 73 DE YO6DXE ( I still hope I have more free time to learn Morse so I can finally have you in my log because I am "hunting you" hahaha ).

[@RadioPrepper]

Hi, CW 500Hz, SSB no idea, LOL. I think I use 2k8.

[@dxexplorer]

@@RadioPrepper Hahaha... thanks so much ... 73

[@pa3byw]

Nice CW rig. Have one here. I use a small external speaker which has a much better sound or just headphones (ear phones). I'm.a CW guy, Use sideswiper and paddles, all perfect. To set the right frequency is vy easy. Just use a well calibrated rx and tune your (tr)USDX 27 MHz signal.

[@porkyfedwell]

Could you expand on why the rig needs to be calibrated? And how to do that? I have one on order and was not aware that the transceiver needed to be tuned up on arrival. TU de kd8zm

[@pa3byw]

Hello KD8ZM. You can find the calibration of the 27MHz ref. Oscillator in the menu structure. Just use a dummyload on the truSDX and transmit a CW signal on a certain frequency. Try to find the signal on a modern rx with display( in CW mode) Mostly you have to set the 27 MHz a liitle higher than excactly 27 MHz. Very easy to do.

[@RadioPrepper]

Thank you!

[@yakovdavidovich7943]

At about 4:50, is that the AGC causing that bursting audio volume? Is there any control scheme with the uSDX where you can disable AGC and ride the RF gain manually? Thanks for the video -- I like your impartial and realistic reviews 🙂.

[@RadioPrepper]

No, video editing...

[@aidenkaiser9341]

Have you tested any digital modes on the truSDX?

[@RadioPrepper]

Not yet, but I am sure it will work fine. I have the QDX for digital so I haven't tried..

[@F4JPC]

Bonjour Gills, Je débute en CW et j'aimerais avoir ton avis sur l'efficacité du décodeur cw de ce transceiver. Est-il fiable et efficace ? 73' de F4JPC Nicolas

[@RadioPrepper]

Bonjour. En fait je ne connais aucun décodeur qui soit vraiment efficace...

[@F4JPC]

@@RadioPrepper d'acc merci

[@petemillis4666]

I can tell you for sure that this radio is good for cw. I worked VK4JJ, Faraaz, at 0625utc today on 20m. He was using (tr)usdx and an efhw, I was using a TX500 and a whip. So a qrp to qrp qso, and it worked a treat. 73 de M3KXZ

[@RadioPrepper]

EFHW rocks!

[@45auto]

Will you be going to Friedrichshafen?

[@RadioPrepper]

Not impossible, I'll ask my buddies if anyone is going...

[@downsouthsafaris6788]

Got to menu 8.3 change from 270000 to 270'01600 (c as by rdmember him many 0’s there but 400 hz down on the signal you want to be at about 27…01600 You can find tune by ear easily

[@RadioPrepper]

Thank you!

[@DC7RF]

Hello Gil, 1:24 I know what you mean 😉. Did you use one of your EFHW antennas with a half wavelenght on 40 m? Then you could roll it up from the far end to about 70% of its length to get a 30 m full size EHFW (or fold it back on itself by the same 30 %, not sure, didn't try it that way). I'm not sure about those shortened end fed antennas with coils but I have had good success with good old full size EFHW antennas. Good luck and take care, Robert DC7RF

[@RadioPrepper]

Hi, it's a PAR end-fed with a trap, which shortens it to around 13m...

[@DC7RF]

@@RadioPrepper Oh, I see 👌.Thanks.

[@jankersten6212]

Nice video, what antenna did you use?

[@RadioPrepper]

Hi, probably an end-fed half-wave, my favorite..

[@babass521]

Hello Gil, Just a quick question about the CW and the PskReporter online app... Did you know with which software for the CW which manages the loading of the spots on the PskReporter site? For example ROS allows to upload for 11m spots I would like to know how to do our CW :-) 73's

[@RadioPrepper]

Hi, no idea. I use the Reverse Beacon Network..

[@babass521]

@@RadioPrepper ok thanks 73's

[@raybans4980]

Cool! Thanks for THIS particular test. Like you, CW/ Morse code is my go-to mode and voice is not as important to me. My TR(u)SDR is supposed to arrive from China soon. - Ray ..._ ._ Ps. I see that you still use the TEA TINS for radio kit storage.

[@RadioPrepper]

I must have a hundred tins, LOL.

[@ardilla8651]

Could be sounds better QCX than a usdx? Thanks for the vídeo

[@RadioPrepper]

Hard to say, similar I think.. An external speaker goes a long way...

[@QRPCW]

Gracias por su vídeo, siempre son muy interesantes 💪 73

[@MatthiasLenardt]

👋👍

[@eddy2561]

I bought mine from a Chinese maker who "copied" the original design....I agree with your assessment of the uSDX except the menu system on my rig is a POS, the encoder is very touche and at times the vfo has a mind of its own...I'm more comfortable taking this $125 radio in the field than I am my $1000+ KX3. 73/K6SDW

[@RadioPrepper]

That's why I sold my KX3 and KX2; still a mistake, but the uSDX I don't worry about..

[@eddy2561]

@@RadioPrepper YUP! If needed, the radio can be used as a defensive weapon maybe throwing it at an attacking bear or rabid squirrel......K6SDW

[@RadioPrepper]

I have the VRM-5080 for that ;-)

[@GasolinaPraSempre]

Bonjour je voudrais vous poser une question 🙋‍♂️ si je achète une CB ici en France Est-ce que je peux amener aux États-Unis ça va fonctionner ou je dois acheter une radio CB aux US 🇺🇸 En vous remerciant d’avance cordialement José

[@RadioPrepper]

Ça va fonctionner mais aux USA ils n'ont pas le droit d'utiliser la FM. Ce sera moins cher là bas... Si vous pouvez, ne revenez pas...

[@GasolinaPraSempre]

@@RadioPrepper Je vous remercie beaucoup pour votre réponse rapide encore une petite demande ça serait possible de votre part avoir un moyen de contacts que je puisse vous appeler pour parler si c’est possible pour bien sûr. Cordialement José

[@RadioPrepper]

[e-mail]

[@leeko4enp548]

Question: Who make the cw key you are using?

[@reidlanham2011]

I believe that is a Begali Traveler

[@RadioPrepper]

Indeed!

[@ronheron4179]

Does it have a CW reader feature

[@RadioPrepper]

Yes.

[@sm6moj30]

It is very bad manners to reply at a much higher speed. This is a common contester fault.

[@Superacerc]

It was such a basic reply though it was pretty easy to recognize even at my 10wpm brain. If you have done a fair bit of qsos, you'll recognize that pattern quickly.

[@AliReza-zx8km]

Nice...........

[@s52ft]

@3:53 in not contact at all! Sorry but you just wasting contesters time for your video.

[@donnatella-nobody1901]

Hi Gil, my english grandson who lives in Normandy wants to becom a radio ham can you help me please regards Mike

[@RadioPrepper]

Unfortunately I know nothing about licensing in France but would be glad to help.on the technical side..

[@donnatella-nobody1901]

Ok thanks

[@caledokf]

Toujours géniales tes vidéos. Dommage que je ne puisse pas importer ce type de matériel chez moi.... Au fait, as tu regardé tes mails??? 73 FK4UL

[@RadioPrepper]

Pas récemment.. Pourquoi pas importable?

[@caledokf]

@@RadioPrepper car l'ANFR impose une autorisation administrative d'importation en Nouvelle Calédonie, que l'on peut obtenir que sur délivrance des attestations de conformité CE...... ça limite vachement.... va faire un tour sur ta boîte mail stp

[@RadioPrepper]

Ah, zut, et la douane vérifie?

[@caledokf]

@@RadioPrepper oh que oui, et plutôt deux fois qu'une.

[@gm0elp]

Why not do a little homework and find out what exchange the contesters are expecting that weekend (better still just listen to his exchanges, its normally a qso number after the RST). Just give him a unique number after the RST, nothing more is required, you do not need to be a contester and you do not need to enter. Sending "sri no test" is such a waste of everyone's time. Simply sending the required exchange means you are happy at making an awesome contact and he is happy getting a point in the contest (it will count for him as long as you make more than one contact in that contest). Now you can have fun in a contest without taking part and without entering and without annoying contesters. You never know, you might enjoy it?

[@garyhill8333]

I was going to make the same comment Douglas. It´s a win, win for both sides.

[@paulsengupta971]

This is what I do. I am not a fan of long conversations, so during a contest I can try out my setup by just replying to various contesters from various countries. Start at 001 with the first contact and count up!

[@Steve-GM0HUU]

In the past, I have taken time to see what the contest is and send the correct exchange. Then, a few days later, I get an email from the contest organiser asking me to submit a log. I have then submitted a log for checking (which can take a bit of trial and error to get my log in the right fornat and then accepted by the log checking robot). So, now, unless I am going to submit a log, I will rarely bother calling contest stations and I will not usually give an exchange to any contest station that calls me when I am clearly not calling CQ TEST.

[@DL1GKC]

I was also thinking that it had been better to give a unique number. This makes the QSO shorter and the contester happy 😃. Apart from that I also enjoy my (tr)uSDX that I have built on my own. A bientot Chris DL1GKC

[@MrCudgel]

you are not correct in everything. disgusting signal of self-control. do you enjoy listening to it? very poor audio RX. what is good about this transceiver? you are talking about a low price. maybe just this?

[@RadioPrepper]

The size is great.

[@MrCudgel]

@@RadioPrepper and all? do you buy radios by size, not by quality and features?

[@RadioPrepper]

Just me.. I consider all aspects. Size and low current draw are my primary concerns. Features come last...

[@RobMacKendrick]

Thanks, Gil! That was very informative. Also: contests. Arrrgh. That's why I live on 30m, and will soon add 17m. Great and needed in-depth review of this rig on CW. Very helpful!

[@porkyfedwell]

Nice! I have one on the way, and I do only CW so this is a great video. 73 de kd8zm