QRP Head 2 Head Episode 12: mcHF vs. KX2

Рет қаралды 1,616

Күн бұрын

Пікірлер: 24

@Uncle_Fred 3 ай бұрын

I love this series. I'm also looking for the perfect backpack radio and agree with all your conclusions. The FX-4CR came pretty close. Add an ATU, removable battery, USB-C PD, waterproof it, and extend RX across to 1Ghz and it would have been the holy grail of radios. Okay, please get your hands on a Xiegu X6200 and the radio that just might one day surpass them all, the sbitx v3.

@EvanK2EJT 3 ай бұрын

I have a 6200 sitting behind me in my gear closet as we speak. I'll say this, if you don't operate CW, it's an AWESOME radio. It's absolutely atrocious for Morse code, but on SSB and Digital, it's awesome.

@ericd2196 3 ай бұрын

Nice video! I've been looking for one of those (off-and-on) since I read Dubbo's QRPer write-up. I may have to look a little harder.

@betterbprepared 3 ай бұрын

I love the head-2-head videos. I have never heard of the mcHF before, but I have to say from your video that it looks quite impressive for the money. I would hope that a radio that is almost 3X the money would have some advantages. Love that display on the mcHF. Thanks for putting this comparison out there. I learned about a new radio that I have never heard of, and I would have no problem buying this one for the money. 72

@EvanK2EJT 3 ай бұрын

It's actually a pretty great radio. I may try to pick one up for myself.

@JonathanKayne 3 ай бұрын

2:58 I am not sure about that. It can vary between models. The mcHF that I built in college (which is how I learned SMD soldering) had a BNC connector on it (and it was authentic, I got it directly from M0NKA). Maybe your specific mcHF had SMA? 12:26 I spot a familiar callsign, RadioDan W7RF!

@EvanK2EJT 3 ай бұрын

@@JonathanKayne Yeah, I have no idea if this one is authentic or not. It is very likely not, but I honestly don't know.

@bolovanro 3 ай бұрын

Initialy if I remember correctly, they shipped with BNC...but after a period, with SMA

@raithjames860 3 ай бұрын

Great comparison. KX2 is still king with 705 a close second. In absolute agreement.

@thuff3207 3 ай бұрын

Digital ok FT8 got a lot better on the KX2 with an iphone and IFTx and a cable. I prefer CW but it nice to have other options.

@dugbohamradio 3 ай бұрын

Great head to head Evan! Love these episodes. Yes both are original M0NKA rigs. The PCB board is stamped with M0NKA info. One has a SMA connection and other has a BNC connector. Both have the internal ATUs. Chuck who installed one of the ATUs and sent to you after, wouldn’t install the ATU unless it was an original M0NKA.

@EvanK2EJT 3 ай бұрын

Thanks man! And there you go folks, right from the owners mouth. It's the real deal.

@bolovanro 3 ай бұрын

The quality depend of the person who was assembled the kit (it's come as a kit). My mcHF was better on RX than ICOM-7300 (I was able to hear to understand more easy QPR stations, also I am only CW operator). It's was a hit and miss. But I was really engjoy the rig...some times I am missing the display (currenty I am using KX3 for portable)

@Swamp-Fox 3 ай бұрын

That mcHF is a lot of radio for the money! 73, KF4LMZ

@EvanK2EJT 3 ай бұрын

It really is

@w2aew 3 ай бұрын

How well does that display work in bright outdoor sunlight?

@EvanK2EJT 3 ай бұрын

I never used it in direct bright sun, but I never had an issue seeing the screen outdoors.

@gmanshackshack6822 3 ай бұрын

Actually the McHF does one-wire digital. Plug into that USB port and you'll find new serial and sound card in the Device Manager. It depends on the version of the McHF firmware, some did on-board FreeDV mode, some you could plug a keyboard into the USB-A port and it would do PSK31 encode and decode right on the radio. If I recall correctly some even did keyboard CW. The Chinese offered one version, the RS-958 that had an onboard battery. Most of them, when correctly adjusted, do more than 5 watts as well... about 10 on average (again if I recall correctly... haven't played with mine in a while). Oh and mine has a BNC out not SMA.

@EvanK2EJT 3 ай бұрын

It's interesting to see the variation. Doug (the owner) confirmed this one is the real deal. He has both a BNC version as well as this SMA version.

@RudixSA 3 ай бұрын

The SMA antenna port is not standard, BNC is standard on the original and the clones. The temperature at the top is for the TXO (High stability crystal "oven"), nothing else. TX LED should light regardless of power setting. Many of the clones also have internal batteries. You can load some newer, third party firmware that is a lot better than the original. The DNR is way better than the noise reduction on the KX2 with the latest firmware. Overall a nice little little radio, with the newer (Nazir) firmware I actually prefer it to my KX2, simply a more modern radio. I have not noticed that the RX is better on the KX2 and with the latest firmware the filters are better on the mcHF radio. Digital is just as easy as an IC-705 with full USB audio and keying support, you just need a USB cable. Really plug and play. You can also key CW via the USB cable (RTS) for software like N1MM+ logger. You can buy the clones from many places, mine took 6 days to be delivered to South Africa.