it is not really cheaper or, it is cheaper - at the cost of mediocre performance usually, the receiver part is the same, or it is compromised only final stage can be simplified, but that doesn't mean it will be necessarily "much" cheaper (100 W finals aren't really expensive, and the difference between 100 and 200 W rigs is usually marketing decision, selling almost zero difference for 2 times more money) all those really cheap rigs have mediocre performance in comparison with IC-705 or TX-500, which are at the same price like QRO rigs even FT-817/8 is compromised by ergonomics restraints (and nowadays, you can buy Xiegu X6100 for approx the same price, which is prone to overload because of absence of any bandpass filters - those filters in reality cost close to nothing)
Yes…. But a QRP rig will run off a cheaper and smaller PSU. If you build it yourself and it is a simple receiver, I heartily agree it won’t work as well as commercial pro rigs but will be very cheap …. when I nabbed my first QSO on a totally HOMEBREW station running 450mW (HOMEBREW key, RCVR, xmitter ,antenna and PSU) the thrill was priceless…. (Yes…. I need to get out more😂). A QDX digimode kit gets you DX for less than 200 bucks. When I renewed my license after 30 Yrs away rather than shell out $2000 bucks on 1 rig …. I opted to buy kits, test gear and electronic components to ugly build. I guess it is horses for courses (what floats your boat in this massive hobby we all love). Thanks for the comment …. BTW What rig do you run? 73 de VK2AOE
@@TheArtofEngineering first, I built mcHF 0.6.3 (based on advice of my [former?] friend OM1AEG), then I found there are better spin-offs, like OVI and Amber. Unfortunately, mcHF is now discontinued, Amber hard to get because of war and OVI... I have no updates on OVI. But it has at least decent receiver (and it is not overloading, thanks to bandpass filters). Transmitting part, however, is so-so (I was unable to get really clean signal on 30 and 17 and higher portion of 10 m, so I would never use it with PA). But originally, I was into FT-818. Fortunately, I didn't buy it - not only it was discontinued, but filters weren't available for years. Also, it is very japanese in that way "you must suffer, because bosses in suits decided so" - user interface is far from being ergonomic. Then I started to think about IC-705 because it is "all bands all modes" but it was unavailable in Europe for a long time. I was waiting for my order almost for a year!!! There is no other way to have VHF/UHF-capable QRP rig after FT-818 was discontinued (and there are only 2 all bands all modes QRO rigs remaining in production, as far as I know). During this loooong waiting period (3 months after ordering IC-705), I ordered lab599 TX-500 which arrived within a week (despite of war). The reason is, mcHF has its own nuisances and although I like it, it is not a real performer. I also started to think about ocassional use of PA, and I wouldn't like using it with not so clean mcHF output. TX-500 is really good for SSB, a bit less for CW but for digi modes, you need external sound card. I found internal card of my notebook being good enough, however for using with tablet, I have digirig. Still a nuisance (and a lot of cables is second one). But receiver is excellent and output is clean. So I ordered diy599 PA500 which I use (quite rarely) with both TX-500 and now also IC-705. At the end, I don't have QRO rig. At my home, I have no chance of having good HF antenna (there are suitable trees under my windows, but inside the kindergarten and the boss there is not very open to discussion), so I have only magloop capable of 20 W max. When operating portable, for me that means not to have complete home station in the car (I even don't have a car as a city resident with good public transport) but packing my station into a backpack, so it is again QRP, battery/solar powered thing. I can take PA500 or left it at home, depending on my goals. I am using EFHWs or center loaded GP verticals when operating portable. Another part of not really needing QRO rig is, I can always add a PA. And taking into account power consumption of QRP rigs and amplifiers compared to power consumption of QRO rigs, this combo will be still most probably on the greener side (especially diy599 PA500 consumption on receive/standby is close to none). And on the lighter side, too (TX-500 + PA500 is approx. 1.5 kg, IC-705 + PA500 is approx. 2.5 kg, IC-7300 is approx. 4 kg). IC-705 vs TX-500... it depends. During several days long hikes TX-500 is smaller, rugged, lower power consumption on reception, but not so good for digital modes. For shorter hikes (in good weather), IC-705 is more capable, but not so durable and a bit more power hungry. mcHF ... I still use it, but mostly for short experiments (as a kind of "worst case scenario"). I can run all of this with small (4-6 Ah) batteries for hours, now I am in the process of building solar power source. At home, I have 30 A capable PSU. Usually, I am operating portable even if I am not using /P - my spot is some 1 km from my apartment block (earth.google.com/web/@48.21015736,16.96818702,140.35896649a,141.58658887d,35y,0h,0t,0r/data=OgMKATA ), better signal than in my "concrete pit", and much less QRM. Usually, I am using PAC-12 center loaded GP vertical there. 72 de OM1ASL
#6 most people probably won’t hear how crappy the code is that I send. #7 I won’t hear them over the noise and won’t have the embarrassment of a 45 minute QRS and AGN PSE just to exchange a signal report, though on the last one of those I did make out the world Tequila
I just worked Madeira…. Samoa……and Japan on 5 watts… yes it was FT8…. So I cheated 😝😝. #8 electricity is $$$$ I can only pedal fast enough to generate 2 watts….
@@TheArtofEngineering my longest distances are 15918 km to VK3AWA and 10747 to YB2NCD (on 17 m, 10 W FT8). Still have a problem with South America, even if with 10/12 m I can work Caribbean regularly. I know that some aussies were able to hear and even activate CB hotspots here and in Czech republic, which is really interesting - those hotspots run 4 W FM...
@@tulenik71Yes the South American QSO is one I'm yet to get too! need it for the QRZ "World Continents Award" (not that I care about the award but erks me now I know It is the only continent I haven't bagged!). When propagation is crap FT8 is a god send...God bless Joe Taylor!!73
@@TheArtofEngineering strange, I would say it is not so difficult from Australia... better when hops are over the ocean than over the ground (like from me to Japan for example).
Excellent
Thank you! 73 de VK2AOE
Haha, yep. Greeks like to hold onto their Greek money, vre!😂💰💰💰
Another reason is that they (like me) are Foundation members, limited to QRP. 😊
Ha ha…. My Greek is SPASMENOU!!! Hope all is KALA with you Don 73
it is not really cheaper
or, it is cheaper - at the cost of mediocre performance
usually, the receiver part is the same, or it is compromised
only final stage can be simplified, but that doesn't mean it will be necessarily "much" cheaper (100 W finals aren't really expensive, and the difference between 100 and 200 W rigs is usually marketing decision, selling almost zero difference for 2 times more money)
all those really cheap rigs have mediocre performance in comparison with IC-705 or TX-500, which are at the same price like QRO rigs
even FT-817/8 is compromised by ergonomics restraints (and nowadays, you can buy Xiegu X6100 for approx the same price, which is prone to overload because of absence of any bandpass filters - those filters in reality cost close to nothing)
Yes…. But a QRP rig will run off a cheaper and smaller PSU. If you build it yourself and it is a simple receiver, I heartily agree it won’t work as well as commercial pro rigs but will be very cheap …. when I nabbed my first QSO on a totally HOMEBREW station running 450mW (HOMEBREW key, RCVR, xmitter ,antenna and PSU) the thrill was priceless…. (Yes…. I need to get out more😂). A QDX digimode kit gets you DX for less than 200 bucks. When I renewed my license after 30 Yrs away rather than shell out $2000 bucks on 1 rig …. I opted to buy kits, test gear and electronic components to ugly build. I guess it is horses for courses (what floats your boat in this massive hobby we all love). Thanks for the comment …. BTW What rig do you run? 73 de VK2AOE
@@TheArtofEngineering first, I built mcHF 0.6.3 (based on advice of my [former?] friend OM1AEG), then I found there are better spin-offs, like OVI and Amber. Unfortunately, mcHF is now discontinued, Amber hard to get because of war and OVI... I have no updates on OVI. But it has at least decent receiver (and it is not overloading, thanks to bandpass filters). Transmitting part, however, is so-so (I was unable to get really clean signal on 30 and 17 and higher portion of 10 m, so I would never use it with PA).
But originally, I was into FT-818. Fortunately, I didn't buy it - not only it was discontinued, but filters weren't available for years. Also, it is very japanese in that way "you must suffer, because bosses in suits decided so" - user interface is far from being ergonomic.
Then I started to think about IC-705 because it is "all bands all modes" but it was unavailable in Europe for a long time. I was waiting for my order almost for a year!!! There is no other way to have VHF/UHF-capable QRP rig after FT-818 was discontinued (and there are only 2 all bands all modes QRO rigs remaining in production, as far as I know). During this loooong waiting period (3 months after ordering IC-705), I ordered lab599 TX-500 which arrived within a week (despite of war). The reason is, mcHF has its own nuisances and although I like it, it is not a real performer. I also started to think about ocassional use of PA, and I wouldn't like using it with not so clean mcHF output.
TX-500 is really good for SSB, a bit less for CW but for digi modes, you need external sound card. I found internal card of my notebook being good enough, however for using with tablet, I have digirig. Still a nuisance (and a lot of cables is second one). But receiver is excellent and output is clean. So I ordered diy599 PA500 which I use (quite rarely) with both TX-500 and now also IC-705.
At the end, I don't have QRO rig. At my home, I have no chance of having good HF antenna (there are suitable trees under my windows, but inside the kindergarten and the boss there is not very open to discussion), so I have only magloop capable of 20 W max. When operating portable, for me that means not to have complete home station in the car (I even don't have a car as a city resident with good public transport) but packing my station into a backpack, so it is again QRP, battery/solar powered thing. I can take PA500 or left it at home, depending on my goals. I am using EFHWs or center loaded GP verticals when operating portable.
Another part of not really needing QRO rig is, I can always add a PA. And taking into account power consumption of QRP rigs and amplifiers compared to power consumption of QRO rigs, this combo will be still most probably on the greener side (especially diy599 PA500 consumption on receive/standby is close to none). And on the lighter side, too (TX-500 + PA500 is approx. 1.5 kg, IC-705 + PA500 is approx. 2.5 kg, IC-7300 is approx. 4 kg).
IC-705 vs TX-500... it depends. During several days long hikes TX-500 is smaller, rugged, lower power consumption on reception, but not so good for digital modes. For shorter hikes (in good weather), IC-705 is more capable, but not so durable and a bit more power hungry. mcHF ... I still use it, but mostly for short experiments (as a kind of "worst case scenario").
I can run all of this with small (4-6 Ah) batteries for hours, now I am in the process of building solar power source. At home, I have 30 A capable PSU.
Usually, I am operating portable even if I am not using /P - my spot is some 1 km from my apartment block (earth.google.com/web/@48.21015736,16.96818702,140.35896649a,141.58658887d,35y,0h,0t,0r/data=OgMKATA ), better signal than in my "concrete pit", and much less QRM. Usually, I am using PAC-12 center loaded GP vertical there.
72 de OM1ASL
@@tulenik71 Hope to see you on the bands one day! Cheers from OZ.
#6 most people probably won’t hear how crappy the code is that I send.
#7 I won’t hear them over the noise and won’t have the embarrassment of a 45 minute QRS and AGN PSE just to exchange a signal report, though on the last one of those I did make out the world Tequila
There is usually unnoticeable difference between 10 and 100 W. And if you don't hear something, it is usually your local QRM to blame (or antenna).
I just worked Madeira…. Samoa……and Japan on 5 watts… yes it was FT8…. So I cheated 😝😝. #8 electricity is $$$$ I can only pedal fast enough to generate 2 watts….
@@TheArtofEngineering my longest distances are 15918 km to VK3AWA and 10747 to YB2NCD (on 17 m, 10 W FT8).
Still have a problem with South America, even if with 10/12 m I can work Caribbean regularly.
I know that some aussies were able to hear and even activate CB hotspots here and in Czech republic, which is really interesting - those hotspots run 4 W FM...
@@tulenik71Yes the South American QSO is one I'm yet to get too! need it for the QRZ "World Continents Award" (not that I care about the award but erks me now I know It is the only continent I haven't bagged!). When propagation is crap FT8 is a god send...God bless Joe Taylor!!73
@@TheArtofEngineering strange, I would say it is not so difficult from Australia... better when hops are over the ocean than over the ground (like from me to Japan for example).