What's this (tr)uSDX all about?
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- čas přidán 6. 06. 2022
- Let's talk about the (tr)uSDX - get your official radio here: geni.us/h1Ovy
Portable Powered Speaker: geni.us/rf9s
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This is an excellent review! Really appreciate your pragmatic perspective on this!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Just ordered one of these radios! Thanks for sharing.
They are a lot of fun!
Nice little radio. I look forward to see how it is on FT8. Thank you for the review!
Me too!
New Radio Day is always the BEST day!
We're getting to the point where we can almost do one a month!
I built mine from a kit. Not had time to try it out fully. Waiting for a case to arrive, and a cable, plus modding a microphone and making an amplified speaker! On receive it is pretty good.
Yeah, it's really good for the design and price point. I like it!
That QRZ radio does go through the menu without going back to the main screen each time. Just push the main tuning dial to set your menu items and turn the dial for the next item. When the menu gets to the last item and you push the tuning dial then it will return to the main screen
Great tip, thanks!
Fantastic info - thanks for the review!
Are you going to get one?
@@temporarilyoffline yah, i probably should, i was hoping for usb-audio. I'm curious if you've got ft8 or other data modes working.
@@KM6LYW I have! czcams.com/video/ZVKpaxJTJTQ/video.html (and a follow up for an stty command in a video right after that) - super simple
Well, it is not really open source. The hardware kinda is, if you count CC as open source, but the software isn't. And this radio does most of the work in software, after all. The software is based on the open source uSDX firmware but for (tr)uSDX they only release the binary, without the source, and we do not know what changes specific for this project they did in the code.
The project is still great, I love it, but that does make a difference for some people.
You're right. It does get a little confusing.
@@temporarilyoffline I would say that open source is focusing more on tinkering and for that, some variant of the uSDX other than (tr) might be better. On the other hand, the (tr) uSDX seems to be focusing on delivering (somewhat) working product.
This is something I wish I knew before buying mine. Now I'm stuck with all of the choices they made. I will probably end up rewriting the code from scratch.
As always, thanks for the detail TO; mine is on order. I have the same question as you, "where does this fit?" For the price, I decided I didn't care where it fit; the cool factor with the price is just to much to pass on.
Its the backup to the backup of course!
I ordered mine! I'm definitely swapping out the power connector to power poles though
Thanks what I did!
Yep. Nice little box. Took mine to the most recent POTA activation I did but never got it out of the bag. Field Day is this coming weekend. I'm gonna have to give it a real run through & see how well it does there. Tnx for the nice video. 73 de W8IJN
That would be interesting on field day. I can't imagine you'd break many pile-ups? Let me know how it works for you!
Nice review. I just got mine on Saturday. I had the same display issue with the SWR/Power not showing. Found out by accident if you press the PTT several times, it will then display. Also, I found out by holding in the tuning knob you can adjust the volume up and down, and continuing to lower the volume you can turn the radio off. Pressing the Menu button turns it on. And, I wasn't aware of the steps for tuning advances by tapping on the tuning knob so thanks for that info. Nice to meet you at Dayton briefly. 73
Pro tips! I'll have to try that out.
@@temporarilyoffline just to clarify, to find the SWR/Power you want to press and hold the PTT button for about 2 seconds - it will beep a few times then give you the SWR/Power. Looking forward to more videos from you regarding this little radio and getting it on FT8!
@@BikingHikingRadio Mee Too!
And unfortunately, since the software source code is very firmly locked down (you have to give your serial number just to get an update, which is compiled code only), you just have to wait for them to get around to fixing it.
Good video,thanks🇺🇸
Thanks Mike!
I keep flip-flopping on picking one up. Thank you, for the great in-depth review.
Glad I could help!
They are a lot of fun, but marginal on SSB transmit quality. I wouldn't buy one expecting to use it regularly on phone, but as a CW rig, 🤘😁
@K6ARK Portable Radio Thank you. That's what I figured. I have plenty of CW qrp rigs.
@@Scott_AI5EF it seems to work OK on digital modes via VOX, but I'd argue a QDX is a better option for that purpose.
@@Scott_AI5EF You can never have enough QRP rigs 😆
Iambic A/B is different from key swap. The A/B has to do with what happens when you release the key, if there's an extra dit/dah. Keyer swap has to do with which of the key paddles is dit and which is dah.
Makes sense, thanks!
I get that same beeping on the internal speaker on the one I built today.
Manuel says the internal speaker is a free bonus ;-)
Great video. Good rig for digital and CW.
and voice in a pinch! I think of it as a backup to my backup.
there goes another $150 😀 looks awesome. thanks for the vid! gonna rock some POTA once it comes in.
Right! That was my thought too
Great review!
I ordered a pre-assembled one last week. I appreciate the suggestion on the amplified speaker - went ahead and ordered that as well. Plan on using a lightweight linked dipole (20/40) - should pair well with this little rig.
Always enjoy your videos.
73 dr AE6FE
Thank you Guy! I'll be building a linked Dipole on the channel soon. KK6USY created a nice kit and it looks like it will be a lot of fun!
If you bought a pre-assembled rig you should know that the toroids aren't tuned yet. They may (probably will) work fairly well untouched, but by hand tuning following Manuel's video you can get the power level you want, highest efficiency, and lowest 2nd harmonic content by hand-tuning each band. It's kinda fun to do, too.
@@johnwest7993 good point! I had to do this with my QCX too
There is no way i could listen to that "fingernail on chalkboard" audio for $7.32.
Right! I think it has gotten better with recent firmware... But DL2MAN said the speaker was a bonus and had always suggested using an external device instead.
@@temporarilyoffline yeah, I should watch the whole video BEFORE commenting. It definitely improved and at that price point there has to be a way to filter that out on an A.F. level with a noise reducing speaker.
I grew up 40mi SW of DBQ in NW IL & got my Novice ticket in 1979 & became KU9L in 1983, always liked QRP, and I built a Heathkit HW-9 in 1985 & got WAS 1W 18 months later. Now I am Ri Van Winkle getting back into the hobby after being downsized in aerospace. As a full-time RVer chasing 70 deg I am guessing I would LOVE POTA a lot considering we travel all over and manage 13 USFS campgrounds summers in Colorado while playing in AZ or FL winters. This looks like a cool rig to play with but my soldering days are over considering I became very burnt out soldering those pepper flake capacitors on black boxes in development over the years. Considering a used commercial rig right now sells for 2.5x its former value I think going back to my roots of building kits is a good thing. Somewhere in storage, I have a couple QRP monobanders I built, no SW in them back then, unfortunately, LOL. 72 was cheers, Dave - KU9L
Thanks for sharing Dave! It sounds like you'll really like POTA. Check out pota.app and see if any of thise USFS sites are POTA entities (just type the name in the search box or use the map)
@@temporarilyoffline Yes sir, the San Isabel NF is on the list although it is a large spread-out area. I also do metal detecting and gold panning in that area, LOL.
Gold Panning? I'm in!
Nice demo.. I’ve been looking at theses different styles radios to throw in the gator and have with me as the dog and I are taking our leisurely rides around the hood.. thx for sharing. k0klb
Hey Kevin! Would be a cool radio, but you'd need a good external tuner for some of the tricks you're doing!
that thing is tiny and super cute! :)
I think I'll add it to my wish list... not sure if I can see the small components to build it though. lol.🤓
The small components come pre-attached if you'd like... and if you're really lazy like me, you can even get the big components pre-attached.
@@temporarilyoffline cool, I can do the bigger components, or just be lazy like you. Haha.👍
@@temporarilyoffline, I don't think you can get any kit version of the rig commercially without the SMT components pre-attached. Kits with no components at all attached only happen in some situations of a group buy done by ham groups. At least that's the situation I've seen so far in my wanderings around the web regarding the (tr)uSDX. Like everything else, that's subject to change. With all the parts shortages, who knows what might happen next? There are only 4 or 5 IC's on the rig, and as of a month ago 2 of them were already hard to get.
Guido just released a new beta version of the software, which adds a spectrum display (limited to +/- 32kHz of the set frequency) but removes AM and FM demodulation. So don't update if you have any use for AM or FM.
That's good news (and bad news) - I love to see new features!
Great vid
Thanks!
Have you tried using a Baofeng speaker mic on the (Tr)usdx? I have read other posts saying that it is possible to take the tiny earphone/speaker mic that comes with all Baofengs, cut off the headphone wire and use the rest as a tiny PTT microphone.
Intriguing- but maybe too good to be true?
I've heard that as well, but haven't had a chance to test it yet.
I’ve tried it. It works great.
Did you make that powerpole connector or buy it? I need to pick one up. Thanks!
I made it. It's not hard to do at all though: czcams.com/video/TfPdJAmu7qI/video.html
Thanks. I make my own as well. Like you said in the video it looked very professional! 73
Very cool
Thanks for watching Joe! Nice Callsign
I looked a few times at how you were using the push buttons and it seemed that you were mostly pressing the Menu button to enter an option but later on you were using the Enter button. I'd be grateful if you could explain.
The radio has a few shortcuts for how to navigate - it's one of those things that you'll automatically do as you use the radio. If you have one, try pushing the buttons and the VFO and see what happens
Kit is 96.00, assembled is 148.00 on eBay link. Some other colors as well.
Thanks Jim!
Awesome steve
Can't beat the price!
Unfortunately the (tr)uSDX project is not open-source, but the uSDX project still is. Many continue to tinker with that project, which should be considered for anyone interested in mods and further development.
Its confusing because of different definitions of "open". My understanding is that you can grab the gerber files and the BOMs and you're ready to go... then the software isn't as open. I need to try out the uSDX firmware on the (tr)uSDX board.
@@temporarilyoffline Gerbers are also not source files and cannot be easily edited. Manuel controls the source for the (tr)uSDX hardware and software for understandable reasons. It's a great little 5 band CW kit. I look forward to having "classic" and "high" band option RF boards available at some point. I may even just print some of own.
@@temporarilyoffline The software isn't open AT ALL, and this is by design. According to Manuel, this is because he wants there to be only one configuration for this radio, the one he chose. If you want something to tinker with, this isn't it.
To get the swr meter to work you have to key the radio in cw mode, it will show power output aswell
That didn't work on mine, I'll try it again next time.
@@temporarilyoffline it could be the firmware. i just noticed mine is 2.00i. also if you haven't noticed you can change the bandwidth by double tapping enter, turn the volume up by pushing in on the knob and turning it, if you turn it all the way to 0 it powers off and if you double tap the knob it will change bands
Cool little radio to keep the glovebox. Hey what with the Packard Bell? 2, 3, or 486?
Its a PB88, Take a look here: czcams.com/video/iVVVRxSL6-w/video.html
QRP SSB requires patience! FT8 is slow but it does get through.
It sure does! I tried a lot harder than shown in the video, but nobody would watch that. ⌚️
I share your excitement over this radio. perfect for mobile qrp operation. what antenna is best? that is an open discussion.
Most antennas will be larger and heavier than the radio. I'm always torn between my favorite daytime band and an antenna that works for the bands the radio works on. I can't imagine lugging around an 80m antenna to go with this this.
Bought that one from the official reseller and replaced the speaker with that one which was recommended by DL2MAN LSF-23M/SC and I got way less issues with that one.
Manuel says that internal speaker is a "bonus"... I kinda get it, but for the price I can't complain much.
@@temporarilyoffline yep, but in my opinion the 'replacement' speaker is better and it add only 2,50€ to the price
@@aglandorf75 It doesn't take much to get "better" 😀
@@temporarilyoffline true. By the way: Menü 8.1 is ment to be used for alternative Band Setups. Manuel described it in the manual. I really hope the reseller company does the alternative boards for these. Since I can only use the 80m with the 'lo' ' setup due to my ham radio license I really want the classic setup at least.
It's hard to break a pileup with 3w - glad you finally made a contact!
It was fun to try. There's magic in the air!
That's what I do, with a lot of patience, but in the end you make the contact with great satisfaction.
Cool little radio.
Its been a lot of fun so far and I'm just getting started.
I only have a g90 it can be difficult to get through a pileup at 20w
It will get easier, its a mix of skills from the pileup operator and from the caller. QRP is hard, but fun. Keep plugging!
Nice look at this radio TO.
Thanks LC
It's the exact profile as a Raspberry Pi in terms of size.
Yep, it's a lot in a little pack!
For you techies, the MCU that is the heart of the radio is the same one as the *_Arduino Uno_* uses. Imagine if someone redesigned it to use a more upscale chip, like the *_ESP32_* which would add WiFi and Bluetooth for not much more money!
*73 de AF6AS*
I'd buy one!
Can u add an amplifier?? Or on any other qrp transceiver?? 73 Mahalo and Aloha from Hawaii
You can add an Amp, there is a PA connection on the upper left of the radio to trigger the amp.
Where does this fit in? PSK31 for me. It's the one digital mode of interest that my QDX can't supply. Of course I could just use the Yaesu, but what fun would that be?
You know if you pack the truSDX and the QDX you're gonna want two antennas ... then next thing you know it will be dogs sleeping with cats and total mayhem!
@@temporarilyoffline Alas, the moose already has the muffin... 😲
Sir I must say you and your channel information is so cool. Thanks for your time once again the information. KI5SPA
Thank you Michael!
Ugh, and here I was trying to save money for the Sunshine Swapfest in a couple of weeks
Ham Radio isn't a wallet friendly hobby ;-)
@@temporarilyoffline are any hobbies actually wallet friendly? I think that's part of the definition of a "hobby".
Great review/demonstration! Any idea of how to connect to Android device for easier access to menus and display as well as digital (FT8 etc.) modes?
The radio supports cat control, so you could connect it to a computer. Do you know of an android cat app?
@@temporarilyoffline Have been a ham (and electronic tech) for more than 4 decades, but just becoming acquainted with digital communications. Have multiple Android devices, but just trying to learn how to connect them to Ham Radio applications. Have done kit building, but no programming. Starting into a new field of learning.
@@rickpearson9588 CAT control on a pc/mac/Linux box is super easy. My radio has a problem with its cat control, but other users have had success. It's a simple serial program
Neat
Yeah, fun toy
Its funny when I hear you say your name. For ages I thought your name was "Theo" misheard from people calling you "TO".
Nice! TO for Temporarily Offline... they started calling me that from the intro on my older videos
Technology....wow. I started with a HW-8 back in 79.
This guy gets it! This isn't a great radio, but its amazing how they built it and what it can do. Its a technological marvel!
Open source .. NOT. I just had a discussion with Manuel after seeing something on his forum:
First of all, the schematic and PCB files are open source, but the software is definitely NOT. Which is a sore spot for many of us, since it prevents us from being able to customize the radio for our own uses. One of his forum members asked (as I was about to, but thought I'd read the forum first) if the code for one Guido's previous projects (which Guido DID make open source) would work on the (tr)uSDX. Manuel responded, saying that it would not work directly, but if someone had some programming skills, they could probably get it to work. However, Manuel continued, this is not encouraged by himself, and if someone wanted to do that sort of "software rape" (yes, he actually used that word), they were on their own. A generally unpleasant fellow, considering that he wants to maintain absolute control over his design, which is based almost entirely on other people's actual open source work. There are plenty of other QRP rigs out there today: I would suggest finding a better one by a better class of Ham before spending your money.
Interesting, thanks for sharing.
Do you know what the SWR tolerance of this radio is? 1.5:1? 2:1? 3:1? Awesome video from a fellow Wisconsinite!
Hey Nate! Thanks for watching. I don't know, so I'd keep it at 1.5
Trying to break into a pile-up with a 4 Watt rig isn't a good way to go. Sitting on an empty freq as you finally did is the way to go. BTW, I actually enjoy winding toroids, but then, I'm retired. I also really enjoyed tuning each band's toroids to minimize the 2nd harmonic and to tune the other toroids for each band to get the power just right and the efficiency way up. You can learn a lot about RF by tuning the output of a (tr)uSDX.
I don't mind winding toroids, but i've wound A LOT of them in the past year... this was too good to pass up.
Manuel calls it the 'true SDX' because it was created to counter some very low quality variations coming out of China. Manuel and Guido made the original uSDX open-source so hams could do whatever they wanted with the design. Unfortunately, that was like fresh meat for the worst of Chinese clone makers, and they started producing radios with horrible efficiency and illegal harmonic content, if they worked at all.
Now the guys have created this new variation to keep that from happening and are keeping tight control over the firmware, right down to an internal serial number. Ya gotta do what ya gotta do.
The speaker feedback is a known problem, but they have found no resolution to the problem. They think some semiconductor might be picking up the vibration and creating microphonics, so just keep the volume down under 12 or use an external speaker, or headphones. Headphones are always best for weak signal work anyway.
You are correct John! Thanks for watching and commenting!
He told me he didn't mind for the chinese to make the radio (he didn't want to earn money from the project) but what pissed him was the terrible quality, perfomance and harmonics....
I've (and othets) incentivated him to go ahead with its own project and authorized sales (for quality sake) and there it is...☺️👍
Maybe the outgoing audio would be better with a plugin microphone?
I would hope so. DL2MAN himself says that the internal gear is for convenience, not performance. Its a neat little box. Would be cool in an HT format with a battery pack and a strong attachment for a whip.
setting for a straight key ??
Yes. You can also use the front panel PTT button as a straight key, so one less thing to carry.
I see these offered on Amazon. Are these Chi-Com knock offs?
The amazon radios (amzn.to/3PXEwD5) are not "approved", but with "free returns", you'd have time to get it a thorough thrashing or determine if it was worth it to keep and fix on your own.
@@temporarilyofflineTHAT is actually a legit (tr)usdx. Its on the website
I'm getting one for Xmas..
Fantastic! You'll have a lot of fun with it.
@@temporarilyoffline as long as it doesn't have KB9RLW 's troubles, but those bugs should be worked out
@@edbeckerich3737 they should be!
I ask you a question, what is the cause of the hiss that was heard when you plugged in the speaker?
I need to dig into that, There is a "bug" inside the radio that I need to hunt down.
You are sure? If I don't hear hissing with headphones, the problem is not with the radio. I ordered the same speaker and when I try it I'll tell you.
Thank you, looking forward to your info.
Hi, see my video on my channel
I have questions: 1. Where is the SWR displayed? 2. What is "Tx Drive"?
Hey David, there is a menu option for the SWR meter and what it will display when activated. I don't remember about the TX drive though.
So I am not the only one that talks back to the radio? :D 73 WA5SAT
I talk back to everything!
What is the story on the Commodores? I had a SuperPET SP9000, Amiga 1000 and 2500, and still have an SX-64 luggable and an Amiga CD32. BTW did you know that Fred Fish ran the Amiga shareware library?
73, VE7VIE and WV2J
I have a retro channel where I play around with the old tech. I've built and repaired a few Commodores, PCs, Sinclairs. Take a look: czcams.com/users/TemporarilyOfflineRetroTech
@@temporarilyoffline Cool. I subed. I started in computing in '66 so have seen it all. So many technologically good companies pushed aside by others better at marketing than tech.... My first PC clone was a Heathkit running Zdos.
@@barrybogart5436 Thanks! It was super interesting to watch it all unfold and read about it in the periodicals of the day. Gave me a real zest for business!
I used to have a 64 + 4 that had some programs built in. We were hungry for tech in those days.
On " modes " you said it does AM, please show !
Did I say that? LSB/USB/CW only. Sorry.
Too bad that they decided to install there a CH340G USB UART chip, but not a QCC5125 USB/Bluetooth UART/2-way sound chip! That'd turn the radio to become truly awesome digital emergency communication rig!
Yeah, that would be great!
One has to wonder if the speaker only going to 11 is a spinal tap reference...
That's one of those "I get the reference but I haven't seen the movie" things
Sorry I didn't hear you. Heard you much better on the video and sorry you dont like the way I ran my activation DE AA4SS
Hey man - ZERO problems with your activation - I always joke around when somebody can't hear me on QRP - band conditions and low power make for fun times if you have the right attitude. Keep being awesome!
8bits if everything is idea is 42db and the useful bits are much lower. This is why the audio is not happy. This may have enough dynamic range to work digital modes effictively.
It works with FT8 pretty well. The thing I like best about it is the "hey this works" aspect of it.
@@temporarilyoffline I guess about 42db is acceptable for FT8, but the real question is, where is a phone or tablet for FT8 you can use instead of a laptop computer?
Look up "ft8radio" for Android, OTG cable and $25 walmart Android and you're good to go
Looks good for the money, and very clever I'm sure. But I think I'll stick with my rigs that have real knobs and don't need all that faffing about in menus.
Hey Janet! I'm with you on this one. I "appreciate" this radio for the design skill that went into making it and the pocket-ability of it. I'd even think about a way to recess the VFO more flush with the case and maybe wheel it from the side of the box instead of having it stick up from the top. Thanks for watching!
Cinque watt non direi...si va dai 2 watt a poco più di 4 a seconda della banda. Comunque bellissimo qrp. Ciao.
No complaints here. I'm loving it.
Can anyone identify the tiny speaker.
The one in the box? not me.
So I have to admit that I don't know what RIT is.
I don't use it hardly ever... maybe in CW where there are a lot of older/drifting radios - Basically you're moving the tuner under the displayed frequency - so if I'm at 7.050MHz and your radio is out of tune and you're really at 7.05078MHz - I would turn my dial up to you to talk better... and then you'd move yours up and we'd chase each other up the band... with RIT, I can move my receive function without moving my TX function and you'd never know/move to catch me.
You should do a video showing how to wire up a mic for this little rig.
I didn't even think about it... and now the rig is gone.
Lol well darn. I enjoy seeing your take on things.
@kylefreemason thanks... next time
that background whine is annoying, does it always happen?
Yes, but I think its something fixable in the kit. I haven't gotten that far yet.
Come one needs a haircut lol
Its starting to bug me, might happen sooner than I was planning.
Do not build it, just buy it built, trust me. I built 2 and they both failed, needing bootloader and updates and all the junk that was supposed to already be on it. I'm not a programmer so mine sit built and unused for want of programming. I'll trade 2.5 and extra parts for 1 lol tech special and all the torroids are wrapped correctly as I diagnosed them several times over! Grumble...
I kinda wish this was a breadboard type kit myself.
@@temporarilyoffline I built one of barbs kits...I love it! Single band modular for other bands..
I've seen some of Barb's kits... so much to do in this hobby
Thanks for your nice Video. Hope you´re enjoying your (tr)uSDX ! 73 Manuel; DL2MAN
Thanks for watching Manuel, more videos planned! This is a fun radio.
Very cool radio if your into QRP. 73 de Jeff K3JRZ
Thanks Jeff - I'm having fun just playing with it. Getting it setup for FT8 right now.