Apache Labs re-introduces the Anan-10E?

Over a decade ago, the old, original Anan-10E was my gateway drug into the world of SDR transceivers. It was a fantastic performer and changed the way I operated, especially as a CW DXer.

I foolishly sold it during The Purge (along with my Norcal 40A, Heathkit HW-9, etc).

For those 10 years, the Anan-10E has not been available new and is as scarce as hens' teeth on the used market. The original price was $995.

In the meantime, the Hermes Lite 2 came along - also a fantastic performer. I use mine almost daily as my digital-mode rig.

And now, much to my surprise, Apache Labs is re-introducing the Anan-10E - this time, for $800.

Maybe.

The website mentions a 2-week time-to-ship date. Buyers indicate it will likely be much longer. At any rate, it's free to pre-order and I've done just that.

An amazing gift from Ken N6TZV

A few months ago, the microprocessor in my old Index Labs QRP+ failed. With no way to repair it without replacing the rare (non-existent?) part, I lamented the loss online. My plan was - and still is - to build a QMX+ into the case of the old QRP+.

But I missed the real QRP+ and have always loved that radio despite its flaws.

A few weeks later I received an email from Ken Lopez N6TZV. Ken had a QRP+ that he hadn't used in ages and wondered if I would like to have it.

Of course I would! How much was he asking?

To my amazement, he wanted to gift it to me so that it would be put on the air and used as it was meant to be - all he asked was that I cover the cost of shipping!

Timing issues remain with latest firmware for zBitx (3.051/1.06) despite claims to the contrary

Inserted characters and deleted characters are still a feature with the zBitx when loaded with the latest, greatest and most-updatest firmware (2 April).

Firmware: v3.051 and v1.06

If you don't know CW, you probably won't see/hear the problems in the video below. If you do, you will.

It is impossible to have a QSO on CW with the zBitx when using the internal keyer in either iambic mode (Update: Or even with a straight key or external keyer).

Compounding the problem - but not shown here due to being on a dummy load - is the lengthy return-to-receive time...about a full second, regardless of the T/R delay dialed in.

 

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UPDATE (3 Apr):

Several people asked how the zBitx operates in straight key mode with (and w/o) an external keyer.

World Health Organization criticises ham radio for contributing to global warming

In a statement released today, the WHO (and I don't mean Roger Daltrey) criticized ham radio's "unintentional but serious, nevertheless" contribution to the amount of CO2 being pumped annually into the Earth's atmosphere.

Director Sven Sverre, speaking from Oslo, said that, while hams are concerned with the ionosphere, we need to take note of what radio operators are doing in the name of DXpeditions and various 'OTA's.

"There is a troposphere, a stratosphere, a magnetosphere - there are spheres besides the ionosphere," said a very severe Sven Sverre.

The zBitx: Many flaws

Four days with the zBitx has been an exercise in frustration. 

UPDATE: See for yourself

Where to begin...

CW

Unusable, at least for now (30 March 2025) with v1.04 firmware. There are 3 key-type settings for CW; none work properly and all have a very lengthy return-to-receive time regardless of the T/R delay setting dialed in via the menu.

Iambic-A: I am unable to send accurate CW characters at any speed I normally use (22-26 wpm) due to inconsistent timing issues of when the radio's internal keyer inserts a dot or a dash. An "N" may come out as an "N" or as a "NE". Or a "TI" as extra dots occasionally get added to what you intended to send.

Or the opposite occurs: above 15 wpm, opposing characters of a letter are usually omitted. In other words, going from a dot to a dash (or vice versa) often results in the second character not being sent at all. An 'A' comes outs as an 'E' and an 'R' comes out as an 'A'.

I am unable to send my own callsign unless I QRS to 15 wpm or less.

Iambic-B: Operates as if each paddle of my dual-paddle key is a straight key. Depressing either side of the paddles results in a steady tone.