Also, I am able to obtain connectivity to the PC. Without that capability, my first FX-4CR was incapable of operating digital modes and of being updated with new versions of firmware.
Additionally, the radio appears to have been pre-aligned in terms of RF out (and spur suppression too, I'm assuming).
On my original FX-4CR, RF output varied from band to band, going from 20 to 27 watts. Max output on the new radio is 20 watts, regardless of band...as it should be.
I have not yet looked at spur suppression. It was for this issue that the motherboard was modified in later versions of the FX-4CR to ship.
The main issue that affected me personally (and others whose callsign on CW starts with a "dot") has been corrected: initial dits are transmitted in their entirety. EDIT (2 May): Uh oh - one issue on CW. See comments section below.
I made three quick QSO's on CW (17 and 20 meters) with the rig right out of the box and plan to use the rig exclusively for the next few days, including a POTA activation tomorrow on both CW and SSB.
Here's the first QSO with NK8O as he activates a park in MO:
Later that afternoon...
The ultimate test of the leading dit issue: CO0RRC on 20m CW at 30 wpm, operating split. Got him on the 1st try, he copied my callsign correctly, not as TE5X as would have happened with my original FX-4CR.
Then worked FK8IK in New Caledonia (13,000 km) on 10m. Again on the first try with callsign correctly copied. I have that one on video. He was fairly weak and another station was also transmitting but got through anyway. Antenna for both contacts was a 1/4-wave vertical for 20m (going through an ATU-10 autotuner for the 10m contact).
Close to Worked All Continents in two days:
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How does FX-4CR compare with sBitx?
ReplyDeleteDifferent animals entirely - I don't even know if they are comparable!
DeleteI received these radios within a day of each other but it's the FX-4CR that will be getting all my immediate attention. I consider it "unfinished business" started with my first FX-4CR a few months ago and I want to pick up where that one left off - I returned that particular rig for an exchange.
In the meantime, firmware updates will occur for the sBitx...by the time I get to it in a couple weeks, an RF power issue will (hopefully) be resolved.
73,
John
I'm glad Yu has continued to support the FX-4CR. I will be interested to hear your review after using it for a few days. I really want to like the radio but my early experience as you know was not a good one. BTW, the NA5N CW key is amazing.
ReplyDeleteHi Brad - I think a letter from your call is missing....AB4BA, right?!
DeleteI'm looking forward to using the rig in the coming days. I've now had CW QSO's on 15-30m including split operation. That and RIT both work as they should now. And I'm taking notes along the way of things others might like to know about the rig.
The paddles from 9A5N are awesome - I think you can tell from the video that there's no movement of the paddles at all. That took a bit of getting used to but I'm a fan now.
73,
John
Hi John,
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear all the initial issues that caused you to send the first FX-4CR back have been resolved. I noticed significant improvement with my replacement as well after the first one had a bad PA board. Power was fluctuating all over the place with the first rig in digital and SSB. Now it doesn't go above 10 watts in digital or 20 watts in SSB.
Not being a CW op, that keyer threw me when you were using it in the video. I didn't see it doing anything when you touched it. Glad you mentioned why in the other comment. Looking forward to your thoughts on both this rig and the sBitx after you've used them for awhile.
73,
KW4TIM
Hi Tim (nice callsign!),
DeleteI started to throw in the towel on this rig but am glad now that I didn't. Round 2 is much improved, thankfully for you as well. See you on SSB sometime...has there been an FX-4CR to FX-4CR QSO yet?!
73,
John
A few people have emailed me asking about CW keying issues they're having. This is what I alluded to in the text.
ReplyDeleteThe issue is that the radio is highly sensitive to settings of CW speed vs. T/R delay. Some T/R delay settings are incompatible with some CW speeds - this is true regardless of whether the internal keyer or an external keyer is used. If the T/R delay currently set causes conflict with the CW speed in use, the result is choppped characters. Either a dot or a dash will be shortened (or absent altogether).
The "solution" is to find a T/R delay time that doesn't cause this to happen at your preferred CW speed. My preferred CW speeds are 22-30 wpm and I find that a T/R delay setting of anywhere from 55 to 68 allows this CW speed to be used without conflict.
73,
John
I'm looking forward to seeing more of your results with this interesting little radio.
ReplyDeleteIt is a fun radio but the secret to enjoying it is to not have KX2-like expectations. It is my normal inclination to judge radios based on the best ones I've had - that way, lies madness, I'm realizing, slowly...
Delete73,
John
The madness of comparing everything against the best is one of the most insightful comments I have ever read.
DeleteSometimes, the best is not what one is searching for. Good enough without any big downsides for the money is more times than not the goal!
I find this a great way to reset the stage, and to think in terms of class of radio rather than looking for something that topples the king. The idea of price class based or even performance classes makes sense. Plus, there are radios that do better on different modes.
Thank you for an inspiring insight!
Jim KF9VV
GM Jim,
DeleteAnd sometimes the "best" can be redefined: Instead of perfect QSK, you now have a smaller package, much better PC connectivity (for digital modes), much better sealing against the elements, twice the power and an extra band (6 meters).
73,
John
Thanks for this thread. I received my fx-4cr two weekends ago and have only used it ssb phone until yesterday. I wanted to try it on ft8 but the unit does not go into dig mode. When I press the button it is supposed to toggle between USB, LSB and Digital modes, but it only goes back and forth from USB to LSB only. Furthermore , my two laptops do not recognize the cable so I am unable to upgrade firmware or do anything digital. I was not sure if it was me or not so I was very glad to find this thread. I feel like I have a bad unit. I emailed Yu yesterday and I don't expect to hear from him yet...he is a busy 1-man shop. It took 2 months to get the radio and I had high hopes that this would be radio to make me like the Chinese radios again. I have both a G90 and an X6100 and fell out of love with both after being initially smitten.
ReplyDeleteFor perspective, I have 3 Yaesu rigs that have never given me an iota of trouble: FT-891, FT-DX10 and an FT-450d. These days I am addicted to POTA and I am out almost everyday. Now I probably will need to return this FX-4CR and wait for a replacement. But the excitement is now gone and I hope it comes back because I really want to love this radio.
Additionally, I emailed Yu after using it only once, asking if he had any recommendations for a bigger mic. I am 6'2" with large hands and the little baby mic worked great, but gave my hand and fingers cramps using it for just one activation. Yu did not have any suggestions and just told me to check the pinout section of the manual and try my luck at finding an after-market mic.
For now, the FT-891 remains k8ng of portable ops for me.
Unfortunately, I have returned my 2nd FX-4CR as well. Keying issues remain, making it unsuitable on CW. Like you, I really want to like this radio, and am disappointed in its performance on my favorite mode. Some owners claim that the latest fw "partially" fixes "some" of the issues. That's not good enough and I hope it will be a smooth-running rig eventually.
DeleteRob Sherwood correctly perceives it as a prototype and has no interest in reviewing it for that reason (I offered to loan him mine).
Muddying the waters of the "Is it fixed yet?" question is that owners like Yu and want to refrain from punishing him by speaking honestly about the rig. In doing so, they unwittingly dupe prospective buyers.
My KX3 and FT-891 are my POTA rigs.
73,
John
There is a forum for the radio here:
Deletehttps://groups.io/g/FXradio