I’ve had a lot of success using the common 5.6m telescopic stainless steel whips – as a quarter wave vertical, as a dipole, and even as a full wave loop. As I had a few of them kicking around, I figured why not try and use them to make a 2 element yagi-uda that fits in a backpack.
Blog
Quansheng tease specs and features of their next handheld: Taiko Kong TK-11
Quansheng, a reputable manufacturer known for the wildly popular UV-K5 handheld with it’s hackable firmware, has teased some specs and features of their upcoming handheld, the Taiko Kong TK-11.
Update April 2025: This is now available: Quansheng Taiko Kong TK11
Continue reading “Quansheng tease specs and features of their next handheld: Taiko Kong TK-11”
Xiegu WR12 Wide-Band Receiver addon for X6200
It looks like we finally get to find out what that mysterious port on the top on the Xiegu X6200 is for. Xiegu have just released some pictures of a new module that uses the port to expand the receive coverage of the radio, adding 54MHz-1GHz RX.
Update March 2025 – This has now been released: Xiegu WR12
Continue reading “Xiegu WR12 Wide-Band Receiver addon for X6200”
Latest VGC VR-N76 Firmware Enables Full KISS TNC Control
The latest firmware update for the VGC VR-N76 handheld radio introduces significant enhancements, particularly in enabling full KISS TNC (Terminal Node Controller) control via Bluetooth. This development opens up a world of possibilities for ham radio operators, providing greater flexibility and interoperability with various applications on smartphones.
Continue reading “Latest VGC VR-N76 Firmware Enables Full KISS TNC Control”
Xiegu X6100 firmware update to v1.1.8
Xiegu have just released an update to the Xiegu X6100 which fixes a number of well-known bugs, and make a number of improvements to features such as the waterfall, bluetooth, and wifi.
Changes in this version:
- Adjust the gain allocation in the baseband section, improve the received signal- to noise ratio, reduce broadcast crosstalk, and minimize birdies.
- Adjust the spectrum/waterfall automatic level tracking mode, improve the signal contrast when dealing with strong signal, easier to distinguish between signal and noise.
- Add audio spectrum/oscilloscope switch, turn off the spectrum/waterfall diagram can be exclusive display.
- Fix a bug where MFK tags could not be saved.
- Optimize the NR algorithm.
- Adjust the following CI-V data format：
S-Meter:
0000=S0,0120=S9,0242=S9+60dB
SWR-Meter:
0000=1.0,0048=1.5,0080=2.0,0120=3.0
Volt-Meter:
0000=0V,0075=5V,0241=16V - Adjusted the operation logic of the WLAN settings interface
Key description:
F1(CONFIG):Edit the selected SSID in the left list (the selected SSID will be displayed in the Config SSID text box)
F2(CONNECT/DISCONNECT): Connect/disconnect the selected SSID in the left list
F3(WIFI SWITCH):Turn on/off WIFI power
F4(TOGGLE/KEYBOARD):TOGGLE is displayed when the right button switch is selected. Press it to change the state of the button switch (on or off).
Press while the text box is selected to turn on/off the virtual keyboard
F5(EXIT):Exit
###knob description:
MFK knob: Adjust the selected item in the left list
VFO knob: Adjust the widgets selected on the right
###Other description:
The virtual keyboard automatically selects the initial state according to different text boxes for quick input
Numbers and decimal points can be input quickly through the handle - Adjust the operation logic of BLUETOOTH setting interface
###Key description:
F1(SCAN):Start scanning
F2(CONNECT/DISCONNECT):Connect/disconnect the Bluetooth device selected on the left
F3(ON/OFF): Turn on/off Bluetooth power
F4: No function
F5(EXIT):Exit
###knob description:
MFK knob:Adjust the selected item in the left list
Download: Xiegu X6100 firmware v1.1.8
Shout out to Andeas M0FXB for the heads up about this. He’s done a great video overview here:
Xiegu X6200 Firmware upgrade v1.0.1
A new firmware upgrade has just been released for the Xiegu X6200 taking it to version 1.0.1, fixing a few bugs, and introducing a few new features.
There is an official firmware upgrade tutorial from Xiegu, and Matt from the Tech Minds YouTube channel has also provided a video overview of the new features and the upgrade procedure.
Highlights of this new version:
- Adds transceiver audio equalizer
- Adds display adjustment options, bandwidth/spectrum/waterfall color, etc
- Adds the spectrum center line switch, the user can choose to turn on or off
- Adds MFK variable step
- Adds voice compression
- Adds automatic screen backlight dimming/off
- Adds CW decoder threshold adjustment
- Adds the waterfall map translation switch, the waterfall map will translate with the frequency change after opening
- Optimizes frequency spectrum display speed, more smooth
- Optimizes spectrum and waterfall automatic level, better signal contrast, easier to see clearly
- Optimizes the function key operation logic (some switch parameters can be adjusted directly by pressing the button without turning the MFK knob, easy to operate)
- Fixes some display content display incomplete issue
- Fixes the power alarm BUG
- Fixes the CW auto key BUG
- Fixes the transmit power control BUG(voice plosive sound, such as p,t, etc., is prone to to make popping sounds)
Chinese radios or a Kenwood TH-D75?
The Kenwood TH-D75, a revamped version of the TH-D74, is now available with an eye-watering price tag of $750. No, that’s not a typo, Kenwood are really expecting you to fork out SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY dollars (or Pounds or Euros) for a handheld radio. Lets take a look at what you could get from China for that kind of money.
Guide to Buying Budget QRP Radios
Walt K4OGO has put together this great run down of some of the most popular budget QRP radios, all of which we have listed here on Ham Imports!
He’s speaking from experience, having owned and used all of these, so it’s great to hear his views on the various models that are available.
Radios mentioned:
Upgrading the Super Antenna with cheap Chinese parts
Let me be clear from the start, the Super Antenna MP1 is a good antenna. I have one myself that I use for operating portable. The main reason I chose it was because of the extremely compact size when disassembled. You see, I tend to go out on my bicycle, and while taking a fiberglass “squid pole” is possible, it’s a bit of a pain having a chunky pole strapped to the crossbar. With a few cheap mods, we can improve it from being a good antenna into a great antenna!
Continue reading “Upgrading the Super Antenna with cheap Chinese parts”
How China is influencing the future of ham radio
The future of ham radio as a hobby is a topic that has been the subject of much discussion in recent years. With the rise of new technologies like software-defined radio and cheap hardware, the hobby is poised for a major transformation. While some hams see these technologies as the future of amateur radio, others worry that they are eviscerating some of the best things about it.
Continue reading “How China is influencing the future of ham radio”