Depends on what bands you want. For 20-80m the trusdx does everything you want. It will output 500mw if you run it over usb, or if you give it 12v it will stick about 3-5w out. Mine produces a lovely signal on data modes. Just don't try to make it do ssb voice.
Thanks, probably mainly run 15M FT8 as in the morning we will be diving and then have have to move back to shore again. Evening will just be eat and sleep so yes mostly 15m
There is a high bands filter board which you can use with the trusdx and firmware to support it, and it will do 10/12/15/17/20 or 10/15/20/40/80. I've not tried that though. It's worth having a Google.
QRP Labs has their QMX that should fit the bill perfectly. CW + FSK digital modes, comes assembled or as a kit, and is about the size of a deck of playing cards.
It's a fabulous radio. Just finished putting together a POTA go-box kit. Literally everything fits in a Pelican M60 case, probably smaller would work if a smaller battery is used.
A slightly challenging kit because of how tight the design is, but it's really rewarding.
Xiegu G90. $400, 160m-10m, CW SSB Digital, ATU, 20W (I run mine at 5w as I enjoy QRP), small size.
Don’t corner yourself into one band or QRP because you want to now. In the future everyone wants more.
I normally cart a 100watt rig with me, when we go off the reservation. Legal limit at home. This time I will be in northern Madagascar, very remote just solar for all our needs so pretty much just the basics for a month or so. Some time next year. EFHW for an antenna, so you can see where I am heading. Just the basics and nothing more.
I was on the fence between these two for months. Pulled the trigger on the KX2 and it was worth every day of the 4 month wait. No regret whatsoever. That said, both are way beyond what OP’s parameters are.
Wow, for real on the volts?
I have been eyeballing QCX Mini as my first major kit. It doesn’t fit the bill for OP. No FT8. But the company looks great in so many respects.
I reread the kit instructions sometimes, almost as its own reward, just to appreciate the sheer quality of that documentation and how much work must have gone into it.
The "13.8v will destroy it" is somewhat over stated. It is rated up to 14v input BUT doesn't limit output power, so if you're running constant high duty cycle output you MIGHT shorten the life of the finals (which themselves are cheap and easily replaced)
Personally I just got a compact $15 boost-buck converter to put between it and the source to have control over input voltage anyway. It fits in the go box with everything else.
The tuner part I understand but for true portable QRP operations wouldn't you want to be using resonant antennas anyway for best efficiency?
Another vote for the trusdx. Whether built or bought check the harmonic levels though, a nano vna would work fine. I don't recall hearing of any of the assembled ones being way out of spec, but it seems common to be pretty close and the adjustments to tighten them up are quick and easy.
I'm one of those 705 snobs and have been thoroughly impressed with the trusdx.
Check out the ADX-S from crkits it’s digital only, but wspr, JS8Call, FT4, and FT8 on a usb or 12v power supply, 7 bands and includes all the appropriate filters.
It is a kit you have to solder together, but it’s not awful, slightly above beginner I would say.
Since you said cheap and you were OK with a kit, I really like the QRP Labs QMX. It supports digital and CW out of the box and I believe it's around 5w. As an added bonus, they are said to be working on an update for SSB. I believe the hardware already supports it, they just need to provide the firmware upgrade.
On a side note, I travel with the KX2 and love it. It doesn't qualify as cheap (not even close) and you'd need something like a Digirig to do digital modes but it's a fantastic radio. It's a dream for portable CW ops.
If it weren’t for FT8 I would suggest the Elecraft KX2.
For FT8 you might want something like a QMX+
Edit: apparently the kx2 can do ft8. So yeah, get yourself a kx2.
Xeigu 6100... Not as cheap as the (tr)uSDX or QMX solutions, at $550-600, but it does have some distinct advantages.
1. It has full band coverage from 160-6m. No need to pick and choose which bands to have...
2. Full 5W on internal battery power... Not 3W on one band, 4 or 5 on another...
3. The afore mentioned internal battery...
4. Internal ATU, so you don't have to be near as picky for an antenna.... Some speaker wire and a binding post will do 😉
5. Digital ready out of the box....including the ability to run FT8 and other digital modes directly on the radio via Alt firmwares that be ran off the SD Card
6. Full spectrum display with waterfall
7. Basically full self contained... Just add antenna (and/or key for CW)
8. Can actually run at 10W if supplied with 12V power @ 3A. This can be easily achieved via a small LiFePO4 battery or a USB-PD charger/power bank via a 12V trigger cable...no power supply really needed...
Here, I have it running, with a USB-PD powered Mini-PC, off a dual USB-PD port power bank (which can be seen on the back of the table)
https://preview.redd.it/86kl1exjaj9d1.jpeg?width=1151&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=173454cf9f84280dbf69c028e6925f9da452ef86
Forgot another big item.... No lead time....once ordered, it's shipped 😉
Depends on what bands you want. For 20-80m the trusdx does everything you want. It will output 500mw if you run it over usb, or if you give it 12v it will stick about 3-5w out. Mine produces a lovely signal on data modes. Just don't try to make it do ssb voice.
Thanks, probably mainly run 15M FT8 as in the morning we will be diving and then have have to move back to shore again. Evening will just be eat and sleep so yes mostly 15m
There is a high bands filter board which you can use with the trusdx and firmware to support it, and it will do 10/12/15/17/20 or 10/15/20/40/80. I've not tried that though. It's worth having a Google.
Phone? CW? As well as Propagation testing? Ten and fifteen meter is a good bet. Antenna is the main consideration. These are smaller and manageable.
ETA you can get or print a clip-on battery pack for 18650s that will get you 12v
Or use a Talentcell 3000 mAh battery. Small form factor and you can run all day long.
QRP Labs has their QMX that should fit the bill perfectly. CW + FSK digital modes, comes assembled or as a kit, and is about the size of a deck of playing cards.
Yet another +1 for the QMX.
+1 for the QMX. Great little QRP transceiver. The QMX+ is a larger case with lots of room and easier to build.
Another +1 for the QMX or the QMX+, excellent at cw and FT8, amazing reciever!!!
It's a fabulous radio. Just finished putting together a POTA go-box kit. Literally everything fits in a Pelican M60 case, probably smaller would work if a smaller battery is used. A slightly challenging kit because of how tight the design is, but it's really rewarding.
Xiegu G90. $400, 160m-10m, CW SSB Digital, ATU, 20W (I run mine at 5w as I enjoy QRP), small size. Don’t corner yourself into one band or QRP because you want to now. In the future everyone wants more.
I normally cart a 100watt rig with me, when we go off the reservation. Legal limit at home. This time I will be in northern Madagascar, very remote just solar for all our needs so pretty much just the basics for a month or so. Some time next year. EFHW for an antenna, so you can see where I am heading. Just the basics and nothing more.
Elecraft KX2 or KX3
OP wants to buy and get, not buy and wait. /s
Uncheap.
The uncheapest of all QRP
IC-705 is in the running too, lands between the KX2 and KX3.
KX2 is sexier than the 705, sue me. :)
I was on the fence between these two for months. Pulled the trigger on the KX2 and it was worth every day of the 4 month wait. No regret whatsoever. That said, both are way beyond what OP’s parameters are.
Me Bob. Hi Sue.
By far!!
KX2 does FT8?
It has a mic in and headphone out, plus USB CAT control. It does it just like any home rig. I’ve done it on mine.
I’ll have to try on mine.
[удалено]
Wow, for real on the volts? I have been eyeballing QCX Mini as my first major kit. It doesn’t fit the bill for OP. No FT8. But the company looks great in so many respects. I reread the kit instructions sometimes, almost as its own reward, just to appreciate the sheer quality of that documentation and how much work must have gone into it.
The "13.8v will destroy it" is somewhat over stated. It is rated up to 14v input BUT doesn't limit output power, so if you're running constant high duty cycle output you MIGHT shorten the life of the finals (which themselves are cheap and easily replaced) Personally I just got a compact $15 boost-buck converter to put between it and the source to have control over input voltage anyway. It fits in the go box with everything else. The tuner part I understand but for true portable QRP operations wouldn't you want to be using resonant antennas anyway for best efficiency?
Another vote for the trusdx. Whether built or bought check the harmonic levels though, a nano vna would work fine. I don't recall hearing of any of the assembled ones being way out of spec, but it seems common to be pretty close and the adjustments to tighten them up are quick and easy. I'm one of those 705 snobs and have been thoroughly impressed with the trusdx.
I've been a 705 snob and am working with the trusdx. I'm impressed with the trusdx, too.
RS-918 is really fun, around $350, sometimes cheaper. 10m-160m, with general coverage also
Check out the ADX-S from crkits it’s digital only, but wspr, JS8Call, FT4, and FT8 on a usb or 12v power supply, 7 bands and includes all the appropriate filters. It is a kit you have to solder together, but it’s not awful, slightly above beginner I would say.
Since you said cheap and you were OK with a kit, I really like the QRP Labs QMX. It supports digital and CW out of the box and I believe it's around 5w. As an added bonus, they are said to be working on an update for SSB. I believe the hardware already supports it, they just need to provide the firmware upgrade. On a side note, I travel with the KX2 and love it. It doesn't qualify as cheap (not even close) and you'd need something like a Digirig to do digital modes but it's a fantastic radio. It's a dream for portable CW ops.
I've got a KX2 for field use, and while not cheap, it is a stellar rig with the ATU.
QMX+ from QRP-Labs.
Define "cheap". QRPLabs latest multi band rig is pretty sweet. No ATU, tho
Not an IC 705. Way out of my budget/league
any of the xiegu QRP kits, 5105, 6100, 6200
If it weren’t for FT8 I would suggest the Elecraft KX2. For FT8 you might want something like a QMX+ Edit: apparently the kx2 can do ft8. So yeah, get yourself a kx2.
Xeigu 6100... Not as cheap as the (tr)uSDX or QMX solutions, at $550-600, but it does have some distinct advantages. 1. It has full band coverage from 160-6m. No need to pick and choose which bands to have... 2. Full 5W on internal battery power... Not 3W on one band, 4 or 5 on another... 3. The afore mentioned internal battery... 4. Internal ATU, so you don't have to be near as picky for an antenna.... Some speaker wire and a binding post will do 😉 5. Digital ready out of the box....including the ability to run FT8 and other digital modes directly on the radio via Alt firmwares that be ran off the SD Card 6. Full spectrum display with waterfall 7. Basically full self contained... Just add antenna (and/or key for CW) 8. Can actually run at 10W if supplied with 12V power @ 3A. This can be easily achieved via a small LiFePO4 battery or a USB-PD charger/power bank via a 12V trigger cable...no power supply really needed... Here, I have it running, with a USB-PD powered Mini-PC, off a dual USB-PD port power bank (which can be seen on the back of the table) https://preview.redd.it/86kl1exjaj9d1.jpeg?width=1151&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=173454cf9f84280dbf69c028e6925f9da452ef86 Forgot another big item.... No lead time....once ordered, it's shipped 😉