Hi everybody My name is Stephan (used to be called Steve or Forthy) I am licensed since 1978. My main interessts are QRP and digital modes. But I try to get my CW skills back :-) As a new member I'd like to show the TX-500 in Action. I own the TX.500 for a few weeks now and had the chance to use it during my last vacation on the baltic sea in my rv. I will add some pictures here. My TX-500 is still running the 1.02 firmware. 73, Stephan     
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Hi Stephan,
great pics, I envy you for your TX-500. How did you get yours so quickly? Pileupdx has recently revised their shipping forecast from mid September to end of October :-( Did you order directly at lab599?
I noticed you have wsjt-x on a Samsung tablet. Are you running linux?
vy 73
Robert DC1RDB
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Hi Robert
I ordered mine directly from Alex. Took about 4 weeks to arrive safely. No hassle with customs btw.
My main hamradio computer is a Raspberry PI 4b. I use the scripts from KM4ACK (he has a cute youtube channel) to set it up. The PI spawns his own wifi when no known wifi is available. I connect the Samsung Tablet using vnc to connect to the PI.
The PI has a board (StromPI3) to convert 6-60V to 5V, so? I can power it from 12V (all connectors are Powerpole)
73, Stephan
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DF6PA
Licensed since 1978
TX-500, KX2, IC-703, FT-817ND
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Hi all,?
Happy to join this group.?
Currently testing my portable setup. See this photo
73 de Axel,DL7VEA?
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Somehow the picture was not in the message. 
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Next try to post the picture 
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Really nice setup Axel. I use the same LiFePo4 battery when portable. Does the "PC" Headset did its job? Cute little key.
73, Stephan
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DF6PA
Licensed since 1978
TX-500, KX2, IC-703, FT-817ND
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Yes, the headset does a very good job. I had a QSO with an Italian station yesterday and he recorded my transmission and replayed it to me. Sounds really good. The key is homemade from an old relay. In the meantime I found DL9SCO selling the remaining palm keys, so I ordered a paddle to take with me.
73 de Axel, DL7VEA
Really nice setup Axel. I use the same LiFePo4 battery when portable. Does the "PC" Headset did its job? Cute little key.
73, Stephan
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DF6PA
Licensed since 1978
TX-500, KX2, IC-703, FT-817ND
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New Member with a question about voltage vs. power output
Hi everybody,
My name is Stephan, a SOTA activator and I'm looking forward to get a closer look to this interesting transceiver!
May I ask somebody who already owns the transceiver about how it behaves concerning the voltage versus the maximum output power?
According the manual, the input voltage range seems to be from 9 to 15V.
I have a?3S LiPo laying around and would like to know which max. output power could I expect at 10V and 11V input voltage.?
To have a reference, I propose to use CW on the 20 meter band.
If the max. output power @10V is above 5W, I probably would stick for the moment with my 3S LiPo, otherwise I would go for a?4S LiFePo.
73 de Stephan, HB9EAJ
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Re: New Member with a question about voltage vs. power output
Hi Stephan,
as I have a regulated power supply, where I can adjust 11 or 10 V I will try this tomorrow and let you know.
73 de Axel, DL7VEA
Stephan < hb9eaj@...> schrieb am Fr. 25. Sept. 2020 um 20:39:
Hi everybody,
My name is Stephan, a SOTA activator and I'm looking forward to get a closer look to this interesting transceiver!
May I ask somebody who already owns the transceiver about how it behaves concerning the voltage versus the maximum output power?
According the manual, the input voltage range seems to be from 9 to 15V.
I have a?3S LiPo laying around and would like to know which max. output power could I expect at 10V and 11V input voltage.?
To have a reference, I propose to use CW on the 20 meter band.
If the max. output power @10V is above 5W, I probably would stick for the moment with my 3S LiPo, otherwise I would go for a?4S LiFePo.
73 de Stephan, HB9EAJ
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Re: New Member with a question about voltage vs. power output
Hi Stephan,
find attached to this message 3 screenshots from the device. You see the voltage on top close to the right border. The most right is a clock. Power is shown left in the middle of the screen.
1. Giving around 10 V to the TRX results in 9 W output.
2. Around 11 V give? 11 W.
3. Starting from 12 V it outputs full power, 12 W
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Hello
I am contemplating buying one, but have a couple questions:
1 -? Does the Microphone circuit allow /provide 5v-8v DC for microphones that need a bias voltage to operate?? Can it be switched On/Off in the rig setup?
2 - What type microphones work with the rig?? What specifications are required?? Hi-Z, Low-Z, Electrotet, Dynamic, etc?
3 - What functional requirements are there to operate FT8/FT4 and other digital modes? Can I use a typical USB Sound module such as the Sabrent USB External Stereo Sound Adapter for Windows and Mac. Plug and Play No Drivers Needed. (AU-MMSA) on Amazon?? Will the rig go into TX when it receives the Transmit Audio (VOX) automatically?
4 - Can the supplied USB Interface cable be used for Digital/FT8 operation without the need for #3 above?
5 - What is the required speaker ohms, 3.2, 4 or 8 ohms?
6- What is the warranty (duration) and who provides support in the USA?? Can a longer warranty be purchased?
73s,
Thanks for the help.? These are important questions for me and maybe others.
Glen WB4KTF, Austin, Texas
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Re: Questions of the TX-500
Hi Glen
I have mine for a few weeks now and will try to answer:
1) No, no bias voltage and no menu item to swicth it on or off
2) As far as I know, Microphone ist dynamic. At least my Heil headset works, and as far as I know is Axel (member of this group) using a normal PC headset with great success
3) You juts need the audio cable, connect it to your PCs soundcard and you are ready to go. I use as Raspberry PI for that. You can configure the VOX to work in Digi Modes. (Just a press of a button :-)
4) No it is only used for CAT control
5) Doesn't really matter, I used a Peiker 4 Ohm and used the 8 Ohm Heil headset speaker and found no real difference
6) I don't know, bought it directly from Lab599
Hope I could help.
In my opinion it is a really easy to operate rig. Everything is straight forward, no unnessecary bells and whistles :-) I do Digi Modes most of the time and this is working very well. CW is also great (but my CW skills are very limited :-) )
I'll be on a camp site next weekend with my RV and will make a few pictures, videos and a digi mode howto then!
73s, Stephan
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DF6PA
Licensed since 1978
TX-500, KX2, IC-703, FT-817ND
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Re: Questions of the TX-500
Hi Glen,
I can add the following: 1) The mic provided is dynamic. There is an adapter for a headset as well. Using this, I connected a standard PC headset with success. If you look into the manual and see the plug for mic/ptt/phone you see there are two mic connects. One for dynamic and one with +DC. I looked into the adapter and the pin used for the adapter is the one with?+DC providing this way voltage for the electret capsule in the headset. I bet for the microphone provided the other one is used (not checked yet). So it depends how the socket is connected.
73 de Axel, DL7VEA
Hi Glen
I have mine for a few weeks now and will try to answer:
1) No, no bias voltage and no menu item to swicth it on or off
2) As far as I know, Microphone ist dynamic. At least my Heil headset works, and as far as I know is Axel (member of this group) using a normal PC headset with great success
3) You juts need the audio cable, connect it to your PCs soundcard and you are ready to go. I use as Raspberry PI for that. You can configure the VOX to work in Digi Modes. (Just a press of a button :-)
4) No it is only used for CAT control
5) Doesn't really matter, I used a Peiker 4 Ohm and used the 8 Ohm Heil headset speaker and found no real difference
6) I don't know, bought it directly from Lab599
Hope I could help.
In my opinion it is a really easy to operate rig. Everything is straight forward, no unnessecary bells and whistles :-) I do Digi Modes most of the time and this is working very well. CW is also great (but my CW skills are very limited :-) )
I'll be on a camp site next weekend with my RV and will make a few pictures, videos and a digi mode howto then!
73s, Stephan
--
DF6PA
Licensed since 1978
TX-500, KX2, IC-703, FT-817ND
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Re: New Member with a question about voltage vs. power output
Hi Axel,
Thanks a lot for checking the max. output power at various voltage levels.
This is very good news for my purpose!
73 de Stephan, HB9EAJ
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HI all
because some people asked me offline, I thought it might be intersting...
The connectors on the TX-500 are just standard Aviation Type GX12 connectors which are easily available on Amzon and eBay.
So, nothing fancy or special :-)
73, Stephan
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DF6PA
Licensed since 1978
TX-500, KX2, IC-703, FT-817ND
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Received email from HRO that my TX-500 was shipped yesterday.? It should be here in NC on Thursday.? Looking forward to playing with it this weekend.
73,
Henry - K4TMC
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Hi Henry,
Which HRO did you hear from???
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I ordered a few of those connectors and some caps to cover the unused connectors
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Hi, does anyone here happen to know the FCC ID for the TX-500?
73,
Robert DC1RDB
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DF6PA
Stephan HB9EAJ
Glen Jenkins WB4KTF
