The video at
at its time about? 1:21 shows you.? Just push the button for the memory you want to send, RE1 in this case.
Hopefully that doesn't change with different firmware versions!? (His might be older, for example.)
After about 1:30, there's roughly 7 minutes of setting up a memory to call CQ.? Which you've already learned.
Let us know if that works!
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Doug, K8RFT
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Hello.
I did enter a CQ message in Message #1. That was easy but I cannot find a way to send the message. Went through the manual, Googled and found nothing.
Need help.
73,? Yvon NU6I
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Re: Nice X5105 review from RadioManual.info
For a look at the circuit boards (and battery) inside, go to
One board, probably including the autotuner, has 29 toroid coils, and even more relays.?
--
Doug, K8RFT
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Nice X5105 review from RadioManual.info
There's a nice, detailed 3-page review of the X5105 at www.radiomanual.info
search for
Review: the Xiegu X5105 QRP Transceiver - RadioManual
????????????????????????? (I couldn't copy a good link to paste in here - sorry!)
It comes as a PDF.? Even recommends a Pelican case that fits.? It's from 2018, though, and there have been improvements, mainly firmware, since.
--
Doug, K8RFT
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Doug,
Haven't had any problem with RFI on mine.? I was looking at replacing my coiled cable with a flexible straight cable as I am not a fan of coiled cables.? Upon looking for some type of cable that would be a good replacement I came across an article about using CAT cable.? It may work but it's just not flexible enough.? Any ideas?
73
Phil K7TTI
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Brian,
I read this somewhere about a year ago and, since that type of cable is shielded, it made sense.? I have not experienced any RFI on my OEM cable wanted to verify if I do.
73 Phil
K7TTI
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Found something else.? Check this site - One of his recommendations is ferrite beads on all cables, to reduce RFI. The page is actually for a different radio, but they use the same mic.
Ferrite Beads
In order to prevent radio-frequency interference, all cables should be fitted with ferrite beads:
- Microphone cable
- Power cord
- CAT cable
- Head unit connection cable
(No head unit cable on our X5105, though) There's also a mic modification to improve the voice quality. Doug, K8RFT
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Re: Sound Card Connections
I was looking around for info on adapting a computer/cellphone headset for use with the X5105.? Since several Xiegu rigs seem to use the same mic, while checking for G90 info I found this page:
About halfway down the page is a picture and schematic for an 'adapter circuit' that he used.? It's basically just a capacitor in series with each signal lead.? Take a look and let us know what you think.
Doug, K8RFT
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Re: I would like to find a way to use a computer-type headset with mic, for portable operation.
That would be a good idea.?? However, I already have a headset that I would like to adapt.
And Heils are a bit out of my price range.? Well, actually, way out.
I've used my headset for receiving, late at night to avoid disturbing my sleeping wife.? Now I'm wondering about mic element compatibility.? Since the Xiegu mic has a +8 vdc pin, it may be need the electret type of mic.? And since at least SOME of? the computer and cellphone headsets seem to have electrets, it may work.? I was checking on phone jack wiring a while ago, ans read that some of the cellphone mics us? small bias voltage, roughly around 3 V.? That voltage is also used, apparently, for signaling the phone to adjust volume, and to change music tracks, using different value resistors to send a certain voltage to the phone for the needed control function.? It would be convenient to have a PTT button on the headset cord, for use when the environmental noise might make VOX impractical or unreliable.
Actually, I have two inexpensive headsets, both from CyberAcoustics.
There may be more info in the groups for other Xiegu ransceivers, too - they seem to use the same mic and they've been around longer.? So there's more info out there.
Doug, K8RFT
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Re: I would like to find a way to use a computer-type headset with mic, for portable operation.
It would take some thinking through it and maybe even a call to Heil. But I would think one of their headsets could be setup to work on the 5105.?
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On Aug 19, 2020, at 3:33 PM, DougVL <K8RFTradio@...> wrote:
?I would like to find a way to use a computer-type headset with mic, for portable & pedestrian mobile operation.
So I'm hoping that as new members come along, someone with experience will chime in with a solution.? I'll pursue it on my own, meanwhile.
Doug, K8RFT
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Brian
K0FBS
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I would like to find a way to use a computer-type headset with mic, for portable operation.
I would like to find a way to use a computer-type headset with mic, for portable & pedestrian mobile operation.
So I'm hoping that as new members come along, someone with experience will chime in with a solution.? I'll pursue it on my own, meanwhile.
Doug, K8RFT
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Do you have a problem with RFI on your mic?? I think/know there is some shielded CAT 5 or 6 cable, but don't know if it would help.
I would like to find a way to use a computer-type headset with mic, for portable operation.? I yet haven't started looking into the wiring of the mic and cable, though.? I think I'll start a thread about this, and see if we get any members who've tried something like this.? And hopefully have tried the cable for RFI, too!
Doug, K8RFT
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Hi Phill,
I have not done that. In fact your comment was the first time I have heard that using an Ethernet cable could eliminate RFI.?
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On Aug 18, 2020, at 2:46 PM, Phil B <philrb1@...> wrote:
?Has anyone replaced their microphone cable with an ethernet cable to eliminate RFI?
--
Brian
K0FBS
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Has anyone replaced their microphone cable with an ethernet cable to eliminate RFI?
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Re: Sound Card Connections
That's a good point, about the cabling.? Quite a few online digital interface projects (for home rigs) use VOX for PTT control.? Connecting MIC & SPK was how I started using my IC-706 for FT8.
In my case,so far I was only considering using FT8 on the X5105 while in my shack.? I don't have a very portable laptop (12 years old, battery pretty bad - PC needs to be plugged in to run).
In the video, he says the only use for the CAT control is PTT, but in my IC-706 system, it's only for frequency control.? The '706 doesn't support PTT via CAT, so I use a USB serial adapter for CAT and its RTS pin for PTT.
When (IF!) there's a version of WSJT-X that will run on my Samsung 10.1 inch tablet, I'll be much more inclined to do portable digital.
I remember reading somewhere of a guy who used a phone, and Wolphi-Link software (I think), and just used the phone's speaker and mic for audio connections.? I'd probably try the software anyway, except I'm not comfortable with giving Google my credit card number.
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Re: Sound Card Connections
In the below YouTube link Julian (OH8STN) discusses the simplest way to use the X5105 for digital modes. He discusses that at the 10:40 mark in the video.?
By using only the mic & speaker ports, then setting the mic to VOX you can use only two wires and manually control the frequency of the radio with digital modes.?
His point is the CE-19 is impractical and probably not robust enough for field operations. His method is simplest and least troublesome for field operations.?
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On Aug 12, 2020, at 8:22 AM, DougVL <K8RFTradio@...> wrote:
?And one other thing - I ordered my x5105 from Radioddity, who sells the "Outdoor Version."?? That comes with the CE-19 interface adapter and some cables.? There are 3 cables that each have a 1/8 inch 'phone' plug on one end and with the other end stripped but unterminated.? And there are 3 separate 1/8 inch plugs for installation on those cables, if needed.? I presume they're intended for MIC, SPK and CI-V (PTT), and that's how I'm going to use them.?
If you want to be cautious and careful, you could wind 3 or 4 turns of a cable thru a small toroid core for insurance against RFI type interference. (Easier before putting any more connectors on the cables.)? Using my IC-706, I had occasional trouble with something causing the USB serial port card to reset and change COM port number.? I put a split, clamp-on core around the 3-cable bundle and that seemed to help, and to make the resets pretty rare.? With the X5105 we don't need the external USB serial port, and the RF power level is lower, so toroids may be unnecessary.? If you've already got some, I'd put them on.? Or they can be added later, using ones large enough that the plug can pass through the core.
--
Brian
K0FBS
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Re: Sound Card Connections
And one other thing - I ordered my x5105 from Radioddity, who sells the "Outdoor Version."?? That comes with the CE-19 interface adapter and some cables.? There are 3 cables that each have a 1/8 inch 'phone' plug on one end and with the other end stripped but unterminated.? And there are 3 separate 1/8 inch plugs for installation on those cables, if needed.? I presume they're intended for MIC, SPK and CI-V (PTT), and that's how I'm going to use them.?
If you want to be cautious and careful, you could wind 3 or 4 turns of a cable thru a small toroid core for insurance against RFI type interference. (Easier before putting any more connectors on the cables.)? Using my IC-706, I had occasional trouble with something causing the USB serial port card to reset and change COM port number.? I put a split, clamp-on core around the 3-cable bundle and that seemed to help, and to make the resets pretty rare.? With the X5105 we don't need the external USB serial port, and the RF power level is lower, so toroids may be unnecessary.? If you've already got some, I'd put them on.? Or they can be added later, using ones large enough that the plug can pass through the core.
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Re: Antennas for portable or Pedestrian Mobile operation
As the old saying goes - "Size Matters".? A full sized antenna, wire or otherwise, will beat a shorter antenna any time.? There's lots of info online about calculating antenna efficiency, and that's basically what it all says.
The -1899 style antennas, at least mine (and I think most are from the same factory) are heavy and awkward when mounted directly on the X51055, for sure!? I had also wondered about the single-banders, but not yet knowing what bands I would want to use, it looked pretty expensive to get a full set.
I originally got the 'bug' for trying the HT mode by watching a video by OM0ET, titled
Great Walkie Talkie QRP contact! with XIEGU X5105 - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FV79xBFLV0&t=4s
But I can't tell which antenna he used, and he doesn't say.? It does not look like the -1899, though.? At the time, I didn't know about the MFJ single-band ones, either.? Now, looking at the MFJ catalog, I see that the single-band coils are shorter, and the whip is 1 inch shorter than the -1899 whip.
Yesterday I was outdoors trying out the GRA-1899 mounted on a small camera tripod.? With a couple radial wires out, 15 and 33 feet I tried all the HF bands from 80 to 6 meters.? I found settings on all bands that gave me a 2:1 SWR, or less.? Actually, less on all but 20 M.? I suspect that with a bit more time, I could do better there, too.? But the sun came out and it got too hot.
In the MFJ catalog, it says that all the single band walkabout antennas use the 51 inch whip.? If they would sell the coils separately, it would be more affordable to get a set of coils and 1 or 2 whips.? If the whip is their 4.5 foot MF-1963 stainless one, at $12 each in the 2019 catalog, a person should be able to save about $10 per band for buying the coils only. That's about $70 less for a set of 9 coils and 2 whips.? (It would be a lot more pieces to fit into my Xiegu backpack, though!)
Doug, K8RFT
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Re: Antennas for portable or Pedestrian Mobile operation
I found the MFJ-1899 completely unworkable on most bands.? Maybe I had a bad one.? Also it is significantly heavier than the individual band telescopic antennas.? I also wanted to be ale to use the X5105 as a HF HT.? So I bought a 20 & 40 single band telescopic.? They work better than the 1899, but not as well as a wire antenna. ? MFJ 1820T MFJ 1840T ? Brian K0FBS ?
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From: DougVLSent: Saturday, August 8, 2020 8:37 PM To: [email protected]Subject: [X5105-Users] Antennas for portable or Pedestrian Mobile operation ? When I ordered my X5105 (from Radioddity), I also ordered a GRA-1899 multiband antenna from Amazon.
The 1899 is a lot like the MFJ-1899, but the GRA has a BNC connector to fit the X5105.
I have found that the BNC connector doesn't make a very steady mount, connected directly to the BNC jack on the end of the radio.? One of my big hopes for the radio was handheld Hf operation, and it is still possible - but it seems a little risky.
I decided to 'rig up' a ground or tripod mount for the antenna, but it was pretty hard to find a way to actually mount it, especially since the very bottom is the connector.? I did cobble together a way to do it, which should be the subject of another post.?
I realized that I should have gotten a version of the same antenna but with a 3/4-24 threaded mount.? However, now I can find only one model of those, The Moonraker SPX-100.? And it actually comes with BNC and PL-259 mounting connectors (adapters) as well.? And sells for quite close to the same price as the GRA-1899, about $75.
Now I'm wishing we had hamfests this summer so that I could try to sell my '1899 and get the SPX-100.? I have 2 very handy ways to mount an antenna with the 3/8-24 thread.? One is just a short piece of aluminum flat bar, 1 inch wide and about 3 inches long, with 2 holes in it. One is a 1/2 inch hole for the stud-to-coax (BNC) adapter and the other is for the tripod 1/4-20 camera mounting screw.? For those without hole-threading capability, just a 1/4 inch hole and the use of a 1/4-20 wing nut would hold the bar on the tripod.
The other mount is quite different - some sellers call it "Jaws".? Search for "jaws antenna mount" and you'll get many results.? The price ranged from about $18 on up to about $40.? The more expensive ones come with the 3/8-24 stud mount/connector.? I already had the mount connector, so I got the cheapest one.? I had looked very carefully at the pictures from all the sellers and I truly believe that the basic unit is the same for all sellers. I found this listing on eBay -Workman QRCS3 CB Radio Antenna Quick Release Mirror Mount With 180 Degree Swivel
and one at for $49.00
Read some reviews on the mount - it's versatile, popular and well made.? (It's too bad the ebay listing calls it a mirror mount, although it can mount on a truck rearview mirror mounting frame).
Oh, well, at least I can use my "Jaws" with hamsticks, and other 3/8-24 mount antennas, like my MFJ-1664.
Doug, K8RFT-- Brian K0FBS
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Re: Serial numbers and dates
Thanks for that.? A good word to keep track of those as stickers fall off or fade. ? Brian K0FBS ?
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From: DougVLSent: Saturday, August 8, 2020 8:03 PM To: [email protected]Subject: [X5105-Users] Serial numbers and dates ? I ordered my X5105 from Radioddity about the second week of June, 2020.? They had been on special a few days before that, but I missed it.? And then they were out of stock when I did get my order placed!? The radio arrived at my QTH on June 25, 2020, and must have been part of a new shipment.? It did come with V3.0 firmware.
On the back of the radio is a sticker with the serial number X0301546.?
I expect that someday there will be questions about model/unit variations over time and different production runs.? So this may help in the future as a reference point.
Doug, K8RFT -- Brian K0FBS
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Brian Smith
