As we’ve discussed at length at OnAllBands, effective soldering can be tricky, especially if you don’t have the right tools. DX Engineering understands the importance of equipping your shack with proven equipment that makes even the most delicate jobs a lot easier.
That’s why you can find a range of reliable soldering tools and accessories from leading brands (Eclipse, ECG, Kester, Milwaukee Tool, American Beauty) at the tools & supplies section of DXEngineering.com. Choose from high-quality solder wire, flux, rechargeable and wireless soldering irons, temperature-controlled soldering stations, desoldering stations and pumps, soldering tools for printed circuit boards, soldering tip cleaners, magnified alligator-clip work holders, and more.
If you’re a novice when it comes to using a soldering pen or need to brush up on your technique, read this article from Mark, K8MSH, “Ham Radio 101: Soldering Tips.”It’s also a good reminder to treat these tools with a great deal of respect by taking all necessary safety precautions to avoid injury when soldering.
Finished the article? Great! Now check out the latest Eclipse Tools soldering products available at DXEngineering.com:
This unit features a selectable 20- or 40-watt temperature setting, making it easier to switch from general electronic soldering and repair to cable terminations or hobby and craft projects. The station is ideal for both professional and do-it-yourself projects and comes equipped with a pencil tip-style soldering iron, built-in stand, and tip cleaning sponge. Find many more soldering guns and irons at DXEngineering.com.
This heavily weighted mini work stand features a universal joint for positioning your work, along with an arm and two strong alligator clamps to hold parts in place or wires for soldering. For tiny projects, the work stand includes a magnifier that will make minuscule parts look big. A great choice for amateur radio repair, RC hobbies, model railroading, crafting projects, and many other purposes.
Featuring a compact, cordless design for optimum portability, the seven-inch-long SI-BI62 boasts a rapid heat-up time of only 15-20 seconds, ensuring that it’s ready to use at a moment’s notice. The safety cap automatically powers down the device when it’s attached. Power consumption is only 8W, with a maximum temperature of up to 842° F. It maintains a soldering temperature of at least 600° F. Requires three 1.5V alkaline AA batteries (not included).
Designed for precision soldering tasks, the SI-186A features digital temperature control for accurate heat management. It’s equipped with a ceramic heater that ensures rapid heating and recovery, boasting a power consumption of only 60W and temperatures ranging between 392° to 932° F. Other features include temperature correction and a smart memory that automatically remembers the last used temperature. The SI-186A comes with a replaceable long-life tip, soft grip handle, and LED display.
This coiled-wire type cleaner doesn’t burn and won’t allow solder to stick. Since the soldering iron tip cleaner is used dry, it won’t cool your iron when you clean the tip. All it takes to provide a clean tip for smoother solder flow is a quick wipe of your iron through the steel-wool style cleaning ball.
This versatile station is useful for rework and soldering operations on a broad range of components, as well as for heat shrinking, drying, paint removal, pre-heating, glue soldering, and more. The SS-969E offers adjustable settings for airflow, air volume, and temperature, providing users with a high degree of control. At 700W, it delivers a wide temperature range of 212° to 842° F and features an auto cool-off process to extend the life of the heating element. Safely solder QFP, PLCC, BGA, and other temperature-sensitive components with ease.
Sold in packs of two, Eclipse Tools fine-tipped flux bottles evenly dispense flux. A gentle squeeze of the bottle allows the fine-tipped needle to deposit flux exactly where you need it for a precision application.
This 700 lumen, LED magnifier table lamp features 2.25X(5D) magnification, a scratch-resistant glass lens, low-temperature LEDs, standard desktop clamp mount that fits surfaces up to 2.56 inches thick, and adjustable arm for easy positioning. Find other Eclipse Tools desk inspection lamps at DXEngineering.com.
The addition of a new product from the innovators at Chameleon Antenna is always reason for celebration—perfect timing since the Fourth of July is only a few days away. Want to add some QSO fireworks to your logbook? Looking for a reliable, weatherproofed outdoor antenna tuner for your permanent installations?
Covering 1.8 to 54 MHz, the Universal Remote Outdoor Antenna Tuner (CHA-URT1) works with most antenna types and transceivers. The tuner can be used with wire-fed antennas including verticals, random wires, and long wires, as well as with coaxial-fed antennas like inverted-Vs and dipoles. The tuner can match any antenna with an impedance of five to 1,500 ohms within seconds. Tuning time is five seconds for full tune and 0.1 seconds for memory tune.
(Image/DX Engineering)
The package comes with a compact coupler (5.04″ x 4.13″ x 1.69″) and tuner (8.78″ x 5.12″ x 1.77″).
The rugged, weatherproof tuner contains the antenna matching network and controller and is designed to be permanently installed outdoors at or near the antenna feedpoint to avoid loss due to high SWR on the feedline. The coupler contains the operator controls and status indicators. It uses a bias-T circuit to send power and control signals to the remote tuner over the connecting coaxial cable, so there is no need to order or install a separate transceiver-specific control cable. The coupler is not weatherproof and must be installed inside near the operator and transceiver. Also included is 12V hardwire power cable, brackets, and hardware.
Power Handling:
125W SSB phone/CW
100W SSB phone/CW – 50 MHz
60W all other modes
(Image/DX Engineering)
The CHA-URT1 features 16,000 memories for quick recall and tuning with previously used settings. Once the tuner is tuned, the relay’s latch and power is turned off, saving on battery drain. The tuned frequency will be stored in memory.
Thinking of upgrading your portable operating prowess? Visit DXEngineering.com for the full lineup of Chameleon Antenna gear, including portable HF antenna systems, portable resonant vertical antennas, tactical delta loop antennas, receive loop antennas, F-loop antennas, EMCOMM antennas, end-fed halfwave slopers, off-center fed dipoles, counterpoise kits, and more.
By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM Size matters . . . especially when it comes to antennas. In general, the more aluminum or wire you can get up in the air (presuming, of course, that it is properly designed), the more signal you are going to pull in. A radio friend has a 560-foot loop erected on […]
Whether you enjoy portable ops during Field Day, POTA, or SOTA, or just want a space-saving efficient way to get on the 40 to 10 meter bands, the high-inductance Recon 40 HF coil from REZ Antenna Systems is a great addition to your 17-foot HF vertical antenna.
In the video below, DX Engineering technical support specialist Michael Murphy, KI8R, gives you an in-depth look at this versatile HF coil and explains how its fast, easy HF band change capabilities make it a great choice for your amateur radio station.
Check out DXEngineering.com for the full lineup of gear from REZ Antenna Systems, including the Ranger 80 (80-10M) Portable Antenna System featuring HF coil assembly, heavy-duty military whip, radial kit, ground spike or aluminum tripod mount, and MOLLE backpack in your choice of five colors.
As we’ve said many times at OnAllBands, if you want the real scoop on a ham radio product, ask someone who has used the device to make QSOs during a heated contest, fight through a pileup while chasing a rare station, operate from a temporary setup in the middle of a park, or get on the air through their local repeater.
Listening to honest opinions from folks who have spent their hard-earned money on equipment is a smart step in making sure you’re buying products that will deliver as advertised. You’ll find many opinions online and at DXEngineering.com, where customers rate their purchases from one to five and often include a detailed explanation of how they use the product, their advice on installation and operation, and the results they received.
Sometimes the reviewer will offer informed criticism or make a suggestion for an upgrade—something the team at DX Engineering takes very seriously when assessing our own branded products to make them easier to use and more efficient. In short, your thoughts on what you buy from us matter. Today, we’ll be looking at reviews of the BTV-AOKC-17M DX Engineering 17M Add-On Kit for Hustler 4/5/6-BTV Vertical Antennas
Rather than homebrewing an add-on that may or may not work, the review says you’ll save a lot of time (the reviewer was able to use the kit within an hour of opening the box) with a “tested, effective design made of weather-resistant materials.”
(Image/DX Engineering)Base view of 4-BTV with DXE-AOKC-17M and DXE-VMN-1 Antenna Matching Network. (Image/DX Engineering)
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17M Add-On Kit Reviews from DXEngineering.com:
Five Stars: “Easy to add to my 4-BTV. Has a flat SWR without tweaking and did not affect SWR on the other bands. Worked seven countries with 100 watts in the first week, so I’m happy.”
David, DX Engineering Customer
(Image/DX Engineering)
Five Stars: “This is a very simple add-on kit made of high-quality materials with excellent assembly and install instructions. After installation on my 4-BTV, no tuning was needed for 17m. I was satisfied with the 1.3:1 SWR across the band. Also, the add-on did not alter any other bands as far as SWR or performance. I have the antenna on a DX Engineering OMNI-TILT so install was simple. As far as cost, price is in the mind of the buyer; yeah, DIY will be cheaper, but the convenience and quality of this kit makes it worth it in my mind. Now with the 30m and 17m add-on, I have a very low visual impact installation that performs way better than I thought it could on every band.”
Stephen, DX Engineering Customer
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Five Stars: “Assembled and installed on my Hustler 6-BTV in less than two hours. Used the initial settings derived by the 12m kit, and out of the box I had a 1.5:1 and lower SWR across the band. This install actually dropped my already good SWR across most of the bands on my antenna. After the install I proceeded to establish a QSO with a DXpedition in Uganda in FT8 with 35 watts. Fantastic!”
Mark, DX Engineering Customer
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Five Stars: “Followed the instructions that came with it, got it installed, and checked the SWR across the band and it was below 1.5 across it. Works great.”
By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM The syllables coming through the headphones were unknown to me. Clearly it was a language, but not one that I knew. So I logged it: 2/18/24, 1101Z, 1660 kHz, unknown language, orchestral music. (I later found out it was a Korean language station from New Jersey.) Then I moved on down […]
One of the rock stars of Dayton Hamvention® 2024 was REZ Antenna Systems, a company which drew a great deal of attention from portable operating enthusiasts at the DX Engineering booths in Building One.
Watch W5REZ get interviewed at Hamvention by DX Engineering’s Paul, KJ8EEP, in this video that’s been viewed more than 30,000 times:
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About the Recon 40
This high-performance HF antenna coil is capable of tuning 40-10 meters when paired with the REZ-Z17 17-foot telescoping whip (not included).
Made with 14GA enameled copper wire, the Recon 40 is rated for use at up to 500W SSB, 300W CW, and 200W digital (50% duty cycle). The coil body is made from Delrin and 6061 anodized aluminum CNC-machined in the USA. The coil body is 100% weather-resistant thanks to its unique design which incorporates the use of O-rings and gasket seals at each joint. Its machined wire groove provides mechanical support and optimal spacing to ensure low-loss performance.
Switching bands is made easy with the integrated weatherproof coil bypass switch. When you’re ready to move to the higher bands simply flip the switch and tune the telescoping whip to your desired frequency. The Recon 40 also features a rapid-deploy radial system. At the heart of this system is the radial “puck” that accepts up to eight 4mm banana plugs. This enables quick attachment of REZ Antenna Systems’ 4-wire radial kit (below, not included) and leaves room to expand your radial field for even better results.
What’s your idea of the perfect tuner? Here’s my wish list:
Easy to operate
Finds and remembers settings
Covers 160-6 meters
Matches just about anything you can throw at it
Automatic operation
There are some good candidates out there, like the FlexRadio Tuner Genius XL. It will convince your radio that it’s connected to a 50-ohm antenna system—or close to it.
This review is based on the Tuner Genius XL (TGXL) 1×3 model, but there’s also an SO2R version.
(Image/DX Engineering)
Both are identical except for the antenna interface. Two transceivers and two antennas can be connected simultaneously on the SO2R model. The 1×3 version accommodates one transceiver and up to three connected antennas. During operation, one of three antennas is selected.
On both models, switching is done via remote control by LAN, serial interface, or individual signals from the transceiver.
Tuner Genius XL SO2R model, back (Image/DX Engineering)Tuner Genius XL 1X3 model, back (Image/DX Engineering)
FlexRadio Tuner Genius XL Features
The Tuner Genius XL is the first self-contained SO2R (single operator, two radio) tuner in the amateur market. This tuner covers 1.8 MHz to 54 MHz with the ability to tune up to 10:1 SWR. All functions can be controlled either from the front panel of the tuner or by using a Windows computer software application. This allows the Tuner Genius XL to be moved off the desktop to a more convenient location, while still maintaining full control by computer.
Handling up to 2,000W ICAS of power, the Tuner Genius XL has considerable headroom above the 1,500W legal limit. Accurate peak responding RF power and SWR meter displays are also provided, so you really don’t need a separate watt/SWR meter in your shack. The easy-to-read 4.5-inch color display is centered on the front panel.
Electrically, the TGXL is a pi network tuner with three changeable elements, a series inductor with two capacitors to ground—one at the input and the other at the output. A pi network is a good choice for matching the relatively low 50-ohm impedance of a transmitter and relatively high and unknown impedances of an antenna system. The combination of discrete L or C components determines each network element’s value—one of 255 possible values. This provides 2553 (16,581,375) possible matching combinations. Because the matching circuit also forms a low pass filter, it also provides additional harmonic suppression.
All of this is enclosed in a sturdy metal case, resembling the FlexRadio Power Genius XL companion amplifier. The Tuner Genius XL provides three operational modes: standby, operate, and bypass selected by two front panel buttons.
Plays Well with Others
The Tuner Genius XL easily integrates with the Power Genius XL RF amplifier and all FLEX-6000 series HF transceivers. These station components communicate with each other using a LAN connection via ethernet or Wi-Fi. When used in conjunction with a Power Genius XL amp and a FLEX-6600 or FLEX-6700 transceiver, you can have a fully functional SO2R station.
In addition, the TGXL supports frequency detection from other brands of HF radios at the inputs and automatically chooses the appropriate setting for tuning. This band-switching mode may require double-keying before the first transmission for non-Flex radios before it tunes. You still need to set up a PTT or the TGXL will not go into TX mode. RF Sense is for frequency detection. Alternatively, you can use data from your radio.
TGXL PTT lines are opto-isolated, but they won’t tolerate high voltages or an AC voltage. Be aware of this if you use an older transceiver. Incoming PTT line specs should be checked before you connect. Some operators may want to use a keying buffer in all cases as insurance to prevent any possible damage to the exciter or tuner due to possible transient voltage spikes or RF ingress.
Setup: TGXL User Interface
For Flex radios, you start the Tuner Genius XL Windows Utility program on a Windows-based computer. It will find your Tuner Genius XL tuner automatically and direct you to the copy of the front panel display.
The configuration has five separate tabs: network settings, CAT/CI-V information, FlexRadio settings, Antenna Genius (a remote switchbox option), and other, which is a collection of miscellaneous settings. These allow you to customize radio, antenna, and other settings for your particular station.
The user interface has all the same functions available on the front panel. All you need to do is point and click.
Tuning Process for the FlexRadio Tuner Genius XL
There are two modes of tuner operation: manual and automatic. In automatic mode (default), you start a tune operation to better match the transmitter and the antenna system. If one is found, the match solution (L/C/L values and frequency) is stored in memory and automatically used when the frequency of the transmit slice is within the match frequency range, with the same antenna selected.
Go through each antenna on each band once, then the tuner will use the tuning values closest to your operating frequency for the antenna you’re currently using. There are 10 memories per band, and up to four tunings per band can be saved. Once set up, TGXL will remember individual settings for each frequency change.
Band configuration settings let you select ranges of frequencies that the tuner will selectively ignore for resonant antennas. For example, suppose your 80M dipole is resonant at 3750 kHz. In that case, frequencies near this value can be bypassed by selecting the Enable Bypass check box in the 80M row, then entering the range of the bypass in the Bypass Start and Bypass Stop columns.
Manual tuning is also possible to tweak a current or saved setting. Three front panel controls allow manual tuning by turning one of three knobs found along the bottom edge of the front panel or clicking on them in the TGXL control app on your computer. The first and third knobs select the capacitance with the second adjusting inductance values.
Once you have tuned a frequency, the solution is saved. When you change bands on the radio, the tuner senses your new frequency and is ready almost instantly. It uses relays rather than servo-controlled inductors and capacitors.
TGXL on the Air
I have several HF antennas at my location, so I chose an inverted L (160/80m) and a rotatable 40m D-40 dipole. These would require tuning somewhere within the range of their coverage. In addition, I used a triband Yagi on 20/15m to test the abilities of a non-Flex radio (Icom IC-7610).
The FLEX-6400M and an Icom 7610 were both connected through a Power Genius XL to the tuner. The Flex used the LAN for PTT and frequency tracking. The 7610 used a CI-V and conventional PTT line consisting of a shielded cable with RCA connectors on the A inputs. Internal tuners on both radios were bypassed.
Starting with the potentially challenging 160M band on the Flex, I checked for matches on five frequencies across the band. All read 1.26:1 or less using the onboard TGXL SWR meter. The seek time for 160 meters was under 10 seconds. For 80 and 40 meters it took less than five seconds to arrive at an initial tuning solution. Once stored, the memory settings are applied within milliseconds. When returning to a previously memorized band segment, the TGXL makes one relay click noise and it’s tuned in a fraction of a second.
With the IC-7610, the frequency tracking followed the radio. The front panel tune button was used to set up the memory locations, requiring a carrier from the 7610. I also found that the TGXL control software would duplicate the tune button function on the front panel for the Icom. Tuning setup can be done from any radio that produces band data for the TGXL.
Finally, I changed the 80m settings to add a bypass start/stop. Since the measured antenna resonance was 3780 kHz, I set the bypass to 3730 kHz through 3830 kHz (50 kHz each side of resonance.) The tuner ignored the range set to be bypassed and continued to access memory settings for the other portions of the band.
Overall Impressions of the FlexRadio Tuner Genius XL
Whether you’re currently a Flex owner or not, this is a tuner you should consider. It works well in the SmartSDR ecosystem and is built like a tank. At the time of writing this review, I know of no tuner that accommodates two radios simultaneously.
It’s a perfect match for the PGXL amp, which also has SO2R capabilities. It’s also compatible with the Antenna Genius 8×2, a smart matrix antenna switch that supports eight antennas and two radios while operating on your existing LAN/WAN.
If you have a PGXL or other solid-state amp, the TGXL is a must, since the tuning is precise and repeatable. You’ll also be protecting those expensive transistor finals. Once you have set up the TGXL with tuning solutions for your antennas, you are good to go. Because the TGXL quickly follows the radio’s frequency as I tune my 6400M and IC-7610, a tuning solution is ready to go even before I transmit.
When starting something new, like Parks on the Air (POTA), one of the first hurdles to get over is assembling the right equipment. Let’s face it, it’s easy to fall into a rabbit hole when exploring a new aspect of the Ham radio hobby—and that becomes an excuse to buy more gear.
What can happen is you wind up with boxes of stuff that you put in the back of your Jeep and transport to your next adventure. But when you get to your operating destination and start setting up, you find 175% more stuff than you need and 30% of stuff you need but don’t have.
DX Engineering is committed to making sure you have all the equipment you need without buying all the items you don’t. We started with our DX Engineering Go Box Kits, featuring either Icom (IC-7300 and ID-5100A) or Yaesu (FT-7100 AESS and FTM-500DR) transceivers plus equipment case, rack shelving, antenna tuner, mobile mounts, DC power panel, and other accessories.
Now we are excited to bring you four different DX Engineering HF+50 MHz POTA Kits—a collection of gear perfect for POTA, SOTA, or whatever other portable OTA event or EMCOMM activity you have in mind.
By ordering these as complete DIY packages, you’ll be able to quickly assemble them according to your likes, charge the battery, and get on the air. You will have every component, jumper wire, and adapter you need to assemble it, even if you are brand spanking new to the hobby.
In addition to the transceiver, the kit includes a Bioenno Power LiFePO4 12 VDC, 20 Ah, 480W battery; AC to DC battery charger; 40W foldable solar panel; and solar charge controller. Other contents include DX Engineering RG-8X PL-259 low-loss 50-ohm cable assemblies, lengths of 15 and 50 feet; mAT TUNER 1.8 to 54 MHz automatic antenna tuner; Chelegance JPC-12 portable HF vertical antenna, 40-6M; RigExpert STICK-230 antenna analyzer, 100 kHz-230 MHz; REZ Antenna Systems backpack; and West Mountain Radio DC power cables.
In addition to the transceiver, the kit includes a Bioenno Power LiFePO4 12 VDC, 4.5 Ah, 108W battery; 40W foldable solar panel; and solar charge controller. Other contents include Consolidated Wire RG174U cable assembly with BNC male connectors, 20 feet; Chameleon lightweight 4010 end-fed sloper, 40-10M; DX Engineering coaxial RF connector adapters; Icom AH-705 compact 1.8-50 MHz automatic antenna tuner; Icom IC-705 portable transceiver backpack; and West Mountain Radio DC power cables.
In addition to the transceiver, the kit includes a Bioenno Power LiFePO4 12 VDC, 20 Ah, 480W battery; AC to DC battery charger; 60W foldable solar panel; and solar charge controller. Other contents include DX Engineering RG-8X PL-259 low-loss 50-ohm cable assembly, 25 feet; REZ Ranger 80 Antenna System with tripod mount; and West Mountain Radio DC power cables.
In addition to the transceiver, the kit includes a Bioenno Power LiFePO4 12 VDC, 20 Ah, 480W battery; AC to DC battery charger; 60W foldable solar panel; and solar charge controller. Other contents include DX Engineering RG-8X PL-259 low-loss 50-ohm cable assembly, 15 feet; mAT TUNER 1.8 to 54 MHz automatic antenna tuner; Chameleon MPAS Lite modular portable antenna system with backpack, 160-6M; Yaesu FH-2 remote control keypad; and West Mountain Radio DC power cables.
(Image/DX Engineering)
What if You Already Have Some of the Pieces You Need to Go Portable?
Just let your DX Engineering rep know which components from the POTA kits you need and we’ll customize your order—easy peasy. Or maybe your creative juices start flowing and you want to upgrade some items? We can make those changes for you as well. The concept behind DX Engineering Go Box and POTA kits is to provide hams with a framework from which to model your personalized kit.
Solid-state amplifiers have become mainstream as vacuum tubes have become more difficult to find and solid-state power capabilities have increased.
Now it is commercially feasible for amateur radio amplifier manufacturers to provide maximum legal output power, plus headroom, using the new generation of solid-state devices. Though comparable tube amplifiers are currently less expensive, it’s likely that the price point on solid-state amps will continue to drop.
If you are searching for a high-performing solid-state linear amplifier, the Power Genius XL (PGXL) amplifier is exactly what you need. It’s the only amplifier on the market that allows fully integrated single-operator, two-radio (SO2R) operation using a single amplifier. It also works equally well in single-operator mode.
The Power Genius XL transforms your FlexRadio FLEX-6000 series radio (or any other brand radio) into a legal-limit powerhouse with headroom to spare.
(Image/DX Engineering)
The PGXL delivers 1,500 watts thanks to the pair of NXP MRF1K50H LDMOS transistors, each rated at 1.5 kW dissipation. That’s 1,500 watts at full ICAS duty cycle using any amateur mode. Also unique to the PGXL is a technology called MEffA (Maximum Efficiency Algorithm). It controls the DC voltage and bias levels on the PA to yield high efficiency and low intermodulation distortion.
This amplifier is built to broadcast industry standards, incorporating low pass and high pass band switched RF output filter networks. All signal harmonic energy is directed into an internal resistor load, eliminating the reflection of this harmonic energy back into the amplifier.
This feature improves amplifier stability, distortion, and efficiency.
PGXL Amplifier Features
Up front is a color touch screen with power and SWR readings shown as horizontal bar graphs. Temperature and voltage readings are displayed numerically. The A and B input/outputs show amplifier class settings, band information, and keying method. Rounding out the display is the local IP address and software version.
You can also communicate with the amplifier using Power Genius XL Utility software (downloadable from the FlexRadio website), which mirrors the display settings on your computer screen.
(Image/DX Engineering)
To the left of the display is a horizontal bar. I originally thought this was just part of the front panel design.
Actually, it’s a handle built into the PGXL that makes carrying the amp easy, compared to holding it like a box. Behind the handle, you’ll find an open space for airflow, populated with LED lighting indicating the operating state. Yellow is standby, green is operate mode, red is transmit, and purple is firmware update.
Band switching is automatic, controlled via a transceiver interface, LAN for Flex radios or by sensing the RF input signal. The PGXL operates at full power with an antenna system SWR up to about 2:1. Output power folds back between 2:1 and 3:1. Above 3:1, the amplifier stops transmitting.
The Power Genius XL features a predistortion sampler output for transceivers that can use this signal for predistortion processing to reduce transmitted intermodulation distortion. There are separate predistortion samplers for the A/B transceiver inputs.
Separate bias settings can be used for linear modes and nonlinear modes to increase efficiency when possible. Class AAB (more linear, less efficient) is intended for AM, SSB, and PSK modes. Class AB (less linear, more efficient) is intended for FM, CW, RTTY, and other digital modes. Bias selection is automatic when the amplifier is paired with a FLEX-6000 series transceiver. It can also be selected manually from the front panel or by using the PGXL Utility software.
Easy Peasy
Adding a PGXL to a FlexRadio FLEX-6000 series transceiver is a simple five-step process:
Plug the PGXL into 240 VAC power
Insert an ethernet LAN cable
Connect the coax from the radio(s)
Connect ANT 1 and ANT 2 to the respective inputs of the amplifier and connect the antennas to the two outputs of the PGXL
Install the desktop software on your PC and configure the PGXL to your radio
(Image/DX Engineering)
Only have 120 VAC outlets? The internal power supply will automatically sense the input voltage. Maximum power output is limited to 700W, and the power meter scales adjust to reflect this. Drive power is also attenuated to minimize the possibility of overdriving the amplifier
The Flex PGXL can also be easily configured to work with any radio from other manufacturers because it supports CAT, CI-V, BCD band decode, and RF sensing. Detailed information appears in the operating manual.
How Does it Perform in Everyday Operation?
The PGXL is a device you can forget about during operation. It can be left powered on in standby for minimal current draw and jumps to instant operation when you press operate. The standby/operate functions are fully integrated into SmartSDR Maestro and SmartSDR iOS. In fact, an entirely new set of meters can be selected in the amplifier app to monitor the PGXL power output, SWR, and temperature on your computer screen.
You can place the amp just about anywhere that your home network and sufficient AC voltage is available. For example, I’ve placed mine in another part of the shack, since my operation position is a bit crowded. If you use any of the FLEX-6000 series radios, Tuner Genius, or Antenna Genius, you’ll find that they communicate with each other on the network.
First Impressions of the Power Genius XL
Power Genius is a reasonably compact unit, especially for one that delivers 1,500W on 160 through 6 meters with about 50W of drive. The amplifier power switch is on the rear panel. I found this unusual, as most amps have them on the front panel. It’s not a deal breaker, but sometimes inconvenient.
I’ve had the Power Genius XL with the FLEX-6400M transceiver and the Tuner Genius automatic antenna tuner for a while. Setup is relatively simple—just configure the PGXL touch screen or computer app for the radio(s) you plan to use.
The FLEX-6600/6600M provides SO2R operation from one box, or you can choose any two transceivers. In my case, I don’t have an SO2R configuration. I use the A input/output for my Flex radio and the B input/output channel for my other radios—the best of both worlds. There’s 70dB of isolation between the A/B connections and only one can transmit at a time. It’s almost like having two amps.
On the Air
I’ve used the Power Genius XL on all bands from 160 through 6 meters, primarily on SSB. My antennas include a Yagi for 20 through 6 meters, inverted-L wire for 160 and 80 meters, rotatable dipole for 40 meters, and a Big IR vertical for 80-6 meters.
When the going got tough during poor band conditions or atmospheric noise on 160/80 meters, the PGXL made the difference between QSO and no QSO. I generally leave it in standby mode so it’s ready to go at a moment’s notice.
When using the FLEX-6400M, the amplifier tracked the band using the ethernet connection to communicate. Using other rigs like the Icom IC-7610, the amplifier sensed the frequency and selected the proper band if I used the C-IV connection—in this case a standard 3.5mm male to male audio cable. The TGXL tuner adds additional versatility, something to be discussed in a future review.
Virtually any transceiver that provides a PTT output to control an amplifier will also work with the PGXL. The PTT control is optically isolated with very low voltage and current, so it will work with any transceiver. This requires a brief pulse of RF from the transceiver, then release of the PTT, VOX, or CW keyer. The amplifier then operates normally following a band change.
The PGXL keeps its cool with fans in the power supply unit, the RF deck, and the filter compartment. The firmware manages the fans independently based on information from sensors in each compartment. To help manage that, the PGXL offers three user-selectable fan profiles (standard mode, contest mode, and broadcast mode) in order of increasing fan speed.
In standby mode, the PGXL fan is quiet after it cools down. In operational mode and receiving, the fan is only moderately noisy. As with other solid-state legal-limit amplifiers, the fan gets louder after a long full-power transmission as it tracks the internal temperature and provides more cooling.
Remote operation is supported by Flex SmartSDR. This is very helpful for me since I often spend the winter months in warmer climates. I can pull out an iPad or iPhone, turn on the station remotely, and get on the air. You can bring the amp online or offline from your laptop, tablet, or smartphone and monitor. It also will let you monitor PGXL power output and SWR.
Currently there is no remote on/off control built into the amplifier—perhaps that may be added in the future. In the meantime, I use a homebrew remote relay switch. As for connecting to the PGXL utility, it can be done through a VPN connection and a Node Red program running on a PC or Raspberry Pi. There’s plenty of information on this, the relay switch, and other subjects on the FlexRadio community discussion board.
PGXL Amplifier Review Summary
The FlexRadio Power Genius XL is a great solid-state, maximum-legal-limit amplifier for 160 through 6 meters. It integrates seamlessly with FLEX-6000 series radios, but it also works well with other transceivers, with or without band data connections.
As you might expect from an amplifier at this price point, it has outstanding performance. It produces 1,500W output on any band with about 50W drive and hardly breaks a sweat—something that cannot be said about just any amplifier. It will cruise along in any mode, including digital, at full throttle/full output all the time. Of course, the amp will fold back or shut down extremely fast if a fault is found, making the PGXL bulletproof.
But wait, there’s more. The FlexRadio Power Genius XL manual and other documentation is available from DX Engineering.com to give you the bigger picture.
Review By Robert Gulley, K4PKM This is my first experience with an XHDATA radio, and my initial impressions are quite positive. This weather radio has an impressive set of features and appears to be built quite solidly. I say “appears” because I have not done (nor intend to intentionally do) a drop test! But my […]
Explore the recent disruptions at ARRL and the impact on the Logbook of the World system. Learn why transparency and modernization are crucial for the future of ham radio.
The word “genius” gets thrown around rather casually these days, but every once in a while it provides an apt description for a “Now why didn’t I think of that!” innovation.
Designed for mounting round tubing and pipe members perpendicular or parallel to each other, versatile Genius Clamps—models DXE-SSGC-2P (for perpendicular attachment) and DXE-SSGC-2VP (for parallel attachment)—provide a variety of side-mounting possibilities to safely and securely add verticals, Yagis, and wire antennas to your tower. Sold in pairs, the clamps can handle any size tubing or tower leg between 1 and 2 inches in diameter.
Five Stars (DXE-SSGC-2P): “I am impressed with the quality and workmanship of this product. It solved my problem mounting my antenna. I am using a construction light tower for a mobile emergency Ham Radio operation. With 6 KW of power and a 30-foot tower, it will be a pleasure to operate during contests and Field Day. This hardware made it easy to attach my rotator to the square mast.”
Chris, DX Engineering Customer
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Five Stars (DXE-SSGC-2VP): “This very well-made, sturdy bracket was just what I needed to attach a mast parallel to a galvanized roof vent pipe. It supports my mast with no sway whatsoever!”
Richard, DX Engineering Customer
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In the video below, DX Engineering technical support specialist Michael Murphy, KI8R, walks you through the many applications for these Genius Clamps so you can get maximum versatility, performance, and reliability from your antenna array.
After 126 Days, A Long-Awaited Unboxing: The KH1 Arrives! by Emily (NI1Q) If there was one thing being in a physical rehab facility for 4 months taught me it was friends and families were a comfort. They brought encouragement, broke the boredom and were helpful in bringing hope when I wasn’t sure if I would … Continue reading NI1Q’s Long-Awaited Elecraft KH1: Worth the Wait?→
DX Engineering is excited to announce another valuable addition to its lineup of more than 175 amateur radio providers from around the world: 4O3A. You can find 30,000-plus ham radio products from these leading manufacturers—including 4O3A and DX Engineering branded equipment—at DXEngineering.com.
About 4O3A
The 4O3A call sign belongs to accomplished contester Ranko Boca, who earned his first license in 1980 and went on to participate in multiple World Radiosport Team Championships (WRTC). The 4O3A superstation is located on the Lustica peninsula at the entrance of the Bay of Kotor in southwestern Montenegro. The station—“Ham Radio Paradise,” as it’s called on the 4O3A website—offers a spectacular view from its position on Obosnik Hill, the highest point in the peninsula.
As a company, the innovators and world-class contesters at 4O3A design and manufacture high-quality products that help hams operate more efficiently and push contest scores higher. DX Engineering carries several products from 4O3A’s flagship line of Genius Solutions products that work with FlexRadio transceivers and other modern HF rigs: the Power Genius XL Amplifier, Tuner Genius XL Antenna Tuners, and Antenna Genius 8X2 Plus Antenna Switch.
Also look out for 4O3A band pass filters available soon from DX Engineering.
A Sound Choice for Better Audio
Understanding the competitive edge that crisp and clear audio delivers in a contesting environment, the 4O3A team developed the NC-1 Noise-Canceling Bluetooth Boom Mic Headset. This multipurpose combo features light and comfortable over-the-ear headphones that provide excellent ambient noise canceling and crystal-clear sound—perfect for long hours of contesting as well as enjoyment of music, podcasts, and more.
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The headset includes a top-of-the-line noise-canceling system with up to 25 dB of noise reduction; 40mm size neodymium drivers that allow you to hear the slightest details during a contest or while listening to a Beethoven sonata; Bluetooth 5.0 for Android and Apple mobile devices, laptops, tablets, PC, and interfaced radios; and up to 30 hours of worry-free operation on a single charge of the provided 750mA rechargeable Li-Ion battery.
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The plug-in omnidirectional condenser boom mic set provides superior vocal clarity with a wide, flat frequency response. The MC-1 boom mic set works for all transceivers (with optional adapters) and plugs into laptops, tablets, and PCs. It comes with universal 3.5mm mic and headphone cables (detachable from the NC-1 Headphones for use without the boom mic) and includes soft case, 3.5mm to 6.35mm adapter, and two boom mic windscreens. Headphones and a boom mic also available separately.
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Find 4O3A headset-transceiver 8-pin round mic adapters and audio adapters, Bluetooth dongles, NC-1 headset, MC-1 boom mic, the headset/mic combo, and other 403A accessories at DXEngineering.com.
Update as of May 31, 2024: I’ve just learned that the prototype unit I used for this activation has been superseded by a production model Xiegu X6200. While many of my initial impressions remain valid, some of the bugs and quirks I noted have likely been addressed in the production model. When I published this … Continue reading Xiegu X6200 Trial by Flare: Answering your questions and sharing my field notes→
With ARRL Field Day 2024 rapidly approaching, OnAllBands will be looking at a few more items to consider loading in the trunk before heading out to your operating location on June 22-23. These Field-Day-friendly devices and apparel (and more than 30,000 other amateur radio products) can be easily ordered at DXEngineering.com and shipped to you in plenty of time for the big weekend.
Need help figuring out exactly what you need? The Elmers at DX Engineering—with more than 1,000-plus years of amateur radio experience and a slew of Field Days under their belts—will make sure you’re selecting the right gear for your needs and budget.
Nothing says emergency communications preparedness (the original purpose of Field Day, after all) more than having the proper tools handy when setting up your stations or when things don’t go exactly as planned. Visit DXEngineering.com for the full lineup of ham radio tools and tool kits, including:
What do hams say about the Ultra-Grip 2 Crimp Connector Hand Tool Kit?
Five Stars: “This is an outstanding tool. If you are thinking about going to crimp-on connectors, this is what you need to put on just about anything that can be crimped. I use it for my coax as well as my power poles. It is a solid tool and everything you need is included in the box. Dies can be switched in just a few minutes and all the dies you will ever need are included. Highly recommended.”
Wilburn, DX Engineering Customer
DX Engineering cable stripping/cutting tools for crimp connectors can be purchased separately or together in the DXE-UT-KIT-CC1. The simple-to-use devices allow you to insert the coax into one end, close the cutter and twist to cut to the correct measurement. Then insert the coax in the other end of the cutter, close it and withdraw to produce a slit for easy removal of the cut portions. The model below strips 8X size cables:
Coax Cable Stripper for RG-213, RG-8, and similar size cable. (Image/DX Engineering)
Band Pass Filters
For issues with wideband n0ise from transmitters in multi-station Field Day setups, band pass filters can make a major difference. DX Engineering carries VA6AM 150W PEP HF Band Pass Filters for 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10M. These high-quality, multi-stage inline passive band pass filters are specifically designed to limit the transmitting and receiving RF passband to a single amateur band.
Make it easy on yourself by adding a quality headset and foot switch in one purchase. Combos come with DX Engineering’s rugged and budget-friendly plastic foot switch (DXE-FS-001) or cast metal model (DXE-FS-002). The foot switches are paired with Heil Pro Set Elite Headsets or Pro 7 Headsets.
What do hams say about the DXE-FS-003 Foot Switch?
Five Stars: “Not a Toy! I’m impressed with the quality of the DXE-FS-003 Foot Switch. I spent decades working in public safety 911 dispatch centers, and this is comparable to the foot switches used in that service that get stomped on 24/7/365, year after year. As the title to my review says, it’s not a toy. It’s solid, heavy, and doesn’t slide around or mar the polished wood floor it sits on. I would expect years of service under the feet of any club-footed ham. This is the real thing, not a cheap imitation.”
Mel, DX Engineering Customer
Headsets
Heil Sound offers a range of headsets perfect for hours of comfortable, fatigue-free Field Day operating. Models include:
Pro 7 Headsets have passive noise-canceling ability that blocks out background noise, audio balance control, a phase reversal switch for digging out weak signals, and adjustable mic boom.
Pro Set Elite Headsets deliver bright, articulate audio with acoustically-tuned chambers that facilitate a high rejection of outside noise.
Lightweight and comfortable Pro Set 6 Headsets use Heil’s HC 6 wide-response mic element so you can take advantage of the microphone EQ of your modern transceiver.
Heil’s lightweight BM-17 Emergency Communication Headsets come with a swivel-mounted boom that makes easy work of moving the microphone to the desired position. They feature extremely sensitive speakers that don’t require much AF drive from the transceiver; a frequency response of 200Hz-5kHz; and low distortion.
DX Engineering’s Premier Telescoping Carbon Fiber Masts make a great choice as a temporary antenna support on Field Day. Available in four versions (24-, 33-, and 49-foot, and heavy-duty 33-foot), these masts collapse down to a compact size for easy portability. They are lighter than aluminum and fiberglass, yet stiffer than steel of the same thickness.
Also available are DX Engineering Complete Telescoping Fiberglass Tubing and Cam Lock Clamp Kits. Made for easy deployment and transport, the kits feature high-quality pultruded fiberglass tubing with nominal 0.120-inch wall thicknesses for strength, durability, and smooth telescoping. Depending on the kit, tubing is collapsible to either 4 feet or 7.5 feet for easy storage and convenient loading in a vehicle.
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What do hams say about the Complete Telescoping Fiberglass Tubing and Cam Lock Clamp Kits?
Five Stars: “The fit, finish and quality of this mast is very good. Putting together the mast with the included cam lock clamps was very easy…everything just fit well. The provided instructions were spot on. This mast is an awesome addition to my RV radio expeditions.”
Leonard, DX Engineering Customer
Visit DXEngineering.com for more portable mast options, including WiMo Telescoping Masts from 13 to 52 feet tall.
One of the things DX Engineering always enjoys about Dayton Hamvention is the opportunity to showcase new gear, especially when these station-upgrading devices come from the innovative minds of our own team of active operators. As with many products generated from DX Engineering, suggestions from customers—as well as observations about what’s missing in our own shacks—inform us about niches that need to be filled. That’s when our team gets to work!
Today we’re featuring just a few new DX Engineering products that were on display at Dayton Hamvention 2024: RG-8X Coaxial Cable with Orange PVC Jacket, the Transmit Receive Interrupter Plug-In Module for the NCC-2, and Receive Antenna Matching Transformer.
DXE-8XV RG-8X coaxial cables are covered in a non-contaminating orange PVC jacket, so you get the high-performance benefits of DX Engineering RG-8X low-loss 50-ohm coax plus high-visibility that ensures your installations won’t be missed by you or bystanders. DXE-8XV cable is available by the foot; as 1.5-, 3-, 6-, 12-, 18-, 25-, 50-, and 100-foot assemblies with DX Engineering’s patented PL-259 connectors; or in a 1,000-foot spool.
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Flexible and low-loss DXE-8XV RG-8X cable features a stranded copper 16 AWG center conductor and gas-injected foam dielectric with a braided copper shield. In addition to its visibility, the Type II-A PVC jacket is highly water-resistant and perfect for direct-bury applications. The cable is intended for most low, medium, and medium-high power HF operations in base, mobile, and portable applications where short runs, flexibility, and visibility are key factors.
Note: DXE-8XV Orange will fade with continuous sunlight UV exposure. Color delivered can vary.
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The orange version of the cable has the same industry standard specifications as DXE-8X black jacket coax, offering significantly better handling characteristics than larger cables, excellent shielding, and lower loss than slightly smaller RG-58. Further, DXE-8XV is easily terminated with crimp connectors, including DX Engineering Next Generation Crimp-Solder 8X PL-259 Connectors.
The DXE-TRI-PM provides protection from station transmit energy picked up by a receive antenna connected to the DXE-NCC-2 Receive Antenna Phasing System Channel B Receive Antenna Input active front end. This optional PCB relay switch device is typically installed in the NCC-2’s top Option Slot of the Channel B rear panel board. When the transceiver keys the NCC-2’s RADIO PTT port, the DXE-TRI-PM can open or ground the receive antenna input and board output, as selected by jumpers.
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The device functions independently and does not affect or depend on the settings of the NCC-2’s Bias-Tee Enable circuit that places DC on the receive antenna feedline for active antennas. The module also features a gas discharge tube to protect the front end of the NCC-2 while in receive mode. Additionally, the DXE-TRI-PM installed in the DXE-DMC-2 Dual Module Chassis can interrupt or ground any receive antenna feedline or a receiver input.
Note: Adding a second DXE-TRI-PM to the top slot of the NCC-2 Channel A rear panel is recommended for further protection.
Enjoy the best possible receive performance with this useful device. The transformer matches your receive antenna 75-ohm output impedance to the nominal 50-ohm input impedance of most receivers. The transformer may be used in almost any receiving application that requires a 75-ohm Type F connection to a 50-ohm BNC connector. The unit boasts low insertion loss (< 0.3 dB) and excellent frequency coverage (100 kHz to 30 MHz). This feedline transformer is for use only on receive antenna systems, does not pass DC, and cannot be connected to a transmitting RF power source.
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