15 Mar 2013

Chinese FT817 a step closer?

Steve G1KQH has alerted me to a new Chinese HF SSB/CW transceiver kit called the KightKit KR-10 that retails in the USA for $259.95  Although this is a kit, it is available ready made for just $30 more. That is less than $300 for a built HF QRP rig.

The rig doesn't look very pretty, in my view, and I/ve no idea about its availability in Europe including the UK.


The spec is:


  • RX frequency range: 0.1 ~ 30MHz
  • TX frequency range: 0.1 ~ 30MHz
  • Operating Mode: SSB / CW
  • Receiving sensitivity: better than 0.45uV,
  • RF output power: ≥ 4.5W
  • Frequency stability: better than 0.5ppm
  • Operating voltage: 12.0 ~ 14.0V DC
  • RX Standby Current: 0.5A
  • TX current: 1.5A Max
  • Dimensions: 97 x 40 x 155 (mm)
See http://www.kightradio.com/X1M-QRP-SSBCW-Transceiver-Kit_p_305.html for more details.

Now, there are clearly signs that the Chinese are coming up fast on the HF QRP transceiver front. It surely cannot be long before a Chinese company launches an FT817 competitor. They have a tall order to exceed its spec but they've had 13 years to dissect and analyse the Yaesu radio.  

10 comments:

Dick said...

If the model has a larger display than the 817nd and the same specs, I would be interested. Better be soon, though. I ain't getting any younger.

Anonymous said...

The thing is ugly as hell, and probably anything but clean (full coverage for TX would suggest very wide filters). Get a KX3 if you're serious about performance in a small package and with ergonomics that suit anyone except a midget (FT818).

Razvan M0HZH said...

@ Anonymous: I think they were going for the "lightweight, rugged and affordable" look instead of the "pretty, fancy and delicate"; Low-pass filters can't be "very wide" and your supposition about how clean it is is purely subjective.

@ Roger: I found some more info about it's internals and another video: http://yo9irf.blogspot.com/2013/03/x1m-portable-chinese-hf-transceiver.html

Pete said...

There's also the MkII version!

http://www.cqdx.ru/ham/qro-qrp/chinese-diy-qrp-hf-transceiver-x1mkii/

Razvan M0HZH said...

I've updated my post with a link to the manufacturer's website (right at the beginning], the don't say anything about the MK II but they have a newer model called just "20W HF/SSB radio" wich looks nothing like the MK II. Maybe it's too new to be listed on their website.

takis perreas said...

Hi Roger!
As you and all of us can see on the Russian video of the new X1M, the guy at 0:10 press the TS button for a couple of seconds to enable PRE and then he press the MD button for 12 frustrated times, whereas he is not sure if he is going to slap the radio!
Then he press again for another two times to disable at last the PRE.

Until any further improvement, this is not a radio for me!
An anvil maybe but not a radio!!!!

Anonymous said...

They're asking stupid money nowadays for the ft817 and its not such a good radio.
So if this new radio is under £300 in UK i'd consider it.

g4dal

Dick said...

"They" are all asking for a hell of a lot of money for ALL amateur radio rigs these days. If I had the good eyes and steady hands of the days of my youth, I would be home-brewing or kit-building. I still think the FT-817/ND is a good,reliable rig. OMs with dozen year-old 817s are still QRV with the little guys and making contacts.

Anonymous said...

I love how the site selling this (now sold out) radio has a link to a video where the transceiver is malfunctioning.

2E0SFX said...

Anyone for a Icom rip off

http://www.cqdx.ru/ham/qro-qrp/chinese-diy-qrp-hf-transceiver-x1mkii/

Regards
Damian
M0SFX