Sunday, May 27, 2012
This radio could be a really magnificent performer but it's let down slightly by distorted RX audio on SSB and it has a small frequency error of about 150Hz. The noise blanker performance is the very best I have ever come across and the receive sensitivity is superb. It has a far greater signal to noise ratio, on FM, than any of my other radios. AM receive is nothing short or spectacular and FM isn't far behind. For £145 brand new in the box, you have a 50W SSB radio with variable power on all modes, thanks to its two IRF520 output devices. 15W carrier on AM, swinging up to around 45W on a whistle. A multitude of menus plus PC programming makes this a very versatile radio indeed. Great for 10 and 11 Metres or you can program it to do both. Whether or not these radios will stand the test of time has yet to be seen. The lead free ROHS compliant solder, used during the manufacture of these radios, is a serious cause for concern as it seems to be more prone to giving dry solder joints. The quality of the components seems to be at least on a par with the CB radios of old, if not better. There are a few nice touches, such as the presence of a crystal filter in the first intermediate frequency stage when using AM or FM. The PA transistors have a more than adequate heat sink but the AM/FM TX voltage regulator relies on the main chassis for its heat dissipation. I look forward to seeing Simon Parker's review of the V5.1 or V6? when it is released by the factory. This is my final ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sAmOUTuvnY&hl=en
