Budget Ham Radio Go Kit

agree on the importance of supporting innovative budget radio and accessory manufacturers. Lower entry point options would be more appealing to non ham people who could have overlapping interests

Nice job brother. I'm using a cell phone power bank with 4 removable 18650 batteries. The power bank will directly accept charging from a 20w foldable USB solar panel. The other 18650 batteries are in a watertight box hooked up in series feeding a buck/boost converter feeding the trusdx transceiver. I run 12.5 -13.8 volts for voice. I get almost 6 watts on 40 meters measured in CW mode to a center fed 1/2 wave 22 guage silicone coated wire dipole. Its set up NVIS and is tuned for the middle of the band. Quick deploy thanks to wire management via light weight fly fishing reels. The last step is to add the digital capability. Thanks for this video. I'm sharing it.

Wow, this is a fantastic system. Julian you continue to impress us and give us fantastic ideas. Keep up the hard work and cheers to another great foundational video!

Julian, QRPLABs just came out with a new radio kit. The QMX was just released at Dayton Ham Fest. This radio combines the QCX with the QDX. Bottom line, this radio can do everything that the trusdx can do but is better. Right now it only supports FT8 and JS8Call for digital modes, but the creator Hans Summers assures us that the upcoming firmware upgrade will give it SSB and full digital support with capability to do the Vara data modes. It reduces the cable mess to a single usb C to your surface go 3. I managed to pick up an advanced kit at Dayton and will be assembling it shortly. Once I build it, "I will tell you all about it". I have both of QRPLABS QCX-Mini and QDX digital radios. I also have the TruSDX. The trusdx is a good radio but very noisy with lots of birdies. I suspect the QMX is going to be a game changer for this type of deployment. Better performance, same size, with reduced cable mess. Just thought I would give you a heads up.

A budget ham radio go kit based on a (TR)uSDX QRP radio. The kit is designed for NVIS or regional data communications using data modes like Winlink, Ion2G, JS8Call, FT8, VARAC, ... This QRP radio covers 80, 60, 40 30, & 20 meters. Check the blog post for additional context and radio settings. 73 Julian oh8stn Share video URL: youtu.be/kdslE4r8VyY Blog: oh8stn.org/blog/2023/03/24/qrp-nvis-data-modes-go-…

I am a Linux guy. My wife and kids also use Linux. I bought a used Thinkpad with Windows on it for amateur radio stuff. It isn't just Winlink. If you are dealing with repurposed commercial gear like radios and repeaters and repeater controllers, the programming software is Windows based. I have tried running a bunch of this stuff with Wine and things often crash or don't work properly. Don't listen to the haters. I would rather use Linux than Windows but if you need Windows to accomplish something, it is what it is.

Huge, huge thanks to you sir. I'm learning so much from your videos. Wish you the best!

Another great video, taken my.kit to Puerto Rico trip tomorrow...will take videos and pictures

I watched this a while back, but filed it away for later investigation. Lately (end of May 2023) I'm seeing renewed interest in QRP pocket HF via the QMX and the QDX on various videos so I rewatched this pioneering venture into the topic and have finally gone forward in ordering a (tr)uSDX and (another) dedicated digirig. I like that, as opposed to the QDX and QMX, both fine little rigs, the (tr)uSDX supports up to 16V input power which I find fantastic-- so this blends well with existing ham batteries and you don't need to get these janky 11V Li-on/LiPo or PD power sources. All these pocket transmitters should be made to handle LiFePO4 voltages, otherwise it's yet another barrier to entry.

Bingo!! You nailed it. This was why I built the TRuSDX kit with the hopes of NVIS and Winlink. The lower wattage is the key on so many levels. Thankyou for this magnificent layout.

I have only been in ham radio for amfew years, but it seems obvious to me that things are much different than the way they used to be. Your comment about the lack of inexpensive radios/kits with decent capability seems to be an understatement! I personally have purchased 2 trusdxs for considerably less (combined) than a super basic mainstream model. The “big guys” don’t seem to offer anything in what I would consider a reasonable price range. The price, along with the tremendous amount of positive feedback, of the trusdx sold me. I am proud to support small scale and open source projects that seem to have their ducks mostly in a row.

Thanx for making the video. This seems like the way for me to get into a mobile " HAM" setup with out hurting my pocket book finances

Hi Julian! TNX for this video! 73

The (TR)uSDX seems to be a game changer to make amateur radio more accessible. Youths and the preparedness community come to mind. I think a lot of folks are interested in getting licensed but are discouraged by the cost of entry. I really like your go kit concept utilizing this transceiver.

Just got my TruSDX recently. I need to get it all setup. Thanks for the video!

Thanks so much! I fell out of love with ham radio last year due to the costs. This was exactly what I was looking for! I'm going to duplicate this kit and go out and test. I ordered the radio now.

Awesome video, Julian! I've been wondering about the feasibility of the TRuSDX, the pricing is certainly right. You have more than convinced me, I will be ordering mine quite soon. 72, de Jan M7HNK

Glad to see a video on a more ham friendly budget. The Tr usdx is an awesome little radio for the price.

Exactly the subject I’ve been thinking about. Thanks for another great video.

Thank you for this video. I had been on the lookout for something a bit cheaper to play with and you really introduced me to something new. Ordered mine and I'm excited to play with it. I've also enjoyed watching your previous content and you've been an inspiration to me for getting into QRP work.