Icom has released a few details on the new ID-51A Plus 2 D-Star HT. It has all of the same feature set of the very popular ID-51A Plus / Anniversary Edition, but now adds the capability to connect directly to the internet via USB cable. This new feature will allow you to connect directly to reflectors or internet-connected repeaters across the internet, even if you don't have a local D-Star repeater. In addition, the Plus 2 will also allow you to use it as a D-Star Hotspot so other D-Star enabled radios can use it as a gateway to the D-Star network.

I haven't yet found out if popular software such as DSTARRepeater or MMDVM will support the radio as the terminal device, but I imagine it won't take long to incorporate support. I don't have price information, but we've seen how competitive Icom has become with pricing lately, so it's a pretty safe bet that it will come in under the price of the Kenwood TH-D74. More info to come as it's released...

The FCC just released the test report for the new TH-D74 tribander, which I've attached. This new 144/220/440 HT will support D-Star, includes a built-in TNC and GPS and also has built-in Bluetooth and a MicroSD slot. The fact that the FCC has published the test results indicates that the radio should hit the market shortly. This looks like a very interesting radio that I can't wait to get my hands on.

Today Elecraft announced via SouthgateARC the new KX2 Pocket HF Transceiver. These are rumored to be showcased for preview at this year's Dayton Hamvention.

Here is a copy of the Press Release from Elecraft:



Here is the text of the release from Southgate ARC
New KX2 radio to be announced this Thursday at the Dayton Hamvention 2016
Hello to all,

We are please to announce a new radio to complement the KX3 and the KX-Line. Here are the details.

What: Elecraft announces the KX2, Ultra-portable radio
When: Thursday, May 16th, 1300Z
Where: Four Days In May QRP event, part of the Dayton Hamfest activities

Elecraft is excited to announce a new radio targeting the Ultra-portable market with a Fit-In-Your-Pocket size. Please see the attached brochure for details.

Pricing
- KX2: $749.00

- Options and accessories: Please see the...

The new Icom IC-7300 direct sampling SDR rig has arrived at my shack! This new rig is a radical departure from the traditional Icom, Kenwood, Yaesu superhet design and instead uses direct sampling low-IF design. The closest other rigs to compare this to are Flex rigs and the Elecraft KX3 (although the KX3 is a zero IF Direct Conversion SDR, which is a little different). The architecture used in the Icom IC-7300 allows for a variety of features to be incorporated into the rig at a reasonably affordable price point - currently $1500.



Current Icom HF users will find the layout of the buttons and knobs familiar, short-circuiting the learning curve for the new rig. However, this rig also features a touch screen which is used for many adjustments, making this one of the most modernly designed user interfaces in an HF rig we've seen to date. In this first part of the review,...

For some time, I've wanted to put together a quickly deployable HF station that I can use from a backpack while hiking in the local mountains and desert, or just for use with a bug out bag. We've all seen the pictures of the military applications and I wanted something that would work reasonably well for civilian use. I've owned the Elecraft KX3 since it came out (I was one of the first to receive the kit when it shipped) and have been searching for a suitable backpack antenna ever since. Chameleon Antenna has provided me with an elegant solution to complete the setup.



There are a couple of different ways to configure the Chameleon products to create the Chameleon man-pack antenna; the setup in the picture above includes the CHA HYBRID-MICRO which is a 5:1 UNUN in a heavy duty package with 60' of wire, the 10'-8" CHA MIL WHIP, and the CHA MIL WHIP EXT which is a 6'-6"...

The Icom IC-7300 HF rig is now available for purchase at about $1500.


This interesting rig is one of the few rigs that is architected using direct RF sampling instead of the traditional superhet design. Other features include a touch screen control, real-time spectrum display and audio scope. While I haven't seen the rig in person yet, I plan to go to HRO and try it out as soon as it's in stock.

Is anyone planning on purchasing or considering this rig? If so, I'd like to hear your thoughts on it.

This last weekend I decided to roll my own 9:1 Unun for use with my Elecraft KX3 and whatever piece of wire I happen to have handy. This project is really simple and most of it was made using stuff I found in my junk drawer. There are plenty of end fed wire antennas commercially available for around $75, but you can build the core of this antenna for less than $10. Here's my version.

Parts: Here's the complete parts photo for the 9:1 Unun. I used 3 different colors of wire (to make it easy to keep track of each wire), a random iron core toroid (it looks like it might be T-200-2 core), a small project box, chassis mount BNC and binding posts



The first step is to figure out a way to manage carefully wiring 3 lengths of wire around the coil. My solution was simply to use some scotch tape every couple of inches to organize the cable. The scotch tape will disintegrate...

After 4 attempts trying to build one, I finally gave up and had somebody make one for me.

My problem with the full sized one was that I had to tie one leg to a neighbor's tree and everytime the wind blows kind of hard(often), I worry about the tree branch breaking and bringing down my mast with it.

This one at 44 feet total length, fits on my roof in an inverted V configuration with a 100 degree angle. I expected it to have quite reduced performance but I was actually surprised at how well it does.

If this was facebook, I'd add a feeling happy emoticon....

In March 2015, Chameleon Antenna announced the availability of their new CHA F-Loop antenna. These types of antennas are commonly referred to as "magnetic loops" (note that the term "magnetic" is slightly misused) and is certainly not a new idea. That said, Chameleon has come up with an interesting design which is geared toward the portable operator. Anyone that has regularly read my reviews knows that I'm a sucker for interesting new ham radio gear, so I bought one to evaluate. After playing with the antenna for nearly 6 months, I feel that I finally have enough "behind the wheel" time to give an honest evaluation.

The CHA F-Loop is available in two models: The base model uses an LMR-400 coax radiator with a unique hardline feeder support design for the coupling loop and is $365. The Plus model adds a larger diameter collapsible aluminum radiator and is an extra $110. More on the differences between the two models later. The matching unit...

Sold the FT990 and picked up a mint FT950, SP2000, Astron VS-35M and other gear. Really liking the FT950. Also made a homebrew 6m Moxon and threw that up on the tower.

Looking forward to spending cold winter days inside the shack.