On Tuesday, June 18, 2024, I wanted to make a morning journey to Hickory, NC, to maintain some household enterprise and go to my father.
I began my day early as a result of I additionally needed to be again within the Asheville space by midday. Some fast calculations over morning espresso and I made a decision I had simply sufficient time to slot in one POTA activation en path to Hickory.
I left the QTH round 7:15 AM and made my approach to the Paddy’s Creek Entry of Lake James State Park, arriving round 8:15 AM.
Two different causes I slot in my activation en path to Hickory as a substitute of on my method again:
- Paddy’s Creek has a lakeside seaside space that will get very busy in the summertime, particularly on clear, sunny days (like Tuesday).
- Temperatures that day have been forecast to push close to 95F/35C.
Once I arrived on the parking space, I used to be happy to see I used to be one of many solely vehicles there. This made it a lot simpler to discover a spot to arrange!
I began my activation video (see under) then walked to a picnic desk below some bushes that might not solely present shade but in addition antenna help!
I deployed my KM4CFT end-fed half-wave equipment that I reduce as a 30M EFHW with a linked 40M extension. Once I launched the arborist line into the dense cover, I assumed I snagged a excessive department, however it turned out I hadn’t.
Ultimately, my 40M EFHW had extra of a low inverted vee, nearly NVIS-height, configuration. I used to be fantastic with that, although, realizing on the 40M band that early within the morning, I’d snag contacts in NC and the encompassing states.
My aim was to lastly make some SSB contacts with the Xiegu X6200. My earlier mid-day activation with the X6200 offered no outcomes, so I hoped I’d be extra profitable within the morning.
One different factor I did that I haven’t executed in over 4 years: I began out my activation with greater than 5 watts of energy. I added an exterior battery to the X6200, turned off its inside charger, and ran the transceiver at its full output energy of eight watts.
My aim was to see how heat/sizzling the chassis would develop into in the course of the activation. This is without doubt one of the questions I’ve been requested probably the most concerning the X6200 to this point.
Organising the radio was easy. I used to be cautious to make it possible for the interior ATU was bypassed on the 40M (and later 20M) band.
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One of many different causes I selected the Paddy’s Creek entry of Lake James is that I knew for certain that I had cell phone reception there, which I would wish to self-spot in SSB mode.
I finally discovered a free frequency on 40 meters and began calling CQ POTA. Inside a minute or so, I began receiving contacts. In reality, inside 4 minutes, I labored seven stations.
That is the factor about SSB: my exchanges are a lot sooner than they’re in CW the place I function at about 20 phrases per minute. On a great day, it’s not troublesome to work double the quantity of contacts on SSB as I’d with CW.
One other factor I used to be reminded about SSB, although? House is rather more restricted than it’s on the CW parts of the band.
After working solely 4 minutes, a ham broke in and requested if I’d take into account QSYing as a result of a web was about to start out up two kHz away. He was very well mannered and I used to be completely happy to oblige. I don’t wish to create interference on a longtime web frequency even realizing they don’t “personal” the frequency. In reality, it’s not that my 8 watts of SSB would create quite a lot of interference, it was the hunters contacting me that probably would.
CW is such a slender band that you just actually solely want about 500 Hz of separation to maintain from unintentionally interfering with different stations.
I made a decision to take the chance to maneuver as much as the 20-meter band for some extra voice contacts.
I began calling CQ and logged 4 stations in 4 minutes.
When issues acquired quiet, I checked out my watch and determined since I used to be working out of time, I’d additionally slot in a little bit of CW earlier than packing up. Once more, my aim was to see how sizzling the X6200 chassis would possibly get working full-bore. CW would possibly really warmth it up greater than SSB.
I QSY’d to the 30-meter band.
As an alternative of reducing the antenna and eradicating the 40M hyperlink, I opted to see if the X6200’s inside ATU might merely match my 40M EFHW on 30 meters. I pressed the ATU button and inside a few seconds, I had a close to 1:1 match.
I logged seven extra stations in seven minutes on 30 meters earlier than calling QRT. I had merely run out of time for this activation, else I believe I might have logged many extra on 30 meters.
Right here’s what this eight-watt activation seemed like when plotted out on a QSO Map (word that the purple traces are SSB, inexperienced are CW–click on picture to enlarge):
Right here’s my real-time, real-life video of your entire activation. As with all of my movies, I don’t edit out any elements of the on-air activation time. As well as, I’ve monetization turned off on YouTube, though that doesn’t cease them from inserting adverts earlier than and after my movies.
Be aware that Patreon supporters can watch and even obtain this video 100% ad-free by way of Vimeo on my Patreon web page:
Click on right here to view on YouTube.
I checked the X6200 and I’ll admit, it was fairly heat after this 30-minute activation. It was borderline sizzling, however not as sizzling because the Xiegu G90 will get. I do suppose if working the X6200 at full energy (8W) and in direct daylight, the radio will get fairly sizzling. I purposely arrange within the shade so the solar wouldn’t be an element.
I did discover working the X6200 in SSB to be fairly nice. I believe the obtain audio in SSB is definitely higher than it’s in CW.
Brian (K3ES) who I labored on each 40 and 30 meters SSB was working 100W into a big doublet. He instructed me that SSB indicators, typically, have been mild that morning, however the audio high quality of my contacts have been “fantastic.” He famous no distortion or different oddities, which is an efficient factor. In reality, I haven’t tinkered with any of the X6200’s TX audio settings but. I’ll do that from the QTH and have a pal test it for me over the air.
I believe if I have been primarily an SSB operator, I’d benefit from the X6200 general. Just like the X6100 and X5105 earlier than that, it’s an all-in-one, shack-in-a-box transceiver. It even has a built-in microphone.
Many have requested me which is best: the X6100 or X6200. I don’t have a great reply but because it’s nonetheless early days and on the time of this activation, we’re nonetheless on model 1.0 of the firmware.
I’ve gotten feedback from readers noting disappointment that the X6200’s highest energy setting is 8 watts as a substitute of 10 watts like its predecessor, the X6100. I’m unsure why this design alternative was made. Personally, as a CW operator, this is able to haven’t any affect on my buy determination. I doubt two watts would make a giant distinction on SSB both, however X6100 house owners will, little question, give this consideration earlier than promoting their X6100 to buy the X6200.
I can say that I’m very happy the X6200 has a detachable battery pack. I want additionally they offered a fast charger for the pack, although, as a result of charging it to capability takes many hours utilizing the equipped energy provide/wall brick.
Submit-activation, I packed up my gear shortly and hit the street. I did handle to run all of my errands in Hickory and get again to Asheville by midday…simply! It was shut, however I did it!
I hope that is useful! Let me know if in case you have every other questions on utilizing the X6200.
Thanks for becoming a member of me throughout this activation!
I hope you loved the sector report and my activation video as a lot as I loved creating them!
In fact, I’d additionally prefer to ship a particular because of these of you who’ve been supporting the location and channel by way of Patreon, and the Espresso Fund. Whereas not a requirement, as my content material will at all times be free, I actually respect the help.
As I discussed earlier than, the Patreon platform related to Vimeo makes it attainable for me to share movies that aren’t solely 100% ad-free but in addition downloadable for offline viewing. The Vimeo account additionally serves as a 3rd backup for my video information.
Thanks for spending a part of your day with me!
Cheers & 72,
Thomas (K4SWL)
