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| Reviews Summary for Elecraft XG1 Receiver Test Osc. |
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Reviews: 12
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Average rating: 5.0/5
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MSRP: $39
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Description: The XG1 is a crystal-controlled signal generator with very accurate 1 microvolt and 50 microvolt output levels. The output frequency is 7040 kHz. The unit can be used to determine the actual sensitivity and receive gain of any HF receiver that covers the 40-meter band. The 50-microvolt output can be used for S-meter calibration.
The output levels are accurate to better than +/- 2 dB (typically +/- 1 dB). This makes the XG1 a low-cost alternative to expensive lab-grade signal generators when comparing the performance of various receivers.
Like Elecraft's other "mini-module" kits, the XG1 is easy to build, as well as small: the PC board is just 3.5 x 1.5 inches. Other features include a power-on LED, on-board battery with low-battery warning LED, and protection against accidental transmit at QRP levels.
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More info: http://www.elecraft.com
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write your own review of the Elecraft XG1 Receiver Test Osc..
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G8KVP
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 11, 2007 04:27
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Great! But be warned.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Just built the XG-1 which was easy and it's a brilliant bit of kit, amazing.
Now the downside if you live in the UK, like me. The kit cost $39, with postage and the exchange rate being as it is it cost me just £26.32, again amazing. Then the theives at Royal Mail get involved. Of course no duty to pay but £3.42 in VAT (not quite sure where that figure comes from) for which the Royal Mail charge you £8.00 to collect!!!!! So overall this wonderful little kit cost me £37.74 so UK buyers be warned. Rip off Britain rules again.
Not Elecraft's fault of course and still a worthwhile addition to the shack.
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PA0NMH
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 23, 2005 03:56
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"All has been said"
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Bought it without reading the reviews (I usually do).Goes with me anywhere, anytime.
Prevented already several times from buying equipment not within specifications.
Also very convenient in the shack and I'm lucky, 40m is still my favourite band.
(I once - long ago - dismantled my TS510 during atmospheric disturbances).
The eyeglass folding case is a good idea anyway!
mike pa0nmh
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NS6Y_
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 16, 2005 01:02
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Puts the fun in functional
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Hm, I should not be up this late, but about an hour ago decided to put this together, this is a very good confidence building kit. Yes a DMM is a good idea for all those precision resistors, I counted on a good magnifying glass and lots of double checking and got by OK but using something like an egg box to put the parts in with labels once identifed is an age-old good idea. Once some parts are installed there are extensive ohm-meter checks, and this passed just fine. Then on to installing the other parts! Remember the crystal installs underneath, and the reference diode will have its numbered side toward the IC, U1, not Q1. Before I knew it I was out of parts - on to testing. No Problem. Hooked it up to my '817 and it works great.
I should be in bed but I am up writing this - why? Because, I just have to rave about this, you see, it's musical too! If you put your finger near the xtal, you can vary the freq and I think with some practice a passable rendition of the theremin (if that's what it is) part in the Beach Boys' Good Vibrations is possible. Musical XG1's! Dueling XG1's? This thing is cool!
It is the right size to fit in an Altoids box, except for the BNC connector, it's too tall. Altoids boxes are overrated anyway, you could use any metal or plastic box since it's dead-stable and doesn't need shielding. If you take it to swap meets to check out equipment, one of those hard folding eyeglass cases would be perfect for keeping it safely in your pocket and yet easy to take out and use.
Just a very, very cool little unit.
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I8VYE
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 21, 2005 04:31
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Very good item
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Cheap, easy to mount, very accurate. I checked output, after mounting, with top class laboratory instruments. Its outputs (1 microV and 50 microV) are +- 0,5 dB from nominal! Sure enough to calibrate my smeters and to check receivers. Nothing to add, satisfied by the kit and by the delivery.
I8VYE/I0
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VE4AMN
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 14, 2005 19:07
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Easy build and useful
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This is an easy kit. The mid construction test is very handy and builds confidence. One hint they suggest and I endorse is to use a DMM (autor-ranging if possible) to check resistors. This is a must for people like me who have trouble will colour. Great fun to test the receivers. Found that my R-4c is not too shabby compared to the Ft-1000 MP. Not sure if that makes me happy!
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AK2B
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 4, 2005 09:10
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Test gear for the masses
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I can't imagine doing without my XG1. This has got to be one the most novel ideas yet to come out of Elecraft. I couldn't afford or justify the expense of a decent signal generator for my home workbench. What could be easier than connecting a tiny little portable generator to the antenna jack for checking your receiver performance and S meter with a calibrated signal source? If they made them for all bands, I would buy every one of them. It’s like having a mini HP in your pocket.
AK2B
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AB2EZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 22, 2004 10:23
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Very nice accessory
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I built mine in about 2 hours... being very careful to do a neat, professional-looking job. It is fun to build, and fun to own. It works as advertised, and is a very nice accessory to have around the shack.
You can easily build one from parts, if you have the parts on hand... but for this price, it is worth buying the kit, with all of the parts and a nicely laid out printed circuit board.
I received it by mail within a few days of placing my order.
This would make a great gift for almost any ham who likes to build small projects and to tinker around the shack.
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WA2PVK
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 29, 2004 16:24
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Great Shack Accessory
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This XG-1 was a pleasant surprise. It went together well. The instructions were very good and I had not a single uncertainty about assembly.
The unit worked just as mentioned. Checked one of my Paragon II's and got an EXACT S-9 meter reading. Used the XG-1 to calibrate the other Paragon II's S-Meter as it had been reading higher than the other one.
For $39.00 this is probably the best investment you can make as you will always have a known signal strength that can be used for comparisons, alignment, and/or troubleshooting.
No more wondering about receiver performance (or the lack thereof)
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AA8VE
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 23, 2004 22:45
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Handy tool
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I just got done with this little kit and was happy to see it work perfectly the first time I turned it on. It gives a clean carrier which is handy for many things, check S meter, sig to noise checking and peaking, check filter offset and width, spot carrier for a QRP rig, RF signal for trouble shooting, etc. There are several things I've not even thought of yet. Older rigs had calibration carriers which could be used for some of these things too but most modern rigs no longer have this feature so this is a great way to have one with a stable output. I just had a rig back from factory alignment and this XG-1 at 50 uV put my S meter right on S9 on 40 meters and allowed me to check all my rigs S meters real fast. The 1 uV is very handy for alignment of the IF stages and checking sig to noise ratios and ajusting the rx for the best weak signal performance. It's also handy to log the readings to check the rx from time to time, it works on 40, 20, 15, 10 meters, the harmonic freq's aren't calibrated outputs but are good enough for relative readings and alignment. I've been wanting a clean carrier like this for a long time and am glad to have this one.
Jeff aa8ve
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W2RBA
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 29, 2003 01:36
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Handy piece of equipment
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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The XG1, like the other small kits Elecraft has introduced lately (QRP Dummy load, balun (up to 150 watts) and noise generator) is quickly assembled but at the end of the job (maybe one hour) you have a solidly made piece which works and works well. I tried it out on my K2 (adjusting the S-meter in the process) and tried it out on my new Orion -- and got exactly an S9 reading. It may not be a professional piece of test gear, but for the money it's darn close enough! Kudos to Elecraft; may they bring us ever more handy kits!
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