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Author Topic: Amplifier, 5->100w, MFJ - Xiegu XPA125B HF-6m  (Read 402 times)

N5PG

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Amplifier, 5->100w, MFJ - Xiegu XPA125B HF-6m
« on: October 07, 2020, 08:32:35 PM »

https://mfjenterprises.com/collections/xiegu/products/xpa-125b?_pos=1&_sid=cf3ec2f65&_ss=r

$549.95

"The XPA-125B can be used with any QRP Radio. To connect this amplifier to the Xiegu X5105 you must have the XCE-19. The XPA-125B is the perfect amplifier for a 5 watt transmitter when 100 watt output is needed. Its maximum power output is 125 watt. The automatic Antenna Tuner Unit and power amplifier unit of XPA-125 can be used independently of each other as either an automatic antenna tuner or a separate power amplifier. The tuner can handle 14-500 ohm loads in the HF bands 1.8-30 MHz and 6 meter band 50-54 MHz. Has Automatic Band selection as well as manual to make it the perfect amp for the X5105 or the X108G. The large back lit LCD display shows input/output power, SWR, Voltage, Current, Temperature, amplifier status as well as warning messages making operation of this modern amplifier simple and also user friendly. The serial connection allows you to hook it up the the computer to update the firmware.

XPA125 Specifications:
Frequency range: 0.5-54 MHz Maximum output power: 1.8-30 MHz >110W / 50MHz >90W Maximum ambient operation temp: 131 Fahrenheit(55 Celsius) Gain: 13 dB (+/-2dB) Spurious suppression: >50 dB Supply Voltage: 12-15 Volt DC Transmit current draw: @ max output 30A Receive current draw: @ max 700 mA ATU Frequency range: 1.8-30 MHz & 50-54 MHz ATU Tuning range: 14-500 Ohm Dimensions: 10.3 x 6.3 x 2.8 inches (Excluding knobs, feets, handle etc) Weight: 5.86 lbs(Shipping weight 8.82 lbs)"

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K6AER

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Re: Amplifier, 5->100w, MFJ - Xiegu XPA125B HF-6m
« Reply #1 on: October 07, 2020, 08:53:42 PM »

I'm not sure if there was a question in the above post but for the money of a XPA125B ($550) and the G90 transceiver ($450) you could buy a real nice transceiver integrated into a single package.
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N5PG

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Re: Amplifier, 5->100w, MFJ - Xiegu XPA125B HF-6m
« Reply #2 on: October 07, 2020, 09:03:34 PM »

No questions.
Some QRP ops like to take their rigs portable but have a bit more oomph at home hence separates :)
73
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K6SDW

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Re: Amplifier, 5->100w, MFJ - Xiegu XPA125B HF-6m
« Reply #3 on: October 07, 2020, 09:14:32 PM »

I'm with K6AER.......I ran the KX3 and Elecraft 100 watt amp, which worked quite well, but the combo is really expensive! So, sold the Elecraft amp and bought new ICOM 7300 which has way more bells and whistles than the KX3....I was able to sell the amp for more than I paid for the 7300 new.

I'm keeping the KX3 for the day I join the SOTA, POTA, NPOTA crowd....HI HI

73 ~ ed
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K1QQQ

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Re: Amplifier, 5->100w, MFJ - Xiegu XPA125B HF-6m
« Reply #4 on: October 08, 2020, 09:41:25 AM »

Need some technical reviews !!!! I have seen terrible reviews on some other Xiegu amplifier.

Chinese. Seems if they fix the bugs they quit selling it and come out with another model and the bug list starts to grow.

Who services ? A schematic ? Transistors that are available ?
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KC6RWI

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Re: Amplifier, 5->100w, MFJ - Xiegu XPA125B HF-6m
« Reply #5 on: October 08, 2020, 10:44:00 AM »

Just curious, I have never owned a hf chinese rig, but I have purchased HT's from china. My experience has been no and I mean zero after sales help even though the places I've bought from tout service.
I am hoping that your are getting after sales help with Xiegu radios as they are not  low priced products???
I didn't buy from MFJ and that might be the difference.
« Last Edit: October 08, 2020, 10:48:23 AM by KC6RWI »
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KQ4KK

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Re: Amplifier, 5->100w, MFJ - Xiegu XPA125B HF-6m
« Reply #6 on: October 08, 2020, 01:38:55 PM »

For about two weeks I have been using a ICOM 705 with a XIEGU X125B amp on HF and DSTAR HF Voice. The PTT/ALC line out of the 705 is just a 3.5mm Stereo plug. Tip and Barrel is the PTT line. Pin 2 and ground is the keying line on the 125B. I took an old mouse mini6DIN cable to get Pin 2 and ground out. The 125B manual has stern warning about using high setting to the PTT line. The 705 comes set to low. 1 watt from the 705 on 20m gets about 100-105 watts out of the 125B. The 705 has output voltages to make autotuners tune. The 125b autotuner takes input voltages to move from band to band. However, they do not match. So you have to push the manual band select as you change bands. The size of the 125B is just about .5in larger than the base unit of a 7100 or 706. It does not have any fans. And is limited to 55C. Takes about 16 amps to get a little over 100 watts out. It does work. I don't have any spectral review or such. But good audio report I have received.
Down sides - No fans. I can get near 55C running DSTAR HF Voice at 100 Watts on 20m.
Output varies wildly on different bands, requiring increasing, or decreasing the output power on the 705.
The manual says to tune the 125b auto tuner with the amp in standby and send 5 watts to the tuner to tune. That does work, most of the time. You switch the amp out of standby and on at 5 watts in, the 125b shuts off, or gives all kinds of funny warnings. Remember it takes only 1 watt on 20m to get 100 watts out.
It is not an Elecraft KPA amp. A 100 watt amp with auto tuner for $550 is reasonable. Years ago, when I bought an ICOM AT-180 auto tuner for my new 706, I think I paid over $400.
I have used ICOM 7300s, great radio for the price. I have 2 7100s. And a 7610. What I desired was a ICOM IC-7150C, a upgrade of the 7100 with color screen, DSTAR, SDR Receivers, waterfall, Bluetooth, Wifi, builtin GPS. So the 705 with the 125B is the closest I have got.
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K7LZR

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Re: Amplifier, 5->100w, MFJ - Xiegu XPA125B HF-6m
« Reply #7 on: October 08, 2020, 02:46:09 PM »

Just curious, I have never owned a hf chinese rig, but I have purchased HT's from china. My experience has been no and I mean zero after sales help even though the places I've bought from tout service.
I am hoping that your are getting after sales help with Xiegu radios as they are not  low priced products???
I didn't buy from MFJ and that might be the difference.

I don't own a Xiegu X125B amp, but I do own a Xiegu G90 and I'm happy with it. Its a great little rig and support is good too :).
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KU3X

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Re: Amplifier, 5->100w, MFJ - Xiegu XPA125B HF-6m
« Reply #8 on: October 08, 2020, 05:04:22 PM »

Need some technical reviews !!!! I have seen terrible reviews on some other Xiegu amplifier.

Chinese. Seems if they fix the bugs they quit selling it and come out with another model and the bug list starts to grow.

Who services ? A schematic ? Transistors that are available ?

I have to agree.
The X5105 has truncated CW, "As per QST review!" It was also shown in a YouTube video. So if I'd work CW with the X5105, my call would come out as AU3X instead of KU3X. I mention this here because it brings up the question, "does this amp have the same issue as the X5105?" It may work fine for the phone guys but surely not for me. The IC7300 is cheap enough to be use portable QRP or 100 watts.

But, when it comes to the transistors......they change so fast that it's hard to keep up. Look at the Ten Tec solid state amp. You can't get transistors for those anymore. So why would this amp be any different?

If MFJ sells this amp, I'd check to see if they support it.
Barry, KU3X

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