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Reviews For: uBitx

Category: Ham Radio Kits

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Review Summary For : uBitx
Reviews: 28MSRP: 109
Description:
Multi band multi mode HF transceiver kit
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.hfsignals.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
24.5284.1
KD7RDZI2 Rating: 2019-02-03
Smells like HAM spirit - updated review Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This is currently the only HF multiband SSB/CW QRP (QRP? ... mine shows 14w on 40m) on the market at the price of a monoband QRP transceiver. I made two important mods. 1) I replaced original relays (I have uBitx ver.3) with Axicom relays to improve odds harmonics rejection. 2) To increase SSB average output power preventing unwanted splattering I added a Plessey SL6270C Vogad compressor. Modulation sounds good, effective, punchy even when speaking very low.
The really nice thing of this rig is you can tailor and customize the rig in many ways. The BITX20@groups.io is just the best Customer Service a ham could desire: ask, get the right answer, do your own homework, learn, give the right answer to others. Do yourself a favor, get one if you don't have it already!

-----------Original review----------
This is a BESTSELLER. I had been waiting more than 3 months to have it because of the high demand. Modulation is outstanding. I found my unit perfectly aligned. The carrier is well suppressed as the opposite sideband. Its stock several poles filter is a marvel. The circuit was designed to keep it simple and effective.
Is it perfect? I would say it might become perfect if CW worked out of the box with whatever paddle, stright key or PC. It needs to be improved here. AGC is missing, so you cannot use headphones. SSB average output power might be increased a little bit. Of course there is a trade-off with linearity. A switchable compressor would be nice.
Congratulations to the designer who has shown to be innovative both in the product and in the business model.
N5KBP Rating: 2019-02-02
Great little QRP kit Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
If you are a tinkerer this kit is right in your wheelhouse. If you are an appliance operator the uBitx is not for you. This little all HF band SSB/CW rig comes as a populated pc board and a bag of parts. That's it. You have to supply a case and put it all together. As soon as you put it together you will want to modify it and there are a wealth of modifications out there. You will definitely want to add a TFT touch display using the nextion display and KD8CEC's firmware as a start. As far as the low audio problem. Get a lm386 module off of Amazon for less than $5 and solve it don't whine about it. That's what tinkering is about. This is a < $150 incomplete kit not a >$500 IcomKenwoodYaesu ready to go rig. It is a toy to play with. The firmware is open source and based on the Arduino platform so you can hack to your hearts content. So if you like the smell of solder and the exhilaration of something you built working when you throw the power switch this is the for you.
WA2AC Rating: 2019-01-29
poor Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Not ready for prime time.Bad audio amp that is sold defective and not addressed .Menus dont work correctly.If you like being frustrated, buy this kit.
VA3WL Rating: 2018-08-24
V2 and V3 Outstanding Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Started with the Bitx40 which worked well and a great bargain at the price
Did a uBitx version 2 and 3 which both worked fine after using alignment setting from KD8CEC. BTW KD8CEC has "blow you socks off" software mods and a touchscreen displace that vivals many full feature transceivers.
This is a kit that works well as in and has great potential for mods - even if you just want to copy mods from others.
Have make multi hundred mile contacts on 80, 40 and 20.
For Canadians use the Indian Postal option; DHL is fast but they collect Customs and Brokerage charges.
N1IG Rating: 2018-07-09
Great HF Kit Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have read about various Bits kits over the last few years, and just happened ago wander across an article on the uBitx HF QRP kit. It looked very interesting, so I did a littler searching on google, and everything I read about this kit was extremely positive.

I ordered the kit on 28JUNE2018 and it arrived by DHL on 03JULY2018. I did a quick breadboard on the cardboard box it came in, and fired it up. The receive sensitivity is very good, and its is extremely easy to operate.

There are a few groups on FaceBook, where people are sharing all sorts of modifications, as well as really nice housings for the radio.

For $139 delivered, you can't beat the radio at the price. Or even at a higher price.

Want a fun kit?>. This is the one to get!
KG4DXJ Rating: 2018-05-16
Outstanding for the price Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Where else can you find a customizable yet already functional HF transceiver for a price even close to this? This is amateur radio fun at its best for newcomers as well as old timers. This radio gives you the opportunity to explore a variety of different disciplines such as software development, hardware design and just plain tinkering. I originally bought it to build and leave at a family members place for when I am visiting but already plan on buying a few more to play with. It wont perform like a Yaesu, Kenwood or ICOM but then it also doesn't cost you $$$.
KG4RUL Rating: 2018-04-26
Like the Key Block In An Electronic Erector Set Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This radio can serve as a building block for either a basic, multi-band, QRP transceiver or let your imagination and skill set take it to the extreme. The radio is supported by an active group of users on https://groups.io/g/BITX20/topics (don't let the group title fool you, it is about all flavors of BITX radios). What you get is a multiband superhet radio that can receive from 0.5 to 30 Mhz and transmit on the 80, 40, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 Meter bands in SSB and CW modes (built-in keyer). This is all implemented on a 6"x6" board with a plug-on controller board called a Raduino. The Raduino, based on the Arduino NANO, is easily re-programmable and extendable using the Arduino IDE.
KD8CGH Rating: 2018-01-21
Incredible fun Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The uBitx is Ashher Farhan (VU2ESE) latest design. It is a multi band, multi mode HF transceiver. Like the Bitx40, the circuit and Adruino controller code are open source and available for hacking. The semi kit includes a finished PC board, mic and connectors. You have to wire it up and house it in a case.
That is just the beginning. The uBitx, like the Bitx40, is meant to be a base that you add your own mods to. For example, KD8CEC has extended the original code to fix bugs and add CAT control.
Out of the box it's a fine SSB rig. To improve its CW use I added a Sotabeams CW filter, cleaned up a pop on T/R and modified the code for cleaner keying.
The uBitx is a great value and a wonderful starting point for exploring modifications.