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Reviews For: Commradio CTX-10 QRP Transceiver

Category: Transceivers: HF Amateur HF+6M+VHF+UHF models - non QRP <5W

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Review Summary For : Commradio CTX-10 QRP Transceiver
Reviews: 7MSRP: 999
Description:
Receiver & Transmitter Tuning Resolution (cursor
control): 1 MHz, 100 -10 - 1 kHz, 100 - 10 Hz.

Transmitter: 80m - 10m QRP and 10 W Push-Pull Rugged PA.

Modes: CW, USB, LSB, Upper Sideband - data.
Nine (9) bands: 80-60-40-30-20-17-15-12-10 meters, with 5
switched low pass filters with > 50 dB harmonic
suppression.
Precision I-Q modulator for SSB and SSB-data provides >
55 dB carrier and opposite-sideband suppression on all
bands, all frequencies.
RF output selectable at 1W, 5W and 10W.
Keyer input jack (3.5mm) for paddles.
Audio input/output (6-pin DIN) analog input/output to
interface with sound card (data-modes).
Microphone input with limiting pre-amplifier (with built
in compression and noise gate). Microphone not supplied.
Automatic Antenna Tuner. Relay controlled (6-switched
series inductors and 8-switched shunt capacitors) with an
automatic tuning algorithm with memory.

Receiver Tuning Range.

General Coverage 150 KHz - 30.0 MHz.
Pre-Selectors:
150 - 540 kHz Longwave –see Hardware
limitations below.
540 - 1710 kHz AM-Broadcast.
1.7 - 4.0 MHz Amateur 160m – 80m
4.0 - 7.5 MHz Amateur 60m – 40m
7.5 - 14.5 MHz Amateur 30m – 20m
14.5 - 21.0 MHz Amateur 17m
21.0 - 30.0 MHz Amateur 15m – 12m – 10m
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.commradio.com/product-information-ctx-10/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0074.9
KC8HXO Rating: 2023-02-26
Quite a tiny giant Time Owned: more than 12 months.
It is robust. Tuner built in, and works well. Batteries are also built in, and user replaceable. Use it occasionally, and there will be no need for a manual in the field. Try that with an Elecraft. Also works very well on digital modes, with no overheating/drift. 10W on SSB punches thru with the speech compressor algorithm. Most folks are VERY surprised at power level, when I choose to reveal it. So easy…..rig and wire, and you are on the air.
W7BV Rating: 2019-12-19
Compact and easy to use Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This review of the CTX-10 radio follows more than a year of combined experience with the two CTX-10s that I have purchased. The CTX-10 is very compact and light but very sturdy - great for travelling and backpacking. It has internal rechargeable lithium batteries and a charge controller allowing a direct connection to a solar panel. Recently, I added protective side rails from Portable Zero to help protect the front and rear panels during transit and a Begali mounting bracket with their Adventure paddle to further enhance its suitability as a field radio. As an owner of the CR1-A receiver that preceded the release of the CTX-10, I found the menu very easy to use. Firmware updates during the past year have resolved initial issues with the tuning range of the automatic antenna tuner, corrected some microphone and keyer issues, and added split operation with dual vfos. Finally, Don at Commradio is very responsive and helpful if one has questions and/or needs help. In short, I like the CTX-10 very much; it’s a keeper.

Review: 2018-09-22
I second the favorable comments of the previous reviewer. The CTX-10 is very compact and light but very sturdy - great for travelling and backpacking. As an owner of the CR1-A receiver that preceded the release of the CTX-10, I found the menu very easy to use. Don at Commradio is very responsive and helpful if one has questions and/or needs help. I am giving the radio a 4 because I found the automatic tuner to be limited in the range that it can tune to a low SWR. Also, the Ambient Noise Gate requires the microphone to be held close to one’s mouth for adequate audio output. Perhaps these issues will be addressed in firmware updates. Overall, I like the CTX-10 very much; it’s a keeper.
WB2KTG Rating: 2019-09-18
An Evolutionary Radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The CTX-10 is the result of the natural evolution of the CR-1a receiver to include transmit capabilities. The well respected CR-1a receiver is now paired with an 80m - 10m SSB/CW/Data 1/5/10W QRP transmitter and internal lithium ion rechargable batteries, integrated 5VDC - 20VDC charge controller, and automatic antenna tuner (ATU).

Although the market is filled with QRP rigs of many companies and various price points, what attracted me to the CTX-10 was the fact that it is rugged - very rugged, designed to be used as a field radio. The die-cast magnesium case serves as the chassis for mounting the circuit cards, and is a one piece heatsink for the final amplifiers, hardly getting warm at 100% duty cycle.

The radio is supported by the folks at Portable Zero, with a nice set of side rails that provide protection from accidental front or rear impact. Begali also supports the radio with specially designed mounting brackets for their Adventure paddles. I can recommend both, having used both on the bench as well as in the field.

CommRadio has shown themselves to be supportive of comments from the field, correcting some microphone and keyer issues early on, and adding twin VFO capability, and MARS general coverage transmit during the last couple of months.

I use the radio in digital modes, FT8, etc. without any external Signalink or other interface, just plugging the interconnect cable into a USB > audio input dongle on my laptop or tablet. Never had an issue. When I'm in the field I bring along a small solar panel (16VDC output) and plug it directly into the power input jack. The internal charge controller takes care of power management details so the batteries stay happy.

In the tradition of military and aircraft radios, this is an "Operator's Radio". Most of the functionality is handled automatically, and quite well I will add. You turn it on, select frequency, mode, and filter option and you're operating.

I recommend this radio as your ideal one-box QRP companion for all occasions.
W3NSA Rating: 2019-03-06
So far - I'm impressed Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I haven't had my CTX-10 very long but so far I am impressed. Construction is top notch. The radio is compact and relatively light. I set the radio up (mainly monitoring) and the batteries lasted for hours. The display is easy to read and the menu structure makes sense (at least to me). The antenna tuner has tuned what I asked it to and the few initial reports I have received have all be positive.

I have owned a KX3 and honestly prefer the form factor and usability of the CTX-10. Not saying that the KX3 is a bad or good - I just like the "feel" of the CTX-10 better.

I hope to put this radio through the paces more in the next few months and I will update my review as the facts warrant.
AE7YD Rating: 2019-02-22
excellent ergonomy and performance Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I received the radio this morning and immediately made a CW contact. I like the audio, it is pleasant to the ear. Sounds like an older radio i.e. my old TS130S.
The look, the ergonomy, the sturdy construction, what's not to like? Well there are two things,there is no adjustment for time out in CW. It is fine if you are sending at high words per minute but at 12wpm or lower the clicking relays is annoying. And there is no documentation on how to control the radio from a computer. Is is even feasible?
I love the radio, it shows that it is a company building military equipments but after a year in production mine is only serial number 78.
KC4OU Rating: 2018-11-01
Beautifully built and fun to use Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I want to start by noting the fact that this is a 10 watt transceiver. Having said that, my first contact with my CTX-10 was KH7XS in Hawaii on 17m CW. From central Pennsylvania using a dipole oriented the wrong way. This is what you can do with a 10 watt rig.

While this is subjective, I was especially impressed by the user interface. I would say that the interface is excellent. It’s very intuitive and I was impressed that all the settings could be accessed with little effort.

I’ve worked in electronics manufacturing and I’m also a former USCG Electronics Technician. I will tell you that this is a robustly constructed rig. It seems almost Mil-Spec. Everything about it, from the display to the feel and action of the knobs feels high quality.

Anything I don’t like about the CTX-10? I wish the sidetone volume was adjustable. It can be a little loud when using headphones. And it would be nice if there were a ‘tune’ function for use with external antenna tuners.

Bottom line is that I really like this radio. And because it’s an SDR radio, I’m looking forward to how it changes as new features are added in the future. (NOTE: As I was writing this a new firmware update came out that added capabilities).

This is a pleasurable rig to use. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants a robustly constructed and easy to use low power transceiver.
KB5AG Rating: 2018-08-18
The Commradio CR1 as a transceiver. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It's early days yet, but so far I'm impressed. The CTX-10 is only about an inch longer than the CR-1 receiver, and in a nice, extruded aluminum cabinet. If you have any experience with the Commradio CR-1, you know how to use this radio. The receiver seems identical on HF to the CR-1, which is to say, pretty good. Audio is nice, and it isn't overloading on my 250' horizontal loop. The built-in ATU is pretty quick, and found a match on all the bands I tried. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the KX-3, but it's very simple to use and a lot easier to stuff in your pack. I can see this being a popular qrp rig with the backpacking crowd. It's a keeper!