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Reviews For: RGO ONE

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

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Review Summary For : RGO ONE
Reviews: 16MSRP: 875.
Description:
RGO ONE is the GOLDEN classic superheterodyne down conversion HAM transceiver covering all HF bands 1.8 - 29.7MHz (160/60m as an option). High dynamic range receiver design including high IP3 monolithic linear amplifiers in the front end and H-mode first IF mixer. Low phase noise first LO – SI570 XO/VCXO chip. Full/semi (delay) QSK on CW using clickless quiet diodes switching; PTT/VOX operation on SSB. Strict RX/TX sequencing scheme. No click sounds at all! Due to its modular construction it can be easily modified or redesigned in manner that suits operator. This kit is intended for users that like building their own home made equipment and constructions. Main goals Classic superhet design – with popular 9MHz intermediate frequency. Filter method DSB to SSB modulation Coverage of the 9 HAM HF bands (160m optional) High dynamic range receiver design including high IP3 monolithic IC in the front end and H-mode first IF mixer Fast acting IF (134kHz) AGC. Clickless operation – solid state GaAs PHEMT SPDT switches on RX, (bandpass filters; TX/RX) and ultra fast rectifier diodes (LPF) Custom multicolor FSTN LCD (Especially developed for this project) Custom made ABS face plate, unique and ergonomic knob controls Custom made crystal filters – 6,8 pole, CF=9MHz, 2.8kHz, 2.7kHz, 1kHz, 500Hz Three filters can be used - First IF roofer 8-poles 9MHz; second (optional) 4-poles variable bandwidth filter Johnson type 9MHz; third 2-poles noise filter 9MHz Double CPU circuitry control for front panel and mother board, both field programmable via implemented USB hub Modular construction with no “flying wires” inside the box. Transceiver is built up on a main – mother board which has two functions. First to serve as a “chassis” and second to fit all the external connectors, daughter boards, inter-connections and acts as cable harness. Plenty of optional modules: Audio filters, Automatic antenna tuner (ATU), Noise blanker (NB), narrow/wide band IF crystal filters. Linear final amplifier PA 50W with precise power adjustment especially for QRP operations. Forget noisy FANs – 25W – unlimited time!! QRO work – with max power of 50W driving should be sufficient for a kilowatt amplifier. Personal computer control CAT via USB Morse code keyer (Curtis A, CMOS B) Contest and DX-pedition operation conveniences. Both Kit & Ready-to-Run versions will be available.
Product is in production
More Info: http://lz2jr.com/blog/index.php/qrp-hf-transceiver/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15165
IK1AUS Rating: 2023-03-09
Awesome Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The entire Ham community should be thankful for this accomplishment.
This "radio" is built exactly as it was meant to be made.
So.... an RTX for a few.
K9DRP Rating: 2022-03-27
One fine little rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had decided I wanted the RGO ONE after reading reviews by AE5X and K4SWL. This rig is seldom seen on the “used” market, but a seller answered my WTB ad and I added the RGO to my shack. Unfortunately, the radio arrived with the 40 meter band not working. However, Boris bent over backwards to help me get the problem corrected with the rig, and it’s now working fine. And that should speak volumes for customer service and the added value of the RGO ONE.

I wanted the radio mostly for CW, and I work a lot of QRP. As expected, the receiver really shines in pulling out weak signals. It’s like my Argosy on steroids, with all the conveniences of a digital VFO(s). What I didn’t expect is the “great audio” reports I get on SSB with the stock mic. It’s 50 watts is plenty to drive an amp but I find it’s seldom needed. It really is surprising to learn what 50 watts will achieve on phone. I’m looking forward to trying digital modes with it.

This rig is a keeper!

Update: I picked up an un-terminated cable for my Signalink and a DB15 end, wired it to match a jumper module I use with another radio, and it's working the digital modes like a champ! (Use the TS-440 settings in the software.)
SP3TLJ Rating: 2022-01-24
Brave little RIG Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Hi,
I have bought this radio equipped with the 160/60m LBF and 2,8kHz 8-poles roofing filter and I am very satisfied.
The rig is smaller than IC-7300. The receiver is very dynamic, sensitive and really quiet. Radio is not warming during receive mode as many other transceivers today.
The heat dissipation during transmit is very quiet too.
I am waiting for NB and AF module. As I know from Boris, NB is in testing phase. AF (audio filter) is based on Analog Devices SIGMA DSP processors and will become available in the next months. It looks very promising... I think that If you are planning only the field operation the NB and AF modules are not required to stay satisfied with this receiver but If you would like to use RGO ONE in the city noisy environment then there is the strong case for installing both modules. Hope that NB will be very efficient and its level will be regulated in a few steps without audio distortion at the lowest level. Keep this very good job Boris and your very good support for your customers which are the ham radio coleagues of you! Finally this is the transceiver build by ham radio operator for other ham radio operators taking into consideration ergonomic aspects and so on. 73! Dariusz SP3TLJ

KG2QM Rating: 2021-08-24
The more I use it, the more I like it! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I first discovered this radio by reading a review here on Eham. The more I looked at it, the more I realized this radio had all the features I had been wanting all in one radio.
It has many modern features, like using a common USB cable to connect to the computer for rig control or firmware upgrades, an accessory connector for digital mode connections, and yet has all the things people liked about the older radios – but using todays technology to make them work even better.
The CW features remind me of the Ten Tec’s style; full break-in ability – the “Jones filter” style of narrow filtering – but using new design to make it work even better. It has “CW reverse” for easy zero beat, too (my TT Scout sure doesn’t do that). The SSB seems to get through great as well, in spite of being “only” 50 to 55 watts out.
The receive is very quiet and easy to use. It has A/B/split vfo’s, a pre-amp and an attenuator, AGC fast/slow/off settings – in short all the most used features. This one is designed by someone who actually uses radio’s (Boris) and it shows. It has what you want to use without being overwhelming by trying to include every feature known to man.
A word about customer service: EXCELLENT! Boris is very attentive to customer concerns and gets to the root of a problem and resolves it quickly – and goes above and beyond what you expect while doing it. I had a problem with the contrast on my display changing by itself and Boris diagnosed it and resolved it (leaky capacitor). A replacement display was sent right away and he followed up often through the whole process, giving insight and instruction whenever needed.
The more I use this radio, the more I like it! I think the best radio is the one that makes you want to keep coming back and turning it on. This one does that for me; I plan to keep it for a very long time!
G7DDN Rating: 2021-08-22
I love this radio! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I saw the RGO ONE after reading the reviews on here and seeing how highly it scored. When I realised it was essentially a 21st century take on the traditional single superhet designs (like the old Atlases), I knew I had to try one.

As a professional musician, audio is very important to me and I was reading very positive reviews of the clarity of this radio’s audio.

Boris is a dedicated individual and one has to remember he has a lot to deal with, building radios, troubleshooting, writing firmware, updating his website, etc. And all in his second language! The fact that communicating with him is a pleasure says a lot about his dedication to this radio.

I ordered my unit from the 3rd production lot in mid-August 2020 and it arrived on New Year’s Eve. Yes it was a long wait - but it was so worth it!

Right from the start, I was impressed with the whole experience. Yes the audio was fantastic, but the ergonomics were also first class. You can tell this radio has been designed by an amateur who actually USES radio!

The radio is large enough to operate with normal size fingers, yet small and light enough that you could take it pretty much anywhere. To that end, the optional auto-ATU is worth having if you are going portable. The tuning knob is gorgeous and feels made for my fingers. Some of the other knobs look a little ‘3D printed’ quality but it’s not a big deal - they still feel good to the touch and it’s no big problem.

I found had an issue with the RGO ONE with strong signals from a local LF/MF broadcast transmitter - I had not experienced it this bad before on other radios. But after a few emails and videos sent between us, Boris came up with a solution involving a high pass filter (made just for me and sent free!) and an SMD component mod as part of a firmware update. And the problem was solved! And as a ham friend said at the time, I doubt you would get that kind of individual attention from the ‘big 3’…

I’ve used the RGO now on SSB and CW and in contests and I love it - even though I have a Yaesu FTdx10 at home, I find myself using the 50 watts of the RGO more often! That’s crazy!

Yes, it is a work in progress - there’s no speech compressor board (it’s coming) no Noise Blanker yet (that’s coming too) and it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that the Yaesu has… but that’s kind of the point.

This is a radio unique in the Ham sphere right now in my opinion. It deserves wider appreciation. Try Thomas Witherspoon’s K4SWL’s activation videos on YouTube where he uses the RGO ONE to get a feel for how nice it is to drive.

I have owned quite a few radios in my 43 years on air - I’m never getting rid of this one - it’s just too versatile, sounds incredible and puts a smile on your face with its ease of use.

Thank you Boris for this radio and all success to you with it!
WB0FDJ Rating: 2020-09-23
The Real Deal Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Last winter I was sitting listening to my faithful Ten Tec Argosy bought new in 1981. It's simple superhet receiver still sounds nice to these old ears. I was thinking about getting a new rig decided to make a list of what I really needed for my operating practice. I came up: at least 50 watts (that's what the Argo runs), a well designed superhet receiver, transparent QSK, no clacking relays, a modern stable oscillator, variable filtering a maybe a few bells and whistles. I actually thought to myself, "yeah like anyone is going make something like that in this day and age".

Then after 20 minutes of surfing the internet I find the work done by Boris, LZ2JR. He was planning to market exactly what I was looking for. I was hooked.

In the several months I've had mine I've found it to be a great radio. The receiver is quiet, allowing clear copy of S2 signals. Transparent QSK. No relays clanking. I waded out on a SKCC Week End Sprint during a major DX contest, when with my other radios I'd probably have given up, and made solid contacts. Zero beat your station, hit filter and dial in some selectivity and he is absolutely there and readable. Seriously I mean arm chair copy. This is a radio for the guy, like me, who really likes CW. What surprised me was how nice SSB sounds. Crisp and clean reminding me of the some of the better filtered Swans and Drakes, back in the day. I've gotten "nice" reports with the few SSB contacts I've made.

Good ergonomics. Button layout is nicely designed. I don't necessarily hate menus but this has only one and it's for set and forget stuff.

If you want or need something with screens, armrests and a coffee maker, this isn't for you. But for those who want something designed around excellent CW and SSB operation, look no further. Highly recommended.

Update: Since I do a fair amount of WSPR I obtained a DB15 connector and an unterminated cable for the SignaLink USB box and wired them up. Set the jumpers. Works fine. While I have an FT-817ND set up as a dedicated WSPR station I find the RGO does a great job. For those interested in doing digital with this radio I can attest to it's effectiveness. The RGO ONE is the only radio I turn on in the shack now. And, if anything, I am more impressed with it than before. Two Thumbs UP!

K7FD Rating: 2020-08-27
RGO One...another of what will be many 5 star reviews Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Aug 27 2020 update:

I wish to express my thanks to Boris for his prompt service, quickly providing a replacement for a defective module. I must say his response was exceptional!

My RGO One is operating perfectly and is the crown jewel in my line up of gear.

---------



The five star reviews are starting to pile up for the RGO One, so I'll add another to the stack. What a radio!

First off, the customer service from Boris was top notch. My queries were answered quickly. Email response was excellent.

Shipment from overseas took about two weeks. TNT/FedEx tracking exhibited some delays but I was reassured by Boris all was A-OK and on the way. The package arrived to my doorstep in perfect condition. The RGO One is VERY well packaged to make the trip.

First impression when you lift the radio is 'built like a tank.' Rock solid, balanced. Everything about the radio exudes quality. Even the included hand mic is above what you'd expect.

The radio is absolutely beautiful but it's more than a pretty face. All the functions respond as you expect; the encoders that select operating parameters have a solid feel and the VFO knob is smooth as butter. Again, attention to quality really shines on the RGO One.

On air reports have been over the top. When compared to my IC-7610 and FTdx101D on SSB, the RGO One is being reported as having equal audio quality using the included hand mic and even better audio with my condenser boom mic! On CW, reports have been just as satisfying. Reports of a 'nice tone' from several ops. Operationally, the QSK is indeed 'clickless' as advertised. With delay set at zero, keying is totally transparent.

To me, any transceiver is only as good as its receiver and here's where I'm finding the RGO One really shines. No listener fatigue; the receiver is uber quiet. The adjustable BW filter is excellent on both CW and SSB. I could...and will...listen to this radio for hours.

Access to all operating parameters is logical and easy to navigate. The LCD display is sharp and uncluttered. Just sitting on the desk, the RGO One looks totally cool.

I haven't played with the ATU much as my antennas are pretty resonant where I operate. But it appears to find a match very fast on several of my wire antennas where the SWR nudges upwards on band edges.

In summary, the RGO One is one nice transceiver. It easily drives my KPA500 amp and sounds great on transmit and receive. It's simple to operate but offers top of the line performance at a very reasonable price.

John K7FD
DL6URK Rating: 2020-08-17
Fine lightweight transceiver with a great receiver Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The RGO ONE is an excellent 50 watt transceiver. I ordered from Boris, the communication throughout the ordering process was excellent. Even a special request was considered. For "HIFI-SSB" Boris modified the standard quartz filter from 2.7 Khz to 2.85 Khz. This is certainly not self-evident and makes it clear that it is a manufactory product that is built by hand. The receiver sounds great. No ringing at CW. The variable Johnson filter makes it very easy to accommodate different dense occupancy of your amateur radio band, e.g. to react during a contest. The narrowest bandwidth still sounds very good, but with a slightly lower volume. The wide range at SSB - a pleasure. The frontend is very quiet. Each band has its own bandpass, as in the good old days. Individual adjustments to BFO or filter offsets allow a fine tuning of the received or transmitted signal. Quick you need the manual no longer because the operation is logical and requires a maximum of one keystroke to get to the desired function.
Other highlights are certainly the H-mode high dynamic range first RX mixer and the heavy weighted main tuning knob with flywheel effect. My transmission I have checked at other receiver, everything is fine. The knobs from the 3D printer are not my personal taste, I will probably replace them. Optional Plug Ins like NB, AF filters or an antenna tuner are in the works. The development of the transceiver is not finished yet. If you make a price comparison with an Elecraft K2 or Ten Tec Eagle, you come to the conclusion that the RGO ONE is a bargain. After all, you get for 785 euros a built and aligned transceiver, which leaves nearly nothing to be desired.

73, Ralf
W6UXB Rating: 2020-07-27
Absolutely unbelievable! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
First of all I think the radio looks great in a beautiful package. The receiver is so quiet it is unbelievable. On transmit with the stock microphone the audio sounds very slightly compressed very punchy and extremely clear, these are my observations from recordings back from my transmitted signal (thanks W0RIC). All the controls are very intuitive this is one hell of a radio, well worth every penny, mine has all the current options 160/6 and ATU there is a NB to come together with a speech compressor/voice recorder as well as a transverter/separate RX antenna module, everything is plug in modules. All the rest of the reviews of this radio are absolutely spot on. Thanks Boris for a great radio!
WK8S Rating: 2020-07-17
Brilliantly designed, right sized, easy operating, great specs. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I'd been following Boris's (L2ZJR) progress with the RGO One for well over a year. When the opportunity arose in March to purchase one with the ATU and 160/60 options, I jumped on bandwagon. I'm glad I did. This is a well designed and implemented Ham-Band transceiver. The specifications support this claim as does it's performance.
Power from 5-50 watts on all bands. Audio is is natural sounding and bandwidth filtering well implemented.

What I really like is how quiet the receiver is. Unplug RGO's coax and you hear nothing. This test show the receiver is not adding noise to received signals. Try that with most rigs, you'll may be surprised. Plug the RGO's coax back in and you hear the weak signals at the noise floor. Then turn on the filter to hear those signals jump up as the atmospheric noise drops away. It's a CWer's delight with "click-less" smooth transition from transmit to receive selectable from QSK to 1.2 s of delay.

I've owned and built lots of radio over 44 year and this is definitely one of the best especially at this price point.

Even more important is the fantastic support. Boris responds quickly and makes you feel as if you're one of his most important customers.