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Reviews For: APACHE-LABS ANAN-G2 (no screen)

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

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Review Summary For : APACHE-LABS ANAN-G2 (no screen)
Reviews: 5MSRP: $3,495.00
Description:
Introducing the ANAN-G2, the new generation ultra high performance SDR Advantages of ANAN-G2: Processing Capability: The ANAN-G2 is equipped with a large FPGA boasting an impressive 930 GMAC/s of processing capability and a tightly integrated on-board Quad Core SoC. This substantial processing power enhances its ability to handle complex tasks and sophisticated signal processing algorithms required to implement PureSignal, Diversity Reception and the world's most advanced noise mitigation algorithms such as NR2! Broadcast Quality Audio: The device features an XLR balanced microphone input with a built-in preamp, guaranteeing broadcast-quality audio performance. This feature is advantageous for users seeking high-quality audio in their transmissions. PureSignal ensures that your IMD products are way down and not causing any splatter on the bands, did you know that the G2 has 20dB better IMD than even a Class A transmitter whilst maintaining the efficeincy of a Class AB design.
Product is in production
More Info: https://apache-labs.com/al-products/1062/ANAN-G2-HF--6M-100W-Ultra-High-Performance-SDR-Without-LCD-Display.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
1555
N7KD Rating: 2024-11-16
Outstanding Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I received my G2 several days ago and it took a while to set it up. I am driving it with an Intel NUC. This review may be as much a review of the free Thetis software but the fact is that the G2 hardware platform includes the resources to support it. Thetis software is amazing but has a challenging learning curve for the many tweakable features and I think it will take me quite a while to fully understand its capabilities. The numerous YouTube videos are very helpful. One thing that absolutely stands out is the receiver noise reduction; it is almost magical, especially NR2, the maximum noise reduction feature of Thetis. The noise reduction in other rigs I have had including Icom 7610, Flex 6700 and Flex 6600 is adjustable and begins to distort the audio as the noise reduction level is increased. Not so with the G2 running Thetis. To me the only drawbacks are minor: the lack of provision to tune to a frequency on the spectrum display with a double mouse click (a Thetis issue, not a G2 issue) and the two-step shutdown procedure necessary to avoid bricking the Raspberry Pi inside the G2.
As an aside, getting the radio was a large headache. It was initially shipped in July and was lost by FedEx by no fault of Apache Labs. The replacement arrived several days ago. It has been worth the wait.
W1SWL Rating: 2024-07-01
Wow... Just WOW! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
First off my other radio in the shack is a Yaesu FTdx101MP which has been with me for 3 years. I can say that the Apache Labs ANAN G2 is equal to the 101MP's receiver. However the critical factor is that the G2 (black face) uses THETIS software as the primary human interface to the radio.

Thetis software (Windows) is remarkable. And after one month of use I am getting more used to it and appreciate greatly the features it provides. The noise blanker is wonderful. I am now just trying out the real Diversity Reception with a second antenna. Also the ability to create, adjust and position notch filters is outstanding.

I have an RFKIT RF2K-S amplifier that is Pure Signal ready and my signal is essentially brick walled vertical with no splatter.

The THETIS software is very feature rich with many things one can tinker with, tune, turn on or off, and thus it provides the operator with literally YEARS of experimentation and fun.

I shall check back here in 6 months to update this review.
From order placement to receiving the rig was 32 calendar days, by the way (May to June 2024).

N2QM Rating: 2024-05-20
Fantastic Transceiver Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have the G2 with the monitor. Resolution is great. I’m using an outboard i7 Nuc with Thetis software. I’m blown away with the tx/rx capabilities. The G2 hears what my Kw 890S misses. Once you master Thetis, your audio will be superb. Pure signal is amazing. Diversity receive is unbelievable. I’m using a 246’ doublet with a W6LVP rotatable loop up 12’ as my 2nd receiver. Signal increase 5-10 S-units with no increase in noise. I’ve just begun to use the Rasberry Pi HPSDR. It’s a useful program but far below Thetis capabilities. I’ve seen many complaints on the web regarding problems with delivery. Personally, I have had no issues. Delivery was flawless. Just a note: I believe that the G2 runs much cooler with the outboard computer.
G4BIM Rating: 2024-01-10
7000i7 versus G2 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have owned and operated SDR transceivers for probably over 10 years now.

Radios like the Flex 5000 the Flex 6700 signature and more recently and currently the Apache labs
ANAN 7000i7 MkII.

Over the last few days I have been evaluating on an A to B basis the 7000i7 against the new Annan G2, a radio that I fully intended to replace the 7000i7.

I haven't exactly carried out a 'Sherwood' on it, but then how often do Sherwoods results bear no resemblance to the actual performance of the Radio in real time day-to-day operating.

There are very few bad radios made today, especially where they are using direct conversion digital techniques.

So I give the G2 a 5 star rating, mainly against what I know of the performance of the previous and current legacy radios like say even the TS990 and the Icom 7851 for instance.

However, I am bound to make the following points...

It seems to me that Apache labs have tried to cut corners and build the G2 to a budget.

Replacing the excellent Intel NUC i5 and i7 Windows operating modules used in the 7000, with a cheap and struggling 'Raspberry Pi', this does not impress me. Seems to me a false economy and a misguided change.

The scrapping of the long established simple, proven and rugged 'Phono' line plugs, in favour of the notoriously flimsy, fiddly and unreliable miniature jack sockets. How many Windows laptops have you known over the years where the first mode of failure was the miniature head phone or microphone jack socket....

Then there is the dodgy procedure for shutting down and turning off the G2, which involves a critical timing process to avoid bricking the raspberry pi's operating system. Surely this could have been designed and built to be seamless and automated.

I am not impressed by the misleading statement either, regarding the so-called XLR audio input (actually its a cheap quarter-inch stereo jack socket), are they so tight for profit that they cannot fit a proper professional XLR socket or even a miniature XLR socket if they were that tight for space.

No USB C connections, even the 7000 has one of those.

But hey, it can't be all bad...

Yes it is head and shoulders above the competition as a receiver and a transmitter in most respects.

Set up properly the transmit audio can be close to 'Broadcast Quality', sadly a term however, you hear grossly misused everyday on the bands.

The recovered SSB audio from the receiver makes all but the worst 'legacy' transmissions sound very good, even pleasant to listen to sometimes.

Then there is the 'Pure Signal' or 'Pre Distortion', wonderful, achieving over 50dB on the 7000 and an incredible 60dB plus on the G2. Nice clean near distortion free, no splatter transmissions !!

Also the NB2 noise blanker is marginally better on the G2.

But, to be honest all in all, I can't say that across the board the G2 is much better than the 7000, it isn't currently, so for me it doesn't warrant a swop.... So its going back and I am keeping the 7000i7 !!!

Finally, a sound piece of advise given to me recently by a highly respected Amateur with a wealth of 'SDR's radios, before I made my purchase. Don't sell your 7000i7 !!!!!
VK4SX Rating: 2023-12-15
No more knobs rigs for this old guy Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Ok I added the G2 header some time back, so now time to leave a review,
Absolutely Bl*##*Y FANTASTIC

Please fill in with all of the appropriate connotations,

and you would still come up short!!!!???.

Fantastic makes other rigs look like a wheelbarrow,
& yes, have had 7851, 7610, K3-S, FTDX3K, FTDX 5K, ELAD, FLEX, TENTEC OMNI VII, ORION, OMNI VI, FT1000D, FT1000MP, FT1000MP MKV, and a host of other ICOM 761, 765, 775, 737, YAESU, KW etc, only other close runner is another APACHE Labs ANAN series, namely the 7000 DLE MK II.

Now that ICOM have activated a PURE SIGNAL source to the 7610, This would be maybe the only other close package with PS2.

Suck it and see,
Dennis vk4sx