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Reviews For: HB-1A by BD4RG

Category: QRP Radios (5 watts or less)

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Review Summary For : HB-1A by BD4RG
Reviews: 32MSRP: about US$260
Description:
3 band portable qrp transceiver with SWL capabilities
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00324.5
ZS6BNE Rating: 2017-05-23
Excellent ooutdoors fun rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I was able to find a HB1A locally and unused but it needed some work on the LCD display. It wasn't an easy job but I had success in the end. While doing the replacement I had scratched L4, a 2.2 uH inductor which affected both TX and RX. I found the fault using a scope tracing the DDS signal. I replaced it with a 1.1 uH inductor which is all I had in the spares box. I was amazed at the reception capability of this radio on 40m and 20m. Sensitive too! SSB and CW have great audio using an external powered speaker. My feedback on the repair can be seen here https://zs6bne.wordpress.com/2017/05/19/youkits-hb1a-replacing-the-lcd-module/

73 de Eddie ZS6BNE
K9MA Rating: 2015-12-03
Poor Manual Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've just been playing with the HB-1A MKII in hopes of showing an elderly ham how to use it. While the radio seems well designed, the manual is extremely poor, in part because of the language problem. It seemed the best approach was to just completely re-write it. I mainly cleaned up the original, but I added a few things I had to discover by trial and error. At any rate, I'm happy to share it at the link below.


http://sdellington.us/hr/HB1A_K9MA.pdf


Note that I have no connection with Youkits, and can make no guaranty as to the accuracy of this document. (Youkits did not respond to my offer to edit some of their manuals gratis.)

I welcome feedback on additions and corrections, especially concerning behavior which is not covered in the original manual and has been discovered in use.

73,

Scott K9MA
KU3X Rating: 2015-11-23
Great radio for its size and cost Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have the Ten Tec R4020 which is the same radio. For what you pay for this little radio and what it can do, it’s just great. I pack it up in a small camera bag alone with a 12 foot long resonant 20 meter dipole, Vibroplex Jr Warrior paddles, tiny speaker and make sure the internal batteries are charged. I then toss it in the saddle bags on my motorcycle and look for cozy placed to stop and set up for an afternoon of fun. The radio has never given me any issues. I like it so much I just purchased the HB-1B MK3 that covers 15 to 40 meters. The HB-1B MK3 has a better internal battery and it can be charged without taking the battery our of the unit. I’ve also used both radios from the shack and sitting in a chair in my back yard.

http://www.ku3x.net/portable-qrp/ten-tec-r4020

Barry, KU3X/QRP
KC0EEP Rating: 2015-10-31
Poor lifespan Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased this rig based upon the many outstanding reviews that I read. I haven't had time to use it much, but tried to today. Remember, I haven't used it much, and yet, when I was having no success, I finally noted how loose the antenna connection was. And then I figured out the issued...it wasn't loose, the connection was totally broken inside. Given how little I have used it, and I'm very careful with my amateur radio stuff - this is ridiculous.
N2KTV Rating: 2015-08-31
Great Radio for the $$ Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Received the HB-1A MKII three days ago and have made about six qso's with the rig on 40 and 20. I am especially impressed by the receiver sensitivity and selectivity. I have had many low cost homebrew and kit qrp rigs over the years and the receiver has always been the weak link. Not so with the HB-1A - subjectively it seems as good as my FT-817 and Icom 718. I am looking forward to taking this little rig camping
IZ8FNY Rating: 2014-09-21
Little great jewel Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am using the HB-1A MK2 that operates on 40,20 and also 30m (after a simple mod). It's a great performer. With a simple wire of 7 meters indoor (and a LC tuner) I made QSO with Europe stations receiving reports 539...549, not bad. The MK2 has built in a simple SWR meter that helps in tuning and measure also forward/reflected power. Anxious to operate with an external antenna and portable!
AF2DX Rating: 2012-06-15
This QRP rig is more then a *5* Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I was very lucky and purchased an almost brand new HB1B.
I have been using it with the Super Hustler mobile set up and on the good days I work a lot of stations.
I always get 559 to 579 reports.
I worked Netherlands and Ireland and for a mobile set up and 5 watts,you just can't beat it.
I have the OK to put any antenna up in a historic area as long as I keep away from the building so I see there is a large A frame roof supported with large poles and they said I can use that also when it's raining.
So I looked at all those tall trees and if I can get a dipole up to 50 feet then that HB1B will sound like a KW because with the mobile setup I am even impressed as to how well others hear it.
I also have the Ten-Tec 2 band and it works just as well.
These out of the box ready to go gets an 5+ A1 from me.
BOB
AF2Q

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Earlier 5-star review posted by AF2DX on 2012-01-01

I first had the 3 band but for some reason power dropped down on 20 meters after a 30 second key down.
So I let that go then went to Ten Tec and picked up the 2 band rig.
Compared to the PFR3 the band width seems a bit wider and that's going by my ears.
Indoors the RX seems more prone to pick up the QRM from the building and that seems louder.
But out in the car,with my mobile Super Hustler antenna the rig worked like a dream,Beautiful display,built in keyer and CW that sounded great with the ear buds that I use.
My 1st qso with this rig was with a VE3 ham just above NY State line and looking up the call it was just under 1,000 miles.
Not bad at all with internal batteries and 4 watts showing.
I then switched to 20 meters,changed the antenna coil,resonated the antenna so no tuner was needed and this time I worked another VE ham,but this guy MIKE was in VE7 land.
He was just so impressed and I even worked him through some other ham who was right on frequency and Mike said he is always running a KW an just could not believe my 5 watts was heard so well.
Don't ask me what rig I would let go the PFR3 or the HB1A because their both fantastic rigs.
Now all three of my KX3 rigs are collecting dust:-)
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Earlier 5-star review posted by AF2DX on 2010-08-05

I purchased my rig used.
It seemed to be built well but I had a defective trimmer cap for the adjustment on the final.
I then spotted where the thin wires to ground out the crystals were not there but the rig seemed OK.
I listened a lot then one day I worked France twice and later I worked a ham in the Netherlands and tonight I worked I1MMR in italy with a 12 volt external battery and my indoor three foot MAG LOOP.
He was right on 7.020.80 and I answered his CW and he came right back.
I never had to touch the RIT at all during our QSO.
I found the rig to be very small and pack a big punch
Support from Yimin and BU XIANZHI to be EXCELLENT especially when I purchased the rig used.
The rig just takes some getting used to and it's in my go bag at all times.
I rate this a 5 STAR + because the rig does what it's supposed to do and support is EXCELLENT
BOB
AF2Q
WU0R Rating: 2012-03-29
Nice unit works fine Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Got my HB1A used from a fellow off Ebay. Didn't have success buying the new HB1B and for the $ difference, the only real differential is the addition of 75 meters on the B. Seems to work fine, manual is a bit thin but otherwise, no real complaints. Somewhat intuitive to use and a few functions will require familiarity with the "instruction sheet".
EX_W3UT Rating: 2012-01-09
Quality QRP Tranceiver Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased the 2 band version Youkits HB1A from Canada, similar to the Ten Tec R4020. I previously received two HB1B 4 band units from China that were both defective so I was a bit apprehensive. This is one nice little radio. Full of features, 4 watts output and a great sounding receiver. A fun qrp rig to operate in such a small package with a full digital display. For the price and features, this radio is a great value for a quality qrp transceiver.
AE3T Rating: 2010-09-22
Great fun Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased this direct from China on E Bay and received it 4 days later! I experience two minor problems, lock up in Tx mode which appears to be SWR related, but even with a good match of 1.4:1 this lock up occurs at times. Just have to cycle power to clear. The other problem is loss of Rx sensitivity at times.

Overall this radio works great and I have already logged over 100 QSO's. I would like to have a CW filter width of 250Hz, but can operate well at 400Hz. Fun to operate and a very good value for the price.