They work on RX and TX from VLF to 6GHz, making them ideal for experiments, especially with an external RF amp.
Output power is in the low milliwatt range and I expect a low pass filter would need to be added for "on air" use e.g. as a beacon.
I see MLS in the UK supplies them.
One of my friends on 365project lives in the Faroe Is. He posts some amazing photos.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faroe_Islands
UPDATE 1925z: 153 stations have spotted me. See map to see where I was spotted today. QRT soon.
My beacon has been on since about 0856z.
UPDATE 1929z: 13 stations have spotted me. One looks like F2 and the others probably Es. QRT soon.
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| Stations spotting me on 5W 6m FT8 this evening |
UPDATE 2107z: 116 stations have spotted me. Plenty of Es.. Most of my activity is now on FT8 or WSPR. I blame it on my poor voice, but generally there is a move away from other modes on HF and VHF/UHF. In the end I suspect we are moving into a future in which amateur radio may not exist or be very different. QRT soon.
Wimo has a video on YouTube about the FTX-1 Field. They did this before the radio arrived in Europe. It is quite a decent overview of the product.
It is quite a respectable radio but far too expensive in the UK and, I presume, mainland Europe. It comes without GPS and Bluetooth. If it was £999 or less I might have considered it, but at this utterly stupid price I am afraid, like many, I shall give it a miss.
For a long time I have said Yaesu has lost its way. They make some good products, many of which I have owned, but for some time they have appeared to have been drifting. I have serious concerns about their future in this market. I hope I am very wrong and the FTX-1 drops in price a long way!
These two leaders met in Alaska yesterday. They failed to reach an agreement on peace in Ukraine.
I gather the Ukrainian leader is travelling to Washington for talks with President Trump on Monday. I hope the president treats him better than the last time he went to Washington which won President Trump no friends around the world. It was utterly disgraceful.
We all want peace in Ukraine. I hope a settlement can be reached that is fair to everyone so all think they have won.
In my mind I think something like Germany after WW2 might work: clearly Russia has influence in the east of Ukraine and in Crimea. Maybe (for now) there is Western Ukraine and Eastern Ukraine. In 30 years time things could be very different as in Germany.
Whatever the final outcome Ukraine MUST be involved.
