Xiegu X-6100 HF/50MHz Portable SDR Transceiver User Manual
- June 9, 2024
- XIEGU
Table of Contents
Xiegu X-6100 HF/50MHz Portable SDR Transceiver
Reviewed by Phil Salas, AD5X ad5x@arrl.net
At first glance, the X6100 appears to be a newer version of the X5105 -which is still being sold. The X6100 is about the same size as the X5105. Like the X5105, the X6100 transmits on all ham bands 160 – 6 meters, and has a gen eral-coverage receiver that tunes from 500 kHz – 30 MHz and 50 – 54 MHz.
But there are some significant differences. First, while transmit power is adjustable up to 5 W using the internal battery, up to 10 W is available when using an external power source. And the X6100 has a 2 x 3.4- inch color display with a resolution of 400 x 800 pixels. Besides displaying the normal operating parameters, the spectrum and waterfall displays are also displayed, along with the absolute receive signal level. The full X6100 specifications are shown in Table 1.
Interfaces and Controls
The X6100 is loaded with controls and interface connectors, yet everything is easily accessible. On the left side (see Figure 1) is the BNC antenna connector, and connectors for an 1/Q output (3.5 millimeter, three conductor), and de power (5.5 x 2.5 millimeter). On the right side (see Figure 2) you’ll find a microSD memory card slot, USB-C slave and host ports, an RJ-45 microphone jack, and 3.5 millimeter jacks for an external speaker or headphone (three-conductor), a CW key (three-conductor), and an XPA125B amplifier interface (four-conductor -amp key, ALC and Band Data). On the top of the radio are 12 buttons for changing modes and bands, tuning step setting, ATU enabling -and even a PTT switch so you can use the radio as a handheld. All the buttons are backlit and are easy to read.
The front panel includes 15 buttons and knobs. The five buttons under the display are soft keys whose functions change based on the menu item selected by the MFK (Multi Function Knob). The soft key functions are displayed on the LCD screen. The functions of all other buttons are clearly marked. The tuning knob is dual purpose in that it is also used to change parameters when a menu item is selected. Other than the soft keys and the six buttons at topside right, the other buttons are not multi-purpose -what is labeled is what you get, which makes operating the radio very straightforward.
Power Requirements
The X6100 can be powered from an external 13.8 V de 3 A power supply, or from the internal 7.2 V de 3000 mAh lithium battery. A de power cable terminated by a 5.5 x 2.5 millimeter de plug is supplied for connecting external power. When an external power supply is connected, the X6100 automatically powers itself from that power supply. A low current charging adapter is provided with the radio, however the internal battery will also be charged when the radio is off and an external 13.8 V supply is connected. During the charging process, a front panel green LED flashes about once per second. When charging is complete, the LED stays on continuously if the adapter or external power supply is connected. I found that I could get about 2 hours of casual operating at 5 W before the X6100 shut down due to a low battery. A fully discharged battery takes about 6 hours to charge.
Bottom Line
With up to 10 W of output power, and an internal auto-tuner and lithium
battery, the Xiegu X6100 is a self-contained transceiver in a rugged, compact
package that will appeal to portable operators.
Xiegu X6100
Key Measurements Summary
Manufacturer’s Specifications
Frequency coverage:
- Receive: 0.5 – 30 MHz; 50 – 54 MHz;
- Transmit: 1.8 – 2 MHz; 3 .5 – 3.9 MHz;
- 7 – 7.2 MHz; 10.1 – 10.5 MHz;
- 14- 14.35 MHz; 18.068 – 18.168 MHz;
- 21 – 21.45 MHz; 24.89 – 24.99 MHz;
- 28- 2 9 .7 MHz; 50- 54 MHz
Power requirement: 9 – 15 V de
Transmit: 3 A max.
Receive: 330 mA max.
Measured in the ARRL Lab
Receive: 0.5 – 55 MHz continuous.
Transmit: As specified, plus 5 .331 – 5.405 MHz.
At 13 .8 V de:
Transmit: 2 .35 A (max).
Receive:
570 mA, (no signal, max. volume, max. lights).
570 mA (backlight off).
570 mA (Off, charging internal battery).
As specified.
Receiver
SSB/CW sensitivity:
Noise floor (MOS): -138 dBm.
- 1.8 – 2 MHz (SSB/CW): 0.35 μV
- 2 – 30 MHz (SSB/CW): 0.2 μV
- 50 – 54 MHz (SSB/CW): 0.2 μV
AM sensitivity:
- 0.5 – 2 MHz (AM): 10 μV
- 2 – 30 MHz (AM): 2 μV
- 50 – 54 MHz (AM): 2 μV
- FM sensitivity: For 12 SINAO
- 28 – 30 MHz (FM): 0.22 μV
- 50 – 54 MHz (FM): 0.22 μV
Blocking gain compression dynamic range:
Not specified.
Firmware Updates
I recommend checking for the latest firmware before you begin using the X6100, as updates seem to be coming at a rapid pace. As an example, this X6100, as received from ARRL, had firmware version 1.1.0, but the most recent firmware was 1.4.1. Radioddity maintains the latest X6100 firmware on their website, as well as good step-by-step instructions for the update procedure. However, if you don’t have them, you will need to purchase a microSD card and a microSD-toUSB adapter. Basically, you must copy the latest firmware to the microSD card, and then insert the microSD card into a slot on the X6100. This is a much easier process than that required by the G90 and X5105, and only took me about 5 minutes – plus the time waiting for Amazon to deliver my microSD card and USB adapter!
Some Additional Testing
Transmit power is adjustable in 0.1 W increments from 0.1 – 1 W, and in 1 W
increments from 1 – 5 W on internal battery and 1 -10 W with an external 13.8
V power supply. The first test I did is transmit power versus the transmit
power setting, along with the transmit current when using an external power
supply. The power setting is quite accurate, especially when using an external
power supply. See Table A at www.arrl.org/qst-in-depth
Next, I tested the internal automatic antenna tuner. The X6100 auto tuner is
specified to match up to a 4.5:1 SWR. See Table B at www.arrl.org/qst-in-
depth
Finally, I checked the signal level reading against my Elecraft XG3 signal
generator on 20, 10, and 6 meters. The X6100 displayed levels are quite
accurate. The S-meter readings are also quite accurate, dropping -6 dB/S-unit
when going from S9 to S3. The results are shown in Table C at www.arrl.org
/qst-in-depth
Lab Notes: Xiegu X6100
The ARRL Lab test engineer reports that the radio was a bit of a challenge to test. There were numerous weak receiver birdies (stronger on 6 meters) that were not necessarily strong enough on most bands to present a problem in operation because most were lower than typical band noise, but they made it a challenge to make measurements at the noise floor of the receiver. Some of the test frequencies had to be adjusted by a hundred Hz or so to prevent weak receiver spurious responses from interfering with an accurate measurement of the receiver parameter being tested. The Lab also noticed that although the CW signal rise and fall times are shaped well enough that they will not cause key clicks under most circumstances, when the Lab set the QSK delay to 0 ms, the minimum of the range for which it can be set, the output waveshape changed to almost a square wave, which would generate objectionable key clicks up and down the band. There is no real reason to set the setting lower than 100 ms in CW, as we did not see any improvement in break-in time. Figures A and B show how well the transmitter performs under most circumstances, but don’t set the QSK to 0 ms or you will not be a good neighbor to other hams. (This is the kind of thing the Lab often picks up during the extensive testing it does for all of the transmitters that go through the Product Review process.)- Ed Hare, W1RFl,ARRL Lab Manager
Figure A – CW keying waveform for the Xiegu X6100 showing the first two
dits using external keying. Equivalent keying speed is 60 WPM. The upper trace
is the key closure; the lower trace is the RF envelope. Horizontal divisions
are 10 ms. The transceiver was being operated at 10 W output on the 14 MHz
band, using QSK set to 10 ms. The firstdit rise time is 6.6 ms and the fall
time is 5.9 ms. The second-dit rise time is 6.4 ms and the fall time is 5.7
ms. The first-dit on delay is 15.9 ms; off delay, 13.8 ms. The second-dit on
delay is
14 ms; off delay, 13. 7 ms.
Figure B – Spectral display of the Xiegu X6100 transmitter during keying sideband testing. Equivalent keying speed is 60 WPM using external keying and the default rise time setting. Spectrum analyzer resolution bandwidth is 10 Hz, and the sweep time is 30 seconds. The transmitter was being operated at 10 W PEP output on the 14 MHz band, and this plot shows the transmitter output ±5 kHz from the carrier. The reference level is 0 dBc, and the vertical scale is in decibels.
Figure C – Spectral display of the Xiegu X6100 transmitter output during phase-noise testing. Power output is 10 Won the 14 MHz band (green trace), and 10 Won the 50 MHz band (red trace). The carrier, off the left edge of the plot, is not shown. This plot shows composite transmitted noise 100 Hz to 1 MHz from the carrier. The reference level is -80 dBc/Hz, and the vertical scale is 10 dB per division.
Operating the X6100
As you can see in Figure 3, the display is quite easy to read and provides a
tremendous amount of simultaneous information. Virtually everything you need
to know is shown – including the receive spectrum, filter bandwidth,
waterfall, and all the different operating parameters. The controls and
buttons are pretty much self-explanatory, though the dual-function buttons and
controls need a bit more explaining.
The six buttons at topside right (see Figure 4) are dual function. The normal
function, displayed on the button, is enabled by tapping the button. The
secondary function, as labeled above or below the button, is enabled by
pressing and holding the button. As an example, to enable the ATU (Automatic
Tuner), tap the ATU button. For the ATU to tune, press and hold the ATU
button. The volume control, when tapped, changes function from AF Gain to RF
Gain, to Squelch.
CW Operation
Then it was time to have fun with the X6100. I began with my favorite mode –
CW. Tapping the KEY button permits you to adjust keying speed, key type,
iambic keyer mode, CW tone frequency, and monitor tone level. Tap KEY again
and you can set the break-in time delay, the dot/dash ratio, and turn the CW
trainer on and off. The internal keyer speed range is 5 – 50 WPM. Since I
adjust keying speed frequently, I normally leave the KEY1 menu up. You can
select either CW or CWR (reverse) with the cw mode key on the top of the
radio. There are three default filter bandwidths: 500 Hz, 250 Hz, and 150 Hz.
Each of these filter band-widths can be readjusted to suit the user. Break-in
delay can be set from O – 1 seconds in 10 ms increments. However, the delay
will never be less than 100 ms due to the SOR signal processing latency. I set
the break-in delay to 250 ms to minimize the T/R relay clicking. I operated CW
on 40, 30, and 20 meters. The CW reports were all excellent, with no reports
of key clicks or chirps.
SSB Operation
I operated SSB a bit on 40 meters, but mostly on 20 and 17 meters. Ten Wis a
pretty marginal power level for SSB on 40 meters, but it is reasonably
effective on the higher bands. The three SSB default receive filter bandwidths
are 2700 Hz, 2400 Hz, and 1800 Hz. Again, the filter bandwidths can be
modified easily if desired. All transmit audio reports were complimentary.
There is no speech processor yet, and the only transmit adjustment you can
make is microphone gain.
Digital Modes
The X6100 can be operated with a computer and sound card for RTTY, PSK, JT65,
or any of the other popular digital modes. The computer interface is via the
DEV port on the X6100, using the supplied USB-C/ USB-A cable. There is a
built-in decoder for RTTY, CW, and BPSK. The RTTY and BPSK decoders work well,
but the CW decoder is still a work in process.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
I found the X6100 to be a very easy and enjoyable transceiver to operate. And
because of the SOR architecture, more capabilities and features will
undoubtedly be added over time. Finally, for some reason there are two user
groups: https://groups.io/g/x6100, and https://groups.io/g/xiegu-x6100.
It’s worth joining both groups to keep up with operating information and
firmware updates. You can also join a Xiegu X6100 Facebook group at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/339307487629712.
Manufacturer: Xiegu. Distributed and supported in the US by a few US
distributors. Price: X6100 HF transceiver $639.
