FX4-CR: No Buyer's Remorse
I want to talk about the FX4-CR Transceiver from BG2FX. Now, before we dive in, a quick disclaimer: I don't work for BG2FX, and they're not paying me to say this. This is just my honest take on a piece of gear that has seriously impressed me. I spent my own money on this gear and I don't regret it at all.
First off, let's just get it out of the way. This thing is small. We're talking palm-of-your-hand, pocket-sized small. But don't let the size fool you. This isn't some chintzy toy radio you'd find on a dusty shelf. It's a genuine, full-featured HF transceiver that absolutely punches above its weight class.
The build quality on this thing is simply amazing. You pick it up, and you can feel the attention to detail. The machined aluminum case has this perfect heft to it, and everything just fits together seamlessly. The buttons feel solid, the VFO knob is excellent for what it is, and there's just no play in any of the components. It feels like a piece of art, a finely crafted piece of kit, as some might say. And that's before you even power it on. When you do power it on, the little color screen comes to life, and that's where the magic really starts to happen. It's a full-on SDR with a waterfall and spectrum display that gives you a real-time visual of the band. It's not just a gimmick; it's a genuine tool that makes finding signals and navigating the bands an absolute pleasure. The software is remarkably well-thought-out, with a clean and intuitive user interface that makes sense even for someone new to this kind of radio. The fact that the creator, BG2FX, is so responsive with firmware updates just proves how much they care about this product and their community.
Now, let's talk about what this tiny powerhouse can do. Despite its diminutive size, it can push out a respectable 20 watts. That's a huge deal for a portable radio. Most radios this size are QRP (low power), and while that's great for some things, having that extra punch of 20 watts can make all the difference, especially when band conditions are less than ideal. I've taken this thing to the beach and hiking with a simple wire antenna, and I've consistently made contacts where I never would have thought possible with such a small rig. It just works, and it works well.
I do have to address the heat, though. Pushing 20 watts from a package this small means it gets hot. Like, "don't leave it on your lap" hot. I was a little concerned about it at first, but in all my use, it's never actually overheated or shut down. Still, for peace of mind, I did grab the little fan kit the creator designed, which replaces the side panels, updates the look and functionality with the aluminum guards and a teeny built in fan. It's a simple, elegant solution, and it definitely helps keep things cool.
Now, a couple of things it doesn't have. There's no internal automatic antenna tuner, and there's no built-in battery. But honestly, given the form factor, that's not a surprise. Everything inside this radio is packed in tighter than a drum. There's just no physical space for it. The lack of an internal battery is a non-issue, though. With how small the radio is, throwing a small external LiFePO4 battery in your pack is no big deal at all. It's a small trade-off for a radio this portable.
Speaking of value, let's talk about the price. You can get one of these for under $600. When you consider the quality of the components, the software, the build, and the incredible performance, you have to wonder how the profit margin on this thing isn't in the single digits. It's an insane amount of value for the money, and it's clear that the person behind this radio is passionate about getting good gear into the hands of hams without breaking the bank.
So, who is this radio for? It's for the ham who wants a ridiculously capable, highly portable HF rig that can do more than just 5 watts on CW. Mostly, it's for the person who appreciates a piece of engineering that is built with care and attention to detail. This isn't just a radio; it's a testament to what's possible when a creator puts their heart and soul into a project. It's an absolute game-changer for portable operations, and I can't recommend it enough.
If you're convinced, head on over to https://bg2fx.com/fx-4cr-transceiver-prod and pick yours up.