Lab599 Discovery TX-500

[MI0PYN]

I've been looking with some interest at the Lab599 TX-500. It looks like a very interesting proposition for anyone who like operating outdoors.
It certainly looks a little more robust than the Elecraft KX2 and KX3 (which are excellent radios) and the current draw is also very frugal.
Once it has been released and shipped generally I'll be looking at real world reviews very carefully indeed, as I suspect it may be a rig that can stand up to my ham-fistedness.

As I tend to use resonant dipoles, the lack of a tuner does not bother me, and 10W should be plenty from where I tend to work portable (right on the beach and at the top of hills and mountains). I think I'd also be less paranoid taking it with me camping by boat than the Elecraft.

The initial reviews on Youtube from people who generally don't spout too much rubbish seem to be reasonably positive, so, as I said, looks very interesting.

 

[CT2GXW]

I've been checking it for a while, too. The thing I like the less, from what I've seen so far, are those connectors. I get the idea of being water and dust free, but for the CW key and audio plugs, they should have used standard 3.5mm plugs. With rubber caps, it wouldn't be a problem to use in the field.

I've been tempted to go the outdoor QRP route, but gave up in the meantime. It's a very solitary activity, and I prefer to spend free time with the family, and play with the radios at night, when everybody is asleep. Also, I'm not very experienced on CW, so some extra power is welcome to make contacts.

 

[MI0PYN]

I've been checking it for a while, too. The thing I like the less, from what I've seen so far, are those connectors.

I actually don't mind the connectors, I'm happy enough to make up my adaptors, and what it lacks in ease, it makes up for in robustness. The GX12-x connectors are widely used in industry and are easily sourced online, if I do get one I'll be making up a few spares.

A GX12-5 plug on one end and a 3.5mm jack on the other is only marginally bigger than one with a jack on both ends, and most of my keys have either a 3.5mm socket on them or a short flying lead terminating in a moulded 3.5mm socket. Makes it really quick and easy to swap keys too.

I prefer to spend free time with the family, and play with the radios at night, when everybody is asleep. Also, I'm not very experienced on CW, so some extra power is welcome to make contacts.

I'm in much the same boat, but as we do a lot of our family things by the sea, camping, I do find that it's nice to take an hour and play radio when the kids are digging their way to China on the beach. There is also something nice about sitting by a campfire at night, and having the radio there and making contacts. The power I've not found an issue, the 10W is more than I had when I was starting on SSB, and on CW it's loads, especially if you're right by the sea.

 

[CT2GXW]

I get that, Stefan. If you and your family spend time on outdoor activities, then it totally makes sense. The rig is very well designed, and there's a video on youtube showing a future possibility of having a battery attached to the back. That would be great.

I hope they find a good european distributor, with good technical support. That will be important to give confidence to future customers to buy their product.

 

[MI0PYN]

So far the European distributor appears to be PileupDX. I've never dealt with them, but as they do not have any in stock yet, the point is academic at this stage anyway

 

[CT2GXW]

I see it's already available to order, didn't know that. The price is reasonable, I think. Almost half the price of the Icom-705...

 

[Ham4CW]

I wonder why those connector types were used? :-*

The whole thing has a very military look/feel about it. Something that also puzzles me is the choice of a black and white display. These days colour displays are ten a penny, so it comes across as retro to use what appears to be an older type LCD display. (Unless it's some mil-spec job that can withstand a direct hit from a nuke! ;D )

73, Mark...

 

[MI0PYN]

I gather that these connectors were used for weatherproofing. That addresses the biggest issue most had with the KX2/KX3, which is that they have no waterproofing at all.

I actually like the screen, simple and unfussy. The KX2/KX3 (which I see as the closest competition) also have a monochrome screen, and the colour screens tend to have higher current draw. This rig seems to have a slightly lower current draw than the Elecraft units.

All in all, for a portable rig with low current draw and good weatherproofing, it's compelling. Not least because it's cheaper than the Elecraft options. They've just announced a bolt on battery option and have said that a bolt on ATU is being planned.

It has a lot of promise I think.

 

[MI0PYN]

Delivery date from PileupDX has slipped to middle of January as they are having issues getting the CE Mark paperwork sorted apparently:

CE certification takes longer than we expected. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic it took a long time to identify a “notified body” to perform measurements and evaluation according to EU legislation. The process is now moving forward but deliveries will be delayed.

I've bit the bullet and pre-ordered one, in the meantime hopefully there will be some on air reviews from the US where they're already shipping it seems. If anything seriously problematic comes up, I can always cancel my pre-order.