This episode is part 2 of a two-part special, where we bring you much of the action from this year’s National Hamfest rally at Newark in Nottinghamshire, UK. We feature news from some of the big equipment manufacturers, as well as the smaller companies and individuals bringing exciting amateur radio technology to our shacks plus the latest updates from our sponsors, the Radio Society of Great Britain. Part 1 of this two-part special can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUHlHkgkNnY&t=1185s Visit our website: http://www.txfactor.co.uk

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It’s been a while, but we’re back with our first full TX Factor episode since the summer of 2024. It’s part one of a two-part special featuring all the action from National Hamfest 2025 at Newark, Nottinghamshire, UK. Hamfest is the UK’s premier amateur radio rally and it’s taken two episodes to ensure TX Factor covers as much of the action from the two-day event as possible. In this first show we talk with Chris Danby G0DWV, National Hamfest’s chair about the history and organisation of the event. We spend time with Karl Brazier G7AFT, Technical Sales Manager of Yaesu UK about, well, you know what! Plus, there’re chats with Steve Thomas M1ACB, General Manager of the RSGB about how the Society continues to face up to the demands of the modern amateur radio community, including news of a brand new smartphone app for RadCom readers - and much more! National Hamfest has its own website, where details and booking info for next year’s show will appear here https://www.nationalhamfest.org.uk/ Yaesu UK has a very good site telling you all about their products at www.yaesu.co.uk and currently featuring the FTX-1Field and FTX-1optima https://www.yaesu.co.uk Get a good idea of the full functionality of the FTX-1 series by downloading the official Yaesu manual here https://www.yaesu.com/Files/4CB893D7-1018-01AF-FA97E9E9AD48B50C/FTX-1_OM_ENG_EH084M201_2506E-DS.pdf The Gibralter Amateur Radio Society has a web site here https://www.gibradio.net/index.html We produced a video with the RSGB explaining why amateur radio is a great hobby for young people. It’s ideal for showing at events promoting the hobby or for sharing with individual groups or organisations you think might be interested. You can view Amateur Radio a 21st Century Hobby, here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x6x_6mDVlQ The RSGB has an extensive web site, full of information, great videos and links to all the various resources the society offer the radio amateur here https://rsgb.org/main/ The TX Factor website: http://txfactor.co.uk

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Bob McCreadie G0FGX and Mike Marsh G1IAR inspect the recent iteration of Icom's ID-52 hand-held transceiver - the ID-52 Plus. Ever intrigued to find out what's new, they set about to seek out the differences. The Plus version of this popular handie from Icom has introduced a USB C interface, a new bluetooth chipset and many other enhancements. For full details see the Icom UK's website at www.icomuk.co.uk www.txfactor.co.uk

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The TX Factor team visits a dairy farm on the outskirts of Sidmouth in East Devon. Not just cows and chickens, but they find a brand new Yaesu DR2-XE Fusion enabled C4FM repeater installation, designed and constructed by the newly-formed GB3SW Repeater Group. Bob McCreadie G0FGX discovers how this project came about and learns more about the challenges of getting a new repeater installation underway on an existing site. GB3SW Repeater Output: 145.7125 MHz Repeater Input: 145.1125 MHz Analogue CTCSS Access Tone: 77Hz C4FM Yaesu Fusion Digital Voice Enabled www.txfactor.co.uk

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Watch Bob McCreadie G0FGX's foray into another newly-released product from Icom. This time it's the IC-PW2 1kW linear amplifier. What a beast! Yet it comes with a beautifully compact remote control unit that sits unabashed on your shack bench while the main amp can be placed in a more suitable location. Bob gives this linear a good run for its money! https://icomuk.co.uk http://txfactor.co.uk

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Bob McCreadie G0FGX from TX Factor takes a long, hard look at Icom's latest transceiver. At first the IC-7760 might look a heavy-weight in the world of HF/ 50MHz, all-mode radios but has a compact footprint when its head unit is connected via the LAN. It terms of functionality, the IC-7760 certainly pulls a punch when it comes to functionality and performance. Watch Bob's extensive review and find out more about this showstopper of a rig! https://icomuk.co.uk http://txfactor.co.uk

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Bob McCreadie G0FGX from TX Factor demonstrates how the Groundstation 2.0 from DX Patrol is an excellent choice for getting operational on the QO-100 geostationary satellite. Bob looks at the hardware and software needed to achieve your first QSO at home or out mobile. https://dxpatrol.pt/produto/dxpatrol-full-duplex-qo-100-groundstation/ http://www.txfactor.co.uk

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We present you with a dilemma! Whether to watch Euro 2024, the headliner act at Glastonbury, study the manifestos of the UK political parties, or . . . to sit back and watch the latest episode from TX Factor. The choice is yours. However, this latest show will keep, so there's no need to rush. In this programme, we look at the latest device from Icom. It's the IC-R15 communications receiver. Bob and Mike discuss how best to configure the Anytone BT-01 bluetooth microphone with your Anytone AT-D578 - a boon for mobile operating. And, of course, part 2 of our two-part feature on operating via the QO-100 satellite with the Groundstation 2 from DX Patrol. We hope, the best team wins (political party and the football!). TX Factor is sponsored by the Radio Society of Great Britain. http://www.txfactor.co.uk

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Bob G0FGX demonstrates the Groundstation 2 from DX Patrol in the first of a two-part feature on operating via the QO-100 geostationary satellite. He looks at the hardware and software needed to achieve your first QSO at home or out mobile. We visit the new QTH of the Sidmouth Amateur Radio Society and meet Dave Lee G6XUV who helped SARS to secure a derelict former sports social club from the local town council and renovate it into a community hub and club QTH. Bob reviews the latest mobile transceiver from Yaesu - the FTM-500D and demonstrates the many advanced features of this versatile FM and digital rig. As always, we have the TX Factor free-to-enter draw with a chance to win three RSGB publications. TX Factor is sponsored by the Radio Society of Great Britain http://www.txfactor.co.uk/ https://rsgb.org/ https://www.yaesu.com/ https://dxpatrol.pt/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/1207964666698144/

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We’re beaming (almost) live across the airwaves with microwatts of broadband energy to bring you the long-awaited show 29 of TX Factor. In this programme we increase the power to up to ten Watts when Bob, Dave and Noel head to the Wiltshire hills with a pair of Icom IC-905 all-mode transceivers to see what can be achieved. Bob takes the TX Factor cameras to the heart of England to the UK’s last remaining shortwave transmission station and ramps up the power to a staggering 250 kilowatts. Woofferton, near Ludlow, is the home to some venerable Marconi senders from the 1960s still beaming programmes across the globe. Oh, and there’s a free-to-enter draw. TX Factor is sponsored by the RSGB. http://www.txfactor.co.uk

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It’s been over a year since our last episode was released so we’re trying to make up for lost time by releasing show number 28 almost eight years after our first show back in February of 2014. Where have the years gone?! In this show, Bob and Mike get to grips with constructing a digital voice modem using an MMDVM module kit and Raspberry Pi Zero, and Bob reviews the long-awaited ID-52 5W hand-held transceiver from Icom. As always there’s a chance to win a bundle of books from the RSGB in our free-to-enter draw. Don’t forget we also provide a podcast of the GB2RS news every week. Details of how to download or subscribe are on our website: http://www.txfactor.co.uk

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Another post-lockdown special? - Indeed! And we hope you are safe and well and looking forward to some TX Factor action. In this final show of 2020, we visit the home of a well-known and long-established amateur radio aficionado Don Field G3XTT. A year ago Don moved to a new QTH near Wells in Somerset, and back in March we visited him to find out how he’s settled in. Bob and Mike get to grips with setting up an OpenSpot Gateway for mobile use. And, we hear from RSGB General Manager Steve Thomas M1ACB on the amazing media response to this summer’s amateur radio revival during the lockdown period. All this and a free-to-enter draw!

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A post-lockdown special - well, not really! Just a bumper edition of TX Factor that was planned for March 2020, but due to the Covid-19 restrictions never quite happened! We hope you are all safe and well, and enjoying the summer opportunities for amateur radio despite the various restrictions upon us. Back in February we dropped in for tea and biscuits at the new(ish) QTH of Tim Kirby GW4VXE to learn more about his passion for all things VHF / UHF. Also in February, Bob and Mike fitted a Radio Analog PTRX-7300 RF interface module into Bob’s beloved IC-7300, and, yes, can it be possibly true . . . bang up-to-date, Bob reviews one of the first Icom IC-705 SDR QRP all-mode transceivers in the country. We hope you enjoy the show! The items covered in the ML&S ad include the MyDEL MP-705 PSU, the mAT-705 automatic antenna tuner and the Super Antenna MP1DX-MAX portable antenna package. All excellent accessories for the new Icom IC-705 SDR QRP transceiver. Full details at www.hamradio.co.uk.

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A look at more new and innovative AR products from this year’s Hamfest, including a potted history of the ever-popular and much revered range of transceivers and kits from Electraft with co-founder Eric Swartz WA6HHQ. In this modern era of connectivity, we take the ever-present Internet for granted; it’s always there and continues to deliver our data from A to B without issue. But what would happen if that vital link failed? We visit Southampton and Portsmouth on the UK’s south coast to see how two city councils, assisted by a group of dedicated amateurs, plan to maintain their communications infrastructure via radio links alone, should the Internet go down. The products advertised in this episode by ML&S include the SUNSDR2 DX portable transceiver. For more details see: http://www.hamradio.co.uk

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Episode 24 of TX Factor is a Hamfest 2019 special, reporting on some of the eye-catching products and services on display at this year’s event in Newark. We investigate the current state of HF propagation, celebrate 50 years of Nevada Radio, Mike tries out a few solder stations, and Bob goes all soft over the VMARS vintage AM radios. And to cap it all, we take a look at the latest rig from Yaesu. As always, there’s a chance to win a great bundle of prizes from our sponsors, ML&S and the RSGB. The products advertised in this episode by ML&S include the Hairui 9310D solder station and the CW Morse Nano key. For more details see: http://www.hamradio.co.uk

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