Naked Nomad is the all-in-one HF station from MorseNexus with the extras stripped off. Open the lid, press power, and a tri-band Morse transceiver, keyboard, speaker, and battery are already running. It costs $499 and wants only an antenna.
Tuesday is net night around here, when local hams check in on the air. It used to mean untimely untangling: four cables, minutes before the first check-in. The Naked Nomad Morse Transceiver turns that chore into a lid and a button.
Below: what lives inside, what we left out, and where it still disappoints.
Four Cables Down to Zero
The old way meant an MMX plus four add-ons: a keyboard, a battery bank, a speaker, and an SWR bridge. Each came with its own cable. That is four cables and four failure points. The Nomad folds all four into the case.
Everything That Lives Under the Lid
Radio, keyboard, speaker, battery, and reflected power meter share one case. Nothing dangles from it on a cord.
● Tri-band transceiver for 80, 40, and 20 meters, transmitting Morse
● Receive on SSB, AM, and shortwave
● Powered speaker, with a headphone jack that mutes it
● Built-in keyboard
● TUNE mode with a reflected power meter for antenna tuning
● High power mode: 50 to 75 percent more output, up to 5 to 6 watts
Setup Takes Two Moves
Open the lid. Press the recessed power button on the rear panel. That is the entire procedure, with no plugging, no pairing, and no hunting for the cable that fits.
What We Stripped Out, and Why It Costs Less
MorseNexus ships the MMX Nomad with a solar panel, a go-bag, and cables. Customers kept telling us they already owned those. So the Naked Nomad keeps the heart of the station and drops the extras, which lands it at $499.
Charging still runs over USB-C from any 5 volt, 2 amp source. Own a bag and a charger? Good. Keep them, and skip paying for second copies.
Net night, a hilltop activation, or an emergency kit: the Nomad suits any place where cables are a liability.
How Long It Runs on One Charge
Four 21700 lithium cells deliver 20,000 mAh behind a battery management system. Receive-only, expect more than 80 hours. Mixed transmit and receive runs more than 40 hours.
At four hours a day, that is 20 days of listening or 10 days of mixed use. We expect capacity to fade after two or three years, with a useful life near ten. The cells are replaceable. That margin comfortably covers a weekend hike.
The Brains Under the Lid
MorseNexus put three microprocessors to work. They decode through heavy noise and take over the chores that eat operating time:
● Frequency memories
● Automatic station ID and call sign capture
● Type-ahead buffer
● Auto speed control backed by a built-in typing test
● Macros, which we call micro-programs
Fewer chores mean more contacts.
External Mode and the Port That Helps Everyone
External Mode hands the job to another radio. The Nomad borrows that transceiver's receiver and transmitter, so any band it covers becomes yours, often with more power.
The auxiliary connector adds a transmit and receive line for an external power amplifier. It also carries CW IN and CW OUT lines, so outside devices can assist deaf, blind, or physically limited operators. We consider that a feature, not a footnote.
Where It Still Falls Short
Keying means a straight key. Paddle users need a keyer in between. No antenna ships in the box either.
The lid closes on magnets, and it takes a few tries to master. Our own Eric, AF7YQ, modeled and 3D printed the case. He spent three years developing it and went through a pile of weak magnets before the lid snapped shut.
FAQs
What is the Naked Nomad?
The Naked Nomad is the MorseNexus all-in-one HF station without the solar panel, go-bag, or cables. One case holds a tri-band 80, 40, and 20 meter Morse transceiver, keyboard, powered speaker, and battery. It also receives SSB, AM, and shortwave. Add an antenna to operate.
How much does the Naked Nomad cost?
It costs $499 at the time of writing. That price leaves out the solar panel, go-bag, and cables that come with the standard MMX Nomad. It suits operators who already own those accessories and want the integrated radio at a lower price.
How long does the battery last?
Four 21700 lithium cells provide 20,000 mAh. Receive-only use lasts over 80 hours, and mixed use lasts over 40 hours. At four hours a day, that equals 10 to 20 days. Capacity may decline after two to three years, and the cells are replaceable.
Can it work with another transceiver?
Yes. External Mode uses another transceiver's receiver and transmitter instead of the built-in radio. Any band that radio covers becomes available, often with more power. The auxiliary connector also controls an external power amplifier when you need extra output on the air.
Back to Tuesday
Net night now takes one lid and one button. Fewer cables mean fewer excuses, and the station fits wherever the operator does.
MorseNexus builds the Naked Nomad in the USA, as low power gear for people who would rather operate than assemble. Corporate Vision named us Communications Innovator of the Year for 2026, but the lid is the part we brag about.