Xiegu G90 Unboxing (
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- čas přidán 22. 08. 2024
- MFJ, the USA distributor of Xiegu products, loaned me a Xiegu G90 for testing. This video unboxes the radio and looks through the parts of the manual that describe the controls. I also look at separating the control head from the body of the radio. See mfjenterprises...
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Great wee radio. I've had mine for about a year now and still love it.
I've had my G90 since February of this year, and I've been very satisfied with it. I've had contacts from as close as a couple miles away to as far as 4700 miles away. I'm told that the audio it produces is good, and I am pleased with the volume and clarity of sound that the radio produces. It is my first HF radio, so I don't have any basis for comparison to anything else.
The ATU is excellent.
I’ve got an original X108G which was given to me not working, the predecessor to the G90. It works ok for a synthesised superhet radio with classic crystal filters. I did have to spend some time tracking the problem down and Xeigu in China wasn’t the most helpful.
Anyway, it works and I throw it in the car occasionally for mobile operation.
Interestingly enough, mine was “opened up” and pushes 18-22W from 100KHz through 29.99999MHz into a dummy load, so I have coverage of 2200m and 630m though I’m not too sure what the signal purity is like that far down.
The last lot of firmware for the X108G has a simple antenna analyzer dynamic SWR sweep which is mostly what I use the radio for
My current main radio is a Yaesu FT747GX with all the filters, however I’ll probably go back to the old FT101B once I get a CW filter and give it some much needed love.
I used to own one from MFJ too. Very strong built, antenna tuner great, used with an G5RV. Sold, then got an IC-7300, due to a bigger screen. My eyes goes blurry when looking at a cellphone, laptop or a small screen like the G90. Now, an external bigger screen was on the making to come out soon. Great video. 73.
Dave, this radio, for a qrp radio, is awesome!! I've talked to South Africa and many other countries. It's the best radio I've ever owned. Now the antenna means a lot too but the radio is amazing. SDR radios are the new age and the G90 is top of the line. Thank you,Jim (K8BOW).
You have not owned much if it’s the Best you have ever had.🤣😂🤪
@@1OFGODSOWNyou don’t need to own much. Own few or even one is good.
Dave, I have a G90 and use it mobile with a Ham Stick. I have had mine about a year and bought it before MFJ had them. Right out of the box, first contact from my car. Texas to Hawaii on SSB. I have worked a number of DX contacts with the radio from the car. It struggles sometimes but my FT-891 100w radio does that too.
Outstanding video as usual! Just received mine today! It is actually smaller than I had originally thought it would be.
Had mine for over a year. Used it at Field Day last year. over 40 contacts on 20 meters in about 3 hours; (and there were other 20 meter stations in the area. Pretty decent signal rejection of the others. Have several other low power rigs to choose from--KX-2, FT-818, and a UBITIX that hasn't gotten much use. Have had lots of QRP rigs in the past--a couple of Argonauts, QRP+,FT-817, and a KX3. The Argonaut got me hooked on QRP, though. The QRP+ was my favorite though. Worked 40 mtr WAS in about 2 months operating about 3 hours a week. All ops on all rigs were on SSB.
I've had mine for about a month and used it for Field Day 2020 with a Super Antenna MP1DXMAX doing FT8 on 40m for most of the time and 80m for a few contacts. Once I figured out how to actually get it to output the full 20w by increasing the output slider in WSJT-X to full (Slider fully up) everything worked really well.
I use my xiegu g90 exclusively (until I can convince my wife to let me drop 1k on a 7300 lol) and I am surprised at its performance. Talked from NH to California on 20m last weekend on ssb, and I can hit eastern europe with ft8.
I'm planning on taking both my tech and general at the same time and this was the rig I've been seriously thinking about especially in my price bracket (I did look at the 991A and 9100 but they are a little too much for me at the moment) .
I've had extensional VHF/UHF radios on the commercial/military level and they don't really excite me that much compared to HF rigs (I really wish they would allot more HF on tech) and currently all I own is a old tube receiver (Hammarlund HQ-120). I just think it's really cool to have that range depending on the time of day and this unit delivers from all the reviews I've read.
EDIT: VHF/UHF is kinda dead in my area even on repeaters. Most I ever heard was a guy who left VOX on and it went for 3 days with a stereo playing in background.
I'm in the same boat in every respect but one; I bought it ahead of testing for Tech and General to help myself learn. Got into the radio hobby through shortwave listening. Hearing China, Cuba, Japanese fisherman, and of course hams.
Being that I can only listen currently I can't speak to the transmitter side of the radio. The receiver side though...
For SWL alone it's worth it.
I took the general and amateur extra class tests one after the other and missed one out of the the 2 tests. Very proud of that!!
I love my little g90, I've worked USA from vk5 on it
Thanks for another great video!
I bought a G90 about a month ago and I really like the radio. I made a ton of contacts one weekend handing out on my back porch. I have
I have modified mine by replacing the power connector with a power pole pigtail and replaced the tuning knob with a popular aluminum replacement and performed the "MARS" mod as well.
The H1 base is also pretty good; I have modified that with power pole pigtails, a fan switch and fan guard.
It's an easy radio to get to know and easy to get to like!
73 de N2NLQ
Dave, you may want to Google for alternative manuals. Radioddity, another distributor, has a downloadable rewritten manual. There is also sort of open sourced version from John McClun and available at www.connectsystems.com/products/top/radios/G90/G-90-Manual.pdf. The later is, I believe, for firmware version 1.6, although the current firmware is 1.7.4
. However, both or either may make your foray into G90-land more successful.
The G90 does NOT have a built in sound card as such. I'm checking out both SignalLink and a product from a UK company named XGGCOMMS.COM. Both of these have G90 specific cables so you don't need the expansion port.
Finally, the pronunciation of Xeigu is has been hotly debated. Most say "zeye goo," but there's a strong push for pronouncing it as sort of "she goo" I was going to ask a co-worker, but he is a native Taiwanese speaker, not a native Mandarin user. To be honest, I don't think it matters much. After all, my camera still works whether I call it a neye kahn, nih kahn, or nee kahn. The G90 will probably be as tolerant.
Nice unboxing video. Hopefully your review will tell us if it is good value for money.
I love my little G90. My only problem is that I need a magnifying glass to see the screen and buttons. The receiver picks up up DX really well.
Hey Uncle Dave I'm watching your video on the g90 very nice radio I'm impressed it reminds me of my pro 3 hey my friend I'll get to watch more your videos now that I'm quarantined with covid-19 happy New year and thank you for sharing
Fun radio, I like mine 👍
Hi Dave,
That connector on the control head is a DB9. You are correct that it's not common anymore. Stay safe. 73 WB3BJU
I too have a G90 and love this little radio. The only thing is, I wish 6 meters and FM was included, especially 10 FM. Other than that, its one great little radio.
73
W2DWL
Has the optional control head that enables FM even be released yet? Seems like it's been pending for about a year.
I attached a Bose Soundlink Mini via the headphone jack and it transforms the radio. I liked it a lot before but I really do love it now. Room filling audio.
Good rig and superb antenna tuner indeed!
Always a great video.
Just getting into HF radio.
Expecting my G-90 tomorrow so I'm trying to learn as much as possible before it arrives - so, questions:
When and how to use the attenuator?
When and how to use preamp?
When and how to use split frequency?
When and how to use voice compression?
When and how to use filter low cut/high cut?
When and how to use noise blanker?
When and how to use AGC settings?
When and how to use real time filter manipulation?
MANY thanks!
73
N4ANO
Hi Dave,
I have had my G90 for about a month now. I love it and am still learning all the embedded features on it. What I need is an idiot's guide to the G90. Someone could make some $$ coming up with one.
73's,
Lerin - KE0ZMW
There is a cheat sheet in the files section of the Facebook group "Xeigu G90 USA" group that you may find useful. That is a private group that you'll need to ask to join.
Bear in mind this radio is only a bit over a year old, and a lot of the CZcams content has been more introductory rather than tutorial. Give it some time.
I have one in a box waiting for me to get a minute to open it. So I was interested to see your unboxing and will be very interested to see how it reviews.
1S-unit down makes it a poor performer on HF? Yeah, I don’t think so.
Yeah... QRP a truly miniscule performer.... Dave need a better antenna if he believes that. I've never been disappointed with my miniscule FT-818 performance.
That power cable is of a really small guage, although the tranciever is 20w you would figure they would have mabe a heavier power cord like 12awg???
You opened the box and read the manual. Not much of a video for over 20 minutes.
What I see when I see the packaging of this transceiver: A mobile radio designed to work on 12v (well 13.8) with absolutely no mobile mounting provision :(
That, to me, was a poor choice. I generally like to mount mobile units on the bottom side of my desk hutch to clear workspace on my desk.
Take care when using DB9 cables other than the one supplied, some people have blown up their rigs when using a cable that has looped pins on either end intended for data comms use.
Other than that i have had mine for 12months now and its a great little rig for /p FT8 use.
73
G3XOD
Great, Dave! Where does it get serviced / repaired? Does MFJ do warranty replacements? Or slow boat to China? Don't tell me it goes to the landfill! Not again!
I think MFJ.
Hello KD9NKJ here, I am curious how long it took for you to receive this item in the mail Dave? Reason I'm asking, I ordered a MFJ-1708sdr-b online from Ham Radio Outlet as far back as May, and haven't received it yet. HRO says that MFJ is not filling orders in to timely a manner, due to covid-19 having them shut down. I phoned MFJ myself to confirm why it has taken so long and I was told it was due to a parts shortage. I am wondering to what sales items does this parts shortage effect? I sure am getting a bit impatient since I've already been charged for the switch, but still am waiting on the thing to arrive to my QTH. Sure is taking them long enough.
Looks like an interesting transceiver. Thank you. N0QFT
Play what's your truck this linear amplifier and review it xiegu 125b by mfj and let me know about it
Great video OG. Not to be fictitious, got borderline Parkinsons just watching this. Your camera needs a more stable mount. 73.
Dave when you trying out this fmj xeg -105 transceiver let me know if you like
Seemed like a great little radio. I bought it about 5 months ago. Great reciever but mine could not, would not transmit. So, I sent it back. Don't get me wrong, I like the radio, mine just didn't work. I may order another one down the road and try again. Well see. Keep up the great work.
Sorry to hear that
Help for a Patron member: Have had good luck with CW DX , but having trouble with upper and lower SSB, with the G-90 Even when the signal strength is strong, the audio is garbled. Is this a filter adjustment issue? Not transmitting, but because of HOA, have been using 100 feet of 20 foot high gutters Could that be a problem?
The antenna will not affect signal garbling. Sounds like an issue in the G90. Try crawling through the instruction manual with the radio at your side and try every setting.
@@davecasler Thanks
At 1:50 did you say that because 20W is 7dB less than 100W (which translates to 1 S Unit difference) that makes this radio a "marginal performer" compared to 100W?
Maybe, maybe not. QRP is an art form all its own. I recommend starting with a 100 watt rig. Then, after you're used to how HF really works, bring out that QRP rig!
@@davecasler Do you realize that you called this radio a "Marginal Performer" at 1:50 in this video? I'm confused...
@@daveN2MXX Interesting. I guess that was before I gave it a try. I had multiple SSB QSOs at what I thought was 20w. Turned out it was 5w. I have more I want to do with this radio.
@@davecasler Thanks for your reply...please keep up your great work with these videos!!
QRO or BUST.🤣😂👏👍🎙
Built in antenna tuner how about that?
Thank you. N0QFT
I have this radio. I'm curious what version of firmware is installed on your device and your experience if you test it on SSB.
With firmware 1.75 you no longer need the GSOC for FM mode
Thanks! AB4P
Use google translate to see what those symbols mean.
did you record field day?
No, sadly. It was pretty low key.
put your amplifier on it !!!
yes! that would be interesting @ 200w+
First
?
@@ricklett1688 just being childish at being the first person to watch the video.