Hi Robert, I am an 80 year old radio engineer and ham since 1956 that got let behind in understanding SDR radios. I have just purchased my second SDR ham radio. Your coverage of how SDR radios differ from the past technology and the advantage of the new technologies were out standing and so easy to understand. Thank you so much for taking the time to put your presentation together and helping me to come up the new SDR learning curve. 73 from Bill K4HVH
ALERT: Xiegu took my main suggestion and added trace color fill and averaging. Latest Firmware includes this and other tweeks. Install it. Looks fabulous now.
Just ordered one and the apparent "small company agile" responsiveness and openness to feedback of Xiegu sure seems like a big plus for long term improvements. Thank you for the most in-depth review I've seen on the radio and for the SDR intro content.
Ahoy there watchers- I just received info that the Xiegu engineers took all of my upgrade suggestions and are trying to implement them. I think we can expect to see some really nice improvements soon.
@@TXLorenzo I think that the existing hardware doesn't support a USB codec internal sound card. For portable operation, I''m fine with analog audio and CAT.
That's great, I'm really keen on seeing a decent AGC-T or RF gain added, hope they do, it's a pleasant radio to listen to and that would be icing on the cake :)
Getting back into ham radio after 20 year hiatus. Found your channel and bought the Icom 51a based on your excellent review. Amazing little radio! This radio looks very good also and considering buying it. Question is do I buy it in it's current config or wait for the improvements you suggested. They seem to be very open to suggestions. Do you have any idea how long it will take them to integrate your suggestions into a new radio?
@@dreamer43061 Well, since it is a game of telephone, I cannot tell. I give them to my contact at Radioddity.com and they forward them. I do translate them into Chinese as well. They recently did a really nice update which made the radio more fun to operate. If you get one, any updates are easy to install. They provide the programming cable and installer program. Yaesus are much more difficult to update. The radio is totally usable as is now. If I never got an update, I'd still be very happy. I told them to raise the power to 25 watts too. If it was to be your only HF rig, I'd say you need an amplifier. So many folks run amplifiers now. One small glitch I found so far is that some times when you turn it on, you have to turn the tuning dial for it to start receiving. That's a firmware fix. No biggie. Hope this helped!
Robert, your info on SDR was priceless. This was a wonderful overview of the G90, I am just getting back into Ham Radio (currently radio and wallet poor) and have narrowed my search for equipment to the G90 for it's portability and for it's small foot print for my small shack. I have subscribed to your channel and thank you for being here.
Exceptionally complete review & an excellent tutorial regarding SDR nomenclature for those not yet familiar with the "buzz" words, or unfamiliar with the workings of an SDR radio. Well done !
Got out of the hobby for a few years, sold all my gear to start a photography business which eventually died due to Covid. Looking to get back on the air now, and I noticed the G90. I've seen several reviews that were basically crap, but your video tour of the G90 opened my eyes and I learned a lot from it. I like what the G90 brings to the table and will be perfect for my return to ham radio, operating in portable mode much of the time - either from home or one of the many parks in my home area of Central Texas. I'll purchase the radio soon and give it a whirl on all modes. Thanks for helping me decide what rig to purchase and get back on the air! 73 de WQ1C - Kempner, Texas.
So glad I could help. SDR is really a nice jump in radio technology. The Yaesu FTdx-101D ($4k) uses the same architecture as the G90. They both use one stage of superhet type mixing before the SDR section. The G90 actually uses a 24 bit ADC chip and the 101D an 18bit. It is hard to find fault with the G90. Test it against most ANY other RX and it just sounds slightly better. It's hot and has good selectivity. I've got the big boys to compare it to here in the shack. Welcome back. I left Central TX in 2003 for Hot Springs AR. Had a great time in Austin during my and it's hayday! 73's
Wow! Thank SO MUCH for you explanation of SDR. I have been playing with SDR products of various types including my IC-7300 and never understood it to that extent, and I've heard it explained before, but the way you explained it was great.
Subscribed! Thank you Robert. I’m a relatively new ham with only a QRP-Labs QCX. I just ordered my G90, admittedly with a little hesitation. But, your video has restored my confidence. I also appreciate the explanation of the SDR radio and how they work. Very informative! Thank you and 73! -Michael
Got mine yesterday. Hooked it up to a SotaBeams inverted v dipole and worked a station in the Solomon islands from Nevada. I owned an ft891 previously and this radio is WAY more fun to use.
Bob, very comprehensive. I think it's the most thorough review I have seen on youtube. Thank you for putting so much time into it. I'm going to buy one. Looks like fun. Take care, Tim
Got mine couple of months back and the portability and performance is amazing for it's size. I use it exclusively for ssb voice contacts and my best catch is Oslo Norway with 20 watts.
What a well-executed video! Very professional, exceptionally informative, and a joy to watch and listen to. Thank you. This was my first encounter with your channel; instantly subscribed. I look forward to seeing your future updates on this radio.
Excellent factual review. Well structured and informed analysis. - I think this is the best review of the G90 I have seen. Have ordered one myself... 73, M7KPS
Thank you! That is indeed my goal...to be complete in my analysis. These are fun little radios and the 20W is enough to be heard on SSB. Not lowering power out at down to 10 volts is also a great design feature.
Hello Robert isolated with covid-19 getting a chance to catch up on your videos at g90 is a nice radio thank you for sharing and happy New year and thanks for educating new hands they're watching your video
Robert, appreciate your style of videos, very informative and to the point. Looking at buying a G1 to operate QRP at the beach here in France on our holidays. Regards and Merci
I've told a lot of people about this radio and they look at me likes it's a toy. Well, I've had mine for a week, yesterday and I am very impressed! I have had QSO'S in South Africa and Mexico from West Virginia on this rig. Looked at Mr. Farson's videos and he has a lot of insight on SDR radios. He is great! For those that think this radio is a toy, better look again. This is the 🌊 wave of the future!!
THANK YOU so much for going over the whats and hows of SDR radios! Now, I understand! My rig has been an Icom 756 Pro3 for many years now, but i'm sure even the less expensive SDR radios outperform it.
Just bought a G90 package deal from RadioOddity, it included the G2 bracket and the digital adapter package. Paid $485. Just waiting for my antenna to arrive to play with the radio. Thanks for the review de k7dgf
Great video! I just got mine a few weeks back and love it and your video was so helpful in helping me make my decision and then learning the rig. Thank you!
Ok I do believe this was the best in depth review I have watched on UA-cam and I watched a lot. Just so happens a used/new G90 came up on are local online swap net and as a result of the UA-cam reviews I purchased the G90 from a local Ham who didn't admire the radio. I was still shy and uncertain of my purchase until now; after finding your channel review on the G90 I was once again feeling positive. Thanks for a deep dive into this radio. I subscribed and will binge watch your videos while waiting for the post. Cheaper then the cost of gas and my time. Tha is again.
the G90 is really one of the best portable radios you can get. I have the Icom IC-705 here and although it is much more polished, the RX in the G90 has superior selectivity and sensitivity. The difference between 10 and 20 watts output is also HUGE when operating in the field. Use a folded dipole or other gain antenna and everyone hears you.
Excellent review. Loved the SDR theory part. So clear and concise. Just bought the G90 here in October 2023. I full time RV, and didn't really think a station in the fifth wheel was practical. Now I know better. Should be here in a couple days! Thanks a million for this EXCELLENT work.
Thanks so much Bob. I try to do in-depth reviews instead of unscripted ramblings. Everyone's time is valuable! You'll love the G90. RX is identical to my IC-7610. (in operation/feel)
Many thanks for your very clear review. And many thanks for your excellent introduction to SDR!! the best summary I have read after spending many hours studying the subject.
Just retired and just got my license. Looking for a rig that I for my little 25 ft Pocket Cruiser boat that I intend to strike out into the Great Lakes and Great Loop way past my Marine VHF 156-157 Mhz range of 12 miles. Space for equip is severely limited. I understand the G-90 is HF only but range is what I need if I need assistance. Your presentation was the most professional and thorough I have seen on this rig. I don't know enough YET so I'll ask: As I understand Marine SSB includes, and I'm not sure if the G-90 can Rx/Rx on 4.0-4.38, 6.2-6.25, 8-8.815, 12.33-13.2, 16.36-17.469, 16.46-17.36, 18.78-18.9, 19.608-19.8 and 22-22.855MHz band frequencies scattered throughout the ham bands or are these freq notched out on the G-90? Marine SSB rigs appear few, expensive and BIG that require separate tuners and other gear . If I am limited to the Ham bands with the G-90 or similar, then, I suppose that's okay since there is always somebody on the waves that could relay an SOS or Pan Pan. Again, thanks for the time, effort and detail of this video. You did a great job and I learned a lot. If anyone can input any helpful info on my application it would be greatly appreciated. An antenna is also on my hunt list with a 25 ft boat limitation. 73
The G90 is shipped strapped for the ham bands only - as required by the FCC. I just found- there is a mod to open it up to cover the marine bands as you desire. Of course, at this point, you are out of FCC compliance and we have no idea how the radios low-pass filters will clean up harmonics in these bands. Take a look..it is easy! ua-cam.com/video/6uftTV05ung/v-deo.html
im in the process of selling off 150 radios from 1944-2005 Racal, Plessey, Rockwell, Ettus, (yes Ettus) Harris etc etc fleabay Glitchfunk, and moving to Thailand with a new YL :-) . What am I going to do to stop these terrible nightmares and withdrawal symptoms??? Buy a Xiegu, G90 wheeeeee! Darn it , didn't know they existed until today !!! No more meds......super review... Thanks and 73s
Absolutely brilliant video and explanation of SDR, I'm probably old school and prefer that to digital stuff, nevertheless, I purchased the G90 which arrived today and I've thoroughly enjoyed your video and a look inside. Thank you. Mike G8POL Nottingham, UK..
Perfect explanatory video. Wish everybody on the net would be this detailed, highly informative and caring for making such a good quality video. I enjoyed every second of it. Thanks for sharing your knowledge in such a professional way. You’ve just gained a new subscriber :-) Compliments from PD0WVS (NL, Europe).
Thanks for a great video, Robert .... from yours, Mike's and Fred's suggestions, I bought a G-90 myself. It arrived yesterday and I'm excited to learn as much as I can before taking it outside. :)
Thank You. This is an awesome video, especially the introduction that helps me understand the concept of how this radio is designed and how it functions. I'm still waiting for the Icom 705 to see how it compares to this radio once again, thank you and 73's
This radio is rough-N-ready... not like the Japanese radios which are very mature designs. The Xiegu has warts...but still works very nicely. The 5W-10W output on the 705 is a big issue. 20W makes ALL the difference.
Thank you Robert, Great video. I just order one last week. I love to go portable with my radios. I do a lot of traveling with my FT-817nd. Thanks again.
I see that the QSK delay is adjustable. I wondered what the minimum delay is, and how well it works for those that prefer a short delay. Thanks for another great review Bob!
Can't thank you enough for the detailed analysis of this radio. Too many Bubbas on UA-cam with babbling reviews that add little to knowledge of the product. Very detailed with facts about the radio that give me confidence in its capability and add to my operating techniques. Thank you!
Great radio. I love it and transmit reports are glowing. The receive audio is very good for such a small footprint. The only issue I have is the noise blanker which though adjustable makes no discernable difference. Its a pity it doesn't come standard with a mounting plate in order to sit the front face up off the desk which means it can get quite warm during the summer months.
Dan Tayloe (of Tayloe mixer fame, which makes ALL this possible) would have appreciated a mention during the SDR lecture ... after all, its the Tayloe mixer that gives you "I and Q" to process in the DSP chip!!!
I got a G-90 and built a 55 Watt amp to go with it for portable use with less than optimal antennas. Haven't needed to use the amp yet. I like fishing on light tackle.
Thanks for the in depth review. It looks like Xiegu is stepping up their game on this unit. I just bought my first QRP rig an FT-818 and now after seeing this G-90 review I wonder if I should've bought the G-90 instead....I'm hoping I didn't make a mistake.
Have ordered one and expect it next Monday. 1. How long is the DB-9 cable? 2. I can't find a good explanation on how to choose settings for the bandwidth filter (except for what the difference between them should be). Since the Low and High are set independently: a. How do you know what to choose for the low and high? b. Does this ability allow it to function as an IF Shift control?
qrp is per definition 5 watt or less, this radio is doing 4 times as much. i would not call it a qrp radio aaah, who cares :-) What i really wanted to say is - thanks for the thorough review robert. Really nice I must say, the chinese have really filled a gap here, and done so in a brilliant way. Respect and kudos to xiegu, this WILL be my next rig for portable operation. And i would not be surprised if i wnd up buying all the acesories too.
I was running Field Day last year 1E-Solar and between limited sunlight and having too many unnecessary shack accessories (like the Wires-X node) on the LiFePO4 40AH battery, the voltage dropped below what could run the IC-7610. I swapped in the G-90 and had a blast with it... nice little receiver and 20W was enough to be heard (of course, I was using a decent antenna). Glad I had the little W2ENY desk mike for the Xiegu.
Interesting ehh? Because you can't get full technical detail on the G90, I have to assume they are down-regulating the supply voltage on the finals - which results in no loss of power output with lower voltages. The finals are 2X 20W mitsubishi devices with a drop-dead power out of 42W total. The 6 watt driver is feeding at 60mw, so a slight tweak of it would result in increased power out. I'm sure we could go 30W without overheating in SSB. I'll give it some research time soon.
I'm on the G90 list, been watching this one with some interest. Seems to me it might almost be usable eyes-free. Would like to see one of these. Definitely a lot of radio for very little $$.
looking at the RF like the IC-7300 SDR has front end overload. noticed it bad on a IC7300 on contest with a lot of CW the IC-7300s there were all having this problem . The FT-DX10's did not have the front end over loading and single out signals cleanly .
Get new radio and an excellent review. I'm looking for an SDR to replace a Kenwood TS 50S. The Kenwood is an excellent solid radio but somewhat larger and heavier than is good for true man portable use. It also requires an external tuner. I also have a Yaesu FT-891. It is an excellent radio but also requires an external turner. Both those radios are great for field day but not so good for tracking off into the back country. For me this new rig ticks all the boxes.
Thank you for this video Bob. I have been watching it for a while now and it looks very promising. I am hoping this will be a good starter/ entry level HF radio. It would be nice to have 6m as well. Eventually I see myself buying the matching amp and GSOC for better base functions.
Really, it is a good choice. On amps, Xiegu's XPA-125B is a super one. It isn't cheap, but it very robust and includes a great antenna tuner. Radiooddity has their tiny HF amp and low-pass filter pack. I use them portable. Not as polished a system, but it works. Watch the GSOC to see how their firmware improvements go... it is a maturing product. The G90 itself is a winner.
Nice review. And thank you very much for explaining to this old analog radio guy how SDRs work & what's important in looking at them. Hamvention 2019 starts next weekend. I am soooo tempted. Especially after this review. TNX big time, amigo. . . . And by the way: Black cats rool!
Do yourself a favor and GO. I went for the first time last year and it was phenomenal. Just pace yourself. the food is new and improved too from what I heard... good grub. Take breaks...and cash!
I agree on the 20w level. I had the Xiegu X108, and I worked 10 of the 16 stations on the American Colonies contest from Nebraska. Took a little patience, but was heard.
It would have been really sweet if you could plug in a keyboard and do PSK and RITTY directly without having a laptop, kind of severely limits the appeal for portable use in these modes. I haven't used digital modes yet, needing a laptop is a pain in the ass. Internal battery would also have been great, the X5105 is a great radio, I really like it, it's compact size and battery make it a really portable rig. The RS-918 I believe can do psk directly with no PC ? but try get your hands on a decent one. And will it work properly ? anyone's guess. Cool radio thought. The G90 is a sweet radio all the same and could be my next radio.
You just don't get all the features of a $3000+ radio in a $450 radio. It seems like since they gave us everything else, why not DSP and internal digital decode? The features had to end somewhere. The answer to this issue is a tiny Pipo computer with a $3 audio USB card added. The G90 has what is really needed, and that is superb basic RX/TX performance. Soon I'll release a hack to boost it to 30W TX.
Paul- Well, amazingly, the little screen is very usable. There is no "monitor out", so the only option is to use their new GSOC 7" color touch screen...coming out soon. Watch a G90 video and make your monitor's screen such that the G90 screen is 1.5" X 1.5" . See if you can read it!
Your review and the comments indicate that the noise filtering capabilities are not up to par. Could these be improved with a firmware upgrade, or would hardware changes be needed?
They are not up to par with a radio over $1000 USD. At this price point, I just cannot expect to see 32 bit DSP filters being in there. The receiver's noise floor and dynamic range are on par with say the FT-dx101D. I have them side by side. In field operation (the intended use) it is a stellar performer. The main problem is the setting of the TX driver and final bias current. Once these are 500ma each, the radio is one of the highest price/performance radios available.
@@Yavor54 Thanks. I'm putting in an order for one this morning. Your video was very informative and helpful and was decisive in my choice. I have a HOA no-antenna rule, so portable and stealth operations will be all I can do.
G90 arrived. I put up a poor antenna setup - an end-fed dipole no more than 8’ above ground and not in a straight line, to keep within HOA restrictions. Receiver quality excellent, and first two QSOs were to Calgary and California from home in New Mexico, 20W SSB, on 20m. You were so right about 20W rather than 5W making the difference between no QSOs and multiple QSOs on SSB. CA ham recorded my transmission and played it back for me, and the audio sounded clean and clear. Very pleased with purchase. Thanks again for excellent review.
Great reviews, many thanks. Interesting to see the G90 uses the Tayloe quadrature mixer, just like the $120 uSDX rigs. I think the 48khz spectral display is a bit low, 96khz would be my minimum, kiwiSDR for example shows the entire band or even MHz.
Very impressive review and overview of sdr technology. Looks like a lot of features for the money. My main concern would be service. I assume that it would need to go back to China for repair. I guess MFJ buys in quantity and trades out for warranty not doing actual repairs there.
Running the finals at or below half the power rating gives much better life time and reliability! When I make things I like to keep things around half to s quart the rating of the parts.
I hear you Don. I suggested to them that they just put a 25 watt limit instead of 20W. This would bring the average SSB power output up by 5 watts and make quite a difference. I've used it a lot now and the heat-sinking would be easily adequate. The transistors would still be way under their 40W max power spec. - One would just have to watch it on constant duty-cycle modes....
No comparison really. The design of the 918 is very simple and results in a lot of image signals on the display. It's receiver is not in any way in the class of the G90. I find the G90 receiver to be almost identical to my IC-7610. The G90 is a little more sensitive though. Sherwood numbers may place the G90 lower than the 7610, but in actual use, the G90 RX is VERY respectable. Sure, the display is small, but it is so useful that I sold my GSOC large screen accessory for it. If I grab a portable radio to go, it's the G90. (and the 20W makes a Huge difference) I do suggest a folded dipole resonant antenna at that power level. A little gain and everyone can hear you.
I agree Rob, 20W is a minimum for SSB (i even prefer a little more, as 50W when necessary) ; and now we have the battery tech to handle that with a reasonable weight (i have LiFePo4 actually). Thanks for this very informative video, have fun. 73, de ha7wx chris
I am putting this radio on my Christmas list. Bob, how about the Nov. 3 firmware upgrade? Have you seen it or tried it? Look forward to an update on your channel. 73, John NO0I
Great review Robert, really impressive. The specs of this radio claim Frequency coverage 0.5-30MHz, but is that uninterrupted on both tx/rx or do they lock it to the bands? Quite curious about how this would fare as a mobile rig too.
Getting a lot of noise from my 12VDC power supply. Want to install a ferrite like you did. Which ferrite did you use and where did you get it? Also, how do you remove the pins from the white connector, what type is it? ( I want to try another ferrite that requires pin removal). Thanks for your help - great tutorial, BTW! 😊
I used a generic clamp-on ferrite. I think you'll have to get a cleaner power supply. Don't waste your time. I'm sure you are using a switcher. Go get a 12A linear power supply. There is a pin removal tool... little tube device.
Bob naggy is a very good decent man he lives in Texas and he is a very nice individual plus a great technician I bought from him an ic275Agood 30:13 good radio
Really good review. I have macular degeneration and having trouble seeing overall but especially up close. I’m trying to find a good QRP rig with large enough numbers so that I can see them enter. Any suggestions? I’ve looked at the KX2 and the X-5105
The 5105 has larger letters...and the G90 has a 7" color screen remote being released soon. I will post it as soon as th efirst one arrives. The KX3 is a super radio too!!
Really, I would make a 139ft closed loop. Get it as high as you can. Shape and evenness are not important. The internal tuner should resonate it on all bands. It's low noise, cheap and a good performer. Just feed it with RG-58-U or whatever...one side hot, the other ground. One step up would be a Carolina Windom
Hi Robert,
I am an 80 year old radio engineer and ham since 1956 that got let behind in understanding SDR radios. I have just purchased my second SDR ham radio. Your coverage of how SDR radios differ from the past technology and the advantage of the new technologies were out standing and so easy to understand. Thank you so much for taking the time to put your presentation together and helping me to come up the new SDR learning curve.
73 from Bill K4HVH
ALERT: Xiegu took my main suggestion and added trace color fill and averaging. Latest Firmware includes this and other tweeks. Install it. Looks fabulous now.
Just ordered one and the apparent "small company agile" responsiveness and openness to feedback of Xiegu sure seems like a big plus for long term improvements. Thank you for the most in-depth review I've seen on the radio and for the SDR intro content.
A mini 7300 on steroids, Great radio.
Heads up to those who are tempted to skip the SDR theory part; do not ! It is very very informative :) . Thanks a lot AB5N for this video !
Thank you!
Ahoy there watchers- I just received info that the Xiegu engineers took all of my upgrade suggestions and are trying to implement them. I think we can expect to see some really nice improvements soon.
Adding an easy to use USB CODEC based sound card would be nice
@@TXLorenzo I think that the existing hardware doesn't support a USB codec internal sound card. For portable operation, I''m fine with analog audio and CAT.
That's great, I'm really keen on seeing a decent AGC-T or RF gain added, hope they do, it's a pleasant radio to listen to and that would be icing on the cake :)
Getting back into ham radio after 20 year hiatus. Found your channel and bought the Icom 51a based on your excellent review. Amazing little radio! This radio looks very good also and considering buying it. Question is do I buy it in it's current config or wait for the improvements you suggested. They seem to be very open to suggestions. Do you have any idea how long it will take them to integrate your suggestions into a new radio?
@@dreamer43061 Well, since it is a game of telephone, I cannot tell. I give them to my contact at Radioddity.com and they forward them. I do translate them into Chinese as well. They recently did a really nice update which made the radio more fun to operate. If you get one, any updates are easy to install. They provide the programming cable and installer program. Yaesus are much more difficult to update. The radio is totally usable as is now. If I never got an update, I'd still be very happy. I told them to raise the power to 25 watts too.
If it was to be your only HF rig, I'd say you need an amplifier. So many folks run amplifiers now. One small glitch I found so far is that some times when you turn it on, you have to turn the tuning dial for it to start receiving. That's a firmware fix. No biggie. Hope this helped!
Robert, your info on SDR was priceless. This was a wonderful overview of the G90, I am just getting back into Ham Radio (currently radio and wallet poor) and have narrowed my search for equipment to the G90 for it's portability and for it's small foot print for my small shack. I have subscribed to your channel and thank you for being here.
I am totally blown away on that g90 wow that radio is awesome holy smokes
Exceptionally complete review & an excellent tutorial regarding SDR nomenclature for those not yet familiar with the "buzz" words, or unfamiliar with the workings of an SDR radio. Well done !
Got out of the hobby for a few years, sold all my gear to start a photography business which eventually died due to Covid. Looking to get back on the air now, and I noticed the G90. I've seen several reviews that were basically crap, but your video tour of the G90 opened my eyes and I learned a lot from it. I like what the G90 brings to the table and will be perfect for my return to ham radio, operating in portable mode much of the time - either from home or one of the many parks in my home area of Central Texas. I'll purchase the radio soon and give it a whirl on all modes. Thanks for helping me decide what rig to purchase and get back on the air! 73 de WQ1C - Kempner, Texas.
So glad I could help. SDR is really a nice jump in radio technology. The Yaesu FTdx-101D ($4k) uses the same architecture as the G90. They both use one stage of superhet type mixing before the SDR section. The G90 actually uses a 24 bit ADC chip and the 101D an 18bit. It is hard to find fault with the G90. Test it against most ANY other RX and it just sounds slightly better. It's hot and has good selectivity. I've got the big boys to compare it to here in the shack. Welcome back. I left Central TX in 2003 for Hot Springs AR. Had a great time in Austin during my and it's hayday! 73's
Wow! Thank SO MUCH for you explanation of SDR. I have been playing with SDR products of various types including my IC-7300 and never understood it to that extent, and I've heard it explained before, but the way you explained it was great.
Thank you Devin! I just love this stuff.
Subscribed! Thank you Robert. I’m a relatively new ham with only a QRP-Labs QCX. I just ordered my G90, admittedly with a little hesitation. But, your video has restored my confidence. I also appreciate the explanation of the SDR radio and how they work. Very informative! Thank you and 73! -Michael
Got mine yesterday. Hooked it up to a SotaBeams inverted v dipole and worked a station in the Solomon islands from Nevada. I owned an ft891 previously and this radio is WAY more fun to use.
Bob, very comprehensive. I think it's the most thorough review I have seen on youtube. Thank you for putting so much time into it. I'm going to buy one. Looks like fun. Take care, Tim
This video made a subscriber out of me! Love the truly in depth discussion of the electronics and functions. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Thank you! I try to do my best.
Got mine couple of months back and the portability and performance is amazing for it's size. I use it exclusively for ssb voice contacts and my best catch is Oslo Norway with 20 watts.
This is by far the best G90 video review...thank you!
Thanks David! I strive for quality over quantity.
What a well-executed video! Very professional, exceptionally informative, and a joy to watch and listen to. Thank you. This was my first encounter with your channel; instantly subscribed. I look forward to seeing your future updates on this radio.
Thank you so much! I try to be informative and educational. No fancy graphics intro.. just everything boiled-down to whats necessary. 73's Bob
Excellent factual review. Well structured and informed analysis. - I think this is the best review of the G90 I have seen. Have ordered one myself... 73, M7KPS
Thank you! That is indeed my goal...to be complete in my analysis. These are fun little radios and the 20W is enough to be heard on SSB. Not lowering power out at down to 10 volts is also a great design feature.
I'm sold. Buying one as soon as i can. New HAM on a budget, this radio looks perfect for me. Great video, Thanx!!
Thanks to you I now had the G90 for 2 years and loving it, thanks! LB6CI
Hello Robert isolated with covid-19 getting a chance to catch up on your videos at g90 is a nice radio thank you for sharing and happy New year and thanks for educating new hands they're watching your video
Robert,
appreciate your style of videos, very informative and to the point.
Looking at buying a G1 to operate QRP at the beach here in France on our holidays.
Regards and Merci
Merci pour les aimables commentaires! C'est mon approche ... directe et dense en informations. 73's Bob
I've told a lot of people about this radio and they look at me likes it's a toy. Well, I've had mine for a week, yesterday and I am very impressed! I have had QSO'S in South Africa and Mexico from West Virginia on this rig. Looked at Mr. Farson's videos and he has a lot of insight on SDR radios. He is great! For those that think this radio is a toy, better look again. This is the 🌊 wave of the future!!
THANK YOU so much for going over the whats and hows of SDR radios! Now, I understand! My rig has been an Icom 756 Pro3 for many years now, but i'm sure even the less expensive SDR radios outperform it.
Just bought a G90 package deal from RadioOddity, it included the G2 bracket and the digital
adapter package. Paid $485. Just waiting for my antenna to arrive to play with the radio. Thanks for the review de k7dgf
Great video! I just got mine a few weeks back and love it and your video was so helpful in helping me make my decision and then learning the rig. Thank you!
I did a talk test between my Kenwood 940, 430S and the Xiegu...the Xiegu even without compression was the blind winner.
Found this video while researching vehicle radio options. Extremely informative and well done. Thanks!
Outstanding review. Thank you.
Ok I do believe this was the best in depth review I have watched on UA-cam and I watched a lot. Just so happens a used/new G90 came up on are local online swap net and as a result of the UA-cam reviews I purchased the G90 from a local Ham who didn't admire the radio. I was still shy and uncertain of my purchase until now; after finding your channel review on the G90 I was once again feeling positive. Thanks for a deep dive into this radio. I subscribed and will binge watch your videos while waiting for the post. Cheaper then the cost of gas and my time. Tha is again.
the G90 is really one of the best portable radios you can get. I have the Icom IC-705 here and although it is much more polished, the RX in the G90 has superior selectivity and sensitivity. The difference between 10 and 20 watts output is also HUGE when operating in the field. Use a folded dipole or other gain antenna and everyone hears you.
That was a VERY detailed review of the G-90! Thanks Bob !! (John VK1BJ).
Excellent review. Loved the SDR theory part. So clear and concise. Just bought the G90 here in October 2023. I full time RV, and didn't really think a station in the fifth wheel was practical. Now I know better. Should be here in a couple days! Thanks a million for this EXCELLENT work.
Thanks so much Bob. I try to do in-depth reviews instead of unscripted ramblings. Everyone's time is valuable! You'll love the G90. RX is identical to my IC-7610. (in operation/feel)
Many thanks for your very clear review. And many thanks for your excellent introduction to SDR!! the best summary I have read after spending many hours studying the subject.
Just retired and just got my license. Looking for a rig that I for my little 25 ft Pocket Cruiser boat that I intend to strike out into the Great Lakes and Great Loop way past my Marine VHF 156-157 Mhz range of 12 miles. Space for equip is severely limited. I understand the G-90 is HF only but range is what I need if I need assistance. Your presentation was the most professional and thorough I have seen on this rig.
I don't know enough YET so I'll ask: As I understand Marine SSB includes, and I'm not sure if the G-90 can Rx/Rx on 4.0-4.38,
6.2-6.25, 8-8.815, 12.33-13.2, 16.36-17.469, 16.46-17.36, 18.78-18.9, 19.608-19.8 and 22-22.855MHz band frequencies scattered throughout the ham bands or are these freq notched out on the G-90? Marine SSB rigs appear few, expensive and BIG that require separate tuners and other gear . If I am limited to the Ham bands with the G-90 or similar, then, I suppose that's okay since there is always somebody on the waves that could relay an SOS or Pan Pan.
Again, thanks for the time, effort and detail of this video. You did a great job and I learned a lot. If anyone can input any helpful info on my application it would be greatly appreciated. An antenna is also on my hunt list with a 25 ft boat limitation.
73
The G90 is shipped strapped for the ham bands only - as required by the FCC. I just found- there is a mod to open it up to cover the marine bands as you desire. Of course, at this point, you are out of FCC compliance and we have no idea how the radios low-pass filters will clean up harmonics in these bands. Take a look..it is easy! ua-cam.com/video/6uftTV05ung/v-deo.html
Thanks for this, I'm returning to amateur radio after a 31 year break and found this and your tutorial very useful. G6XIB
im in the process of selling off 150 radios from 1944-2005 Racal, Plessey, Rockwell, Ettus, (yes Ettus) Harris etc etc fleabay Glitchfunk, and moving to Thailand with a new YL :-) . What am I going to do to stop these terrible nightmares and withdrawal symptoms??? Buy a Xiegu, G90 wheeeeee! Darn it , didn't know they existed until today !!! No more meds......super review... Thanks and 73s
Some folks like to bash Xiegu, but the G90 is a good solid little rig. I’ve been very pleased with mine.
Thanks for this, learned much that I didn’t know about SDR.
Absolutely brilliant video and explanation of SDR, I'm probably old school and prefer that to digital stuff, nevertheless, I purchased the G90 which arrived today and I've thoroughly enjoyed your video and a look inside. Thank you.
Mike G8POL Nottingham, UK..
Great review and the information was presented in a manner that was easy to assimilate. Thank you!
Thorough, to the point, and great examples ... thanks for your vid.
The g90 display reminds me of the pro 3 wow it is a beautiful colors on it very nice radio thank you for sharing this radio
Perfect explanatory video. Wish everybody on the net would be this detailed, highly informative and caring for making such a good quality video. I enjoyed every second of it. Thanks for sharing your knowledge in such a professional way. You’ve just gained a new subscriber :-)
Compliments from PD0WVS (NL, Europe).
Thanks for a great video, Robert .... from yours, Mike's and Fred's suggestions, I bought a G-90 myself. It arrived yesterday and I'm excited to learn as much as I can before taking it outside. :)
Hook it up and switch between it and ANY other HF radio on the same signal. You are going to be surprised. It's better.
Thank You. This is an awesome video, especially the introduction that helps me understand the concept of how this radio is designed and how it functions. I'm still waiting for the Icom 705 to see how it compares to this radio once again, thank you and 73's
This radio is rough-N-ready... not like the Japanese radios which are very mature designs. The Xiegu has warts...but still works very nicely. The 5W-10W output on the 705 is a big issue. 20W makes ALL the difference.
This is an incredible channel. I really appreciate all the details.
Thank you Robert, Great video. I just order one last week. I love to go portable with my radios. I do a lot of traveling with my FT-817nd. Thanks again.
Note that the W4 meter is rated at 5%…vs 10% for the comparable period Swan watt meter. The Bird 43 is also rated at 5%! Thanks Bob…
I see that the QSK delay is adjustable. I wondered what the minimum delay is, and how well it works for those that prefer a short delay.
Thanks for another great review Bob!
Can't thank you enough for the detailed analysis of this radio. Too many Bubbas on UA-cam with babbling reviews that add little to knowledge of the product. Very detailed with facts about the radio that give me confidence in its capability and add to my operating techniques. Thank you!
Thank you! I am not into the flash and fancy graphics. I really want to cover all the technology in a digestible manner. Quality, not quantity.
Great radio. I love it and transmit reports are glowing. The receive audio is very good for such a small footprint. The only issue I have is the noise blanker which though adjustable makes no discernable difference. Its a pity it doesn't come standard with a mounting plate in order to sit the front face up off the desk which means it can get quite warm during the summer months.
You have to get the G2 fan/bracket assembly for an additional $70.
Dan Tayloe (of Tayloe mixer fame, which makes ALL this possible) would have appreciated a mention during the SDR lecture ... after all, its the Tayloe mixer that gives you "I and Q" to process in the DSP chip!!!
I got a G-90 and built a 55 Watt amp to go with it for portable use with less than optimal antennas. Haven't needed to use the amp yet. I like fishing on light tackle.
Thanks for the in depth review. It looks like Xiegu is stepping up their game on this unit. I just bought my first QRP rig an FT-818 and now after seeing this G-90 review I wonder if I should've bought the G-90 instead....I'm hoping I didn't make a mistake.
Thank you very much my dear friend for the presentation and the valuable informations you gave me. My 73s from 5B4RE with love from CYPRUS.
Have ordered one and expect it next Monday.
1. How long is the DB-9 cable?
2. I can't find a good explanation on how to choose settings for the bandwidth filter (except for what the difference between them should be). Since the Low and High are set independently:
a. How do you know what to choose for the low and high?
b. Does this ability allow it to function as an IF Shift control?
I think I good feature would be a monitor output so you can connect a big screen and make the waterfall bigger.
Thank you for the review. This is not something I would get, but it is nice to see how companies are doing their implementation of SDR technology.
Nice job..considering this as my get back into hf after a 15 year hiatus..
I really enjoyed this video. It is thorough in explanation. I am thinking of getting this rig.
qrp is per definition 5 watt or less, this radio is doing 4 times as much. i would not call it a qrp radio
aaah, who cares :-)
What i really wanted to say is - thanks for the thorough review robert. Really nice
I must say, the chinese have really filled a gap here, and done so in a brilliant way. Respect and kudos to xiegu, this WILL be my next rig for portable operation.
And i would not be surprised if i wnd up buying all the acesories too.
Right...Who cares?! Truthfully, 20W is the bare minimum when out in the field- so you don't run your voice out before anyone comes back to you.
Excellent review, Thank you
I was running Field Day last year 1E-Solar and between limited sunlight and having too many unnecessary shack accessories (like the Wires-X node) on the LiFePO4 40AH battery, the voltage dropped below what could run the IC-7610. I swapped in the G-90 and had a blast with it... nice little receiver and 20W was enough to be heard (of course, I was using a decent antenna). Glad I had the little W2ENY desk mike for the Xiegu.
Interesting ehh? Because you can't get full technical detail on the G90, I have to assume they are down-regulating the supply voltage on the finals - which results in no loss of power output with lower voltages. The finals are 2X 20W mitsubishi devices with a drop-dead power out of 42W total. The 6 watt driver is feeding at 60mw, so a slight tweak of it would result in increased power out. I'm sure we could go 30W without overheating in SSB. I'll give it some research time soon.
I'm on the G90 list, been watching this one with some interest. Seems to me it might almost be usable eyes-free. Would like to see one of these. Definitely a lot of radio for very little $$.
looking at the RF like the IC-7300 SDR has front end overload. noticed it bad on a IC7300 on contest with a lot of CW the IC-7300s there were all having this problem . The FT-DX10's did not have the front end over loading and single out signals cleanly .
Get new radio and an excellent review. I'm looking for an SDR to replace a Kenwood TS 50S. The Kenwood is an excellent solid radio but somewhat larger and heavier than is good for true man portable use. It also requires an external tuner. I also have a Yaesu FT-891. It is an excellent radio but also requires an external turner. Both those radios are great for field day but not so good for tracking off into the back country. For me this new rig ticks all the boxes.
Marvin- Just know that the case IS heavy steel plate. It is twice as think as Kenwood uses. Total weight is around a Kg. (I'd guess)
Thanks for the overview... I ordered one this weekend!
Hi Robert: Just ordered me one as well. Thank you for a great practical review! Best 73 my friend. ZS6 SAI.
I hope future radios will add HDMI for large monitors
Thank you for this video Bob. I have been watching it for a while now and it looks very promising. I am hoping this will be a good starter/ entry level HF radio. It would be nice to have 6m as well. Eventually I see myself buying the matching amp and GSOC for better base functions.
Really, it is a good choice. On amps, Xiegu's XPA-125B is a super one. It isn't cheap, but it very robust and includes a great antenna tuner. Radiooddity has their tiny HF amp and low-pass filter pack. I use them portable. Not as polished a system, but it works. Watch the GSOC to see how their firmware improvements go... it is a maturing product. The G90 itself is a winner.
@@Yavor54 wtf is a GSOC?
Nice review. And thank you very much for explaining to this old analog radio guy how SDRs work & what's important in looking at them. Hamvention 2019 starts next weekend. I am soooo tempted. Especially after this review. TNX big time, amigo.
. . . And by the way: Black cats rool!
Do yourself a favor and GO. I went for the first time last year and it was phenomenal. Just pace yourself. the food is new and improved too from what I heard... good grub. Take breaks...and cash!
I agree on the 20w level. I had the Xiegu X108, and I worked 10 of the 16 stations on the American Colonies contest from Nebraska. Took a little patience, but was heard.
Plus the mitsu finals in it are capable of 42w max, so there is plenty of headroom. I'm sure we will see mods for boosting to 30w level.
It would have been really sweet if you could plug in a keyboard and do PSK and RITTY directly without having a laptop, kind of severely limits the appeal for portable use in these modes. I haven't used digital modes yet, needing a laptop is a pain in the ass.
Internal battery would also have been great, the X5105 is a great radio, I really like it, it's compact size and battery make it a really portable rig.
The RS-918 I believe can do psk directly with no PC ? but try get your hands on a decent one. And will it work properly ? anyone's guess. Cool radio thought.
The G90 is a sweet radio all the same and could be my next radio.
You just don't get all the features of a $3000+ radio in a $450 radio. It seems like since they gave us everything else, why not DSP and internal digital decode? The features had to end somewhere. The answer to this issue is a tiny Pipo computer with a $3 audio USB card added. The G90 has what is really needed, and that is superb basic RX/TX performance. Soon I'll release a hack to boost it to 30W TX.
Nice review, would like to see an ft8 demo.
Bob do you think using an external monitor, us older hams can't see the way we use to. I enjoy your reviews. The price must be for the SDR. 73 KQ4CD
Paul- Well, amazingly, the little screen is very usable. There is no "monitor out", so the only option is to use their new GSOC 7" color touch screen...coming out soon. Watch a G90 video and make your monitor's screen such that the G90 screen is 1.5" X 1.5" . See if you can read it!
Your review and the comments indicate that the noise filtering capabilities are not up to par. Could these be improved with a firmware upgrade, or would hardware changes be needed?
They are not up to par with a radio over $1000 USD. At this price point, I just cannot expect to see 32 bit DSP filters being in there. The receiver's noise floor and dynamic range are on par with say the FT-dx101D. I have them side by side. In field operation (the intended use) it is a stellar performer. The main problem is the setting of the TX driver and final bias current. Once these are 500ma each, the radio is one of the highest price/performance radios available.
@@Yavor54 Thanks. I'm putting in an order for one this morning. Your video was very informative and helpful and was decisive in my choice. I have a HOA no-antenna rule, so portable and stealth operations will be all I can do.
G90 arrived. I put up a poor antenna setup - an end-fed dipole no more than 8’ above ground and not in a straight line, to keep within HOA restrictions. Receiver quality excellent, and first two QSOs were to Calgary and California from home in New Mexico, 20W SSB, on 20m. You were so right about 20W rather than 5W making the difference between no QSOs and multiple QSOs on SSB. CA ham recorded my transmission and played it back for me, and the audio sounded clean and clear. Very pleased with purchase. Thanks again for excellent review.
Great reviews, many thanks. Interesting to see the G90 uses the Tayloe quadrature mixer, just like the $120 uSDX rigs. I think the 48khz spectral display is a bit low, 96khz would be my minimum, kiwiSDR for example shows the entire band or even MHz.
They made the sweep time as fast as they could at that scope width. On the tiny screen, it would be crazy to show any more spectrum width too.
@@Yavor54 True, the Cirrus ADC they used does sample at 192 KHz, so they could allow it to show 96 KHz though would be a but cramped
Very impressive review and overview of sdr technology. Looks like a lot of features for the money. My main concern would be service. I assume that it would need to go back to China for repair. I guess MFJ buys in quantity and trades out for warranty not doing actual repairs there.
Thanks for this video. Great session on SDR!
Bob.... very informative and convinced me to get this radio. Love it! 73, phil KF6IF
Just wait for my next review of the new GSOC and 100W amp combo with it.
Thanks for the video. I am considering getting this radio.
27:47 high Parker! Great review, thanks for sharing!
thanks for the good info
Excellent Review but SDR not for me I am too old, prefer a real radio TS830 etc Hi
Running the finals at or below half the power rating gives much better life time and reliability! When I make things I like to keep things around half to s quart the rating of the parts.
I hear you Don. I suggested to them that they just put a 25 watt limit instead of 20W. This would bring the average SSB power output up by 5 watts and make quite a difference. I've used it a lot now and the heat-sinking would be easily adequate. The transistors would still be way under their 40W max power spec. - One would just have to watch it on constant duty-cycle modes....
@@MonitorSmith If you want to reliably talk to someone, a fella I know always says "100W is QRP"
Thank you, great review
Great video. I am curious how you compare this G90 to the RS-918 transceiver you looked at 3 or 4 years ago. They both seem very appealing.
No comparison really. The design of the 918 is very simple and results in a lot of image signals on the display. It's receiver is not in any way in the class of the G90. I find the G90 receiver to be almost identical to my IC-7610. The G90 is a little more sensitive though. Sherwood numbers may place the G90 lower than the 7610, but in actual use, the G90 RX is VERY respectable. Sure, the display is small, but it is so useful that I sold my GSOC large screen accessory for it. If I grab a portable radio to go, it's the G90. (and the 20W makes a Huge difference) I do suggest a folded dipole resonant antenna at that power level. A little gain and everyone can hear you.
I agree Rob, 20W is a minimum for SSB (i even prefer a little more, as 50W when necessary) ; and now we have the battery tech to handle that with a reasonable weight (i have LiFePo4 actually).
Thanks for this very informative video, have fun. 73, de ha7wx chris
Great review - looks a radio that could be a lot of fun.
Hi Bob, thanks for this excellent video and Xiegu Test. Bill from Germany DF7GT
Excellent job. I love the cat and a neat name for it.
Wonderful review.
Robert really knows what he is talking about
Thank you!
The menu voice nr. 8 "Band Stack Mode". Whats difference beetween FULL MAND and HAM BAND? In FULL BAND it doesn't transmitt out of ham band.
I am putting this radio on my Christmas list. Bob, how about the Nov. 3 firmware upgrade? Have you seen it or tried it? Look forward to an update on your channel. 73, John NO0I
Thank you! I ordered the radio.
Great review Robert, really impressive. The specs of this radio claim Frequency coverage 0.5-30MHz, but is that uninterrupted on both tx/rx or do they lock it to the bands? Quite curious about how this would fare as a mobile rig too.
It is TX on Ham bands only.
Getting a lot of noise from my 12VDC power supply. Want to install a ferrite like you did. Which ferrite did you use and where did you get it? Also, how do you remove the pins from the white connector, what type is it? ( I want to try another ferrite that requires pin removal). Thanks for your help - great tutorial, BTW! 😊
I used a generic clamp-on ferrite. I think you'll have to get a cleaner power supply. Don't waste your time. I'm sure you are using a switcher. Go get a 12A linear power supply. There is a pin removal tool... little tube device.
Only numbers one hear these days on radio? No BBC or other international stations?
Bob naggy is a very good decent man he lives in Texas and he is a very nice individual plus a great technician I bought from him an ic275Agood 30:13 good radio
Really good review. I have macular degeneration and having trouble seeing overall but especially up close. I’m trying to find a good QRP rig with large enough numbers so that I can see them enter. Any suggestions? I’ve looked at the KX2 and the X-5105
The 5105 has larger letters...and the G90 has a 7" color screen remote being released soon. I will post it as soon as th efirst one arrives. The KX3 is a super radio too!!
Just ordered one of these. Looking for more info and you delivered! Good overview. Thanks!
Question: what antenna is good for it?
Really, I would make a 139ft closed loop. Get it as high as you can. Shape and evenness are not important. The internal tuner should resonate it on all bands. It's low noise, cheap and a good performer. Just feed it with RG-58-U or whatever...one side hot, the other ground. One step up would be a Carolina Windom
Thanks! I'll have to see how I could fit it in the backyard.