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Enthusiastic Steve Xiegu G90 HF SDR review
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- Опубліковано 20 тра 2020
- Hello, I have been using the Xeigu G90 HF SDR radio for a few weeks now, both as a home base radio and a portable/mobile radio. What follows in the video are my thoughts on the radio, both positives and negatives, I talk about what's made this radio so popular and go over some of it key features, showing the radio in use, the tuner, the analyser, cw reception, talk about voltage requirements and show some detailed close up images that I took of the radio. I hope you get something from this either as a current G90 owner or as a prospective buyer/owner. Thank you for watching. Enthusiastic Steve 73s
Welcome to the G90 club. It is a very capable little radio. Those 20 watts, antenna tuner, analyzer put this little rig in a whole different category. Best bang for the money out there. I use it for SOTA and portable ops routinely.
Hello and thank you. Yes I am enjoying the little radio, it packs a massive punch especially for the price. Regards Steve
@@EnthusiastSteveM6WVV Hope to see some videos out in the field with your new toy. 73s IU3JNT
I have no hf gear so please post many qso videos. It's great to listen. Thank you.
Fantastic review. Love this radio. I have one. I used my chameleon cha micro with 60 foot wire antenna to talk to New Zealand the first time I hooked it up. . That cha micro antenna gets 6 through 160 meter bands using the internal antenna tuner in the radio. This small radio with the small portable antenna and the internal antenna tuner that is so good it probably could tune up a head of cabbage make this a joy to carry everywhere. Wowiee great. I use a lightweight 20 amp hour LiFePo4 battery when traveling. I also have a foldable solar panel to keep the battery charged. But the 20 ah lightweight lithium battery seems to last forever. It also has a great cw decoder. This little inexpensive jewel is a real treasure.
I use my G90 with an end-fed long wire resonant on 20m (about 130 ft long) and the tuner has no problem on any band using it.
Now other YT content creators know how to properly write and produce a "review video". Very well done Steve!
Fantastic piece of kit
Thanks for sharing this video and your insights. I am especially in the antenna analysis capability😢. Seems to have great audio 😊 earlier today I ordered G90. This will be first e
SDR / QRP radio exposure.
73 Steve AA4SH
Took mine out for the first time yesterday, portable, with an end-fed 1/4 wave sloper at least fifteen feet lower than the optimum height. Tuned like magic.
Yes the tuner is very effective. Regards Steve
Mine should be here on Tuesday. Need another HF rig like I need a hole in my head but couldn't resist the price/feature ratio.
Excellent review indeed. The only negative issue of this rig, at least for me, is the size and the layout of the buttons. When in a hurry I often press the wrong one. Because of my finger, because of the layout, because of the size! But still a vy good rig.
Thanks Stephen, great video... So that's how the waterfall works!
Good review Steve. It's a fantastic little radio for the money. I've had mine for over a year now with no issues. I did replace the stock VFO knob with a large aluminium one with a finger indent which makes it a whole lot nicer to operate. It should be noted that, out of the box, the radio doesn't transmit on the whole UK 60m band allocation. It's limited to the US portion of that band in order to comply with FCC regs. The "wideband" mod only takes 15 minutes to do and involves desoldering one diode which is clearly marked with a large white arrow on the PCB... almost like they expect people to be going in and doing it :)
Thank you Ronan, yes it is a very nice compact useful radio, ideal for my UK foundation license pwr limit. Having fun using it and its now replaced my yaesu ft980, a big 1980s radio I have enjoyed using for the past 3 years. When you compare a old radio and a modern sdr one you realise how much things have moved on. Thank you for your comments. Enjoy the G90 and the hobby. Regards Steve M6WVV
This is good to know re U.K. 60M, thanks
Thanks for the great Review! Got mine coming on Monday.....eager to try it out!
Enjoy it, mine is in use most days. Ty regards Steve
Hi Steve,
I love my Xiegu G90. I have had it for 2 months now. I am still learning the about all the imbedded control functions. I am looking forward to when Xiegu releases the larger control display.
Keeliey, KE0ZMW
Hi, glad you are enjoying the radio, I have now replaced my old larger yaesu ft980 and the G90 is now my main shack hf radio. It would be nice if you could output display to a monitor, hopefully new larger display will not be too expensive. Ty for your comment. Enjoy, Steve M6WVV
Great review Steve. The best I’ve seen!
LOL Exoogie. But seriously, it is one of the better compact radios I have used, and you can't beat that antenna tuner and waterfall display. It does what I need it to do on 10, 20, and 40m. Can't complain!
I was an SWL back in the 70s with a Yaesu FR-50B valve receiver. I kind of lost interest around 1981, so I've been completely out of the loop since. This is blowing my mind!
Things have moved on a lot, I was always happy using older radios, before this I was still using a yaesu ft980 from the 80s, great radio, built like a tank, but once you hear how clear this little radio can preform, the small but very useful waterfall display plus built in tuner, analyser etc it just shows what can be achieved and at a relative low cost. More expensive and probably better radios out there but for price for me it's a favourite. Link it to a computer for digi modes and again it opens a whole new world. Thank you for your comments. Regards Steve
@@EnthusiastSteveM6WVV I'm so tempted to get one of these, do my foundation exam, and do some mobile QRP DX. Seeing your video of this little beauty has got me interested again.
@@banginghats2 it's a good time to do your foundation license, now you can can do it all online. Good luck and look forward to hearing you on the bands.
excellent review there Steve.. hope to see more videos on this radio and the new screen.7 3
Thank you, I am enjoying the radio, its full of features normally only found on more expensive radios , yes the bigger screen will be interesting to see, thank you for viewing, regards Steve M6WVV
Thanks for this, I have one and your comments are pretty accurate. The fan is really only needed if you do a lot digital work and use things like WSPR. That's when they get hot. If you wanted the correct pronunciation it's "zi-gu". 73's G6XIB
Thank you for your comments, I still struggle with the name lol. I continue to enjoy my g90, I used it portable at the weekend and it performed well. Regards Steve
I hate having to give China more money but the Yeasu 818 is 20 year old technology that is soooooo outdated. I’m not going to sink my cash into Depreciated tech. Excellent review
There is a reason it's been around for 20 years. It's THAT good.
Very nice review and i am considering the radio. I would definitely buy before spending insane money on the IC-705.
So did you get one? I've got one and I love it.
@@sebastianfranitza641 No still using the FT-817 for now. To many other priorities on my to do list. Enjoy your radio.
Looking for my first transceiver and this has been very helpful!
Ty Jed, it is what it is, for price you get a lot of use able radio. I still love mine, no problems, get a decent antenna connected to it and have fun. I use a home made wire delta loop that works 7 to 28 mhz. All the best. Steve
Good Review Stephen, the G90 is packed with a lot of features especially for the price.
Many thanks, I am finding it a very useful radio. Regards Steve, M6WVV
great review of the G90 very good value for money and they work great yes i agree turner is fantastic 73s
Thanks Steve for the excellent video. I've had my G90 for about a week and I'm learning something new about it each day. Amazing little radio. Thanks and 73, George K2WO.
Shaygoo. Nice review.
Thank you !
Thank you, 73!
Brillant review Stephen, just received mine and i find it a bit trckey to gasp all the features. One that baffle me is the second status display at the top screen is a half square wave showing and can't make it disappear! I did something obviously bet what? Thanks for your advice, Fernando G0VUF. 73s
Thank you Fernando for the comment. That square symbol means you have the microphone compressor turned on. A quick search in a online manual should give you the location in the menu to turn it off. I programmed my mic comp. To one of the func keys on the microphone so I could turn it on or off as required. Ty regards Steve
I stand corrected, the little square is the NB, noise blanker turned on. Middle Button on the bottom front of radio.
Good vid why on earth do some still want 11 meter ? Each to there own I suppose but anyway I love this set for the money it packs loads of extras which many radios can't do very good for the money for the beginner on HF.
The only thing 11M CB is good for is, if you hear the whine of skip, its almost certain that the 10M ham band is also open for DX.
Seriously thinking of buying one of these in the next few weeks. How do you find it working the HF Bands considering its limited power. Is it a practical choice at all (are you making contacts) or is it a struggle. Obviously antenna choice is key here - I've set up an EFHW in an inverted V config in preparation and am hoping that will be a good choice. Would appreciate your thoughts/ovservations/advice as your review seems extremely encouraging. Thanks in advance and 73s (M7GHB)
Hello Greg, well I have worked all over Europe, into Russia and a few into the USA using just 10w and voice ssb. The audio reports come back saying its crystal clear. I use a home made 40m delta loop, works well on 40,20 and 10m. I also use an alinco hf radio but I always come back to the g90 for voice ssb plus it's great out portable. Regards Steve
Cheers for that Steve, that's reassured me. All the best
lmao this has been the best pronunciation of the name yet.. exoogi
There is a white arrow pointing to what to remove to mod it right on the board !
Thanks for this review Steve, do you still have this radio? If so would you mind posting your thoughts on it after using it for 3 years please?
Hi, yes still have the radio and use it out mobile. I have never changed the firmware, still running the original version. Radio has only once locked due to rf coming back into my shack at home using 18mHz band. A on off and all was sorted. I also use with a transverter to allow ssb on the 4m band here in the uk, 28 convert to 70mHz. Still use original mic, very happy with the radio, i notice the prices have risen since i got mine. I would still prefer this model over any of the other similar models. Regards Steve
@@EnthusiastSteveM6WVV Steve, firstly cheers for taking the time to reply to me mate. I am interested in getting one and the only down side for me is the small screen but I suppose that's why I have varifocals lol. I am not very active on radio at the moment (when I do it's only 2m and 70cm) but like to have the option if I get the urge. I currently have a Kenwood TS50 and AT50 for HF but both have faults and haven't been used for a few years. The only aerial I have is an inverted V for 40m which is rolled up and put to one side. When it was in use I had one leg (no pun) at the end of my garden and the other in my neighbours garden. If I do regain HF capability I think I will go down the route of the long wire with 9:1 UnUn as per your video but have it as a sloper. At the moment I am looking at the options but I do like the idea of a G90 and long wire (especially with all the good things I read about the ATU). Again thanks for replying to this and my comments re the 9:1 Balun vid - 2E0EJS
Which portable antenna do you suggest for this radio?
Many options there, I use the basic ampro hf sticks on a triple magount on the car or a home made quarter wave ground plane wire vertical ante4for 40m on a fibreglass pole if field portable. If mobile parked up, a mfj telescopic will work amazingly as a quarter wave on 14, 18, 21, 24 and 28mhz. It's the long 16ft one.
Hi steve
Great video, but you should not transmit up to 14.900,
as you did on this video, the radio is not a antenna analyzer, it is just doing a tx scan and showing the swr, the radio is outputting 2watts when it is doing the swr scan, not many know this,
i am very close to you so we may meet up one day
all the best Dave 2e0dmb
Thanks Dave, I was unaware of that, as expect many are not, every day is a learning day. Good little radio, still very pleased with it. Hopefully meet up sometime, I get out on local hills and seafronts so may see you about. All the best regards Steve M6WVV
@@EnthusiastSteveM6WVV
Hi Steve
Yes I have only had it about 3 weeks
So still playing
Are you doing all the firmware updates
Thanks Dave
@@davidbrowne1588 not currently, it's at 1.73 all working OK apart from the NB button does not work which is a common issue, but got button on mic programmed so not a issue. If the radio stops working I may refresh with latest version. I don't do digital modes yet but may upgrade if I do later.
@@EnthusiastSteveM6WVV
Hi i have found the tx audio is better with the latest firmware,
Dave 2E0DMB
How to do a factory reset? I don't find this function in the user guide or internet. Thanks.
I have never done a reset but going by information from the Radioddity Web site to do a reset, turn off the G90, hold the function button and turn on the machine. This function was added I firmware v1. 73, if you have an earlier version you may need to install this firmware and do the reset. Regards Steve
should i buy this g90 or a g1m?one of these will be my first hf ham radio....
Can I connect this radio to my Expert 1K-FA solid state linear amplifier?
Do not know the layout of that amp but as long as you have the correct connections, power is adjustable on radio down to 1 watt, so good control for driving a amp of you wished to try one. Regards Steve
Stephen mentions the UK supplier,can’t quite understand the name,or the spelling of the name,anyone know.
Type into your search bar, Sinotel UK, that will bring up the company you are looking for. Regards Steve
I have one and the reception is exceptional I have a yaesuft891and reception isn’t as good as my xiegug90 hands down pile up Sweden radio corporation
For making xiegug90
Hello.. one question, can you use a keyboard for CW keying with this radio?
Unsure, I have not used cw on the radio yet.
What you could do is make up a little interface with an arduino or something to activate the keyer
The pronunciation is... XI is pronounced Shaw E is É and GU is Gow. So.. ShawÉGow.
Didn’t seem that enthusiastic about it to me.... maybe I’ve been watching too many American people on here.. :D
Dave I promise to be more enthusiastic in the future 🤓. Thank you for subscribing, regards Steve
Do the mod and transmit on the same frequencies it will receive on. 🖒
I have not done the mod and would say the radio is good with out it but I believe doing a mod, or in other words wide banding would open up the full freq range to both rx and tx. If you decide to go that way lots of information on Internet just do a search, but any warranty on the radio would no long be valid. Enjoy the bands, very happy with my g90. Regards Steve
@@EnthusiastSteveM6WVV Very cool. I was wondering if you had done it and what you thought about the results of it. 🖒 Thank you for the reply. 73's
Can you change the colour of the scope
I don't believe you can, though I am not running the latest firmware, but I have not seen that as an option. Maybe it is something they will add later. You can adjust brightness but that's about it. Regards Steve
@@EnthusiastSteveM6WVV mine is blue on the waterfall part and green on the upper signal part where yours is white
I suspect the name is pronounced something like "shee-goo"
How many amps does the radio draw in TX and RX?
I have never really measured it, I only tx at a max of 10w, I should imagine between 3 and 5 amps would surfice at 10w output. If using full 20w, volume up loud, screen brightness to max and doing data modes 8 to 10 amp supply would give you some useable radio time if thinking portable use.
Rx: 0.5 A Tx: up to 5 A max
Is it REALLY that good of a radio or have we just lowered our standards to the point all Chinese stuff im presses us?
My thoughts are, it is not the best of all radios but at the price it offers a fair amount of good radio wants. Perfect for the person new to amateur radio, tuner, analyser, waterfall, light weight for portable use, can be used mobile or as a main hf shack radio. Other radios offer brand name and better components but for price it does do as its designed and gets people on the air talking, or as many have used it onto data modes. I like it, better exists but pound for pound it works. Regards Steve
Exugee???
Close enough 😁
Its a chinese copy of an Icom ic-7000 in its display and Microphone. i wonder who they ripped off for the tuner/anayizer tech in the radio? Its is a nice package but the buttons not working indicates a lack of manufacturing know how. i am sure they will rip that off too. NO THANKS! Buy Japanese, German or American radios. They are the companies that innovate and do all the hard work.
And if you utilize the CAT feature of the radio for use of computer control of the radio, it also supports the
IC7000 CAT protocol.
I have just order this from sinotel too very excited to get it de 2e0njk down in Plymouth
I really enjoy my radio, it has great audio for a small radio. I use it home base and out mobile and recently been using it with a transverter on the 4m band for ssb. Good luck. Regards Steve
@@EnthusiastSteveM6WVV thanks Steve sounds like you have been having a lot of fun with it how's 4m been for you iv never used 4m there is no one on it down hear
@@nickkendall3764 very fortunate in the Solent area, a couple of dozen 4m users, daily nets and a vertical ssb net every monday evening. Its worth a go it's a good band. Until you call out you never know who is listening. Regards Steve
@@EnthusiastSteveM6WVV how long did sinotol take to deliver the radio from day of ordering Steve
@@nickkendall3764 within a week, they had it in stock when I ordered it. They are usually very quick. You could always Call them to see if it's posted yet. It will be worth the wait.