POTA with the Xeigu G90 and the KM4ACK EFHW
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- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- Was on my way home from the weekend in Wisconsin and of course I couldn't resist the call of the Parks on the Air after driving by so many signs for State Parks along Interstate 90. Decided to stop for a quick activation on the way home at Rock Cut State Park K-1019 just north of Rockford, Illinois.
Rock Cut State park is a 3000+ Acre Park and has lots of activities for the whole family, as well as plenty of trees where you can toss a wire up into the air to play a little bit of radio which is exactly what I did.
I was using the Xeigu G90 which is quickly becoming one of my favorite radios to POTA with even at 20 watts it is a more than capable radio, as well as the KM4ACK End Fed Half Wave kit that I put together and is an essential part of my portable radio kit.
Check out my POTA activation on July 4th, with 15 contacts made on 20 and 40 meter SSB, including 2 Park to Park Contacts. I was glad I was able to stop, since this was a new park for me and to give some hunters a new park as well.
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Thanks for watching! 73!
To anyone reading, if you're on the fence about a G90, buy it. It's such a fantastic piece of technology for a bargain price. Enjoyed the video! 73 de N9GSU
Thanks for watching! I couldn't agree more, I was on the fence for a long time with it and am glad I picked one up. 73, Kevin
I picked up a used one for $200 and a 10A power supply for about $40. Now on to build the antenna
I just bought one in Ebay. Waiting for it to get here.
Just got that radio love it. Great to see what it can do as a pota radio.
Big fan of the g90 👍
I've had a G90 for a couple of years now and I just finished building a KM4ACK EFHW just for the G-90. The two make a great combination for the field! :)
I use my G90 at parks and no problem making contacts. Great radio. My antenna is a WRC sota special and a Miady Lifepo4 16ah battery
This is awesome! Its almost exactly the system I have been figuring out as well♡♡♡ well played hamFam, well played! :)
Thanks for watching! I love how portable and easy to setup the whole thing is. 73, Kevin
G90 is a great radio for the price! I loved the video!
Thanks for watching, it really is a great radio, especially for the price. 73, Kevin
Great video man. Very thorough.
Just picked up one of those KM4ACK antennas.
Thanks for the upload.
Thanks for watching! It is a great antenna, easy to put together, easy to pack with you and easy to put up. 73!
Great presentation; thank you!
Another great video!!
I love it tooo man!!
The g90 is very rugged looking and I heard the tuner is excellent that radio 👍
The G90 is a great radio for the value and you are right the Tuner in the radio tuned everything that I ever threw at it. 73! -Kevin
Great video!
Wouldn't be possible without a great antenna! Thanks for watching. 73, Kevin
My wife got me a g90 for xmas. I'm planning to do the exam by month's end....hopefully I'll get my basic with honors on the first try 🤞
Congrats on the G90, it has its quirks but it is a good radio despite all the hate on Chinese Radios. Good luck on the test, I am sure you will do great. 73! -Kevin
Great video thanks
Thanks for watching! -73 Kevin
Thanks a lot for that interesting video. I am actually looking for a nice and price-worthy shortwave qrp transceiver. This might be the one! By the way: I’ve visited several times Rockford/Ill. in those old days, when I was still working for the world‘s „ no. 1 communication manufaturer“ here in it‘s german facility. 😎👍
I really need to get out with my G90 & KM4ACK EFHW, but I have a few issues. Not many trees in the parks I go to/park at AND I love QRO so much.
I was worried about it only being 20 watts when I got it after using my 7300 before, but I haven’t missed the extra power honestly. It has been a surprisingly good performing radio. Thanks for watching! 73, Kevin
@@WQ9FHamRadio Yeah, I think part of it for me is that I had a very hard time the first time I used the G90 for an activation.
Great video ,now im thibking G90 over thr x6100 I was going to buy...
I take it you enjoy that EFHW with the G90. I have a new G90 in the box waiting for the antenna to show up and the test for General August 12th. I was cautioned about using and EFHW with this radio, but all the videos I've seen of this G90 on EFHW and I think I'll be just fine. I won't be blowing my firmware out it looks like.
I've since traded off the G90, which sometimes I regret, it is such a good radio, but I still have the EFHW and still use it time to time with no issues. I've used the EFHW with the G90, with an Elecraft KX2, with a Yaesu FT-891, no problems with any of them. Thanks for watching 73! -Kevin
What antenna do you suggest and power supply?
Would like you to talk more about g90. Good and bad for us considering for first rig
I am new Ham. Where do you get the park number?
Nice. How many watts is transmission? What battery ? I’m using a power supply and it goes down from 12.2 volts to 11.7volts when I transmit 20watts on G90.
I am using a Bioenno 4.5 ah LiFePo4 battery and the radio does 20 watts of output power, the radio will transmit down below 12 volts but you can expect the voltage to drop a little bit on transmit. 73! -Kevin
@@WQ9FHamRadio 73s
That's a crazy small battery! how long can you actually operate with it?
The G90 pulls 6A @max so 41minutes at max x 100%.
Many thanks for the great video. All part of the convincing needed for me to get a G90. Fine radio. 73 and happy DXing. De Paul VE7NRI/ZS2OE
It is a great radio, I sold mine when I got a Yaesu FT-891 but sometimes regret selling it. 73, Kevin
Newly licensed ham here. My question is this - if I were to use the Xiegu G90, with a small battery pack, and a similar antenna is grounding necessary? If not why?
Thanks for watching. Grounding can be a difficult subject mainly because every situation is a bit different. When operating portable, I do not ground my station. If I had a more permanent installation in my vehicle, I would ground my radio and antenna to the frame of the vehicle to help prevent RF from going places I don't want it to, such as speakers and electronics, but also to minimize noise caused by the vehicle electronics or alternator/engine. At home, my radio and equipment is grounded to the electrical ground to be safe and to help prevent electrical shocks, they also help prevent situation where RF comes back into the radio or things connected to the radio which can cause RF burn. There is an ARRL article from a 1996 QST that explains grounding a little bit better than me. I would check it out. www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/49680.pdf 73! -Kevin
@@WQ9FHamRadio Thank you for explaining your setup details. I'll be sure to review the link you sent.
G90 is 24bit DSP cheap chip, but still 24 bit, it is good radio. For example, Icom 705 is only 14bit, sound from G90 is much better processed.
I have since sold the G90 and sometimes I regret it, it was a good radio and never disappointed when I had it out in the field. 73, Kevin
When you're operating POTA/portable with your G90, do you ground the radio? Same question operating from your shack?
When I am operating portable I do not ground my radio. The three reasons for grounding your station are Electrical Safety, Lightning, and RF. I am operating off battery power and not connected to mains power, I don't operate during thunderstorms, with the RF ground it is dependent on the antenna, but I generally use 1:1 balun to keep stray RF off my feedline. At home I have my radio, tuner, computer, etc. connected to a bus bar and that is connected to my electrical service ground for my house, and 1:1 baluns on feedlines to keep stray RF off the feedlines. Grounding can be a complicated issue but I hope this helps. 73, Kevin
@@WQ9FHamRadio GREAT info. Thanks buddy.
I use the KM4ACK antenna with my G90 too. I had no idea that park was so big. Did you happen to go to Pig Minds Brewing ? It's just down the road from the park.
Thanks for watching! I didn’t get to the brewery but now that I know it’s there I’ll have to check it out next time I get out there, Thanks. 73, Kevin
Happy July 4th? Is this an old video?
Thanks for watching, yeah this video kept getting pushed back before I could get it out. I am a teacher so I recorded a lot of videos over the summer so now that school is back in session and I’m really busy again I still have videos I can put out. 73, Kevin.
Thanks for posting this video. I am building a go-pack for POTA operation. Have had the G90 now for two days and have had great success. I’m ready to purchase a battery now and wonder if you would recommend one to me. Would it still be the 4.5 AH Bioenno that you have? Thanks and 73!
Thanks for watching and enjoy the G90. I bought the 4.5ah because it is really small and light, but I also have a 12, 15 and 20 ah Bioenno battery. The 4.5 works just fine with the G90 but I've only ever used it for an hour or two at a time, if I am using a 100w radio or I am going to be out longer I would grab one of the bigger batteries. 73! -Kevin
ua-cam.com/video/Rytx3T1KrQk/v-deo.html
Do you have a link to where I can get that improved VFO knob? I think I found something that might work on Amazon but I'm not confident its correct so haven't made the purchase yet
Thanks for watching. I didn't even know I had a different knob on mine until you said something. I picked up my G90 second hand at a local hamfest. I did some searching and there is a person local to me that sells an Aluminum G90 VFO knob that look similar to the one I have. www.ebay.com/itm/313736314982 let me know if that looks like it would work. 73! -Kevin
@@WQ9FHamRadio thanks, that is what I need. I just ordered it. The original knob is small and not "natural" to adjust if you are used to the larger knobs specially with the small detent. Whoever had that radio before you thought the same thing because I'm pretty sure that is only an aftermarket option.
Hey Kevin your videos have inspired me to get into HAM radio, how do I get started??
The best way to get started is to study for your Technician Test. If you are a book learner, I would recommend the Ham Radio License Manual from the ARRL or the Technician Class Study Manual by Gordon West. If you want to use an app/website I would recommend hamstudy.org. Hamstudy.org can also help you find upcoming testing sessions. 73! Kevin
Hi !!! Liked and Subscribe
Source for the enlarged dial?
You know I'm not sure exactly, I picked up the radio second hand and it was on there when I got it. After trying a stock G90 I can say I am glad that it had the aftermarket VFO knob with the finger indent makes it much easier to use. It is made of aluminum if that helps in your search for a replacement. Thanks for watching! 73 -Kevin
How long is that battery lasting on the g90?
Thanks for watching. I’ve only used that battery and radio combo twice, but I have run it for an hour and a half and it was still going. I’ve been using the Bioenno batteries for about a year and a half now and I rarely run out of power.
Where did you get the bracket that's underneath the radio to hold it up
The bracket under the G90 is the fan bracket that is an accessory you can buy. www.radioddity.com/products/radioddity-g90-h1
G90 is a real value for money radio - wouldn't be without it :) 73 de M7CCQ
That was a lot of fun to watch! KD9MKO
Thanks for watching! 73, Kevin