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Author Topic: Xiegu G90 Are they worth it?  (Read 1064 times)

N8TI

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Xiegu G90 Are they worth it?
« on: April 19, 2021, 03:07:14 PM »

Hi. I got the bug  for a new radio early this month amd ordered a FT-891. Now, they say it won’t come until June 8th.  Then, I started to look at the G90 and expected to be unimpressed. However, the more I read about it, the more impressed I get. It looks like it would be nice for outdoor, fair weather  portable operations at the local park. I like the CW digital filters and the waterfall display, as well as the antenna tuner. A lower power radio would not need as large of a battery. In addition, I want a radio to bring out on the deck to run to a 31 foot random wire fed with a 9:1 unun.

 I did see that the G1M model they have had problems with input and output jacks getting loose and did not know if this radio had that problem. Then, I got to worrying that if they build the G1M poorly is this how the G90 is?  I have a IC706 Mark I that I giot about 25 or so years ago, and the FT-891 was just an upgrade for that. (My IC-706 is a little deaf, but built like a Russian tank.)
So, what do you guys think?  Would you go with the FT-891 or with the G90? 
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W9WQA

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Re: Xiegu G90 Are they worth it?
« Reply #1 on: April 19, 2021, 04:13:47 PM »

ive had a lot of fun with g90. no problems.
worked 800 miles on 1 watt !  my first qrp.cute rig.   display works but not too great.
loaded for the money.
eventually everyone will have one...great spare.
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K0UA

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Re: Xiegu G90 Are they worth it?
« Reply #2 on: April 19, 2021, 04:24:44 PM »

Hi. I got the bug  for a new radio early this month amd ordered a FT-891. Now, they say it won’t come until June 8th.  Then, I started to look at the G90 and expected to be unimpressed. However, the more I read about it, the more impressed I get. It looks like it would be nice for outdoor, fair weather  portable operations at the local park. I like the CW digital filters and the waterfall display, as well as the antenna tuner. A lower power radio would not need as large of a battery. In addition, I want a radio to bring out on the deck to run to a 31 foot random wire fed with a 9:1 unun.

 I did see that the G1M model they have had problems with input and output jacks getting loose and did not know if this radio had that problem. Then, I got to worrying that if they build the G1M poorly is this how the G90 is?  I have a IC706 Mark I that I giot about 25 or so years ago, and the FT-891 was just an upgrade for that. (My IC-706 is a little deaf, but built like a Russian tank.)
So, what do you guys think?  Would you go with the FT-891 or with the G90?

If it was me, I would go with the Yaesu. Not that the Xeigu doesn't work, and work pretty well from all accounts, but support for them is poor, by all accounts. Or maybe even nonexistent.  I have an 891, and it works well in the role you specified. Support is by a major Japanese company. There are aspects of the Xeigu that are more advanced, but there are production and implementation aspects of the Xeigu that are somewhat lacking. At least by some accounts. There are some parts of the Yaesu that I don't like, especially from a mobile standpoint that have to deal with ergonomics and some things are hard to do while mobile (band and mode changes). BUT these things really don't matter while operating portable.  So bottom line, it would be (and is) the Yaesu for me, but YMMV.
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73  James K0UA

K6SDW

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Re: Xiegu G90 Are they worth it?
« Reply #3 on: April 19, 2021, 04:43:19 PM »

Just me 2 cents. I bought the Elecraft KX3 and, IMHO, the receiver is up there with the $3k to $5k rigs....agn my opinion, and so too Sherwood Engineering. The bare bones rig can be had for about twice the cost of the Xiego G90 which I've heard is a good rig as well. Resale on the KX2/KX3 is excellent.

Oh ya, Elecraft support is legendary, I know from experience. Better than all the big 3 combined.

GL ~ ed
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KQ4KK

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Re: Xiegu G90 Are they worth it?
« Reply #4 on: April 19, 2021, 04:44:01 PM »

Check the Sherwood site ratings...
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K6AER

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Re: Xiegu G90 Are they worth it?
« Reply #5 on: April 19, 2021, 05:56:11 PM »

Yea, when conditions are great you can make QRP contacts but the frustration factor is not worth the grief. CW due to the narrower filter requirement has a 10 dB advantage over SSB.

I live out in the desert with a S-0 noise level and even then I have a hard time hearing 100 watt stations. Summer thunder storms and 40/80 meters is almost useless. Most hams live in a Urban environment and cannot put up a proper antenna. Many hams have at least a S7 noise level and if I call CQ with a 100 watts I might not get a call for several minuets. Don't get me wrong, Occasionally I work a 1 watt SSB station but it is rare.

You would have a lot less frustration buying a used IC-718 for $400. When Yaesu can supply the radio you want just sell the IC-718 for what you paid for it. It is a great starter radio and hears everything  the new SDR radios hear. If you want the QRP frustration just turn the power down.
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K4FMH

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Re: Xiegu G90 Are they worth it?
« Reply #6 on: April 19, 2021, 06:26:10 PM »

Check the Sherwood site ratings...

I sent Rob my unopened G90 to test. I dint think he’s quite finished with it. So that set of tests are not yet on his table.

Frank
K4FMH
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N0GV

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Re: Xiegu G90 Are they worth it?
« Reply #7 on: April 19, 2021, 07:09:04 PM »

Hi Frank,

Looking forward to the results!

ARRL found it to be pretty good, for the price waaaayyyy better in HF than the venerable Ft-817/818's. Adding an antenna tuner to a KX3 puts them in the 3X as much money bracket than the G90. I'm watching to see what happens.

No matter what happens, the use of a 24 bit A/D converter is a very good idea and one whose time is rapidly approaching.

20log(224) = 144 dB from LSB to Full Count -- knock off 20 dB to discount bit error and the dynamic range is potentially 124 dB. Of course the linearity, LO issues and mixers and so on on top of the A/D limit you more than that but the idea is, in fact quite good!
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NO9E

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Re: Xiegu G90 Are they worth it?
« Reply #8 on: April 24, 2021, 07:28:49 AM »

24 A/D would be fantastic, like a $10 rocket from Walmart that can go to the Moon.
16 bit A/D converters are used in expensive radios, and 24 bit on HF seems impossible. There is one 24 bit A/D advertised with 19 bit resolution but its frequency limit is < 20 Hz!.
Perhaps a mistake with D/A. 14 bit would not be bad.

Ignacy NO9E
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W6RZ

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Re: Xiegu G90 Are they worth it?
« Reply #9 on: April 27, 2021, 02:28:36 AM »

It does have 24-bit ADC's, but it's a direct conversion receiver. The ADC's operates at baseband and the sample rate is 48 kHz. In other words, they are audio ADC's and 24-bit audio ADC's have been around for a long time.

You have to use a high bit depth to get dynamic range because there's very little decimation after the ADC (48 kHz to 500 Hz is only 19.8 dB). A typical 24-bit audio ADC has a dynamic range of about 100 dB, so the total dynamic range is around 120 dB.

On a direct sampling receiver, you have a high speed (130 Msps) 16-bit ADC with about 77 dB of dynamic range. But there's a huge amount of decimation (130 MHz to 500 Hz is 54.1 dB). So the total dynamic range is about 131 dB.
     

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G8FXC

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Re: Xiegu G90 Are they worth it?
« Reply #10 on: April 27, 2021, 08:24:25 AM »

...

ARRL found it to be pretty good, for the price waaaayyyy better in HF than the venerable Ft-817/818's. ...
If it covered 2m & 70cm, there would be one sitting on the coffee table next to me as I type this... Nice rig for the money, but I could not do without VHF/UHF in my little QRP portable!

Martin (G8FXC)
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VE3WGO

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Re: Xiegu G90 Are they worth it?
« Reply #11 on: April 27, 2021, 08:42:08 AM »


If it covered 2m & 70cm.....
[/quote]

.... and if it did, how much extra would you be willing to pay for those bands?

73, Ed
« Last Edit: April 27, 2021, 08:48:17 AM by VE3WGO »
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N8AUC

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Re: Xiegu G90 Are they worth it?
« Reply #12 on: April 27, 2021, 06:50:14 PM »

If it was me, I would go with the Yaesu. Not that the Xeigu doesn't work, and work pretty well from all accounts, but support for them is poor, by all accounts. Or maybe even nonexistent.  I have an 891, and it works well in the role you specified. Support is by a major Japanese company. There are aspects of the Xeigu that are more advanced, but there are production and implementation aspects of the Xeigu that are somewhat lacking. At least by some accounts. There are some parts of the Yaesu that I don't like, especially from a mobile standpoint that have to deal with ergonomics and some things are hard to do while mobile (band and mode changes). BUT these things really don't matter while operating portable.  So bottom line, it would be (and is) the Yaesu for me, but YMMV.

Totally agree with K0UA.
I don't do HF mobile, but I do operate HF portable.
My Yaesu radios perform quite well, and I'm happy with them.
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G8FXC

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Re: Xiegu G90 Are they worth it?
« Reply #13 on: April 28, 2021, 01:12:58 AM »


.... and if it did, how much extra would you be willing to pay for those bands?

73, Ed
They are selling at under £400 in England at the moment - if they offered VHF/UHF with reasonable performance, I could easily consider paying £500, possibly more...

Martin (G8FXC)
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N4MU

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Re: Xiegu G90 Are they worth it?
« Reply #14 on: May 03, 2021, 09:45:45 AM »

Are they worth it? I certainly hope so. Mine gets delivered tomorrow and I have a whole set of "check outs" that I'm anxious to try. I almost went for the 818 but am very happy that I changed my mind. Nothing bad about Yaesu (I have a 3000 and am 857 and like them). It's just that the G90 lended itself more to real portable...with a small punch. Updated filters and DSP now. BTW, while accurate, the ARRL review is out of date. Much has been improved since that review and firmware. Here's hoping! I'll try to  update when I put it through some paces.
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