Xiegu G106 Ham Radio Review - "It's Just OK"

[@Dusty_Ham]

I'm sure this radio is for someone, just not me. I'll be picking up a G90 soon. It just has a few features that are nicer for just a little bit more money.

[@daniell8387]

I love Mike K8MRD's title slides. He has this magical way of getting his point across with maximum subtlety

[@W9HJBill]

Save your money and for another $130 you can get a field proven 20 watt radio ... the G90.

[@joeframo3347]

Hey Josh I love the compact size of that thank you for sharing it brother 👍👍👍👍👍

[@mewrongwayKOCXF]

Mike has trouble turning a radio on! 😂😂

[@f5nfb446]

To the detractors of the G-106 who consider this transceiver as a bad radio I will respond with factual elements: I have a G-106 and I made a CW contact in QRP from France with New Zealand this summer. ZL2IFB received me 459... My traffic conditions were not exceptional: G-106 + G5RV with 5W but neither were Gary's: Only 100W with a 2 x 2 element antenna

[@glendonblount6556]

Josh, how would you compare it to the sBitx? Thanks for your channel, you are a big asset to Ham Radio. KG5WXU 73

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Pretty different. The sBitx is much bigger.

[@fakeworld6822]

Anyone here tried to summon aliens with the CE5 contact radio modality?

[@jimfielder]

Sounds like something that you could just bypass and not waste money or time.

[@randyab9go188]

I think you meant cube steak. 😱😁😉

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Nope. Tube steak == hot dogs

[@randyab9go188]

​@@HamRadioCrashCourse tube steak doesn't mean that where I come from. 😂

[@KB0OTY]

How does it hold up to a 168 grain hollow point boat tail .308 bullet traveling at 2700 fps?

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Not well!

[@temporarilyoffline]

I think "Is just ok" is the right thought for this radio... esp compared to something in its class like a (tr)uSDX. I'd steer people towards the G90, or even the 5105 over this radio.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Thanks! The only thing the g106 does better is size.

[@TonyHoldenEsquire]

I watched the other review, I think I learned more about the reviewer than the radio. I'm interested in the G106 as a relatively cheap QRP rig to keep in the car with an EFHW, that I can set up on the spur of the moment without any planning. I think your review has been objective and informed, I also think there's a place for the G106.

[@josinoabilio4202]

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[@josinoabilio4202]

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[@josinoabilio4202]

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[@josinoabilio4202]

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[@josinoabilio4202]

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[@DonzLockz]

I need a HF radio but I think my minimum would be a G90. Apart from no headphone jack, the fragility of the radio just scares me off completely. It's a no from me but I appreciate your demo and honest thoughts Josh.🍻🤓

[@dazednconfused31337]

Happy with my G90, it even tuned my TV Yagi on 40M lol. The power lead is thin and eventually exposed the wire near the radio. The latest firmware added a crackle on very strong stations for me and some others. I'd like someone to customise the firmware as they've found ways to decrypt and upload stuff. They also came up with schematics. I added 3D printed legs and a PC fan, I prefer the metal knob I bought too. Its quiet weighty although someone made their own aluminium lid, there's also a mod to reduce RX current. I bought it for £400 / $460 as the IC-7300 was more expensive here than the USA, like £1300 / $1500.

[@heavymetalham]

I would fork out the extra cash to get the G90. Just my opinion. Btw I own a G90.

[@lyledal]

"Tube steak prices?" OH MY! 🤣 Seriously, good information on the G106. Thanks, Josh!

[@ElvisAnderson]

xiegu g106 mars mod - extended transmit ?

[@seanwieland9763]

I’m certainly not opposed to Chinese radios. I’m a fan of Wouxun and AnyTone/TYT/QYT for VHF/UHF, and Xeigu’s other HF radios like the G90 have been enthusiastically embraced by the ham community. I see what Xeigu is trying to do with a $400 price point, but I’m with you that I’d rather have the Yaesu 891 at the $600 price point. Buy once, cry once. I appreciate your effort to provide context and flavor to the fact that this probably isn’t complete Chinesium junk either.

[@radiotests]

I fear that Xiegu it's trying to be too many radios for too many people. They should just focus on their core line and improve quality and features. There are kit radios that do more for less.

[@DaveW6OOD]

I was wondering something, Josh. Does the CE-19 work with this radio (or visa-versa, the “DE” on the G90). That sound interface is cool, but do I really need both?

[@dazednconfused31337]

I'm using my G90 with old USB headphones strapped to the mic with vox enabled. With a 3.5mm cable from the G90 headphone socket to line in on the PC.

[@DaveW6OOD]

Is SPL “pilot frequency mode” actually SPLIT ?

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Yep.

[@ricksshop]

IMO this or the G90 are not great choices for a first radio (unless you already have an amplifier). The Yaesu FT891 gets you 100 watts and a great receiver (yes, the menus are a pain, but can be learned). Then when you buy a second radio for your shack the FT891 can go mobile...

[@kennethherring2918]

Josh, great review. For someone getting into QRP and having limited funds to do so, this would be good radio to start with.

[@JonathanKayne]

Personally I'd rather go with the mcHF 0.6 (aka the RS-918) since you get more features for the same price basically

[@extreme978]

Josh, have you noticed how mike is quick to jump the gun, and call people stupid that disagrees with him? It is this reason I feel he is more TOXIC to ham radio than helpful. He has even went as far as to insult Dave Casler over a dx commander. Something really needs to be done, we need to blackball him out the same way that company did that he worked for. (I can see why they did it.) I don't know if you watch you tube as much as I do, but he has some really foolish videos, and foolish things he says. (PS) Watch, now I will be labeled a SAD Ham because I said what everybody else is thinking.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Mike is a real friend of mine. I won’t blackball him nor do I think he is toxic. I believe his g106 legitimately had issues. He got a second one and it’s ok. Regarding Dave. He made a lot of mistakes on that DXCommander build. The video probably should have been put together differently from my pov. I don’t think you’re a sad ham. But I think you are being a bit hyper-critical.

[@extreme978]

@@HamRadioCrashCourse 😃

[@Spike-sk7ql]

Umm.... he didn't insult Dave Casler. If you watched that video, he went as far as to say how much he respected Dave, and looked up to him. Nowhere in that video did he insult him. Unless you consider someone disagreeing with someone else is insulting.

[@extreme978]

@@Spike-sk7ql there was a live stream that he did afterwards with his ausi buddies and they really went off on dave. I dint like that and neither did a lot of folks. one comment said was "this guy is supposed to be an engineer" ...

[@hamelmer4827]

@@extreme978 I saw that live stream too. yeah, Mike and his buddies really went off on David Casler in that one. I would take David's word over Mr. Rookie Mike any day of the week.

[@todd.mitchell]

I'm thinking 1 day in my pack and it would rattle like a box of Cracker-Jacks. Hope they hang in there because there's some potential there.

[@desertcompound9088]

Now $280 with the De-19 as a package deal on Radioddity. Seems like a decent radio at that price point.

[@LivingByFire]

I just took advantage of that deal. Looking forward to getting it in and putting it to use. :)

[@RynardMooreVstar1]

I've recently resumed my quest for my general ticket and as with my tech ticket -- I needed a fairly inexpensive radio both as a learning tool as well as a starter rig. In doing so I wanted to keep my costs to within about a $400 to $700 range. I looked at both the G106 as well as the G90 and in the end, I wound up with a G90. In the few days of just going through the G90's feature set -- it is a good bang for cheap bucks radio. Also it appears to be solidly built radio which I will definitely hold onto as my radio stable continues to grow.

[@vhfgamer]

but why do you need that extra digital interface box? Everyone told me I needed a special adapter to run digital on my X5105, yet I have a din cable that goes straight to audio plugs with no box in between. Why can't we just use a similar cable here?

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Sounds like you’re using a different audio interface.

[@vhfgamer]

@@HamRadioCrashCourse Nothing special, just the wires going from the X5105 straight to the mic and headphone ports on my little laptop.

[@craigdavidson2977]

17:50 Looks like radioddity now has a bundle for $280. Hmmmm.... tempting as a backpack HF radio

[@themadasshatter1088]

I look at it like this: For $350 I got a package with the transciever, an antenna, and a tri mount the antenna has its own coax. Not received yet, but on its way. I spent $185 on a Yaesu 80 watt 2m. $125 on antenna. Another $40 on coax. A few power connectors but lets ignore those. Ive hit repaters 60 miles out but I hear 80 isn't outrageous. So simplex without considering power delivery cost me $350 and gets me 80 miles. This thing cost me $350 and, lets go crazy and just say the antenna that's coming with it is meh and the radio just does okay... I get 250 miles. Same price, I get three times the miles. "But there are repeaters" You say? Sure. But suppose there's an emergency. How long do the batteries on the repeaters last?

[@jzenick]

It seems those torroids cold be secured with a bit of hot glue on each one. I have seen this done on electronics How is the receive on this radio, compared to the G90 or the FT818?

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Good question. Video on the way for that.

[@joeframo3347]

It's junk its total junk 😭

[@josephsalinas7067]

Josh, do you have a video on GMRS?

[@bass779]

He made one with NotaRubicon

[@MrScotchpie]

Thanks for this. I've been looking at the G106 but as I don't really need another QRP rig, I think I'll stick with my workhorse 818.

[@pilotsvvv]

Hi.. there's mars mod for xiegu 106 ???

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Probably, but I don’t know.

[@joeframo3347]

Yeah I watch my video and he disappoint me he bad mouth that radio 🤣 for no apparent reason it's a good little radio 📻

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

There were plenty of apparent reasons.

[@TheUltimateAcres]

Wish I didn't miss this live. But, I learned alot. #Newsubhere

[@kd8mq]

Thank you for a IMPARTIAL review. BTW, SPL is for "Split". The terminology in the manual is possibly a poor translation to English? I personally am satisfied with my "little "Piece Of Crap" G106. It's light enough to take along on Hike-in activations. 73 DE WG8X

[@wrowe2559]

What I'm getting here is that it seems the G106 is truly "just OK," and it's missing a few features that you would want - which one would find in the G90. I've had the G90, and to me if I had to choose between that and the G106 then the G90 would be in my shack. Having said that, the G106 is a barebones radio and it does have its place in the QRP world for what it's worth. Great honest review, Josh. I had been wondering about the G106 and I have a better understanding of it now. 73 de WQ1C

[@haramanggapuja]

Thanks for this, Josh. Ain’t sure I need another radio but this little box is interesting. You do have the right view: It’s a radio; it works. It’s ok. 73 de W8IJN

[@gabrielsierra6890]

With the new firmware on the G90, selecting digital mode will switch to the accessory connector, no need to go into the menu.

[@phildurall7466]

Thanks for the coverage Josh! It is not as bad as I once thought. 73 - KF6IF

[@WaynePatrick]

Enjoyed your review. I think it has a place in the hobby.

[@nm645908]

I am still intrigued by this radio at the price point it's almost like a kit radio that you just paid the extra for on ebay and they built it for ya.

[@Fireguy-]

Speaker mic sounds better than the internal speaker

[@ward5821]

love my 106, it is my GOTO radio for my home brew mag loop. I have made many contacts in that arrangement. A lot of mag loops out there have a built in SWR indicator, so that is not a problem about the lack of it being built in. It works great......

[@MARRANCA2]

Exactly. I'm tired of the hot air from blow-hards that think their opinion means shit to me or anyone else

[@ibrahimalhmoudi7041]

hi. thank you for you all videos and reviews. can you do a review on VR-N7500. I trust you al the only one who can give us a trusted review. thanks

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Boy you’re in luck. I have one to review!

[@dbailey3024]

Where and what is the manufacture name as I want the de19 interface please great vid covered it well it’s £350 in uk ttfn and thankyou

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Link is in the description.

[@joeframo3347]

Josh they got it really working good and thank you for sharing the video you're great guy and we love you here it worked all the bugs we love you here in GA. 😎

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Awesome to hear! The size is nice on this radio.

[@joeframo3347]

Josh were into June now they really really upgraded that radio to make it better I love because it's so compact I have a real nice case that it fits in I could wear it on my shoulder 👍

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

I am happy to hear they upgraded the unit! It had some warts, but the potential is there for the size! I am glad you're having fun!

[@jonthompson2179]

Will not buy a radio that you have no swr reading and cannot adjust output. I run qrp cw and do not use more than 5 watts

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Probably a good call!

[@NickC702]

Hi, I am a total noob, I just watched your video from about a year ago titled "Cheap Amateur Ham Radios For A TIGHT Budget and Beginners!" in that video, you mentioned the ICOM 7100 with the DX Commander Antenna, but this was an old video, so in your links you had the ICOM 7300 instead, I am seeing that one is indefinitely out of stock. Is there a backup option that you can recommend? Thanks, I'm learning a ton from your channel BTW.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

The 7100 is a fine option.

[@NickC702]

Exactly, that's what I thought, but neither are on currently on Amazon. Although, I did see some on Ebay. Anyway, yeah the question was more about your link to the product is out of stock. Thank you for getting back with me, I love the show and I've learned a lot. I'm just getting ready to take my Tech test.

Does it works on CB 11m band ?

[@User-DX-radio]

Only RX CB 11m.

[@buttyug]

😂 never seem anyone shake and twiddle a delicate electronic instrument so much, no wonder you broke it 🤷‍♂️

[@buttyug]

Please hold them still or put them down when you’re talking 😂

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

I’ll do what a want. Can’t call a radio “portable” of it can’t handle some twiddlin

[@buttyug]

😂 my little RT85 is in my edc pouch, that gets dropped at least 5 times a day. I do want one just because it’s small but I would definitely break it, not sure I’d want to leave an FT 818 in the truck radio bag. Hopefully one of the slightly better Chinese companies will enter the HF market soon then I can leave one in each vehicle