The Xiegu VG-4 Antenna Build - Part 1

[@scottkn4vvj787]

I went with the CHA250HD. Lastly, I grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin. When you went outside I remembered why I moved to St Petersburg, FL

[@temporarilyoffline]

I'm not gonna miss the snow

[@arkyump]

I just put one of those things up. Had a ton of trouble getting 40 tuned, but finally got it together. Instructions were horrible. There is an assembly paper on xiegu’s website that has measurements of all the sections. I could only get it off the ground 9.5 feet on a flat roof mount I found on EBay. Works well hooked to my G90. Well worth the money.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Instructions? 😆

[@arkyump]

@@temporarilyoffline Exactly.

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Reminds me of the Hustler BV vertical multiband antenna, thanks for the video TO! Well outside of the matching box.

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Funny I wrote that before you showed the hustler.

[@temporarilyoffline]

That hustler needs some restoration, eh?

[@n3jw34]

Dag-nab-it, Steve. You've made me bite the bullet and open my wallet. Bought one of these using your link! Maybe its a good thing you're not a luxury car salesman or I'd be in debt and making big payments for the next 10 years. GRIN! Thanks for your unique methods of covering things and producing the TOL videos. Mike

[@temporarilyoffline]

Thanks Mike!

[@n3jw34]

Steve - I've been considering this antenna for some time now, so it was with a ton of interest that I viewed your video. Thank you!!! Some of what I've read about it suggests a bit of messing around to bring it into resonance INSIDE the 40 meter ham band. (Easier to accomplish on the higher bands) I'll be on the edge of my chair waiting for KM9G to take it to the "field" and through its paces. Thanks again for your time, effort and great content!!!

[@temporarilyoffline]

I'm looking for a way to get it on the air faster too.

[@JReed305]

I know a ham that has one and he loves it. He uses it on the OMISS 40 net and really racks up the contacts with it. He has been on me to get one myself, just haven't been able to talk the XYL into having another antenna on the roof lol.

[@temporarilyoffline]

One up, one down?

[@JReed305]

@@temporarilyoffline if it was up to her they would all be down lol

[@thebnbaldwin]

Awesome shack, inside and out! I'd consider hanging the 70cm antenna upside down on a sidearm.

[@temporarilyoffline]

That's a good idea. With the geography in the region, that 70cm antenna needs to be higher, so we've got some more tower sections to raise up.

[@Siskiyous6]

It reminds me of my Chushcraft R-6 - which has faired OK in its first winter at my QTH. I installed mine on a flat outbuilding roof. about 12 foot up.

[@temporarilyoffline]

There is hope then!

[@P47Harry]

Steve, I purchased and installed this antenna last week. I was amazed to make a contact in Poland (SP0WRTC) on 28.367 from southern New Jersey while the antenna was horizontal on two ladders about 4' above ground! Once I mounted it on my telescoping mast at about 10' I realized that I need to take it down again to get it properly tuned. Well built, but Xiegu seems to have altered it. Mine did not come with the main mounting plate. Also, noticed that your six (6) ground radials do not match mine! I only have treads for five(5)! Will post more later. 73 de W3DNQ

[@temporarilyoffline]

Interesting! It looks like a solid performer... maybe you just got one that was boxed up wrong at the factory?

[@Dusty_Ham]

Thanks for the video, I look forward to seeing how it works, and how it holds up to the weather long term.

[@temporarilyoffline]

You and me both!

[@JacobNewmen]

I would be interested in the comparison with the magnetic loop antenna.

[@temporarilyoffline]

That would very great!

[@marcusetveronique7508]

Bonjour , Perso , je ne vois pas du tout la moindre comparaison qu'il puisse y avoir avec une boucle !!! , l'une travaillant en omnidirectionnelle avec un gain relatif , l'autre c'est l'inverse avec un gain nul , mais pouvant explorer dans le bruit de bande , avec une directivité relative !

[@radiotests]

From Alibaba: "Specification: Use frequency band: 7/14/21/28MHz (40m/20m/15m/10m) Axial length: about 7.8m; Radial length: About 2.7m Maximum power handling: 1000W PEP (CW) Antenna impedance: 50 Ω VSWR：＜1.5:1 Antenna bandwidth: 40m: 150kHz / 20m: 450kHz / 15m: 800kHz / 10m: 1000kHz Rated wind speed: 35 m/s Antenna interface type: SL16-K Weight: about 7.0kg Erection height: the distance from the ground is more than 3m Other : VG4 antenna can be adjusted to frequency band center frequency point that we need. During the adjustment, the adjustment of the high frequency band shall affect the low frequency band, while the adjustment of the low frequency band shall not affect the high frequency band. Therefore, the adjustment sequence is: to adjust from 10m of high frequency band to 40m of low frequency band. Generally, only 40m frequency band needs appropriate adjustment. " I can't imagine trying to tune this hanging of the side of a tower. I'd be more inclined to stick with something like the DX Commander or anything from CHA or a Hustler that had USA support. But then Im broke so its going to be wire and tree.

[@temporarilyoffline]

A wire in a tree works great!

[@K5YVY]

Wait till it gets warmer?! Does it even do that in Wisconsin?

[@temporarilyoffline]

Right after mud season! Then we are good until Halloween

[@GuyMagnano]

Part 2 please :)

[@temporarilyoffline]

Soon!

[@joeblow8593]

I wonder how well it will hold up to Wisconsin Winters. Looking forward to Part 2 to see how it tunes up and gets out

[@temporarilyoffline]

Me Too!

[@vu3mes]

In my radar for future purchase.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Excellent

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Hey dude, did you ever get this antenna mounted? Would love to see how well this performs. Cheers! Build quality looks pretty neat!

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Just found the video 🙂

[@temporarilyoffline]

Nice! It worked great, for me as you saw, but others have has some trouble getting it tuned. Eventually we're putting this antenna on the club tower.

[@vu3mes]

Please share your experience Especially how it perform in different bands.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Will do!

[@dimitriapproved]

Would be nice to see how the BTV compares to the VG4 at the same location (ie on the ground , replacing the BTV ) ...and ...you don't have to wait for the weather to warm up!.

[@temporarilyoffline]

That building... metal roof, stucco walls (so metal embedded) and that BTV is missing some pieces. Would be very unfair... I like it!

[@dimitriapproved]

@@temporarilyoffline I keep flipping a coin between getting a BTV or the VG4, that's why I'm interested in a comparison of those two @ ground level. I also have an "allergy" of ground radials which doesn't help either :)

[@temporarilyoffline]

@dimitriapproved makes sense! I think they will perform very similar, but if the BTV has its proper radial field it will be the winner!

[@maxik0tix]

Hi Steve, I think that the 4 little radials are to install on top (like e cap)

[@temporarilyoffline]

They go pretty close to the top, yep. I'll show it better when it's installed.

[@randyk8919]

I just got one. Sections one and two do not quite fit and I had to sand the inside of the fiberglass section. The bolt holes are slightly off on mine. KK6USY has a video and he didn't have the same issue, his seemed to go together easily. You don't show that part here and you didn't mention it in the video where you put it up, so i wonder how that portion of the assembly was in your experience. It is now shipping with a different style of mounting brackets. Watching videos of others putting this antenna together and not being able to get it to tune, I think everyone is leaving it too long. To me it looks like there is a sharpie mark at each yellow sticker. I'm seeing everyone assemble it with the sections not slid far enough into each other. Sections 2 to section 3, and 8 to 9 in particular. The video of all the chums on field day.. they take it down and shorten it, and are still well long of the yellow sticker. It was resonant way too low. They never did figure it out.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Glad you were able to get it all together and thanks for the tips. I didn't have any problems with mine during install or getting on the air.

[@randyk8919]

new mounting rings and u bolts don't fit a 1 3/8 mast.. jeez.

[@temporarilyoffline]

@@randyk8919 that stinks! I used those 4ft military mast sections to mount mine

[@edbeckerich3737]

This might be the best product that they make? No firmware issues?

[@temporarilyoffline]

Oh crap, I didn't thing about the firmware updates! Every 3 months I get a new extension coupler! Aww geez

[@edbeckerich3737]

@@temporarilyoffline ROFL!!!

[@CapeCodCNC]

I've been looking at that for a while. Seems to get ok reviews with not too many issues... We'll see how it works out for you! I still need to get my 10M up....

[@temporarilyoffline]

Winter is a cold fish here man.

[@marymas3541]

I am confused on how to ground this antenna? Once the ground lead is connected, where do you connect the wire to run to the utility ground? Does this ground the antenna and the co-ax? Sorry all new to this.

[@temporarilyoffline]

You can connect the ground to a dedicated RF Ground and the bond it all in to the utility ground. "Grounding and Bonding" is a whole subject on its own, check out this book for a deep dive: amzn.to/41Ysld3

[@digitaldreamer5481]

Aloha Steve, thanks for another great video! 🤙🏻 Now we know what antenna you’re bringing to the 34 POTA Activation at the National Mall this May in Washington DC! 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

[@temporarilyoffline]

May? Same week as hamvention?

[@gliderrider]

I’ve been considering one for a portable field antenna.

[@temporarilyoffline]

What are your thoughts on a portable install? I want to get this on the air sooner.

[@jcalbano]

Will "U" bolts accommodate a 1 1/4" diameter? Thanks for any answers. John N6TRC

[@temporarilyoffline]

Yes they will

[@jcalbano]

Thanks Steve..videos are very helpful John N6TRC@@temporarilyoffline

[@thequarantinecatholic]

Keep rocking it !!!

[@temporarilyoffline]

Always!

[@ronwolenski-n8wcr]

Most likely there's some capacitance between toroid and the top of the box connecting to the rest of the mast. That's why you can't meter it. Be interesting to see how it performs, especially for the price.

[@temporarilyoffline]

You knew I had to check anyway - I'm not surprised by the results at all.

[@ronwolenski-n8wcr]

@@temporarilyoffline Actually I am, even though that explains, because usually a capacitor will be in parallel from the antenna to a ground, not in series.

[@Mk2Brett]

When you get around to testing it, could you test it with the Xiegu G106C? I’m interested in how well that radio or other qrp radio works with this sort of antenna.

[@temporarilyoffline]

I will!

[@steveedwards90]

Interesting have to wait for UK distribution

[@temporarilyoffline]

I checked with waters and Stanton, moonraker as well as ml&s - not there yet.

[@steveedwards90]

@@temporarilyoffline it's an interesting design it looks like a hybrid of an efhw 5btv I seem to recall diamond made something similar not on my computer at present so can't check 1-1 choke 4-1 balun? Capacitor?? 150pf ish mmmm interesting got all those parts

[@temporarilyoffline]

@@steveedwards90 Are you gonna build one?

[@steveedwards90]

@@temporarilyoffline I am always building something still using a 5btv I built myself

[@temporarilyoffline]

@@steveedwards90 very nice. I love building!

[@kayakbassfishing473]

any help on putting my antenna together .. new ham here .. vg4 .. i need to use the 10 meter part only can i do that with this antenna .. not connect the rest of it together just use the 10m part only by itself? Thank you.

[@temporarilyoffline]

You probably could use 10m only, but you'd have to experiment to find out how to assemble it.

[@aa3konthego]

That looks very similar to the old Cushcraft R4 vertical.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Good ideas are copied!

[@mattghoward]

i am guessing the big coax toroid is a CMC and the other one is a typical end fed un-un (9:1)

[@temporarilyoffline]

With it being a 9:1, it is interesting that it is resonant on 40,20,15,10. I know it's possible, but it's not "normal"

[@robertgibson5798]

The red transformer is a 4to1 because the antenna is a 3/8 wave vertical similar to cushcraft r6000 et al. The other toroid is indeed a CMC.I used the measurements with a old Hokushin 10 and 15m dual band trap with a cushcraft r6000 matching box and it works really well for 10,15 and 20m with 6,48 inch radials. Rob G4WGR

[@mikesmithg0rfd356]

thank you TO

[@temporarilyoffline]

You're welcome!

[@محمداشكناني-ش2ض]

Can I use this for UHF/VHF waves….????

[@temporarilyoffline]

It wasn't designed to do that. I'd have to test it out.

[@محمداشكناني-ش2ض]

Because I am in Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf region, we use UHF/VHF waves a lot. Between wireless simulator devices

[@johnstephenson165]

When is part 2 coming.

[@temporarilyoffline]

After the snow thaws! It was 5F this morning when I was plowing last noghts 4" of snow... man I gotta get outta here.

[@williamlegg6542]

So where can I find part 2?

[@temporarilyoffline]

As soon as winter goes away a bit - currently in a blizzard warning.

[@loraz0]

Any updates on the antenna?

[@temporarilyoffline]

Soon, snow just melted last week! We might have missed spring.

[@loraz0]

@@temporarilyoffline Excellent. Really looking forward to seeing how well it works!

[@molvikpm]

I have a x6100 and VG4 coming this week. I would really be interested in a pt. 2 :) Thanks in advance. KK7KPB 73s to you.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Coming soon! I just need to see earth again!

[@AlanElBee]

8:31 Steve is that the driveway that people think is a road? 😀 Thanks for reviewing this antenna, I've been curious about it. K7KS

[@temporarilyoffline]

Yep, ally behind, state road in front - no room for a fence or gate or anything 🤔

[@hp7093]

What kind of building is that?

[@temporarilyoffline]

It's an old car dealership. I have the original linen deed with all its history. Pretty neat. There are a few around here. One of the others is a lawyers office now.

[@aldewitt9]

Do you think I could mount that thing in a tree?

[@temporarilyoffline]

There a lot of mounting options - as long as its 3m above the ground, go for it!

[@j.d.-alawyerexplains5064]

@@temporarilyoffline I may have to think about it. Now I just have to watch Part 2 to see how well this performs. You have a terrific channel.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Thanks Tony!

[@timothymaimone8611]

It appears to me that Xiegu is attempting to penetrate the amateur radio antenna market, however, there are too many issues with their current production radios (x6100). Their tech support structure needs to be more transparent and not rely on more firmware releases to fix issues. Could you post a new “Quality Update” for the new firmware for the x6100? Thanks for all you do. 73 de KD6UYK (Tim)

[@temporarilyoffline]

Hello Tim - Yes, Xiegu has an interesting way of doing business for sure. Latest x6100 firmware is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmjHc5icoLWgfMk

[@nickjh1968]

Looks a good antenna, but is basically unavailable in the UK, I’ve tried everywhere.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Aww shoot

[@wj4k73]

Next, you’re building a boat in your basement.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Who says I'm not already doing that 😇

[@hp7093]

My buddy bought one of their radios and had had big problems with it. Out of warranty

[@temporarilyoffline]

Which model? I have a few of them.

[@Brendan8440]

Looks like a Cushcraft.

[@temporarilyoffline]

It sure does

[@johnsinclair3067]

English and German instructions for an antenna from China - follow the pictures 😃🤣😃🤣

[@temporarilyoffline]

Exactly, it wasn't un-intuitive after I got started.

[@nickjh1968]

Where’s part 2?

[@temporarilyoffline]

The weather just broke and most of the snow is melted. Coming soon!

[@nickjh1968]

@@temporarilyoffline Ace! Looking forward to it

[@marcoantoniosaez5143]

Hello i am buying one of this, can you tell me how good is it please, thanks 73 Ce3pcu

[@temporarilyoffline]

Here you go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3ibaKGrlpqCh7s

[@Trent28888]

U forgot capacitors block DC but its a strange way of doin a 9:1 and usin the cap to sightly shorten the antenna

[@temporarilyoffline]

I wasn't sure where it was connected in the circuit, but it's always interesting to check it out and demo it. Good eye!

[@Trent28888]

@@temporarilyoffline it will be interesting to see how ot performs,i was just thinkin it could also be to lower the SWR for 40M due to the iron core not being too good for a 9:1 on the lower freqs but u will soon find out and its even better cause its not some hard to find paet if it fails like more expensive antennas

[@temporarilyoffline]

Right, simple is good sometimes

[@n8ibz1]

Looks about like a small version of the cushcraft r8

[@temporarilyoffline]

Yeah, there aren't many novel commercial antennas out there.