Xiegu G90 HAM Radio Go Box - TheSmokinApe

[@jimcoogan1529]

There are several Go Kit groups on Facebook. The one for ham is "Ham Radio Go Kits". There is also one for "GMRS Radio Go Kits". Both have lots of ideas for any kind of radio go kit. I have been looking at that radio for myself. I look forward to hearing more about it.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for the info! I'll check that out!

[@twohandsandaradio]

Excellent work Ape! You had me at Harbor Freight.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Yeah, Harbor Freight is awesome!

[@twohandsandaradio]

@@TheSmokinApe now I'll have to get my measurin' stick out and see if I could fit my 7300 in one.

[@530eman]

🤣🤣🤣 👍🏻

[@DonDegidio]

Hi Ape, Dave Casler KE0OG just did and unboxing and initial review of the G90. He figured out how to remove the control head. Haven't been to a Harbor Freight since the pandemic hit. Stay safe. 73 WB3BJU

[@TheSmokinApe]

Yeah, saw his video... he does great work.

[@N2YTA]

Excellent go kit. I keep and a couple of speaker wire dipoles in the trunk of my car along with an assortment of lengths of paracord, fishing weights and a couple of lengths of coax. The main go kit is my X5105, and assortment of connector adaptors, a BNC to binding post, pen & paper, two lengths of wire to use as random wire antennas & a pair of Apple earbuds. The random wires have a banana jack on one end and an alligator clip on the other. The one additional antenna I keep in the car is from Moonraker, it’s similar to the MFJ 1899 and I have a base I made from a truck mirror mount and some aluminum from Home Depot. I like to have an antenna that doesn’t require throwing ropes into trees. It’s very quick and easy to deploy. The radio, mic, random wire & some connectors/patch cords are stored in a camera bag. I enjoyed your video. 73, George

[@TheSmokinApe]

Sounds like a great setup, I like that x5105. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@WJ6FRadio]

Outstanding video! I know the G90 has an antenna tuner, but if a “more robust” tuner is needed there’s the MFJ-902B. It is simple to use small and light weight. If you’re curious about it I have a video for it. The Apache cases are great! I just received a G90 the other day!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Congrats on the G90! The tuner works for everything I have tried so far, so hopefully I won't need to go external. This is my second Apache, I see more in the future!

[@WJ6FRadio]

TheSmokinApe I have wound of with about 4 of them. Can’t beat the price and they work great!!

[@o2bnov0307]

Thank you for the demo of your G90 Go-Box.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for checking it out David 👍

[@gregorysmith3097]

Quick suggestion is to put cardboard or some other type of barrier to hold all that "stuff" in the middle section. That pick and pull foam is nice to customizing the box. But putting stuff in and out of that area will make the foam fall apart. Cardboard or even just a box mad from poster board would work.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Not a bad idea, that said I have moved all this to a backpack.

[@raymondmartin6737]

Very good. I have the Xiegu G-90, for a couple of years now and enjoy it very much, running it mobile and portable. I also have a Yaesu FT-891 in the Commander, hardened Power 🔋 Sustems Lipo battery to eveny use it at 100 watts. W2CH

[@TheSmokinApe]

Very nice!

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Looks like a complete kit Ape. I'm like you the Sotabeams winders are nice but a bit bulky, on Amazon check out West Coast Paracord Rope and Ladder Winders they are compact and do a good job with wire and paracord management. On my linked dipole I only use one saves a lot of space in comparison. Great video Ape!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for the tip Chuck. I just got a 3d printer so I'm going to see if I can print something out.

[@jbgreer]

Shout out on the video! Thanks man. I have a G90 that I operate portable in my backyard so far by means of a Bioenno battery, mainly in preparation for going POTA or other remote operations. I often operate FT8 using a RPi. I do not use a separate tablet / phone & VNC into my RPI, but instead have couple of small monitors, including one that is 12V that I also power directly from the battery. I also do not operate my RPi as a hotspot as some folks do; I figure I 'm already paying for a data plan on my phone, so I prefer to use it as an internet gateway if I need it, and config it as a mobile hotspot that my RPi can connect to when I need connectivity. My newest antenna isn't as portable as any of yours: I just got a DX Commander Expedition. That said, it is still fairly portable and I am getting the hang of setting it up and taking it down. Did you ever update your G90 to 1.74? I have not had much luck with SSB on the G90 and am curious if you have and what your mic gain settings, etc. are. The Xiegu G90 forums are full of many different reports, most anecdotal. I had looked at that case, but am looking for something deeper so that I can stack gear. Thanks for the show and tell.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Jim! I'm still working on a Pi solution, I'll have a video up when I'm done. I haven't done the 1.7.4 upgrade but it's on the list.

[@reggiehodges6784]

Looks good ! I do something similar with my 857d using a military surplus pelican case. Mine is more of a transport box instead of a go box . Great job !

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Reggie, glad you liked it 👍

[@carypeaden4147]

Thanks for your very helpful videos. My wife and I are both new hams. We recently purchased a Xiegu G90 and a 12Ah Bioenno LiFePO4 Battery to use duirng Field days and other portable operations. For safe transport of the system, I am likely to do exactly what you did here with an Apache 4800 case, because it seems simple. I also have a Yasue FTDX10 and a 30Ah Bioenno Battery that we are using as our base station, and I am likely to use a 5800 Apache case for that if we want to take that with us (in case we both want to be operating simultaneously on different bands of course). I see you posted this video on 7/9/2020. If you have any improvements or lessons learned since 2020, then I (and probably many others) would be very interested.

[@TheSmokinApe]

My biggest lesson learned is that I shouldn’t have sold my g90. It sounds like you are well on your way to having a good time 👍

[@temporarilyoffline]

I just checked out your box. Looks good to me!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Sweet!

[@rs4425]

While adjusting the height of my antenna, I came in and found my G90 upside down on the hard floor. I had jerked it off the table...But, thankfully, it fired up. I made a CW contact with Cuba afterwards. Tough little radio. But, I need one of those cases! Steve N5YSW

[@TheSmokinApe]

Oh no! I can only imagine the panic while you we booting up the radio!

[@ronbjork3479]

Great to go box

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Ron 👍

[@stridermt2k]

I love it! I have seen pics of your setup on Discord, but not laid out in a video. Good stuff! As you know I got bit by the "go box" bug as well and have my own luggable setup that I built. Using your battery suggestion has worked well so far. I think I want one of those inline meters though that's extremely cool! The only thing I see missing is a copy of the band plan, so you are pretty dang complete! 73 de N2NLQ

[@TheSmokinApe]

Ah, the band plan! Excellent suggestion!

[@GentiluomoStraniero]

Very nice

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks!

[@somarmd]

Nice set up. I have considered something like this. I just have a Go-Bag with what I need in it. I have the SOTA Beams 2 band 20/40 and love it. Same battery but looking to downsize to either 6 or 4.5Ah. Thanks for sharing, you're growing a nice channel. 73 KD2LMR

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks man, I have the 4.5Ah and it’s a great little battery. Glad you like the channel 👍

[@jss672006]

Thanks' and smart to gave a go box!!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks man!

[@scottweinstein4255]

Thanks for the video. I'm going to go look for your power cord mod

[@TheSmokinApe]

Glad you liked it, that is for watching Scott 👍

[@AA0Z]

Those Apache cases are great. I have a few of them, only issue I have is I wish the foam held together a bit better. Not sure if there is a fix for that.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Yeah, that foam isn't the best. You could always glue it, but that's a little low rent.

[@guyhornbeck8940]

I have been successful in spraying the pluck and pull foam with Flex Seal. Note that the flex seal will shrink a bit, but i find it gives a snug fit without tearing the foam

[@akabacon8374]

If you want to add a small, light weight computer with a full functional windows OS. Check out the GPD pocket 2, has a 7" touch screen. I use one in the field for work (electrical trade, it has taken a beating) and one in my emergency/go bag. Charges through a USB-C port, which pairs nicely with a solar portable charger/battery bank (currently using one by ravpower). I command stripped a USB 2T SSD drive to it, adding more storage. Also command stripped a QGeeM USB-C hub to it. It has (3) USB 3.0 ports (1 is 2.1a rated), USB-C port (can be used as a means to charge the laptop), HDMI port, SD and mini SD reader, also works with my android smart phones. I am no way affiliated with GPD or QGeeM. I got a early model of the pocket 2 amber black, which had some kinks to it. But from what I hear, the newer models have minor if any issues and better build quality, a little higher price tag too but probably worth it.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Great info, thanks for sharing. I have been looking at picking one of these up just haven't done it yet.

[@DutchmanRadio]

“Ignore those police sirens, they’re not coming for me.”

[@TheSmokinApe]

Haha

[@dennisg4196]

Just saw your Go Box video interesting. Still waffling as to whether to get the G90 or wait for the IC705. Reluctant to do that because the 705 doesn't have an ATU. Also going to go lighter and use a military grade back pack and Buddistick. Again, interesting.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Dennis G Thanks man 👍 the g90 is bulky and has some weight. Not sure what I will do when the 705 comes out.

[@dennisg4196]

@@TheSmokinApe Did a lot of comparisons of the two radios. Per their specs, they weigh essentially the same weight. Power wise, the G90 is double the the 705, and the 705 needs an external ATU. The 705 also has 2m & 70cm, which I have no use for. If the 705 had the ATU instead,I'd buy it without question. I think Icom is looking to sell into the Tech class licensees.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Dennis G for sure, the 705 would appeal the them, especially with that display for 2/70 👍

[@dennisg4196]

@@TheSmokinApe I'm a firm believer in : Follow the Money. Techs now have a small sliver of phone on 80 & 10 meters plus some cw on 40 & 15 meters.This is why I think Icom added vhf/uhf .

[@loctite222ms]

@@dennisg4196 I recall phone privileges on HF proposed for tech licenses. I thought currently they only had phone on 10 meters.

[@janhenkins]

Hi Ape! Have you tried out the Sotabeams Bandspringer Midi? It's a 60-10m end-fed wire, and I manage to tune it to 80m with my LDG Z817 tuner. Because it's only the radiator, counterpoise and bananaplug converter, it rolls up on only one of those excellent wire roll-up thingies, which makes it crazy compact. And cheap, considering it costs approx 25 of the Queen's Own Quids ($30-$40 I think). You should have seen the smile on my face when 80m tuned up! 😁 73's! Jan M7HNK

[@TheSmokinApe]

I’ll have to check them out, I have the linked dipole and it’s great 👍

[@paulhastings3109]

Tnxs

[@TheSmokinApe]

👍

[@donmix8782]

Not bad. I’d add a flashlight

[@TheSmokinApe]

Not a bad idea, I normally keep one on the belt 👍

[@donmix8782]

@@TheSmokinApe I recently lost my belt flashlight and I don’t want to be without one

[@leericelli_w8rnb202]

I see that you have a replacement tuning knob on your G90. How does the stock tuning knob get removed? Thanks

[@TheSmokinApe]

I pried it off with a small pry bar 👍

[@steadfast666]

what kind of peli case you use?

[@steadfast666]

I meen what size?

[@TheSmokinApe]

It's a Harbor Freight Apache case, model 4800

[@Andy2e0ree]

Hi. Ape you no torch 🔦 or field first aid kit no tape no cable try’s

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Andy, I keep a light on my person and one in my EDC bag so I didn't add one here, I also keep a FAK in my bag and a larger trama kit in the Jeep. Great call out on the tape and zip ties! Thanks!

[@19TC504]

you missing a ht :) hahaha

[@TheSmokinApe]

Yeah I don’t keep one in that box, good eyes 👍

[@19TC504]

@@TheSmokinApe yeah i know i see your little ht go box before (Y)

[@hamradiotube]

It was a really good video until I saw the blue pen. Ewww. Unsubscribing haha!

[@TheSmokinApe]

It’s all I had bro!

[@hamradiotube]

@@TheSmokinApe But you still had it. I'd be shocked if there was a blue pen anywhere in my house. If there is, someone else left it there.

[@TheSmokinApe]

I'll mail you a box

[@hamradiotube]

@@TheSmokinApe All mail from you has been blocked by all shipping companies.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Probably a good idea