FX-4CR versus the Xiegu G90

Comparing the two 20 watt HF transceivers. My opinion after using both. #XieguG90 #FX4CR #hamradio

[martincampbell]

Hi Walt. I have two G90s, a Kenwood TS430S, Icom 706MKII, Icom 706. The G90 is my favorite for ease of use and features!

[LiveWire_Guy]

Walt. Love your content. I just bought an FX-4CR off AliExpress. Got it today. With coupons and various discounts, I paid $410 which included shipping but not state sales tax. I ordered it Aug 20th and had it in my hands Sept 14th. It is absolutely genuine, sanctioned by Yu and is the latest with the barrel power connector and installed fan. And I’ve been waiting in line with Yu since June for mine and still have not heard when I can expect delivery (at $550). Ordering through one of his agents, I had it in my hands in 26 days for 25% less. Lovely radio.

[kennethherring]

Walt, I know this video is a bit dated, but I recently bought the G90 since I wanted to experiement with a low power SDR radio but after buying it I had seconds thoughts. This video really made me feel better about buying it. While I do have an FT-891 and have used it portable, carrying extra things with it such as an antenna tuner with cables was a bit cumbersome. I live in a neighborhood with a lot of QRM so any portable I do requires me to go to the local park with less noise so I'm really looking forward to gettinbg out with this radio and my Wolf River Coil or even with the Rybakova antenna you demonstated a few months ago. Thanks Walt, keep the videos coming.

[AmateurRadioUK]

Great video Walt. Nice to see a sensible & balanced comparison which hasn't been dramatised to be a "battle of two radios - which one will win!" Thanks for sharing.

[ThomasPifer]

The FX4-CR looks like a fine little radio to go afield with. Three years ago, I bought a G90 as a newly minted General. Over 6, 900 QSOs in the logbook later It's still my only HF rig. I've shopped for other rigs for 3 years, and just can't justify replacing it. Some of my club members laughed when I put a homebrew 40m dipole in the attic and went on the air with it. They ain't laughing any more, :)

[Frank_KFMH]

Great video. Fair and reasonable comparison, Walt. I bought a G90 from MFJ back when they were a distributor. Sent it to Rob Sherwood NC0B unopened (only way he reviews rigs) for his tests on the G90. When Rob sent it back, one of my portable ops team members (N5DU) bought it from me, again unopened by me. Mike has used it with me on portable adventures with my FT-891 and EFHWs I built for each of us. His exclamation is that the G90's very robust ATU almost never actuates but when he does need it to, it's a killer feature. Mike actually puts the G90 on his beside table at night for FT8 work...has about 75 DXCC entities confirmed over some 18 months, all with the G90.

I do use "his" G90 at times and it's a great value-based radio. Bought and later sold my X5105 after a year or so administering the Facebook X5105 group. As I've said here before, looking forward to my FX-4CR in the June shipment. Thanks again for your excellent video adventures!

73 de K4FMH

[Al_Dente]

Thank you for an honest comparison Walt. For me, the antenna tuner on the G90 makes it the choice. The other radio may be an interesting novelty but for POTA and SOTA especially, I would take the G90. Safe travels and have fun! 73.

[GSWEAR]

Thank you Walt! Another great video!! Always look forward to a notification that you have a new video uploaded.

[dangermandave]

I've got a FX-4C and a G90. I'll be taking both of them to Belgium with me when I move in August. The reason is that I can use the G90 at home with a 40m OCF dipole, exploiting its excellent tuner, and I can use the FX-4C for SOTA with a resonant antenna. They both have use cases. I'd eventually like to get a QRP shack-in-a-box like the IC-705, but that radio is heavy (2.4lb) and expensive compared to the FX-4C, so it's not a big priority right now. I started out doing SOTA with the G90 and eventually found it a bit too heavy to carry on +3000 ft ascents.

[av]

I appreciate the comparison, Walt! I am planning on getting a G90 this summer. Cheaper and with the antenna tuner made the decision easier for me! Right now I am running a (tr)uSDX which is nice, but I don't have a tuner, and it is only 5 bands. I did just buy a tuner--waiting on delivery--, the Antuner At-100M. Temporary Offline had a nice review of it. Safe travels, Walt!

[revbikerbigd]

Got my G90, fan, 100 watt, 30 amp power supply, all wires etc...used for $635.00 love it ! Didn't mod it yet ! Just have to remove a transistor!

[johnk]

Excellent comparison Walt. I was interested in the FX-4CR until I saw the price. Not that the FX-4CR is not worth the money, it is. I think it's what you want if you want a very compact, 20 watt radio to hump up mountains with and only use resonate antennas. That's not me. I love my G-90 and agree that the tuner and SWR analyzation the G-90 offers, makes it my go to for portable use. The G-90 is the best value in HF radio today. I also don't do a lot of digital. I much prefer phone. Digital is one of those love- hate things. It is excellent for weak signal, lousy bands (like today) and SHTF, but for general operations, digital is like texting, which I hate. Digi Rig, tablet and some cords vs. a tuner, I'll take the Digi Rig. I'd rather put more $$$ into new and improving antennas. The antenna makes or breaks your ability to make contacts. I think you have shown the new ham just how easy it is to construct and put up a wide variety of antennas, and that's a great thing. Antenna building is really fun and the results can amaze. 73 Walt, be safe !

[EvanKEJT]

I own both radios, and I 100% agree with your assessment. The G90 is an awesome radio for the money. It's also better on CW, which I operate on a ton. The FX-4CR shines, like you said, when you're going deep into the woods or up to a summit and want a full featured rig that can put out decent power and won't weight you down. There is no "perfect" radio. They all have strengths and weaknesses. I just think it's hard to beat the G90 for what it costs and what you get.

[jasonvictor]

Great comparison video, i really like your honesty. And i love my G90!!!

[jackpurdum]

I just got my FX-4CR a few days ago and have had a G90 for almost 3 years. Two things you didn't mention about the FX-4CR that impress me are: 1) the incredible color display, and 2) the 48KHz spectrum width versus the 25KHz with the G90. Even with a small 2" display, the colors literally jump off the screen at you. Also, the enhanced spectrum width is going to be appreciated in contests. Most QRP contesters are "hunt-and-pounce" operators who cannot hold a frequency with low power so bounce around looking for signals. The wider spectrum makes this a little easier. I do like my G90, too, but it's "dead" right now and, at 80 years old with fat fingers and limited EE skills, I cannot find anyone in the US who will work on it. If someone knows a repair person, please let me know. Jack, W8TEE

[normnpat]

Thanks Walt for your "Words of Wisdom" on these two radios. 👍 I do not currently own the FX4CR but have had the G90 for a little over a year. I like doing POTA and the G90 is perfect for that. I have a number of HF radios, but I must admit the G90 is my favorite. Still very interested in the FX4CR I have one of my rigs for sale and I will probably use the proceeds from that for the FX4CR.
Keep up the great work, I check You Tube every day to see if you have anything new. I really appreciate your videos on your antenna builds. 73 and God Bless

[okierebel]

I love my G90. The tuner is unbelievable how it will tune nearly anything. The G90 is all the radio I need for what I do. I use it as my base rig with a G5RV junior. I use it for POTA eith the Sparkplug antenna and a Bioenno 3amp hour battery. The 3 amp hour batter gives me anout 6 hours of use for POTA. Love your videos, keep up the good work

[vkfoo]

Another good review, well done mate. FOO was here - ROK

[Ammed_KNSTX]

FX-4CR is a cool little radio!!! I have one. Great video Walt!!!

[mikestone]

I sold my G90 a few months ago and I've regretted it ever since. I am getting ready to buy another. I just bought the Yaesu FT-450D and that's an awesome radio as well. Great for taking camping and for POTA. As always Walt, great video.