Xiegu G90 Support
G90 owner resources
Find the right instructions for your station.
Start your station, find firmware resources and check common connection problems. Contact our support team for documentation and firmware matched to your radio. These instructions have been checked against documentation; they have not been tested on your individual radio.
What else do you need to get on the air?
Start with the mode you want to use. These are station-planning examples, not bundled accessories or field-test results.
| Equipment | In the standard box? | What to plan |
|---|---|---|
| G90 and hand microphone | Yes | The core radio and voice controls. |
| DC power cable and remote-head cable | Yes | Check the supplied power connector against your external supply before connecting. |
| External power supply or battery | No | A source within the radio's 10.5–16.5V DC input range, with adequate current capacity, correct polarity and suitable protection. |
| HF antenna and coaxial feed line | No | Select an antenna for your operating bands and location. Include any required matching transformer, counterpoise, supports and adapters. |
| USB CAT / programming cable | Yes | Radio control and firmware transfer. This cable does not carry the two-way audio needed for FT8. |
| Computer and digital-mode audio interface | No | Needed for computer-generated modes such as FT8. See the connection choices below. |
| Headphones, stand or cooling accessory | No | Optional additions for your operating environment and duty cycle. |
Simple home SSB station
G90 + hand microphone + regulated DC supply + suitable HF antenna + coax. A regulated 13.8V supply with enough current for the specified maximum 6A transmit draw is a practical starting point; allow supply headroom.
Connect and check the antenna system before transmitting. Start with reduced power while learning the controls.
Portable POTA station
G90 + external battery + suitable fused power lead + portable antenna + coax and supports. Add a compatible charger for your battery.
Check the battery's fully charged voltage and loaded voltage against the radio's input range. Runtime depends on capacity, transmit power and the balance of listening and transmitting.
Budget for the whole station: add power, antenna, feed line, supports and any digital interface to the current radio price. Existing equipment may cover some of these items.
FT8 needs both control and audio
The G90 can work with computer-generated digital modes. A working station needs a radio-control connection and two-way audio between the computer and the G90's ACC connection. The supplied CAT cable alone is not a complete FT8 interface.
Control path: Computer → CAT interface → control-head COMM port
Audio path: Computer audio interface ↔ radio-body ACC port
| Option | What it does | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| DE-19 | Provides computer audio and serial-control connections through one USB connection to the computer. | Use the G90-specific radio-side ACC and COMM connections, the correct driver and the interface instructions. |
| CE-19 with CAT cable | Breaks out the radio's audio connections; CAT uses a separate control connection. | Provide compatible computer audio input/output or an external sound device and appropriate audio cables. |
| Other G90-compatible interface | May combine audio and control, depending on the model. | Verify G90 cable compatibility, included leads and operating-system support with its manufacturer. |
Match settings to your firmware. Digital-mode selection, audio routing and ALC guidance can change between versions. Start with low audio drive and reduced power, maintain ventilation, and follow the release-specific instructions.
Before your first contact
- Read the manual supplied with your radio and identify its power connector and APP / BASE firmware versions.
- With power disconnected, check your external source, polarity and fused power lead. The specified input range is 10.5–16.5V DC; the maximum transmit draw is approximately 6A.
- Connect a suitable antenna and feed line. Check the antenna installation and connections before using the tuner or transmitting.
- Start by listening. For your first transmit checks, select the correct mode and use reduced power.
- For computer digital modes, check the separate control and audio paths described below.
Manuals and firmware resources
For a matching manual or firmware package, contact XieguRadios.com support with your radio serial number and current APP / BASE versions. Confirm compatibility and read the supplied instructions before updating. A firmware version mentioned here does not identify the firmware installed in your shipment.
| Resource | Version / scope | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Request a G90 manual or firmware package | Include the radio serial number, current APP / BASE versions and your operating system so support can check the appropriate documentation and update procedure. | XieguRadios.com support |
| Tera Term for Windows | Serial terminal software; use the official project releases. | Tera Term Project |
| FTDI driver resources | Only for a cable using an FTDI chipset. Identify the actual device before choosing a driver. | FTDI |
What changed in V1.81?
The package release notes describe fixes for a display artifact, split-mode antenna-tuning lockup and silent NFM reception. They also change the ALC display to indicate microphone or line-input level.
V1.81 digital-mode guidance: its release notes specify adjusting computer audio or line-input gain so ALC stays at or below 50. Do not apply that threshold to earlier firmware without checking its own instructions.
Compatibility first: confirm your hardware, current APP / BASE versions and any attached controller with support before updating. Do not mix files from different releases. Historical supported APP / BASE combinations can have different version numbers; use the combination specified by the package.
G90 V1.81 firmware upgrade guide
This overview follows the V1.81 package's August 2025 instructions. Open the included PDF for its connector photographs and terminal screenshots before starting. It describes the display update first, followed by the main unit. Other firmware packages may require different procedures.
Prepare before erasing firmware
- Record settings and memories you need to restore; the package calls for a factory reset before and after updating.
- Use a stable 13.8V DC supply, a compatible USB-to-serial programming cable, its correct driver and a Windows computer with Tera Term.
- Extract the complete ZIP. Read its instructions and identify both firmware files before entering update mode.
- Check that the serial port appears on the computer. Close other software using that port and prevent computer sleep during transfer.
| Unit | File in the Firmware folder | Programming connection |
|---|---|---|
| Display / APP | G90_DispUnit_Fw_V1.81.xgf |
Lower COMM socket on the left of the control head; not the headphone socket. |
| Main unit / BASE | G90_MainUnit_Fw_V1.81.xgf |
COMM socket on the rear of the main body. |
Update the display, then the main unit
- Record versions and reset. Open the system menu's Version screen and note APP, BASE and their build dates. Follow the package's pre-update reset instructions after recording your settings.
- Prepare the display connection. Use the control-head COMM socket, select the cable's serial port in Tera Term and set the update speed to 115200 baud.
- Enter the correct display bootloader. For serial numbers beginning with V, the package guide specifies holding the volume knob while powering on. For older units, it specifies holding the computer's space bar with Tera Term focused while powering on. If the expected menu does not appear, check your hardware and the included guide before continuing.
- Send the APP file. In the bootloader select Update FW. Once the unit requests a file, use Tera Term's XMODEM send function, enable 1K blocks and select the display file above. Let transfer and the display restart finish.
- Prepare the BASE connection. Disconnect DC power and wait at least one minute as specified by the package. Move the programming connection to the main-body COMM socket. Restore power and use the guide's space-bar startup method to enter its update menu.
- Send the BASE file. Use Update FW and XMODEM with 1K blocks, selecting the main-unit file above. Do not disconnect power or the cable during transfer.
- Restart and verify. After transfer completes, the package specifies powering off, waiting 15 seconds and restarting. Perform its post-update reset, then confirm APP V1.81 and BASE V1.81 with the expected build dates. Restore settings and check reception before transmit testing.
A transient COMM LOST indication can occur while the main unit is being updated. If it persists after a completed update and restart, use the checks below and contact support. This guide does not guarantee recovery from every failed update.
Need a different operating system or hardware procedure? Contact support@xieguradios.com before starting; the steps above describe the documented Windows route.
Digital-mode setup checks
CAT controls frequency and related settings. Audio carries the digital signal. One can work while the other is missing.
- Identify the interface. A DE-19 combines computer-side USB audio and serial control; connect its G90-compatible leads to ACC on the body and COMM on the head. A CE-19 arrangement needs separate computer audio and CAT connections.
- Select the right computer devices. Choose the actual interface audio input/output and serial port in your software. Avoid accidentally selecting a laptop microphone or speaker.
- Check radio mode and audio routing. Use the digital mode specified for your firmware and operating mode. Later firmware provides U-D / L-D modes; consult the matching documentation.
- Test reception before transmission. Confirm incoming audio and decoding first. Then test radio control and PTT, starting at reduced transmit power and low audio drive.
- Use version-specific ALC guidance. The V1.81 release notes change how the meter is interpreted. Check your installed version before following a tutorial's target value.
- Monitor extended operation. Keep airflow clear and manage power and duty cycle. A cooling accessory may be useful; it does not replace correct settings.
Troubleshooting and support
No serial port appears
Identify the cable or interface chipset, check its driver and try a direct computer USB connection. Different cables and interfaces may need different drivers. Do not assume every G90 cable uses FTDI.
The update menu does not appear
Check the selected port, update baud rate, correct COMM socket and the bootloader method for your unit. Close software that holds the port open. Compare your serial number with the package guide before attempting another method.
Firmware transfer will not start or fails
Verify APP versus BASE file selection, the requested transfer protocol and 1K block setting. After a failed transfer, follow the package's recovery instructions. Send support the filename, error, affected unit and current screen before trying an older firmware release.
CAT works but FT8 audio is missing
Check the audio interface and ACC connection separately from CAT. Verify the software audio devices and the radio's firmware-specific data mode and input routing.
COMM LOST remains after updating
Check that both required transfers completed, APP and BASE match the package, and the head-to-body connection is secure with power off. Contact support if the issue remains after the documented restart and reset procedure.
Email support@xieguradios.com with your order number, radio serial number, APP / BASE versions and build dates, cable or interface model, operating system and a photo of the error.