Xiegu G90 Winlink Off Grid Winter FIeld Day 2025

In this video, I will use my Xiegu G90 ham radio to participate in a simulated emergency test for Winter Field Day 2025. I will be using the ham radio email application Winlink to send different forms over the HF airwaves. I am only using emergency backup power in the form of my homebrew LiFePO4 batteries, which I took from my solar shed. I’m the kind of guy who likes to use whatever I have on hand for the project I’m working on, so for the PC monitor, I used a 6” monitor I sometimes use with a raspberry PI and a mini-bluetooth keyboard/trackpad. To power the Beelink mini-pc, I used an inverter I pulled out of a piece of old photo equipment. Obviously the small monitor and keyboard made the task more difficult, but hey, its a simulated emergency test, and this is how we work out the bugs, right 😁.

I will show you how to connect the Xiegu G90 to Winlink using the DigiRig sound card for CAT control and PTT.

I will also share my thoughts on the VARA modem. I truly wish it was an open-source or cross-platform application. I am not a fan of Windows, but unfortunately, VARA modem is only available on Windows. Imagine the possibilities if you could use Winlink on a Raspberry Pi.

Here's how to connect your Xiegu G90 to Winlink:

1. Open Winlink and start a VARA HF session.
2. Click on Settings, then Radio Setup.
3. Use the Icom 7200 for the rig, select USB Digital.
4. Find your DigiRig's COM port in Device Manager and select it here. The baud rate is 19200.
5. Open the VARA HF modem and go to Settings -- Soundcard.
6. Choose the DigiRig soundcard and test the PTT. (Use Windows Sound settings to determine the name of the soundcard).
7. You should now be ready to start a session!

If you would like to participate in a Winlink Net and learn all about the program, send a Winlink Checkin to AE5ME. The Tulsa ARES Winlink net is every week on Thursday. 73 WY6Y

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Welcome
02:08 Antenna CHA EMCOMM IIIB
02:28 My gear for today
03:39 Setting up Xiegu G90 with Digirig for Winlink
05:29 How Winlink RMSs work
06:41 An appeal for a cross-platform VARA alternative
08:18 Final Thoughts on VARA and Winter Field Day