How to connect your Xiegu G90, XPA125B, and DE-19 for digital modes

I have used a variety of HAM radios for a multitude of communications. One of my favorites is using digital modes like FT8, FT4, RTTY, PSK, etc. You need a way to connect your HAM radio gear to the computer and use a software like WSJT-X in order to use those digital modes to communicate. Connecting the gear is half the battle at times.

Here is how you connect the Xiegu G90, the Xiegu XPA125B and the DE-19 to your computer to use digital modes. Let’s start from the computer to the radio

1. Connecting the DE-19 to the computer
   • Before connecting the computer to the DE-19, you may need to install the driver.
     • On a Mac, there are no drivers – You will need to find the /dev/cu.usbserial-XXXX where the X are some set of numbers. If you have multiple serial devices, make sure to select the correct one.
     • On a Windows PC, there are drivers to install – You will need to install the CH342 driver (available online) before plugging in the DE-19 to the computer
   • Plug the USB C port on the DE-19 and the USB A port into the computer
2. Connecting the DE-19 to the Xiegu G90
   • Connect the ACC port of the DE-19 to the cable that has the round plug with 8 pins on both sides and the other end of the cable into the ACC port on the G90
   • Connect the 3.5mm TRS to 3.5mm TRS (looks like mini headphone plugs on both sides) into the CIV port and the other end goes into the jack on the front left side below the headphone port
3. Connecting the DE-19 to the Xiegu XPA125B
   • Connect the cable that is 3.5mm TRRS plug and a round 6 pin plug on the other side where the 6 pin round plug goes into the ACC port of the XPA125B, and the 3.5mm TRRS plug goes into the PA port on the DE-19
4. Radio to Amp to Antenna connections
   • Connect a cable from the G90 ANT connection to the XPA125B TRX connection
   • Connect an antenna to the XPA125B ANT connection
5. Turn on the Xiegu XPA125B amp, then the Xiegu G90, run the WSJT-X app on your computer
6. Configuring WSJT-X
   • If you never used WSJT-X, I recommend you search on the Internet for the many small configurations you can do.
   • Go into configurations or preferences (depending on Windows or Mac)
   • In the General tab, enter Callsign and My Grid if you have not done so
   • In the Radio tab, select Xiegu G90
     • Under CAT Control
       • Select the appropriate serial port or COM port
       • Baud rate = 19200
     • Under PTT Method
       • Select CAT
     • Under Mode
       • Select Data/Pkt
     • Under Split Operation
       • Select Rig
     • At this point, you are good to go control wise, but you need to hit the Test CAT button
       • If this is configured correctly, the Test CAT button should turn green
   • In the Audio tab
     • Under Soundcard Input and Output
       • Select the appropriate DE-19 device name (on the Mac it is just USB Audio Device, it varied on my Windows PCs but I named them all Xiegu G90 in and out)
   • Hit OK to save
7. On the Xiegu G90
   • Turn the power on
   • Press the FUNC (function) button
     • Press the POW (power) button a couple of times until it says INPUT on the screen and may say MIC below that. Turn the large knob until it says INPUT and LINE
     • Press the TUNE button and make sure the antenna tuner is off (no icon near the top left corner of the screen) because the Xiegu XPA125B will facilitate the antenna tuning
     • If you have preamp or attenuator turned on, make sure to turn them off as well
   • Press the POW (power) button with the FUNC button off and set the power at 2.5 watts or lower

If your antenna is tuned for the band you want to use digital mode in, and the band and frequency is selected either on the G90 or WSJT-X, you should be good to go. And you should begin seeing received messages for FT8 (or whatever digital mode you are using.)

If you join my Patreon, we can chat live on Discord or at least you can ask me questions about this if you are having issues connecting these 3 components together with your computer.

Hope this helps.