X-108 Info update the xiegu X-108G (2 Viewers)

[DD5LP]

How long a cable are you using and are you sure it is a data cable? Many longer USB-A to micro-USB cables are ONLY charging cables and not intended for data transfer (and the data-carrying cores are not included).

If you have an "Invalid USB device" shown in device manager, then the problem is not that the PC is not seeing the X-108G, rather that you haven't installed the correct USB drivers yet for the serial comms chipset within the rig.

73 Ed.

 

[qwedsa182]

How long a cable are you using and are you sure it is a data cable? Many longer USB-A to micro-USB cables are ONLY charging cables and not intended for data transfer (and the data-carrying cores are not included).

If you have an "Invalid USB device" shown in device manager, then the problem is not that the PC is not seeing the X-108G, rather that you haven't installed the correct USB drivers yet for the serial comms chipset within the rig.

73 Ed.

Thanks for the reply, yeah i've not installed any com port drivers lol so that's probably going to be it hahaha

 

[DD5LP]

The problem is often that the drivers that Windows tries to auto-install are the wrong ones. I would try to upload the ones I found to this forum but unfortunately, they are larger than what I am allowed to upload.

 

[DD5LP]

You need to search for a driver installation package for the STM32 chip. The ones I found are called VCP_V1.3.1_Setup_32bit.exe and VCP_V1.3.1_Setup_x64.exe

Unfortunately, I can't trace from where I got the driver install package but having done a search on the web this looks like a similar package (please take all normal security actions and virus check the webpage and zip file before using it)

You must be registered for see links

73 Ed.

 

[qwedsa182]

You need to search for a driver installation package for the STM32 chip. The ones I found are called VCP_V1.3.1_Setup_32bit.exe and VCP_V1.3.1_Setup_x64.exe

Unfortunately, I can't trace from where I got the driver install package but having done a search on the web this looks like a similar package (please take all normal security actions and virus check the webpage and zip file before using it)

You must be registered for see links

73 Ed.

Thanks for the help Ed, I'm going to give it a try this morning.

73's Phil

 

[DD5LP]

Word to the wise .... do not have the X108G connected to the PC when you run the driver install. This action will then put your new files in the correct directory in the PC's system directories.
Now close down the PC, connect the USB cable between the PC and the X108G, turn the Xiegu on and THEN turn on the PC.
The PC will see the new device at startup and look for drivers - GREAT here they are exactly in the directory Windows wants and it'll install the drivers that you loaded to the PC a few minutes ago.
Now go into device manager and you should see under COM and LPT ports the STM32 device which is the X108G and hopefully with no red or yellow triangles next to it. Take a note of the indicated COM port number (probably 3 or 4) and then go and follow the firmware upgrade instructions that should be in the ZIP package with the new firmware.

73 Ed.

 

[qwedsa182]

Thanks everyone for the support. So it turns out the usb port is broken need to get another and solder it on and hope it works. I coudln't flash the firmware today however i did find out why it wastn't rxing which was down to a little tiny wire not being connected to the board.

 

[DD5LP]

Well that's unusual Phil, that one of the wires on the USB socket can be broken. I'm impressed that you tracked it down to that hardware problem. When things don't work as they should, it's more often than not a software issue - but not this time!

73 Ed.

 

[qwedsa182]

Well that's unusual Phil, that one of the wires on the USB socket can be broken. I'm impressed that you tracked it down to that hardware problem. When things don't work as they should, it's more often than not a software issue - but not this time!

73 Ed.

yeah i need to get a new usb socket installed and then do the firmware. I'm currently trying to figure out how to calibrate it, can't get my head around the advanced settings.

 

[DD5LP]

OH YES! make sure you record the configured advanced calibration settings before you start with the firmware update. If not you could end up with an unusable rig! Where the settings are is documented on this forum. You don't NEED to understand what they all do, but you just need to put them back the same as they are. They are individual and different in different X108Gs !

73 Ed.

 

[qwedsa182]

OH YES! make sure you record the configured advanced calibration settings before you start with the firmware update. If not you could end up with an unusable rig! Where the settings are is documented on this forum. You don't NEED to understand what they all do, but you just need to put them back the same as they are. They are individual and different in different X108Gs !

73 Ed.

i think the settings had been reset on the f1 function and also the f2 :/ it only tx'd when i started but working on it bit by bit. but need to find out how to configure the settings correctly

 

[Krazypcs]

I have a outdoor version X108G (ser. CXG11075) showing " Ver:X108G V1.00.4 May 7 2017" on boot screen.
What would i gain by upgrading to X108G_OLED_FW_V2.00.0_build010

 

[DD5LP]

Hi Krazpcs,
Firstly let me underline, you MUST make sure that any updated firmware file is the correct one for your model of X108G. If you apply the wrong one you can make the rig into a "Brick"!

As for functions, I believe the most interesting feature added with v 2 of the firmware was the SWR scan feature, which you can use to check the resonance of the antenna that you have connected to the rig.

73 Ed.

 

[Krazypcs]

Hi Krazpcs,
Firstly let me underline, you MUST make sure that any updated firmware file is the correct one for your model of X108G. If you apply the wrong one you can make the rig into a "Brick"!

As for functions, I believe the most interesting feature added with v 2 of the firmware was the SWR scan feature, which you can use to check the resonance of the antenna that you have connected to the rig.

73 Ed.

Thanks for the reply. I already have this function on mine, so i must therefor have the latest firmware installed.
Perhaps its best to leave it alone for now.

73 Steve M6HTF

 

[DD5LP]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

73 Ed.

 

[Chris Wilson]

Hi all
My unit is serial number CXG11135
It is a 4 button version with blue buttons.
I inherited it not working correctly. No transmit power. 10mW or so. Buttons dont work. Flat memory battery (a CR1220. Everything else seemed OKish


This is what I have found to date.
The USB port is fussy when it comes to cables. Some cables work. others don't, though I don't think that they are charge only cables.

I had a 1.00.42 version on mine which I backed up to a sytem running CentOS 7
When I coppied any files across to the radio from the linux box, they simply didn't work. Just a black screen
I went back to an old Win XP notbook I had and the transfers all worked.
The radio is now running the 1.00.4 May 7 2017 version and while I still have no transmit, I also no longer have PTT on the microphone though the CW key and the SWR check all put the radio into transmit.

I am not sure if this is on the site already but I have uploaded the service manual for the radio

If anyone else has experienced this issue with the PTT stopping, let me know. I will be pulling the radio down to inspect the finals anyway, and will post what I find.

 

[Chris Wilson]

Quick update. Reseating the ribbon cable between the RF board and the top board has fixed the Keying problem, however I still have no power to speak of

 

[Krazypcs]

Did you make a note of the settings in the main menu first. Some of the values may be incorrect.

 

[Chris Wilson]

I'll admit I didnt, however I expect that these have just factory defaulted anyway as the CMOS backup battery was flat. I have replaced it and it now remembers settings. AFAIK they are required to align the radio in relation to the filters and such, rather than the old trimmer to tweak the crystal oscillator.

So I am still getting RF output, that I can hear on another receiver, and its roughly on frequency, but no power.
When I get a moment, I will pull it all down, pop off the amp shielding, and check the output FETs

Neither of my local suppliers, WES and Element 14 / Farnell stock the devices, but there are plenty listed on eBay. How many are genuine, and how many are "Fake News" is yet to be determined.

Element 14 however, has a whole selection of RF MOSFETs from a few watts to a few KW. Once I pop the covers off, I'll start looking around

 

[jamesuy]

Hello, it's my first time to post here. I have one of the x108g with the special serial numbers that need the VCMP firmware. I tried downloading that firmware but couldn't find any. Please help. 73.