Xiegu VG4 Detailed Assembly
In this article I walk through my real-world unboxing and assembly of the Xiegu VG4 multiband HF antenna. This one was a Christmas gift from my wife, and I wanted to document what shows up in the box, what’s actually well-built, and the little “gotchas” that don’t show up in the instructions.
This is Part 1 (Assembly). Part 2 will cover tuning and final results.
What’s in the box
- Numbered sections/traps (labeled 1–10) — the numbering is a big help during assembly.
- Balun / matching box (the “balance box”) and mounting hardware.
- Hardware bag with bolts, clamps, and surprisingly useful tools (wrenches, Allen key, nut driver).
- Tip section with the rubber end cap.
- Ground radials (a lot of them) — most the same length with a couple shorter ones.
First impression: the metal feels thick and rigid for the price point. The balun/matching box also felt more solid than I expected.
Quick build strategy (how I kept it manageable)
The VG4 is long — around 25 feet of antenna — and trying to assemble it in one shot inside the shop would’ve been a circus. My approach was to build it in sections so I only had a few final connections to do outside.
- Section 1: Parts 1–3 assembled together (base area + early sections)
- Section 2: Parts 4–8 assembled together
- Section 3: Parts 9–10 assembled together (top end)
- Final assembly outside: Slide the three assembled sections together
I also left everything snug-but-not-final (not fully tightened), because tuning comes later. For assembly, I slid sections together roughly to the labels and just cinched the clamps enough to keep things from slipping.
Instructions: honest take
The included instructions… weren’t great. Mine had lots of writing, but no real diagrams and not much practical guidance. The good news is the antenna is mostly straightforward because the clamps and numbered sections make it hard to mix up.
Balun/matching box installation (important step)
Mounting the balun box was simple: remove the bolts, slide the bracket pieces into position, and bolt section 1 to section 2. On my unit, the holes lined up fine and the pieces slid together without drama.
One key thing: there’s a braided strap / flexible lead from the balun box to the antenna hardware. That step wasn’t clearly called out in the paperwork, but it’s the main electrical connection from the box into the antenna.
Mounting on the pole
Once the base section was built, I slid the main mounting brackets onto the lower section and carried it outside. The bracket tolerances were surprisingly tight — not sloppy at all — and the “V” shape helps self-center on the mast.
My setup uses a tall support (about 38 feet plus mast), and with a ~25 foot antenna, the tip is going to be way up there. That’s a lot of metal in the air.
Real-world gotchas
1) Radial/element threads can be stubborn
The ground radials/elements were the most frustrating part for me. The first threads were a little mashed and it took patience to get them started. A ham buddy mentioned he had to chase threads on his; I didn’t go that far, but I definitely had to work at them to get everything threaded in.
2) The balun box can block access
Clearance is tight near the box, and on mine it got in the way of screwing in some elements. I ended up removing a couple bolts and shifting the box slightly so I could get the elements started.
3) Wind + flex makes threading harder
With a long, flexible antenna section moving around, trying to thread small elements outside felt like hitting a moving target. I actually disconnected a short section and took it back inside to install several of the elements where everything was stable. That made the job a lot easier.
4) Support the middle during build-out
There’s a lot of weight, especially in the lower/mid area with extra elements. I used a temporary support under the middle to keep it from drooping while I was assembling and positioning everything.
Where I stopped (end of Part 1)
At this point the antenna was fully assembled in sections and mounted, but still not tuned. The next step is tuning and adjusting spacing/positions for best SWR across the bands.
Come back for Part 2 where I do the tuning and share real results.
73,
AJY – The Electron Man