Help me find my perfect portable ham radio

[va2fsh]

Hi! First post! I'm a computer programmer and love technical challenges. I've had my licensed for a few years. I decided to get licensed in order to use UV-5R's with my hunting buddies. While my hunting budies have no interest to venture out of the UV-5R realm, I'm different. I like to play with the radio and scan / listen in on various things. Pretty hard to do with a 5R, but I did upgrade mine a bit with a USB-C battery and signalstick antenna. While hunting, I mostly use an earpiece, but when I listen to various nets at home, I use the speaker.

I'd like to find a portable ham radio that meets the following list of criteria, but there's just so many that I can't seem to narrow it down. I was hoping you tap into the knowledge pool of radioreference.com's users.

Must have features:

• CHIRP supported
• USB-C charging
• TX signal meter
• RX signal meter
• FM Radio (I believe they all have that nowaways)
• Higher weatherproofing the better (since I carry it on me while hunting)
• 999 channels if possible
• Channel groups
• While hunting I use an earpiece, but at home...those 0.5w speaker is just terrible. I'd need a 1w or 2w speaker
• RX airbands would be cool (more stuff to listen to)
• I hunt for several days in the woods, with limited capacity to recharge the batteries. High capacity battery is a must

Would be nice to have:

• Would be nice to have dual simultaneous receive (so I don't miss my buddies' conversation while scanning / listening to other)
• A bit more power might be nice (7-8W). I'd program everything for lower power, but if needed, I'd have it
• Ability to re-use my FTDI K1 cable to program the radio with CHIRP
• I like the look of dark screens
• NOAA alerts monitoring would be great, but I just manually check the NOAA frequencies once in a while

"I can't believe this is a requirement":

• I like the look of radios that have the double knobs on top. I can't explain it, but I just do ;-)

I've been searching for a little while. I've narrowed it down to the Wouxun KG-UV9D Plus or KG-UV9P with 3200mah battery. Checks a lot of boxes.
Are there any other choices that I might of missed?

Cheers!
David va2fsh

 

[KB4MSZ]

I like the look of radios that have the double knobs on top. I can't explain it, but I just do ;-)

You are on your own bud.

 

[prcguy]

All those requirements basically pin you to nothing technically better than what you already have, it will be made in China and a throw away item when it breaks. Real radios don't charge from USB and I don't think anybody here would recommend over 5 watts, its just a waste of battery with no increase in range. At this point its whatever looks good to you and is within your budget.

 

[hill]

Drop in charger are way better then USB C charging.

 

[va2fsh]

Drop in charger are way better then USB C charging.

Hmm, I'll get a cable to convert the cradle to USB-C charging then ;-)

Seriously though, one of my main use cases for this radio, is being in the woods for a good 9-10 days. I either need extra batteries or USB-C charging. Coupled with Prcguy's comment, it would make sense then to drop requirement to have more power. I already have a N9TAX antenna...I'll just throw it over a higher branch in the nearest tree! hehe

I've started seeing the Alinco DJ-50 and doing research. Is that a decent radio?

 

[k6cpo]

I'm unable to understand this fascination with USB -C charging for radios. Every solution I've seen is just more of the same — a cable and a wall wart — just with different connectors and voltages.

 

[Ace9133uwu]

I'm unable to understand this fascination with USB -C charging for radios. Every solution I've seen is just more of the same — a cable and a wall wart — just with different connectors and voltages.

The feature is nice for on the fly vehicle charging. If your vehicle has USB, it’s a perfect match.

 

[va2fsh]

I'm unable to understand this fascination with USB -C charging for radios. Every solution I've seen is just more of the same — a cable and a wall wart — just with different connectors and voltages.

A standardized way of charging any device. Who would of thought it was desireable! lol

Anyways, I feel like we're going on a tangent from the original subject thought...can we forgo your thoughts on USB-C charging and stick to the original subject? Appreciate it.

David

 

[Ace9133uwu]

I actually know of an excellent radio that fits most of your requested parameters. The Wouxun KG-Q10H. I’m fairly certain it is not Chirp compatible. However, they do provide free software, though I’ve not used it because a ton of stuff is FPP capable. It has two knobs that are stacked, which I think looks cool in its own right, but for convenience I feel like two independant knobs would’ve been nice. It does have a standard K2 pinout for programming & external microphone. It has a powerful super-heterodyne receiver and very loud speaker. One big thing I like about this radio is the squelch- it actually WORKS unlike the Boofwang’s.
Of all the HT’s and scanners I own, I can proudly say this unit is one of the best “entry-mid” level radios on the market. They also have a GMRS variant!

 

[dlwtrunked]

All those requirements basically pin you to nothing technically better than what you already have, it will be made in China and a throw away item when it breaks. Real radios don't charge from USB and I don't think anybody here would recommend over 5 watts, its just a waste of battery with no increase in range. At this point its whatever looks good to you and is within your budget.

USB charging is mandatory in Europe for many devices.

https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/10/24/common-charger-eu-ministers-give-final-approval-to-one-size-fits-all-charging-port/

Those rules do not include USB for ham radios but have already had their effect in some manufacturers.

 

[RaleighGuy]

As soon as you find the perfect handheld @va2fsh they'll come out with a new model with that must have feature, it never ends

 

[pb_lonny]

I am a big fan of the UV-K6

Quansheng UV K6 Review

Quansheng UV K6, or the UV K5 (8) as some refer to it. Great little receiver, with or without modification of the software. In this quick re...

lcrmadx.blogspot.com

 

[va2fsh]

Ace9133wuw:

I actually know of an excellent radio that fits most of your requested parameters. The Wouxun KG-Q10H. I’m fairly certain it is not Chirp compatible. However, they do provide free software, though I’ve not used it because a ton of stuff is FPP capable. It has two knobs that are stacked, which I think looks cool in its own right, but for convenience I feel like two independant knobs would’ve been nice. It does have a standard K2 pinout for programming & external microphone. It has a powerful super-heterodyne receiver and very loud speaker. One big thing I like about this radio is the squelch- it actually WORKS unlike the Boofwang’s.
Of all the HT’s and scanners I own, I can proudly say this unit is one of the best “entry-mid” level radios on the market. They also have a GMRS variant!

I had ever looked this radio. But I didn't realized it was superHet. A bit expensive, but it is very interesting. Thanks for pointing it out.

 

[va2fsh]

I am a big fan of the UV-K6

Quansheng UV K6 Review

Quansheng UV K6, or the UV K5 (8) as some refer to it. Great little receiver, with or without modification of the software. In this quick re...

lcrmadx.blogspot.com

I do have a UV-K5(8) and a UV-17 pro gps on the way (black friday purchases). I do feel that these will be toys to play with rather than my being "my main radio".

 

[prima19rider]

As soon as can find one I plan on getting the New Baofeng I’ve-18h

 

[Stargater53]

I like the look of radios that have the double knobs on top. I can't explain it, but I just do.

But what do those knobs do? Some just click through the channels while the better ones control squelch. Cheap Chinese radios do the former.

All those requirements basically pin you to nothing technically better than what you already have, it will be made in China and a throw away item when it breaks. Real radios don't charge from USB and I don't think anybody here would recommend over 5 watts, its just a waste of battery with no increase in range. At this point its whatever looks good to you and is within your budget.

That's the prevailing opinion though I've never actually tested it. I've searched YouTube for people who have tried it, but have found nothing. Theoretically, not given the Earth curvature issue, more power should result in greater range, but to test it, everything has to be meticulously identical. Antennas should be the same antenna; not just two similar types. The radios and antennas have to be held at the same height (radio and antenna) and degree. The power measurements also have to be precise in both radios. I would first try two UV-5R radios, one 5W and one 8W.

If this doesn't work, try a UV-5R (4.xW) and a TYT UV8000 (10W).

I don't mean to disparage anyone's opinion, but I'd like to see if the range is actually the same, everything else being equal. If someone uses even a slightly different angle, it would queer the results. I would do the test myself, but I live in the city and can't travel.

If anyone lives near the salt flats in Utah, that would be perfect.

 

[prcguy]

But what do those knobs do? Some just click through the channels while the better ones control squelch. Cheap Chinese radios do the former.


That's the prevailing opinion though I've never actually tested it. I've searched YouTube for people who have tried it, but have found nothing. Theoretically, not given the Earth curvature issue, more power should result in greater range, but to test it, everything has to be meticulously identical. Antennas should be the same antenna; not just two similar types. The radios and antennas have to be held at the same height (radio and antenna) and degree. The power measurements also have to be precise in both radios. I would first try two UV-5R radios, one 5W and one 8W.

If this doesn't work, try a UV-5R (4.xW) and a TYT UV8000 (10W).

I don't mean to disparage anyone's opinion, but I'd like to see if the range is actually the same, everything else being equal. If someone uses even a slightly different angle, it would queer the results. I would do the test myself, but I live in the city and can't travel.

If anyone lives near the salt flats in Utah, that would be perfect.

I‘ve done a lot of experiments with different power levels and within useable range doubling your power (3dB) will make a very slight improvement on a weak signal. 4X power increase or 6dB is more noticeable but going from 5w to 8w is only a 2.04dB increase and less than the very slight improvement of doubling your power.

The above examples are power changes at fixed distances and observing a little less noise on a signal with more power and have nothing to do with additional range from increased power. That will be less significant and probably disappointing. For example, say you get 6mi range on a pair of 5w handhelds and at that point you are struggling to make out every word. Up your power to 8 watts and the increase in range might be a few hundred yards at best.

When terrain or obstructions limit radio range sometimes that’s it and you can’t make any viable improvement except in gaining more height to get over the obstruction. An example of this is several tests I did between a ground station using 5w into a Discone and getting exactly 200mi over a specific path then it abruptly died. I swapped out the Discone for a huge TACO brand Yagi cut for the VHF air band. Aircraft GPS confirmed the signal died in the same spot within a few miles even though I increased antenna gain by about 10dB and we repeated this test several times.

Turns out there is a 10,000+ft mountain range in the way and nothing gets through. Sometimes when you get out of range that’s it unless you have some ludicrous amount of power or you significantly raise your antenna and a 2dB increase in power will just get lost. Not to mention your battery will die sooner.

 

[Stargater53]

Turns out there is a 10,000+ft mountain range in the way and nothing gets through. Sometimes when you get out of range that’s it unless you have some ludicrous amount of power or you significantly raise your antenna and a 2dB increase in power will just get lost. Not to mention your battery will die sooner.

Very well stated. Thank you!

 

[ladn]

I'd like to find a portable ham radio that meets the following list of criteria, but there's just so many that I can't seem to narrow it down.

My 2¢ is the Anytone 878. Yes, it's a CCR, but it's a step or two above the Baofengs.

It's both FM and DMR digital with a very high channel capacity. You can also group channels into zones (like channel banks on a scanner). IT also has higher power (but I use just the 5W setting for previously discussed reasons). The display screen offers some programable options for font colors and there are some aftermarket knob options available.

Won't program with CHIRP and requires its own programming cable. You can use the Anytone software which is ok, or RT Systems.
Various battery pack options, including USB "C". The drop in charger uses 12v and a standard axial connector so it's easy to adapt to vehicle power.

Some models have Bluetooth connectivity.

 

[HamImports]

The already mentioned Wouxun KG-Q10H, Tidradio TD-H8, and Talkpod A36Plus all have NOAA WX reception.

Other options could be the AnyTone AT-878UV, or the Baofeng UV-13 Pro or UV-17 Pro (both of these have USB-C charging).