New tri-band mobile

[sallen07]

Figured I would pass this along since the topic of 1.25 meter capable amateur transceivers comes up periodically.

I just got an email about a new tri-band mobile. Info here:

Wouxun KG-XS20H Tri-Band Base/Mobile Amateur Radio (2m / 1.25m / 70cm)

You want the powerful versatility of a premium Amateur mobile radio, but without the premium price? You get it all with the Wouxun KG-XS20H, an advanced tri-band radio designed to meet the needs of both casual and serious ham radio operators alike.

www.buytwowayradios.com

Not an endorsement at all ... I don't have one and don't plan to buy one. There are lots of folks out there that proclaim that Wouxun is a good brand but my personal experience does not agree. I think at one time I had four Wouxun HTs (mix of ham, GMRS, and MURS) but have sold two and plan to sell the other two. YMMV.

 

[prcguy]

Looks a bit like an Anytone clone which is also rebranded by Radiodiddy and others. The older Anytone AT5888 UV III 2m/220/440 is a proven great radio and Anytone has been a bit better quality than Wouxun over the years. I've had an AT5888 UV III for a couple of years and am very pleased with it.

AALOGIC DTC100 [DTC100] - $599.95 : R&L Electronics, Amateur radio store

R&L Electronics AALOGIC DTC100 [DTC100] - Antenna Rotor Controller w/touch screen ROTATORS Rotor ANTENNA ACCESSORIES

www2.randl.com

 

[kayn1n32008]

Looks a bit like an Anytone clone which is also rebranded by Radiodiddy and others. The older Anytone AT5888 UV III 2m/220/440 is a proven great radio and Anytone has been a bit better quality than Wouxun over the years. I've had an AT5888 UV III for a couple of years and am very pleased with it.

AALOGIC DTC100 [DTC100] - $599.95 : R&L Electronics, Amateur radio store

R&L Electronics AALOGIC DTC100 [DTC100] - Antenna Rotor Controller w/touch screen ROTATORS Rotor ANTENNA ACCESSORIES

www2.randl.com

Have you looked at it from a spectrum purity point of view? Especially interested in 2m and 1.25m. Usually these tri-band rigs have horrible/no spur or harmonic suppression characteristics.

Not saying this one in particular does, just that a lot of these 'triband' rigs appear to have little output filtering.

 

[prcguy]

Have you looked at it from a spectrum purity point of view? Especially interested in 2m and 1.25m. Usually these ribald rigs have horrible/no spur or harmonic suppression characteristics.

Not saying this one in particular does, just that a lot of these 'triband' rigs appear to have little output filtering.

The radio is at another location but I can test it in a week or so. This is a real radio not a Baofeng toy, no Intermod on receive and it sounds great on rx and tx. Very high quality radio inside and I don't think it will have any harmonic problems.

 

[sallen07]

Looks a bit like an Anytone clone which is also rebranded by Radiodiddy and others. The older Anytone AT5888 UV III 2m/220/440 is a proven great radio and Anytone has been a bit better quality than Wouxun over the years. I've had an AT5888 UV III for a couple of years and am very pleased with it.

AALOGIC DTC100 [DTC100] - $599.95 : R&L Electronics, Amateur radio store

R&L Electronics AALOGIC DTC100 [DTC100] - Antenna Rotor Controller w/touch screen ROTATORS Rotor ANTENNA ACCESSORIES

www2.randl.com

I think you might have pasted the wrong link. Did you mean this?

ANYTONE AT5888UVIII [AT5888UVIII] - $249.00 : R&L Electronics, Amateur radio store

R&L Electronics ANYTONE AT5888UVIII [AT5888UVIII] - 144/220/440 MHZ MOBILE TRIBAND MOBILE 3 band Transceiver RADIO

www2.randl.com

If so then I don't think that looks much like this new Wouxun. This is conjecture on my part, but I think Wouxun does their own thing and isn't a part of the Radioddity/Anytone/Alinco/BaofengTech web.

This new Wouxun DOES look just ike their KG-XS20G GMRS radio though. Unlike a lot of the other Chinese brands, it seems that many of the Wouxun radios cannot be "unlocked" to operate on both ham and GMRS frequencies but who knows if that is the case with these models.

As far as the spectral purity of that Anytone radio I won't be at all suprised to hear that it's "clean". Just because a radio is made in China doesn't mean it's junk. If anyone doesn't believe me pull out that $1000 iPhone and check to see where it was manufactured!

 

[prcguy]

I think you might have pasted the wrong link. Did you mean this?

ANYTONE AT5888UVIII [AT5888UVIII] - $249.00 : R&L Electronics, Amateur radio store

R&L Electronics ANYTONE AT5888UVIII [AT5888UVIII] - 144/220/440 MHZ MOBILE TRIBAND MOBILE 3 band Transceiver RADIO

www2.randl.com

If so then I don't think that looks much like this new Wouxun. This is conjecture on my part, but I think Wouxun does their own thing and isn't a part of the Radioddity/Anytone/Alinco/BaofengTech web.

This new Wouxun DOES look just ike their KG-XS20G GMRS radio though. Unlike a lot of the other Chinese brands, it seems that many of the Wouxun radios cannot be "unlocked" to operate on both ham and GMRS frequencies but who knows if that is the case with these models.

As far as the spectral purity of that Anytone radio I won't be at all suprised to hear that it's "clean". Just because a radio is made in China doesn't mean it's junk. If anyone doesn't believe me pull out that $1000 iPhone and check to see where it was manufactured!

Oops, wrong link, thanks! I've had a number of Wouxun radios and they are a few steps above a Baofeng, similar quality to maybe a TYT and Anytone seems to be another step up. The new Wouxun triband has a similar layout to this series of Anytone's that have been out for awhile in various versions from CB/10M through UHF.

 

[N4KVE]

As far as the spectral purity of that Anytone radio I won't be at all suprised to hear that it's "clean". Just because a radio is made in China doesn't mean it's junk. If anyone doesn't believe me pull out that $1000 iPhone and check to see where it was manufactured!

The Chinese can build anything you/they want. Apple, or other companies design the device in the US, & give the spec’s they want to the mfr, and since it’s supposed to be a quality trouble free device, it’s made with good quality, & isn’t cheap. OTOH, when Baoturd wants to be able to retail a device for $19.95, there is no quality, or spectral purity.

 

[kayn1n32008]

As far as the spectral purity of that Anytone radio I won't be at all suprised to hear that it's "clean". Just because a radio is made in China doesn't mean it's junk. If anyone doesn't believe me pull out that $1000 iPhone and check to see where it was manufactured!

These Chinese brands have had a terrible time combining 220MHz into a multiband radio. Some of the dirtiest scope sweeps I've seen are from the CCR's that are multiband and include 220MHz.

I'm not saying it won't meet spectral purity requirements, it may very well pass. How ever, if I was buying one, I'd be benching it to see if it actually is in compliance with spectral purity and harmonic suppression requirements before attaching an antenna.

 

[jazzboypro]

Not in the same price range but i would buy the anytone D578UVIII Plus. A tri bander plus DMR.

 

[prcguy]

Not in the same price range but i would buy the anytone D578UVIII Plus. A tri bander plus DMR.

I have that too, great radio. I use a Powerwerx power supply with custom bracket that holds the radio.

 

[jazzboypro]

I have that too, great radio. I use a Powerwerx power supply with custom bracket that holds the radio.

It's probably my next purchase. I have the 878UVII plus and i use it for sat work. I like it.

 

[K9KLC]

These Chinese brands have had a terrible time combining 220MHz into a multiband radio. Some of the dirtiest scope sweeps I've seen are from the CCR's that are multiband and include 220MHz.

I'm not saying it won't meet spectral purity requirements, it may very well pass. How ever, if I was buying one, I'd be benching it to see if it actually is in compliance with spectral purity and harmonic suppression requirements before attaching an antenna.

This is why my tri-bands are kenwood 641&741. They may be old but they can be worked on and are still going well day in and out for a group of us in my area. While the Anytone is actually pretty good I just needed a little more than 5 watts on 1.25 meters. Given we talk there daily I just prefer the X41&42 series of radios. Plus you can listen to all 3 bands at the same time.

Given their age they're not for everyone but if you can work on things yourself or even know someone that can keep them going they're still great radios.

 

[prcguy]

This is why my tri-bands are kenwood 641&741. They may be old but they can be worked on and are still going well day in and out for a group of us in my area. While the Anytone is actually pretty good I just needed a little more than 5 watts on 1.25 meters. Given we talk there daily I just prefer the X41&42 series of radios. Plus you can listen to all 3 bands at the same time.

Given their age they're not for everyone but if you can work on things yourself or even know someone that can keep them going they're still great radios.

The AT5888 UV III does 50w VHF, 40w UHF and 25w on 220. It also has a US warranty and there are US repair centers. You can listen to two of the three bands at the same time, or scan all three at the same time. The AT-5888 UV III is also 30+yr newer technology than the old Kenwood's.

If the Wouxun only does 5w on 220 I would be suspicious that 220 is an afterthought or its using the 2m PA out of spec or ??

 

[K9KLC]

The AT5888 UV III does 50w VHF, 40w UHF and 25w on 220. It also has a US warranty and there are US repair centers. You can listen to two of the three bands at the same time, or scan all three at the same time. The AT-5888 UV III is also 30+yr newer technology than the old Kenwood's.

If the Wouxun only does 5w on 220 I would be suspicious that 220 is an afterthought or its using the 2m PA out of spec or ??

I checked the receive on a 5888 I borrowed on the service monitor. Didn't care for what I saw. It was the Anytone 568 DMR radio that did 5 watts on 1.25. Honestly that radio heard pretty well but it wasn't either my kenwood 331 or any of the x41 radios.

I don't need the latest and greatest. I need something I can depend on and just works. I don't scan anything usually I listen to 1- 2 meter frequency 1- 220 frequency (both simplex unless it's storming ) and 1 uhf repeater in the area.

If the newer technology is what you need that's great. At least 6 of us our area are pretty happy with the old stuff, we'll just keep on using it for stuff we do around here.
73- Greg

 

[K9KLC]

@prcguy just fyi I have a way newer radios including all common (DMR, D-Star, DMR, and P-25) digital voice modes. All those radios work ok too but, the Kenwood is what I run if I do not need digital voice at the time.

 

[sallen07]

If the Wouxun only does 5w on 220 I would be suspicious that 220 is an afterthought or its using the 2m PA out of spec or ??

Everything I could find suggests that it's full power on 220.

 

[BC_Scan]

does anyone know if this thing supports face plate only operation while separated with a cat5e cable for extra security in the vehicle , the pics show it looks like the body separates from face plate but I just scouered the manual its doesn't say, that would be ideal in my situation

 

[KF0NYL]

I wonder how much difference there is internally between the XS20G and the XS20H. They are identical on the outside. I have the KG-XS20G and it is an excellent 20 watt GMRS radio. I also have the KG-935G hand held. Wouxun recently released a tri band version as the KG-935H.

I also have a KG-Q10H and a friend has the KG-Q10G. both work great. I also use the KG-1000G Plus in my vehicle.

The Wouxun GMRS radios can't be unlocked for amateur bands. On the other hand, Wouxun's amateur band radios absolutely can be unlocked. My KG-Q10H quad band works on 2m, 1.25m, 70cm, and 6m out of the box and unlocked also works great on GMRS and MURS. The same unlock code also works on the KG-935H.

The Wouxun hand held radios outperform the Icom IC-T10 I have. The IC-T10 is not much better than the Baofeng radios I own.