Wouxun KG-935H vs. Yaesu FT-60R

[308guru]

I’ve been thinking of getting an FT-60 for quite some time now. Not exactly sure why I haven’t done that yet, I think it’s the feeling that I would be buying something antiquated. Yes, I understand they are highly regarded. Every time I pick up my current UV-5R I’m ready to click “buy now”.

I just noticed the new Wouxun KG-935H which seems to check all the boxes. The GMRS version of it has been out for a few years and seems to be well liked. The Ham version was just released.

It’s made in China which sucks, especially compared to the Japan COO for the FT-60. I have plenty of things that are made in China that don’t suck though.

The KG-945H does have “dual receive” which is a feature I do like.

Anyway, does anyone have thoughts on the new KG-945H either by itself or as compared to the FT-60R?

Thanks.

 

[AK9R]

I think it’s the feeling that I would be buying something antiquated.

I would take an "antiquated" Yaesu FT-60 over just about any handheld from a Chinese brand. The FT-60 has remained on the market for so long because it gets the job done with solid, reliable construction and without a lot of frills.

 

[W4AXW]

The FT-60 has remained on the market for so long because it gets the job done with solid, reliable construction and without a lot of frills.

It's a shame that has to be explained, ain't it? Buy 1 "antiquated" radio that does what is really needed for a long time vs. replacing multiple New and Sparkly. Duh.

 

[308guru]

Do either of you have hands on experience with the Woxun? It’s easy to blow of something new without reason.

You running carburetors on your daily driver too?

 

[MTS2000des]

The FT-60 is a time proven performer, solid dual conversion receiver, super fast band and memory scan, and simple to use and program from the keypad. Will last for 20 years and has superb RX and TX audio. The company backs it with a 3 year parts/labor USA based warranty.

CCRs often have buggy firmware, muffled low transmit audio, and where they really lack is in things like scanning. UV-5Rs typically suffer from poor front end overload, muffled transmit audio which make other people ignore you, and just aren't quality radios. Sure they are cheap but that's where it starts and that's where it ends. One gets what one pays for. Buy once, cry once. One and done. Get an FT-60 if you want a real HAM radio that works. It also makes a pretty good air band receiver. You'll like never need the manual or programming software.

 

[MTS2000des]

Do either of you have hands on experience with the Woxun? It’s easy to blow of something new without reason.

You running carburetors on your daily driver too?

Yes, they junk. Most CCRs are based on low rent, low cost "walkie talkie on chip" SLICs designed for consumer devices such as FRS radios.
These chips are designed for kiddie toys not tools. Real radios have front end filters. The FT-60 has two ceramic IF filters. That's why they don't go deaf in the presence of out of band RF like CCR turd radios do. They can scan fast and actually stop on active memories or frequencies, and do things like CTCSS/DCS tone search with accuracy thanks to well written firmware.

Nothing wrong with carburetors, they are simple, easy to maintain and foolproof. How many EFI/ECMS even from 1990s vehicles are dead due to bad capacitors. Not like you can trot down to AutoZone and buy a new one for your 1992 Ford Ranger. I do LMR for a living. I know what works and what is trash.

 

[MTS2000des]

Let me add, not all Chinese radio are garbage. Good ones like the Anytone 878/Alinco DJ-G5, exist- but they aren't $29.

 

[W8WCA]

Isn't this Wouxun a GMRS HT?
FT60 is Amateur Radio HT

 

[AK9R]

Do either of you have hands on experience with the Woxun?

No, I don't. But, I don't need to put hands on it to know that it's built around a radio-on-a-chip design that historically has poor resistance to strong signals on nearby frequencies and the Chinese handhelds historically have poor spurious emission suppression. Maybe this radio is different, but without seeing it on a test bench, it's all speculation. Or, we can avoid the speculation and go with a radio that has been tested and shown to conform with U.S. amateur radio rules as well has the experience gleaned from thousands in the field. Besides, the Wouxun that you referenced has the "0" key in the wrong place--a pet peeve of mine.

It’s easy to blow of something new without reason.

Those of us who have had experience with Chinese handhelds have stated our reasons.

You running carburetors on your daily driver too?

No, but my daily still has a cast-iron block, pushrods, and overhead valves.

Isn't this Wouxun a GMRS HT?

There appears to be two models: Wouxun KG-935H and KG-935G. If they are following the rules, the KG-935H would require FCC Part 95E certification in order to be used on GMRS.

 

[308guru]

Isn't this Wouxun a GMRS HT?
FT60 is Amateur Radio HT

No, the Wouxun KG-935H is Amateur Radio. You may be thinking of the G version.

 

[308guru]

Let me add, not all Chinese radio are garbage. Good ones like the Anytone 878/Alinco DJ-G5, exist- but they aren't $29.

I'm not asking about a $29 radio. The KG-935H specifically referenced is $150.

 

[308guru]

Thank you all for the replies. I fully understand the FT-60R has a long history and stellar track record. I'm not defending or placing the Woxun as superior in any way, I'm trying to get real world feedback on why I would pick one vs. the other.

 

[mmckenna]

I'm not asking about a $29 radio. The KG-935H specifically referenced is $150.

So, CCR for $150, or get the real deal, proven performer, known good, well supported radio for $159?
Seems like a no-brainer to me:

YAESU FT-60R

144-148 / 430-450 MHz Dual Band Hand Held FM Transceiver - 5 Watts - 1000 Memories - Wideband RX

www.hamradio.com

 

[308guru]

I continue to see the cheap radios referred to as "radio on a chip".

How is the FT-60 (or other "quality" radios) different? There are no IC's in the good radios?

 

[a727469]

While I agree with everyone on the ft60r, I would also consider the Alinco below. It also includes dmr, is dual receive and is a great size. It is a few dollars more but worth it. I got mine on sale for about the same price as the radios you are considering. I would forget the
Wouxun. It is not in the same class as either the yaesu or the alinco.

ALINCO DJ-MD5FXT

Dual Band DMR 5W no/GPS

www.hamradio.com

 

[308guru]

While I agree with everyone on the ft60r, I would also consider the Alinco below. It also includes dmr, is dual receive and is a great size. It is a few dollars more but worth it. I got mine on sale for about the same price as the radios you are considering. I would forget the
Wouxun. It is not in the same class as either the yaesu or the alinco.

ALINCO DJ-MD5FXT

Dual Band DMR 5W no/GPS

www.hamradio.com

Looks like the 0 on the keypad is in the wrong spot.

 

[a727469]

Yes, true, but not sure how important that is. I, too, have complained about that, but can live with it since most all programming is done through software for me.

 

[ladn]

How is the FT-60 (or other "quality" radios) different? There are no IC's in the good radios?

All modern radios have IC's.

The "radio on a chip" CCR's are based on a single IC that has most of the radio components and the manufacturer only needs to add relatively few external parts. And therein lies the problem; this design keeps the parts count and assembly costs low, but the manufactures don't add additional filtering and tend to use less than prime quality components.

The FT-60 uses a more conventional and complex design with multiple ICs and well designed filtration with high quality parts. Yaesu also provides USA based customer support and service. I'm not aware of any CCR manufacturers who do the same, but a few vendors like Let's Get Ready, do provide decent support.

 

[k6cpo]

Isn't this Wouxun a GMRS HT?
FT60 is Amateur Radio HT

Wouxun KG-935H Tri-Band Amateur Radio (2m / 1.25m / 70cm)

Want more radio power in the palm of your hand? The Wouxun KG-935H is the one to have! The KG-935H is an advanced tri-band radio designed to meet the needs of both casual and serious ham radio operators.

www.buytwowayradios.com

My experience with Wouxun has been that they are one of the better Chinese radios. I have two Wouxun KGUVA-1 Part 90 radios I used as a train crew volunteer at a tourist railway for several years. They were very reliable and never failed me. They might not be as durable as the FT-60 but with some care, they will last.

The FT-60 was my second HT and I still fall back on it occasionally. It's got a star-shaped crack in the window over the LCD screen where I banged it against something while traveling on Amtrak, but the radio works like new even though it's 13 years old.

 

[N4KVE]

While I agree with everyone on the ft60r, I would also consider the Alinco below. It also includes dmr, is dual receive and is a great size. It is a few dollars more but worth it. I got mine on sale for about the same price as the radios you are considering. I would forget the
Wouxun. It is not in the same class as either the yaesu or the alinco.

ALINCO DJ-MD5FXT

Dual Band DMR 5W no/GPS

www.hamradio.com

The Alinco is also a chip on a radio. I got one cheap, & programmed it with a code plug from a CCR. No dual conversion receive, but it works pretty good. For $100, I’m not complaining.