Comparing Airband reception quality on several different radios.
Вставка
- Опубліковано 6 вер 2024
- One of the most common questions on radio reviews, or in FB groups, about HTs that receive Airband, is: "how is the quality of reception?"
There are varied opinions about this- some say great, others say terrible, and then some on the middle.
I have the opportunity to have several HTs that receive Airband, so I decided to record each of them (compared to a standard RS scanner) and YOU can judge for yourselves! Each radio is connected to the same outdoor antenna, and is set to the same frequencies.
Compare audio reception, and make up your own mind!
Please note YOUR results may be very different from mine!!
Below are links to reviews on these radios, as well as affiliate links to some of the products. (Affiliate links do not cost you anything additional, but if you order from them, it helps he channel)
If YOU would like to help the channel, please use the thank you tab, or buy me a coffee: www.buymeacoff...
Talkpod A36plus video: • Talkpod A36plus, NEW f...
Affiliate links: Green: amzn.to/3SlxjiM
Black : amzn.to/3s6stvj
Crystal : amzn.to/40DRJWj
Quansheng : • Quansheng UV-5R PLUS c...
• Quansheng UV-K5 or UV-...
• Quansheng UV-K5, Anys...
Affiliate link UV-K5: amzn.to/3DNW0vZ7
Firmwares link: github.com/spm...
RUYAGE UV58 Plus: • RUYAGE UV58Plus or RAD...
Baofeng UV-17 Pro GPS videos: • Which UV-17 are you RE...
• Baofeng UV17 and UV17 ...
MMLRADIO review: • MMLRADIO JC-8811, Radt...
ABBREE AR-830: • ABBREE AR-830 / radtel...
Affiliate links to tools I use when testing for review:
NanoVNA (antenna tuning) : amzn.to/47glgbF
Power & SWR Meter: amzn.to/43S5OiZ
Multimeter: amzn.to/43Xft8b
Quansheng UV-K5 8 ans Firmware Egzumer 0.20 for Air band it's very good + antenne 771 .
Thank you for that information! I only did a review to compare the units I have that DO receive Airband. None of them are intended as a scanner, they just have Airband as an extra.
Good review! Unfortunately they all seem rather scratchy to me. I don’t think I could listen to more than 5 mins of airband on any of these. Think I’ll stick with my handheld Uniden scanner for airband.
Thank you so much for this test. Please, keep us updated about the "Quansheng UV 5R Plus", would be nice to have a mod firmware to listen to HF. I heard that they put SSB on the K5.
Also FT8 on 10 meter :) ua-cam.com/users/shortsk-sd0kpXWJI
Thank you!!
Good morning my friend ! First of all, thank you very much for this video! It's really very good and at the same time it proved one thing to me: none of the radios presented there receive aviation well! I have a Pro 90 scanner with 300 direct programmable channels on hand! handheld type from 1998 and I wouldn't change it for any of these because the aviation reception in AM is characteristic of the aviation in it. And I have no loyalty to any of these radios! Thanks !
I am in 100% agreement with you! I also have a couple of RS scanners, a base unit and the 95 Pro which work very well for scanning Airband, I just have so many HTs with Airband, I just figured do a quick comparison for anyone interested!
So many of the CCRs have terrible airband reception, due to not having proper am receive ability. The result is that they either sound like they are off frequency or really distorted. I have just ordered the new Retevis A1/A61, so will wait to see if it is any better, being brand new. To truly enjoy clear audio, you need to use one of the big four Japanese manufacturers; albeit at greater cost.
great video
Very very good review Sir....I am interested in the Baofeng UV-17 with the airband.
It sounded a little deaf in the vid...but the stronger stations where clear and didn't sound discorded.
I would have prefered the comparasan to be monitoring one freq only....to give the req yard stick.
Nick in the UK.
What about the spacing? Are some compatible with 8.33 kHz?
I don't think 8.33 spacing has actually been used yet. Too many old planes flying that would have to have a new radio installed. So if a controller was using a 8.33 split, a lot of pilots flying old planes could not talk to him/her.
@@markr.1984 All of Europe (and a big chunk of the rest of the world) is on 8.33 kHz (and yes, we had to replace our radios)
To my limited knowledge, AB is AM, could you, take a car antenna, modify or reverse engineer to fit a radio?
As with everything radio, antennas are the make or break point..
Thanks for the demonstration! That took some putting together. What kind of antenna are you using, and how far are you from O'Hare?
Actually and outdoor homemade J antenna on the roof! I am about 6 miles from O’hare.
@@fittoat9261 thank you! i'm about 10 miles away but in a brick building so I really need to get my dipole outside and up higher. I can get aircraft as they go overhead though, so that's a start.
Any chance you tried the Tidradio TD-H3 in the same conditions?
Actually, the H3 is currently my EDC go to radio! It does quite well on reception of Airband! There is also now a new firmware version that extends the range! I have not yet tried it as I am traveling and using a Mac, and the firmware only works with Win.
@@fittoat9261 Thanks!
Seemed like the MMLRadio had the best airband audio. I have also noticed a Hiroyasu HI-8811 Air Band that looks the same as the other models you listed for the MML-8811. Is it the same radio?
Pretty much ALL 8810 and 8811 radios are actually JJCC radios! 8810s are actually 10 watt, and the 8811s are 5 watt (please don’t ask me why - I have NO clue!) Airband is pretty decent on it!
Thought the same
Thank you. Good video.
Recently I have aquired the Quanshen uv5rplus specifically to rx airband & it's helpfull to see a comparison.
I would like to know of any firmware updates you have tried to this model that improve it's airband performance.
There seems many upgrades for the k5 but not much for the 5rplus.
Also can you post a link to an airband suitable antenna to fit this model and has improved signal.
Glad you liked it! You can buy me a coffee to help the channel : www.buymeacoffee.com/chammaston2
Here is a link for FW updates for the UV-5R Plus : whosmatt.github.io/uvmod/
Here is a link for Airband antenna : www.ebay.com/itm/404418490870
Can Quansheng UV-5R PLUS get modded firmware? Is there a way to improve its airband reception? From what I have seen on videos its airband is pretty bad.
Uv17 sounded better to me or the radtel 470
I don't care about air band on a transceiver. I have several Ham handhelds that have it. My old Uniden BC125AT handheld scanner beats them all, especially on sheer scan speed. Also my Uniden SDS200 desktop is hard to beat. It can actually search the entire military air band from 225 to 380 mHz in 70 seconds!!! That's 155 Mhz total in 70 seconds. But I do have to lockout about 10 birdies. In the 90s I had an AOR 1500 scanner that was the best on air band ever. Too bad I accidentally ruined that old radio about 10 years ago.
So those Talkpod radios.......thats all. Nothing else. Just those Talkpod radios.....yep. One thing that can always be said about a Talkpod radio. They never fail to disappoint!
LOL! Actually I am very happy with the mew TIDRADIO H3! I will have a follow up review soon. The video review I now have was on a pre release unit! They upgraded a lot of things on it now!
@@fittoat9261just got my tid h3 any pointers for getting started listening to air band? Don't really know which frequency will most likely have traffic or where to find that info.