THE MOST ILLEGAL CB RADIO EVER!!?? | QUANSHENG UVK58

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  • Опубліковано 12 лис 2023
  • The Quansheng UVK58 is a radio hackers dream, because it's based on the Beken 4819 rf chip which covers between 18 MHz - 1200 MHz. We have already see how well the receiver performs thanks to other youtubers, now lets see what happens if you try transmitting with it!
    Firmware tested:
    github.com/spm81/Quansheng_UV...
    This video shows tests conducted in a controlled environment, I am a licensed amateur radio operator. I am not responsible for the irresponsible use of this firmware.
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 756

  • @alienorificeinvestigation
    @alienorificeinvestigation 6 місяців тому +308

    Looks perfectly fine for CB band!
    Splatters over 10Mhz ✅
    Has roger beep capability ✅
    Mic turns up past 100% ✅

    • @andykirby
      @andykirby  6 місяців тому +32

      🤣

    • @johnclarke2997
      @johnclarke2997 6 місяців тому +35

      Buy it and let the local rig doctor mess around with it.

    • @la7dfa
      @la7dfa 6 місяців тому +6

      rofl

    • @alienorificeinvestigation
      @alienorificeinvestigation 6 місяців тому +9

      @@johnclarke2997 peak and tune! 💩

    • @PendejoRyan
      @PendejoRyan 6 місяців тому +8

      This comment should be pinned 😂

  • @richardsummers7846
    @richardsummers7846 2 місяці тому +20

    I am 55, and I have always wanted to learn all about how to use these radios since I was a child. I just stumbled into this channel and sub'd, hoping to learn as much as I can from this community!

    • @Withnail1969
      @Withnail1969 2 місяці тому +2

      I'm 55 myself soon. How did that happen.

    • @martianrays
      @martianrays 21 день тому

      "Modern radio" is a lot more than just radio and it's pretty cheap to get into. There's a whole invisible world of transmissions from car alarms to smart meters and all kinds of data. SDR's are cheap and the more you learn the more you can listen to. 2 SDR units and some free software and you can be listening to trunked comms in your area.

  • @Drpepper99uk
    @Drpepper99uk 6 місяців тому +289

    This'll stir up the angry old radio men brigade!! 😂😂😂😉

    • @raunchyNO
      @raunchyNO 6 місяців тому +43

      I am already hearing the oldtimers charging their pace makers and Mobility scooters. 😒 Probably they are most mad that there is no morse option in it too.

    • @mrlardster
      @mrlardster 6 місяців тому +25

      I had some do gooder threaten to report me to ofcom last week for using my little boafeng on PMR 446 saying baofengs are not legal on PMR as they don't have fixed antennas and that they transmit more than the legal permitted power of 0.5 watts lol

    • @manofkentcatapultsgunsando5069
      @manofkentcatapultsgunsando5069 6 місяців тому +11

      ​@@mrlardstersome people, like theres not bigger issues in the world

    • @raunchyNO
      @raunchyNO 6 місяців тому +19

      ​@@mrlardster i am a licenced ham but i am also a hobby radio enthusiast. as long as i don't get interference and if i do and give you tips to solve it you do them i don't care. i am not a cop. and it's not my job to police. it's my hobby that i like for others also to enjoy. and that enjoying part is the only thing i care about. those oldies think they rule the airwaves while ruining the hobby by gatekeeping and just being difficult. nobody needs morse anymore or soldering with everything being smd. they would do better to start using computers with their hobby and 3d printers. but that is just my 2 cents.

    • @mrlardster
      @mrlardster 6 місяців тому +7

      @@raunchyNO yeah no worries my mate and good for you too 🙂🙂 and the more people who enjoy the hobby the merrier eh, but yeah there'll probably always be some do gooder on the airwaves who wants everyone on there to do everything by the book won't there, just take no notice and laugh at them I say, I certainly did when that do gooder threatened to report me last week, just hope people like him don't put others off taking up the hobby 🙂🙂

  • @phils2180
    @phils2180 4 місяці тому +57

    As a ham operator of over 40yrs I'm all for these cheap Chinese radios, their value for money is off the scale!😂👍

    • @geraldscott4302
      @geraldscott4302 2 місяці тому +2

      Why not just get rid of amateur radio altogether? Oh wait, that's already happened. There was a time when amateur radio operators actually built their own radios. Now you go take a simple test (that is if you want to be legal, many don't even bother) go get a $30 communist radio, and start cluttering up what used to be the amateur bands with your rf trash. Amateur radio has gone the way of CB radio, and that is sad. Of course I guess it had to happen. Trash technology has made real amateur radio obsolete. I got my technician license back in 1987, and bought a $400+ (in 1987) Kenwood TH-215 2 meter only HT. Then I had to wait a really long time until they did away with the code to get my general. I immediately bought a brand new Icom 718, which got packed up and put in the closet a few months later. I found a beautiful Yaesu FT-DX 560 tube radio that didn't work, and spent months rebuilding it. THAT is what I got into amateur radio for. To actually learn about and work on radios, not to buy some new computerized junk, hook it all up, and start talking. Amateur radio is no longer amateur. It's just like commercial radio. You can't work on today's radios. I have lost interest in amateur radio, and went back to 11 meters, where I started. I got an older SSB 11 meter radio, built a nice clean 100 watt tube amp for it, built an antenna, and have been having more fun than I ever had on amateur radio.

    • @ILoveMyBikes
      @ILoveMyBikes 2 місяці тому

      @@geraldscott4302that’s all fine. But even today most people don’t have $400 or £ even in today’s money to splosh on a new hobby they aren’t sure they will stick at. And buying a 400 what ever currency radio isn’t building it is it? In the uk the first level license hasn’t allowed people to build (that changed recently I think)…and I imagine that was to stop people building junk that interferes with the spectrum. These cheap radios are a gate way drug to the hobby.

    • @ILoveMyBikes
      @ILoveMyBikes Місяць тому +5

      @@geraldscott4302gatekeeping much? Most people can’t justify 400 even in today’s money on a hobby they don’t know they will like. These are a gateway dr#g into the hobby. Why is it ok to enter the hobby buying an expensive radio rather than building your own as seems to be the case with you?

    • @geraldscott4302
      @geraldscott4302 Місяць тому

      @@ILoveMyBikes You no longer need to spend $400. The prices of new, name brand amateur radio equipment has come way down since the late '80s. There is also the option of buying used. I can now find a perfectly good, much newer, used equivalent of what I paid $400 for back then for under $100 today. Of course it is a LOT easier to get an amateur license today than it was back then, and when you got it, you had a real feeling of accomplishment. And you were proud of your equipment. I still remember on my first 2 meter contacts, everybody asked me what kind of radio I was using, and I was happy to tell them. It would have been absolutely humiliating to have to tell them it was some communist Chinese POS.

    • @stevehanna1407
      @stevehanna1407 Місяць тому +1

      @@geraldscott4302
      Hi Elmer!

  • @MegaSlimmm
    @MegaSlimmm 3 місяці тому +8

    I haven't operated radio for years, was A and B class license at 14 and 15 years respectively, 43 now. But remember being involved with some cutting edge stuff back then, copper tube wave guide for Microwave frequency transmission and some first satellite packet radio. It's come along way and glad that the door was opened to the interested. Love the look of this, always had soft spot for hand held with power ✌️

  • @Hoppa12345
    @Hoppa12345 6 місяців тому +45

    @2:25 Ham operator here. And no not complaint at all. You are wonderfull doing showing what are the risks on doing this . Teaching people about this ham or non ham is wonderfull..!! Keep up the great work mate. Radio is wonderfull... Loving your videos !

    • @VTXHobbies
      @VTXHobbies 6 місяців тому +5

      Lol as if the risks are so bad to not use the radio like that... you take yourself too seriously

    • @andykirby
      @andykirby  6 місяців тому +3

      Thank you friend, appreciate it.

    • @Hoppa12345
      @Hoppa12345 6 місяців тому +15

      ​@@VTXHobbiesyou are missing the whole point here. this is a bit teaching about harmonic and such.... you should know that this is also good to show to people who are not really aware about this. All of us started at point 0.

    • @flyiny_sqiurrel
      @flyiny_sqiurrel 2 місяці тому

      Risks wtf are you talking about 😂😂😂😂😂

    • @Hoppa12345
      @Hoppa12345 2 місяці тому +1

      @@flyiny_sqiurrel i hope this is a troll post. If not. Go read about harmonics.

  • @TonyLing
    @TonyLing 6 місяців тому +23

    It's worth noting, for anyone who is after one, that the UV-K5, UV-K5(8) and UV-K6 are all the same guts, just in a variety of similar cases, and different backlight colours.
    The UV-K5 plus, in addition, is a hateful thing with a jarring blue backlight and no USB-C charging.
    UV-K6 is my preferred favourite.

    • @TomR459
      @TomR459 6 місяців тому

      I buy the uv5-r plus for the battery to put on my other quanshengs

    • @TonyLing
      @TonyLing 6 місяців тому

      Fine, but you have to first ask yourself why they went to the trouble of putting the extra tab on there.
      Were they doing it just to be shitty or would there have been an important safety concern?
      @@TomR459

    • @RossTallo
      @RossTallo 6 місяців тому

      Thanks for the info mate... Why do you like that one in particular?

    • @TonyLing
      @TonyLing 6 місяців тому +2

      Just that it is the latest model.@@RossTallo

  • @thelydiaspringexperiment6437
    @thelydiaspringexperiment6437 6 місяців тому +31

    a few of us are working on hardware mods to match the firmware. the filters will be switched by spare gpio to give a better low pass or resonance at 28mhz as that is the only fm compatible hf band for non type approved amateur gear. if thereis space, filters could also allow 6m band at reasonable power, but i am working on the 28mhz 5w mod.

    • @andykirby
      @andykirby  6 місяців тому +2

      Very good 👍🏼 drop me an email: andy@cloudsto.com

    • @digitalchaos1980
      @digitalchaos1980 6 місяців тому +3

      Oh my gosh, I am SO interested in this!

    • @lucas_mende_s
      @lucas_mende_s 6 місяців тому +1

      Any luck with the HW mod? Is it backwards compatible?

    • @OH8STN
      @OH8STN 6 місяців тому +2

      @thelydiaspringexperient6437 Where can we follow your hardware mods?

    • @xxxxbesimer1344
      @xxxxbesimer1344 4 місяці тому

      This will be fun.
      GL and 73 from Em89

  • @OH8STN
    @OH8STN 6 місяців тому +1

    Andy this is absolutely insane! Ive got the Retevis version ov this rig. I ghink it's time for some modding.
    Awesome video man, Thanks for sharing

  • @phatboi9835
    @phatboi9835 6 місяців тому +41

    I've had a handful of those 'illega' CB radios. Small list - Cobra 2000 with extra channels, Golden Eagle with extra channels, Trinidad with extra channels, Yaesu FT-101e (i know not illegal but I used it on CB), 5k linear amp with a set of Moonraker 4 beams. Miss talking skip and CB's in general. Great video, thank you!

    • @indridcold8433
      @indridcold8433 6 місяців тому +12

      You have to do what you must for off grid communications. The very first thing to go down in a widespread emergency is electricity. Cellular is always the second. Not to mention, while cellular is up, you can be bumped for VIPs right in the middle of your conversation, even if it is an emergency. Cellular is 100% dependent on a subscription. CB, amateur radio, GMRS, FRS, MURS, pirate radio, foreign radio service radios like Australian UHF CB, LPR433, PMR466, are dependent on a battery, and antenna, only. Thus, do not interrupt air traffic, stay off first responder frequencies, and collect all the other radios you can.
      73 de KBX-1339.

    • @superpieton
      @superpieton 6 місяців тому +2

      5 kW? LOL If your splatter box you call a "linear amp" had this power on HF, and if it had 100% efficiency, it would take 45 Amps on your power outlet.
      But, no amp has 100% efficiency. In fact RF amps are rarely over 50 or 60% percent efficiency. If we consider 50% efficiency (50% of the input energy is converted into RF energy), 5 kW RF would need *90 AMPS* from your 110V outlet.
      This is sufficient to call bullshit on your claim.

    • @indridcold8433
      @indridcold8433 6 місяців тому +4

      @@superpieton It would have to be a 220 volt outlet and could make a 4400 watt, sweep tube, amplifier. But, I hate sweep tubes. They are sloppy and do not last very long. I once knew an amateur radio operator that was very proud of his sweep tube amplifier. Granted, he really should have been proud of it since most amateur radio operators would not know how to make one. But it was so messy. The harmonics were quite beautiful in his CRT spectrum analyzer. He was the one that got me interested in the radio hobby. It was interesting to hear him make contacts with Japan from Alberta. He told me that his amplifier was messy on the air, but did the job. He used a very narrow banded antenna tuner to help reduce the mess. But, it seemed what he did worked. He just had to watch the spectrum analyzer and adjust the homemade tuner a lot. It had four knobs to get the antenna tuned and the notch at the right frequency. He must have bought tubes for that amplifier about once a year, or a little more. He showed me how to make manual tuners, solid state amplifiers, power supplies, antennas, oscillators, and how to use test equipment. Though, not an amateur radio operator, I make lots of extra untaxed side money making these items, modifying radios from other services to work on amateur radio and to other services, installing antennas on towers, setting up volunteer fire brigade stations, and much more. I am still a hobbyist. I just never got licensed due to the hassle of finding a place to test. If I try rather hard, I can make a solid state splatter amplifier, even if the radio is clean. I am glad there are not much calls for them. I have only made one. He wanted the most messy amplifier. I made it for him. He was thrilled. I guess he thought harmonics causing lots of bleed over means extra power on the frequency you are using. It is actually the opposite.

    • @wallychambe1587
      @wallychambe1587 6 місяців тому +2

      I still have my 1979 Yaesu FT-101 that has the CB crystals in it that I used to run on the CB band back in the 80's. 100 Watts AM, 150Watts SSB! It probably needs the capacitors replaced by now!😲😲

    • @bugsy742
      @bugsy742 6 місяців тому +2

      @@superpietonwhy on earth would he lie? Get tf over yourself fella! 🙄

  • @leonvanderlinde5580
    @leonvanderlinde5580 6 місяців тому +29

    You get military handhelds that transmit from 26 MHz to 520 MHz. SDR can give you the ability to do from 1 MHz to 1200 MHz. You just need a linear amplifier to follow.

    • @dannelson8556
      @dannelson8556 6 місяців тому +12

      huge difference between military radios and this piece of junk.
      The front end on this thing is like a barn door, someone can sneeze two blocks away and desens the front end of the radio.

    • @Mikeowd
      @Mikeowd 6 місяців тому +9

      @@dannelson8556who would do that anyway? Radio communication is based on a fundamental flaw of being easy to sniff since it’s a wide broadcast. Military radios and their techniques of possibly processing information to further enhance security has been studied and analysed for decades now, with the conclusions publicly released. Long story short if anyone was trying to capture information from ANY RF comms they would exploit the physical principles of the signal itself giving higher compatibility, not a specific frontend interface of a niché manufacturer.

    • @nobodynoone2500
      @nobodynoone2500 5 місяців тому +1

      @@Mikeowd Digital over Analog is quite effective and when targeting is a concern, tiny repeaters with out-of-band comms take care of that issue. Do you think militaries just quit using radio?!

  • @johnkoury1116
    @johnkoury1116 4 місяці тому +2

    Beautiful!!! Now I need one to keep in my SHTF box...

  • @zeproo
    @zeproo 6 місяців тому +15

    Andy is the number 1 CB guy of all the radio amateurs. That's why I decide to pass my radio amateur licence. Way to go Andy if you want to lure the top tier cb crowd into radio amateurism.

    • @anonyninja7737
      @anonyninja7737 6 місяців тому

      @@ImproveConditions What? Radio isn't even light. It's EMF. I cant tell if you're stupid or just jealous. Go get licensed. Doesn't mean you have to stop using CB, just means you can legally do more so when CB band is closed you have like tons of others to pick from

    • @dannelson8556
      @dannelson8556 6 місяців тому +4

      The last thing ham radio needs is a bunch of CBers...
      I mean they're more than welcome as long as they leave their CB nonsense behind, but they're not they're bringing it with them. The ham bands are starting to sound like glorified CB with jammers and people playing music on repeaters and purposely interfering with people.
      Not to mention bringing junk radios into the hobby, The HF bands are starting to suffer from Chinese splatter boxes being hooked up to amplifiers because your average CB or has no clue what phase noise means or what impact it has on the bands.
      ham radio was a much better hobby when it was propagated primarily by engineers scientists and physicist.
      about the only place safe from the CB crowd in ham radio is 10 GHz and above, operating At those frequencies requires knowing what you're doing because there is no commercial appliances for the CBers to use.

    • @zeproo
      @zeproo 6 місяців тому +4

      @@dannelson8556 did you read my message "top tier" ? The better CB crowd.

    • @jj3266
      @jj3266 6 місяців тому +2

      ​@@dannelson8556😭🐖😥🐷🙁🐖

    • @Enonymouse_
      @Enonymouse_ 5 місяців тому +1

      The lure to those who are interested in radio should be that you get to LEGALLY exploit bands for various purposes that you couldn't touch or risk fines and jail for using if caught. 🤷‍♂

  • @DonzLockz
    @DonzLockz 6 місяців тому +3

    I have a few, I need to do this. Awesome for cheap receive radios. Brilliant video. Cheers!🍻🤠

  • @superpieton
    @superpieton 6 місяців тому +14

    The UV-K5 tests on the CB band show that its output power figures are in µWatts (yes, *MICRO* watts -- 228 µW to be precise).

    • @SilverSpoon_
      @SilverSpoon_ 5 місяців тому +1

      enough to chat with someone with a CB talkie in a 20m radius!

    • @Enonymouse_
      @Enonymouse_ 5 місяців тому

      The problem I found with some radios like a Yaesu and the handful of Baefengs was that their receive ability was pretty good but their ability to transmit well enough to be heard by nearby repeaters was actually very poor.

  • @HamRadioDX
    @HamRadioDX 6 місяців тому +34

    Great summary and test Andy. The Quansheng is truly a cool little unit that I don't think even Quansheng expected to be so popular!

    • @andykirby
      @andykirby  6 місяців тому +15

      Thanks mate, yes they struck gold by using that chip in a fairly decent piece of hardware. The question is what is their next move. If they are clever they will embrace the communities efforts on the firmware and come up with a hardware design that truly embraces the full capabilities of the BK4819 and the third party software. Hope you are all good mate.👍🏼

    • @HamRadioDX
      @HamRadioDX 6 місяців тому +5

      @@andykirby all good mate! Good to see you making some awesome radio videos again. I hope QS do bring out something new and refine the hardware for us

    • @andykirby
      @andykirby  6 місяців тому +1

      Cheers mate, yeah me too! Good to see your channel is going well also!

    • @C4H6As
      @C4H6As 6 місяців тому +4

      I have been waiting for more than 20 years for a radio with a firmware that can be modified by the user! So "our" guys were not willing to give us such a thing, the chinese finally did. Now go on this way! A community will develop software much faster than a company. Next model -> more memory for software extensions please! Then bring out a shortwave transceiver. Just good & capable hardware required, software can be very basic, the enthusiasts will do the rest.

    • @internetresearchagency2238
      @internetresearchagency2238 5 місяців тому +1

      @@C4H6As capitalism vs socialism

  • @mostlypostie1
    @mostlypostie1 6 місяців тому +46

    *UPDATE! TRY THE IJV FIRMWARE. It will TX a very clean DSB and CW signal on the 2/70 bands. It also has a very nice user interface. 73.
    Original post:
    In the frequency scanner/spectrum mode, after pressing PTT to lock the frequency in, If you select SSB, And then toggle to the DEV setting and lower this to around 200 or 300, It will actually TX a reasonably good sounding double sideband signal. You can not only listen to SSB but you can talk there too! Amazing. (I did this test on 2m where I am licenced, and where the radio is reasonably clean (on VHF).

    • @superpieton
      @superpieton 6 місяців тому

      And splatters and make spurious and harmonics all over the spectum. Yeah, "amazing" as you say...

    • @mostlypostie1
      @mostlypostie1 6 місяців тому +26

      @@superpieton hello sad ham. That's funny... Where did I say that I did this test out of band? I actually did this test on 144MHz where I am licenced. The radio is fairly clean on VHF. Not good on UHF and absolutely awful everywhere else.
      But my use is 2 m SSB. So I'll carry on and enjoy the radio for what it is.
      73

    • @jj3266
      @jj3266 6 місяців тому +9

      "SOME PEOPLE" 🙁🐖🐷🐖🙁

    • @jonahhekmatyar
      @jonahhekmatyar 6 місяців тому +6

      ​@@superpietonfudd alert. 🤡

    • @wb2dyb
      @wb2dyb 6 місяців тому +1

      more like AM but still neat. I tried mine on 432.1 Too bad there's no way to get rid of the carrier. THAT would be outstanding to have a VHF sideband portable. There seems to be limited info on the Beken chip. I would not try the "sideband" transmit anywhere but 2m and 70 cm bands where the PA's are good.

  • @PendejoRyan
    @PendejoRyan 6 місяців тому +43

    I have one of those. Its surprisingly well built. That USB charging is a game changer as well. I installed the S-meter mod on mine and that was about it. I think you hit the nail on the head about someone developing this radio further and i am excited to see what comes of it.

    • @Nexalian_Gamer
      @Nexalian_Gamer 6 місяців тому +2

      Where did you buy it? Some are sold on Temu and Banggood, and I heard bad things about those sites, so I don't wanna buy some knockoff.

    • @Enonymouse_
      @Enonymouse_ 5 місяців тому

      No contact wireless charging would be preferred.

    • @cyleleghorn246
      @cyleleghorn246 5 місяців тому +2

      ​@@Enonymouse_they have phone cases that mate with the phone using micro USB or usb-c, and the phone case has a wireless charging coil built in. This is for phones that don't support wireless charging.nit obviously adds bulk in both thickness, and length, but something similar might be able to add wireless charging to this radio since it has a USB port! I feel like you could take a reputable wireless charging case, tear it apart, and fit the components onto a 3d printed case for this radio. Maybe even go all in and throw some 18650 cells into the shell, so the wireless charger goes into the 18650 cells, and the 18650 cells are like a battery booster for the radio's battery

    • @JuggaloNY
      @JuggaloNY 5 місяців тому

      ​@cyleleghorn246 I think you're onto some good ideas! What would be awesome is if there is a way to set the display up with the handset so it could be used in the field without any power other than what you bring with you. Possibly even a separate power pack so you could bring some extra 18650.
      Or make a separate power pack with some switch's power output to be able to boost the handset when needed. To power the display screen component when needed or use both when needed. Do you think that's possible?

    • @cyleleghorn246
      @cyleleghorn246 5 місяців тому +1

      @@JuggaloNY I'm not sure what the radio's voltage is that it would need to be boosted to, but they have adjustable DC to DC converters (buck converters) that take an input voltage and can convert it to any output voltage between a certain range. So on ming be able to be fed by 3v-9v, and have an output of 5v-24v. They are sold rated on the amps they're capable of outputting.
      However if you want to build it yourself, once you have more than a few features I think it would be easier to just make 2 devices. One 3d printed case that adds wireless charging capabilities to the radio (with or without extra batteries in the case), and then another separate battery pack with ten or more 18650 cells, fancy USB qc 3.0 plus ports for fast charging devices, and an adjustable buck converter on the other side that has a barrel jack for the output, for which you'd make your own adapter wire to plug into your mystery radio to power the display. Having 10+ cells in the battery pack and buck converter as a separate device just means more power, but specifically more power anywhere, not just for that radio. Charge anything with USB or custom barrel jack or Anderson powerpole adapters. If you pick good 18650 cells and get a good USB charging circuit, you can make a really good battery bank for less than most on the market, but you need to factor in the cost of tools you don't have, like a spot welder for connecting the batteries

  • @Superfandangoo
    @Superfandangoo 6 місяців тому +8

    Had a couple of these a few months still boxed upYou've sparked my interest in them now seeing the open source boffins have ironed out the nuisances.
    Great video and nice to see the SA hooked up to it. 👍

    • @Blaup
      @Blaup 4 місяці тому

      Can I buy on of these from you

  • @andrewcrofts531
    @andrewcrofts531 6 місяців тому +16

    Just picked one of these up from aliexpress for £15 shipped. Looking forward to playing around with it....... cheers Andy, another great vid.

    • @bhambhole
      @bhambhole 22 дні тому +2

      Any updates? Was it user friendly? Any decent legit ham use?

  • @gtretroworld
    @gtretroworld 6 місяців тому +8

    Brilliant video Andy and a great little inexpensive radio to experiment with. I am unsure why some are fussing as this is what amateur radio is all about, obviously most know this is always going to splatter where it was designed to TX but for RX there’s no harm in my book.

    • @andykirby
      @andykirby  6 місяців тому +3

      Yes, exactly

    • @joaofonseca6083
      @joaofonseca6083 6 місяців тому +2

      @@andykirby what's the stubby antenna you're using?

  • @bleikrsound6127
    @bleikrsound6127 3 місяці тому +1

    Most HAM radios have wide TX mods.
    I have done several, Icom, Xiegu, and Yaesu being the easiest, clip and remove one diode.
    Good presentation, thanks!
    I love oddball radios such as this, I might give it a try.

  • @hawkinsdaniel7144
    @hawkinsdaniel7144 29 днів тому

    Ordered one of these before I watched this vid, can't wait to get it and mod it. Cheers Andy!

  • @sandrainthesky1011
    @sandrainthesky1011 5 місяців тому +3

    I remember modifying many radios to jump 640KHz to go out of the propagation laden USA SSB CB band and it did turn into a sub-culture back in the 70's & 80's haha! But this stuff is insane! It's a wonder we can even use ham radio any more with all of those harmonics and horrible distortion etc. from everything else.
    TX'ing with this in Canada would be enough to wear hand-cuffs I believe ;) There used to be import limitations i.e. certifications, but obviously with China that's completely gone.

  • @coolvideos8864
    @coolvideos8864 6 місяців тому +2

    LOL Just bought one of these, its coming tomorrow! Excited lol

  • @cockneyb2k
    @cockneyb2k 5 місяців тому

    I got the k5 or what ever it is but done the mod. Brilliant love the waterfall on the no/aa and cleared up the airband signal.

  • @MatthewRapaport
    @MatthewRapaport 6 місяців тому +27

    Nice tech, but a problem with your transmit test connected to the tinysa ultra. 40db is not nearly enough attenuation. Although it takes you under the sa's max it is still too much power for that sensitive instrument. I use 80-100db of attenuation, transmit 1 watt, and get very clean signals. Try it. Those harmonics might look more reasonable...

    • @ttttonyyyy
      @ttttonyyyy 20 днів тому +1

      Looks like the tinysa had configurable input attenuation too (not sure if used here) which could knock another 31dB of the signal for a total of 71dB of attenuation.

    • @MatthewRapaport
      @MatthewRapaport 20 днів тому

      @@ttttonyyyy I do not use it. Better to put whatever you need on externally. Why? Because you can't use the built-in attenuation and the LNA at the same time and with the right amount of external attenuation, the LNA is magical!

  • @OverlandTT
    @OverlandTT 5 місяців тому +2

    Hi Andy, how do these kind of radios deal with SWR when switching antenna over varying frequency ranges?

  • @MhWow66
    @MhWow66 4 місяці тому +1

    I have absolutely no idea what any of this language was talking about, but it was super interesting.

  • @SheepdogPreparedness
    @SheepdogPreparedness 6 місяців тому +7

    Got me one ordered from Amazon, and it's headed this way. Can't wait to play with the receiver on it.

    • @jol3886
      @jol3886 3 місяці тому

      Can I get an update from you?

    • @timcat1004
      @timcat1004 2 місяці тому

      I can only see them sold as a pair on Amazon? Canada here.

  • @johnroberts6695
    @johnroberts6695 6 місяців тому +2

    What about the K6, Andy? Do we go for that or the K5/8? And how do we update the firmware? Technology is sure changing.

  • @craigporritt7945
    @craigporritt7945 4 місяці тому +1

    Is the Quanshang UV-K6 Pro Radio the same for the most part as this UV-K58? I'm looking online and finding a bunch of newer versions, but don't know if it compares to the one in your video.

  • @makinganoise6028
    @makinganoise6028 6 місяців тому

    Good video, I'm not a Radio Amateur, I have some UV5R's for emergency use on the hills, and trained in radios in the Military, so know what you are explaining, many HAM's will go in the huff about these radios, but isnt going to to stop them being purchased, education is the best approach, maybe explain how to setup a CB rig for those still into that, that isnt going to bleed all over spectrum.

  • @JerryEricsson
    @JerryEricsson 6 місяців тому +2

    Got mine! 34 bucks plus tax. I have a couple bofeng's and some older 2 meter hand helds, problem is, I am the only HAM in my town, I can only talk to myself and I don't need a radio for that. I am studying for my General ticket so I can go HF and find some one to visit with. The 2 meter was great back when I used to go south for the Winter, we used to settle in a little town in western Arizona, we could piss into California from the campground and the 2 meter band was going strong down there, in fact we were picking up some cats who thought it was CB or something out of Havasu city.

  • @chuckp3739
    @chuckp3739 2 місяці тому

    Thank you for the video Andy.

  • @rowanstravels8038
    @rowanstravels8038 3 місяці тому +3

    Hi Andy am totally new to this would this radio be OK for listening to ham radio and maybe fire ambulance ect and is it easy to mod if not what would you recommend sorry for the basic questions but total learner cheers

  • @George_Salt
    @George_Salt 5 місяців тому +1

    Andy, could you do the harmonics check around 156.8 MHz please? I can't help wondering if the Quansheng could be a budget emergency radio for sea angling and other shore activities. I know it's not waterproof, but at

  • @jetblack6953
    @jetblack6953 6 місяців тому

    Thanks Andy fascinating stuff.

  • @murlock666
    @murlock666 6 місяців тому +10

    Just got one of these using the link from OM0ET's link. just over £10 delivered in 5 days from china! Firmware upgraded as soon as i got it :P Great lil' receiver. but dirty on TX out of 2m/70cm. not a prob for me as its only being used as an RX unit. Hoping to grab a HackRF one H2 portapack in the new year too. Cheers andy!

    • @andykirby
      @andykirby  6 місяців тому +3

      Yep pretty much the same situation as me, as soon as I got it the firmware was loaded.😁

    • @ricksanchez3628
      @ricksanchez3628 6 місяців тому

      @@andykirby Can you tell me a good pair of all-rounders you would recommend...I bought a pair of the baofeng ones you reviewed with the missus...just looking for an upgrade

    • @mikeluxy
      @mikeluxy 6 місяців тому

      Hi M8...did you have to pay any import duty,,,?

    • @murlock666
      @murlock666 6 місяців тому

      @@mikeluxy nope. I guess it was too low a price to warrant the import duty. Although I guess it will be different when I buy my portapack and hackRF one though.

    • @mikeluxy
      @mikeluxy 6 місяців тому

      Thanks M8...Im a bit green here...what do you mean by Portapack and hackRF.... Cheers@@murlock666

  • @DevineState
    @DevineState 6 місяців тому +1

    very professional looking display.
    no colrfull cartoons.
    I really like it.

  • @DinsDale-tx4br
    @DinsDale-tx4br 5 місяців тому

    Do you know if the same firmware will work on the UV-K5? (an earlier less physically robust model but essentially the same) ?

  • @Siskiyous6
    @Siskiyous6 4 місяці тому +1

    Radios can be legally modified in America by hams. The only issues would be use out of band, or spurious emissions. The actual changes are perfectly legal.

  • @ares9304
    @ares9304 6 місяців тому +1

    Will this firmware screw up 2/70 operation in any way? Cause its nice to have a scanner, but I'm not gonna carry around a radio that is only good for scanning...

  • @leejenkinson5521
    @leejenkinson5521 6 місяців тому +4

    TBH - if I bought another i would not be buying it to focus on using it for transmitting. Would primarily be buying it as a spare radio for camping and hiking to listen to FM and Airband or local transmissions.

  • @EricTechstuffs
    @EricTechstuffs 6 місяців тому +3

    That some rough spurious emissions issues ! But makes sense

  • @sekibulja-fu3bv
    @sekibulja-fu3bv Місяць тому +1

    Excellent video, cheap but mighty little radio. What is the brand of that stubby antenna? Thank you

  • @ExploringWithJason
    @ExploringWithJason 5 місяців тому +1

    What would you recommend for when the WEF blackout and/or zombies come? This quansheng, radtel rt890 (6 band) or baofeng uv18 pro (6 band)?

  • @VrillonAura2012
    @VrillonAura2012 6 місяців тому +7

    Yeah great for us earwiggers !!! keep up the good work andy great explination of the firmware !!!!

  • @wisteela
    @wisteela 6 місяців тому +4

    I'd not yet checked out other videos on these. Very interesting stuff. Certainly great for reception. Handy to see if there's any CB or 4m activity around.
    73 M7TUD

  • @Chris_KS5KY
    @Chris_KS5KY 6 місяців тому +8

    There are times where listening is more important than talking so if the RX is truly open and able to get good signal the whole way, it would be a good investment.

    • @johnroscoe2406
      @johnroscoe2406 6 місяців тому

      Why do I feel like there's some goofy prepper Trumper political subtext to your comment?

    • @Chris_KS5KY
      @Chris_KS5KY 6 місяців тому

      There wasn't but since you wanted to show your ass and read into something that wasn't there, I'll clarify. When the AT&T bombing happened in Nashville a few years back, I was able to listen to the Ham network in TN and get more knowledge of what was going on. I had nothing to contribute to the conversation so I listened vs talked. Hopefully that clears up the subtext of my comment and now you can put away your Trump hating bullshit and try to have a reasonable conversation with some one. Absolutely ridiculous having to explain something that seemed pretty obvious. God gave people two ears and one mouth for a reason. Do I have to spell that out for you? Or are you gonna get on a God hating bandwagon as well.

    • @honse246
      @honse246 5 місяців тому

      @@johnroscoe2406 because, even though 2016 was nearly 8 years ago you still can't stop thinking about donal trunk. Is trunq in the room with you right now?

    • @johnroscoe2406
      @johnroscoe2406 5 місяців тому

      @@honse246 Go away and let the adult's talk please.

    • @honse246
      @honse246 5 місяців тому

      @@johnroscoe2406 you mean the adults in your head?

  • @moonshotsilver
    @moonshotsilver 6 місяців тому +1

    Moving towards Minority Reports 😂
    Nice one Andy

  • @triradio
    @triradio 6 місяців тому +16

    If they can crack the transmit side with proper filtering, this technology could get interesting. Fully featured HF rigs for under £100 anyone?

    • @horseathalt7308
      @horseathalt7308 6 місяців тому +2

      @triradio
      *Everybody on a budget: "YES!"*

  • @TheUKDude_
    @TheUKDude_ 2 місяці тому +1

    Nice video, I actually know Selim and we are actually from the same Radio Club.

  • @travistraeger6913
    @travistraeger6913 24 дні тому

    Where did you get your stubby antenna? Great videos by the way!

  • @spud7823
    @spud7823 6 місяців тому +9

    Reminds me of the 80s, we had the cobra 148 using sideband and the old AM, good old days.

  • @JediKnife
    @JediKnife 4 місяці тому +1

    Andy how do these do with the stock firmware? Greetings from the US!

  • @j.r.8826
    @j.r.8826 6 місяців тому +2

    Could you post a link to that little stubby antenna you put on it?

  • @clumpyify
    @clumpyify Місяць тому

    Thanks for explaining so well what you was doing. Is there any firmware for the baofeng uv-17 r not the GPS version?

  • @kurttaz
    @kurttaz 6 місяців тому +2

    Love this stuff 😊

  • @rickytipper1087
    @rickytipper1087 5 місяців тому

    Hi Andy.
    What is the tune called at the end of this video?

  • @46GarageUSA
    @46GarageUSA 11 годин тому

    I just wish they would make a radio to descramble my local High Vhf so i can listen to local police calls .
    Boy do i miss the days when you could listen in at home .
    I miss the old days .
    I'm an old pld Radio Shack employee.

  • @1234ToddgMr
    @1234ToddgMr 2 місяці тому +2

    There are several more versions out there now. Which one would you recommend now?

  • @iansouch
    @iansouch 4 місяці тому +1

    Hi Andy, great music 👍I’m looking for a cheap air & marine scanner. Would this receiver do the job🤔

  • @sniperwolf1484
    @sniperwolf1484 6 місяців тому

    Thanks for the video.
    I have got one of these radios but I am waiting for the programming cable. So I can do the firmware update.
    All the best..Geff

  • @melvynburchell
    @melvynburchell 6 місяців тому +11

    Unbelievable - I picked up one of these puppies for £15 delivered! Incredible that a radio like this could be built for this price and (presumably) the manufacturer and Ali seller can still profit! I note even a mains powered desk charger! I have not dared to plug it in yet but I might get away with it as Diwali celebrations are still going on.

    • @mikeluxy
      @mikeluxy 6 місяців тому +1

      Excellent Melvyn....was this through Ali Express...Did you have to pay any import charges...?

    • @reelseafishinguk
      @reelseafishinguk 6 місяців тому

      Mike I just ordered one. A couple of quid VAT which Aliexpress should pay UK customs import duty

    • @martinappleton9785
      @martinappleton9785 6 місяців тому

      Where did you get it from? 👍

    • @melvynburchell
      @melvynburchell 6 місяців тому

      Yes through Ali - paid Tax through Ali and was delivered in 5 days.

  • @willyp3036
    @willyp3036 24 дні тому

    where you get the shorter antenna/ariel? as i see them only with the longer version. cheers

  • @321CatboxWA
    @321CatboxWA 6 місяців тому +1

    thank you , well done .

  • @tunercars3
    @tunercars3 6 місяців тому +1

    i hope it does and i like the abillty to have all modes really be all modes and its not a problem that it has harmonics because its so low of power its not going to interfere with anything

    • @jplacido9999
      @jplacido9999 6 місяців тому

      It will.
      You cannot transmit even miliwatts on Airband and similar.
      No TX and that's it

    • @tunercars3
      @tunercars3 6 місяців тому

      @@jplacido9999 milliwatts pose literally zero risk 4 watts much higher only has a 10 mile range with zero interference and that never happens so your range is more realistically 1 mile or 2 so with milliwatts you would have to be standing next to the plane to interfere so no its not going to pose a risk

  • @Nick_G7IZR
    @Nick_G7IZR 6 місяців тому +1

    What's the difference with all the firmwares and is there a video guide for uploading it?

  • @drmikeyb1
    @drmikeyb1 6 місяців тому +1

    Just a question please, I'm still studying to get my tech license but this caught my eye for fun. I looked on Amazon and found the Quansheng UV-K6 UV-K5(8) Walkie Talkie 5W Airband Radio is this the same unit you were referring to. Thank you great video.

    • @andykirby
      @andykirby  6 місяців тому +1

      Yes it's technically the same insides, the outer casing may look different. Good luck with your tech.

  • @digiital
    @digiital 6 місяців тому

    LOVED the end music track. Is there a place to listen to more of it Andy?

    • @andykirby
      @andykirby  6 місяців тому

      I'm on Spotify, apple music, or if you want to support me I have an album,... www.cloudsto.com/store/music-1.html

  • @outsider427
    @outsider427 5 місяців тому

    Just got one of these radios can you recommend an aerial for cb radio as the antenna it comes with does not seem to pick up anything... also what's the connection called I need to fit this aerial? Bnc female?

  • @ramjet4025
    @ramjet4025 6 місяців тому +3

    Once modified with firmware. As you show, the UVK58 acts like a low powered signal generator across the spectrum and it appears to be useless as a transceiver.

  • @ourworldonwheels
    @ourworldonwheels Місяць тому

    Hey Andy, I remember messing about with CB’s with my uncle when I was a kid, fun memories 👍🏼
    I’d quite like one for my van, though not like this one!ha.. just beginner level, able to chat to mates in convoy, listen in etc..what would you recommend for a permanent install, 12v
    Cheers Ant

  • @rilosvideos877
    @rilosvideos877 5 місяців тому

    Is this the same as the Baofeng UV-5R? Do they all use the same RF-Chip? What about the GT-3TP? Does it apply here too?

  • @undergroundnews_dk
    @undergroundnews_dk 6 місяців тому

    Have you tied the pOC 4G digital radios with teamspeak, mumble/murmur andriod.
    I am looking on some of them to use with my own mumble server - it should be possible.

  • @gimduncan1240
    @gimduncan1240 6 місяців тому +1

    Is the k6 newer and better or this still the one?

  • @baggyboo
    @baggyboo 6 місяців тому

    Mines on its way doesn’t look like it’s coming with a chip lead though I’m wondering if one for my retevis rt3s would allow me to work it?

  • @Choober65
    @Choober65 6 місяців тому +2

    The ONLY piece of TE I've EVER blown up was a £40K HP VNA. I was distracted and I forgot the attenuator and through 100W into it. The display simply showed OUCH!

  • @RajithaPrabath
    @RajithaPrabath 6 місяців тому

    Great summary thank you so much for the video.
    73s 4S6RSP

  • @JJ-gm4ck
    @JJ-gm4ck 5 місяців тому +2

    as a non radio person...i barely understand walkie talkies lol...can i use the uvk58 as a pimped up powerhouse walkie talkie? Using 2 of them of course...i have a friend. thanks

  • @kerbsidemotors9249
    @kerbsidemotors9249 6 місяців тому +1

    2m and 70cm we modified it and out of band the harmonics are awful, however on marconi test set clean on bands it is meant for

  • @qrphfradio7753
    @qrphfradio7753 6 місяців тому

    I got mine off Ali express as a new customer for £7 plus free 5 day shipping. Should be here beginning of next week

  • @midclock
    @midclock 4 місяці тому +1

    It would be great to have a development board with the same RF chip of the quangsheng radio, that would make any hardware mod much easier 😊

  • @richardsanders4624
    @richardsanders4624 6 місяців тому

    Excellent Review👍

  • @xavierathorne
    @xavierathorne 2 місяці тому +1

    Can you use SSB on the CB frequencies?

  • @figpanmusic4790
    @figpanmusic4790 3 місяці тому +1

    Does anyone have a feedback if there is any undesirable harmonics in emission between 800 and 1300 MHz? I can't find any test on this portion

  • @ironhead320
    @ironhead320 6 місяців тому

    Just as a reciever i bought a different antenna but it has that pin in the center but yhe radio has the pin do they make a adapter

  • @FrozenMilkOnACloudyDay
    @FrozenMilkOnACloudyDay Місяць тому

    Great video, thank you

  • @kenibnanak5554
    @kenibnanak5554 2 місяці тому

    It is amazing how much it looks like a Yaesu VX7R.

  • @daytona1212
    @daytona1212 6 місяців тому +21

    The radio and the mods are not illegal.Transmitting on frequencies you have no license for is illegal. I have the UV-K5 €19, K5(8) €18 and the UV-K5 plus for just €14 free shipping, and they are fantastic. The new mod has done wonders for the AM airband receiver, it's way more clear now.

    • @livelongandprosper70
      @livelongandprosper70 6 місяців тому +2

      Actually, it is..check your licence conditions 🤷

    • @manyshnooks
      @manyshnooks 6 місяців тому +8

      ​@@livelongandprosper70its a type 95, and the damn thing isn't even txing. But I'm not from the UK, you crazies have goons for "TV licenses" so nothing would surprise me.
      This is being used as a scanner. Not even an old superhet design that could output some emissions (and thus how radar detector detectors came to be). FCC for. Ham, this is p95 radio and completely fine..disable TX in the firmware entirely if you are that worried.

    • @daytona1212
      @daytona1212 6 місяців тому +3

      @@livelongandprosper70 We have different conditions in the Netherlands. 😉

    • @la7yka
      @la7yka 6 місяців тому +2

      Not really. If modifying this radio to tx out of band, the CE-conformity is no longer valid. This again means that this modified radio can not be sold to or owned by others than radio amateurs. In any way it's not legal to transmit out of the ham bands, as this radio is a ham radio. But I've ordered one, as it can receive airbands and is dirt cheap for the moment.

    • @manyshnooks
      @manyshnooks 6 місяців тому +5

      @@la7yka that's exactly right, it's a ham radio, and subject to part 95. Taken to the extreme, you can build your own superhetrodyne transceivers, no issue, so long as you - as the builder and station operator ensure you're not outputting spurious emissions out of band.
      That said, disabling TX in firmware and permanently locking the bootloader, or if you're super paranoid desoldering or adding a resistor to GND from the RX pin of the UART side of the CH9xxx TTL to USB chip in most of these, you'll ensure it cannot be reversed. You could also just desolder the PTT and the PTT trigger for an external mic on the Kenwood jack if there's one.
      Of course, something like a quansheng out of band, eg in 915mhz puts out something on the order of a few microwatts, as the built in filtering is designed unsurprisingly to be for 70cm and 2m, perhaps with 1.25m for the US and regions that allow it (in VK it is unavailable unfortunately).
      As for air band - not so much quanshengs but the Abbrees often come with no restrictions on out of band tx and can TX on airband no issue at all. As I'm also a licensed pilot and was at the airfield when they were doing their three monthly maint on the surface, lights, etc - we tested to see if it could activate the PAL. Not only could it do so, but even without AM demodulation, by putting it about 300khz out the AFRU read back could be heard. Obviously closed private airfield with maint crew consent (and X markers on the sock), please do not tx on airband unless you have a pilots license and are in an aircraft or are relocating aircraft at an airfield and have done your radiotelephony course. We hear supposed professional pilots "meowing" and acting like morons on 121.5mhz... frustrating as SOP is to set COM2 to guard so you can hear any nearby aircraft in distress at a lower altitude that the FIR controllers can't hear and relay (and also as a fallback if you forget to change freq), which leads to volumes being turned down on the guard radio due to this nonsense.
      There's 11m, the ISM bands and generally country based allocations of small amounts of spectrum for those who don't want to get their ticket but just want access to a radio service, in the US eg GMRS etc, and Australia has repeaters even on its equivalent UHF CB service that works like PMR but in the 470-480mhz band, with I believe a power restriction of about 4-5W, and wideband FM has been grandfathered (channelized as 40 channels) but most are now NFM and are 80 channels with every second channel placed in the "end space" so the freq to channel plan looks a bit wacky. Repeaters are permitted just like GMRS, you just need a license for the repeater site from ACMA (the Australian equivalent of the FCC). We also have *some* of 915mhz available for both LoRa, other hopping digital modes and unfortunately an LIPD exception made so equipment from overseas like car remotes on 433.xx mhz can operate which yes, indeed infringes upon the 70cm allocation, but they decided to ignore the hams.
      73 friend

  • @werxeh
    @werxeh 25 днів тому

    Have you tested this at 446mhz PMR frequencies? I can't test that myself but I'm reluctant to try it if there's a chance if it bleeding most power into a harmonic. I'm guessing it's probably close enough to the intended TX range, but I'd rather know first

  • @Ponyony
    @Ponyony Місяць тому

    What antena is that small one you are using? Is it full band compatible?

  • @MrTeelew
    @MrTeelew 19 днів тому

    Will this thing do usb and lsb in 10 and 11 meter?? Also is there anyone that you know of selling these with software conversion already?? I would love to get a couple of these… thanks for sharing Andy!😎👍🏻

  • @lordcharfield4529
    @lordcharfield4529 5 місяців тому

    A couple of days ago, I left a comment on your channel asking if there was a beginner’s set up video for this radio (are you planning on making one?) , as I bought this from AliExpress on the strength of your video. My comment appears to have been deleted, so I’m posting again in the hope of getting a response. Thank you.

  • @VonBlitzkrieg
    @VonBlitzkrieg 6 місяців тому

    Just ordered one with a CB antenna, which other antennas and accessories should I buy?

  • @dannyboysjkorski6676
    @dannyboysjkorski6676 3 місяці тому +1

    I love the radio in background on 27 megs chicken band LMFARO

  • @SurvivorChronicIes
    @SurvivorChronicIes 2 місяці тому

    Hey Andy, maybe you do see this but how do I find the software to download the cb mods

  • @screennamie
    @screennamie 5 місяців тому

    Wonder if the firm ware will work on the uvk 5 version.

  • @RisingTidesAC
    @RisingTidesAC 6 місяців тому

    What antenna is on that radio? It doesn't look like the stock antenna.