An Amazing All Band Radio Scanner & Transceiver That You Can't Buy

[@electrocity2000]

I have a ZT-2R+. Basically it's a ZT-2R with a slightly redesigned body, but it's the same radio inside. This device is really a Yaesu VX-2R - an exact copy at that. I have no idea if the radio was manufactured under license by Zastone, but assume it was. Yaesu likely sold the technology to Zastone, given it was old tech at this point, even in 2014. Is it a good radio? Well, no, the VX-2R/ZT-2R/+ has an enormous frequency coverage, but has a front-end as wide as a barn door. The radio is easily overloaded and suffers spurs. The speaker is tiny, and no surprise that it also sounds tinny. I paid around £50 for it in circa 2014. On paper, the specs seem fantastic, but it's just not up to anything to any adequate standard. I won't ever get rid of it due to it's rarity, but I will also never use it.

[@Eken-Eken]

I would like to ad to that that the filtering when you transmit is appalling. I have the + and did some tests it on a spectrum analyser and on the 70CM it has a nice 2nd harmonic that can b received from a good distance while the original Baofeng UV-5RA does not.

[@MirlitronOne]

Almost certainly the Zastone came out of the back door of the Chinese factory making the VX-2Rs for Yaesu, without the brand label and with little or no quality control. There are three Chinese factories that make 90% of the world's microphones, and cut-price clones of the branded microphones, coming off the same production line, come out of a different door and are re-branded by other companies. Most of them are every bit as good as the expensive branded versions - ask me how I know. 😁

[@AaronsLyfe]

Still own my VX-2R, probably one of the best HT's ever. Also about one of the most useful tools I have ever used for tracking down household RFI

[@digitalmediafan]

Hmm still got my Yaesu VX 2R which I've taken with me to Australia and Russia years ago.. I think probably Yaesu did make a fuss hence why it was taken off all the sites...

[@n3ka]

These were great little radios for the price.. I have one zastone zr2’s I really only used it for 2m and 440, it’s out of band receiver wasn’t amazing and I had other options… however the nice thing is that they were standard cellphone batteries, so you could grab replacements off ebay for a few bucks :)

[@oliverw.douglas285]

Another radio, albeit a touch older, & with a slightly different frequency range, but arguably just as good was the Icom IC-Q7A. It ran off of 2 AA Batteries, & had a triple conversion receiver. I have two of them, & they are a solid radio, even by today's standards.

[@mark6uk]

I still have two VX2E, cracking compact receiver with tx capability.

[@Phil-M0KPH]

Interesting radio, which was probably subject to a cease and desist notice from Yaesu legal team.

[@wolfenstein6676]

I've been wanting to get into the hand-held radio world, mate, so I've been looking at the Baofeng radios, like most folk do. The one I like the look of is the Baofeng UV-82 HP because it's 8 watts and seems to be waterproof. You can also add a battery pack to it for longer transmission, you can boost the signal with an antenna upgrade and I was wondering what you thought of this model?

[@shockadellick]

@Wolf kzbin.info/www/bejne/iarYmZ-ig99riKM

[@wolfenstein6676]

@@shockadellick Thanks for the reply, mate, but I've looked at that model already and it's not as good as the 'Baofeng UV-82 HP'.

[@MI7DJT]

Check out the Retevis RT3S @Wolf

[@wolfenstein6676]

@@MI7DJT Thanks, JT, I'll take a look at it.

[@stephengunrunnerhanson3550]

I had two of the Yaesu and never had the clone but a great video Lewis take care untill the next video . I would like to get my hands on a zastava radio it would be good on PMR.

[@danielwilder7835]

I’d love one of these as well

[@kenharvey9714]

I found them advertised on Alibaba, but when I checked, they have no stock!

[@paulmorrey733]

Thanks Lewis

[@markd5063]

Hi Lewis. I wondered if you might make a recommendation as to a stepless or as near as possible stepless wide band radio that covers AM FM and also SSB. I'm looking for something definitely handheld,with a good backlight and backlit keys. Not sure how much I want to spend, but, I've watched a lot of your posts, and have been messing around with radios even before 27/81 was a thing. I suspect you do get quite a lot of mails and replies, but would definitely appreciate some help.

[@mickstermouseter7059]

Is there anything like this radio available today?

[@VK9TOM]

Keep up the radio videos enjoying looking at all the different radios you get your hands on 73 Tom VK3FTOM

[@jeff420sparky8]

what is the equal today? i own baofeng uv5r dm-1701

[@alessandroconcas]

I've got the vx8 clone from zastone, was a great radio for money but not waterproof even if was ip68rated so it died under rain in offroad adventure... worth all the money but now import tax (and not anymore production) make no more a bargain same thing for the beautiful zastone 9000 (icom 2820 less dstar)

[@deeiks12]

Can you recommend a cheaper handheld radio that could talk on analog UHF and CB both? Ideally VHF as well but that's not that important for my use case.

[@Superfandangoo]

There isn't one that can tx on both those bands the frequencies need different hardware, cb handhelds have a terrible range

[@88njtrigg88]

Sawtroon.

[@realmjaggzz1011]

Does anyone have a fm uplink for Leeds and Bradford airport for my uv-5r

[@madcarew5168]

Chinese?? And they bowed to a patent infringement ..the Party must have had a word!!

[@MirlitronOne]

The Party orders it.

[@Team-fabulous]

They are for sale on Aliexpress but I wouldn't trust that site...

[@charlottebelmont9657]

I have one two

[@markg6jvy135]

👍👏👏

[@tonystephen6312]

You mean narrow band FM not wide!

[@RingwayManchester]

No I mean wideband… that’s why I said it

[@tonystephen6312]

@@RingwayManchester thought you implied 2m + 70cm which is nbfm - sorry.

[@RingwayManchester]

No wideband as in it covers a wide areas either side of the amateur bands

[@wisteela]

Crikey!

[@robduncan599]

'They were that good ,but never arrived ' ? So not that good ? Or too good to be true at that price ? A bit like Brexit with promise of no downside, and only considerable upside? Only we get Brexcrement.