Ape Answers 009: Buying Chinese Radios

[@martinunger9545]

Great video. I am thinking of buying a G90 and like the fact I can buy it from a reputable dealer. I also considered the Q900 but the distribution channels are scary. Now, I am rethinking the whole thing and started considering what I can buy used for $400 - $500 from a "big 3" brand.

[@TheSmokinApe]

A big three in that range is going to be 15 years old at a minimum unless you get a heck of a deal.

[@martinunger9545]

@@TheSmokinApe You are right. But I could be happy with a quality 15-year-old rig. I left ham radio for 60 years but back then I only had WWII surplus and well-used equipment. For an old rag chewer like me, it would be fine.

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@martinunger9545 I just wanted to point that out, best of luck finding a rig and getting back on the air 👍

[@Mary-wk6of]

Awesome! Thank you so much The Smokin Ape☺️

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@Mary-wk6of thanks for watching Mary 👍

[@JimAndyAllyn]

In defense of the Chinese radios, I will say that Baofeng and others made it possible for a lot of people to get a VHF/UHF handie talkie who otherwise might not have. And spending more money doesn't necessarily mean you get a better radio. I have a 60 dollar Baofeng DMR HT that outlived two 300 dollar Anytone DMR HTs. The Baofeng HT is based on the same radio-on-a-chip the Anytone is based on, and some Motorola HTs also use that same chip. Also, if I happen to drop and lose an HT while I'm biking, hiking, or whatever, I'd much rather lose a 30 dollar radio than a 300 dollar radio, so guess which radio goes hiking and biking with me? I have also given a number of cheap Chinese radios to family and friends when they expressed an interest in ham radio (or public service radio scanning). Long live cheap Chinese radios!

[@TheSmokinApe]

The Ambe Vocoder might be the same chip…. But that’s where the similarities end.

[@RhettSparrow]

The yaesu ft-4xr is only 95 usd. Just saying.

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@RhettSparrow right

[@JimAndyAllyn]

@@RhettSparrow And the Baofeng is only 25 USD, or less. And I recently bought Quanshengs for about 18 USD, shipped. For those on a budget, Yaesu's not going to cut it, not when the same money will buy 4 Baofengs or 5 Quanshengs. Just saying.

[@RhettSparrow]

@@JimAndyAllyn i have no issues anybody buying anything. I just meant for slightly more, you can indeed get one of the better quality Japanese big three and the jump is not that high. If i had mentioned Yaesu’s top end model at 400 then yes it’s a huge jump from 25. But hey whatever rocks your boat.

[@talkpodtech]

Thank you for sharing, Ape.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@redeyegooner]

I think it's the same with most electronics/tech these days, it's nearly all made in China. It just comes down to aftersales care service, warranties, returns etc, which are much easier and more straightforward with a known brand, that's what you're really paying the extra for imho. I *really* like the Wolf RS998 transceiver, it appears to be everything I want, but I'll probably end up getting a ft710 just because if I have any problems at all it's not going to be difficult to solve them.

[@TheSmokinApe]

I think I agree Redeye, thanks for watching 👍

[@tatermang]

Yep folks have no problem dropping a grand for an iPhone made in China, I’m ok with Chinese made radios as long as they perform well.

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@tatermang #true

[@risingequinox3093]

The return policy for a 28 dollar radio is the garbage can. The service policy is buy a new one. I know what it's like not to be able to buy a 30 dollar pizza but once a month I can buy one or skip it and buy a new 10 watt 3 band radio

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@risingequinox3093 instant gratification vs investment?

[@ArcticBlues1]

Good Job! Thank You :)

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks AB 👍

[@KS0JD]

Spot on Ape! I have a mixture of both Chinese and Japanese radios. As well as some made in Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam etc. As with anything, Buyer Beware! do your research! Thanks for the video! 73

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for watching Jeff, glad you liked it 👍

[@KO4VNX]

okay, this is really on point. I have a few Chinese-made HTs that do what they say, don't spray across the spectrum, and have lasted me for two years of my abuse!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks DeWayne, glad you liked it 👍

[@pnowikow]

I can always count on you for the facts. Thanks Ape

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@KC5TGTRadiosNMore]

Thanks for the perspective Ape! For me it often boils down to -> what do I want to do with the radio. Taking into consideration the manufactures reputation, radio capabilities and price. Sometimes I'd rather buy once and cry once to get a really decent radio. Other times depending on the use case a cheap burner radio is the way to go. Never hurts to do the research up front.

[@TheSmokinApe]

I’d agree with all that, thanks for watching bro 👍

[@josemiguelmunoz6985]

I'm thinking about buying a RS-918 and an Outback 2000 multiband portable antenna for QRPing in mobile. Do you think I will get good results?

[@KD0RC]

Same things can be said about some of the gear that comes out of eastern Europe. I got a really cheap 2 meter transverter from Ukraine. Works great. Pollutes the air with huge second and third harmonics as well as LO (116MHz) bleed through. I found a good band pass filter at a hamfest last week and now it is clean as a whistle. Other gear from that part of the world is top notch - you get what you pay for.

[@TheSmokinApe]

I’d agree

[@bassangler73]

The B Tech you showed looks exactly like my AnyTone 878UVii + ....Probably the same radio for $150 less! Thanks, Ape!

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@bassangler73 they are pretty much the same, both made by Anytone

[@imxploring]

Some of these Chinese HT radios are surprisingly pretty good. For knock around event radios they get the job done.

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@imxploring I’d agree

[@Thump2030]

Good video Ape.

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@Thump2030 thanks Thump 👍

[@jeremyhunter1459]

I bought a quad band JJCC JC-8629. Haven't received it yet. Hopefully it's not too bad.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Good luck with it 👍

[@Rusty-Williams]

I have a Quansheng UV-K5 radio and it's perfect for my intended use. I use it solely as a weather alert radio, I DO NOT TX on it.

[@TheSmokinApe]

👍

[@germanjohn5626]

I have 2 of them, they are actually clean and there is no problem with using them for its intended purpose.

[@risingequinox3093]

I bought my kid's 1st grade class 20 baofeng radios to play with at recess. I told the teacher just to tell the voices on the radio yelling about license and such that the kids don't need no stinking licenses. I showed the kids how to turn on the roger beeps so they could beep a lot. They all seem to be having fun all for less than one big 3 ham producer radio cost. Best 400 bucks I've spent.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Glad to see you “helping”

[@jaym1301]

I'm old enough to still remember when Made in Japan meant cheap, shoddy goods that didn't last long. Ten years later we were getting Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha motorcycles; Toyota and Datsun small, fuel-efficient cars; and Sony, Panasonic and Toshiba consumer electronics all of which soon dominated the market. I think China's going through that same transition from cheap crap to good stuff. I have three Chinese radios and they're all okay radios. My LANCHONLH HG-78UV FM/APRS HT is probably my favorite HT in fact. The other two are Retevis branded, an RT3S DMR HT (with OpenGD77 on it) and an RT95 25W FM mini mobile that are both quite good. The RT95 is also sold as the Anytone AT-778UV and may be made by Anytone for all I know. I don't know who makes the RT3S but my guess is TYT, ex-"Tytera."

[@TheSmokinApe]

As long as people keep buying the cheap China radios, there is no incentive to change

[@mostlypostie1]

Qixiang (Anytone) in China are making some excellent quality products - many of the Radioddity/President/Cobra/CRT branded radios are made by Qixiang - and they are doing work for some of the "big 3" as well. 73

[@TheSmokinApe]

Yep, that sounds about right.

[@nine7295]

Interesting that my FT-4XR, bought from MTC in Texas, was made in Japan (just the radio, the accessories were mostly made in China). But some 4XR were made in China also. But they are the same. Very strange.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Yeah, it’s my understanding and I could be wrong that the early models were made in Japan.

[@hughpatterson1480]

Absolutely great video! I work with a lot of Chinese made radios (ha ha since that is most radios) and my Xeigu G90 is a great radio for the price point. However, they need to keep higher standards with some of their other models. That firmware upgrade can be frightening for someone with little experience in upgrades. I use the Quansheng because it allows me to experiment with firmware and hardware hacks. If something goes wrong, I'm out $24.95. The smart Chinese radio manufacturers have been improving their products much in the way Japan did in the electronics market. I suspect people would be surprised at how much of what we use in made in China. Personally,, I don't care where it was made (within reason) as long as it works and it complies with the regulations. With radios I modify, I'm a little more forgiving about spurious emissions because I'm using it for experimentation purposes. Thanks again for setting the record straight...73...Hugh...KN6KNB

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Hugh, thanks for watching 👍

[@johnwest7993]

iPhones are made in China. They are not only radios, they are sophisticated, numerous band, full-duplex radios. And people are willing to drop over $1000 on what is essentially a China-made HT. Are there better rigs being made in either the US or Japan? Nope. But when you buy a $17 HT from a Chinese mail-order company that lists the supplier as a PO box in a business park somewhere in China, and the only info is what you see in the photo ad that misspells words and says 2 things that disagree with one another, things like "Perfect for HF - Covers 2 meter and 70cm ham bands," you get what you pay for.

[@TheSmokinApe]

💯

[@HamRadioN0CKL]

Why doesnt the new Kenwood TH-D75 have such a hard time or not connecting at all to Bluetooth earbuds? Sees my new samsung buds pro 3 but wont connect. Alot are having the same issue with other bluetooth headsets. Understandable that they wont to apple low e bluetooth...but android also!?

[@TheSmokinApe]

No idea 🤷

[@DonzLockz]

Well said Mr Ape.👍

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Don

[@vk5ukkklaus386]

I have 3 Quansheng UV-K5r 2 Quansheng UV-K6 I bought these because they were cheep, had to sell my first lot of radio's and equipment due to a serious illness, over coming that I have decided to get back into radio, stating of cheep , running different firmware

[@rongibbs1778]

Can you explain why, if an HT at 5 watts tries to connect to a mobile radio at 30 plus watts over a long distance, ( is successful), is it because your producing 30 watts on transmission, then 30 watts on reception

[@TheSmokinApe]

I’m confused by the question

[@OldSloGuy]

From years ago, I remember a TV program that examined Walmart's Chinese buying operation. This case was a digital camera that was made under contract for Walmart. There was a segment where they showed government inspectors going into camera shops and confiscating these cameras because they didn't meet minimum quality standards for sale in the domestic market. It seems that some of these cameras were somehow diverted into the domestic market. The take away was that Walmart was importing cameras that were illegal to sell in China. Walmart simply advertised for vendors who could meet their price points. Many took the bait and knowingly lost money on the first round to get their foot in the door. Walmart was only interested in price and their was always someone else who would take the bait. The take away is mostly in knowing the acquisition path and if duress was involved. China is still the wild west in terms of commerce practices. In other words, beware of middle men.

[@TheSmokinApe]

I’ve heard similar stories about Walmart, thanks for the comments OSG 👍

[@HOAHamRadio]

It needs to be said, and amateurs need to be educated with facts so they can make informed decisions; thanks Ape.

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@HOAHamRadio thanks Bob 👍

[@don_n5skt]

The big 4 -- Kenwood, Yeasu, Icom and Alinco. We established that in the 90s. 😎 And you own a radio made in Russia 😉 But I have 2 radios made in Russia and they work.

[@TheSmokinApe]

lol, thanks Don 👍

[@imtall31]

Is the 6x2 pro worth the extra $90 over the normal 6x2?

[@TheSmokinApe]

I haven’t gotten the pro yet 👍

[@robertmeyer4744]

YES ! Buyer BeWare !! After testing many HT radios, Their all over from clean to dirty . Enen in a 2 pack. 1 may be good. outher dirty. Can test 2 different power levels. Sometimes the radio sent to FCC for cert. is not the radio you got. Bait and switch. Also some are part 15 . We can use them BUT for amanture radio part 97 will be on us. If is 97 cert. then it is on them. Comes down test that HT . Remember part of amanture radio lience the part 97 is on us. This is a question on the test . 73

[@TheSmokinApe]

Right, buyer beware. Thanks for watching Robert 👍

[@sekibulja-fu3bv]

People are pathetic and speak out of their arse. Thank god there are people with good knowledge to put them in place. Nothing wrong with Chinese products. Thank you for another fantastic video!

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@sekibulja-fu3bv glad you liked it 👍

[@sekibulja-fu3bv]

@@TheSmokinApe I must admit smoking ape that you are penicillin for stupid people! Thank you for your educative and informative videos!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Haha, thank you 👍

[@N2EWSRadio]

You can always look up an FCC ID, but even an authentic FCC ID doesn't mean much (nothing, in fact, in most cases).

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@N2EWSRadio I’d agree

[@MrMudsHamRadioTime]

Great vid Ape! I don’t have all the testing equipment like you but enjoy walking around the house and seeing what I can turn on and off with my fine China. 😂

[@TheSmokinApe]

Haha 👍

[@hazer72]

I say shé gue with a french flair 😀

[@TheSmokinApe]

Haha, I knew it!

[@kchaney56]

I think that for most folks the problem is a $50 radio vs a $500 radio.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Do you have an example where that’s the case?

[@kchaney56]

@@TheSmokinApe When I started I chose the unlockable $50 radio so I could experiment without buying say a Yaseu which cannot be unlocked and the cost for it was VERY high. Now I know that an unlocked radio does not perform as good as the dedicated unlockable Yaesu or Kenwood but for getting started I wanted max flexibility. As I watched videos I noticed that many HAM's had a LOT of radio's, seemed like one for each freq. range. I look to own the most flexible radio.

[@BigJohnsHamShack]

Surprisingly, none of my testing equipment required nation of origin during testing. The radio either works well and within legal limitations, or it doesn't. Simple as that. When you buy a radio outside of the big three, you are definitely taking a chance. The big three perform quality assurance as you stated which will insure a good radio. Quality assurance is expensive, which is one of the reasons why smaller enterprises can sell at a lower price.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Totally agree, thanks for the comment Big John 👍

[@btraindavidlemke312]

Why I watch videos, to see if a radio is worthwhile, or not. As you said,Ape, We need to be vigilant on what we get. If a radio cannot perform that, it needs to be told to everyone, that this radio is garbage. Buyer beware.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Agreed David, thanks for watching 👍

[@gtrs4ever]

I had a bad experience buying directly from Retevis, it cost $90 to send back via USPS. Do not buy directly from China, buy from a Stateside company that will guaranty a return or full refund.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Yeah, the shipping back to China can be brutal

[@Hank_W6IR]

Apple products are made in China. The monitor you're watching Ape's videos on was more than likely made in China. The downfall with the Chinese HT's is in the design. Pretty much all of them could be fixed by better filter design at the output. But then the price rises accordingly.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hank is correct 👍

[@hazer72]

Aliexpress is reputable 👍😀

[@TheSmokinApe]

Lol

[@WECB640]

I own three old Kenwood transceivers. TS-440, TS0830 and a TH-28A. I also own several Icom IC-706MKIIG radios. They are all made in JAPAN not China. Each one works properly and are repairable even to this day despite the 40+ years on the old Kenwoods. Only time will tell if those made in China will have the same track record. I have my doubts.

[@TheSmokinApe]

I tend to agree Hollywood, that said to me it more about who is peddling the radio not where it’s built.

[@WECB640]

@@TheSmokinApe Agreed. It's about the quality control and business ethics, not the origin of manufacture. Keep up the good work bro.

[@jeromemckenna7102]

I have the ftm-300 anyone who is disappointed because it was made in China is foolish. It is an excellent radio.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Agreed

[@kirkwalsh1932]

I picked up some Tidradio's for around the farm. They all work great, and have a good sound quality. I won't be crying too hard if I run one over with the tractor and bush hog.

[@germanjohn5626]

Generally, you get what you paid for, there are great Chinese radios that are well within the FCC specs like some of Revetis and Quancheng. It is always the ham operators responsibility to make sure what he uses is legal. I remember having a Kenwood 222 radio that was terrible not even close to being legal. So to say the big 3 are great and the rest is crap is a very ignorant mindset. actually Quancheng has a huge radio factory manufacturing mostly commercial and military radios.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Fair points, thanks John 👍

[@StealthGTI]

A few Elmers in my club take exception to the term "Big Three" in the radio world. They're Anytone fans. My answer to them is "China is perfectly capable of making quality when it's demanded and we pay for it. Otherwise, blame the frugal American consumer for cheap Chinese stuff, electronics or otherwise." Anyway, what are your thoughts on Anytone vs. the Big Three? I refuse to buy one in order to find out. 🤣I like my Yaesus and Icom radios. If Anyone is good enough to start using the term "Big Four," I'll still use the term "Top Three" to exclude them. 😜Wait, maybe I'll take that back because I think Alinco probably has better products than Anytone. Oooh! Shots fired! 73! -Scott

[@EvanK2EJT]

And therein lies the rub. The Chinese are VERY capable of producing exceptionally high quality products. We, as consumers, just aren't willing to pay for them as a general rule. I have two Starrett dial calipers. One US made, the other Chinese made. The Chinese caliper is nicer in every regard. Still made by Starrett, in a Starrett factory, to Starrett standards, but it was less expensive than the US built unit, and has no plastic parts (unlike the US variant). If I remember correctly, the US caliper was around $160 and the Chinese one was around $130, give or take a few bucks. Quality costs money, regardless of where it was made. Chinese doesn't equal junk. Junk equals junk, regardless of country of origin. We're perfectly capable of turning out absolute garbage here in the US too. Blame the cheapskates who buy the crap, not the companies that produce it.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Well put Evan 👍

[@TheSmokinApe]

I agree with your top three assessment GTI 👍

[@nine7295]

I fell on the floor with my Icom IC-92AD on one side of my belt and an Anytone AT-D878UV on the other side. The LCD cracked inside the D878, but the 92AD was unharmed. Luckily I fell in an urban environment. If I had fallen in a rural area and I relied on one radio to call for help, then maybe the Anytone won't cut it (it will work, just getting hard to see over the next few months. Eventually I replaced the full front case with the LCD module.). So there's no perfect radio. The Anytone is a good radio, but the 92AD is MIL spec (STD 810 iirc).

[@BrokenSignal]

You should always judge a radio based on...well, the radio! I always laugh at the online statements claiming all Chinese products are bad. I wonder if they know they are typing those statements into a Chinese device that connects to the internet through a Chinese router and modem. An internet that is going through Chinese switches and etc. too a Chinese server? Oh the irony!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Don’t forget the ham is probably take medicine made in China

[@BrokenSignal]

@@TheSmokinApe 😮 Scary when you think about it

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@BrokenSignal yeah

[@AndyAAzeroAM]

Kinda begs the question.. what radios do the Chinese use. Be it amateur, police, fire or whatever

[@TheSmokinApe]

Prolly Japanese 🤣

[@AndyAAzeroAM]

@@TheSmokinApe 😆

[@mikedodds7547]

I wouldn't be surprised to see a batwing logo either 🤣

[@mikesradiorepair]

As I frequently tell people, the Chinese can make things as well as the Swiss, Germans, Americans, etc..... Problem is if you get something made to those standards your going to pay top dollar for it. China is the place to go if you want something cheaply made that "does the job". Cheap labor and slave like work conditions get you that cheap widget you just can't live without. Will it work next year, 5 years from now or even 30, doubtful. If you are old enough you will remember that Japan use to be the cheap junk manufacturer back in the day. Eventually the same thing is going to happen with Chinese products. Their quality will improve, prices will go up and you will see manufacturing of those cheap junk widgets move to the next cheap labor pool country. Probably the African continent or India.

[@LeeMcc_KI5YPR]

Chinese factories will build to specification. Usually. For example, normally we do not think to specify "no lead paint" on children's toys, but it's necessary in China. My former employer uses Malaysia a bunch. High quality work.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Agreed Mike 👍

[@Zach-sg5uu]

Why would you care if a radio is “legal” I don’t care if something is legal as long as you can get away with it & it doesn’t hurt anybody!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Some people do care and given how easy it is to use a legal radio why not?

[@Zach-sg5uu]

@@TheSmokinApe Which radio would be illegal anyway? The government tells you something illegal and then they do it or allow others to do it! I don’t believe illegal means morally wrong!!

[@daniell8387]

Cost is the only reason I don't have a yaesu or kenwood.

[@TheSmokinApe]

It’s a valid reason, thanks for watching Daniell 👍

[@BBaldwin]

Save your money and forgo some instant gratification.

[@daniell8387]

@@BBaldwin I've got three kids and we bought a house two years ago, it's either instant gratification or no gratification lol. I've been trying to save up for an icom 7300 since I got my tech ticket in 2019, and every time something comes up, usually in the context of having to pay out of pocket for my kid's ADHD meds, a car dying, heating oil being more expensive than anticipated and other emergency expenses. I'm content with my Chinese garbage for now. What I will say though is we are being fleeced by the amateur radio equipment industry. Those radios don't have to be as expensive as they are.

[@GG-vx7gi]

Buying from a company with a US presence in important too. I have a couple of mobiles from Chinese companies a Tyt and an Anytone. Purchased from R&L Electronics.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Yeah, that’s a good point.

[@Susan-h9z]

"Made in China"..anyone ever take these apart and look for listening devices, etc.????

[@TheSmokinApe]

I’m very talented a few apart but don’t know what I’m looking for…

[@MrSabram07]

" why bother with CCP?" thats a silly question

[@oldfartonabmx2122]

Last 2 Chinese HTs I bought were duds. Once bitten twice shy. Not touching their stuff again.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Did radios are a bummer

[@bryantwalley]

I bought some Chinese stuff. Had buttons and knobs and everything.

[@TheSmokinApe]

lol, thanks for watching Bryant 👍

[@RhettSparrow]

It had knobs too!? Oh maen

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@RhettSparrow 😮

[@bryantwalley]

@@RhettSparrow yea man. The little Chinese kid that talks to me when I turn it on kinda freaks me out though. I'm not sure if she recorded a rescue message of something but I can't understand it.

[@RhettSparrow]

@@bryantwalley rofl. That would be a far fetched escape strategy! Jokes apart, my Baofang, tidradio only spoke to me in English on arrival. Though I see chinese in the language options. Got all of them from amazon.

[@carypeaden4147]

Your video was informative. I knew that Baofeng, Xiegu, and a bunch of other companies were based in China, but I thought that Kenwood radios were mostly made in the UK, and Yaesu and Icom were mostly made in Japan. It is a shame (and a huge economic vulnerability) that so much manufacturing is now consolidated in Communist China.

[@TheSmokinApe]

And don’t forget that parts and components come from China too 😮

[@paulziminskin2ghr282]

You get what you pay for, I will not own a chinese radio, I don't agree sending money to the Country that wants to own the world ..and you

[@LeeMcc_KI5YPR]

C'mon, Ape. That 6x2 is useless. How can a DMR radio be anything else?!? 🤮

[@TheSmokinApe]

You wrong son, wrong…

[@SendLead]

@@TheSmokinApe Agreed, DMR is radio

[@CamilleCullen-ow6qj]

I would never buy a Chinese branded radio. First of all most of them are crap. Second, I don't like giving money to our military enemy. Robert K5TPC

[@holotape]

ALL MY BAOFENGS ARE MADE IN THE USA 🇺🇸🦅🫡

[@dougdaniels]

Two areas of concern with Chinese radios. First, the political/economic issue. Everyone needs to make that decision on their own. Second is the firmware and software going through your computer. That may or may not be a potential problem. Both of these are a no-go at this station. YMMV.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Fair points Doug 👍

[@roguepilot1]

Stop! The point is we should always try to buy American when possible. When it’s not possible we need to buy from our allies. We should NEVER buy from our Enemies!!!!!!!!! Why is this complicated??!!

[@someguy782]

h