Hero or ZERO?? Abbree AR-869 Signal Check Series

[@anti-corruption-anti-tyranny]

Excellent Honest Review ...Thanks Jim Subbed

[@z-juan4854]

was about to order this. you sir just saved me money. great indept review.

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Glad I could help. It's a shame, the build quality is solid, the display is great, but transmitting on 3 or 4 frequencies at once, not so much.

[@stevencristofero968]

Honest and objective. Cannot ask for more. Good work Jim.

[@CurtTerpstra]

Splatter Master - That gave me the giggles for almost 5 minutes. Thanks for the great line......

[@TheSmokinApe]

Will this radio receive on 3 frequencies at once as well?

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Full frontal triplex - an undocumented "feature"

[@andrehunter1295]

Thanks for the review, glad I saw it.

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Thanks for watching!

[@tharnendil]

Thank you for the professional review!

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Glad it was helpful!

[@A.R.O.T.A.]

In looks I think that's another copy of the Radtel RT-490 quad band TX 6 band receive HT. Like the MMLradio the JC-8629, the JJCC JC-8629, the Socotran JC-8629, the Hamgeek HG590 and the Jianpai 8800 Plus. I wonder if many others of this set of copies have the same issue. I have a Jianpai 8800 Plus I'll let you know.

[@FEPLabsRadio]

It is a copy - matter of fact, I had to hunt down the Radtel CPS to program it with. I never did find "Abbree" labeled CPS. The UHF was clean, but I'm dying to know about other ones. Do I have a one-off? Or, is this endemic to all of the clones?? You can do a test - put yours on 439.6, and key up another radio on 146.52 . if you hear the traffic, same problem as mine.

[@A.R.O.T.A.]

@@FEPLabsRadio I will be doing a review on mine soon and after seeing this video I will also use the TinySA to look for these unwanted signals (sorry I don't have a scope or even know how to use one). I have already found some very useful aspects in the software that could be used to ensure UK legality of transmissions but this does not rule out the spurious emissions that I hope my radio does not have.

[@FEPLabsRadio]

See, that's the cool thing - so I don't know the UK frequecies, but here in the US 146.52 is the 2M calling freq. So any multiple would be where you would see the high output harmonics. so for me, 146.52 x2 (293.04) or 146.2 x3 (439.56) etc. Put another radio on the harmonic frequencies, and see if you hear yourself. No scope!

[@A.R.O.T.A.]

@@FEPLabsRadio Just set my Baofeng UV5r to 439.56 and keyed my Jianpai 8800 Plus on 146.52 into my dumy load. The Baofeng heard it. 😞 So not just a problem with your radio but looks lke it may be a floor in all the copies. The question now is can it be fixed and how to fix it.

[@armenmkrtchyan4865]

@@A.R.O.T.A. I got the same radio. on an SDR dongle, it showed the same problem and even did the same test as you still dose it. but I wonder if it will do it at a distance.

[@lixandruconstantin650]

In Abbree factory they made also Baofeng, Wouxun, Radtel.

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Yes, and that's how I found the CPS for it. Once I figured that out, I found the Radtel CPS, which worked fine on the Abbree

[@DonzLockz]

Dang! It's probably worse than a budget UV-5R Boofwang! Never throw the box away, I'd still send it back, hope it was from Amazon! I should have known it was gonna be bad cause the scope was in view! Haha, cheers Jim. 🍻👍🤓

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Aliexpress - like 2 months ago. Very doubtful they'd take it back. Note to self....

[@DonzLockz]

@@FEPLabsRadio bugger! Thanks for taking a financial hit for the team Jim.💰👍🤓

[@indridcold8433]

@@DonzLockz It was likely only $75 CAN, $79 USD, or £65 GBP. For so affordable, I would go ahead and use it. Maybe it can be given to a new operator as a start, or given to an operator on a tight budget due to financial difficulties. For the price, perfection can not expected. It has its place with hunters, often. I have programmed a few of them for hunters to use. If it takes some damage from outdoor use, there is no big loss. Paintball teams seem to like them a lot as well. Equestrians use them as well. I do not know if they are marketed as water resistant. But, they seem to attract the outdoor enthusiasts a lot.

[@msgrunge87]

Hi, so would you recommend to buy abbree or baofeng?

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Not this abbree radio. Some baofengs are decent, some are not. I have 2 UV-6R radios, that test out perfect.

[@msgrunge87]

@@FEPLabsRadio i’ve buy yaesu ft70de. What do you think about? Thanks

[@KA9DSL]

I've got the same radio, problem: can't find program software for it. Did you have any luck with other programs?

[@FEPLabsRadio]

It's the same radio as a Radtel something or other, and that CPS does with with it. I cannot remember the particular model, but it is exact same radio.

[@KA9DSL]

@@FEPLabsRadio I thank you, Found the working program! Was lost for a bit. 73's

[@Ruprych]

the single important thing that those fetish "spurious emissions" reviews are commonly lacking is a side by side comparison against a famous and expensive radio like yaesu ft3d or at least ft65, during the same session, on the same measuring equipment, the same calibration etc. then and only then would be such a review an objective one.

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Since this is a KZbin channel, and not an NIST lab, pretty sure that showing what a POS radio looks like is close enough. As I've bought every one of the radios tested, I'd say it's pretty god-damned objective. Thanks for watching.

[@TheNoCodeTech]

Abbreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee No yeah, rather figured it'd end up like that. Great video, Beautiful SA.

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Glad you enjoyed it - sometimes those things will surprise you.

[@teamgartz-motorsports6881]

Thank you for the test and review, I will not buy it after watching it.

[@vishnukwp]

thanks

[@ronwolenski-n8wcr]

Thanks Jim. On the outside it looks good, but you really need to look at how it performs, and this one performs lousyly(?)

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Indeed it does. FUll frontal triplex transmitting!

[@chriss7393]

so is the Jianpai the one to get ?

[@FEPLabsRadio]

I haven't got one of those, so I could not tell you. AFAIK - it is the same radio. Take that with a grain of salt.

[@kenmalm6859]

How come the bad reviews always pops up, after i buy the things??

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Brother, ain't that always the way of it?!

[@armenmkrtchyan4865]

I Got one too. Coming in tomorrow 😄

[@OutdoorsTech]

Looks like to me that the radio is really designed for uhf only.

[@FEPLabsRadio]

It's a clinker

[@OutdoorsTech]

@@FEPLabsRadio agreed

[@1OFGODSOWN]

NEVER throw away a Box to radio gear.Use it on 440 and 220 only.I noticed you didn’t test 220 mhz? 😳😵‍💫🎙

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Thesmokinape tells me that all the time! LOL. Didn't even think about 220. There's no 220 anything around here, so just slipped my mind. As bad as this is on 2M, I'd guess 1.25 is probably a dumpster fire as well.

[@chillychurchil5972]

What's bad might be a good for others

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Not really. This radio puts out so many spurious emissions, and it is not FCC certified. The harmonics on it are almost as strong as the primary signal; when you key up, it "transmits" on multiple frequencies at the same time. The electronics inside are terrible. If you use this as a licensed amateur radio operator, you are violating FCC rules, every time you key up. The only purpose I'd use this radio for is an end of the world scenario where that didn't matter. It WILL interfere with normal radio usage of others, every time it keys up.

[@chillychurchil5972]

@@FEPLabsRadio as long as it cheap, i would buy and use...not many people has a goose tht lay golden eggs for them..

[@cesarposadasatamusic]

I wonder how shitty my Aliexpress ht radios really are, yikes! Saludos desde Puerto Rico🇵🇷WP4QCR

[@FEPLabsRadio]

The easy way to test (if you don't have a spec analyzer) is to put another radio on any of the multiples of your frequency. In the video, i was on 439.56 (146.52 X 3). If you have an issue with yours, and you hear yourself on a harmonic freq....

[@IonorRea]

Well, these Socotran FB-8629 clones/derivates often claim on sites like Aliexpress that they are having frequency hopping function like some discontinued Motorolas for the civilian market (showed on some HAM channels) thus allowing a form of encryption without encryption loopholing the US communication laws for civilians, not sure if these clones actually have that ability or it's just a lie to hide poor signal purity.

[@FEPLabsRadio]

It has nothing to do with frequency hopping or encryption. The harmonics from the primary signal are strong enough to be recieved on their own frequency. The radio is a piece of crap.

[@IonorRea]

​@@FEPLabsRadio I understand that, I was just interested if claimed frequency hopping function in Socotran clones is really working when selected or if its just an excuse to fool people seeing VHF signal impurity.

[@HOAHamRadio]

Yikes! Nice demonstration Jim.

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Yeah - Bob, in this case, I was just floored at how awful it was. I tested with it a lot off-camera to make sure I wasn't caught in a drug-induced fugue, or a time-loop. that thing is hot garbage.

[@pc4ad]

Wow, that's incredibly bad Jim. Thanks for the review - I guess that's a brand to stay far away from when it comes to radio's for the (at least) near future. Maybe inform the FCC about this or is this considered 'grey import' ?

[@FEPLabsRadio]

It is by far the worst radio I've ever seen. I was really shocked when I saw that.

[@wushock92]

Why on Earth would Abree put their name on a crappy piece of gear? That could be harmful to an otherwise respected brand.

[@FEPLabsRadio]

This was the worst piece of gear I've ever owned, spec wise.

[@ZzedZed]

its looks quite neet, but f------k those harmonics!!

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Right? Solid build, but that thing squeals louder than a 5 yr old who didn't get candy.

[@raymondbruns3291]

At 70cm its ok.

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Yeah - better filters at those frequencies. VHF is absolutely horrid. This is the *WORST* VHF signal I've ever seen on a commercial product.

[@indridcold8433]

It is cheap. It does the job. That is good enough. However, if it were a $500, it would be very disappointing and even angering. But for the price, I would get it.

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Yeah, it's cheap. So is a Baofeng UV-6R that doesn't splatter all over the band. This radio just makes interference like crazy. The point is not to pick on a cheap radio, the point is that this radio is junk. Keying up transmits your signal across about 5 harmonics. Powerful enough for someone to easily copy you by tuning to a harmonic. Which means it's a violation of Part 97, and could will interfere with other radio transmissions. As in splattering all over a repeater, public safety, etc. I'm not opposed to cheap radios. I have 2 UV6R's, and they are solid, cheap radios. No splatter. The Abbree is just the most terrible HT i've ever seen.

[@indridcold8433]

@@FEPLabsRadio If I find myself getting a license, I will avoid it. It would seem that harmonic issue is also wasting power in bad harmonic signal that does not need to be there, instead of where all the power should be. That could be power directed at the proper signal output.

[@dimebagtribute]

All the Baofeng, Abbree and TYT radios I tested had the same issue... I don't think you can expect more from a cheap chinese radio!

[@FEPLabsRadio]

I've not tested all of mine, but I do have 2 UV-6R that are clean. That abbree was the worst I'd ever seen.

[@TheWorldRealist]

I have heard nothing but praise from Hams on the UV5r and it’s derivatives. I have one and it’s fine

[@dimebagtribute]

@@TheWorldRealist Because you didn't test if it was clean or not... All transmit on at least 3 harmonics, and I don't speak about the side bands transmissions...!!!

[@texasyojimbo]

@@FEPLabsRadio indeed. I can understand hams looking the other way if the harmonics are down "only" 30 dB instead of 40 dB, even if it isn't FCC compliant it probably isn't causing harmful interference. But 3dB is nowhere near acceptable. This is in a whole different category of "junk"!