Quansheng UV-K5 or UV-K6? What is the difference? What changed?

[@jim6425]

I bought one of the uv-k5(8) radios and it was also terrible on the air band. However, when I changed to the egzumer firmware, the air band sounded just like my hand-held scanner. It is a big improvement!

[@mazzen79]

What exactly the egzumer firmware changes?

[@TrevorPidgeon]

@@mazzen79 Opens the radio up - well worth it

[@AliciaBritton-c7h]

Celestine Junctions

[@peterwaine923]

The 3rd party firmware patches cure the AM air-band receiver quality quite remarkably.

[@hughpatterson1480]

I love these radios. Airband was something I wanted but you're right: Out of the box isn't good. The big selling point was the ability to mod the software and through a Mod (someone else's mod). I was able to improve the airband reception. A lot of guys in my radio club don't like Chinese radios. However, I hear them complain about their expensive radios breaking down, while my Chinese radios last a lot longer and do a lot more.

[@awdtw]

Yeah. Where I am the HAM / Radio clubs are gatekept by old blokes with really expensive gear who talk down to you. Kinda like the smaller shooting ranges actually hahaha

[@thebear6751]

If you do a firmware update it will clear it up

[@hlessiavedon]

​@@awdtw get a repeater set up and make your own club that is more geared towards younger and newer hams.

[@dazzp2]

For £12 I'd say it's excellent out of the box

[@chublez]

I mean it's good fer the cost of a big cup of coffee. You're kidding yerself if you think it's on par with ft5dr though or that my yaesu is breaking all the time?😅 delusions my freind.

[@fittoat9261]

So after way too many sleepless nights, and hours of listening .... I have reached the following conclusion: IF YOU PUT A PROPERLY TUNED ANTENNA FOR AIRBAND (and if it is outdoors - even better) THEN AIRBAND RECEPTION IS VERY ACCEPTABLE! The K6 DOES have slightly better audio than the K5! (And is better looking) The 18-1300MHz Firmware Mod is interesting, but does not fit my needs right now, so back to original firmware. Maybe might try again in the future. Thank you for suggestions and ides! Keep them coming! They help everybody. However, I DID the Piotr22 upgrades to the firmware, and it works very well on BOTH versions!

[@daytona1212]

Rotterdam airport is 20,5 km away from my home and I can recieve the tower and some of the planes too. Not very loud and with some noise in the signal. I use the standard UV-K5 antenna.

[@R4002]

There are lots of quality VHF aircraft band antennas out there. Smiley Antenna has some excellent airband antennas. Another often overlooked company is Childs Antenna Co. Like Smiley, they make quality products and the tuning is done by hand on an individual product basis. I have a Childs 3DB-5/8 VHF 5/8 wave mobile antenna (NMO mount) and I emailed Bruce Childs asking for it to be cut for 145.0 MHz at the factory. No problem, he said. So out of the box it gives me 1.2 or less over the whole 144-148 MHz band. For base station listening, your best bet is something like the Tram 1181 (“field tunable” whip with a NMO mount - comes cut for 118 MHz from the factory). Mount that bad boy on a ground plane kit with NMO mounting and put it outside. A real 25 to 1300 MHz discone will also do the trick (quite well). For mobile use, the Hustler HQM and MRM-B magnetic mount antennas are good options too. The HQM comes cut for 130 MHz or so from the factory. There are actually several mobile antennas (1/2 waves, 5/8 waves) that are sold as 136-174 MHz antennas but when you get them out of the box the whip is cut for 130 MHz, 132 MHz, something like that. So leaving the whip super long would work decently well (for airband reception).

[@noimnotarobotcanubeleiveit7024]

did you do firmware mod on the new version? i hear it dont work

[@fittoat9261]

@@R4002 thank you for that information!!! Helps everyone!!

[@fittoat9261]

@@noimnotarobotcanubeleiveit7024 yes you can update firmware on the newer one. Works fine!

[@secretsquirrel7788]

after firmware update am fix the air band is just great

[@92pavelow]

I tuned my K5 to our local airport ATIS and compared it to my D-808 on the same frequency. ATIS came in clear on both radios. The voice on the K5 had a higher pitch but wasn’t “scratchy”. 🤷‍♂️

[@fittoat9261]

I have read both good and bad reports on the Airband. I am not sure if it has to do with quality control in production? Glad yours is good though!

[@Tamlin73]

Is it no one that thinks about that the original antenna can be garbage? New software and a better antenne will fix about all problems :) 73 from Norway.

[@ocsrc]

If you can load a modified firmware and get the full 800 and 900 MHz band reception that would be incredible

[@DeloresCastillo-k1d]

Young William Jones Mark Rodriguez Susan

[@derbemobile]

EGZUMER firmware has AM fix and adds a Spectrum Analyzer

[@fittoat9261]

Yes it does, and yes it does improve reception!

[@edwardfletcher7790]

The amber screen is a lot better in sunlight 👍

[@R4002]

I have a Quansheng TG-2UV. I bought it back when the Chinese rigs were first coming on the market. It outlasted a Yaesu FT-60R. It’s been a rock in a stormy sea of dozens of UV-5Rs, UV-82s coming and going. Granted, I bought, programmed and then sold most of those UV-5Rs and UV-82s. Seriously though. It’s one of the radios I’ve had the longest, along with my RadioShack HTX-202 (made in 1995), which I still use daily), my Motorola MTS2000 and a hodgepodge of old analog scanners/receivers. The TG-2UV is now a “standby radio”, I alternate between one of three Retevis RT1 VHF HTs, my HTX-202 and one of a handful of UV-5Rs. I’ve got some UV-82s and a Puxing PX-UV973 dualbander in reserve as well. For VHF aircraft band receive, the Pro-135 handheld scanner is actually one of the best performing receivers I’ve come across. It’s on the same level as the Pro-2006 and Pro-2052. The GRE PSR-100 family are decent but the Pro-135 is superior in AM mode. Anyway, the Quansheng always “felt” more solidly built than the Baofengs. The price reflected this.

[@falandoareal4578]

A CAPTAÇÃO DE ÁUDIO NO MICROFONE DOS QUANSHENG É PÉSSIMA, RUIM DEMAIS, BEM BAIXA SE COMPARAR ATÉ MESMO COM UV5R BAOFENG... TEM FREQUÊNCIA MAS É MUITO RUIM DE ÁUDIO 👍😆 PRETENDO PEGAR 1 RADTEL RT 490 PARA TESTES, MAS QUANSHENG NÃO QUERO !!!

[@stuartlent2645]

One thing I have found is that, compared to Baofengs and other radios like it, the audio is better. That does not include air band. I don't jump for radios that include air band because I do like to listen but it is not a priority for me on a ham radio. The Orange screen is not an obnoxious color. Mine is listed as a K5(8). There are firmware updates that can be added to the radio including HF (SSB) again not a thing for me. I look at that as a "jack of all trades and master of none." In a side by side comparison, with other Chinese radios, the audio is very clean and is not tiring to listen too. The only recommendation is that if you want to get a K5 get the K5(8). There is a lot of confusion on this radio because K5, K5(8), and K6. Which are you getting. The only way I can describe it, I haven't talked to Quansheng, is the the K5 is original model and the K5(8) is current model. Also does the K6 exist? The FCC id number says K6 yet the radio id is K5(8). I question if the K6 exists. Chinese radios are constantly being changed and upgraded. I believe the Chinese radio manufacturers are using the FCC to test their equipment. Rather than design the radios to meet the specs they make the radios to see if they pass FCC regs. Kind of like selling several day old food until someone gets sick. Japan builds radios that pass the FCC. Financially any more I am more likely to be able to afford an $80 or less handheld from China than a super whizz-bang radio from Japan that costs 700 to 800 dollars. That is 3 to 4 times my grocery budget every month. I need to eat to survive. I do not need to radio to survive.

[@QUADBOYification]

You are in luck, both can flash the same firmware. No difference. I did just that with a custom Firmware unlocking everything except the range expansion of AM mode. Everything else is possible. Beware transmitting on AM airband from 50MHz-136MHz and FM Broadcast band between 64MHz-108MHz is illegal. But these devices can be unlocked to do all that as if it was factory made. I use it to receive and transmit on CB bands ranging from 25MHz-30MHz in both AM and FM (Narrow or wide). Just to be clear. It is worth the money. Crystal clear audio on CB band and with an Scanner antenna (rubber duck) you are sensitive as well. Power (Watt) on CB is lower but not scratchy and distorted. You can adjust the MIC gain setting between 1-4, got mine on 3. Hope this helps those of you that want a handheld CB radio on USB-C battery. The bands are unlocked from 18MHz - 1300MHz. with a small gap at 650MHz to about guess what. I will not change the firmware after this, except if Shortwave is possible. Seems a hardware limitation of the chip. Maybe even some extra power saving modes might get me to load a another firmware bin file.

[@OM0ET]

Thanks for details! Could you please put some links where and how to unlock this radio for CB band or lower please? Thank you so much! ;)

[@QUADBOYification]

@@OM0ET KZbin Channel ¨Ham Radio DX¨ has the instructions and download links. It is a easy process.

[@QUADBOYification]

@@OM0ET kzbin.infoygh_GQLEZw4?feature=share

[@fittoat9261]

Thank you for the info!

[@theirishoutdoorcook1207]

Dreadful radio. I purchased it branded as the Radtel RT-590. Very hissy and Audio distanced, scratchy and hissy. Rubbish for air bands. Also receives no Satcoms considering it’s supposed to cover the 1.25 m and well above.

[@johnemmons9087]

I saw a guy on utube add a wire to the ground (radial) that made a noticeable positive difference. Might be a good idea to try just for fun and prosperity!😉

[@fittoat9261]

Many people do that, it does help a little.

[@thomashardy9994]

I have a Baofeng UVS9s that i like better than the Quansheng. Every command needs a function button pressed, and there seems to be some inconsistencies in response from the radio ie…if i tap “scan” sometimes the voice will say channel mode for example. Then there’s the issue of not really being able to use CHIRP. I’ll see how this new one performs.

[@thomashardy9994]

Addendum: The new radio came in yesterday. Looks good, buttons seem to work a bit better. I think they should have done something a bit different- 220 band, more transmission power..etc

[@gowerdave]

Some say that reception on Airband is better when the signal is weaker. I have found this to be true. I live 16 miles from Manchester Airport here in the UK and can hear Ringway Approach freq. When aircraft are closest, the signal becomes distorted.

[@fittoat9261]

I'll have to try that! Although all my other radios that do Airband, do fine. Hey, I don't know!

[@stealthmanofthewoods2570]

c'est vrai j'ai une aérodrome a 3 km de chez moi le son est déformé et je suis a 300 mètres en altitude au dessus de cet aérodrome , et un aéroport a 40 km de chez moi et la c'est clair mais j'ai changé l'antenne en premier Retevis RHD771qui était bien mais en deuxième et bien plus courte mais très bien la Retevis RHD701

[@NehemiahWendell-u1y]

Lonny Mills

[@wallaguest1]

aliexpress says K6 has a clearer spekaer, but with analog reception is probably hard to hear the improved quality of the speaker, since analog audio is usually so bad with just 12 khz bandwidth. Maybe you can try some high quality transmision close to the radios and check if with very good recepcion, you can hear any improvement in the speaker.

[@BessNoah-g8l]

Cremin Spurs

[@AlicePorter-x7f]

Rohan Curve

[@JamesShoop-h5c]

Stroman Skyway

[@LiaSievel-u4w]

Lauretta Mountains

[@AlexShelton-m1o]

Quigley Spring

[@JacksonSilon]

Kerluke Squares

[@geraldcramer1975]

Drew Street

[@AnastasiaBauman-h4i]

Lueilwitz Landing

[@LauretteOstler-n3m]

Bernadine Villages

[@ShirleyGarcia-l5x]

Pierre Station

[@CharlesCox-u4q]

Morissette Tunnel

[@NicholsUla-i4w]

Rowe Tunnel

[@SandraTaylor-m4d]

Mortimer Gardens

[@BenRoderick-h3h]

Micheal Corner

[@TomWingert-h7g]

Klein Parkways

[@RudolphEmma-q5x]

Williamson View

[@MelvilleDavid-v8v]

Muller Rapids

[@KieshaReedy-c2h]

Adaline Mountains

[@SydneyMullens-s5b]

Kira Fork

[@RheaMaybin-t1e]

Dicki Drives

[@ShawnCrull-s2d]

Robyn Underpass

[@MohammedMozzone-b5w]

Howell Streets

[@BernalBoyd-h5c]

Morissette Tunnel

[@EuphemiaSally-k7m]

Marks Tunnel

[@echo-_-radio]

If you had a resonant antenna for the air band it would be very clear … but the stock 2m & 70cm don’t cut it😂 the radios are in my opinion they are excellent on receive … 😮❤❤❤

[@BrowningKaren-z6x]

Bartoletti Junctions

[@AlvinDierking-x5d]

Corkery Estate

[@MiltonShirley-i4s]

Eva Square

[@KevinClark-o5e]

Stefan Harbors

[@JenniferCampisi-f1w]

Jaskolski Center

[@HabakkukBertram-w6o]

Sadye Prairie

[@KevinLee-b4o]

Frankie Locks

[@LarryMasters-p8k]

Boyle Throughway

[@EstherBeer-e6p]

Milan Ferry

[@DonaldHall-p7i]

Santos Squares

[@poorman-trending]

Uv-k5 and uv-k6 can use the same mods, the mods usually work regardless since the radios are nearly identical .

[@GregoryTripp-p7r]

Kris Forest

[@CynthiaPerez-k5j]

Ervin Cliff

[@JamesKey-o6k]

Blick Squares

[@DinsDale-tx4br]

2:30 The physical buttons on the K5 had sticky problems ..the new design was probably just to fix them. Definitely go for the newly designed buttons on the K6 because a bad button means a brick of a radio. The internals are just the same.

[@LeightonJoyce-i2m]

Marques Village

[@MarcoPetersdorf-e9y]

Paucek Skyway

[@ClarkeKyle-r2b]

Smith Mountains

[@TommyDarlene-x9o]

Mertz Estate

[@Kens1966]

Have you tried new antenna

[@DenverFlippo-u5h]

Scot Turnpike

[@RayleignJocelyn-n3i]

Hyatt Lights

[@AntoinetteCueva-d7p]

Sigmund Station

[@BrowningRex-j3z]

McKenzie Field

[@MontgomeryBaron-u8c]

Connelly Plains

[@VictoriaLarimer-x9r]

Adriel Glens

[@BrowningHazlitt-f1y]

Sheridan Terrace

[@GilbertMcsween-n7i]

Samanta Knoll

[@VincentKeppel-u8c]

Felicia Pine

[@GallacherBaldwin-s7o]

Towne Cliffs

[@NitaSimensky-n2u]

Hellen Springs

[@RaleignMarcia-y2l]

Crooks Crescent

[@MichaelThomas-r7k]

Emily Avenue

[@NoelTehney-w1c]

Wolff Isle

[@MartyEstrada-q3z]

Maude Knoll

[@GaryEason-y8x]

Kacey Knolls

[@JohnnyEdgin-f1e]

McKenzie Mill

[@SandraEmory-g6u]

Hahn Manors

[@WaylonHollmann-v5x]

Ebert Avenue

[@PhuongLary-r6t]

Pollich Court

[@TheresaCostillo-m3j]

Margret Village

[@JudsonFred-y2o]

Kuhn Orchard

[@KristoferLaffey-s6u]

Kling Estate

[@MicahPhilip-f7s]

Farrell Inlet

[@HillPoppy-p2j]

Fahey Plaza

[@LeoFuentes-c5d]

Irving Well

[@MalanKit-d7j]

Labadie Light

[@ColcloughBart-f5b]

Beer Lane

[@KarenMcSweeney-l5g]

Crist Walks

[@AttleeAldridge-f2y]

Destin Stravenue

[@SammyBrzycki-m1d]

Reed Branch

[@RickyBurtle-z3k]

Levi Loaf

[@BernardTaitt-i5e]

Elvie Curve

[@RaymondHunter-y7c]

Hansen Views

[@NikitaHaverfield-c6o]

Marta Grove

[@SnsHswh-k4l]

Emmanuel Oval