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Reviews For: QYT KT-8900

Category: Transceivers: VHF/UHF+ Amateur Base/Mobile (non hand-held)

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Review Summary For : QYT KT-8900
Reviews: 23MSRP: ~130.00
Description:
Tiny Dual Band Mobile
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.446shop.com/Product/Pro659.Html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00233.5
KU3H Rating: 2017-06-27
Good but has problems Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been using this radio in the car for some time now it works surprisingly well considering its low price relative to other dual banders. The major problem I am having, of all things, is the power connector/fuse assembly. It has poor contacts and I now have to replace it using the old soldering iron. The power lead is very short and cannot be removed.

My other complaints are its very hard to read display (not easy for elderly eyes) and difficult to use controls and buttons.

I used it for a full day during the MS-150 event last September and it performed as it was supposed to. Programming must be done with its own software.

Documentation is poor, as expected for a Chinese product.
K6SDW Rating: 2017-05-08
Another update Time Owned: more than 12 months.
If you read my previous review I complained about xmtr audio and receiver PL.

Well, the dealer I bought rig from sent me new Mic and that made a big difference in my audio and my fellow hams to stop complaining about my audio. He sent mic free and no shipping.

Receiver PL issue, well known, can only be solved by buying newer rig........NEVER HAPPEN!!!!

Rig is well built and if the fu..... receiver PL worked as it should I would radio a 4 only because the programming is a nightmare.

Cheers all
KG7QHP Rating: 2017-05-08
An updated review Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I first reviewed this radio way back in Feb of 2016. I'm updating because last week it gave up the ghost. This radio started life in my truck and was replaced with the UV-2501+220. When I replaced it, I put this little radio in my office. Sometimes connected to a Jpole and sometimes to a mag mount. It's been on pretty much every day, all day, monitoring the local sheriff and the most used Ham repeater.

Last week I noticed some strange noises on receive. A strange high pitched whine that seemed to oscillate up and down. Key down caused the radio to power off. I thought maybe the power supply was the cause so I hooked it up to a car battery. The radio didn't die but signal reports were horrible. It appears that internal voltage regulation is done. It's been a fair radio. Wish it had lived longer.
WB2JOB Rating: 2017-05-07
ok for the price Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just picked up the KT-8900R for less then 80.00 on ebay, when I plugged the radio in it came right on, pushing and holding the power switch wouldn't turn the radio off, only way was to turn off the PS.
Had no problem programming the radio after I watch a video that show how to put the freq.in memory, good audio and really small size, if not for the power switch would give it a 5.
Has anyone else had a problem with the power switch?.
W1VI Rating: 2017-02-13
Great Dual-Band Mobile Rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I noted that most of the reviews of the QYT KT-8900 VHF/UHF mobile transceiver were offered in 2015. I recently purchased my KT-8900 from Amazon.com which included an updated version that relocated the programming jack and added a cooling fan. My version came with a programming cable for a total cost of about $85. To the best of my knowledge the device firmware is the same as earlier versions. I purchased this unit mostly due to its small size since a rig any larger would be difficult to install in my Ford Fusion vehicle. Below are my assessments of this remarkable dual band VHF/UHF transceiver.

First, other than the supplied mostly useless user guide, I’m very pleased with this unit. Like most prospective buyers, I carefully reviewed all of the documentation I was able to find on the Internet. The range of settings includes a number of settings that I doubt are used by most U.S. hams, settings such as the OPTSIG feature which emits a tone when a DTMF, 2Tone or 5Tone sound is received. With few exceptions, most of the available settings are minimal but useful, such as the ability to change the color of the front panel LEDs or display backlight.

There are several similar versions of this product offered by multiple vendors. In many respects the KT-8900 is roughly similar to the Baofeng UV-2501 transceiver. The Baofeng UV-2501 includes a slightly improved English manual which displays a command list that is nearly identical to the KT-8900. Note that none of the manuals mentioned the added cooling fan. I didn’t notice the fan working at first and thought it might be defective until I noticed that after transmitting for a few seconds the fan began operating, obviously due to increased internal temperatures. You should also be aware that this product does not include upgradeable firmware. What you see is what you get.

While you can manually add simplex and repeater channels and change most settings, I tried using the KT-8900 supplied configuration software but gave up in despair. Fortunately the latest CHIRP configuration software made the configuration effort relatively easy starting with CHIRP’s default configuration. I learned that when editing the configuration settings you must disconnect the programming cable. The programming sequence involves initially “download from the radio” and editing or adding new VHF or UHF channels. Once the configuration profile is saved, use the CHIRP “upload to the radio” function to implement a changed configuration profile. CHIRP documentation is available which greatly assists in programming the KT-8900 radio.

For the price I believe the KT-8900 is well worth the money. The KT-8900 is housed in a rugged enclosure, outputs between 20 and 25 watts in the VHF/UHF bands, includes a scanning feature, a dual level display, the familiar V/M (VFO/Memory) feature as well as a MONI button that opens the squelch to enable setting the audio level in the absence of an incoming signal. The microphone is compatible with a Kenwood DTMF type and includes the ability to start and stop scanning, move channels up or down, lock key operation and access to the KT-8900 menu. If you’re looking for an inexpensive dual band mobile rig to install in your vehicle, the KT-8900 will not disappoint.

W1VI
N5OFQ Rating: 2016-12-15
Inexpensive rig that works Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've used this about a month now. Mine is updated with the external speaker jack in back, programming jack in front. Power measures almost 30w on VHF, 20w on UHF. It's small, has no fan (I hate fan noise) but a decent heat sink. It powers on when the car cigar lighter turns on. It's easy to program with Chirp (similar menus to any Baofeng) and came with the programming cable for $79 on Amazon. Great for camping/hiking when you want more power than a handheld in a package not much bigger than a handheld!
VE4ACV Rating: 2016-07-21
QYT KT-8900R Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
First mine does not look like yours
buttons go all the way across lower section
Mine has a speaker jack
25 watt version
tested @14.2 volts 50 ohm load then on antenna
Tested 12.5 watts VHF
TESTED 16 Watt UHF

Left knob "does" change frequencies on mine
but both the knob and the mic up / down button
skips channels all the time Like there is a missing load resistor on some data Line
21 goes to o, 55 goes to 0, soft ware chirp and cable worked fine...

Took 3.75 months to get here, vie ali
won't buy another one. mine was advertised
220 to 260 mhz ya sure...Crap radio. - tossed in garbage on day 4 nice box though...



AA7BI Rating: 2016-01-06
One of the Best Deals Ever Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Got this on e-bay for about $79 shipped.Showed up in 9 days. Consulted the YouTube programming instructions and was on my way.

This radio is tiny, yet very hefty and well-built. The readout is just large enough so that old geezers like me can still see it. The audio is amongst the best I've ever heard. Clean and loud. Reports state it sounds as good as any Japanese name brand. It's a keeper and fits in places the rest won't. No fancy features, but does everything 99% of us need. Draws 4 amps and puts out 26 watts.

This is a 5 star radio. It's not hard to use, but you do have to learn how. Considering the price, there are few deals as good as this.

Thinking of getting two more.
NE8AL Rating: 2015-12-15
What a fun little rig! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am having so much fun with this little rig! It is very small and appears to be well-built. Programming the memory channels is a breeze with mic. The programming software is the only negative and it does work--just not very flexible. In reading and watching some other reviews, two issues were noted: S-meter function full scale for all signals and turning the channel knob in memory mode would silence the receiver until PTT was pushed. Both issues are non-existent in my rig. I am getting great signal and audio reports both on repeaters and simplex. The speaker volume will drive you out and with no distortion. Easy to read screen despite its small size. A great rig at a great price IMHO! Get one soon.
N0FPE Rating: 2015-12-06
OK So far Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Picked one of these for my work truck. I got it for $85 shipped. I ordered the blue case as the red was too bright! So far so good. seems to work ok and not a real pain to program. does have a few minor flaws but they are not a real problem. I will see where it is in a few months of riding around in the work truck.