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Reviews For: WLN KD-C1

Category: Transceivers: VHF/UHF+ Amateur Hand-held

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Review Summary For : WLN KD-C1
Reviews: 6MSRP: 13.99
Description:
16 Channel Talkie Ham Radio UHF 400-470 MHz Mini-handheld Transceiver Two Way Radio Communicator
Product is in production
More Info: http://https://www.amazon.com/WLN-Channel-MINI-handheld-Transceiver-Communicator/dp/B01FVRHR34
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0064.3
NO6B Rating: 2022-04-08
Good RX, but very low TX power Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Ditto what most of the other reviewers have said except the receive audio: it's loud but a little restricted & distorted, particularly at low volume; probably crossover distortion in the speaker amp. For the price it's a nice radio, particular the receiver - it's sensitive yet actually holds up in the presence of other nearby transmitters. The reason I give it a low rating is the transmit power: my VX-7R with the stock antenna puts out more signal at the 500 mW setting than this radio on high power. My guess is that "high power" is the equivalent of 100 to 250 mW. Low power is ~10 dB less: again much less than the VX-7R on 50 mW. So unless you're talking into a micronode at home or a repeater that's within 15 miles & line-of-sight to you, this radio won't cut it. I don't think the poor performance is due to the short antenna, as I tried a 1.5" stubby UHF antenna on my VX-7R, & the results were the same. So to advertise this radio as a 2 or 5 watt HT is disingenuous.

My two KD-C1s would not communicate with CHIRP. However, I found the KD-C1 specific software to work just fine.
HA7WX Rating: 2022-03-29
Mine works well on both RX and TX Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Well I had to add this review because of the last reviewer ; while I actually never got to measure the output power on TX, I did in the past months some range tests comparing this rig to my Yaesu VX-2 on 1W and an aftermarket antenna (better gain than the WLN's antenna) ; to my surprise the radios had pretty much the same range and I expect my copy (which I bought in 2018) to have at least 1W output on the high setting.
In RX this radio is just as good as my other HT.
While I am not a fan of chinese radios, I would definitely recommend this one, it's small and practical to use, with a good battery life (and easy to charge, just like a mobile phone).
KV4BL Rating: 2020-06-26
Fantastic Radio For The Money! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this radio for about a year, now. As others have noted, receive audio is outstanding and Xmit is very good. Battery life is exceptional, something you almost never find in radios by the Big Three, anymore. One or two spare batteries, which can be charged alone in a slot on the back of the charging cradle, and you will always have plenty of juice for this lightweight, easily carried little ht.

Programming can be a pain until you find the right software and get it downloaded. Unlike other reviewers I have read here and elsewhere, my WLN does not have the annoying screech I have seen described as occuring when switched to a blank channel.

I use mine regularly for crossbanding through my Kenwood TMV71A in the house and hooked up to a Larsen dual-band magnet mount mobile antenna. With this arrangement, I get reliable cross banding into the UHF side of my Kenwood for about .75 miles, even with the tiny, rigid, antenna on the WLN. If I find a sweet spot to stand in, I can hit a repeater about 30 miles away, quite well.

For the money, this is an awesome little radio.

KD8DVR Rating: 2018-05-31
Excellent radio! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I echo the other reviewers... sound quality is the best I've heard from any HT.... it is astounding on receive. On transmit, it is also excellent. The empty channel tone is the only drawback.

This radio operates in *true* narrow band mode! Baofengs and such only do narrow band on transmit, while their receivers are wide open. This radio also has the narrow receive, so adjacent channels are not heard.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by KD8DVR on 2017-05-31

I bought a pair, just because. Programming is simple via computer, both factory and Chirp software. This radio really shines in its receive sound quality. I've never heard any HT sound as good as this one does. Transmit audio is excellent too. The only drawback is it will emit a high pitched tone if you tune to an unprogrammed channel. The antenna is remarkably efficient, as it is as effective as any full size HT antenna I have used. Definitely a winner in my opinion.
K6RJF Rating: 2016-09-29
Great $20 HT (UHF only) Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
So far, so good (after 24 hours). The price is creeping up above $20 (with shipping). Bought mine from Amazon, arrived yesterday (9/28/16). First impressions:
-- Use your existing 2-pronged Baofeng cable to program the WLN KD-C1.
-- Programming software is free download from 409shop.com.
-- Radio does not like empty memory channels. Must fill all channels to avoid ear-splitting screech.
-- Because there is no frequency display, I am thinking about taping a channel list to the back cover.
-- Cannot enter a simplex or repeater frequency manually; must enter every frequency by computer interface.
-- Fits easily in shirt pocket or pants pocket.

K5ACL Rating: 2016-07-15
Neat little handheld, great for crossbanding! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Found this little gem on Amazon through another ham here locally. A bunch of us use these to cross band into our capable radios, these have two power settings, 2w is high. The programming software was found on the 409shop website. But for $13.99? You can't beat that price! It's just a tad bigger than the baofeng in size, but easier to carry because of the fixed antenna. Seems to be pretty rugged, came with a charger, belt clip, and rather horrible instructions. The programming software allows you to change all the settings on the radio, it even uses a micro usb cable to charge, which I have plenty laying around, and it'll charge on a usb port!