QYT KT8900R Tri-band radio

[pkveazey]

I ordered the latest version of the QYT KT8900R and it arrived today. The older version's 220 Mhz band was too high above the Ham Band so that band was worthless. The manual is hilarious. I don't think the Chinese can even understand it. Its written in Chinglish. Now for the good part. I paid $90 for it and its the new version that actually transmits in the 220 Mhz Ham band. It came with the programming cable and I used Chirp to program it. Its 25 watts on 2 meters and 220 and 20 watts on 440. Actually about 15 to 17 watts on 440. The thing actually works great. Its got so many features that I don't even need. Anyway, I'm having a lot of fun playing with it. If you get one, you need to plan on taking a while to figure everything out. Its a little bitty thing about 4" X 4".

[Kbop]

if that 20W (or even 15W) on the 2M band for $90 isn't distorted - that's a good find.

[pkveazey]

On 2 meters and 220, it does the full 25 Watts. As expected, the 440 is where you don't have enough beta gain to get the full power. I haven't made a contact on it yet, since I just set it up yesterday, but I have read the reviews that say the audio is very hot so you can't eat the Mike. I'll know more as I use it.

[JohnyMac]

Cool beans 

[pkveazey]

OK..... Here's the latest on the KT8900. The audio report that I got was that it was clean but not real loud. Well, that was because I read that the audio was hot and I backed away from the mike. I close talked the mike in a normal voice level and the report was that it was loud and clean. I guess the original reference to the mike being too hot was from an ex CB'er who always yell into the mike. Anyway, the radio seems to be a real good buy and the receive and transmit are good. Did I forget to mention that since its a TriBand radio, you need a 3 way antenna switch and 3 antennas? I let it scan on the 220 antenna and then flip the antenna switch if I need to talk.

[Jackalope]

Why not install a Tri-band antenna?  That would eliminate the need for three antennas and an antenna switch. 

[pkveazey]

That's a good idea but its easy to find a 2 meter/440 antenna, but to find one with 220 on it is pretty tough. I've actually seen a 2 meter/220/440 antenna but it was way too expensive and it didn't have squat for gain. Right now, I'm using the tri-band only on 220 and 440. I have a 440 quarter wave at 40 ft. and a 440 cubical quad at 30 feet and a 220 quarter wave at 40 feet. Since I'm covered on 2 meters with 60 watts into a 6 db vertical omni-directional at 50 ft, I don't need anything for 2 meters on the KT8900R.

[Kbop]

LPA would handle the wattage and gain but would be directional.

[pkveazey]

I assume LPA is Log Periodic Antenna. Wayyyyy back in the past, I thought about building one and the more I got into it, the more tricky it got. Actually they are pretty good antennas, but you better get it right, or you'll never get a proper match.

[Kbop]

@PKVeazey you are correct - you can make it tuned only to the frequencies you need (think old TV antenna).  then do the impedance match.  you can do the whole spectrum and getting the xmit vswr is easier. 
the major issue i see with that is the directionality.

how about a discone?  25MHz to 3GHz omni but only unity gain.  mostly used for scanners.  they have their own ground plane with the down verticals.  might work.
http://www.diamondantenna.net/d130j.html

[pkveazey]

I just ordered and have received a second Tri-Band QYT KT8900. I programmed it with CHIRP for all 3 bands and plan to install it in my car with an antenna switch. I have a 2 meter/ 440 antenna on the car and will add a dedicated 220 antenna and connect them to an antenna switch. I already have a mag mount and will cut a 13 inch 220, 1/4 wave for it. Presently I use a BaoFeng UV5R in the car for 2 meters and 440. I also have a TYT 9000 for 2 meters in the car. The handi talkie is kind of a pain in the butt because there is no permanent place to mount it. The Tri-Band has a mounting bracket and will be more convenient and has a lot more transmit power than the UV5R. It also has a little 1" fan but I don't trust it to keep the radio cool so I'll be mindful of not doing long transmissions. What? Will I keep the TYT 60 watt 2 meter in the car? Yep. The wife is also a Ham and she hates repeaters so I constantly listen on simplex for her and need the extra transmit power. I can get about 20 miles simplex with the 60 watt radio and by constantly monitoring I don't miss any of her calls. Happy wife, happy life.