Radtel RT-880 vs Quanssheng UV-TK11(8).

[WSAA635]

I've been looking at some HTs that can do HF and saw these two. Does anyone have any experience with either and which one would you recommend? 

I know I'll not get the range out of either like I would a dedicated 10M base station with a good antenna but I'd at least be able to play around a bit and explore it to see if I'd want to invest in better equipment.  

If anyone has any other recommendations for a sub-$100 HT that'll do HF please let me know. Thanks and 73's.

[UncleYoda]

Why?  There's nothing worthwhile to listen to on HF and you can't even join in the HAM games with an HT.

A plain ole DB-20G would give you a lot more to receive and talk to.

I know you're new, but you are over complicating the idea of communication by looking for features or gadgets that don't and won't matter when you really need comms.

[WSAA635]

Looking at videos on both. The Radtel doesn't use the standard K1 programming cable so that's a deal breaker. I can do 6M with the standard antenna that comes with the TK-11 so that would give me more frequency  range than the 2M/1.25M/70cm that my current radios so I'll have more to explore now that I have my HAM license.

Either way I'll be a couple weeks before I get anything because I need some Crypto I have to unstake to get funds. 

[BoxCar]

Don't waste your time or money on an HF HH. Bite the bullet for a true HF base or a "shack-in-a-box" radio. General is almost as easy as Tech and it opens almost all the frequencies. Check with a local club before making any purchase, but don't overlook used radios. There are some good deals out there if you know what you want and can be patient. I bought my HF with extras for about $300 less than new. "

[Jaay]

The Yaesu FT-991A is a Favorite among shack in the boxes, and I've had mine for 5 years now and Still love it.

[WSAA635]

1 hour ago, Jaay said:

The Yaesu FT-991A is a Favorite among shack in the boxes, and I've had mine for 5 years now and Still love it.

$1500 on Amazon, my wife would skin me alive then chop me up and bury me in the backyard, LOL. 

The TK-11(8) looks decent enough to get on 6M to play around until I see if it's worth investing in. Until then I'll play with 2M/1.25M/70cm with the radios I have. 

[WRYS709]

While I have great nostalgia for 6 meter AM when I was young, my experience here in SoCal is that 6 meters is dead, other than some FM repeaters that duplicate others on 440/220/145

[WSAA635]

OK, the Radtel 880 is back on the list. I found out you can program it via USB-C and they include a programming cable so no need for that "fancy" cable. I also like that you screw in the HF antenna instead of it being a 3.5mm plug like the TK-11 has. It'll still be a couple 3 weeks before funds become available so I can watch more YouTubes and do more research. In the mean time Thanks for all the replies. 73's

[Jaay]

On 8/4/2025 at 3:51 PM, WSAA635 said:

$1500 on Amazon, my wife would skin me alive then chop me up and bury me in the backyard, LOL. 

The TK-11(8) looks decent enough to get on 6M to play around until I see if it's worth investing in. Until then I'll play with 2M/1.25M/70cm with the radios I have. 

R and L Electronics has the 991A at $1148 which is FAR cheaper than Amazon, that I don't suggest for Any kind of radio equipment. Also the 991A is a REAL radio compared to that talkie. 

[WSAA635]

I guess some of you didn't see the $100 total limit that I have. The RT 880 will probably be the one I'll go with if I get anything at all.

[Jaay]

1 hour ago, WSAA635 said:

I guess some of you didn't see the $100 total limit that I have. The RT 880 will probably be the one I'll go with if I get anything at all.

Just remember, you GET what you pay for ! $100 isn't going to buy you Quality. 

[SteveShannon]

6 hours ago, WSAA635 said:

I guess some of you didn't see the $100 total limit that I have. The RT 880 will probably be the one I'll go with if I get anything at all.

Amateur radio is all about playing with radios to see what you enjoy.  The RT-880 might be a gas, but honestly, don’t expect much froman inexpensive handheld that does HF, even without a $100 limit.  The only HF band you could barely do with a handheld with an attached antenna would be 10 meters and even then you’ll be limited.  The simple laws of physics require a certain antenna length based on frequency in order to be effective.  A quarter wave ten meter antenna is going to be two and a half meters long.

Now there are some all band all mode portable radios with built in batteries that I would love to have. One is the Icom IC-705 and another is the Yaesu FTx-1.  There’s also the Lab599 TX500, but it doesn’t do 2m or 70cm.  All three of these are self contained hi end portable radios.  All three require an external antenna of some kind. All three go over your budget by more than $1000.  The battery for the TX500 is $400 all by itself. As long as I’m dreaming there are a lot of other QRP radios to play with such as Elecraft.  And although I haven’t seen it available in the USA yet, there’s a handheld version of the Lab599 radio.

There are good deals on older mobile and radios that show up at ham fests.  I picked up an Icom IC-706MKIIG for a low price last year.  That’s a mostly full power mobile radio that does HF, VHF, and 70 cm.  I’ll put it in a go box with a battery and carry a separate antenna of some kind, maybe an EFHW or my BB7V vertical and tripod.

Anyway, don’t get discouraged by the high price of HF radios.  Deals come along.  A guy in my area said he’d like to sell his FT-991 (not the 991A but the older model) for $300 just the other day.  I don’t know what the difference is between the 991 and 991A, but that’s probably not a bad deal.

[WSAA635]

8 hours ago, Jaay said:

Just remember, you GET what you pay for ! $100 isn't going to buy you Quality. 

I don't know about that. The $16 UV-K61's I've bought have been excellent Tri-Band radios. Price doesn't always reflect quality. Many times you're paying extra for the name. 

[WSAA635]

I have kicked around the idea of picking up a mobile multi-band radio and plugging it in to one of my solar power stations. Add an antenna and I'd have a good, portable HF/VHF/UHF radio. 

[BoxCar]

If I were you (and I'm not) I would just put aside the idea of getting a 10 meter handheld and improve my 2M 70cm transmission and reception by focusing on better antennas and mounting. You WILL disappointed with the 10M handheld.

[WSAA635]

Just now, BoxCar said:

If I were you (and I'm not) I would just put aside the idea of getting a 10 meter handheld and improve my 2M 70cm transmission and reception by focusing on better antennas and mounting. You WILL disappointed with the 10M handheld.

I'm actually leaning toward 6M over 10M because of antenna size.

[BoxCar]

Handhelds below the 100 MHz frequency are not really worth trying to use. They are bulky because of their antenna requirements and loaded antennas (which are the short ones) don't work well because they don't have the bandwidth to cover the entire band.

[SteveShannon]

42 minutes ago, WSAA635 said:

I'm actually leaning toward 6M over 10M because of antenna size.

That’s a better choice. When you mentioned HF I figured you meant 10 meters.  6 meters is actually VHF (VHF is 30 MHz to 300 MHz).  The Yaesu vx-7 is the radio I would suggest.  It’s no longer manufactured but they’re out there. 6 meters, 2 meters, 1.25 meters, and 70 cm. 

[LeoG]

On 8/4/2025 at 4:51 PM, WSAA635 said:

$1500 on Amazon, my wife would skin me alive then chop me up and bury me in the backyard, LOL. 

The TK-11(8) looks decent enough to get on 6M to play around until I see if it's worth investing in. Until then I'll play with 2M/1.25M/70cm with the radios I have. 

But at least you could say you bought it.

[LeoG]

On 8/6/2025 at 12:20 AM, WSAA635 said:

I guess some of you didn't see the $100 total limit that I have. The RT 880 will probably be the one I'll go with if I get anything at all.

Does the wife have a $100 limit too?

[SteveShannon]

8 minutes ago, LeoG said:

Does the wife have a $100 limit too?

None of us should question why someone else has the budgetary limits they do.

[Davichko5650]

On 8/4/2025 at 11:21 AM, WSAA635 said:

I've been looking at some HTs that can do HF

Assuming you mean receiving on HF, I've not seen that the Radtel-880 can TX on 10m at all.  The Quansheng can RX on 10m SSB,  but needs some surgery to be be able to TX other than FM (as seen on YootOob), and your license class does not have FM privileges on 10m.

That being said, there are many Handheld receivers that can pick up the SW bands out there in Used Land. But not many that would allow you to transmit on 10m.  I'm with the crowd, work on your operating skills on V/UHF and save up for a decent HF/6m or "shack in the box
 type rig.  One I'm interested in after seeing Salty Walt (W4OGO on YooToob) reviewing it it the Guohetec (sp?)  PMR-171. Neat 20 w hf/vhf/uhf battery powered rig with a sub $700 price tag.

I get economics. When I first was getting on 10m in 96 as a Tech+ license holder, that $270 for a Realistic HTX-100 was a big budget hit what with 2 youngins and all.  Still have that rig and occasionally drag it out and blow the dust off it to see if the Magic Smoke is still there (it is).  For decent HF listening, a good portable SW radio will do you better than an HT.  Decent new and used ones around that $100 mark.

[WSAA635]

2 hours ago, LeoG said:

Does the wife have a $100 limit too?

My wife is very, how shall I put this.................Frugal. I had to practically twist her arm a few years ago to spend $50 bucks on a pair of shows for work. She also knows are budget and all the bills/credit cards we need to pay off so what I get out of my Crypto with maybe a few bucks extra is going to be it.

I'm actually looking at a good VHF/UHF antenna that I can put on a Tripod and adapt to my HT to improve the range. Plus, I can use the antenna/tripod if I want to do POTA. 

[LeoG]

Oh we all understand a frugal wife.  When it comes to spending on our own toys we use our own money.  When it comes to bills and such we use the my money is our money and her money is her money approach.

[WRXB215]