Side-by-Side Range Comparison (Wouxun KG-805G vs Part 90)

[mbrun]

Anyone willing to send (or meet up with me with) a pair of high end LMR 90 HT radios programmed for GMRS simplex @ 5w so that a side-by-side A-B comparison of their range can be done in my local environment relative to a pair of Wouxun KG-805G?

 

I read a lot posts where opinions and experiences are shared. It sure would be nice to see/experience/share some real-world side-by-side range comparisons myself between radios. Evaluation occurring on the same day, times, location and conditions.

 

Cincinnati, Ohio. Anyone bold enough?

 

 

Michael

WRHS965

KE8PLM

[gman1971]

Ohio is too far for driving down from Madison WI, if I was closer you betcha I would be there in an instant!

 

G.

[Radioguy7268]

I'd be willing to send you 2 of my Vertex VX-261 radios to try out. They're available online used all the time for under $100 (often under $50). I've always considered them to be a much better value than the Baofeng's.  I'd be curious how they'd hold up side by side against the Wouxun.

 

PM me with your details. There's a good chance I'd have another set of higher end units to try out if you're willing to do some extra testing.

[wayoverthere]

I'd be willing to send you 2 of my Vertex VX-261 radios to try out. They're available online used all the time for under $100 (often under $50). I've always considered them to be a much better value than the Baofeng's. I'd be curious how they'd hold up side by side against the Wouxun.

 

PM me with your details. There's a good chance I'd have another set of higher end units to try out if you're willing to do some extra testing.

I'm curious how the vertex stuff does; the evx539's I tried for seem to have disappeared in UPS hands somewhere; I'm on the edge of pulling the trigger on a mobile.

 

Edit: I went for it. Ordered a programming cable too.

[gman1971]

The 5400 is a very nice radio.

 

Which cable did you order? the FIF-12?

 

G.

 

I'm curious how the vertex stuff does; the evx539's I tried for seem to have disappeared in UPS hands somewhere; I'm on the edge of pulling the trigger on a mobile.

Edit: I went for it. Ordered a programming cable too.

[wayoverthere]

The 5400 is a very nice radio.

 

Which cable did you order? the FIF-12?

 

G.

Took a gamble on a less expensive option...cable and programming software for $49 from the antenna farm. We'll see how it goes. Radio itself is a vx4207-6, 400-470mHz range

[gman1971]

Well, not sure about the VX-4207, but the cheap cable won't work for EVX radios. I've already tried. You'll need the FIF-12

 

G,.

[wayoverthere]

Well, not sure about the VX-4207, but the cheap cable won't work for EVX radios. I've already tried. You'll need the FIF-12

 

G,.

Thanks for the tip; I held off ordering the cable for the HTs till they actually showed up, and glad I did...still waiting for word from UPS where those are.

 

On the 4207, we'll see how it goes. Bluemax49ers stuff seems to be well regarded for working, but he's sold out on the one for the 4200 series.

[mbrun]

OK, we will soon have our first candidate radios for testing. RadioGuy7268 and I are working out the details.

 

Two pairs of motorola radios will soon be available for the tests, each pair a different model.

 

I have reached out to another member of this forum and another local long-time GMRSr and ham to assist.

 

 

Michael

WRHS965

KE8PLM

[gman1971]

For the EVX-53x portables (and 5x00 mobiles) , you might need to align the squelch in the radio alignment menu. I set mine on all my EVX radios to open at -129 dBm, and its night and day. Stock is set to open at -116 which might not be ideal for weak signal work. Most earlier Motorolas (non TRBO) can be also aligned with Tuner to get the squelch to open at about noise threshold... the TRBO radios you need to run tone squelch, otherwise they won't open as low as my "aligned" EVX-5xxxx radios. The Moto 6550 and 7550 without tone squelch will only open at around -122 dBm, with tone squelch they will open all the way down at around the same as the EVXs with the squelch set.

 

G.

[Radioguy7268]

In fairness, I'm going to be base-lining the units to meet advertised factory specs. I don't want these to be some type of "Super" units that have been tweaked beyond what the typical buyer would find in a used unit online.

 

They'll be tested to perform to spec, and guaranteed to be fine examples of what's available out there in the Part 90 world of used radios.

 

They will all have up to date Firmware, and I'll be using standard CPS software with 25 kHz Wideband entitlements. I hope to finish things up this weekend, and I'll ship them out to mbrun early next week.

[MacJack]

I'm kinda excited to hear the test results and see the video.

Jack

[mbrun]

Thanks you Radioguy, the radios have arrived. What a wonder opportunity. 7 radios, 5 different models. I will report back my findings to this group pending completion of my evaluation.

 

 

Michael

WRHS965

KE8PLM

[MacJack]

You would be the best tester for us guys... Looking forward to your eval... take your time... I just spent $300 on GR1225 repeater and add to that antenna and parts one needs to make it work...  So no money in my honey radio budget for more equipment is done... I told my wife that my GMRS interest with G Daughter is cheaper then a mistress or getting full service at massage parlor... just joking my 25 yo daughter told me about these words... how surprised I was... I have been staying home to much and and need to get out more.... Doing honey do's and working missing cause me to miss out on this life style out of marriage...

Jack

Thanks you Radioguy, the radios have arrived. What a wonder opportunity. 7 radios, 5 different models. I will report back my findings to this group pending completion of my evaluation.


Michael
WRHS965
KE8PLM

[Extreme]

Can you tease us with the list?  I'm hoping at least a couple of my 3 brands are in the test.

 

Thanks you Radioguy, the radios have arrived. What a wonder opportunity. 7 radios, 5 different models. I will report back my findings to this group pending completion of my evaluation.


Michael
WRHS965
KE8PLM

[mbrun]

Can you tease us with the list? I'm hoping at least a couple of my 3 brands are in the test.

All radios are Motorola or Motorola/Vertex.

 

VX-261

EVX-S24

EVX-534

XPR6550

XPR7550

 

 

Michael

WRHS965

KE8PLM

[gman1971]

Two Rodinia variants, EVX-S24 (Rodinia Lite) and XPR7550 (Rodinia 2.1) both direct sampling receivers... the EVX-534 and XPR6550 are dual conversion superheterodyne receivers, with a 5 varactor tuned front end. Both EVX-534 use the same receiver the 6550 does... IIRC.

 

As for the VX-261, that one I have no idea about it.

 

G.

[gman1971]

So, how is the test?

[Radioguy7268]

I specifically sent the EVX-S24 because it has the Rodina chip with an ability to hook up an external connector. It's 'just' 2 watts on Analog, but I think in the real world it's going to perform pretty well with a Repeater.

 

With the XPR 2nd generation variants, there's just no good/cheap/simple way to hook up an external antenna. It will still be interesting to see how the XPR7350 (yeah, no display or keypad) runs vs. some of the CCR's.

 

The VX-261 is a conventional Superhet double conversion receiver, but with more front end filtering than you'll find on any CCR under $100. Most of the VX series radios I own, I purchased used for less than $25. I have a rental fleet with 30+ in both VHF and UHF versions. Cheap enough to rent out, reliable enough that they come back ready to just charge up for the next rental.

[gman1971]

I would test simplex, portable-to-portable, ground to ground, anything else tested with repeaters is doomed to succeed. From my house, I can hit every GMRS repeaters within 25 miles with my BF-888s the same way I can with my XPR7550e, which would make the 888s an amazing radio... but when actually doing simplex, I am lucky if I get more than 1/3rd of a mile with the 888s in suburban terrain.

 

Yes, the S24 is a nice little radio, but again, testing anything with repeaters is doomed to succeed.

 

I would use the 6550 RSSI meter to measure actual signal strength. The 6550 can be used to calculate site noise threshold as well.

 

For the XPR Gen2s you can easily remove the rear cover and put a Hirose to SMA adapter in there, that is how I run ISO-tee tests on those radios.

 

G.

[Radioguy7268]

I've got an inexpensive Hirose to SMA adapter, but I had to turn down the one I got on a lathe just so that it would slip all the way into the chassis hole/cutout & reach all the way down to the board mounted bypass. Even then, you've still got to hold it in tight and press down with one hand while testing/tuning, not an ideal setup for trying to drive around town while working your HT. If you've seen the $300 Motorola "test fixture", it's basically a big clamp with a setup to hold the adapter in place. It works, but I still don't consider it to be practical.

[gman1971]

You need a long socket Hirose, so you don't need to do any of that. As for coming off, well, its fine for ISO-tee, but I did cobble together a simple support (bolts to the antenna) that holds it in place even when I am walking around. 

 

G.

[mbrun]

Just an update.

 

With the most gracious help of Radioguy7268 I have been able to complete some practical side-by side comparisons between 7 models of radios, include 5 Motorolas, a Wouxun KG-805G, and a Midland GXT1000.

 

I am preparing my summary and will follow-up here with a post when it is complete.

 

I am not going to bore you with numbers, but instead bore you with a narrative, my findings, and perhaps a map to give you context.

 

 

Michael

WRHS965

KE8PLM

[wayoverthere]

Just an update.

 

With the most gracious help of Radioguy7268 I have been able to complete some practical side-by side comparisons between 7 models of radios, include 5 Motorolas, a Wouxun KG-805G, and a Midland GXT1000.

 

I am preparing my summary and will follow-up here with a post when it is complete.

 

I am not going to bore you with numbers, but instead bore you with a narrative, my findings, and perhaps a map to give you context.

 

 

Michael

WRHS965

KE8PLM

Looking forward to it

[mbrun]

The report can be found here.

 

Side-by-Side Range Comparison (KG-805G vs Part 90) - The Findings

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/topic?share_fid=112680&share_tid=2536&url=https://forums.mygmrs.com/index.php?/topic/2536-Side-by-Side-Range-Comparison-%28KG-805G-vs-Part-90%29---The-Findings&share_type=t&link_source=app

 

 

Michael

WRHS965

KE8PLM