Quansheng, Tidradio or Radtel?

[scanhermit]

Thinking it's time to graduate from my Retevis RT24s, I'm looking at the above three. Basically, I just want something that allows me to operate low power PMR446 (0.5-1W), allows mic gain control has a display and gives decent s-meter readings. I'm not bothered about airband, HF, SSB etc reception, though I know these radios come with bells and whistles. I'm on Linux so would need to use CHIRP for any programming

So far the candidates appear to be

1) Tidradio H3 - good reputation, power down to 1W, CHIRPable
2) Quansheng UV K5. Highly customisable via egzumer etc, capable of low power settings, CHIRPable
3) Radtel 860 - like a pre-modded Quansheng but not CHIRPable

Does anyone have any experience of or insight into these? Alternative suggestions welcome.

[paulears]

Well, the retevis TR24 has limited facilities, but are solid, easy to work, deopendable and I have sold hundreds with no failures ever! I broke a Quansheng when I dropped it on the carpet in the office when unboxing the very first one. The Radtels are similar - very plastickly and quite light but seem reliable. Don't like the buttons - my fingers are too big and when I cut my nails, it is hard to press them! Never had a Tidradio so can't comment,

[scanhermit]

Many thanks. I do love my RT24s but contacts sometimes say that the audio is quiet.

Don't like the buttons - my fingers are too big and when I cut my nails, it is hard to press them!

Hmmm. A friend calls me "Shovelhands".

[paulears]

The other thing is that the Retevis has really good battery life.

[scanhermit]

Yes, I've had 3 hours continuous rattle out of the RT24. Howeverrrrr......I could use summat with screen and mic gain.

[paulears]

Interested on mic gain. In all my radio using life which is now 45 years, i have never adjusted any of my radio’s mic gain. Something that has never been necessary, apart from the short time where we had 25 and 12.5khz gear all mixed up, and the 25k gear was just way too loud. Rather than going inside to do it properly with the deviation adjustment, a few folks used the gain control on some external mics.

[scanhermit]

I was talking with a chap who was 22 miles away with a Quansheng plugged into a Diamond X50. He dropped his TX power to 20mW and upped his mic gain. He sounded better than on full power. He said my audio was quiet on the RT24, something that several have said.

[paulears]

Mic gain is designed to make sure your deviation remain in spec when you use the radio further from your mouth - think like one attached to a shirt clip where you cannot get close to the mic. If you take a radio with increased gain and speak loudly, it distorts.

If you reduce power and the signal is fully quieting - mic gain is irrelevant. If, however, your mic gain is set too low for your speaking volume and position, then the hiss on a noisy signal makes the voice unreadable. Turning up the gain to the proper level helps. It's possible your RT24 radios are set to the 12.5KHz channel settings but are being listened to on radios more at home with 25KHz settings. My old Icom IC-32 from the 'olden days' - is always loud on modern 12.5K systems.

[scanhermit]

Ah, thank you for that explanation. I must say the RT24s have served me very well. I can't complain at getting contacts 60 miles away from high ground with them on only 0.5w. The only things I wouldn't mind are channel display and a S-Meter.

[PaulBritInHolland]

I have a number of cheaper HTs (Baofeng, Quansheng, Radioditty) and none of them have a S-meter. The only HT that I have that has a S-meter is a Yaesu (a FT-65).

[scanhermit]

I hear that installing Egzumer on the the Quansheng will allow it to show signal strength. Am I mistaken/misled?