Quansheng UV-R50 HAM Radio Review - TheSmokinApe
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- Опубликовано: 30 июл 2024
- Quansheng UV-R50 HAM Radio Review - TheSmokinApe
Just a quick review / overview of the Quansheng UV-R50 Dual Band Handheld HAM Radio. In this video we compare it to the well known Baofeng UV-5R series of radios.
Get the Quansheng here: www.amazon.com/Quansheng-UV-R...
Get the Baofeng here: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
Quansheng Established in 1984 and with more than 30 years` experience.
Qualified communication has become the core value of Quansheng brand.
Quansheng UV-R50 Features
⑴ HI / LO Power Settings
Lets you adjust transmit power & conserve battery life.
⑵ FM radio
Scan the commercial channel in your area.
⑶ 128 Memory Channels
Add Your Favorite Channel to easy access.
⑷ 50 CTCC Codes and 208 DCS Codes
Gives you plenty of channel options to help you block other conversations.
⑸ Rapid Alert
Allows you to send out distress signals in an emergency situation.
⑹ eVOX
Hands-Free Operation (9 levels) with easy voice activation.
⑺ Automatic Power Save
5 Kinds of Power Saving mode keeps you going for days.
⑻ Auto Squelch
Shuts off weak transmissions and unwanted noise caused by terrain condition.
⑼ Frequency Scan and Channel Scan
Automatically checks frequency and channel for activity.
⑽ Scan Resume Mode (SC-REV)
Three ways of scanning that lets you easily scan and save.
⑾ DTMF
Allows you to instantly contact one member of your party without alerting the others.
⑿ Monitor
Checks for any activity within your channel.
⒀ Tail Tone Elimination
Removes annoying tail noise.
Up to 53 functions let you Experience & Discover & Share, For more information on the parameters and functions of the Quansheng UV-R50, Please refer to the User Manual in the Technical Specification section.
This product is FCC certified and 3-Year Manufacturer Warranty, Carefree use.
Programming Software en.qsfj.com/support/?category=...
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I received mine a few days ago and I just love it. Reception wise much better S/N ratio and selectivity than my Baofeng UV-R5. It seems to have the same power output and sound quality when transmitting. Chirp does not support this radio, true. But shouldn't you be criticising the developers of Chirp? You cannot blame that on Quancheng.
Glad you like your radio. I did say that the lack of Chirp support is a reason I wouldn't want this radio, let's talk about that comment. The good folks at Chirp produce a fantastic product and then give it away, there is no way I can fairly expect them to cover every radio or even think about being critical of their work. The reason I would want to use Chirp is because Quansheng's software is poorly designed / written and only supports Windows; that I can blame on Quansheng.
@@TheSmokinApe Good point, I stand corrected, it is free and I can't ague with that. I only have 2 UHF and 2 VHF repeaters nearby so I could program them in manually. In time Chirp may support this HT as well, it is gaining popularity.
I have the Baofeng, a Wouxun and two Puxing and unlike those this Quancheng is the first HT where I hear no static at all on the nearby UHF repeater. My battery fits firmly and I cannot wiggle it at the bottom like on yours. The external mic fits perfectly flush with the case on one side, I think that is why they purposely put the top 2.5mm socket slightly off centre. It seems you received a really bad specimen.
What surprised me is that the Quancheng is sold in the US only. I live in the Netherlands so I first looked at Amazon in UK and Germany but they did not sell them. So I ordered it from USA and it was delivered within 4 days. The brand sounds Chinese but is it American, do you know? Even the lady inside has an American accent.
Thanks for your reply and good luck with your channel!
@@TheSmokinApe Chirp website has a form for radio manufacturers to submit their info for inclusion. Have you suggested this to Quansheng?
Got one and it has no issues on workmanship. Very solid rig. Battery is immovable and the speaker mic connectors are centered. Yours must have been drop shipped - literally.
Jim Reisen thanks for the post. I have seen some others comment about the loose battery as well, good to hear it’s not all of them.
You missed one of the best features of the Quansheng. In my tests, it rejects intermod better than Baofeng, Wouxun, Icom W32a, or the HTX 202, legendary for spurious signal rejection. Baofengs will pick up all kinds of off-frequency QRM. Not so, the Quansheng.
Thanks for the info!
thanks for this, your comment saved me from buying baofeng, getting quanshengs instead
Thank you for your effort in creating this video. I hope you continue to create good videos like this one. Now the bad part...it seemed to me that you wanted to dislike this radio from the beginning. Not sure if that is true or not, but it sure seemed like you wanted to dislike this radio from the very beginning. I have no dog in this race, I have a yaesu FT 65, and a Yaesu FT 60r and several Baofeng radios like the UV5R, UV5rx3, and a GMRS BTECH, so I understand that you like certain radios better than others. For me, I love the Yaesu FT 65r...that radio has everything I need, and does it simple. I like the tremendous improvement in quality between the FT 65r and the FT 60r, but the operation of the FT 65r is easier. I still like the FT 60r better though. In the end many of the choices we make are due to simple preferences. I know it is very hard to split your preferences off from a review...but one must try to not let them get in the way of a good review. To me it seemed that you were nitpicking this particular radio, not that is a bad thing, but it just seemed that you had it in for this radio because it challenged the low price entry level radio.
Like I said, I got no dog in this race, personally I like both from what I have seen. And I have already ordered one of these to compare to my Yaesu's and my Baofeng radios.
Thanks for the feedback. I had used and tested the radio before I recorded the video and that’s when I formed my opinion. I did want to like the radio but didn’t. Really what I discovered is that I couldn’t and wouldn’t recommend this radio given a Baofeng can be bought for the same price. It’s my understanding that a v2 has been produced that addressed some of the issue I mentioned. I’m interested to hear what you think of your. Thanks again...
Where I'm from the UV 5R is €55 and these are €34
Also, the fylingwelshmen channel tests showed the UV R50 to be a tid bit better in receiving and broadcasting. (Mostly under heavy interference)
The programming seems sucks tho :/
I use 7 of the Quansheng UV-R50 and the battery fits like a rock. I believe yours had a defect.
Maybe. Thanks for watching and for the comment!
First off, thanks for your videos, I've watched quite a few of them.
I have had this radio for around four years now. Not one issue with it. I take it most everywhere I go including in my truck with a mag mount roof antenna. Can Rx the ISS when it is at a very low pass, barely over the horizon, with the just the stock rubber duckie. Haven't tried it with something like an Arrow yet. I also have a couple Motorola and Icom HT's but this one is so light, great battery life and if I lose or break it, well I would be disappointed at this point but at the price I paid for it, can't say it owes me anything!
You are right on the programming software though. Took me a while to figure it out but now that I have, it is pretty simple.
Hey David, I'm glad you like the videos and thanks for watching. So, a few things about this radio have come up since I made this video... it's been a few years. Apparently there were multiple versions, I didn't follow that but later versions were better. Also. when I made that video people were calling it the Baofeng killer, they still do that with different radios, and yet the Baofeng still is generally peoples first ham radio AND more hams own them than any other radio. I'm glad to hear yours is working out for you!
great info man looked at these when I was replacing my uv5r but the reviews were horrible
I wanted to like the radio but there were too many drawbacks for me. Thanks for watching UC!
Good review as usual! But..,,how do you really feel about that radio?
Haha! I am really surprised that people said it was of good quality... it’s perhaps the worst. Well maybe not but it’s pretty bad. It’s all boxed up and ready to go back to Quansheng. The software doesn’t allow for cut and paste, no csv import or export. Why someone would choose this over a ‘feng is something I can’t understand. That pretty much covers it...
It's pretty bad when enough corners are cut to make a radio priced below Baofeng...I can only imagine a Baofeng with build quality, fit, form and function cut back 33%
Ron C that’s a pretty good point. The software / firmware seems identical to Baofeng, that’s why I thought I could program it with Chirp.
The radio CAN be charged without the base. There's a DC jack in the side of the battery. Also, my radio does not have any of the quality issues that yours does. The battery fits very tightly and the accessory jacks are centered perfectly.
Glad you got a good one! I don’t recall if mine had the charger port...
@@TheSmokinApe It looks like I have a second generation one. The model on the back is UV-R50-2.
Ah, that makes sense
Thank you, very useful info. I broke my back in a line of duty injury, I have no choice but to go the least expensive route as disability is rough on your wallet, not to mention EVERY other part of your life. So saving me from wasting my money is grately appreciated. Be Blessed Brother.
Glad the video was helpful, and thanks for your service. 👍
With the firmware mod for some of these models , do you feel any different in your assessment now that some can do up to 1200 mhz , plus t band
or do you still feel you rather not bother with them .
Just curious , I never owned anything better than cheap stuff so I don't know
what's possible on better units .
I don't think Quansheng makes the R50 anymore.
I enjoy my radio as far as it was only $22... however I for the life of me cannot figure out how to turn of the scan function between A & B. Possibly do you know how this functions?
I’m sorry, I only had the radio for a short time. I do not remember how to do that function.
Bottom Left Key marked Scan.
Amazon has a Gen 2 version that came in 1 week after this review. Has a 3200mah battery and 2 antennas. Curious if they improved on the original.
Just about anything would be an improvement! I did see a new version was out and I am curious. I’d wait for Chirp support before trying it again.
@@TheSmokinApe I agree.
All the chinsese companies exaggerate their mAh, when when messured it's usually about half.
darn good rundown but I'm still sticking with my yaesu fr60 ;)
This Quansheng is a total piece of garbage
I bought one of these by mistake, and tried to download the programming software, but it asks for a password. (I think; It's in Chinese.) Is there a place to download the programming software? I', a licensed Ham Radio operator (General Class) but my radio is set up for GMRS. I need to change it over so I can legally use it. Thanks!
Pretty sure you can use Chirp now.
The specific reason i bought this Quansheng UV-R50 radio (The second gen model), was because it receives so much better than the other cheap units. I need something for my Go-bag.
I’ve heard the gen2 is much better 👍
Hey bro i purchased one of these radios and it works just fine.Although i have never used it and dont even know how to change the channel or communicate on it yet?I purchased one in camo just because it was what was on sale and have had it sitting around on the charger for a while.I do pick it up and turn it on and try to talk on it but after losing the instructions and leaving the club i was in i never had a chance how to use it?Also i was in the navy so i never had to learn how to use coms back in 1982 lol But im trying to figure out how to use it as we see the SHTF these days?!!! So is there any place on you tube or online about instructions and use? Needless to say i truly dont think mines a POS it is solidly built and the battery on mine isnt loose at all.....One of my buddies in the club i was in used it at an event and said it worked just fine.While most everyone else had Bao's.....I dont disagree with your video as i dont know enough to do anything else?LOL Help me out and point me in the right direction huh?thanks for the vid
I can't remember how to work the radio, I didn't keep it very long. It's probably best to search for videos one it, good luck!
there is a usb cable to charge the baofeng radio,s now :) still need the desk charger but atleast you can charge it in the field easy
I picked one up but hardly use it, I keep it in a go box 👍
Hello Rahul here From India can I connect with other brand radio sets I mean the ones which doesn't have screen Kindly reply I Just want to purchase this as a personal walkie talkie to use in at the time of university functions to connect with other radios. Please do reply ❤️🔥
You can connect to other radios.
All these imitation radios are usually a downgrade of the original if all the innards are the same, Quansheng UV-R50 is probably cheaper to produce if it's at all possible means compromises on built quality. I have a clone of the Baofeng UV-5R whatever version re-branded & cost more, because I think Baofeng older radio's prices are dropping rapidly so they're just selling them under a different package for more.
You might just be right. Thanks for the comment...
quansheng gen-2 is much better! the TG-k4at uv software is great. It does allow for import of *.dat files. I am waiting for the ftdi cable to try to get CHIRP working, will update if success.
I have heard it was greatly improved, perhaps I will check it out. Thanks for the comment!
Hopefully the 2nd gen radio is better it's out now
I have heard it's better
I just wish it did end up being a Baofeng-killer. In 2021, it still isn't supported by CHIRP, and the brand just kind of faded away...
Yeah, I haven't heard much about them. Thanks for checking the video out!
I have this radio. Receive is ok, however Ability of this radio to break squelch on local repeaters absolutely sucks!!! Its ok as a first radio when you first get your Tech lic. , however, I would not use this radio for EDC
Thanks Ross, I appreciate the comment. I really wanted to like the radio but as I was trying to use it there were just to many issues for me... I’m sure there are some folks who love it.
Lol what do I do. Some people call it crap some people call it amazing
Don’t do it bro! Apparently they have a v2 that isn’t as bad...
Chinztastic!
👍
Same with Tguv2
I don’t know that one
@@TheSmokinApe it is quansheng handheld radio tguv2. Look google!
Looks a lot like a Midland CT590
I'm not familiar with that one, thanks for the comment Dutch
It even looks cheap n the video compared to the Baofeng. On a side note; $20.00 for a Baofeng radio. Think of all the cool projects you could think up with basically a disposable rig.
Yeah, the concept of not caring about the radio is intriguing... lol. I saw a video a while back where they put one in a weather balloon.
Exactly. Add a cheap TNC for a digipeater, transmit flight data, etc.
Yep, that is what they did if I remember correctly. It was an APRS if I recall...
So what your saying is really is garbage! 🤮
Pretty much. Thanks for watching and for the comment.
The Receiver in the Yaesu is a Dual Conversion Superhet. Both the others are Direct Conversion, the advantage the Chinese radios have is The Lithium Battery, they have a much better life and runtime than the Nimh Battery on the Yaesu. The Generation 2 UV-R50 is better than the 1st and Does measure 5W. 2m and 4W on 70 cm but the Battery does have movement especially at the bottom. Audio tests between this and the UV-5R definitely go in Quanshengs Favor. Got all these about 2 years ago. One weekend Amazon ran the Gen. 1 for 19.00. The 2nd Generation was around 29.00. Worth the difference but Batteries are now difficult to obtain.