last updated 13 Apr 2006Cheap Import RadiosThere are a whole range of cheap-n-cheerful radios available by eBay or by other means of import, that are somewhat dodgy in terms of legality (there's a good reason why you can't buy them directly over here). These radios cover a wide range (VHF 136-174 MHz or UHF 400-470 MHz) with direct keyboard frequency entry, CTCSS and DCS. They seem like an inexpensive way to get onto 2m/70cm and possibly as a naughty PMR446 too, but... they have not been approved for use in Europe, let alone comply with OFCOM's UK two-way radio standards. Many of them only tune in 5/12.5/25kHz steps (although more upmarket ones do include the 6.25kHz needed for precise PMR446 channels), have twice the normal FM deviation (designed for 25kHz spaced channels), and offer 4 or 5 Watts.. so if you're tempted to use them for PMR446 you're not only using unapproved radios, they are especially naughty for being able to transmit on private mobile bands, they put out too much power, and they take up more than one channel at a time due to the wide deviation and not being exactly on the right frequency. You can expect to have them confiscated if you're caught, and possibly find yourself in court. Even if you find one that is technically pretty much in line with PMR446 - one that has 6.25kHz spacings and can run at 0.5W with the correct deviation and stability - it will not have been approved and can probably have an external antenna connected (some use odd connectors but it's possible) but it might seem a safer bet that you'd get away with it. I'll leave that decision up to you. They are cheap though - from 60 quid down to 30 or less - it could be hard to resist. For the price of a CB you could put one in the car wired up to the cigar lighter socket and a speakermic, connected to a 70cm amateur antenna, and enjoy three things in one : amateur 70cm, longer range PMR446, and extended RX (UHF scanning). I've seen reviews that say some of them are cheap, flimsy, unreliable rubbish; while others say that particular models come from the same factory as respected brands and are of the same quality, but simply unbranded. So they're illegal for 446, and any licenced business user foolish enough to use them could expect to have them confiscated during any inspection... but are they at least OK for amateur radio? Given that an amateur is free to use anything he/she has built, so long as it produces a clean output, or use an old PMR radio that no longer complies with current PMR standards, seemingly the answer must be yes. The issue of wide tuning range with easy setting to out-of-band channels - this is one that's harder to answer. Ham radios have been 'opened up' for years, some even work over band edges as supplied from the dealer, and this has been the case for decades. The amateur is expected to operate within the terms of the licence, keeping within the amateur bands - it's as simple as that. If anyone knows the definitive answer on this, please get in touch on the forum. One other thing to watch out for : many amateur handhelds can be connected to a DC supply, either by a socket or a clip/slide-on device that replaces the battery pack. Few of these imports seem to offer such a facility. Battery packs don't last forever (they say Li-Ion packs only last 2 or 3 years at best, whether used or not), so then what are you left with? A useless paperweight unless you butcher the thing and add a socket yourself. On this page I will attempt to list all such radios that I have seen sold online, or have noticed being discussed in forums.
Abellhttp://www.abell.com.cn/untitled/jianjie.html (China)http://nowadays.biz/abell.html
TH-278
TH-378 EXTERNAL PIC (OR
(LOCAL PIC) 60
Manual http://www.kitsparts.com/download/radio/th378.pdf
Battery Eliminator KNB14 will fit FeiDaxinQuanzhou Licheng Feidaxin Electronics Co. Ltd (China)http://www.feidaxin.com/english/index.asp http://feidaxin.manufacturer.globalsources.com/
FD-150
FD-450 EXTERNAL PIC (OR
(LOCAL PIC)
http://www.feidaxin.com/english/p1.htm JingtongGroup: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JT208_JT308/ See also Kington, when it's Anglicised!
JT-208
JT-308 EXTERNAL PIC (OR
(LOCAL PIC) 30-45
Looks like a Kenwood TH42e ( ham.dmz.ro/kenwood/th-42e.php)
KenSung
KG-6228 EXTERNAL PIC (OR
(LOCAL PIC)
manual http://www.kitsparts.com/download/radio/6228manual.pdf
KingtonA more English sounding version of Jingtong
TG-2118
TG-3118 EXTERNAL PIC (OR
(LOCAL PIC)
"the good radios prior to april 2005 were blue screens and not green; blue screen radios have ctcss, green screen do not have ctcss"
Manual http://www.kitsparts.com/download/radio/31182118.pdf
Also seen in Jingtong and FeiDaxin versions KYD
TK-238
TK-338 EXTERNAL PIC (OR
(LOCAL PIC) 55-67
Lintonwww.linton.cn/LT-2188 VHF, no keypad
LT-2288
LT-3188 UHF, no keypad
LT-3260 UHF(part), no keypad
LT-3288 EXTERNAL PIC (OR
(LOCAL PIC) 55-70
"cheap clone of the Motorola gp338 plus", "excellent.. identical to more expensive pro radios" "Very solid radios, well built with a professional feeling.. Perfectly clear transmission.. Scanning is extremely fast. It takes 5 seconds to scan the 99 channels I've programmed. Scanning by frequency does about five increments a second (5,6.25,12.5 or 20). CTCSS support, savable in the programmable channels"
Manual via http://www.hamforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=3993
LT-6188 UHF, no keypad
LT-6288 EXTERNAL PIC (OR
(LOCAL PIC) 55-69
Manual http://www.kitsparts.com/download/radio/6288.pdf
Motorola
GP-68
EXTERNAL PIC (OR
LOCAL PIC)
Battery Eliminator available.
Puxing
PX-777
EXTERNAL PIC (OR
LOCAL PIC)
"quality looks good.. imho its 8/10 build quality." QuanshengFujian Nanan City Quansheng Electronics Co., Ltd. (China)
K2AT / TG-2AT
K4AT / TG-4AT EXTERNAL PIC (OR
(LOCAL PIC) 51-65
"good audio"
TG-42AT EXTERNAL PIC (OR
(LOCAL PIC)
TG-45AT EXTERNAL PIC (OR
(LOCAL PIC)
TG-46AT EXTERNAL PIC (OR
(LOCAL PIC)
WEIERWEIVEV-3288s(V) VHF 136 - 174 mhz, 5W
VEV-3288s(U) EXTERNAL PIC (OR
(LOCAL PIC) 68
LinksThese links are provided purely for information. This site does not support or have any connection to any retail operations.stores.ebay.co.uk/Electronic-Kits-and-Parts-Store euroradiosales.com/ - via Gibraltar ( also stores.ebay.co.uk/euroradiosales ) www.kitsparts.com/radio/detail_radio.htm - and stores.ebay.com/KitsParts www.two-way-radio.org.uk/ - Amherst ukscales.com/ ( also stores.ebay.ie/RSTRADE-COUK & www.rstrade.co.uk/ ) - sales via agent in Thailand running www.uk2way.com/ http://www.409shop.com/ (Hong Kong) |