So I was browsing eBay as you do and I came across a 66-88mhz handheld transceiver by Wouxun. The KG-699E is something I haven't heard of so far and it looks quite good and would be great for local 4m 70mhz use without the hefty price tag of the likes of the Icom 7100 and the Yaesu FT-847. It has 200 channels and 12.5khz and 25khz steps as well as CTCSS/DCS, 1w and 5w power settings and all the usual features that come with the chinese handhelds.They are available on eBay for as little as £65 and go up to around £80 depending on the band. The 4m version is more expensive than the regular VHF and UHF models. I found one for £70 with a COM port programming cable which is always handy and allows the user to name the channel programmed into the radio. The package looks like it contains the usual wrist strap, belt clip, drop in charger and ear piece etc but with the naturally longer helical antenna suitable for that band although I'd be tempted to use an external antenna for obvious reasons.
One problem that crops up in reviews is that scanning of memory channels in groups is not supported, so the scan button scans all active channels however this is not the end of the world and is to be expected from such a cheap radio.
All in all it looks like a nice little radio and definitely something I'll think about getting as I've not really seen a newly released radio that covers this band and I'm confident is it the only 4m handheld on the market at the moment. Correct me if I'm wrong. It is definitely a big leap forward from the Philips and Pye radios I've owned and reviewed on the radio finds page that are at least 1ft in length without the 2ft helical attached to it! Build quality looks very good as with all Wouxun radios and it is nice to see the absence of the flash light which in my opinion cheapens the look of the radio.
Do you own one of these radios? Let me know what you think by dropping me a comment in the box on the right. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.
Thanks for reading!
73's, Lewis M3HHY.
Manchester, UK.
Great little radio. Had mine for a couple of years and if you buy from Moonraker (£79.96 as I type this) you get the version with two knobs on the top (one for on-off volume and one to change channel) making it a lot quicker to change frrquency. I programmed all the 70Mhz fm amateur channels in and useing the extra long centre loaded whip that I bought seperately, have had some good contacts. I have three other Wouxun handies (two KG669 and a KG-UVD1P) and find this 4M radio the best of the lot - feels good in the hand and sounds great and is very sensitive.
ReplyDeleteGreat site, by the way
Cheers - Mike
Cheers for the feedback and info Mike. All the very best
ReplyDelete