LEIXEN LX VV-898 Dual Band VHF/UHF 136-174/400-470MHz 10W DTMF Veicolare Bibanda 60dB, Programming Cable Included

I like this radio, though I didn't expect much when I ordered it. I checked the RF output with a Bird watt-metre and a dummy load on both VHF and UHF. The output was nine watts on both bands, which is more than I had anticipated. Chinese radios are usually 'optimistic' about the output power, especially with UHF. The TX audio is crisp and adequately loud, even without the compander. I haven't found a compatible after-market mic yet, but any weakness in the transmit audio is likely found in the cheap microphone and not the circuitry.Cons: Reception on 220 MHz (1.25M) is virtually non-existent, which is my biggest disappointment with this radio. Sure, if you have an HT within 100 yards it will pick it up. But local 1.25M repeaters that my HT receives fine with a stock duck aren't there at all with a 1/4-wave antenna. Nothing whatsoever. The radio has an annoying habit of "popping" on any frequency without tone squelch set. There's no signal present, but a "pop" will come out of the speaker regardless of how high you set the squelch. This makes scanning tedious, and I quickly removed repeaters without tone squelch from the scan. Bear this in mind if you do a lot of simplex operation. The quality of the RX audio is about standard for Chinese HTs. There's a headphone jack, but it doesn't improve the quality. I found it to be adequate, but it's not a strong point. The included power cable is ridiculously short (about three feet), but it's easy to add on to it. The "T" connector is a bit different, and it's not easy to fit cables from other, similar radios with it.Pros: Aside from tests with a variety of exterior antennae, I use this indoors in my study with an indoor mag-mount whip. The extra RF output allows me to get in to most repeaters quite well, where a 5W HT with the same arrangement made me readable but not strong. Transmitting causes no interference with my TV, stereo or computer (except for a pair of very cheap PC speakers that can't handle any RF at all). The VV-898 takes up very little space on my desk, and requires very little in the way of a power supply. The programming software is typical for Chinese radios, though it is pretty easy to re-arrange channels. Power levels can set differently for each individual channel, but not squelch. The radio 'knows' to use 0.6 MHz and 5.0 offsets for VHF and UHF. You can set different CTCSS/DCS codes for RX and TX, if you need to. It's not very difficult to program manually, either. Using a bit less than 2A, it can be run off of the lighter jack in a car or off a marine deep-cycle battery. Leixen sells an AC switching power supply for about $12. There are no "pots" to get dirty and crackly, either.Though it isn't certified for these uses, it can function as a VHF marine radio, MURS, or as a *repeater-capable* GMRS rig. With WX radio and FM broadcast reception, I could see this as a nice camping/cabin radio that could function as a base and reach boats or hikers with MURS or GMRS hand-helds.I'd like to get a second for use as a mobile. I think that I could mount it in my cup-holder or my stash box between the seats.

This was the second one of these that I have had in a week and just like the first one it would not power on unless you pressed the power button before you turned on the power supply.

Functional. But you get what you pay for. Programming is not intuitive, nor does the manual (in Chinglish) really help. It's not compatible with Chirp--although it does have its own version of programming software. The software--again functional, but not intuitive.I opened it up (warranty be damned) to look at the internal construction. It has two small circuit boards. Everything was surface-mount and completely embedded in black epoxy. No, when it finally stops working, this is a totally disposable radio.It works, sounds decent on the air (the mic element needs a bit more base frequencies) and is TINY. So remember--you get what you pay for.

This radio is quirky and a bit difficult to program, but that's just the interface. The manuals menu listings are off by a few. However, once you figure it out, it's a great little radio. Dual band transmit, quad band receive. Remember, it's a cheap radio. But, you do get your money's worth from it. Buy one, get your license and talk. Keep this alive.NOTE: The only thing I don't like about this is the position of the volume up and down controls on the mic. They are on the side and top (down and up) and I sometimes bumped them when keying up and if you do, you drop (stop transmitting). A minor annoyance, but I simply disassembled the mic and removed the buttons from the board and reassembled the mic.

Very disappointed with the radio. Unlike others, I was ok with the programming and I think the hardware is well built, but there were a few software bugs that made this really suspect. On a few programmed channels, it would key up and lock on transmit for 8 seconds after. I think if and when they update the firmware this will be a good radio, but until then it scares me to operate. I returned the unit.

Great radio. Programming was a breeze using Chirp, manual programming was equally a breeze. Nothing to it. I also found that it's very easy to use. When they say that dynamite comes in tiny packages, they were right when it comes to this radio as it's performance and ease of use blows away the Btech. Tiny enough to fit in my small car with no problem. This will also double with my 2m radio I use as a base as I can use this tiny gem as a 440 base to complement it. BUY THIS RADIO!

An und für sich nicht schlecht, überraschend klein, also genau was ich gesucht habe, in einem Astra H ist einfach kein Platz für ein großes Gerät.Der Softwarefehler ( Ein / Aus Schalter reagiert nur wenn man ihn gedrückt hält und dann erst die Versorgungsspannung einschaltet), ist schon sehr interessant. Vergesst den Kundensupport , der arbeitet mit einem unterirdischen Übersetzungsprogramm. Ich habe den Fehler dort beschrieben und bat um eine Lösung ( es muss ja ein Softwareproblem sein ) ... was Solls. Ich habe das Problem nun Hardwareseitig gelöst und für meine Zwecke ist das Gerät ausreichend. Die Programmiersoftware muss heruntergeladen werden und mit dem Mitgelieferten Kabel ist das Gerät auch ganz leicht zu programmieren ( etwas Erfahrung und logisches Denken vorausgesetzt ) .

Schnelle Lieferung und gutes Konzept. Aber, jetzt kommt es: Das Gerät funktioniert technisch einwandfrei( Empfindlicher Empfänger, die Leistungsangaben ließen sich in der Praxis verifizieren) Allerdings gibt es anscheinend eine unzureichende Firnware. In meinem Fall: V. 1.04. Die Doppelbelegung der P-Tasten funktioniert nur zufällig mal richtig, Vol+ und Vol- führen zu Kanalumschaltung. Während der Suchlauf läuft, kann man die Lautstärke garnicht verändern. Bis jetzt ist es mir nicht gelungen einen DTMF-Ton auszulösen, um eine Relaisfunkstelle zu öffnen. Bei z.B. DB 0 FS in Hamburg ist das nötig. Über Amazon habe ich den Händler angeschrieben (vor ca.3 Wochen) um ggf. eine Hinweis auf Download einer anderen Firmware zu bekommen , oder sonstwie Abhilfe zu schaffen. Leider hat sich der Händler bis heute nicht gerührt, sonst hätte ich diese öffentliche Bewertung nicht geschrieben, sondern versucht das Problem bilateral zu lösen.Michael (DC 3 HA)