QYT KT-8900D Dual Band Mini Car Radio Mobile Transceiver VHF UHF Compact Design

This is small but powerful, as most ratings go, it says 25 watts, but puts out about 22 watts on my meter. It has good voice quality. Manual warns only use high power for emergencies, medium is about 15, low about 5 watts. Overused on high, repair is a replacement final transistor.

Before this I only had an UV-5R. Now this mobile is day and night difference. I love it. I can listen and hit repeats I couldn't before and more consistent.Audio quality for me is very good. Note I have limited experience with radio brands.Currently have no complains.Software to program:Couldn't make chirp work with it, even though there seems to be some work around to make it work.I used the software from the manufacturer. Software could be better but it gets the job done.I have only transmitted to repeaters using the maximum power and a small magnetic tram cheap antenna without any issue.It will live always on my truck. Now commutes are more enjoyable having a consistent radio not just a handy.Currently powering from lighter adapter, no issue.All reviews about this radio I have seen on YouTube seems to be correct. The radio performs very good. If you have some doubts, pickup any YouTube video they all say the same thing and that it's what you'll get.

The radio came shipped in the retail box with a shipping label slapped on it, and the flaps weren't sealed. I'm surprised it arrived at all. When I opened it and inspected it I found one of the mounting holes in the side of the radio had a broken screw (or tap) in it. I should have returned it at that point but I wanted to see how well it worked, so I connected the charging cable and attempted to program it with my standard CHIRP file. I couldn't get CHIRP to download an image from the radio, so I downloaded the factory software, but it wouldnt' communicate with the radio either. It was NOT a programming cable issue, as CHIRP would recognize the radio, but the radio wouldn't go into Clone mode. I tried CHIRP one more time and for some reason it finally connected and I was able to upload my CHIRP file with my local repeaters. The problem is I couldn't get (or hear) a response from the closest repeater that I have no trouble hitting with my Yaesu FT-7900. The repeater would respond but I couldn't hear the response on the QYT radio. When the repeater would automatically broadcast it's station ID, it would barely break squelch but all I could hear was static. The squelch settings seem to have very little to no effect.After trying all afternoon to make it work I've given up and I'm returning it. I really would like to find one of these small form factor, dual band radios that works but they all seem to be a huge crapshoot, and they're difficult to program, so I'll probably just get another Yaesu.

I just got this a few days ago and I have been playing with it, trying to get to know it. I am a total N00B at HAM so any Elmers can feel free to skip ahead.First, you will need to get the proper antenna for it. It's a brick until you have the antenna.Second, you'll need to get Chirp software to program it. It's FREE of charge. You can try manually entering channels or just scanning, but it's sort of a brick until you get it properly programmed. (I got a fill from my local HAM club with all the interesting local frequencies and repeaters.)Third, before you can program it, you'll probably have to get the correct driver for your included data cable. The cable included with the radio may or may not be a knockoff of another manufacturer's cable. When you plug it in, it attempts to install the most recent driver, which has been programmed by the manufacturer to prevent knockoff cables from functioning. You will need to go online, download the 2007-era driver, and replace the current driver in your Device Manager to get the cable to work. If you don't the radio is kind of a brick.Once you get the proper antenna, Chirp program (Did I mention it's free?), local channels list, and a functional cable to load the radio, you're in business. And it works. If you're a n00b like me, don't lose hope. Just keep reading or watching youboob vids and fiddling to figure it out.That being said, it works. I would rate it 3 out of 5 overall. It's closer to a 4 than a 2. I would give it 4 for function and 2 for user friendliness out of the box if you're not already an experienced HAMateur. Audio is decent. I might come back and up the vote in the future after I've played with it more.

When I received it it didn't have the GMRS channels that I needed. Contacted the company and received a quick reply on how to correct the issue. Great customer service.