popularfrancois posted Yesterday 09:05 PM
Item 1 of 2
Item 1 of 2
popularfrancois posted Yesterday 09:05 PM
Retevis RA79 (rebranded Quansheng UV-K5 radio) Ham Radio $15
$15
$30
50% offAmazon
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Amazon has the Retevis RA79 (a rebranded version of the Quansheng UV-K5 radio) for $15
It's a dual band 2m 70 cm FM radio, plus AM in air band. Usb charging, etc.
With an alternate firmware it can do CB band, waterfall display etc.
A ham license is required to operate it legally.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CD3PHGH7
It's a dual band 2m 70 cm FM radio, plus AM in air band. Usb charging, etc.
With an alternate firmware it can do CB band, waterfall display etc.
A ham license is required to operate it legally.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CD3PHGH7
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Product Info
Community Notes
About the Poster
Amazon has the Retevis RA79 (a rebranded version of the Quansheng UV-K5 radio) for $15
It's a dual band 2m 70 cm FM radio, plus AM in air band. Usb charging, etc.
With an alternate firmware it can do CB band, waterfall display etc.
A ham license is required to operate it legally.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CD3PHGH7
It's a dual band 2m 70 cm FM radio, plus AM in air band. Usb charging, etc.
With an alternate firmware it can do CB band, waterfall display etc.
A ham license is required to operate it legally.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CD3PHGH7
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You are technically correct that you (the person) do not need a license to transmit on CB. However, the radio itself must be certified (Type Accepted) by the FCC for CB TRANSMIT. You can of course use this to receive anything and that is legal.
This Retevis RA79 (or the Quansheng UV-K5) is not certified for CB. It is designed and approved as an Amateur (Ham) radio. This creates a few hurdles:
- Legality: Even if you have a Ham license, you are strictly limited to transmitting on Amateur bands (based on your license class). A Ham license does not authorize you to transmit on CB, GMRS, or FRS frequencies using a non-certified radio like this one.
- Hardware Reality: The "Citizen Band" (CB) is at ~27 MHz (HF), while this radio is built for ~144/440 MHz (VHF/UHF).
Here is what this radio can actually do:- Out of the Box: It transmits/receives on the 2-meter (~144 MHz) and 70cm (~440 MHz) Ham bands. It can receive FM radio, NOAA weather, and some other frequencies. It cannot transmit or receive CB.
- With Firmware Mods: You can flash custom firmware (like Egzumer) to open up the receive range significantly. This allows you to listen to CB, Airband, and more. However, reception on CB is often poor because the physical antenna and circuits aren't tuned for it.
- With Hardware Mods: To actually transmit on CB frequencies, you would need to physically modify the internal circuit board (adding an HF board). Even if you do this, the signal is often 'dirty' (full of interference/harmonics), and it remains illegal to transmit on CB with this device. You could technically transmit on other frequencies such as the 10-meter band, if the harmonics were within the allowed limits of Amateur radio license requirements (which it probably is not unless you throw a lot of money at it for filters).
TL;DR: If you want to talk on CB, save yourself the headache and buy a dedicated CB radio. If you want to get into the technical hobby of Ham radio, the UV-K5 is a fun, cheap starting point!Leave a Comment