New Quansheng UV-K10 Radio

Well, the Quansheng UV-K10 should be out for sale soon. Looks very much like the K1, but with GPS and APRS. Its also said to be able to do HF (lower frequency bands). Seeing a peek of price, it looks quite expensive for what it offers. There's lots of radios that have all the mentioned features that are a bit lower in price. Maybe the price will drop once it's officially released. See the video below for more information.

Realistic Pro 34 Dead - Not Working

I have this old Realistic Pro 34 that I got for basically free that is completely dead. Tried with a compatible adapter, totally dead. Also tried with a battery holder that was from my Pro-43 [but Commtel branded] that seemed to fit, no luck. Scanner is as dead as a dodo. I opened the radio up just to have a quick look and noticed that there was a little wire that seems to be disconnected from it's solder joint. The connection is from the side of a component on the top board to the metal below. Is it some kind of earth. Not sure how relevant this is in terms of the radio being completely dead.

Realistic Pro-34 with a broken solder joint at the bottom

Please see the picture in this post. My question to anyone with electrical knowledge is, in your opinion if this was soldered back on properly would it get the radio working again. I've tried pushing it on with power going into the radio, adapter plugged in, correct voltage / polarity etc, but nothing happens. I think there's a good chance it's not touching the connection properly and needs to be soldered back on to really see if it would bring the radio back to life. What do you think? Should I buy a soldering kit and give it a shot.

Birds eye view of the component this wire is soldered to the side of

As a side note: I've come across a few of these older Realistic Pro's over the years, Pro-26, Pro-34 and Pro-37, and almost every single one of them had a problem. Some had screens and memories that were scrambled, and this one is lifeless. Next time I won't even take it if its being given away for free. Actually, I probably still would. I will update this post with my progress on trying to fix this radio.

Update: I think I have found the problem. I've looked a bit deeper and found what I think is another broken wire that looks like it should be soldered. This time its on the power switch. So this looks very promising. I've looked at the wiring diagram and can see the area where this is located. Only issue is, being a novice with fixing electronics [this is my first project] I'm not 100% sure if the wire is intentionally not connected.

Hopefully, this is the only problem 

But I'm pretty sure it is absolutely meant to be connected as I can see a little nick on the solder blob on the board, like something has broke off. And looking closely at the wire itself, it does look like it's been snapped / broken. However, I will ask for a second opinion on a radio forum just to be 100% sure before attempting to solder the wire on to the board. I just hope the wire doesn't break when bending it back over. Time to buy a soldering kit. Will update soon.

New F4HWN firmware V6.0.0 Available

Armel has revealed that there is now a new version of F4HWN firmware available. Version v6.0.0. It features multiBoot, multiconfig, applications overlay and more. Be aware that this version is only for the Quansheng UV-K1 and Quansheng UV-K5 Version 3. If you want to learn more about this version and see installation and feature information click on the video link below. I would have shared the video properly, but for some reason Armel [F4HWN] has made his videos not watchable on other websites, only on Youtube.

The links to Github for this version are in the video description. But here is Armel's [F4HWN] Github page in case you want to check him out. https://github.com/armel. Some downloads are there also.

HF Si4732 Receive Mod With Quansheng K1 (8)

Receiving HF with the Quansheng K1 (8) Mini Kong requires a modification. Those skilled in electronics have no problemo doing the job themselves, but  for us average Joe's it's not an easy thing to attempt with zero knowledge. The guy in the video below, known as OM0ET on Youtube knows how to perform this upgrade easily. See the video of him below using the K1 that he has modified with an active whip antenna. Everyone is asking... How to do it. He has videos I think showing how to do it.

But its not easy, and everyone is asking if the K1 can be purchased with the mod already completed. Well, yes it can. OM0ET posted the link to buy the radio already upgraded but it was a dead link to most people. It was a tough link to find. But it can be found here @ https://rxradio.net/quansheng-uv-k1-hf-mod-si4732-bluetooth-already-installed/

The already modified K1 can be purchased from that link above. The mod has the Si4732 - IOTCU bluetooth upgrades with an extra SW antenna port where the LED torch light usually is. The light is now gone with the upgrade, but that's an excellent trade off. No one likes the light feature anyway. Add the F4HWN or IJV firmware and you are on to a real winner of a radio.

Quansheng Antenna Works Great With DMR

The standard analogue antenna that comes with the Quansheng K5 / K6 works great with DMR signals. I've tested many antennas on my Baofeng 1701 DMR radio [here], and most analogue antennas I have do work quite well on this radio for digital signals. However, it's the stock antenna that comes with the Quansheng K5 / K6 that I use almost all the time now on this radio. Some antennas, even ones that would be considered much better than the stock Quansheng antenna, can be choppy when it comes to picking up some DMR signal replies between received conversations.

Yes. My antenna is wrapped in clingfilm.

But with the stock Quansheng antenna the choppy / broken signals are almost non existent. Even though its quite a small antenna and not considered very good by some people, It works great for DMR. But I also think its an underrated antenna for analogue as well. If you've been looking for a decent, small in size antenna for your DMR, and you own a Quansheng radio, give the stock antenna a go. I don't think you will be disappointed. I'm certainly not.

Quanshengs Are The Measuring Stick

Yes, it's true. My Quanshengs have become the measuring stick. Whenever I get a new radio now I always compare it to my modified Quanshengs. If it can live with the Quansheng or is better [not very often] I know its a good radio. I've tested so many scanner receivers to my modified Quansheng's. Some might pick up a certain signal a little better here and there [again, not very often], but overall the Quansheng radios really hold their own and have been the winners when all the factors are considered.

And I've tested them against many radios new and old. Mostly the old boys, like the Realistic models [PRO 43, PRO 26, PRO 37, PRO 70, PRO 50], Commtel COM204, AOR 8000, Yupiteru 7000, GRE PSR255, GRE 295, Old Unidens, SDR dongles etc. Even some newish models like the ICOM R6 and Baofeng 1701 [analogue mode]. The Quanshengs have never been left in the dirt. Very impressive for a "cheap Chinese radio" as some people call them. I mean, yes, technically they are a cheap Chinese radio. But they are great.

Commtel 204 Superb @ 200MHz

I've been comparing the Commtel 204 @ 200MHz to a modified Quansheng K6 and Yupiteru MVT-7000 on the same frequencies. What I've found is that the Commtel is more sensitive than both models @ 200MHz. I picked up a HAM radio signal on the Commtel and it was some people talking Portuguese. Maybe from Portugal or Brazil etc. I'm in the UK. I could hear them quite clear on the 204 using a telescopic antenna. I changed the antenna over to the Quansheng K6 and Yupiteru MVT-7000 and could not hear anything but a really feint, totally undiscernible audio. 

This has happened a few times now when comparing signals @ 200MHz. The Commtel just seems better at that frequency range. It can pick up signals other radios can't. I think its the triple conversion super heterodyne receiver that's in this radio. Of course, antennas make a difference on radios, but not to that extent. We're talking thousands of miles here. Some antennas though are better suited to certain radios. 

For instance, I've found that older antennas work terrible on my Quansheng's, but work great on the older scanners. It's similar the other way around, too. Something to consider. If you're not aware, the Commtel 204 is basically a Realistic PRO 43. Same radio under a different name. But yeah, this commtel can also pick up Russia. The triple conversion superheterodyne receiver can really get out there. And bare in mind, I'm only using portable antenna, not some big thing on the roof or anything. Shame its all in languages I don't understand.