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. Or maybe it could be that some antennas work better on some radios than they do on others. Some seem 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.