Leixen VV-898: What's it good for?

The right tool for the right job...

A closer look at the Leixen VV-898 - what can it do? https://t.co/Ohc5YtPsWK @amatradio #hamradio #amateurradio #hamr

— BuyTwoWayRadios.com (@2wayradios) December 4, 2015

"The Leixen VV-898 seems like a plain, low power unimpressive little radio, but it really does have a lot to offer. Is it a 125W PEP powerhouse Icom mobile or a feature rich Wouxun KG-UV920P-A? Of course not! Considering its small size, weight and unassuming looks, when you take a closer look at the Leixen VV-898, in some ways it seems even better."

Leixen VV-898: MTC Black Friday Sale

I'm slow, but MTC has the VV-898 for $59.99.

Buy VV-898, Get Free BF-F8+

Get a #free Baofeng BF-F8+ #amateurradio when you buy a Leixen VV-898 mobile! http://t.co/JHqtQDXxuM @amatradio @brickolore #hamradio #hamr
— BuyTwoWayRadios.com (@2wayradios) January 5, 2015

Leixen VV-898: Free Mobile Antenna

I don't have a VV-898 and I've been tempted a couple of times... BuyTwoWayRadios is sweetening the deal at $150, free ship, and free mag mount mobile antenna:

Get a FREE mag mount mobile antenna with purchase of a Leixen VV-898! Details http://t.co/Ph6y4XE60h @brickolore @amatradio #hamradio
— BuyTwoWayRadios.com (@2wayradios) November 25, 2014

Leixen VV-898: Hans Reviews

Hans reviews the Leixen VV-898:

"The receiver is sensitive, very sensitive. With an average sensitivity of -127dBm the Leixen is amongst the most sensitive radios around. Sensitivity isn’t everything though; the capability to separate wanted signals from unwanted signals is much more important. 

That proved to be something the Leixen VV-898 can’t do at all. Even on a relatively deaf antenna, a Diamond discone, I heard mixer products and out-of-band signals all over VHF and UHF."

Leixen VV-898: A Review

VK3XRA has a review of the VV-898.

Leixen VV-898: Updated Software

EA7LX comments that there is a new version of the VV-898 software:

"It gave an error on FM radio frequency despite you change it or not. It was a MODAL ERROR so you had to kill the program and never send the info to the radio. It has something to do with "." PERIOD and "," COMMA in regional settins being different from chineses. I have had the same problem with Windows7 Spanish and WindowsXP English. Now it works. Note that the date of the downloadable file has changed but it keeps th same version and release numbers."

Leixen downloads are here.

Knoxville HamFest

My daughter and I took a quick trip to the Knoxville HamFest. It was her first one. We went late, so I missed what I heard was a good bone yard. I'll post a couple of pictures and more later, but I will say I was a little surprised to see a Leixen VV-898.

Leixen Programming Cable for VV-808 and VV-898 II

I screwed up the link when I posted about the cable. I fixed it on the original post but am posting again. Sorry!

Leixen is selling the cable via AliExpress for $9.20. (There is a sentence on the listing that makes it seem like they would only sell the cable with a radio. That is incorrect. You may order the cable by itself.)

Leixen Programming Cable for VV-808 and VV-898

A couple of notes...

1. The programming cable is the same for the VV-808/VV-808S and VV-898.

2. Leixen is selling the cable via AliExpress for $9.20. (There is a sentence on the listing that makes it seem like they would only sell the cable with a radio. That is incorrect. You may order the cable by itself.)

Leixen VV-898: Available on AliExpress

You can now order the Leixen VV-898 dual-band 10W mobile from AliExpress for $159.00.

Main Feature:

1.        Dual band: TX:136-174MHz/400-470MHz

                              RX:136-174MHz/400-470MHz/200-260MHz/87.5-108MHz

2.        Dual Reception/Dual Display

3.       APRO: Voice Companding and Scrambler

4.       Multi silent mode (QT/QTADT/QTXDT)       214 groups DCS/58 groups CTCSS

5.       DTMF encoding and DTMF decoding

6.       PTT ID(Voice broadcast PTT ID)

7.       All calls, group calls and selective calls

8.       RX Inhibit/ RXTX Inhibit/Revive(Stun/Kill/Revive)

9.       Monitor, SMQ,MOLO

10.   Scan/Scan add

11.   Channel name edit available

12.   199 memory channels

13.   High/Low power(10W/4W)

14.   APO(Auto Power Off)

15.   TOT(Time-out timer)

16.   Font Set(Big/Small)

17.   VOX(Level adjustable)

18.   Busy channel lockout

19.   Keyboard lock (Auto/Manual)

20.   Multi scan mode (TO/CO)

21.   Channel steps (2.5K/5K/6.25K/10K/12.5K/25K)

22.   Wide/Narrow band selection (25KHz/12.5KHz)

23.   TX Stop

24.   Emergency Alarm

25.   RPT Offset(Single/RPT+/RPT-)

26.   Reverse frequency function/ Talk Around/1750Hz burst tone

27.   Lease Function(can program lease time of the radio at a exact time)

28.    Input frequency by using Keypad

29.   Four key programmable

30.    Wireless changing frequency

31.    Timepiece

32.   PC software disable frequency input

33.    Passwords for menu functions Set

34.    PTT Times per Minutes Set

35.    All/Function reset

36.    13.8V DC Power Supply

37.    Size: 120*85*40mm

Leixen VV-898: Dual Band Mobile

Leixen will soon be releaseing the VV-898 dual-band mobile. Picture and specs below.

Main Feature :
1. Dual band: 136-174MHz/400-470MHz/245MHz(Receive only)
2. Dual Reception/Dual Display
3. Voice Companding and Scrambler
4. Multi silent mode (QT/QTADT/QTXDT) 107 groups DCS/58 groups CTCSS
5. DTMF encoding and DTMF decoding
6. PTT ID（Voice broadcast PTT ID）
7. All calls, group calls and selective calls
8. Monitor, RX Inhibit, RXTX Inhibit and Emergency Alarm
9. FM Radio（87.5MHz-108MHz）
10. Scan/Scan add
11. Channel name edit available
12. 199 memory channels
13. High/Low power(10W/4W)
14. APO(Auto Power Off)
15. TOT(Time-out timer)
16. Font Set(Big/Small)
17. VOX(Level adjustable)
18. Busy channel lockout
19. Keyboard lock (Auto/Manual)
20. Multi scan mode (TO/CO)
21. Channel steps (2.5K/5K/6.25K/10K/12.5K/25K)
22. Wide/Narrow band selection (25KHz/12.5KHz)
23. TX Stop
24. Talk Around
25. Beat frequency
26. Reverse frequency function
27. 1750Hz burst tone
28. Four key programmable
29. Lease Function(can program lease time of the radio at a exact time)
30. Input frequency by using Keypad
31. Wireless changing frequency
32. Timepiece
33. PC software disable frequency input
34. Passwords for menu functions Set
35. PTT Times per Minutes Set
36. All/Function reset
37. 13.8V DC Power Supply
38. Size: 120*85*40mm

Leixen VV-898: Flashlight

John (K3NXU) made a funny in my original post about the Leixen VV-898 Dual Band Mobile. He wanted to know if it would have flashlight (like all the Chinese HTs.) I am probably violating my NDA, but I have this super secret picture of a VV-898 prototype. As you can see, it does have a flashlight!

Leixen VV-898: Dual Band

As I guessed yesterday based on a poor translation, the VV-898 that is listed on the Leixen site will be a dual band mobile radio. From Eileen at Leixen:

"Yes, we are planning a dual band mobile radio. The model would be VV-898. But it is just been developing. It would take some time. Maybe not so quickly."

So no details and no date, but it doesn't keep me from hoping it is the same form factor as the VV-808 single band.

Two-Stage Double-Shou

A "Two-Stage Double-Shou" with a "cool debut soon."*

Image of a "Two-Stage Double-Shou":

I don't know** what that is exactly, but I'm excited.

* Alternate translation is a "Double-Double" with a "flashy debut."
** I have a guess.