AnyTone AT-3318UV-A

I had not seen much from Ed at Import Communications. Now I know why. He is ending his relationship with Wouxun. He is selling off his current inventory of the Wouxun KG-UV6D for $109.95 (inc free AA Pack).

And for his next big announcement, he is introducing a line of AnyTone radios - the AT-3318UV. (Astute readers will recall that Buddy asked me what I knew about this radio in July. My answer was not much.) I suspect these will become more popular just because of the visibility that Ed will bring to it.

First off is the AT-3318UV-A for $99.95:

• 6 Watts VHF
• 5 Watts UHF
• 136-174 MHz & 420-520 MHz & FM Broadcast
• Wide Band & Narrow Band
• 2.5 kHz tuning step for splinter frequencies
• 5/Tone encode and decode
• 199 Channels with Alpha Tags
• Squelch level adjustable for each channel
• Squelch tail elimination
• CTCSS that really works - when scanning channels, radio will stop ONLY when CTCSS tone is present
• VFO Scanning - frequency limits can be set for both VHF & UHF
• Channel Scanning - scanned channels can be ADDED or REMOVED via the keypad
• Frequency Reverse button - exchanges TX & RX frequencies
• Talk Around button - sets TX frequency to repeater's output frequency
• Programmable by computer
• EASY to manually program
• Keypad totally lockable to meet FCC Part 90 requirements

There is a Yahoo Group setup for the AT-3318UV.

I'll post more as I learn more.

Not How I Would Do It

Guy posts a link to a survey on a Yahoo Group and the list owner kicks him out:

"I think you need to unsubscribe from this list of all you want is to mooch a survey. Forget that, I'll unsubscribe you myself."

AnyTone AT-398UV

On AliExpress, the AnyTone AT-398UV is available for $96 + $31 shipping.

Frequency Range:
(RX:) FM: 136-174MHZ + 400-480MHZ
(TX:) FM: 136-174MHZ + 400-480MHZ
FM Radio: 76-108MHZ

Function:
Working mode: UU, UV,V V, U,V
200 Channels+2 groups VFO
Output Power: 5W/0.5W
51 groups+1 group user defined CTCSS+1024 group DCS encode and decode.
DTMF encode and decode
2 Tone/5Tone encode and decode
Multi scan: VFO scan +channel Scan+ Priority scan
+CTCSS scan+DCS scan
VOX function(10 levels) multi-scrambler
Wide/narrow band
Squelch Tail Elimination




Accessories:
One charger
One Li-ion battery (1500mAh)
one rubber antenna
one user manual

AnyTone AT-3318UV

On AliExpress, the AnyTone AT-3318UV is available for $96 + $31 shipping.

Frequency Range:
(RX:) FM: 136-174MHZ + 400-480MHZ
(TX:) FM: 136-174MHZ + 400-480MHZ
FM Radio: 76-108MHZ

Function:
Working mode: UU, UV,V V, U,V
200 Channels+2 groups VFO
Output Power: 5W/0.5W
51 groups+1group user defined CTCSS+1024 group DCS encode and decode.
DTMF encode and decode
2 Tone/5Tone encode and decode
Multi scan: VFO scan +channel Scan+ Priority scan
+CTCSS scan+DCS scan
VOX function(10 levels) multi-scrambler
Wide/narrow band
Squelch Tail Elimination

Accessories:
One charger
One Li-ion battery (1500mAh)
one rubber antenna
one user manual 
One PC cable

Anytone AT-3318UV and AT-398UV

Anyone? I'm googling now.

bbrannan @brickolore Hey, you ever heard of an Anytone AT-3318UV or AT-398UV? Another with true dual band receive maybe. Mon, Jul 29 17:37:09 from web

---

Name: Buddy Brannan

Location: Erie, PA

Web: http://t.co/G8WB608ghR

Bio: Cohost of Triple-Click Home and the Porkcast podcasts, ham radio op, SF fan, Seeing Eye dog user, & geek. http://t.co/opsNV48MVP http://t.co/PecedPG0Kg

Following: 947 Followers: 1265 Updates: 36068

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AnyTone Intellectual Property and TYT

Ed (Import Communications) passed along the following:

To Whom this may Concern:

Please be aware that our Company, Qixiang Electron Science & Technology Co., Ltd., is the manufacturer and designer of the industry leading AT-588 mobile transceiver. We are sending you this notice as where we wish to inform you that our intellectual property has been stolen by a competitive manufacturer from Quanzhou City, China, TYT Electronics Co., Ltd.. 

They sold worldwide a copy of our radio, which they called the TH9000.

Based on the evidence presented to the courts,  the Intermediate People's Court of Quanzhou City announced after trial on June 17,2013, the following verdict:

1) It was found where TYT illegally obtained the technical files of the Model AT-588 (single band mobile radio) from Qixiang and used this information to produce a copy and sold their copied model TH-9000 to the industry. 

2)TYT was ordered to stop the production and sales of the TH9000 

3) TYT was fined 4 million RMB ($650,000 USD) for its tort and illegal activity as damages to Qixiang.

The decision of the courts was fair and just, and brings another level of integrity to the radio manufacturing sector in China.

It  also reminds all professional radio manufacturers in China to the intellectual property of others and this decision reminds of them what they cannot do.

We remind all TYT resellers and users of the TYT Model  TH9000 about this court decision and advise all TYT customers or others to cease from advertising, selling, or supporting  the TH-9000 model transceiver. Qixiang Electron Science & Technology Co., Ltd., will protect its intellectual property and will prosecute to the fullest worldwide anyone found to sell the products in question.
Meanwhile, we hope our customers will support our original designed products, this will be lead us to stable and continued long-term business.
2013-07-19
----------Best regards,EchoQixiang Electron Science & Technology CO., Ltd.
Website: <http://www.qx-tele.com>www.qx-tele.com

Wow.  I wonder if this will have any impact to all the other "clones" we see. I suspect many of the clones are sold by the original manufacturer and re-branded, but there are probably others out there that are not. And will they start protecting the intellectual property of non-Chinese companies? That has long been a concern of taking tech to China to be built.

Anytone AT-5888UV: Resources

As we discussed before, there is a tightly controlled Yahoo Group for the Anytone AT-5888UV.

Because of that tight control, a second Yahoo Group for the Anytone AT-5888UV was started.

I also noticed (via Ed's listing for the radio) that there is a Wiki page for the AT-5888UV.

AnyTone AT-5888UV: Moleculo Review Finished

moleculo Wrapped up my review of the new Anytone AT-5888UV chinese mobile VHF/UHF #hamradio @ bit.ly/YYp3SdWed, Mar 13 20:53:05 from TweetDeck

His conclusion is below, but read the article to get all the details.

"If you need a full featured VHF/UHF mobile radio for under $300 that includes programming software, this radio is for you. If you can spend another $100 for a radio, the Kenwood TM-V71A is a better all-around radio without the harsh RX artifacts while including support for external interfaces like a TNC. I will likely keep this radio as an inexpensive, use-anywhere radio but would probably recommend the TM-V71A as a better buy for most people."

Anytone AT-5888UV: INTEK HR-2040

A little information and a minor rant...
A post in the Anytone AT-588 Yahoo Group (that was deleted) pointed out the AT-5888UV is being sold as the INTEK HR-2040 at MoonRaker for £200 (GBP). INTEK has the radio listed on their site as well.

Now for the rant...

The owner of the Anytone AT-588 Yahoo Group closed the topic saying that it wasn't "a place to advertise other radios."

He goes on to say:

"And it could be a counterfeit which is not uncommon. I know there are counterfeit Wouxun handhelds out their that look and feel like the real thing. Anyway the less chatter about other brands in here the better."

And:

"Certainly looks like the AT5888UV. Start your own Yahoo group called Intek_HR2040 and go talk about it there."

To me this is all a little heavy handed. Based on his other posts, he has a relationship with Anytone and I suspect that he does not want to jeopardize that - thus the "advertise other radios" remark. However, I think it is of interest to owners (and potential owners) of this radio what versions of the unit are floating around out there. If the HR-2040 is actually a re-branded AT-588(8)UV, then Anytone should be happy for any sales of the radios. If they are completely different radios internally and are only cosmetically similar, that's important, too. We've already seen different versions of the 588(8), so I think is reasonable to want to know how the HR-2040 compares. If we discover it is a horrible counterfeit, it would be a great service to make that information known.

AnyTone AT-5888UV: Moleculo Review

Moleculo has started his review of the AnyTone AT-5888UV over at the Worldwide Radio Forum. He does good stuff. Nothing really new in his review so far (he updates over time), but there are some nice pictures.

Anytone AT-5888UV: Firmware

Milton posted an update for Ed in the AT-588UV Yahoo Group.

"Ed says he's shipped 100 radios in the past two days. He is now updating firmware in his previous inventory. He must replace the mic board in the head, update the head firmware, remove the top cover on the body and update the main firmware. He says it's very time consuming. Probably 20-30 minutes per radio counting the unpacking, repacking and etc. And he has to work carefully as not to scratch anything. 

Updated radios will be shipping the first of next week. These will be EXACTLY like the recently arrived new inventory. Only difference between the updated inventory and the recent inventory is the updated inventory will have the updated mic board and the updated firmware. Ed says an additional 100 radios are supposed to ship at the end of this month from China. 

So as you might guess Ed is working night and days shipping radios and applying the updates to his previous inventory. Plus I'm getting a new radio too! Mine was part of the first 50 and had a problem with the mic board and some oddities to the receiver that I documented on a General Dynamics R8000 test set and sent my results to Anytone in China."

So what does Ed have to do to update the firmware? I wonder if end-users would be able to update it.

It would be fantastic if end-users could plug a radio in via USB and do an update. While software isn't the only issue in the rushed to market radios, it would make be an early adopter a little less painful. Aren't we getting closer to that everyday with SDR?

Best

Best Morse Decoder - maybe I should look into that since I can't even spell – · – ·  · – – .

China's Best (and Worst) Ham Gear from Hans

Anytone AT-5888UV: PD0AC Review

I noticed that Dale sold out of the radios in three hours this week. I saw this morning that Ed has more of the rigs for sale and then I saw the review from Hans. Please go to his site to read the entire review.

First, Ed reports these changes:

- Updated Microphone -- Added a built-in speaker in mic's front & a switch to defeat the Channel Up/Down button (which was easy to accidently hit). This switch was also supposed to lock all buttons on the mic, but not sure about that yet.
- Bracket for mounting detachable control head.
- Updated Firmware -- Several menu functions have been added. See the owner's manual for all functions.
- FCC Part 90 Certified -- ID # T4K-5888UV

The first item may address one of the concerns in Hans' review regarding the buttons, but I don't think it would change his conclusion:

"If I may be blunt: many flaws are impossible to live with. If I transmit, I want to be heard. If I listen, I don’t want to be annoyed by noise, distortion and high pitched tones."

He even goes on to recommend the Wouxun at this point:

"If I would like to own a Chinese mobile radio, I’d rather put my money in an improved version of the Wouxun KG-UV920R."

I think this reminds us, as it certainly is not news, that the Chinese process for design and manufacturing is to roll out models as quickly as possible, let the early adopters identify problems, and then fix the problems in subsequent releases.

Anytone AT-5888UV: Name, Numbers, and Dates

More info on the name change and an update on the production timing and volumes from Ed at Import Communications via the Yahoo Group:

Who knows why they do the things they do? To make a distinction between China mainland sales and Overseas sales, Anytone decided to change the model name to AT5888UV for the overseas market. I don't know why didn't they use this new number for the China market, especially since 888 has the meaning of good luck in China.

100 radios are being produced right now. I will get as many as 50 of these but all have been spoken for. Large production will begin Dec 1st and I'm waiting on a shipping date for December.

When I'm given a firm shipping date for December, I will email that information to everyone on my "notify" list and will begin accepting orders. To add your name to this list, look for "Request re-stock notice?" at the bottom of the web page http://www.wouxun.us/item.php?item_id=294&category_id=64

Regards,Ed GriffinImport Communications

Anytone AT-5888UV: What is in a name?

So they've changed the name of the AT-588UV to the AT-5888UV to avoid confusion between the single and dual band radios. That clears things right up.

Seriously, how hard would it be for these companies to hire an native English speaker to help with their naming, documentation, etc.

As a matter of house-keeping here, I will continue to use the label AT-588UV and the new label AT-5888UV, so you can find all the related posts without doing two searches.

Anytone AT-588UV: Manufacturer's Website

Qixiang Electron Science & Technology Company

A little about the company...

Founded in January 1993. Factory whole area is 24,000squre meter located in Quanzhou,Fujian.There are over 300 full-time employee. Qixiang is a high-tech enterprise specialized in developing, producing and selling wireless communication equipment  such as Handheld Two Way Radio, Vehicle Radio,Citizen Band Radios,Repeater for cell phone network, Mobile phone Jammer, etc.

Qixiang annually invests over 10% of sales revenue into R&D.About 50 engineers keep transforming advanced technologies into innovative products. Qixiang is the contributor to several major international standard as FCC,CE,ROHS. We assure 18 months Quality Guarantee for product(the unit ).Strong ability in OEM/ODM, our production line has been strictly tested by QC department; out sale's team aim to supply you with high-quality after-sale service; the high-tech equipped facilities is a guarantee for high-quality products, such as HP8921, Marconi 2955 and Motorola 2600, Anritsu Ms8604A (100Hz-8.5GHz) and HP8753D (30KHz-6GHz). Besides that, we have two SMT machines made by JUKI Japan and several production lines. High & low temperature test and humidity test is our regular job every day. Your success is our achievement; let's create a win-win future together. Qixiang Electron Science & Technology Co., Ltd will be acted as your golden supplier in China.

Anytone AT-588UV: Delay and A Risque Picture

So Kight Radio is reporting a delay in the certification of the AT-588UV. I'm becoming a little gun shy about being an early adopter. (I'm pretty sure my UV-5R has several of the bugs that were reported in the first few batches.)

While we wait, Hans (PD0AC) has a NSFW* picture of the AT-588UV undressed!!!!

* Okay, not really "not safe for work", but I've always wondered if my traffic would jump if I posted anything about sex, nudity, NSFW, etc.

Anytone AT-588UV: Availability Update from Ed

Via the AT-588UV Yahoo Group:

"Anytone will produce a test run of 50 radios this week. I will receive a large number of these and will offer them for sale. Those that have requested notification on my web site will receive details by email.

A few of these first units have been promised to some of my dealers. The others will be offered for sale via my web site. First come first served.

Anytone has sought FCC certification for this model and is waiting for approval. These first 50 sold will NOT have the FCC certification sticker. The sticker will be provided after the sale. The first 50 sold will have the original microphone. The improved microphone, with built-in speaker will come with later production. I will furnish the improved microphone to the first customers, either free or at my costs.

Full production of this radio is scheduled for Nov 20. I will take pre-production orders right away, for delivery about Dec 1.

To receive information by email when all this is available, (plus prices, shipping, schedule, etc.) please click the "Request re-stock notice?" button on this web page....

If your name is already on this list, you do not need to enter it again.

Regards,Ed GriffinWouxun.US / Import Communicationswww.AT-588UV.com"

Anytone AT-588UV: Opinions

So, on the one hand, we have VA3ISP doing a hands on review of an early version of the AT-588UV. He makes several notes on his third day with the radio and says, "I am sorta bashing this radio at the moment but I haven’t really done much real world testing yet." He then provides his final analysis on the pre-release version - "Pure Garbage!" He lists the major faults as:

- RX audio is terrible. Constant static in the background even with transmitter in close proximity.
- Front end of radio is wide open like a barn door. I hear pager blasts from almost 1Mhz up the dial.
- Cannot store PL/CTCSS tones into memory from front panel.
- TX audio has an AGC problem. Audio volume goes up and down/
- No remote head bracket. It wasn't even in the making when I first spoke to them. They are now adding a bracket so you can remotely mount the head. ( What’s the use of a detachable face…. it’s not a car stereo )
- Beep when setting options is obnoxiously loud. Doesn't seem to be controllable with volume.

Contrast that with the comments from Ed and Dale.

Ed: "By the way, several dual band mobiles are being released, but the Anytone is far and away the best I've seen so far."

Dale: "AT-588UV is due out they say at the end of this month. We have tested the radios and everything checks out perfect."

They are talking about later versions, but there is a wide gap between garbage and best/perfect.

Anytone AT-588UV: USB

So many possibilities for the USB port:

"This is a suggestion I have made but have gotten no comment yet. The USB connection on the left side is actually no more than a charging voltage for cell phone type equipment. I suggested it would be more desirable to have this as a data port. I think I suggested they make it a second, parallel mic jack."