Cheap Chinese Mototrbo Radios are here - The BFDX BF-P318

[JohnUK]

Cheap Chinese Mototrbo Radios are here!





We have a lot to thank the chinese for in terms of radios. The cheap Puxing, baofengs etc etc have been a great bargain on ebay for a lot of us brits who havent got very deep pockets. And now they have released a digital radio that is advertised as supporting and being compatible with Mototrbo.

This is there website
http://qzbeifeng.en.alibaba.com/

So it looks to be a lot easier and cheaper to both monitor and use mototrbo in the future.

[JohnUK]

The company and Brand is called BFDX

I cant find any single units available yet on ebay but they are selling them to suppliers in bulk on many sites so expect them on ebay very soon.

Here are the specs



Oh and they even do mobile units and even repeaters

[JohnUK]

PRICE?

The big question on my mind right now is how much are these going to be?

I'm guessing like most chinese radios (probably copied/cloned/back engineered/made in low pay conditions etc) they are going to pretty cheap like the puxings and baofeng. Here is one of their non digital dual band radios on ebay right now at about £47 with free shipping (please note this is analogue not digital)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BFDX-BF-600UV ... 0798884245

And here is the good news, they are on made in china dot com but you have to buy a set (peice) which I can't work the price out on. It says 'US $320/ Piece' but does that mean for a bulk order or each? I'd expect them to be around £70 for a dual band though they may be more expensive at first until the other chinese suppliers get hold of them.

http://www.made-in-china.com/showroom/c ... P318-.html

[JohnUK]

The more I read about these radios the more I like them

Specs

Frequency: UHF 400-470MHz ,350-390MHz , VHF 136-174MHz
Channels:160
Zones:50
Channel spacing:12.5KHz
Voltage:7.5V
Battery capacity:1700mAh
LCD display
SMS function
Keypad dialing
Support single,group and general call
With built-in USB connector
With clear critical distance voice
With digital audio signals
Missed call indication
Emergency alarm
4-side buttons can be programmed
Standby time:100 hours
With high/low voltage alarm
Dimension:60*39*103cm

So it looks like its a triple band dual mode digital/analogue HT. A dream come true

But.... still can't find a proper price yet but hopefully we don't have to wait long....

[JohnUK]

Judging by the obvious rip off on the keyboard I'm guessing they could be motorola tech clones?

[SilverShadow]

I want one

Any idea when they will be available on flea bay?

[JohnUK]

I dont know but I check ebay and other suppliers and no single (or even any less than 100) units are available yet but I will post here as soon as they are. It shouldn't be long as they have a whole range of digital radios ready to hit the market just a few finishing touches I hope.

[SilverShadow]

Somehow I don't think these are going to be as cheap as we hope, at least not at first anyway.

This site is asking $449.95

http://www.kightradio.com/BFDX--UHF-Dig ... p_203.html

[2E0AIV]

I have D-Star Digital (co-repeater keeper) but the radios cost an arm and a leg - hopefully they will be releasing these cheaply as i fancy a dable in Motortrbo, so far the network in the uk does not justify the cost - same with Yeasu's Digital effort (C4FM/FDMA) too expensive and too late - I have used the Icom Idas system on a visit to the Icom HQ a couple of years ago, but that all but seems to have died a death, possibly due to cost, especially the repeaters?

[2E0AIV]

P.S I have confirmed contacts on Digital Radio (D-Star) 50 watts UHF from Norfolk UK to Denmark (427 miles Simplex without the help of repeaters) - My specialty is long distance VHF/UHF