There are some amazing value for money HAM radios coming out of Asia. And the BAJETON BJ-8300 is certainly one of them. The frequency range is very impressive, as is most of its other features. Frequency range is between 153kHz to 999MHz with gaps. It has Bluetooth and can be programmed via the App on a Smartphone, which is free, Short Wave, HF, Medium Wave, AM, FM, Sideband [upper and lower], it covers the CB frequencies [FM + AM / AM is receive only], has two antenna options [one is receive only], a great colour screen and is well-built with a very good battery life.
Not only that, but it also has something called Super Mode, which can be accessed quite easily by holding down two buttons [PTT button and the number 8 on the keypad] simultaneously and turning the radio on. This opens the radio up further. This radio was out of stock for a while but is now back for sale on AliExpress. There’s also the Bajeton BJ-7800, which is considered by some to be slightly better than the BJ-8300. But I think that largely depends upon personal preference as they are very similar. Performance seems close to the same, but the front design and layout of the radios keypads are a bit different. The 7800 is also taller. I prefer this model.
Just got one. Ordered a 27 MHz antenna. Too bad TX is FM only. Will try it on 29.6. Would be ideal for UK FM CB but everything here in the USA is AM.
Great review. At least it didn’t come in blocked for just 2 m and 70 cm. Also just got a UV – K5. (99) and that one supposedly is locked for Ham bands only
Thanks Don. That’s great. I think you’ll be happy with both. In regards to the Quansheng UVK5 (99), just make sure you purchase the cable with it and you will be able to update the firmware. This makes it a much nicer radio to use and gives it many more features.
Information on updating the Quansheng with better firmware can be found below. It’s totally free to upgrade and can be done easily using the “flash from browser” option [cable required] that’s available when using a great firmware update for the K5 called Egzumer.
See here for more info on this: https://rxradio.net/quansheng-uv-k5-easy-programming-software/
Kind Regards
Thank you. I need to play with the UV – K5. (99). I’ve done so far as charge the battery and see how far the frequency ranges as is. I’ll play with it again tomorrow if it’s slow at work. I’m a security guard at a gated community and sometimes it’s very quiet and other times it’s insanely busy. Tonight was one of the insanely busy nights so I will put it in my lunchbox and take it to work. 73, Don
Long Island, New York.
That’s great, Don. Greetings from across the pond! I hope you like the Quansheng K5 99. I think you will be quite impressed with the how far the frequency range is from the Quansheng. I always have been. I’ve compared it to many radio scanners and it has always performed really well.
Have a good one. 73.
I have a pair of the BAJETON
BJ -8300. I have 59 inch telescopic whip antenna with a loading coil and I also have some of the rubber ducks. Plus an assortment of between series adapters so I can convert it to a BNC. Adapters on the market lately are pretty good because they all have a wide flange and most of the walkie-talkies. Have a metal flange around the Male SMA terminatio. I tested it with my QYT – CB 58 on FM. The BAJETON sounds better than the QYT as far as the fidelity is very bright and they don’t chop off the higher frequency audio. But it worked perfectly And looking forward to playing with it. Here in the US it’s not legal to have an FM only CB. During the transition they can have FM but they should also have a M for backwards compatibility.
Can I upload a video not a link but a video that I took and you can hear the difference between the audio of the QYT – CB58 versus the BJ 8300 ?
Hi Don. I never knew that about it being illegal to have an FM only CB. And your comparisons between the QYT CB 58 and the BJ -8300 does not surprise me at all. So many of the so-called “cheap” Chinese radios regularly out-perform much more expensive radios.
I don’t have any upload option on this website, but your welcome to email me the video. Or, if you have a YouTube channel, upload it there and I could embed the video in a post on this website. Alternatively, If you don’t have a YouTube account, I could upload to one of my YouTube channels. With your permission of course. Just let me know.
Kind Regards
don’t know which one to go for. quanshong – bjeton or radtel. or bintolk ;-@
using in inner london – help.
Hi Latton. Any of those will work well in a busy area like London. There should be lots to listen to. But for which one to buy, it depends on what you want the radio for? HAM, CB, PMR, transmitting, receiving only etc. Thanks.