Small, lightweight, and inexpensive, the Luiton LT-898UV fills a niche for the ham radio operator looking for a mobile/base radio but not wanting to invest in a higher priced 50+ watt model. In this video found on my Youtube channel, I take a look at the Luiton LT-898UV (also sold under the Leixen and Jetstream brand) and outline my plans for using it as part of a small mobile go-can kit.

First impressions on the radio: the speaker has nice loud audio and the front panel buttons are relatively easy to use. The radio programs with the supplied programming application or with Chirp (I recommend Chirp for its ease of use). Low power is 4 watts and high power is 10 watts. But with a decent antenna, 10 watts gets you on the repeaters.

Normally I’d use a higher powered radio as 25 or 50 watts will give better mobile coverage; filling the fringe areas better. So, why would I want a 10 watt radio? Well, for two reasons. This radio is going to be part of a go-kit using the smallest plastic ammo can that will still fit an 8ah gel cell battery. A higher power radio will significantly reduce my run time with the little battery. The second reason will be apparent in my future videos as I’m planning to include an integrated antenna into the kit, so I don’t want to worry too much about RF exposure.

luiton-lt-898uv-size-comparison

And really, it’s not so much about the transmit power, but the antenna you are using. A decent external antenna will give you as good of coverage on 10 watts as 50. The power difference relates to about a 2 S-Unit change on your meter, so fringe area coverage may be lacking, or you will hear a bit more mobile flutter in your vehicle.

Please check back again for future articles and videos as I build out my mobile go-kit based around the Luiton LT-898UV mobile radio.

luiton-lt-898uv-ammo-can

Luiton LT-898-UV Specs: (Available on Amazon)

1. Dual band: 136-174MHz/400-470MHz/245MHz (Receive only) ;
2. Dual Reception/Dual Display ;
3. Voice Compand 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. Reverse frequency function;
24. Four key programmable;
25. Input frequency by using Keypad

General:
Band: VHF&UHF Dual Band
Frequency Range: 400-470MHz &136-174MHz
Channel Capacity: 199 Channels
Output Power: 4W/10W
Operation Mode: Simplex
Modulation Limitation: ≤±5KHz
Spurious Radiation: 60dB
TX Current: 1A/1.8A
Frequency Stability: <0.18µV
Modulation Type: F3E
Audio Power: ≥400mW
Standby Current: 78mA(Power Saving Mode is 30mA)
Rated Voltage: 13.8V

Package Include:
1x Radio
1x Keypad Microphone
1x DC Power Cable
1x Bracket
1x Bracket Screw
1x User Manual
1x Programming Cable
1x Programming Software CD

See more videos (and subscribe) on the KB9VBR Antennas Youtube Channel

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