Jianpai 8800 Compliance Test

Compliance testing to ascertain if this radio meets ITU guidelines for spurious emissions.

Jianpai 8800 Final Grade: Fail

The performance of the Jianpai 8800 amateur radio sample we tested exhibited significant variability depending on the operating frequency band. It generated multiple spurious emissions above the 2m (144 MHz) band fundamental that were not in compliance with ITU guidelines for such emissions. Performance in the 70 cm (440 MHz) band was fully compliant. Performance in the 1.25m band (220 MHz) was acceptable.

Use of this radio primarily for 2m VHF transmission is dubious. Use of this radio primarily for 1.25m (220 MHz) or 70 cm UHF transmission is more credible.

It is important to note that this was a single-sample test and that it is possible other samples could vary in performance.

Tests performed in Surrey, BC, Canada on July 3, 2024 by Reg Natarajan.
Discuss this radio on our forums. https://forums.advancedamateur.ca/t/jianpai-8800

Power Output Testing

Power output was measured using a Surecom SW-33 Plus into a dummy load. The radio was set to maximum power. The ITU guidelines for spurious emissions require measurements of "the power (W) supplied to the antenna transmission line". That requirement makes this separate power measurement necessary, as it is incorrect to measure relative to the fundamental (f0). All numbers have been rounded.

2M

146.520 Mhz

5.8 watts

Using the ITU formula of 43+10log(P) dB, spurious emissions for a signal of 5.8 watts must be at least 51 dB below the power supplied to the antenna transmission line. 5.8 watts is approximately 38 dBm, which means no spurious signal may exceed -13 dBm, or approximately 50 microwatts.

70cm

446.000 Mhz

5.1 watts

Using the ITU formula of 43+10log(P) dB, spurious emissions for a signal of 5.1 watts must be at least 50 dB below the power supplied to the antenna transmission line. 5.1 watts is approximately 37 dBm, which means no spurious signal may exceed -13 dBm, or approximately 50 microwatts.

1.25M

223.500 Mhz

6.2 watts

Using the ITU formula of 43+10log(P) dB, spurious emissions for a signal of 6.2 watts must be at least 51 dB below the power supplied to the antenna transmission line. 6.2 watts is approximately 38 dBm, which means no spurious signal may exceed -13 dBm, or approximately 50 microwatts.

Spurious Emissions Testing

Spurious emissions were measured using a Tiny SA Ultra. The radio was set to maximum power and was connected to the TinySA through an attenuator. It is important to understand that the graphs below are using a decibel scale, not a linear scale. If a spurious emission spike appears to be almost as tall as the fundamental, that does not mean it is emitting almost as much power. Refer to the raw data shown.

VHF 2m Band Test Results: Fail

Raw Data 2m

All numbers have been rounded

Power at Antenna: 38 dBm (5.8 watts)

Fundamental (f0): 35 dBm (3.2 watts)

2nd Harmonic (2f0): 21.75 dBm (0.15 watts)

Should be less than -13 dBm (50 microwatts)

3rd Harmonic (3f0): 1.2 dBm (1.32 milliwatts)

Should be less than -13 dBm (50 microwatts)

4th Harmonic (4f0): -11.1 dBm (77 microwatts)

Should be less than -13 dBm (50 microwatts)

The Jianpai 8800 sample that we tested displayed three harmonic emissions above the 2m band fundamental, all of which were out of compliance with ITU guidelines. Any spurious emissions should be at least 51 dB below the power measured at the antenna transmission line. The Jianpai's second harmonic was just 16.25 dB below, which is well out of specification.

UHF 70cm Band Test Results: PASS

Raw Data 70cm

All numbers have been rounded

Power at Antenna: 37 dBm (5.1 watts)

Fundamental (f0): 35.5 dBm (3.5 watts)

6th Harmonic (6f0): -17.7 dBm (21 microwatts)

Should be less than -13 dBm (50 microwatts)

The Jianpai 8800 sample that we tested displayed no significant spurious emissions above the 70 cm band fundamental in our testing. There was a very minor spike in the 2.4 GHz range which was 54.7 dB down from the power measured at the antenna transmission line, which is well within ITU guidelines.

220 1.25M Band Test Results: ACCEPTABLE

Raw Data 1.25M

All numbers have been rounded

Power at Antenna: 38 dBm (6.2 watts)

Fundamental (f0): 36.4 dBm (4.4 watts)

2nd Harmonic (2f0): -4.4 dBm (363 microwatts)

Should be less than -13 dBm (50 microwatts)

The Jianpai 8800 that we tested displayed one harmonic emission above the fundamental in the 1.25m band. This emission was 42.4 dB below the power measured at the antenna transmission line which, while technically out of specification, is an acceptable performance in our view.

Comments

This was painful for me as I love this radio. I own eight of them. Isa and I use them on our bicycles and in our go-bag and in the emergency kit we keep in the car. USB-C charging on the battery is something every radio should have as far as I'm concerned (and yes, I mean on the battery and not on the radio, so you can stock a few batteries and charge them without the radio present). The menus are easy to navigate. It does long Alpha Tags so you can have meaningful information about the frequency you're on. I get great signal reports and good reception on all bands including 220. Most importantly, it's cheap enough that I can afford to keep one everywhere, as opposed to the premium Icoms and Yaesus which often do none of these things and cost five (or more) times as much.

Still, the facts are the facts, and the numbers don't lie. This thing spills crap on several harmonics from the 2m band.

What does this mean to me practically? Well, I'm not going to do anything drastic. As a first test, I'm going to try some band-pass filters on them to see if those will bring me into compliance (or at least close to compliance). If that doesn't work, well, I'll have some decisions to make. It's important to keep things in perspective. The worst spurious emission it displayed (the second harmonic on the 2m test) was just 21.75 dBm which is about 150 milliwatts. It is definitely out of spec, but the odds of that disturbing anyone are low. This thing is no worse than a Baofeng and those are everywhere.

Still, I hold myself to a pretty high standard with radio, and I don't like the idea of weaseling out of things by saying, 'Well, those guys do it too.' Let's see what I can find for sanely priced band-pass filters, preferably cheaper than the radio itself.

I want to add a big thank you to Stan Williams, VA7NF, for his invaluable assistance as I created the protocols for these tests.

~Reg Natarajan VA7ZEB / HJ1ZEB, July 3, 2024

Discuss this radio on our forums. https://forums.advancedamateur.ca/t/jianpai-8800

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