Hello radio friends!
I want to start by saying that this is not a rant or criticism for any brand or model. I am just curious about this whole thing. All the radios I will mention here do plenty good in my eyes considering they are HTs and given what I use them for and my skill level I am more than happy. I am just curious if this is just the way it is across the board or if these variations within models is normal. I am very limited in my knowledge.
These radios were tested using a Surecom SW-102 and a XRDS-RF 50W dummy load.
According to my testing the Wouxun KG-UV9DMate sent out
8.2W on high power on 2m, 7.7W on high power in 70cm.
My Wouxun KG-UV9P did similar sending out
8.3W on high power on 2m, 7.7W on high power in 70cm
I have heard that the actual difference between 8 and 10 watts would not be noticeable but I am just curious as to why these are not reaching 10 watts.
Class is in session friends, let the educating begin! 
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The trouble is that output power is related to frequency - and if you try the top and bottom of the band, it varies. With some radios cvovering 136-180MHz and 400-480MHz, you can expect a wide variation in output, depending on the final PA tuning. The other thing is that the meter is usually wrong. Calibrated power meters cost considerably more, so the decimal point numbers are pointless. 8W could easily be 9W, and 8.5W is just an indication. Worse, that meter also covers a huge range and it is not linear across the range - as in it’s less sensitive for some frequencies and generous for others.
If the spec says 10W, then it’s 10W on a good day, with the wind behind you. I’d suggest 10% misread is pretty good. I’ve got one of those meters and a more expensive one with analogue meter. I have no idea which is correct. It just needs to be relative. I have a 10W Retevis that is popular, and at UHF, it measure below 9W on one meter and nearly 10W on the other. All the same model read the same. If I swap it for a 6W radio, then both meters are very close. maybe just a tad under 6W. I have always wanted a Bird meter, but do I actually need the accuracy? no! What I need is the indication. I do agree that 8 to 10 is a pointless increase. 1 to 10 is a nice jump, and useful, but to do the same increase on 10W needs 100W to get the same real performance jump. 1 to 5 is noticeable, but hardly worth it for extra range. 4 to 5W makes so little difference they’re really too similar.
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The Tidradio H8 actually does 10 watts. Anything else I have is in the 5ish range.
A lot, I’m sure, depends on battery power and the configuration of cells in a battery pack. That and the output transistor’s capability.
My understanding, however, is the maximum legal power output for an amateur HT is 7 watts. The regs don’t come out and say it. Its based on specific Absorbtion Rates and other formulas that are calculated.
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Thank you for the response paullears, lots of good info! I still have a lot to learn.
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Very interesting! time to read up! Thank you for your response jwilkers!
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By the way, that very radio is my next addition come next month
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