The general consensus is that neither is fake. The Chinese one probably is grey marketed. This could explain the same serial number being used. Thanks all.
The differences in the PC board break marks is due to "panelization" - it is much less expensive to make one large PCB and snap it apart than to make lots of little ones. So you may find the break tabs on the left, right, or both edges. In cases where appearance or tight fit is critical, the boards are often split with a "V" cut running the length of each board. The grain of the topmost fiberglass layer can be explained by either a different supplier of raw board stock or just the way it was loaded into the machine. The screws are likely specified as a particular type and ordered from various suppliers. I think the different numbers you saw on the switch may be a date code - after all, you're talking about products made nearly 2 years apart. You're going to need to look at something a lot more sophisticated (like the radio itself) to try to spot differences. Offshore factories have been known to run "ghost shifts" where additional units are produced "off the books" after hours. Apparently, many manufacturers don't care enough to do anything about it. They'd either have a web site where you could enter a serial number and have it validated, returning the date of manufacture, factory location, etc. Computer hard drive manufacturers usually provide this and people get upset when they discover that the drive they bought is genuine, but it was sold to a computer manufacturer and there is no end-user warranty at all. Additionally, there are companies like YottaMark and BradyID that provide labels with unique codes, along with a web site (not run by the equipment manufacturer) where you enter the label info and it tells you what it is, the serial number, etc. But as I said, most manufacturers don't care enough.
much like overproduction items are sold off, often in "bulk lots" or 'over stocked' or the like. Common practice if contracts do not specifically forbid such things.
Well i would say "not fake" but like a first run - to iron out the manufacturing process? thus would make them a "B" and Q.A. reject, but may work well as intended. EDIT: I was a Q.A. tec at one point, If it's not perfect. =trash it. per say.
I think I know whats happened here. Chinese factories have a habit of continuing to manufacture things after their conteact with a Japanese or American company has ended. The quality control gradually drifts and they often stick a genetic name on the unofficial ones.
Ive had ft2900r marked japan and marked china. Also the $12 mh48 mic i got is about identical to the original exception is led brightness. Many companies in my opinion have products made on contractual basis by china and then pretend its made in japan. I believe yaesu is the #1 offender. Hence why they always sell less than icom or kenwood
One isn’t fake vs real, they are both real - it’s just one is being sold directly to you without a middleman taking a cut. There’s LOADS of profit in these accessories that are actually very simple to make so these are being sold direct to you the buyer with less of a mark up.
I agree it should be cheaper... but I do believe it works with the cheapest HF radios, such as the 891 I displayed it working with. Is there other radios it should work on?
@@HAMRADIODUDE I said $1500 cause thats about the price of a FT-710 and the only one I wanted the keypad for. Everything Yaesu makes is really high quality/price even the 891 is $700-900CAD. paying for quality intricate equipment is different than a few buttons and resistors.
There are "clones" out there for around $15. In this case it just some push buttons with resistors attached that work just fine. Or build your own, the values for the resistors and schematic are in your manual.
They may be both real Yaesu products, just packaged for different markets. Buying an official product intended for a different market is called a "grey market" product as it wasn't meant to be sold outside of the region of the market it was intended for. Most manufacturers, however, will not warranty any "official" products outside the intended market area. Some features of the product may be different to adjust to the laws or regulations within the region they were intended to be sold in.
This is an inherent risk of manufacturing in China, where the prevalence of the gray market and counterfeit goods is a significant threat to product integrity and brand reputation.
Notice that the fake one was hand assembled (bent over component leads and non uniform soldering) and the real one was machine stuffed and wave soldered using automated production facility (straight component leads and uniform soldering.
Bro, those are both legit and neither one is fake. Just different production cycles and therefore different serial numbers. Maybe the “fake” one is from some illegal overproduction or just failed qc. But most likely just some vendor got them cheap because the hw price is low and sells them via aliexpress. Edit: Also in germany you find them from local online shops even cheaper than 50$. Exactly 34,90€ from well known ham shops. Seams Yaesu or the US dealers just cash out on US customers.
It's outrageous that they would charge $100 for such a thing, or even $50. I built a $12.80 kit from Aliexpress that works just fine and I actually prefer the buttons on it to the real FH-2. They are larger, have a tactile click, are color coded and also laid out in a logical manner instead of just being a traditional number pad. I have a real FH-2, it sits in a drawer and will likely end up on eBay. EDIT: Corrected the price, it is now $12.80, not $12.00. That damn inflation! 😁
That's my theory. Yaesu contracted manufacturing with a chinese supplier. Someone is taking materials (manufacturing rejects or otherwise) and making these units and selling through aliexpress. Yaesu (and other vendors) don't have a great way to clamp down on these guys. Part of the cost of outsourced manufacturing.
Clones can (can; not will) end up giving the real owner of the brand a bad reputation. Consumers often pay real deal prices for fakes. There is harm in counterfeiting when it occurs.
Knowing supply chains it’s highly likely that all the parts are made by the same supply chain companies that yaesu uses using the same molds etc. Then the same or different factory does the final assembly. The only question would really be around the quality checks during manufacturing imho
@@don_n5skt It is all moot. Yaesu or it's counterfeit doesn't come with PETN. Some entity set up a shell company and took advantage of the paranoia of Hezbollah. They ordered the bombs straight from the bomb makers. And then they ordered more. I wonder if the Mossad could get rid of spurious emissions.
They might use different dimensioned raw PCB material sheets from batch to batch, so the panelizations, hence the lines, may change. The markings on the switches could be an innocent difference, like date code or a trivial spec difference.
I believe both of those are legit Yaesu products. Yaesu makes all of their HF rigs in Japan, but the VHF/UHF radios and some accessories are made in China but then shipped to Japan so that Yaesu can QC them before shipping to their customers. The China contractor is simply selling them direct out of their plant without Yaesu QCing them. I believe the increased price of the one from Japan is to cover the cost of shipping from the Chinese plant to them and the cost of checking them at the factory. I may be wrong but if this is true it would make sense why the prices are different.
I have yeasu ft-891 original manufactured in Japan, bought in Germany. I got broken speaker after few months usage. After analysis, I found weak wire on the speaker's membrane. So "Japan made" stick is not guarantee. Maybe it's single case, maybe massive. I repaired it myself.
I have bought things that came with accessory bundles that were obviously not the quality of parts sold separately. Maybe they were made as part of a cheaper made bundle.
It's just a matter of time before prices go up on all those markets. I've noticed a 1000-1500 percent markup in my own country, and about 600-1000 percent markup on Amazon for a lot of electrical producs, ham or otherwise, doesn't matter. They're all produced at the same facilities, with the exact same specs, same functionality. In most cases it's not even worth counterfeiting, but it's worth for them to reach a bigger market, get a lot of feedback and establish a reputation - like Amazon did, they were cheap and fast. Now they're fast - but sometimes even more expensive than the resellers.
I'm wondering if those were overstock that have been shipped around? They could've both been manufactured years apart and on different shifts. The serial number might just be for a unit that was meant for Japan. If anything, the case is definitely the same. The solder points, again, could be that after years of manufacturing, someone could've been sleeping on the job. Good stuff, tho. It's nice to see a comparison of gear.
One probability, the parts may be from the same source that were excess from the run produced for Yaesu. Verification of serial numbers is the only way to be sure. If you ordered two of them and they had the same serial number, that would be a good indicator of a fake.
On of these came with my Yaesu FTDX-3000, as standard equipment- i rarely use it. I have an FT-710 now, so i suppose I'll use it. I know that Baofeng has tons of problems with their stuff with counterfeit parts, etc.
From the first 10 seconds in de the video, I'd say the left box is the fake one. 1) The packaging is of a less quality cardboard (you can easily see the "ribs" of the carton used where as the left one is way more sturdy. 2) The printing quality of the packaging is more black on the right one 3) The squiggely (if that's a word) part of the line left of the Y of Yeasu is way clearer than the "fake" one 4) The label on the looks not an original print but rather a photocopy (look at the Pb logo and the trashcan) now, I will continue to watch the video :-)
I don't want to ruin anything for you.. Continue on, and I look forward to reading any more input...Because you have articulated some GREAT points :). Hope you are well Anton!
The fake one looks to have a slightly off, but that might be just lightning, other than the mentioned differences you've found yourself I was also unable to find something. Thanks for the video!
Could it be that the "fake" item was actually produced at the same factory, on the same production line, but for some reason didn't meet Yaesu's high quality standards? (I'm thinking of the lead-clipping during soldering on the "fake" one.) Rather than correct or destroy the rejected units, someone at the factory diverted them to a third party for packaging and sale on the black market. It works well enough, but it just isn't "perfect enough" to pass Yaesu's inspection in Japan.
Plenty of "fake" Yaesu, Kenwood, and Icom accessories, and some radios being sold on ePay. Some only describe the real brand in the description but, there is no brand name or 'logo' anywhere, including the manual which is poorly written in English. Radios being sold are discontinued for everywhere else and some are sold with the original brand name on packaging, paperwork, and the equipment. The bad part is software for programming the original equipment does not work on the fake radios.
I am shocked by these results. I have seen other products that use the exact same serial number for all the products, but I will say that it looks like the hardware came from the same location. I have compared other realfake products and there is usually something that makes it clear. Not here!
Noclue why you would think the right one is fake? Why would the use the same pcb, buttons and all the rest? They would have used cheaper parts instead of the exact same? I think both are real.
I should be really surprised/shocked but to be honest, I'm not, the reason is they are probably all made in China & as you say, then shipped to the correct country, just so they can put their sticker on. So either buy cheap with no guarantee or pay the full price with one ...Hmmm great video, cheers.
I think you have a point about something. Maybe the slight differences in the box (or the same serial number on the sticker) is because those are things they would do in Japan or whatever country they are "made it". Interesting to consider.
Oh man I thought I had a theory until you showed that the serial number matched the one in their photo that points pretty much screams fake. I was thinking the clone is too good to be a copy. The only manufacturing difference I could spot was the wire soldering, so my initial thought was that there was a bad batch made or an earlier run that that had switched the wires and instead of fix them yaseu sold them as is in bulk to someone and they fixed it and resold. However your thought of someone stealing off the production line is probably more realistic
I mean, that kind of surprises me that Yaesu hasn't put anything on their website on "How to spot a fake"... with that BLARING obvious indicator. Guess they were waiting for me to do it.
@@HAMRADIODUDE there isn’t much that would go on that spot a fake list. so much so I am not but it is a fake, but more stolen or repaired. Yaseu “why should we do it if our customers will do it for us”. Like 3D scan to make a stl model of a radio
The glaring serial number match isn’t something you can check until you have already purchased the item. Windcamp makes a dipole that works from 60-6m and their website has a decent spot the fakes write up. But the difference are much bigger
Well let's face it Yaesu makes a lot of profit on the FH-2.... And even the Copycats are making a lot of profit. ABS case... PCB keys like an old C64 joystick... A handful of resistors... The most expensive thing is paying for the ABS mold and rubber mat mold. So people might be right and its the front door and back-door of the same factory.
Hy, I like your videos, no other is fake in my opinion, the cuts of pcb left/right side is because maybe the pcb come from SMT PLACEMENT COMPONENT on a panel, the soldering and cutting is not necesary after IPC 610, printing can be different because says made in Japan but not the factory that can be different, the color&transperacy cand differ because you can order from different suplyer's, I current work an electronuc factory as a quality tehnician
I still wouldn’t buy the grey market products. It’s not only undercutting a company I’d like to support, but all grey market parts are legit. However, they’re usually blemished or something failed QC. Minor repairs may have been made, but most the time they’re as-is. Younger me bought second hand grey market Beats in a different country. They were 100% real, but the left and right were wired backwards.
In the optics world Nikon USA won't even discuss repairing a gray market Nikon camera, binocular or rifle scope. They're 100% genuine and top grade but not authorized to be sold in the US.
I wonder if Yaesu speakers not from dealers are fakes. Until the manufacturers incorporate makers’ marks, hologram labels, and a way to verify serial numbers, its buyer beware.
The real secret requires a magnifying glass. Look at the printing on the label. The real Yaesu will have crisp, clean edges on the lettering. The fake will have bleed off around the edges of the lettering which will make it look heavier. The edges where the ink was printed might look hairy or fuzzy, not sharp and clean.
Some Chinese manufactures who have contracts to make components and devices for named companies continue to make the device which another Chinese wholesaler then ships. They also do this for PCB's which you can get made up and populated, if the circuit is of use they will manufacture it and ship. This is why you should not use Chinese suppliers for you prototypes as they may steal the design.
Classical about chinese products: the solder flux is not cleaned. The chinese one has yellowish marks everywhere where the genuine Yaesu is immaculate.
It doesn’t matter if the products are “identical” in all functional respects, or even if the counterfeit is technically superior. It’s a counterfeit because it illegally carries the Yaesu name. The fact that it can be bought for less money in China is no moral or legal justification either. I recommend you contact a lawyer ASAP.
With all due respect, they are both real. Yaesu sells in China as well and cheaper so Ali Express can sell them cheaper as well on the US market. There are always very small changes between lots made.
Thanks for you input. I was on the same thought train also. But then my last scene makes it confusing because in China, they surely don't all have the same serial number? Cheers.
@@HAMRADIODUDE I would expect they use different serial number series or sets for different countries. Not being in the process I am just using common sense based on the products I have purchased for my radios between name brand and Ali, case in point. I purchased a set of Walker headphones for the range from Ali for 11 bux and free shipping, the same set costs over 80 on Amazon at the time and when I compared them they were identical. I wish US based companies would just price better to keep our dollars here. Keep in mind I was not implying you were saying anything other than that as well. Thanks for the response.
I really appreciate your input And I can tell that you're coming from a good place while you're commenting . Thank you and have a good one! ( I want to buy more stuff off the website now 😂)
Daytime automatic production line / After hours manual production run. This is just someone stealing product from the factory. Most likely an employee.
@@HAMRADIODUDE not intentionally but it could happen. Amazon hand other places have been known to sell counterfeit items presumably without knowing it.
I learned a lot; I didn't know "Grey Market" was a thing, but I do now, which is awesome for the future. But I do believe that is what the majority has agreed on in the comments... Pretty neat :)
'Fake' == 'parallel manufactured product'. Don't stress. Buy the cheaper one. All hail our Chinese overlords! The 'Made in Japan' label was also fabricated. It's all from China. Even the 'Made in Japan' ones. It's like my four year old said, when he heard on TV..."...and for this, we go to China..." And Connor chirps up with, "China! That's where everything is made!" Yes, son.
Imagine ordering a Tesla EV from the official Tesla dealer, and a Chungua clone EV, also labeled “Tesla”, and importing it to your city. You can be charged civilly or even criminally for the import. The clone might even be better built, but labeling it “Tesla” is counterfeiting.
Yep I don't deny that... wasn't really the reason I bought them. Anybody who wants an alternative version that's less than twenty dollars, could see my description
Gave up on this video I'm afraid. With all the changes done to one of them it was basically pointless. Every time there was an actual change it notes in screen it's been changed from how it was, but then obsessing over screw heads? This is a really important topic that I'm really keen to see investigation of but this video was no use at all sadly.
Also ,to be fair, I also obsessed over the molding being the same injection molding, the cable being identical, the buttons and keypad being the same, the solder job NOT being the same, The serial number of the fake being the same as the photos and the difference in font. Thanks again
What a total waste of time. All accessories for ham gear is hilariously over priced. Thats where they make their profit. Shocker that you discovered gray market items. The item you selected is a piece thats really mot edsential to rig operation. Paying $100 for it is for those hams who gotta have all the toys. Yaesu also sells a $600 microphone. 😂 For a radio whose TX bandwidth is 3kHz. 😂😂😂
My chinese 991a just over a year old is chinese junk going back for the 3rd time for bs internal component failures. The fault is Yaesu building cheaper and passing the theft of quality to us consumers. Soon they may abandon 3 year warranty. The crappy soldering on your cheaper one is a dead giveaway its chinese junk, like the real one.
Hey there I'm super curious about what is failing internally on your 9918. If you'd like to discuss it more. Even though I have a 991 I haven't had any problems.Of course, mine is probably somewhere around ten or more years old if I recall.. i'm just genuinely curious.Thanks in advance and sorry for your troubles
Your theory that they were made in the same factory is likewise irrelevant. The federal prosecutor will say that a reasonable person would know that you were getting counterfeit *OR* stolen goods. Your video hands the U.S. CBP all the evidence they need to charge you with illegal importation. But if you can vlog from prison, I’ll subscribe! :)
Trademark Counterfeiting Act of 1984 (18 U.S. Code § 2320) This law specifically targets trafficking in counterfeit goods or services. It makes it illegal to sell counterfeit items or traffic in counterfeit goods, *which includes distribution or manufacture with the intent to deceive or defraud others by using a fake trademark.* 18 U.S. Code § 2320(a): States that anyone who "intentionally traffics or attempts to traffic in goods or services and knowingly uses a counterfeit mark" is committing a crime. Penalties include: Fines of up to $2 million for individuals and $5 million for companies. Imprisonment for up to 10 years for individuals (and up to 20 years for repeat offenders). *However, the law does not explicitly criminalize purchasing counterfeit goods for personal use. But if U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) identifies the goods as counterfeit, they can seize the items when they enter the country.* 2. Customs Enforcement (19 U.S. Code § 1526) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has authority under this code to seize and destroy imported counterfeit goods. The code states that importing goods bearing a counterfeit trademark is prohibited. 19 U.S. Code § 1526(e): Allows CBP to seize and destroy counterfeit goods entering the United States. *While it doesn’t specifically target consumers buying for personal use, it gives the government the right to confiscate the goods, so the buyer may lose the purchase.* *3. Lanham Act (15 U.S. Code § 1114) This act is the federal law governing trademarks. It gives trademark holders the right to enforce their intellectual property against counterfeiting.* 15 U.S. Code § 1114(1)(a): States that the unauthorized use of a registered trademark in connection with goods or services can result in civil liability for damages. Although primarily used by companies to sue counterfeiters, consumers caught reselling counterfeit goods could face civil lawsuits. Consequences for Buyers While there isn’t a law that directly penalizes consumers for buying counterfeit goods for personal use, the consequences can include: Seizure by U.S. Customs. Loss of the purchase without compensation. Potential civil lawsuits if counterfeit goods are resold.
And referencing back to 18 U.S. Code 2320(a) - "Whoever intentionally traffics". We then reference 18 U.S. Code § 2320(f) - Definitions (1) The term “traffic” means to transport, transfer, or otherwise dispose of, to another, for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain, or to make, import, export, obtain control of, or possess with intent to so transport, transfer, or otherwise dispose of.
@@HAMRADIODUDE Really, that's your response? A tired old half-assed put-down about not being fun at parties? Dude, putting "you'll be SHOCKED" in a video title especially when no-one will be shocked, is lazy & condescending. It's as if you think people are idiots & will watch the video because you put SHOCKED in there. It's dümb.
I put in the energy that I received and your comment lacked a lot of energy and substance Do you honestly think because you didn't find something enjoyable?And shocking that other people won't? Here's a suggestion for you.Go spend over a hundred and fifty dollars plus time and don't forget equipment plus that new microphone... give it a really good effort to try to make videos and watch people s*** all over you... do you honestly think that because you don't find something shocking or pleasing to watch that?Others won't, and maybe they appreciate the title because it got them to watch something and they became more aware and alert as a consumer. @@TOMinPDX
@@HAMRADIODUDE No, I think people WILL find your videos useful & informative. What gets me is when people who create good videos & content then use cheap lowbrow tactics like overused clickbait title such as we'll be SHOCKED to convince people to watch. It just cheapens everything & is condescending to viewers. I am in no way criticizing your content or your effort in making your videos at all.
@@TOMinPDX For the record, I don't believe I often use words such as SHOCKED in my titles.. Am I supposed to Gatekeep myself from using words because they may upset and trigger others? I for one was SHOCKED by the findings and discoveries in this episode...Even while editing (hence me in my hat at the closing statement). I for one was SHOCKED Yaesu hasn't addressed this issue... And I for one was SHOCKED nobody else took the time to make this episode. .... and I am sure some of my viewers would be shocked too. See the thing about this is, you're trying to take away from me doing the things I enjoy. When that occurs, I don't like to make videos. I have the potential to make MANY MANY GREAT videos...but I keep getting told what I should do on my channel. It's super interesting..
Knowing supply chains it’s highly likely that all the parts are made by the same supply chain companies that yaesu uses using the same molds etc. Then the same or different factory does the final assembly. The only question would really be around the quality checks during manufacturing imho
The general consensus is that neither is fake. The Chinese one probably is grey marketed. This could explain the same serial number being used. Thanks all.
The differences in the PC board break marks is due to "panelization" - it is much less expensive to make one large PCB and snap it apart than to make lots of little ones. So you may find the break tabs on the left, right, or both edges. In cases where appearance or tight fit is critical, the boards are often split with a "V" cut running the length of each board. The grain of the topmost fiberglass layer can be explained by either a different supplier of raw board stock or just the way it was loaded into the machine. The screws are likely specified as a particular type and ordered from various suppliers. I think the different numbers you saw on the switch may be a date code - after all, you're talking about products made nearly 2 years apart.
You're going to need to look at something a lot more sophisticated (like the radio itself) to try to spot differences.
Offshore factories have been known to run "ghost shifts" where additional units are produced "off the books" after hours.
Apparently, many manufacturers don't care enough to do anything about it. They'd either have a web site where you could enter a serial number and have it validated, returning the date of manufacture, factory location, etc. Computer hard drive manufacturers usually provide this and people get upset when they discover that the drive they bought is genuine, but it was sold to a computer manufacturer and there is no end-user warranty at all. Additionally, there are companies like YottaMark and BradyID that provide labels with unique codes, along with a web site (not run by the equipment manufacturer) where you enter the label info and it tells you what it is, the serial number, etc. But as I said, most manufacturers don't care enough.
much like overproduction items are sold off, often in "bulk lots" or 'over stocked' or the like. Common practice if contracts do not specifically forbid such things.
Well i would say "not fake" but like a first run - to iron out the manufacturing process? thus would make them a "B" and Q.A. reject, but may work well as intended.
EDIT: I was a Q.A. tec at one point, If it's not perfect. =trash it. per say.
I think I know whats happened here. Chinese factories have a habit of continuing to manufacture things after their conteact with a Japanese or American company has ended. The quality control gradually drifts and they often stick a genetic name on the unofficial ones.
that's really good input! Thank you!
TYT / Retevis radios are literally just Alinco designs that they keep manufacturing even after the contract to make them as Alinco radios has ended.
Yes. Witness all the aftermarket HT batteries that are absolutely identical to the OEM ones, at least on the outside.
There are lots of Yaesu FT-2900 being sold brand new today. That is most likely the case. They are as good as the original product then?
Ive had ft2900r marked japan and marked china. Also the $12 mh48 mic i got is about identical to the original exception is led brightness. Many companies in my opinion have products made on contractual basis by china and then pretend its made in japan. I believe yaesu is the #1 offender. Hence why they always sell less than icom or kenwood
One isn’t fake vs real, they are both real - it’s just one is being sold directly to you without a middleman taking a cut.
There’s LOADS of profit in these accessories that are actually very simple to make so these are being sold direct to you the buyer with less of a mark up.
Thanks for the input.
This... Both real , one with a markup to rip off the westerners by the westerners
The Fact Yaesu sells this for $100 and it only works with $1500+ radios. It should have been in the box. its a $5 part
HELL YES
I agree it should be cheaper... but I do believe it works with the cheapest HF radios, such as the 891 I displayed it working with. Is there other radios it should work on?
@@HAMRADIODUDE I said $1500 cause thats about the price of a FT-710 and the only one I wanted the keypad for. Everything Yaesu makes is really high quality/price even the 891 is $700-900CAD. paying for quality intricate equipment is different than a few buttons and resistors.
That makes sense. Thanks! @@piefpv3233
It works with the 891 and 857D. It is an old part and it has always been an option. But yeah, it's overpriced.
There are "clones" out there for around $15. In this case it just some push buttons with resistors attached that work just fine. Or build your own, the values for the resistors and schematic are in your manual.
@@Hank_W6IR you're correct.I actually linked one of them in the description
They may be both real Yaesu products, just packaged for different markets. Buying an official product intended for a different market is called a "grey market" product as it wasn't meant to be sold outside of the region of the market it was intended for. Most manufacturers, however, will not warranty any "official" products outside the intended market area. Some features of the product may be different to adjust to the laws or regulations within the region they were intended to be sold in.
This is an inherent risk of manufacturing in China, where the prevalence of the gray market and counterfeit goods is a significant threat to product integrity and brand reputation.
Oh I just learned something new.Thank you! I was referring to it as a black market, but a gray market.What probably make more sense.. great point!
Yaesu outsourcing to baofeng yet retained the yaesu price tag
Notice that the fake one was hand assembled (bent over component leads and non uniform soldering) and the real one was machine stuffed and wave soldered using automated production facility (straight component leads and uniform soldering.
Excellent observation.. thanks
Bro, those are both legit and neither one is fake. Just different production cycles and therefore different serial numbers.
Maybe the “fake” one is from some illegal overproduction or just failed qc. But most likely just some vendor got them cheap because the hw price is low and sells them via aliexpress.
Edit: Also in germany you find them from local online shops even cheaper than 50$. Exactly 34,90€ from well known ham shops.
Seams Yaesu or the US dealers just cash out on US customers.
@@DudeFromHere thanks!
It's outrageous that they would charge $100 for such a thing, or even $50. I built a $12.80 kit from Aliexpress that works just fine and I actually prefer the buttons on it to the real FH-2. They are larger, have a tactile click, are color coded and also laid out in a logical manner instead of just being a traditional number pad. I have a real FH-2, it sits in a drawer and will likely end up on eBay.
EDIT: Corrected the price, it is now $12.80, not $12.00. That damn inflation! 😁
Nice comparison. I am still troubled by the soldering but as long as it works.
A lot of things will get assembled from parts that have failed QC and were rejected, but not destroyed, and then sold on the black market.
That's my theory. Yaesu contracted manufacturing with a chinese supplier. Someone is taking materials (manufacturing rejects or otherwise) and making these units and selling through aliexpress. Yaesu (and other vendors) don't have a great way to clamp down on these guys. Part of the cost of outsourced manufacturing.
I appreciate your time & efforts. But if the build quality & function are the same, I don’t mind the clone.
Clones can (can; not will) end up giving the real owner of the brand a bad reputation. Consumers often pay real deal prices for fakes. There is harm in counterfeiting when it occurs.
Knowing supply chains it’s highly likely that all the parts are made by the same supply chain companies that yaesu uses using the same molds etc. Then the same or different factory does the final assembly. The only question would really be around the quality checks during manufacturing imho
The one from China is marked made in Japan?
@@don_n5skt It is all moot. Yaesu or it's counterfeit doesn't come with PETN.
Some entity set up a shell company and took advantage of the paranoia of Hezbollah. They ordered the bombs straight from the bomb makers. And then they ordered more.
I wonder if the Mossad could get rid of spurious emissions.
They might use different dimensioned raw PCB material sheets from batch to batch, so the panelizations, hence the lines, may change.
The markings on the switches could be an innocent difference, like date code or a trivial spec difference.
Another interesting video from you. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks!
I believe both of those are legit Yaesu products. Yaesu makes all of their HF rigs in Japan, but the VHF/UHF radios and some accessories are made in China but then shipped to Japan so that Yaesu can QC them before shipping to their customers. The China contractor is simply selling them direct out of their plant without Yaesu QCing them. I believe the increased price of the one from Japan is to cover the cost of shipping from the Chinese plant to them and the cost of checking them at the factory. I may be wrong but if this is true it would make sense why the prices are different.
I have yeasu ft-891 original manufactured in Japan, bought in Germany. I got broken speaker after few months usage. After analysis, I found weak wire on the speaker's membrane. So "Japan made" stick is not guarantee. Maybe it's single case, maybe massive. I repaired it myself.
Ahhhh, This Vid and the John Kruk Yaesu Gray Market warranty questions vid within 24 hours of eash other.....I see what you did here and love it.
Yeah, the great Kruk is not going to like not being able to stifle open communication and shut off commenting here. LOL
I missed this video, I should go see. I'm being genuine when I say that.
Can you link to it? I could not search and get an ressult at all!
@@LordGryllwotth Somewhere right around here - th-cam.com/video/cWFophrqkWk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=7VsSl2UgwG9UmJI-&t=676
I have bought things that came with accessory bundles that were obviously not the quality of parts sold separately. Maybe they were made as part of a cheaper made bundle.
It's just a matter of time before prices go up on all those markets. I've noticed a 1000-1500 percent markup in my own country, and about 600-1000 percent markup on Amazon for a lot of electrical producs, ham or otherwise, doesn't matter. They're all produced at the same facilities, with the exact same specs, same functionality. In most cases it's not even worth counterfeiting, but it's worth for them to reach a bigger market, get a lot of feedback and establish a reputation - like Amazon did, they were cheap and fast. Now they're fast - but sometimes even more expensive than the resellers.
The number at the beginning of the serial is the year of production (for the "fake" one it could be 2011 or 2021)...
That's pretty cool. Thanks!
I'm wondering if those were overstock that have been shipped around? They could've both been manufactured years apart and on different shifts. The serial number might just be for a unit that was meant for Japan. If anything, the case is definitely the same. The solder points, again, could be that after years of manufacturing, someone could've been sleeping on the job. Good stuff, tho. It's nice to see a comparison of gear.
One probability, the parts may be from the same source that were excess from the run produced for Yaesu. Verification of serial numbers is the only way to be sure. If you ordered two of them and they had the same serial number, that would be a good indicator of a fake.
On of these came with my Yaesu FTDX-3000, as standard equipment- i rarely use it. I have an FT-710 now, so i suppose I'll use it. I know that Baofeng has tons of problems with their stuff with counterfeit parts, etc.
From the first 10 seconds in de the video, I'd say the left box is the fake one.
1) The packaging is of a less quality cardboard (you can easily see the "ribs" of the carton used where as the left one is way more sturdy.
2) The printing quality of the packaging is more black on the right one
3) The squiggely (if that's a word) part of the line left of the Y of Yeasu is way clearer than the "fake" one
4) The label on the looks not an original print but rather a photocopy (look at the Pb logo and the trashcan)
now, I will continue to watch the video :-)
I don't want to ruin anything for you.. Continue on, and I look forward to reading any more input...Because you have articulated some GREAT points :). Hope you are well Anton!
The fake one looks to have a slightly off, but that might be just lightning, other than the mentioned differences you've found yourself I was also unable to find something.
Thanks for the video!
Could it be that the "fake" item was actually produced at the same factory, on the same production line, but for some reason didn't meet Yaesu's high quality standards? (I'm thinking of the lead-clipping during soldering on the "fake" one.) Rather than correct or destroy the rejected units, someone at the factory diverted them to a third party for packaging and sale on the black market. It works well enough, but it just isn't "perfect enough" to pass Yaesu's inspection in Japan.
Plenty of "fake" Yaesu, Kenwood, and Icom accessories, and some radios being sold on ePay. Some only describe the real brand in the description but, there is no brand name or 'logo' anywhere, including the manual which is poorly written in English. Radios being sold are discontinued for everywhere else and some are sold with the original brand name on packaging, paperwork, and the equipment. The bad part is software for programming the original equipment does not work on the fake radios.
Good example how much "pay for brand" can be. Thanks for video.
I am shocked by these results. I have seen other products that use the exact same serial number for all the products, but I will say that it looks like the hardware came from the same location. I have compared other realfake products and there is usually something that makes it clear. Not here!
the black dots probably are test dots and some sort of glue which also holds the smd components.
interesting. thanks!
Btw couldn’t you just phone up and check the serial number with yaesu ?
Noclue why you would think the right one is fake? Why would the use the same pcb, buttons and all the rest? They would have used cheaper parts instead of the exact same? I think both are real.
I should be really surprised/shocked but to be honest, I'm not, the reason is they are probably all made in China
& as you say, then shipped to the correct country, just so they can put their sticker on. So either buy cheap with no guarantee or pay the full price with one ...Hmmm
great video, cheers.
I think you have a point about something. Maybe the slight differences in the box (or the same serial number on the sticker) is because those are things they would do in Japan or whatever country they are "made it". Interesting to consider.
I wonder if the Chinesium Yaesu is a factory second that didn't pass QC
Possibly!
Oh man I thought I had a theory until you showed that the serial number matched the one in their photo that points pretty much screams fake. I was thinking the clone is too good to be a copy. The only manufacturing difference I could spot was the wire soldering, so my initial thought was that there was a bad batch made or an earlier run that that had switched the wires and instead of fix them yaseu sold them as is in bulk to someone and they fixed it and resold. However your thought of someone stealing off the production line is probably more realistic
I mean, that kind of surprises me that Yaesu hasn't put anything on their website on "How to spot a fake"... with that BLARING obvious indicator. Guess they were waiting for me to do it.
@@HAMRADIODUDE there isn’t much that would go on that spot a fake list. so much so I am not but it is a fake, but more stolen or repaired. Yaseu “why should we do it if our customers will do it for us”. Like 3D scan to make a stl model of a radio
The glaring serial number match isn’t something you can check until you have already purchased the item. Windcamp makes a dipole that works from 60-6m and their website has a decent spot the fakes write up. But the difference are much bigger
Well let's face it Yaesu makes a lot of profit on the FH-2.... And even the Copycats are making a lot of profit.
ABS case... PCB keys like an old C64 joystick... A handful of resistors...
The most expensive thing is paying for the ABS mold and rubber mat mold. So people might be right and its the front door and back-door of the same factory.
I ended up with a fake YAESU Microphone with the DTMF keypad. I plugged it into my FT891 and it does NOT key the transmitter.
Just don't key it again. They may not have hit everybody yet.
Interesting comparison video
Hy, I like your videos, no other is fake in my opinion, the cuts of pcb left/right side is because maybe the pcb come from SMT PLACEMENT COMPONENT on a panel, the soldering and cutting is not necesary after IPC 610, printing can be different because says made in Japan but not the factory that can be different, the color&transperacy cand differ because you can order from different suplyer's, I current work an electronuc factory as a quality tehnician
Thank You so much for the explanation and your thoughts! I really appreciate it! :)
20:13 Probably a ghost shift batch, but they’re all made in the same factory in China.
I still wouldn’t buy the grey market products. It’s not only undercutting a company I’d like to support, but all grey market parts are legit. However, they’re usually blemished or something failed QC. Minor repairs may have been made, but most the time they’re as-is. Younger me bought second hand grey market Beats in a different country. They were 100% real, but the left and right were wired backwards.
In the optics world Nikon USA won't even discuss repairing a gray market Nikon camera, binocular or rifle scope. They're 100% genuine and top grade but not authorized to be sold in the US.
Great video Dude, Thank you. Just imagine if genuine one is fake and fake one genuine 😂
My Brain would EXPLODE. Haha.
@@HAMRADIODUDE you are an absolute Legend Dude!
Thank you, I appreciate the support! Take care, have a good day! @sekibulja-fu3bv
No big deal here, I bought a copy for half the price of branded and works perfectly... Do what you can afford 😮
Yeasu should use magic smoke scented scratch and sniff stickers to verifying authenticity.
OHHH ... Now with 3x more Electronic Smoke smell!!
I wonder if Yaesu speakers not from dealers are fakes. Until the manufacturers incorporate makers’ marks, hologram labels, and a way to verify serial numbers, its buyer beware.
The real secret requires a magnifying glass. Look at the printing on the label. The real Yaesu will have crisp, clean edges on the lettering. The fake will have bleed off around the edges of the lettering which will make it look heavier. The edges where the ink was printed might look hairy or fuzzy, not sharp and clean.
I will! I have a microscope! Great Idea!
Some Chinese manufactures who have contracts to make components and devices for named companies continue to make the device which another Chinese wholesaler then ships. They also do this for PCB's which you can get made up and populated, if the circuit is of use they will manufacture it and ship. This is why you should not use Chinese suppliers for you prototypes as they may steal the design.
What does that thing do?
Pretty much the same as this - th-cam.com/video/5P6JgFMT1Dc/w-d-xo.html Please let me know if you have questions. Thanks!
Classical about chinese products: the solder flux is not cleaned. The chinese one has yellowish marks everywhere where the genuine Yaesu is immaculate.
I’d say these are both legit and not fake
The big radio manifs outsource a lot of production to china these were both likely produced in the same plant.
If they work the same, looks the same. I'd go with the cheaper option. Doesn't matter if they are fake or not.
It doesn’t matter if the products are “identical” in all functional respects, or even if the counterfeit is technically superior. It’s a counterfeit because it illegally carries the Yaesu name. The fact that it can be bought for less money in China is no moral or legal justification either. I recommend you contact a lawyer ASAP.
Thanks, I always have a lawyer on standby.
Probably a manufacturing ghost run.
With all due respect, they are both real. Yaesu sells in China as well and cheaper so Ali Express can sell them cheaper as well on the US market. There are always very small changes between lots made.
Thanks for you input. I was on the same thought train also. But then my last scene makes it confusing because in China, they surely don't all have the same serial number? Cheers.
@@HAMRADIODUDE I would expect they use different serial number series or sets for different countries. Not being in the process I am just using common sense based on the products I have purchased for my radios between name brand and Ali, case in point. I purchased a set of Walker headphones for the range from Ali for 11 bux and free shipping, the same set costs over 80 on Amazon at the time and when I compared them they were identical. I wish US based companies would just price better to keep our dollars here. Keep in mind I was not implying you were saying anything other than that as well. Thanks for the response.
I really appreciate your input And I can tell that you're coming from a good place while you're commenting . Thank you and have a good one! ( I want to buy more stuff off the website now 😂)
@@HAMRADIODUDE Possible some boards or part sets "fell off the truck" and were boxed by, say, an independent "entrepreneur"
Daytime automatic production line / After hours manual production run. This is just someone stealing product from the factory. Most likely an employee.
this makes a lot of sense. thanks
Me personally, I’ll still spend my money at reputable retailers.
You didn't consider one other possibility....that BOTH are fake.....
So you believe HRO sells fakes?
@@HAMRADIODUDE not intentionally but it could happen. Amazon hand other places have been known to sell counterfeit items presumably without knowing it.
I think they are all made in china
They are. I talked to a tech support guy at Yaesu and he confirmed all their mics and peripherals are made in China.
You caught Ysesu buying them made in China and reselling them for more money, lol
I learned a lot; I didn't know "Grey Market" was a thing, but I do now, which is awesome for the future. But I do believe that is what the majority has agreed on in the comments... Pretty neat :)
Aliexpress version fell off a truck so yeah it's cheaper but usable 😁
Unsharp video... 😵
Tried my best to focus when it was out of focus and provide pictures when I didn't...Working with what I have.
The dayshift makes official products, the nightshift make dodgy products, same factory.
@@gregwmanning this makes sense. Thanks
'Fake' == 'parallel manufactured product'. Don't stress. Buy the cheaper one. All hail our Chinese overlords!
The 'Made in Japan' label was also fabricated. It's all from China. Even the 'Made in Japan' ones.
It's like my four year old said, when he heard on TV..."...and for this, we go to China..."
And Connor chirps up with, "China! That's where everything is made!"
Yes, son.
Imagine ordering a Tesla EV from the official Tesla dealer, and a Chungua clone EV, also labeled “Tesla”, and importing it to your city. You can be charged civilly or even criminally for the import. The clone might even be better built, but labeling it “Tesla” is counterfeiting.
More like assembled in Japan
In both cases you have a 5$ - Device.
Yep I don't deny that... wasn't really the reason I bought them. Anybody who wants an alternative version that's less than twenty dollars, could see my description
Gave up on this video I'm afraid. With all the changes done to one of them it was basically pointless. Every time there was an actual change it notes in screen it's been changed from how it was, but then obsessing over screw heads?
This is a really important topic that I'm really keen to see investigation of but this video was no use at all sadly.
If you didn't finish the video, how do you know it was basically pointless? Thanks for watching anyway.
Also ,to be fair, I also obsessed over the molding being the same injection molding, the cable being identical, the buttons and keypad being the same, the solder job NOT being the same, The serial number of the fake being the same as the photos and the difference in font. Thanks again
@@HAMRADIODUDE Skipped to the end ;-)
@@HAMRADIODUDEthat's true!
I'll work on doing better next time. Thanks again @@JohnR_ytbe
not fake bro, comparing a chinese store to a local USA store, of course chinese is cheaper for the same genuine product
Thanks.
What a total waste of time. All accessories for ham gear is hilariously over priced. Thats where they make their profit. Shocker that you discovered gray market items. The item you selected is a piece thats really mot edsential to rig operation. Paying $100 for it is for those hams who gotta have all the toys. Yaesu also sells a $600 microphone. 😂 For a radio whose TX bandwidth is 3kHz. 😂😂😂
Thanks for wasting your time .
My chinese 991a just over a year old is chinese junk going back for the 3rd time for bs internal component failures. The fault is Yaesu building cheaper and passing the theft of quality to us consumers. Soon they may abandon 3 year warranty.
The crappy soldering on your cheaper one is a dead giveaway its chinese junk, like the real one.
Hey there
I'm super curious about what is failing internally on your 9918. If you'd like to discuss it more. Even though I have a 991 I haven't had any problems.Of course, mine is probably somewhere around ten or more years old if I recall.. i'm just genuinely curious.Thanks in advance and sorry for your troubles
Discussing fonts and cable transport packing ? Really ?... What a waste of time...
@@berndkonemann5049 I'll look forward to your comparison
I think they're both fakes.
I'll let ham radio outlet know they are selling fakes.. Thanks!:D
Your theory that they were made in the same factory is likewise irrelevant. The federal prosecutor will say that a reasonable person would know that you were getting counterfeit *OR* stolen goods. Your video hands the U.S. CBP all the evidence they need to charge you with illegal importation.
But if you can vlog from prison, I’ll subscribe! :)
Trademark Counterfeiting Act of 1984 (18 U.S. Code § 2320)
This law specifically targets trafficking in counterfeit goods or services. It makes it illegal to sell counterfeit items or traffic in counterfeit goods, *which includes distribution or manufacture with the intent to deceive or defraud others by using a fake trademark.*
18 U.S. Code § 2320(a): States that anyone who "intentionally traffics or attempts to traffic in goods or services and knowingly uses a counterfeit mark" is committing a crime.
Penalties include:
Fines of up to $2 million for individuals and $5 million for companies.
Imprisonment for up to 10 years for individuals (and up to 20 years for repeat offenders).
*However, the law does not explicitly criminalize purchasing counterfeit goods for personal use. But if U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) identifies the goods as counterfeit, they can seize the items when they enter the country.*
2. Customs Enforcement (19 U.S. Code § 1526)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has authority under this code to seize and destroy imported counterfeit goods. The code states that importing goods bearing a counterfeit trademark is prohibited.
19 U.S. Code § 1526(e): Allows CBP to seize and destroy counterfeit goods entering the United States.
*While it doesn’t specifically target consumers buying for personal use, it gives the government the right to confiscate the goods, so the buyer may lose the purchase.*
*3. Lanham Act (15 U.S. Code § 1114)
This act is the federal law governing trademarks. It gives trademark holders the right to enforce their intellectual property against counterfeiting.*
15 U.S. Code § 1114(1)(a): States that the unauthorized use of a registered trademark in connection with goods or services can result in civil liability for damages.
Although primarily used by companies to sue counterfeiters, consumers caught reselling counterfeit goods could face civil lawsuits.
Consequences for Buyers
While there isn’t a law that directly penalizes consumers for buying counterfeit goods for personal use, the consequences can include:
Seizure by U.S. Customs.
Loss of the purchase without compensation.
Potential civil lawsuits if counterfeit goods are resold.
And referencing back to 18 U.S. Code 2320(a) - "Whoever intentionally traffics". We then reference 18 U.S. Code § 2320(f) - Definitions
(1) The term “traffic” means to transport, transfer, or otherwise dispose of, to another, for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain, or to make, import, export, obtain control of, or possess with intent to so transport, transfer, or otherwise dispose of.
I'm going to be "SHOCKED by the results". 🙄 Get a grip.
I bet you're fun at parties
@@HAMRADIODUDE Really, that's your response? A tired old half-assed put-down about not being fun at parties? Dude, putting "you'll be SHOCKED" in a video title especially when no-one will be shocked, is lazy & condescending. It's as if you think people are idiots & will watch the video because you put SHOCKED in there. It's dümb.
I put in the energy that I received and your comment lacked a lot of energy and substance
Do you honestly think because you didn't find something enjoyable?And shocking that other people won't?
Here's a suggestion for you.Go spend over a hundred and fifty dollars plus time and don't forget equipment plus that new microphone... give it a really good effort to try to make videos and watch people s*** all over you... do you honestly think that because you don't find something shocking or pleasing to watch that?Others won't, and maybe they appreciate the title because it got them to watch something and they became more aware and alert as a consumer.
@@TOMinPDX
@@HAMRADIODUDE No, I think people WILL find your videos useful & informative. What gets me is when people who create good videos & content then use cheap lowbrow tactics like overused clickbait title such as we'll be SHOCKED to convince people to watch. It just cheapens everything & is condescending to viewers. I am in no way criticizing your content or your effort in making your videos at all.
@@TOMinPDX For the record, I don't believe I often use words such as SHOCKED in my titles.. Am I supposed to Gatekeep myself from using words because they may upset and trigger others? I for one was SHOCKED by the findings and discoveries in this episode...Even while editing (hence me in my hat at the closing statement). I for one was SHOCKED Yaesu hasn't addressed this issue... And I for one was SHOCKED nobody else took the time to make this episode. .... and I am sure some of my viewers would be shocked too. See the thing about this is, you're trying to take away from me doing the things I enjoy. When that occurs, I don't like to make videos. I have the potential to make MANY MANY GREAT videos...but I keep getting told what I should do on my channel. It's super interesting..
Good job. Thank you for this video. Happy thanksgiving George N9VTB
Knowing supply chains it’s highly likely that all the parts are made by the same supply chain companies that yaesu uses using the same molds etc. Then the same or different factory does the final assembly. The only question would really be around the quality checks during manufacturing imho