I was glad to see the channel display upgrade to my favorite UHF HT. The receive sound quality on the original KD-C1 is phenomenal and the new PLUS version doesn’t disappoint. I never thought a $15 Chinese HT would sound better on receive than any of the top 4. Other manufactures should take notice of whatever speaker / audio amp combo the KD-C1 is using.
I’m fortunate to have a popular UHF repeater 10 miles from me that’s within working range, but that’s not their only use. I also programmed a pair on FRS for my brother-in-law. His wife has early stages of alzheimer's and keeps in touch with her husband while he works on his farm. We have a similar situation with a neighbor, except she is blind. She found these easier to use than a cell phone while he is working in the garage or around the yard. My wife occasionally monitors this neighbor while he’s gone and makes contact if she needs anything. Of course a full sized antenna will provide better range, but the 1 mile or more range we get from these is adequate. They’re far clearer and have better range than any blister pack FRS talkies, at least the ones I played with. The stubby antenna makes them ideal for using a lanyard around your neck, placing one in your pocket or on the included belt clip without having the usual poking aggravation.
On the KD-C1 you will have difficulty determining what channels are active in scan mode without a readout, therefore I rarely used it as a scanner. There are better options for scanning, much faster scanners too, but the new PLUS version at least makes that feature more viable. The PLUS version did some other upgrade features like scrambling and VOX, but I don’t have any need for those features. Simplicity is their strong suit, and I hope they keep them that way.
The software for the regular KD-C1 will not work on the new PLUS. Fortunately the new PLUS software (Chinese version) is readily available. Chirp supports the KD-C1, but I’ve used the Chinese versions on both without difficulty. I saved the FRS software file for quick and easy future cloning and in case someone is interested.
Both versions use the WLN KB-5C battery. Other clones like the Retevis RT22 and the Zastone ZT-X6 have their own badge that will also work. A common cell phone BL-5C battery works too, those claim a higher capacity rating, but I never could tell much difference. I usually carry an extra battery. Shaving a slightly larger slot inside the compartment with an exacto blade makes it easier for your finger to remove it. That’s the only improvement I think the manufacture should make.
Others have talked about how great these are to use along with a cross band repeater setup in their mobile, something I haven’t tried yet. In closing, I've yet to hear any HT receive audio sound better. These are my standard for comparison in that regard. Buy a pair for your kids and program in a few FRS frequencies. You will love the audio so much you might want another couple programed for your local repeater.