Choyong Multifunctional Walkie Talkie WT2
A walkie-talkie that can also be used to listen to the radio? That's nothing particularly new. But the fact that this small, portable, 177-gram radio also includes a world receiver with medium wave, shortwave, and FM is certainly not something you see every day. And it has a lot more to offer: the WT2 also has access to the internet via Wi-Fi and built-in eSIM functionality – and thus also to internet radio. More than 50,000 stations and countless podcasts are available. With ChatGPT, there is, amazingly, convenient voice control.
The chat function is also exceptional: via Wi-Fi and eSIM, there is a so-called “Global Group” that allows you to communicate worldwide – and with really good voice quality. And you can also use the device as a conventional walkie-talkie – with a range of approx. 5 km. After all, it is also a walkie-talkie.
But that's not all: with a TF card (Micro-SID), you can play up to 32 GB of your own music, and there is also a function for your own recordings, which are then also stored on the TF card. Bluetooth is also available, and with the built-in alarm function, the WT2 can even be used as an alarm clock.
Currently, the WT2 only speaks English. Since a German-language user manual will be available shortly, it is to be expected that a German user interface is also planned. Updates are easily done via the menu when Wi-Fi or eSIM is activated – without any complicated PC actions.
Walkie-talkie
At first glance, the external appearance of the WT2 suggests that it is more of a walkie-talkie than a device with all the other functions that characterize this small device. To access the radio menu, simply press the PTT button once. The device has digital and analog voice radio.
GlobalGroup is digital and requires the internet for transmission—i.e., Wi-Fi and/or eSIM. With the WT2, you can also define and delete your own groups—or invite yourself to new groups.
The frequency range for analog voice radio is between 400,000 and 465,000 MHz. The frequency can be freely selected. You can also easily define your own intermediate frequencies. Use the 5 key to switch between the two functions. Use the 0 key to activate or deactivate the respective system. To use analog voice radio, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi must be turned off. To speak, press the PTT button (and hold it down while speaking).
Internet radio
Once you have turned on the radio, the analog bands (AM, FM, FM) are immediately available—however, for online stations, the device must first connect to Wi-Fi and/or eSIM, which can take a few seconds. Choyong manages its own database, which provides access to online radio stations. The selection is enormous, with over 50,000 stations available. And if you can't find a particular station, you can easily add it yourself via an online interface. The stations are sorted by continent and country. German stations are assigned to the respective federal states, and public broadcasters have their own section. In addition to the many Internet radio stations, listeners will find an almost limitless number of podcasts. If you particularly like a station, simply press the button with the heart. This saves the station as a favorite. The heart button also opens the favorites menu, giving you an instant overview of your favorite stations.
Like the LC90, the WT2 also has voice control—via ChatGPT. This allows you to “talk” to the radio and simply “call up” the desired station without having to type or fiddle around with buttons. The sound quality of the WT2 is excellent—especially considering that the device weighs less than 200 grams.
Radio enthusiasts and DXers will be particularly pleased with the “offset function”: when shortwave, medium wave, or long wave is switched on, the radio is not automatically interrupted by an analog walkie-talkie signal. The focus is on interference-free and uninterrupted AM radio. This is not the case when listening to Internet radio.
Bluetooth, TF, recording function, and alarm clock
With the Bluetooth function, you can easily connect the walkie-talkie to another device, such as a hi-fi system, and use the “Internet radio” function to play any station you like. At the touch of a button, your walkie-talkie becomes a hi-fi device.
In addition to Bluetooth, the WT2 also has a slot for a TF card (micro SD). Cards up to 32 GB are recognized. You can get one of these cards anywhere online, e.g., Amazon, for around $5. With a TF card, you can be your own program director and listen to music, radio plays, or audiobooks – whatever suits your taste. Incidentally, a TF card is essential for device updates – otherwise, no updates can be performed. Your own recordings made with the device are also stored on such a TF card.
Three different alarm times can be set via the configuration menu (button 0), which can be conveniently switched on and off and allow the walkie-talkie to also serve as an alarm clock.
The analog radio
FM
The frequency spectrum for FM ranges from 64 MHz to 108 MHz—adjustable in 10 and 100 KHz increments. It is also possible to enter the frequency directly using the number keys.
For my tests and comparisons, I again used the Sony ICF 7600 GR and the small Deepelec DP-666, which has very good FM reception, as reference devices.
As with shortwave, the supplied antenna does not deliver good results in the FM range either – which is not really surprising. To use the WT-2 for analog reception, it is advisable to purchase a telescopic antenna (with SMA connector), which can be easily screwed on instead of the supplied radio antenna. I recommend a 100 cm antenna from VooGenzek, which can be purchased online for around $4 (or two for around $7). I generally performed the following tests with such a telescopic antenna.
SMA connector for standard antenna, telescopic antenna, or roof antenna
While the reception performance of the Chinese WT2 with its TEF6686 chip is almost on par with the DP-666, the Sony cannot keep up. The sound of the stations played is amazingly clear – especially when you consider the small size of the speaker. Another example: “Deutschlandradio Kultur” broadcasts at 200 watts from Berliner Allee in Freiburg i. Br. and can be received here in Herbolzheim in northern Breisgau without any problems or interference. The same applies to “uniFM,” which broadcasts at 300 watts from the Freiburg University Hospital. Freies Radio Wiesental, 500 watts and 60 km away, could also be heard with both the DP-666 and the WT-2. The Sony failed to pick up any of the three stations.
Medium wave
The WT2 does not have long wave, but it does have medium wave. Reception is handled by the telescopic antenna or the supplied voice radio antenna. As with the LC-90, medium wave is a real weak point of the WT2. Even with an external antenna connected, which normally provides excellent signals, reception is rather modest. The WT-2's medium wave spectrum ranges from 522 to 1710 KHz and can be adjusted in increments of 1, 9, or 10 KHz. Another nice feature is the variable bandwidth of the transmitters, which is also available for the other analog bands on shortwave. However, don't expect miracles in the medium wave range.
Shortwave
Shortwave ranges seamlessly from 2,300 kHz to 26,000 kHz. Like the other bands, shortwave can be tuned both incrementally using the buttons and directly by typing in the frequency: simply press 0 and then quickly enter the frequency. In addition, the bandwidth can be adjusted via the configuration menu. The reception performance with a telescopic antenna is very good and on a par with the Grundig Satellit 700 or the Sony ICF 7600 GR. However, connecting a good external antenna also works wonders on shortwave.
Conclusion
A walkie-talkie for DXing—a world receiver for radio transmission—an Internet radio that you can even control with your own voice, a globally available chat function—all this and much more in a single small device. With the WT2, Choyong has brought a truly amazing product to the market. Apart from its rather weak sensitivity in the medium wave range, the WT-2 is extremely powerful. It is, so to speak, an all-in-one device: world receiver, walkie-talkie, internet radio, chat tool, MP3 player, alarm clock, recording device, and more. All this variety in a single device—that's a world first. At any rate, I haven't seen anything like it anywhere else yet. It fits perfectly into Choyong's product range.
All in all, I consider the WT2 to be an exceptionally good device with truly remarkable capabilities.
The WT2 will be available from the beginning of November 2025. The price is around €120. Two devices are available for around €200. You can view the WT2 here (and order it from November): https://shop.choyongradio.com
A walkie-talkie that can also be used to listen to the radio? That's nothing particularly new. But the fact that this small, portable, 177-gram radio also includes a world receiver with medium wave, shortwave, and FM is certainly not something you see every day. And it has a lot more to offer: the WT2 also has access to the internet via Wi-Fi and built-in eSIM functionality – and thus also to internet radio. More than 50,000 stations and countless podcasts are available. With ChatGPT, there is, amazingly, convenient voice control.
The chat function is also exceptional: via Wi-Fi and eSIM, there is a so-called “Global Group” that allows you to communicate worldwide – and with really good voice quality. And you can also use the device as a conventional walkie-talkie – with a range of approx. 5 km. After all, it is also a walkie-talkie.
But that's not all: with a TF card (Micro-SID), you can play up to 32 GB of your own music, and there is also a function for your own recordings, which are then also stored on the TF card. Bluetooth is also available, and with the built-in alarm function, the WT2 can even be used as an alarm clock.
Currently, the WT2 only speaks English. Since a German-language user manual will be available shortly, it is to be expected that a German user interface is also planned. Updates are easily done via the menu when Wi-Fi or eSIM is activated – without any complicated PC actions.
Walkie-talkie
At first glance, the external appearance of the WT2 suggests that it is more of a walkie-talkie than a device with all the other functions that characterize this small device. To access the radio menu, simply press the PTT button once. The device has digital and analog voice radio.
GlobalGroup is digital and requires the internet for transmission—i.e., Wi-Fi and/or eSIM. With the WT2, you can also define and delete your own groups—or invite yourself to new groups.
The frequency range for analog voice radio is between 400,000 and 465,000 MHz. The frequency can be freely selected. You can also easily define your own intermediate frequencies. Use the 5 key to switch between the two functions. Use the 0 key to activate or deactivate the respective system. To use analog voice radio, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi must be turned off. To speak, press the PTT button (and hold it down while speaking).
Internet radio
Once you have turned on the radio, the analog bands (AM, FM, FM) are immediately available—however, for online stations, the device must first connect to Wi-Fi and/or eSIM, which can take a few seconds. Choyong manages its own database, which provides access to online radio stations. The selection is enormous, with over 50,000 stations available. And if you can't find a particular station, you can easily add it yourself via an online interface. The stations are sorted by continent and country. German stations are assigned to the respective federal states, and public broadcasters have their own section. In addition to the many Internet radio stations, listeners will find an almost limitless number of podcasts. If you particularly like a station, simply press the button with the heart. This saves the station as a favorite. The heart button also opens the favorites menu, giving you an instant overview of your favorite stations.
Like the LC90, the WT2 also has voice control—via ChatGPT. This allows you to “talk” to the radio and simply “call up” the desired station without having to type or fiddle around with buttons. The sound quality of the WT2 is excellent—especially considering that the device weighs less than 200 grams.
Radio enthusiasts and DXers will be particularly pleased with the “offset function”: when shortwave, medium wave, or long wave is switched on, the radio is not automatically interrupted by an analog walkie-talkie signal. The focus is on interference-free and uninterrupted AM radio. This is not the case when listening to Internet radio.
Bluetooth, TF, recording function, and alarm clock
With the Bluetooth function, you can easily connect the walkie-talkie to another device, such as a hi-fi system, and use the “Internet radio” function to play any station you like. At the touch of a button, your walkie-talkie becomes a hi-fi device.
In addition to Bluetooth, the WT2 also has a slot for a TF card (micro SD). Cards up to 32 GB are recognized. You can get one of these cards anywhere online, e.g., Amazon, for around $5. With a TF card, you can be your own program director and listen to music, radio plays, or audiobooks – whatever suits your taste. Incidentally, a TF card is essential for device updates – otherwise, no updates can be performed. Your own recordings made with the device are also stored on such a TF card.
Three different alarm times can be set via the configuration menu (button 0), which can be conveniently switched on and off and allow the walkie-talkie to also serve as an alarm clock.
The analog radio
FM
The frequency spectrum for FM ranges from 64 MHz to 108 MHz—adjustable in 10 and 100 KHz increments. It is also possible to enter the frequency directly using the number keys.
For my tests and comparisons, I again used the Sony ICF 7600 GR and the small Deepelec DP-666, which has very good FM reception, as reference devices.
As with shortwave, the supplied antenna does not deliver good results in the FM range either – which is not really surprising. To use the WT-2 for analog reception, it is advisable to purchase a telescopic antenna (with SMA connector), which can be easily screwed on instead of the supplied radio antenna. I recommend a 100 cm antenna from VooGenzek, which can be purchased online for around $4 (or two for around $7). I generally performed the following tests with such a telescopic antenna.
SMA connector for standard antenna, telescopic antenna, or roof antenna
While the reception performance of the Chinese WT2 with its TEF6686 chip is almost on par with the DP-666, the Sony cannot keep up. The sound of the stations played is amazingly clear – especially when you consider the small size of the speaker. Another example: “Deutschlandradio Kultur” broadcasts at 200 watts from Berliner Allee in Freiburg i. Br. and can be received here in Herbolzheim in northern Breisgau without any problems or interference. The same applies to “uniFM,” which broadcasts at 300 watts from the Freiburg University Hospital. Freies Radio Wiesental, 500 watts and 60 km away, could also be heard with both the DP-666 and the WT-2. The Sony failed to pick up any of the three stations.
Medium wave
The WT2 does not have long wave, but it does have medium wave. Reception is handled by the telescopic antenna or the supplied voice radio antenna. As with the LC-90, medium wave is a real weak point of the WT2. Even with an external antenna connected, which normally provides excellent signals, reception is rather modest. The WT-2's medium wave spectrum ranges from 522 to 1710 KHz and can be adjusted in increments of 1, 9, or 10 KHz. Another nice feature is the variable bandwidth of the transmitters, which is also available for the other analog bands on shortwave. However, don't expect miracles in the medium wave range.
Shortwave
Shortwave ranges seamlessly from 2,300 kHz to 26,000 kHz. Like the other bands, shortwave can be tuned both incrementally using the buttons and directly by typing in the frequency: simply press 0 and then quickly enter the frequency. In addition, the bandwidth can be adjusted via the configuration menu. The reception performance with a telescopic antenna is very good and on a par with the Grundig Satellit 700 or the Sony ICF 7600 GR. However, connecting a good external antenna also works wonders on shortwave.
Conclusion
A walkie-talkie for DXing—a world receiver for radio transmission—an Internet radio that you can even control with your own voice, a globally available chat function—all this and much more in a single small device. With the WT2, Choyong has brought a truly amazing product to the market. Apart from its rather weak sensitivity in the medium wave range, the WT-2 is extremely powerful. It is, so to speak, an all-in-one device: world receiver, walkie-talkie, internet radio, chat tool, MP3 player, alarm clock, recording device, and more. All this variety in a single device—that's a world first. At any rate, I haven't seen anything like it anywhere else yet. It fits perfectly into Choyong's product range.
All in all, I consider the WT2 to be an exceptionally good device with truly remarkable capabilities.
The WT2 will be available from the beginning of November 2025. The price is around €120. Two devices are available for around €200. You can view the WT2 here (and order it from November): https://shop.choyongradio.com