Just flogged and beat my way through the FCC website and GMRS application( multiple multiple tries) TODAY March 3rd, and got my license FINALLY and it's still 70 bucks. Hallelujah!
I’m new to radio, I didn’t realize how good we had it in the army. This is crazy complex, but I love what you do man! Great reviews and great humor. I’m learning allot!
Randy, thanks for the tip on Radioddity, I entered in on one of their contest and won a Raddy RW3 Emergency Radio | Hand Crank | Solar | AM/FM/NOAA. Funny thing the Baofeng Customer Support did the follow up with me on the shipping. I’m thinking that Radioddity is an affiliate with Baofeng.
I ordered one of these due to your review . Thanks. The antenna can be removed easily with a torx 6 wrench, and it unscrews from an sma connector, do external antennas are possible.
Feb '23 I just grabbed a pair of these off the zon with much upgraded antennaeyi for $65. Several of the gripes on the earliest version you reviewed have indeed been fixed. upgradable antenna no tools required, shoulder mic's, the menu voice is much better quality, the manual has quite a few clarifications. I read up a bunch on the nerd forums before purchase and quite a few people rant and rave about the newest version. Keep up the good work! Learning a lot from your vids and quite a few lols as well.
I just got mine today! Because of your video I wanted to try it out,We use them off roading and at the racetrack. Your videos are really entertaining Thanks!
I like your style a lot and you do great videos.I am a cb operator from Greece and my call sing is 18 sv 134.Hope to see another video soon.By-by from Dimitris the Greek.
Just got one of these to go along with my assortment of baofengs and for some reason it will transmit on 443.375 to a local repeater but nothing else(that I know of)outside of the gmrs range. Not sure what I did.
Mine had a standard hex - 1.5mm set screw. Sadly - they just jam that screw right into the SMA threads which damages it rather well. Lots of metal shavings. Kinda bizarre design choice on a GMRS radio that allows antenna changes.
Love the attitude. Right there with ya. Keep it up! GMRS license holder here...since diving in sev months back, I have learned a ton about Ground Planes and SWR. So important. P.S.--Beware the "Sad Ham"...lmao
You should add a couple of updates for folks looking now since the GM-30 is still a relevant option: Of course the license fee has finally dropped to $35, and the antenna is, of course, detachable. The Nagoya 771G is the business for these. Thanks as always for your videos; your infotainment is top-notch. Something tells me you may have been a prior USAF maintainer (or at least a maintainer from some other branch).
Hey friend, Love your vids, and sense of humor. Gonna order a few radios, waching a lot of your reviews before I take the plunge. Appreciate you work, Thanks.
Thanks very much for this review. I was thinking about getting into GMRS radio but did not want to spend much to enter. the GM 30 looks like a great first radio.
The Ham Radio clone of this radio is the TYT TH-UV88 (2 meters and 70 cms), which easily "opens" up transmission on all GMRS simplex and repeater channels, too.
I got the Baofeng UV-5X GMRS radio 2 pack from Radioddity last month which are similar. But I think the GM-30’has a sharper look to it and a little bit nicer overall. Glad to hear you are testing under adverse conditions. Wonder how they all stack up. Thanks for the video.
Thanks a bunch...needed something fast the other brand you reviewed still not in stock..I'm on wait list. Really appreciate your no nonsense approach. Tks again
I’m enjoying your sarcastic sense of humor. 👍🏻🤣 You should try standup comedy, you would probably be pretty good at standup comedy 😂👍🏻 Hello from San Diego, Cheers 🥂 John
Does anyone know what the jail term/fine is for operating a uv5r on gmrs without a $70 (someday to be $35) license ? I'm asking for a friend.....Thanks for the review !
have they fixed the short battery life and clip problem ? and the roger beep turning back on by its self problem ? and have the made it at least rain proof ? thank you so much
Got similar BAOFENG UV-9G GMRS from Amazon $44, local operator has Radioddity GM-30. He likes his GM-30 . I am impressed with UV-9G, works well; although I had to do some programming with Chirp to configure to my need - Just Saying ; )
Just grabbed one from Prime Day for $29. It appears that you cannot switch it into wide-band in channel mode? I get confused easily. Anyone know if its possible to change to WB? I can do it in frequency mode no problem.
I bet that you can remove the antenna. It probably has a set screw on the base of the antenna. My Radioddity UV-5X GMRS has a SMA connector under the "fixed" antenna.
Are you positive that you cannot program multiple repeaters on the same frequency? I have not had the opportunity to try it since repeaters in my area are limited. But there are extra DYI channels that can be programmed, in case I am out of town and try to connect to a repeater with the same frequency, but a different code on another DYI channel. I’m not doubting you Randy. I’m just wondering why Radioddity would give so many DYI channel options. Thanks!
I am a HAM, and bought a GMRS license, but I GMRS with family and friends who seem to have test dis-functionality, it is time to end CB by returning 11 Meters to HAM. I have these radios in my sights to supplement our Garmin radios, and complement our Midland Mobile units. WS7PB
I did not appreciate the lack of multiple repeater programming until after I got a couple of these and experienced it myself. Not bad for the price, but will put these in the 'simplex only' box used by my family (they will not likely ever care about repeaters). Maybe Chirp or a future firmware update could get past this considerable limitation someday. I also ordered a Wouxon KG-UV9G PRO which I think should overcome this limitation and hopefully will become my daily GMRS driver.
I have this radio. I have set it to my repeater frequency 462xxx and correct ccts. 5.000 offset. When I PTT the frequency doesn't go up to 467xxx. I have heard people but can't "connect" to talk. Yes I new. About a week with gmrs license.
I’m very new to all of this, but when you’re saying you can hit a repeater like 60 miles away, does that mean that if you had two of those radios and gave your friend one, you could talk to them from potentially 120 miles away with perfect conditions? I’m not sure how repeaters work yet. Thanks!
I just got mine and entered Ch 22 in the bottom line, then hit the scan button. It started scanning and picking up people, on channels, AND on a local repeater...AND some calls were labeled "DIY-8" or some number- WHAT is this DIY designation?
@@JbowlizzleKC I just checked it and channels 31-54 can be any of the repeater channels set up the way you want. It's not unlimited but seems to be a decent number.
I would be interested in seeing a comparison between this and the BF-9G. Each seems to have some good feastures. One is simpler, and the other is fancier.
I'm new to GMRS and loving this content. I'm having a hard time grasping manufacturer hardware updates. Are these radios like cell phones? New model every fall? Or do they stick around for a while? Looking at this GM-30 but wondering if any new model is on the horizon. Thanks in advance to anyone.
GMRS is always going to be "GMRS", so even though new models are always coming out, they still can only do "GMRS".. one might have a prettier screen, another might store more channels, another might be waterproof, but, they are all still "GMRS" and can only do "GMRS stuff"... The radio I currently use was designed in about 2003 and went off the market in around 2014.. Still does all the GMRS things just like a brand new one.
Great little radio paired it with a nagoya na-771g antenna and i can pick up transmissions inside my house i could only hear outside my house with the factory antenna its tempting me to jump down the base station rabbit hole
Does these radios while driving or walking through the city area get a lot of glitching on all the channels where it's going in and out in and out in and out like it's receiving something? I bought the baofeng uv-5g and they suck. Constant glitching in and out while you're driving or walking even in the country and not stop until you just have to turn off the radio cuz you're going insane they're going back looking for new radio thanks
OK we got that question taken care of how about one more? What Antenna would YOU use for the GM-30. We are going to Mendocino-Stonyford- the end of the week to do some wheeling ,so I will definitely be using the radio's..
New to GMRS but NOT TO radio, RF, RADAR, or electronics in general (ex-military avionics tech). Just got a GMRS license (yea $70) and just received a new pair of the GM-30's. ISSUE: MAX power I can measure is 2.2 watts across any "5 watt" channel (i.e., 1,2, ..7 and 16, 17,...22, plus repeaters). SWR is around 2.1 (reads 2 to 2.2 depending) with the stock aperture so... Did the firmware website listed update (the advertised fix was for a narrowband issue - not sure what issue there was). Anyone else measured power on these yet? Get similar power readings? I'll be keeping this pair for grins - they work just not the "oomph" advertised. Not saying the GM-30's are NOT actually 5 watts, just the only equipment I have on hand, inexpensive Latnex PM-100W, measures it as 2.2 watts. The PM-100W literature says it was tested at UHF 430 MHz (and VHF 175Mhz) GMRS is ~32 or 37MHz higher than tested 430 MHz but "close enough for gov't work." BTW the little allen-head screw (metric, 1.5 mm) is just to help keep the antenna tight, just loosen that screw a few turns, and the antenna simply unscrews like any SMA antenna. However, note the antenna is a SMA-Male (not female) if you want to replace and "tune," which I will be trying, keep that in mind.
Thanks Randy. I am getting my first Radioddity GMRS GM-30 and this will help me get started.I am not sure if there are any active repeaters in the Rapid City area. There are some listed but not sure if they are active. My license will have to wait until I can figure out where the damn license part is in the FCC webpage. LOL
I purchased the Radioososittirisiriri GM30s. I gave one to my coworker who was in his work van about 50 feet in front of me. Both on channel 16. And theres so much static whole talking. Am I missing something? I feel like I've had better connection with cheap FRS radios.
Either one/both are broken/defective, or there is some kind of strong interference causing problems.. try again in a different location to rule-out outside interference.
@@TheNotaRubicon thank you for the super fast response. I'll test it more. I'm VERY new to GMRS. Keep being awesome on your vids. I immediately 👍 each one cuz you're so funny. You rock dude.
As of today’s , November 26, 2021, the FCC is still charging $70. I called them and they said they haven't updated their system yet. I told them it was supposed to change over 6 months ago and they said "sorry, but make sure you don't use the radio until you get a license". I said "riiiiight" ...
Like they're going to go after you? Hardly. The FCC goes after the big fish. It reminds me of the old CB radio days with so many people running illegal equipment. They never went after any of them. Nobody is going to go after anyone using the radios.
For no specific reason I chose TODAY to come to this video and see if there was a power test.. any chance of a follow up on power of this unit, again, for no particular reason.
The BaoFeng UV5X, based on the UV5R, is also about $30. The Pofung P25UV is based on the GT3WP (waterproof) at about $30. Both are listed as Part 95E, The GM30 doesn’t show up in the FCC database as of 3/3/21.
Hi Randy happy licensed HAM and licen$ed GMRS user. Love your informative and humorous videos! I would like to see you do a video on the Baofeng GM-15pro which I suspect is the same radio as the GM-30 in this video. Also why can’t my 5 watt GM-15pro hit your repeater from 100 miles away??? 🙂 If I could hit it will you give me permission to use? Keep up the great work.
FOLLOW UP- I conducted a non scientific test of this radio today. First I set up a Home GMRS base station using a Midland Mobile with the whip antenna. I then took a Midland GTX GMRS radio, a Wouxon KG 805 and the Radioddity radio tuned to channel 16 no CTSS. I put a recorder next to the Midland base and transmitted on each radio. I used the same remote location and keyed each radio for a 5 second count. The playback was that ALL THREE came in almost at the same level (Wouxon the clearest and slightly the loudest). So in the real world the Radioddity was about the same. Lesson learned-do not test a radio in close proximity to the receiver. Get into another room or have another person key the mike from far away.
You should do an update on this radio. New version of the software (2.06) along with firmware version V06.02.006 allows multiple repeaters on the same channel with different tones!
Truth! I just got mine today and immediately did the firmware update and am able to save multiple repeaters on the same frequency with different tones in different memory slots. I can't imagine not being able to do that. -- Also, the Radioddity software ain't that bad. Although it's not without its little quirks, I find it to be easier to operate than CHIRP. And, FWIW, I'm running Windows10 in VMWare on my Mac Mini and it all plays together very nicely.
One thing I find odd is that if the SYNC function is set to ON and you key down on a channel that has a frequency with a +5 MHz offset, the frequency on display doesn't change to the 467 frequency while transmitting. It only shows the Rx frequency. That's a little quirky. Makes me thing I'm transmitting in simplex. I'd love it if that were not the case. I also want to to stress that the USB-C connector is not for programming the radio. This confused me at first. Maybe I should have RTFM. At any rate, as stated in the video, you can use a Baofeng cable with the Kenwood type 2-pin connector, which has a 2.5 mm TRS connector and a 3.5 mm TRS connector.
Randy, making mistake in programming my GMRS GM-5R radio with your Notarubicon/Ranchino repeater using Chirp. How about a video on Programming your Ranchino repeater?
The GM-30 GMRS radio IS NOW ON SALE on Amazon for only $39!
Link: amzn.to/3e8KxLM
I just got a flash sale for $30
Dang - price jumped to $45. Still pretty damn good.
Tidradio is the same one I have both they are identical
They used Randy's video on the item's information page!
Mine will be here on 2-8-22. Can't wait to set it up!
Just flogged and beat my way through the FCC website and GMRS application( multiple multiple tries) TODAY March 3rd, and got my license FINALLY and it's still 70 bucks. Hallelujah!
Never, ever have a gun nearby when navigating the FCC website. There is a high suicide risk from utter frustration I have found.
I’m new to radio, I didn’t realize how good we had it in the army. This is crazy complex, but I love what you do man! Great reviews and great humor. I’m learning allot!
You had a home in the army😁
I bought this after watching your video. Got my GMRS license and made my first call last night. NICE!!
Randy, thanks for the tip on Radioddity, I entered in on one of their contest and won a Raddy RW3 Emergency Radio | Hand Crank | Solar | AM/FM/NOAA. Funny thing the Baofeng Customer Support did the follow up with me on the shipping. I’m thinking that Radioddity is an affiliate with Baofeng.
Actually, Radioddity is pronounced Wookson. Hope this helps. 🤣
Wookson OCEAN
I got my GMRS license March 3, still $70. Thanks for not boring us sh*tless with an unboxing.
July 1st. $70.
3/19/23 $35 license fee
Dr. said not to get ham in it!! I'm dying over here...
You did such a good job, they are sold out a day later. Great vids, thanks for sharing.
I ordered one of these due to your review . Thanks. The antenna can be removed easily with a torx 6 wrench, and it unscrews from an sma connector, do external antennas are possible.
My antenna simply unscrews from the radio. Replacement antennas for this radio are male like Wouxun, unlike Boof Wang and Tidradio et al.
Feb '23 I just grabbed a pair of these off the zon with much upgraded antennaeyi for $65. Several of the gripes on the earliest version you reviewed have indeed been fixed. upgradable antenna no tools required, shoulder mic's, the menu voice is much better quality, the manual has quite a few clarifications. I read up a bunch on the nerd forums before purchase and quite a few people rant and rave about the newest version. Keep up the good work! Learning a lot from your vids and quite a few lols as well.
The antenna can be removed with a 1.5mm allen key wrench.
I just got mine today! Because of your video I wanted to try it out,We use them off roading and at the racetrack. Your videos are really entertaining Thanks!
I am loving it. Keep the GMRSsssssss videos coming!!!!!!
I like your style a lot and you do great videos.I am a cb operator from Greece and my call sing is 18 sv 134.Hope to see another video soon.By-by from Dimitris the Greek.
The current software from Radioddity allows multple repeaters of the same freq and the software also works on the Baofeng GM-15 pro.
Just got one of these to go along with my assortment of baofengs and for some reason it will transmit on 443.375 to a local repeater but nothing else(that I know of)outside of the gmrs range. Not sure what I did.
If you want to remove that fixed antenna, just use a torx 5 and remove the hex screw you can now use a good sma antenna. Nice review.
Mine had a standard hex - 1.5mm set screw. Sadly - they just jam that screw right into the SMA threads which damages it rather well. Lots of metal shavings. Kinda bizarre design choice on a GMRS radio that allows antenna changes.
Can you recommend a better antenna for this?
I just picked up two on Amazon for $34 ea. Thanks for the vids, love the humor!
Love the attitude. Right there with ya. Keep it up! GMRS license holder here...since diving in sev months back, I have learned a ton about Ground Planes and SWR. So important. P.S.--Beware the "Sad Ham"...lmao
You should add a couple of updates for folks looking now since the GM-30 is still a relevant option: Of course the license fee has finally dropped to $35, and the antenna is, of course, detachable. The Nagoya 771G is the business for these.
Thanks as always for your videos; your infotainment is top-notch. Something tells me you may have been a prior USAF maintainer (or at least a maintainer from some other branch).
Hey friend, Love your vids, and sense of humor. Gonna order a few radios, waching a lot of your reviews before I take the plunge. Appreciate you work, Thanks.
Thanks very much for this review. I was thinking about getting into GMRS radio but did not want to spend much to enter. the GM 30 looks like a great first radio.
got my gmrs license 02/16/22. still trying to choose my first radio. Thanks,JP
As of August 4th 2021, GMRS license is still $70. I wonder if it would take them this long if they were raising the price?
The ham fee is going from $0 to $35 and that hasn't kicked in either.
I just bought my GMRS license for $35 on 4/24/22
You are a hoot! You made this fun! Even managed to learn a lot, which is why I clicked on you in the first place:) thanks
The Ham Radio clone of this radio is the TYT TH-UV88 (2 meters and 70 cms), which easily "opens" up transmission on all GMRS simplex and repeater channels, too.
Well now I wish I knew that before I bought the gm30 here!!!!, it will be here today, butt I got it for 25 dollars on sale from Amazon.
Just been playing around with this radio as well. Definitely a new favorite.
I got the Baofeng UV-5X GMRS radio 2 pack from Radioddity last month which are similar. But I think the GM-30’has a sharper look to it and a little bit nicer overall. Glad to hear you are testing under adverse conditions. Wonder how they all stack up. Thanks for the video.
Thanks a bunch...needed something fast the other brand you reviewed still not in stock..I'm on wait list. Really appreciate your no nonsense approach. Tks again
I transmitted on GMRS with my baofeng last night
UV5X?
@@rjrmonkey My UV-5R self identifies as a UV-5X.
Lmfao "Ahhh my eye Doctor said not to get ham in it" 😂😂 to hilarious Randy 0:48 @NotaRubicon Productions
I’m enjoying your sarcastic sense of humor. 👍🏻🤣
You should try standup comedy, you would probably be pretty good at standup comedy 😂👍🏻
Hello from San Diego, Cheers 🥂 John
I ordered one yesterday,
It will be here in a few days.
Can't wait for it to arrive.
Does anyone know what the jail term/fine is for operating a uv5r on gmrs without a $70 (someday to be $35) license ? I'm asking for a friend.....Thanks for the review !
Wouxun KG-905G vs Radioddity GM-30 who's the winner??
KG 905G has my vote.
Does this have NOAA weather ALERTS? I know it can SCAN noaa channels but can you set up automatic ALERTS?
Pronounced: Ray-de-odd-itty. 😂 The struggle is over. Nice review.
Radio-ditty?
Thanks for the information,this will be good to have after I get my license for GMRS, GREAT VIDS 👍🏽
have they fixed the short battery life and clip problem ? and the roger beep turning back on by its self problem ? and have the made it at least rain proof ? thank you so much
Indeed removable antenna. Several radios that are GMRS such as the Retevis RT76P have a little alien key to lock it. Easy to remove.
Which connector does the antenna use? Thanks!
@@ranjanbonin7558 The antenna is an SMA male (not SMA female like most).
What is a good replacement antenna to boost reception?
Got similar BAOFENG UV-9G GMRS from Amazon $44, local operator has Radioddity GM-30. He likes his GM-30 . I am impressed with UV-9G, works well; although I had to do some programming with Chirp to configure to my need - Just Saying ; )
" Forgot to mention USB-C charging / adaptor" -THAT is why (sometimes) an "UHHHN-BUUUOXING" is useful. :)
Good review. Thanks!
You need to do videos on Mall Crawlers and Jeep Babes!
License went down in April 2022, picked mine up for $35🙂
I bought this and have a kenwood in my rig. I’m trying to get them on the same frequency. Can I manually input a frequency?
How do you change the frequency steps on this radio. Everything I try it cancel it
Just bought this. It’s fantastic!
Just grabbed one from Prime Day for $29. It appears that you cannot switch it into wide-band in channel mode?
I get confused easily. Anyone know if its possible to change to WB? I can do it in frequency mode no problem.
Hi have a question on the GM-30 about the frequency hopping choice and how it works ?
My GM-30 antenna is removable. Takes a SMA male replacement antenna
Dang! Sold out! Any idea when more will be available? For $45 I’m game and I can upgrade from the “bastard” of GMRS (baofeng uvr) 😂
Got my GMRS License on 2-25-22 still $70. Just ordered this radio.
I bet that you can remove the antenna. It probably has a set screw on the base of the antenna. My Radioddity UV-5X GMRS has a SMA connector under the "fixed" antenna.
Thanks Randy, your vids are great, much appreciated.
They must have changed something, because I just ordered this radio and it DOES have a removable antenna.
Are you positive that you cannot program multiple repeaters on the same frequency? I have not had the opportunity to try it since repeaters in my area are limited. But there are extra DYI channels that can be programmed, in case I am out of town and try to connect to a repeater with the same frequency, but a different code on another DYI channel. I’m not doubting you Randy. I’m just wondering why Radioddity would give so many DYI channel options. Thanks!
I am a HAM, and bought a GMRS license, but I GMRS with family and friends who seem to have test dis-functionality, it is time to end CB by returning 11 Meters to HAM. I have these radios in my sights to supplement our Garmin radios, and complement our Midland Mobile units. WS7PB
Great video. You would have made a good teacher. I don’t think kids would fall asleep in your class. Thanks for the info.
I did not appreciate the lack of multiple repeater programming until after I got a couple of these and experienced it myself. Not bad for the price, but will put these in the 'simplex only' box used by my family (they will not likely ever care about repeaters). Maybe Chirp or a future firmware update could get past this considerable limitation someday.
I also ordered a Wouxon KG-UV9G PRO which I think should overcome this limitation and hopefully will become my daily GMRS driver.
I bought these for friends that want to use my repeater and don't care about radio more than changing channels and hitting the ptt
I have this radio. I have set it to my repeater frequency 462xxx and correct ccts. 5.000 offset. When I PTT the frequency doesn't go up to 467xxx. I have heard people but can't "connect" to talk. Yes I new. About a week with gmrs license.
I have the same problem. I can hear GMRs users all around me but they can't hear me. I'll figure it out someday. Lol
can this radio be unlocked?
I’m very new to all of this, but when you’re saying you can hit a repeater like 60 miles away, does that mean that if you had two of those radios and gave your friend one, you could talk to them from potentially 120 miles away with perfect conditions? I’m not sure how repeaters work yet. Thanks!
Yes.
I Have some tenway gm55 radios. Looks exactly like these radios in the video. The tenway radios are really good. My brother just decided to get some.
I just got mine and entered Ch 22 in the bottom line, then hit the scan button. It started scanning and picking up people, on channels, AND on a local repeater...AND some calls were labeled "DIY-8" or some number- WHAT is this DIY designation?
The new version of the programming software allows for setting different tones for the same repeater frequencies. Much better.
Can you add new channels (limit to #'s?) for outside area Repeaters?
@@JbowlizzleKC I just checked it and channels 31-54 can be any of the repeater channels set up the way you want. It's not unlimited but seems to be a decent number.
Is there a Radioddity GM 30 book for dummies? I need one.
like your videos, as of today 7 march still $70.00 for the GMRS license still waiting for it to come down
Have you gotten your call sign yet?
This video made me laugh so much .great video
I would be interested in seeing a comparison between this and the BF-9G. Each seems to have some good feastures. One is simpler, and the other is fancier.
I'm new to GMRS and loving this content. I'm having a hard time grasping manufacturer hardware updates. Are these radios like cell phones? New model every fall? Or do they stick around for a while? Looking at this GM-30 but wondering if any new model is on the horizon. Thanks in advance to anyone.
GMRS is always going to be "GMRS", so even though new models are always coming out, they still can only do "GMRS".. one might have a prettier screen, another might store more channels, another might be waterproof, but, they are all still "GMRS" and can only do "GMRS stuff"... The radio I currently use was designed in about 2003 and went off the market in around 2014.. Still does all the GMRS things just like a brand new one.
@@TheNotaRubicon Thank you.
Great little radio paired it with a nagoya na-771g antenna and i can pick up transmissions inside my house i could only hear outside my house with the factory antenna its tempting me to jump down the base station rabbit hole
Looking at some of these for atv riding in the woods. Is there a better antenna that would could put on to make them better in the woods?
If this thing has NOAA channels, is there a way to get it to play the weather alerts?
Did Chris the channel star get a hold of Gabriel?
Does these radios while driving or walking through the city area get a lot of glitching on all the channels where it's going in and out in and out in and out like it's receiving something? I bought the baofeng uv-5g and they suck. Constant glitching in and out while you're driving or walking even in the country and not stop until you just have to turn off the radio cuz you're going insane they're going back looking for new radio thanks
if by "glitching" you mean receiving static, yes, every radio receives static. Turning up the squelch, thats what its for.
OK we got that question taken care of how about one more? What Antenna would YOU use for the GM-30. We are going to Mendocino-Stonyford- the end of the week to do some wheeling ,so I will definitely be using the radio's..
Compare it to the Wouxun do a range test
New to GMRS but NOT TO radio, RF, RADAR, or electronics in general (ex-military avionics tech). Just got a GMRS license (yea $70) and just received a new pair of the GM-30's. ISSUE: MAX power I can measure is 2.2 watts across any "5 watt" channel (i.e., 1,2, ..7 and 16, 17,...22, plus repeaters). SWR is around 2.1 (reads 2 to 2.2 depending) with the stock aperture so... Did the firmware website listed update (the advertised fix was for a narrowband issue - not sure what issue there was). Anyone else measured power on these yet? Get similar power readings? I'll be keeping this pair for grins - they work just not the "oomph" advertised. Not saying the GM-30's are NOT actually 5 watts, just the only equipment I have on hand, inexpensive Latnex PM-100W, measures it as 2.2 watts. The PM-100W literature says it was tested at UHF 430 MHz (and VHF 175Mhz) GMRS is ~32 or 37MHz higher than tested 430 MHz but "close enough for gov't work." BTW the little allen-head screw (metric, 1.5 mm) is just to help keep the antenna tight, just loosen that screw a few turns, and the antenna simply unscrews like any SMA antenna. However, note the antenna is a SMA-Male (not female) if you want to replace and "tune," which I will be trying, keep that in mind.
Thanks Randy. I am getting my first Radioddity GMRS GM-30 and this will help me get started.I am not sure if there are any active repeaters in the Rapid City area. There are some listed but not sure if they are active. My license will have to wait until I can figure out where the damn license part is in the FCC webpage. LOL
I purchased the Radioososittirisiriri GM30s. I gave one to my coworker who was in his work van about 50 feet in front of me. Both on channel 16. And theres so much static whole talking. Am I missing something? I feel like I've had better connection with cheap FRS radios.
Either one/both are broken/defective, or there is some kind of strong interference causing problems.. try again in a different location to rule-out outside interference.
@@TheNotaRubicon thank you for the super fast response. I'll test it more. I'm VERY new to GMRS.
Keep being awesome on your vids. I immediately 👍 each one cuz you're so funny. You rock dude.
Seems just like a Baofeng GM-15. I like my GM-15's, but what is the benefit of going Radioddity for more $$?
As of today’s , November 26, 2021, the FCC is still charging $70. I called them and they said they haven't updated their system yet. I told them it was supposed to change over 6 months ago and they said "sorry, but make sure you don't use the radio until you get a license". I said "riiiiight" ...
Like they're going to go after you? Hardly. The FCC goes after the big fish. It reminds me of the old CB radio days with so many people running illegal equipment. They never went after any of them. Nobody is going to go after anyone using the radios.
Is this a narrow or wide band unit o both
Has anyone removed the antenna, what kind of connector is it?
The antenna is SMA male (not female, which is more common).
For no specific reason I chose TODAY to come to this video and see if there was a power test.. any chance of a follow up on power of this unit, again, for no particular reason.
The BaoFeng UV5X, based on the UV5R, is also about $30. The Pofung P25UV is based on the GT3WP (waterproof) at about $30. Both are listed as Part 95E, The GM30 doesn’t show up in the FCC database as of 3/3/21.
Can gm-30 scan all channels and how do you do it. Radioddiity is not getting back to me. Could not find a phone number for them. Thanks for your help.
I just got my GMRS license about 3 days ago and this here is my first radio I'm wondering if there's anything you would recommend for any tips
Hi Randy happy licensed HAM and licen$ed GMRS user. Love your informative and humorous videos! I would like to see you do a video on the Baofeng GM-15pro which I suspect is the same radio as the GM-30 in this video.
Also why can’t my 5 watt GM-15pro hit your repeater from 100 miles away??? 🙂 If I could hit it will you give me permission to use? Keep up the great work.
Thanks for the review!
How do I change the setting to see only the channel and the frecuency?
Turn Sync on
FOLLOW UP- I conducted a non scientific test of this radio today. First I set up a Home GMRS base station using a Midland Mobile with the whip antenna. I then took a Midland GTX GMRS radio, a Wouxon KG 805 and the Radioddity radio tuned to channel 16 no CTSS. I put a recorder next to the Midland base and transmitted on each radio. I used the same remote location and keyed each radio for a 5 second count. The playback was that ALL THREE came in almost at the same level (Wouxon the clearest and slightly the loudest). So in the real world the Radioddity was about the same. Lesson learned-do not test a radio in close proximity to the receiver. Get into another room or have another person key the mike from far away.
Does it take an act of Congress to get that license fee down to 35.00?
I can feel your spurious output pixels from here! 🤣
You should do an update on this radio. New version of the software (2.06) along with firmware version V06.02.006 allows multiple repeaters on the same channel with different tones!
Truth! I just got mine today and immediately did the firmware update and am able to save multiple repeaters on the same frequency with different tones in different memory slots. I can't imagine not being able to do that. -- Also, the Radioddity software ain't that bad. Although it's not without its little quirks, I find it to be easier to operate than CHIRP. And, FWIW, I'm running Windows10 in VMWare on my Mac Mini and it all plays together very nicely.
One thing I find odd is that if the SYNC function is set to ON and you key down on a channel that has a frequency with a +5 MHz offset, the frequency on display doesn't change to the 467 frequency while transmitting. It only shows the Rx frequency. That's a little quirky. Makes me thing I'm transmitting in simplex. I'd love it if that were not the case.
I also want to to stress that the USB-C connector is not for programming the radio. This confused me at first. Maybe I should have RTFM. At any rate, as stated in the video, you can use a Baofeng cable with the Kenwood type 2-pin connector, which has a 2.5 mm TRS connector and a 3.5 mm TRS connector.
Randy, making mistake in programming my GMRS GM-5R radio with your Notarubicon/Ranchino repeater using Chirp. How about a video on Programming your Ranchino repeater?