The GA-5B from Radioddity has 6 banks of 30 channels in radio. VGC has 12 banks of 16 in radio. Both can use unlimited banks in app, it just switched the bank of what's selected in radio.
These radios *would* have to start showing up just weeks after getting my LANCHONLH HG-UV98 for APRS! The Lanch has a lot of features too though: internal KISS TNC, Bluetooth, GPS, USB-C charging., not to mention flashlight, siren and roger beep, haha! Once you get past its quirkiness it's pretty easy to program and use. Right now it may be my favorite EDC HT.
I still haven't played around with aprs. I'm considering one of these radios to pair with the comms system on my helmet for my bike and the aprs might be nice in that application as well.
I'm guessing you're talking about the bluetooth part for the helmet - if not, that's a killer feature for riding. I'd get a cheap android and bolt it to the handlebars too - cheap insurance vs losing your phone.
I'm not a hiker, but I feel like it would be helpful for Hiking GPS and setting waypoints and such. I wouldn't be qualified to speak enough to that though.
@@temporarilyofflinewe could I-Gate the country with these. Only slightly more expensive than a microsat wx3in1+2 and looks a heck of a lot easier to set up?
@@thed8229 It has to be easier to setup... and I couldn't tell at a quick look, but does the microsat come with the radio or do you still need to supply one?
I have the btech version. All the APRS settings are a bit confusing. Im guessing some are for its proprietary format. Seems like a useful feature but I also thought my battery went down a lot faster with it on.
I have the Radioddity version on the way. Looking forward to playing with this. It has great features for a sub $200.00 radio. Heck, it would have great features at +$200 for that matter!
Last I checked, there were a good dozen APRS Digipeaters in the twin city area. Most of them doing i-gate as well. So even if you didn't directly hear from someone in Bloomington, you very well may have been getting it through a WIDE-1:WIDE-1 digipete or two.
Hey TO. As a complete beginner with APRS can you transmit APRS on one side and talk on the other with this radio? I don’t know much about the mode yet. If not are there radios that can beacon and talk at the same time? It was great catching up at Monte Sano. Thanks for your time. Ray
Hi Ray, The website says it will still do APRS even when in dual watch. Says APRS uses its own setup. How this helps. I was just looking into this myself. W8NGS
I think its supposed to allow the APRS to funtion in the background, even when monitoring 2 other frequencies (via dual watch) on the main screen. I have been unable to receive and decode packets like that. I have been able to receive and decode when 144.39 is on a single vfo. Dual watch is tricky for APRS or packet as some data is likely to remain unheard during the dual watch magic frequency switching it uses.
I haven't tried it, but I'd bet its all half-duplex anyway - can only listen to one thing at a time, so you might miss something while you're not missing something else.
This looks like a perfect setup and the major brands can't somehow manage something this 2024 and simple. Have you played with it long enough to get an idea for the battery life it has? I see the charging is over USB-C, another "Imagine that" on a radio from 2024. This company/manufacturer is looking interesting.
I have been using them since Dayton. They last a few days on a charge. The coyote colored one I used to beacon APRS all the way to Yellowstone, only charged it once on that whole trip (week and a half)
I would love to use it if I could get away with not beaconing my location - most radios don't do the "nearby" and I want to use APRS for routine chat vs position beaconing... I know the protocol works this way, but most implementations don't.
I have the Vero VRN7500 but unfortunately for me the HT app is horribly difficult to use. Perhaps they have updated the app but my version has strange menus that appear to be duplicative, menus that appear by sliding finger drags only, two menus called "settings" that control different features, etc.
I probably would stay away from any "line of sight" radio in a very rural area with few repeaters. This radio will "igate" APRS to the internet, so you could do that without any locals - you could also build an Allstar node. an HF radio would be a lot more fun and cover more distance.
Tried to work a deal to get a pair to do an APRS demo but could not get it to work out. Did it with a pair of borrowed FT5D's and it went great. Guys buy what they can put their hands on so until I can get my hands on one in person it is hard to recommend it.
@s.coates4207 it's the same radio. Vero is the OEM for btech and radioddity on this one. Looks like btech on Amazon is the best deal right now: geni.us/yti9Pt Be sure to check out my other videos on this radio.
Got it in Blue also. The color looks a lot better in person. I will say the IPhone app right now doesn’t have all the features that the android app does. So those getting it expecting to do all the things. It doesn’t on IPhone…..yet
Nothing wrong with a feng. If you have an android (I don't know apple), you can get this cable ( geni.us/KB4ipvr ) and `aprsdroid` and keep on playing. (cheaper too)
I have one but have never got the bluetooth microphone to go into pairing mode. But I think this video gave me an idea on which radio is going in the Tesla ;)
With the coming of this radio, do you think they will do updates/ upgrades to the n7500 mobile radio? These look like a good fit for my wife's needs. Yes, she's licensed!
Yes they will. Just pick the one you want - the only draw back is that you can only address one at a time - you'd need a second phone/device/etc for using them simultaneously via app - but they can both be used without the app.
Yes, send your message to "GROUP:" instead of "CALL:" in the app. You can also do multi-participant messages with the latest firmware "CALL1:CALL2:CALL3:"
TO does that ga-5wb app use off shore servers and are they CCP?😮 This is a showstopper for me. I have an N76 in my AliX cart but I won't press the button without the right launch codes from you.👨🏽✈️
@temporarilyoffline None of these cheap aprs units ever bring the sauce with smart beaconing. Until they step up their game they do not grab my interest.
When you can't have red, your gonna be a little blue, but that looks good too, cool vid, tnx Man!
Thanks for watching VC. Good to see you!
N36FT is an Vans RV6 Home Built based in Minnetonka MN. Like the radio so far! May have to think about getting one. 73
I love my VERO VRN7500 through its quirkiness. I may pick up this tiny tike once it’s price is more reasonable
I wonder just how different they are?
$160-$180 is pretty reasonable for something like this when the Kenwood TH-D75 is $700!
The GA-5B from Radioddity has 6 banks of 30 channels in radio. VGC has 12 banks of 16 in radio. Both can use unlimited banks in app, it just switched the bank of what's selected in radio.
Thanks for the info.
These radios *would* have to start showing up just weeks after getting my LANCHONLH HG-UV98 for APRS! The Lanch has a lot of features too though: internal KISS TNC, Bluetooth, GPS, USB-C charging., not to mention flashlight, siren and roger beep, haha! Once you get past its quirkiness it's pretty easy to program and use. Right now it may be my favorite EDC HT.
A new radio has entered the arena!
@temporarilyoffline uv98 has been around for a while. The built in digipeater is neat. Lilygo also makes a digipeater module for $75
Lol... I clicked on the link in the description, to this radio, and the one that pops up is red!
Great video... now I have to learn something new.
Nice! Never stop learning!
I still haven't played around with aprs. I'm considering one of these radios to pair with the comms system on my helmet for my bike and the aprs might be nice in that application as well.
I'm guessing you're talking about the bluetooth part for the helmet - if not, that's a killer feature for riding. I'd get a cheap android and bolt it to the handlebars too - cheap insurance vs losing your phone.
Offline maps seems like it would be great for SOTA, there is a lot of area near me where there is no cell service until you get to the top of a peak.
I'm not a hiker, but I feel like it would be helpful for Hiking GPS and setting waypoints and such. I wouldn't be qualified to speak enough to that though.
Would love to get my hands on one for the APRS function. I would use it for hiking and spotting myself for POTA/SOTAs
The APRS works really well. Yaesu better be working on an improved FT-6D
@@temporarilyofflinewe could I-Gate the country with these. Only slightly more expensive than a microsat wx3in1+2 and looks a heck of a lot easier to set up?
@@thed8229 It has to be easier to setup... and I couldn't tell at a quick look, but does the microsat come with the radio or do you still need to supply one?
@@temporarilyoffline you need a radio.
@@vestale4 Ok, thanks
I like that blue and black color scheme. The radio has some interesting features.
The blue looked better in person than I thought it would. I actually like it a lot.
Dose that mean you don't need the red one now😂@@temporarilyoffline
@@glennbartlett4139 of course not! It means I need 2
I have the btech version. All the APRS settings are a bit confusing. Im guessing some are for its proprietary format. Seems like a useful feature but I also thought my battery went down a lot faster with it on.
They are just a tad different, yeah
I have the Radioddity version on the way. Looking forward to playing with this. It has great features for a sub $200.00 radio. Heck, it would have great features at +$200 for that matter!
They are the exact same radio. Vero labeled it for Radioddity. Good Deal either way!
That's a neat little box of tricks! I like it!
A lot of power in a small package
@@temporarilyoffline The APRS is on another level of ease Steve! Very tempting.
@@MI7DJT I'm easily seeing $200 of fun out of this radio.
Great radio VR-N76 with APRS,
Thanks for sharing Steve, awesome video!
KK6SEI, Kero
Thanks for watching Kero!
Last I checked, there were a good dozen APRS Digipeaters in the twin city area. Most of them doing i-gate as well. So even if you didn't directly hear from someone in Bloomington, you very well may have been getting it through a WIDE-1:WIDE-1 digipete or two.
Thanks for the info, nearest one to me is East Farmington, if it's still active.
I have 2 vr-n7500s and a ga-5wb. I really dig these radios. Lots of desirable features that the big names don’t offer.
Right!
I just ordered 2ea. Of these along with the wifi speaker mic.
Sweet!
Hey TO. As a complete beginner with APRS can you transmit APRS on one side and talk on the other with this radio? I don’t know much about the mode yet. If not are there radios that can beacon and talk at the same time? It was great catching up at Monte Sano. Thanks for your time.
Ray
Hi Ray,
The website says it will still do APRS even when in dual watch. Says APRS uses its own setup. How this helps. I was just looking into this myself. W8NGS
I think its supposed to allow the APRS to funtion in the background, even when monitoring 2 other frequencies (via dual watch) on the main screen. I have been unable to receive and decode packets like that. I have been able to receive and decode when 144.39 is on a single vfo. Dual watch is tricky for APRS or packet as some data is likely to remain unheard during the dual watch magic frequency switching it uses.
I haven't tried it, but I'd bet its all half-duplex anyway - can only listen to one thing at a time, so you might miss something while you're not missing something else.
My Favorite Ham radio niche, I have one coming.
Nice!
Very cool features. Must add it to my wishlist. :)
If your wishlist is like mine, its very long!
I have a yellow radio coming. Needed something that would stand out from my other radios
Right! Make it special!
Pretty Smurfy! Interesting little ht...I may get one.
It's a fun one! Very polished
This looks like a perfect setup and the major brands can't somehow manage something this 2024 and simple. Have you played with it long enough to get an idea for the battery life it has? I see the charging is over USB-C, another "Imagine that" on a radio from 2024. This company/manufacturer is looking interesting.
I have been using them since Dayton. They last a few days on a charge. The coyote colored one I used to beacon APRS all the way to Yellowstone, only charged it once on that whole trip (week and a half)
Wish more people use it, but you never know when an emergency happens - it could be the tech we need.
I would love to use it if I could get away with not beaconing my location - most radios don't do the "nearby" and I want to use APRS for routine chat vs position beaconing... I know the protocol works this way, but most implementations don't.
I have the Vero VRN7500 but unfortunately for me the HT app is horribly difficult to use. Perhaps they have updated the app but my version has strange menus that appear to be duplicative, menus that appear by sliding finger drags only, two menus called "settings" that control different features, etc.
iPhone or android?
Hmm. The more I see on these radios the more I like em. If you plan on giving some away I'm cool with blue and all black.
Stay tuned for a Nuggets Episode on Monday nights - that's where all the giveaways happen!
Would an HT like this make sense for someone who lives in a very rural setting (i.e. repeaters few and far between)? Cheers!
I probably would stay away from any "line of sight" radio in a very rural area with few repeaters. This radio will "igate" APRS to the internet, so you could do that without any locals - you could also build an Allstar node. an HF radio would be a lot more fun and cover more distance.
@@temporarilyoffline Ah, ok, that makes sense. Thanks much for the info!
That's pretty slick. But, need red!
Need.
I don’t blame you on the red one.
Its almost here!
I am guessing register is expressing interest.... I AM INTERESTED!
Could be!
can this decode NAC codes for EMS AND POLICE ? to monitor?
I don't think so
Awesome app and radio.
It sure is!
Will this work with an IPad? Hope so, i really want to look into APRS.
It does work with iOS, but the android app is much better.
Tried to work a deal to get a pair to do an APRS demo but could not get it to work out. Did it with a pair of borrowed FT5D's and it went great. Guys buy what they can put their hands on so until I can get my hands on one in person it is hard to recommend it.
Thanks for watching!
Is this radio usable on GMRS frequency?
Not legally. I'm working in a frequency expansion hack for it. I'll check it out on GMRS frequencies in the video.
Does the GPS or text messages work without cell service or wifi?
Sure does
@@temporarilyoffline how does it compare to the BTECH UV-PRO IP67 ???
@s.coates4207 it's the same radio. Vero is the OEM for btech and radioddity on this one. Looks like btech on Amazon is the best deal right now: geni.us/yti9Pt
Be sure to check out my other videos on this radio.
@@temporarilyoffline so its pretty much the same radio? I'm thinking of a grind down situation and being able to communicate and locate family....
@@s.coates4207 yes, it's the same radio.
Got it in Blue also. The color looks a lot better in person. I will say the IPhone app right now doesn’t have all the features that the android app does. So those getting it expecting to do all the things. It doesn’t on IPhone…..yet
Time to get a cheap Android! (ducking)
thats a nice looking radio.. never dabeled in aprs .. only ht i have is a fang...lol..but dont we all have one..
Nothing wrong with a feng. If you have an android (I don't know apple), you can get this cable ( geni.us/KB4ipvr ) and `aprsdroid` and keep on playing. (cheaper too)
I have one but have never got the bluetooth microphone to go into pairing mode. But I think this video gave me an idea on which radio is going in the Tesla ;)
I did the pairing/testing in a previous video, did you see that?
@@temporarilyoffline Yes but my mic never goes into pairing mode
@@don_n5skt weird! Mine was pretty instant. What does tech support say?
@@temporarilyoffline Completely silent so far
@@don_n5skt boo - if no answer, return it and get a different one.
Blue is a cool color for a radio but I might lose it in the weeds on a peak.
Needs a wrist strap!
Man that is slick
I agree!
Nice shirt, great colour and looks expensive. The radio is cool as well. Be safe. David
Thanks! The wonders of Amazon... The shirt was in a six pack for like $20US 🤣🤣
With the coming of this radio, do you think they will do updates/ upgrades to the n7500 mobile radio? These look like a good fit for my wife's needs. Yes, she's licensed!
I bet they will. Vero has been pretty good about updates.
Can it be used by woad for winlink?
I'll be testing that soon
Can APRS be done with the IC-705?
Yes, with an extra attachment (like most radios)
Probably asking too much, will the mobile and the handheld play together on the same phone?
Yes they will. Just pick the one you want - the only draw back is that you can only address one at a time - you'd need a second phone/device/etc for using them simultaneously via app - but they can both be used without the app.
Perfect. Thanx.
Can you do group messaging with it ? Like on the yeasu ft series
Yes, send your message to "GROUP:" instead of "CALL:" in the app. You can also do multi-participant messages with the latest firmware "CALL1:CALL2:CALL3:"
@@temporarilyoffline so can you set it up to receive group messages?
I was pretty surprised when I saw you were seeing N0BVE from St. Croix Falls. Maybe it was a magical propagation day?
Its possible with a good amount of digipeating. It might be a stretch, but 3 hops... maybe?
Red n yellow are the easiest to find when dropped in the bush.
I hope so!
Is the Android app specifically for that radio? Or is it a general app?
It works with this radio only.
TO does that ga-5wb app use off shore servers and are they CCP?😮 This is a showstopper for me.
I have an N76 in my AliX cart but I won't press the button without the right launch codes from you.👨🏽✈️
Nope, its all kept in the US so the US Government is the only one that gets the data.
Will that software work for wired radios?
It will only work for the Vero VR-N76, VR-N7500, Radioddity GA-5WB and the BTech UV-PRO
Can the radio be used without the phone app?
Sure can. I did a road trip and used it both ways and it worked well both ways.
If it's like the mobile version, it'll lose the digipeting feature when it's disconnected.
@@Sparkfly88 I'll have to test that. This does look a little more advanced - esp since it has a screen in it to interface with the user.
Hey I would really love one you're you're awesome Channel❤❤❤
Keep an eye on the live streams where we do the giveaways! Monday Nights at 6:30pm Central.
All that camera movement is making me sick lol. Great video!
Thanks for watching!
What was the antenna you were using, you spoke to quick for 😂
Its a portmanteau - "Fara-J" a J-Pole antenna made out of faraday cloth... because "why not?" Check it out: vfcomms.com/x/temporarilyoffline/
I have a coyote one and the blue tooth mic on the way. N3YJ😊
Sweet. Have Fun!
I'll take the blue one!
Its pretty ham-sexy!
🤷♂️okay
Hey Cornbread!
i do like that color blue
I like it better than I thought I would. Looks really good in the hand vs the pictures!
I like the FDE color....
Its hard to say which one is my favorite, gotta play with all of them first!
Now with KISS support :)
Exactly! Did you see my vid on it?
@@temporarilyoffline Not yet thanks for the spoiler warning :/ lol
OH! … 4:02 … I’d not realized how close you are to me. W0MHR-2 is at my house.
I was, I'm in Missouri today! Can't catch me!
👋
👋
Stationary stations don't need 1 minute beacon, too many, congest network. Make that a lot longer.
Thanks for watching!
Doubly appealing 😂🎉😢😮
Indubitably!
No red for you! 73!
I just can't catch a break!
@@temporarilyoffline Hopefully next time.
Color is trivial
I heard somebody say that this morning... But I remember that person also ordered a specific color to match his Garmin Rhino 🤣🤣
IT'S BLUE DAH BU DE DA BU DIH... Crap caps... Not retyping that.
Me neither!
Almost as good as red. Lol😊 KI5HDT
Almost!
Thompson Carol Robinson Edward Johnson Barbara
it's not advanced if you have to tether it to an android phone or PC...
There is only one radio that doesn't need a tether and it has other problems. These are the heroes we get, not the heroes we deserve.
@@temporarilyoffline that's why i'm in Shenzhen now developing something worthy of 2025... lol
@@daomingjin email me about, I'd love to hear more.
@@temporarilyoffline just sent you an email
Smart beaconing?
Only thing it looks like you can do is actual or specified coords
@temporarilyoffline None of these cheap aprs units ever bring the sauce with smart beaconing. Until they step up their game they do not grab my interest.
Fun video. Haven't played with APRS in a long time and cool to see how easy it is these days with Bluetooth HTs. 73 Mike N4FFF es Becky N4BKY
Hello @HamRadioDuo - its a fun radio for sure. I feel like we should have had this a decade ago!
SIgn me up for the giveaway, 73 de WP3BM!
It will be during a future Monday night live stream. Stay tuned.