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OpenGD77 definitely makes DMR easier to program and you can’t beat the price (free). Other benefits of OpenGD77 include the built in support for for voice prompts which was important for me as I programmed the radio for a blind and partially deaf friend. I bought the Tytera MD UV380. It was about $80, which was pretty low for a decent DMR radio. There’s a version of OpenGD 77 just for it called Open UV380. I’m not suggesting that the TYT MD UV380 (or 390 if you want waterproof) is better than the DM-1701 because I don’t know if it is but it’s definitely a decent choice.

Yes, it will be good "out of the box" and available to you to upgrade the firmware to OpenGD77 when you are more comfortable with that process. In my experience, I could not get the DM-1701 to transmit on GMRS, but @BoxCar responded that they can be "opened." Perhaps he will reply with more information. My RD-5R and DM-5R both easily work on GMRS and MURS (analog, of course!)

PROBABLY uncertified (aka unlocked or 'dual use') type radios. But that's just an educated guess. Does the email you received have any other actual details?

We have DMR Repeaters both West of my and South of me that I can hit. The TYT-390 is out of my budget. The DM-1701 will be close to what I'm looking to spend. I'm going to order that one and see how it works out. I really don't want to mess with Firmware having bricked 2 Tidradio H8's in the past. So will the stock Firmware in the DM-1701 be good enough?

Another option is the TYT - MD-390 with OpenGD77 already installed for $119 with free shipping from Los Angeles, but this might be out of your price range: https://letsgetreadyinc.com/opengd390plus [NOTE: I do not get a commission; I am only a satisfied customer of this company]

Yes. Do you have access to a DMR repeater from your home or will you use a hotspot (which acts like a "mini-repeater" and connects to the internet through WiFi)?

So the DM-1701 would be a decent way to go then? I was able to cancel the order for the RT-4D so now I need to find a good, inexpensive DMR radio to start off with.

Ok, you have moved this discussion to this thread and I will answer all of your questions here: I have not read L.Scott's attachment paper about DMR and I suspect that it is chocked full of helpful information. I will try to read it later. My experience with DMR is specifically Ham Radio and Brandmeister. There is a whole world of DMR use in the Business Bands that pre-date all this, but that is not my experience. Brandmeister is the protocol that took a primarily business radio format and converted it into a Ham Radio friendly style. I discovered the Baofeng UV-5R in 2016 on Amazon and given the price point I quickly started to build a small collection: 5 watts, then tri-band, then 8 watts and then I started buying accessories, primarily higher capacity rechargeable batteries. Remember accessories can add up in cost, so this became a factor when I decided to jump into DMR in 2018. I discovered that Radioddity took the electronics of their GD-77 model and reformulated them to fit in a UV-5R case and sold it as the RD-5R. As the then cheapest DMR HT available at that time, I purchased one to experiment with; in the event it bored me and I put it up on the shelf. The other importance of that model, other than price, was that my collection of UV-5R accessories, primarily my high capacity batteries, fit on and worked with the RD-5R. The initial problem with DMR is the learning curve to write your own "code plug" which tells the radio all of the necessary parameters are needed. Chirp and most analog radios are programmed like a "flat" database (think of a spreadsheet, where each column tells the analog radio what channel number, channel name, frequency, offset and tones are needed for each channel). DMR is programmed like a "relational" database which creates separate groups of related information and the software, as directed by the codeplug, tells each channel how to utilize the important factors needed to communicate with a specific TalkGroup. Once you understand the underlying definitions, DMR gets easier and easier to use. Hence, getting a codeplug from a ham radio group or "Elmer" in your area is a great way to start and modify it from there for your needs. The problem with the cheaper, starter DMR radios, is that they are missing more advanced features and more complicated to program. The OpenGD77 project developed a new firmware for many of these "cheapies" so that they acquire the more advanced features of radios hundreds of dollars more expensive and ease up the required codeplug, since a codeplug for one OpenGD77 radio will work in all of your OpenGD77 radios. The problem with my historical experience is that Radioddity stopped manufacturing the RD-5R so Baofeng stepped in and came out with their version, the DM-5R Model 2, but now that one is out of production too. Earlier this year I purchased the Baofeng DM-1701, the now cheapest of their DMR HTs available, to see how easy it was to install OpenGD 77. It was about $50 from AliExpress and OpenGD77 installed very easily and my existing codeplug worked immediately. Not being interested in using that radio over my RD-5R and DM-5R, I gave it away to a local new Ham who made a donation to our analog and DMR Repeater Group. There is much "excitement" about the DM-32 just released by Baofeng, but since it is not OpenGD77 compatible, I have no interest in it as an "inexpensive" DMR radio. That all being said, you have made your choice and I have no experience with that radio. It will of course work for you with the limitations of "cheapie" features and more complicated programming. But both disadvantages can be overcome and you will enjoy DMR. Good luck!

No, but i am seeing a huge reduction in commercial radio gear on Ebay searches.. Not sure whats going on...

Do you know what the basis is for the FCC ban?

Ok, now that I've got my DMR I.D. numbers(yes, I got 2 of them, not sure why??) why did I get issued 2 I.D. numbers? Both are for DMR and P25 but one also includes CCS7(???) whatever that is. I guess I've got a LOT of YouTube videos to watch. Also, other than not being able to run OpenGD77 Firmware, why is the Radtel RT-4D a bad DMR radio? It was the only one within my budget and I just want to do basic DMR stuff so will it work ok?

So what are the drawbacks of this radio over some others other than the OpenGD77 Firmware?

Unfortunately you’ve picked one that is not capable of using the OpenGD77 firmware, which adds ease of use and more capable functions to the more inexpensive DMR radios.

Ok, I caved and used the refund from the NanoVNA I returned and ordered the Radtel RT-4D DMR radio. That was one of the reasons I got my HAM license in the first place. Now I need to get a DMR I.D. number.

Clay County, Alabama is slighty east of Birmingham, south of Talladega National Forest. OP, it looks like there are three repeaters south of Bimringham. Best bet is probably going to be Shades Mountain 625. It looks like it's a private repeater, though. Shades Mountain 625 Bluff park, AL Frequency 462.625 MHz Output Tone 054 DPL Input Tone 054 DPL Repeater Type Permission Required Estimated Range 40 Miles Last Updated 7 days ago

I just got an email from a vender i have purchased surplus Hytera radio gear from, incluiding repeaters, cables, jumpers etc. stating that Ebay has banned certain sales of Hytera equpment etc and that Ebay is enforcing a type of FCC ban that is several years old. Anyone notcing this and is it effecting other radio brands?? I just did a search on Ebay for Hytera radio equipment and its coming up with very limited items, not the pages pages as before. No mobile equipment or repeater items are coming up in searches anymore.. Strange.

I don't understand most of what is in this thread. Far above my head, but I can speak to the 3' prostick. I use one on my Jeep for my CB. It performs really well and gets out there far enough for my needs.

There's a 3 foot ProStick on Amazon for $22, add in a mount for $14 and 10 feet of RG8x for another $17 and I can mount the entire set up to the same pole my Yagi is mounted too so I'd have both antennas handy. I might look into that but I am wanting to get that RT-4D DMR radio too so I'm not sure which way I'll go. Probably the antenna since I already have a boat load of radios.

Check with Klein Electronics or Planet Headset. They have all kinds of adapter pigtails. The image below is the Klein M1 to 3.5 mm jack. The Kenwood 2-Pin is a K1. I suggest that you call Klein Electronics and see if they have the K1 to 3.5.

You certainly can. Inexpensive whip CB antennas can sometimes be found at thrift shops also.

I've also read where you can use a simple CB antenna and tune it for 10M. That might be an inexpensive option to get me started.

If you’re talking about the Alpha-Delta dipole kit, it’s really not necessary (https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-005111). It’s nice, and I have one, but all you really need is to connect the center conductor to one wire and the shield to the other (that’s really all this does!) Dipoles are dirt simple and they work well. Here’s an article that will help you figure out the length: https://www.arrl.org/single-band-dipoles Here is a good video showing how to build a dipole “balun”:

Main reason for Amazon is my Credit Card with them so it's no fuss, no muss to buy. Also the return policy is good. I've also seen a Balum Antenna center section that I'd have to add wire to at the right length for 10M(not sure how long they'd be out each side) that might work as well.

Honestly, even though I’m an Amazon stockholder, I would not shop for antennas there. Shop at hamradio.com, dxengineering.com, Gigaparts.com, randlelectronics.com, or possibly antennafarm. You will be dealing with companies that know what they’re selling and usually have better prices than Amazon. If nothing else do your window shopping at the places I listed and then buy from Amazon because of the easy returns.