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I've been operating with a Radioddity DB20G in my truck since Christmas. I wasn't planning to make a fuss over it or type up a review or anything, because I felt like it was a pretty basic, standard, inexpensive, knock around mini-mobile GMRS radio. But after using it for these weeks, I've noticed that I just really like this radio a lot. It does all of the small things right. It may sound silly to some, but I just really appreciate that it uses a big switch on/off volume knob. For a radio that I operate in a vehicle, I appreciate it when a radio isn't "fiddly". I reach over blind, switch it on and set to a comfortable volume in one intuitive and effortless motion. The radio sits in a spot that is absolutely perfect in my truck (pictured in following post). Facing face-up below where my right arm would rest on the middle console. The speaker is powerful and can be cranked up adequately loud to hear comfortably above road noise. I also appreciate that this radio is 20 watts (and actually is) which means that it can safely be powered by a cigarette lighter plug. When you power on/unlock the radio, you have full freedom to program as many simplex and repeater channels as you'd like. I used the included bracket and some 3M hook and loop strips to make it so that I can simply pull the entire radio off to bring it inside for programming, or use it in another application. Reception is great, no breakthrough overload, and reports are that I sound nice talking on it as well. It just hits the sweet spot of preferences for me in a radio for how I want to be able to use a radio..

It depends on what you are looking for in a radio and where you are going to use it. If having an IP rating for water and dust is important for you then I will suggest the Wouxun KG-XS20G when it comes to 20 watt radios. The KG-XS20G is basically a higher power mobile version of the KG-935G hand held. They both use the same screen and both have the same menu layout. IP rating was important for me since I use radios in my SxS. This could also be a consideration for those that have Jeeps and use them a lot with the top removed.

Aha, 42". Should have known Steve would nail it. Thank you, sir!

Comet CA-GMRS https://www.gigaparts.com/comet-ca-gmrs-base-antenna.html?utm_term=sku-zcm-ca-gmrs&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_py5EKZQxij1cmldY7F8FS3Vn42&gclid=Cj0KCQiAyoi8BhDvARIsAO_CDsBPolyUSP6EAjfHgLTgAmTPj__UDbKhG2y8DMvRLwgdMx9xjiUbKR8aAgAQEALw_wcB

Start by double-checking the simple stuff. Make sure you don't have any tones set which would preclude you from being heard by anyone without the same tone. Be sure "duplex" is not set to "off" because that would keep you from transmitting on that frequency. Are you trying to use a repeater? If so, do you have the offset and tone (if any) programmed in? Did you program it with software? If so, a screenshot of the file might be helpful.

Not mine, I saw it in an antique shop near me. I think they were released in 1974.

Yeah, an old crystal 2 channel CB. I just thought it was cool even though it wasn't the subject of the thread.

I also can't speak to "the best", but of the radios in that range I've tried. I pretty much agree with @SvenMarbles's review. It pretty much just does everything most of us want it to do (and in many cases a decent chunk more).

I mean.. It's a loaded question. I don't own "all of the radios" so I can't say for sure. Rubicon probably does lol. But what is "better" anyway? Specs? We're not supposed to be a nerd band theoretically. But I know that a lot of us are. So maybe you care about if the receiver is a superhet receiver. BUT, how does that weigh against the functional advantages of the radio I'm reviewing in this post? Size, the user interface, power draw, etc.. Maybe I can make the argument that this radio is "better" because those are the factors that matter to me for my use case..

Yep, this is probably the best less than $100 mobile rig on the market. It's very well built and virtually indestructible. The PA protection circuitry will throttle output power down as radio heats up or SWR is not ideal. You'll never find a DB20 with fried finals.

What you are experiencing is the way different antennas are resonating. If you look at this using a VNA you will see even though the SWR is showing 1.1:1 for a given frequency, or relatively close to it, you will see the resistance can vary anywhere between 40-60 ohms. The other main consideration is American watts versus Chinese watts. This is why I always use the famous Bird watt meter that accurately displays American watts and has the capability to covert Chinese watts to American watts with a high degree of accuracy. Most Chinese SWR/Watt meters simply can't handle the conversion properly.

According to the video @IronWire linked above, the Baofeng cable doesn't work. You have to get the Radioddity cable. I don't know personally; I don't own that radio.

There is nothing wrong with the 935G Plus. The 935G Plus is my goto GMRS HT. And as you found out, your 905 accessories work with the 935G which is a bonus.

Out of the box, using the alternative CPS programming software provided with the radio, CPEditor by MM7DBT, it transmits and receives on the GMRS channels; well at least the couple of repeaters channels that I have used it on. I can't imagine that if it works randomly on those, it would not work on all of them. Of course avoid transmitting on Channels 8-14, as this radio probably exceeds 1/2 watt on Low. I just acquired a hotspot and this is an extremely versatile technology. It was setup for me to access both the Brandmeister and TGIF Networks and I only have experience on Brandmeister. You just go to the Brandmeister Hoseline and can see all of the activity that is currently available and can listen to each channel by simply clicking on it. Then by clicking on Player, you can easily see which Callsigns are using that channel and can easily disconnect from that channel, too. Once you get familiar with activity patterns, you can add these channels to your codeplug and listen to them from the radio. A good channel to start with is World (91). Just sit back and hear all those Hams around the world easily talking to each other. Not something that the "old-timers" would accept as DX, but in the modern world it is another tool in the Ham Radio toolbox for those who want to use it.

The XS20G will last for years. I know 4 friends that have had the BTech 50W GMRS radios in their Jeeps.. 3 of them have failed in 3 years or less. I know ~10 friends with Midlands, 1 has failed 3 years or less.. I know 20+ friends that have KG1000G or XS20G radios in their Jeeps, with 0 failures. The data is anecdotal, but, i think it shows a trend.

I have had/used every brand of GMRS radio in my Jeep(s) and almost every model of every brand, and for Part 95 "GMRS" radios, I prefer the Wouxun KG1000G. It is a better quality radio than BTech and most (maybe all) the other brands, it outputs a full 50W, and has a remote-mount removable faceplate. Several of my off-road friends use this radio and they are all happy with it. And FYI - even though its spelled Wooks-On, it's pronounced "Ocean" .

No cable came with the GM15. I bought it separately from Baofeng.