WRUQ357

I've watched a lot of notarubicon's videos, @OffRoaderX, I'm just not able to retain what I learn like I used to. All of the searching that I did the last couple of days brought back some oh yeahs. All I need is a simple radio that just works out of the box. I think I've got my DB20 right for me finally. Thanks everyone. 

Well I got the repeater set up and made a contact about 60 miles or so in Tucson from the Sierra Vista repeater. I think I have most of it set where I want it. There will definitely still be a learning curve for sure. Thanks for all the help. 

Less bourbon is never the answer 🤣

Less bourbon is never the answer 🤣

If you want to get a technician license, spent 20-30 minutes a day studying the flash cards and doing sample exams on https://hamstudy.org in two weeks, if you have any retention at all, you'll be hitting the exam in the high 80's low 90's and should sign up for the exam and pass it.   Ham Study also offers online exams if you don't want to go to a ham club for the exam.  I have two 12 yr old grand kids that did just that, and passed on the first try.  It's not hard. There is virtually zero electronic theory on the Technician exam, it's mostly FCC rules and regs and operating practice.  It's 35 questions and you can miss 9. 

I retired to South East Arizona and picked up a '05 TJR for exploring the local State trust lands and forest roads. This is my 6th Jeep and I hope I'm able to enjoy it for a long time. I usually run GMRS channel 16 or have my radio on scan. !

I'm not the smartest person on here. It took me a while to figure it out myself. I have a Radioddity GM-30 and used a SMA male to UHF female. The SMA end consists to your radio. Yours might take a female? I used a Nagoya lip mount on my driver side rear door with a Motorola 3db ghost antenna, both of which I got off of Amazon. 

Well, i know people still using the original 6666 that came out a decade ago. In todays throw away world, i say 10 years out of a CCR is pretty damn good. Also 90% of the President radios now come from China. Only a few “flagship” models still come from Vietnam. At any rate the QT80 is a great rig. Just talk some SSB DX and you’d be amazed how many are using AnyTone/Radioddity products because they are spot on frequency with great audio for a respectable price.

I'm not the smartest person on here. It took me a while to figure it out myself. I have a Radioddity GM-30 and used a SMA male to UHF female. The SMA end consists to your radio. Yours might take a female? I used a Nagoya lip mount on my driver side rear door with a Motorola 3db ghost antenna, both of which I got off of Amazon. 

So, I've been thinking about joining the dark side and get the Ham Technician license. I've also been thinking about having a cb radio when we travel. I joined a cb forum trying to get some ideas. I thought I would go AM/FM and it would fulfill my needs. But I've also been  googling ssb and whether I should consider that too. I was thinking about getting a Radioddity qt60 and actually had one in my cart. I've seen and read some stuff on a new qt80, and thought, let's see if there's one on Amazon. Well, when I searched on Friday, Amazon said there was only one left in they're system. So buy once cry once, right? So now I have a Radioddity qt80 coming with a Tram 3500 magnetic mount coming. Now I'll just have to see if it will fit where I want it to in my truck. 

So, I've been thinking about joining the dark side and get the Ham Technician license. I've also been thinking about having a cb radio when we travel. I joined a cb forum trying to get some ideas. I thought I would go AM/FM and it would fulfill my needs. But I've also been  googling ssb and whether I should consider that too. I was thinking about getting a Radioddity qt60 and actually had one in my cart. I've seen and read some stuff on a new qt80, and thought, let's see if there's one on Amazon. Well, when I searched on Friday, Amazon said there was only one left in they're system. So buy once cry once, right? So now I have a Radioddity qt80 coming with a Tram 3500 magnetic mount coming. Now I'll just have to see if it will fit where I want it to in my truck. 

Good times. I have an old 40ch radio shack set up on my workbench in the garage, and continually debate picking up a better one for the truck.

So, I've been thinking about joining the dark side and get the Ham Technician license. I've also been thinking about having a cb radio when we travel. I joined a cb forum trying to get some ideas. I thought I would go AM/FM and it would fulfill my needs. But I've also been  googling ssb and whether I should consider that too. I was thinking about getting a Radioddity qt60 and actually had one in my cart. I've seen and read some stuff on a new qt80, and thought, let's see if there's one on Amazon. Well, when I searched on Friday, Amazon said there was only one left in they're system. So buy once cry once, right? So now I have a Radioddity qt80 coming with a Tram 3500 magnetic mount coming. Now I'll just have to see if it will fit where I want it to in my truck. 

So, I've been thinking about joining the dark side and get the Ham Technician license. I've also been thinking about having a cb radio when we travel. I joined a cb forum trying to get some ideas. I thought I would go AM/FM and it would fulfill my needs. But I've also been  googling ssb and whether I should consider that too. I was thinking about getting a Radioddity qt60 and actually had one in my cart. I've seen and read some stuff on a new qt80, and thought, let's see if there's one on Amazon. Well, when I searched on Friday, Amazon said there was only one left in they're system. So buy once cry once, right? So now I have a Radioddity qt80 coming with a Tram 3500 magnetic mount coming. Now I'll just have to see if it will fit where I want it to in my truck. 

So, I've been thinking about joining the dark side and get the Ham Technician license. I've also been thinking about having a cb radio when we travel. I joined a cb forum trying to get some ideas. I thought I would go AM/FM and it would fulfill my needs. But I've also been  googling ssb and whether I should consider that too. I was thinking about getting a Radioddity qt60 and actually had one in my cart. I've seen and read some stuff on a new qt80, and thought, let's see if there's one on Amazon. Well, when I searched on Friday, Amazon said there was only one left in they're system. So buy once cry once, right? So now I have a Radioddity qt80 coming with a Tram 3500 magnetic mount coming. Now I'll just have to see if it will fit where I want it to in my truck. 

NGL, I tried when I started getting into this. I just couldn't.
"This? This is what y'all are doing with your weeknights?" I'm glad people enjoy it. It's not for me.

You mean they don't?????

I retired to South East Arizona and picked up a '05 TJR for exploring the local State trust lands and forest roads. This is my 6th Jeep and I hope I'm able to enjoy it for a long time. I usually run GMRS channel 16 or have my radio on scan. !

I retired to South East Arizona and picked up a '05 TJR for exploring the local State trust lands and forest roads. This is my 6th Jeep and I hope I'm able to enjoy it for a long time. I usually run GMRS channel 16 or have my radio on scan. !

I retired to South East Arizona and picked up a '05 TJR for exploring the local State trust lands and forest roads. This is my 6th Jeep and I hope I'm able to enjoy it for a long time. I usually run GMRS channel 16 or have my radio on scan. !

So why not...put their FRS radios to channel 19 as well?
 

The GM-15 Pro which is the same as the GM30 is an awesome cheap HT and here is why almost everyone in my GMRS group uses them.
 
1. Repeater Capable and programmable on the radio.
2. Easy to use and the Baofeng lady explains things in the menu so they make more sense.
3. Sounds good, the speaker is not the best speaker ive heard but its better than many of the other sub 30$ HTs.
4. Basic Power Meter on receive.  
5. Good range and the amazon pack includes a ABREE AR-771 type whip and again the pack is less than 30$. 
6. Can listen to FM Radio and 2M/70CM Ham band
7.  UV-5R programing cable works on it (again more below).  
8.  USB C Charging  and  good battery life
9.  Convenient Wrist Strap and okay belt clip.
10. Light up buttons (GM15 Pro only?)
11. Easy to remove antenna and good spacing to fit pretty much any aftermarket antenna or adapter.
12. Pretty good manual
13. Sync allowing you to see channel names and freq on the display at the same time
14. Dual monitor is available if you like that.
15. NOAA weather channel scanning automatically
 
Things I do not like
1. Biggest issue for me is that its not Dust/Water Resistant.
2. Saving per channel CTCSS/DCS sucks on the radio  (but not completely impossible with help of Baofeng lady's guidance)
3. Belt Clip is weak and attaches to battery.
4. Battery has 3 pin charging on the battery but no base charger included or sold (why? Yes it has USB C but base chargers are nice. Maybe another base fits but idk which one.)
5. Not CHIRP Compatible and seemingly no plans to be so from Chirp
6. GM-30 Program needed to program it as Baofeng never released their version of the programming software. (My Cable required me to find some drivers as well for it to work on windows 10 and 11 tried both and then settings in device manager needed to be changed to compatibility modes).
7. Its a typical SOC GMRS Radio (but who cares at less than 30$).
 
 
 
So for using it around town and at the farm it works well. It is is cheap and we have talked 30miles+ house to house on these with really good clarity.
 
If you want to mud wrestle with a radio this is not it. If you drop things in your toilet this is not for you. If you talk mostly simplex and like to carry your radio around and want something better than a midland bubble pack or a basic baofeng this is a good option with lots of options on the radio.
 
Overall Id give it a B+ for a GMRS Radio there are things I wish it had (at least a little dust resistance) but most of them have solutions.