BTECH GMRS 50 V2 reviews

[Tman21]

Anyone have this 50w radio? I have seen some bad reviews about BTECH mobile radios but some people love them. I know It won’t actually give 50w, however it seems to have the most features and power for the money. Any other options you’d recommend under $250 and why?

[OffRoaderX]

I have had two.. Neither would output more than ~30 watts and both failed within 2 years.  

When I contacted BTech for support about the low-wattage, they said the radios were really outputting 50W and it was my fault for measuring the power-output without a dummy-load and getting a wrong reading. When I measured the power output with a dummy-load and got the exact same thing.. on both radios, they told me it really was outputting 50W but it was my fault for not using a high-end power-meter like a Bird Series 44 watt-meter.

[Tman21]

31 minutes ago, OffRoaderX said:

I have had two.. Neither would output more than ~30 watts and both failed within 2 years.  

When I contacted BTech for support about the low-wattage, they said the radios were really outputting 50W and it was my fault for measuring the power-output without a dummy-load and getting a wrong reading. When I measured the power output with a dummy-load and got the exact same thing.. on both radios, they told me it really was outputting 50W but it was my fault for not using a high-end power-meter like a Bird Series 44 watt-meter.

So what did you get instead?

[TrikeRadio]

One  thing that turned me off of the GMRS-50V2 was that the radio's firmware does not allow you to save the exact same frequency to multiple memory channels with different privacy tones (CTCSS/DCS) using the radio's keypad alone.

For instance you want to have two repeaters that use the same frequency (duplex) pair but different tones... 

I don't know why this is. But I have read that you create a codeplug via Chip or other computer software and upload it to the radio with two saved channels using the same frequency but different tones. So, it might be non issue for some people. 

The other thing.. I didn't like its smallish and data crowded display screen. But that might also just be me.

[OffRoaderX]

3 hours ago, Tman21 said:

So what did you get instead?

Wouxun KG-1000G, then Motorola XTL5000 ...

[OffRoaderX]

8 minutes ago, TrikeRadio said:

I didn't like its smallish and data crowded display screen. But that might also just be me.

its not just you.

[Northcutt114]

5 hours ago, Tman21 said:

Anyone have this 50w radio? I have seen some bad reviews about BTECH mobile radios but some people love them. I know It won’t actually give 50w, however it seems to have the most features and power for the money. Any other options you’d recommend under $250 and why?

I am on my second unit. I am only on my second unit because the first one went up in smoke. As it turns out, I had a mismatched frequency antenna and according to the techs at BTech, high SWR made my radio go boom. How exactly they knew that, I don't know. In fact, I have my doubts that they did...but alas. Having said that, if it did kilo bravo due to my error, BTech was kind enough to send me a replacement radio for free just the same. So there is that. 

I generally like the radio. I use it as a base station in my home and routinely use it to talk to my family while I am out and about. I also use it to talk to a repeater some 40 miles away and it makes the trip just fine. I get glowing reports on how the radio sounds. I monitor two different repeaters in addition to our family channel, so the quad watch feature is nice.

I understand that some may think the display is a little crowded. It is...and if I was running this in my Jeep, that would be a different case altogether. But sitting stationary on my desk, just a few feet from my face and next to my laptop, I like being able to see all the info.

If I'm completely transparent, I do have a little bit of buyer's remorse. I think I could have bought a Radioddity DB20 for less than half of what I paid for the GMRS 50V2 and had access to 2m and been well happy. But I bought this as a new guy in GMRS and that 50 watts sure seemed sexy. Knowing what I know now - primarily that I can hit that same repeater 40 miles away with a 5 watt HT - I'm not so sure I'd have bought it.

As always, your mileage may vary. 

[Northcutt114]

49 minutes ago, TrikeRadio said:

But I have read that you create a codeplug via Chip or other computer software and upload it to the radio with two saved channels using the same frequency but different tones.

Can confirm. 

[MailMan]

I'm new to the GMRS world and I have the BTECH-50V2, and the BTECH UV-50X2 and really like them. They are very easy to operate. I did send my Gmras-50V2 radio to have it programmed with all the repeaters in my area. I'm not that experienced with any radios.

I have the Retevis RT-95 and found it to be very complicated. 

[WRUE951]

BTEch Radios don't float my boat,, but they sure make for good target practice  

[GrouserPad]

Buddy has two btec 50v2’s. Mobile. And base. Both work excellent and he chats with me occasionally on them and I think they sound fantastic. Both show a couple watts over 50 on my power meter. He’s had both for about a year now.