EARL5555 Posted September 4, 2021 Report Share Posted September 4, 2021 Hi folks, I was looking for an inexpensive mobile radio, because I wanted more range than a 5 watt handheld could provide. I see that the Radioddity mobile puts out 20 watts, and goes for $110 on Amazon. Does anyone have any knowledge or experience with that radio? Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelLAX Posted September 4, 2021 Report Share Posted September 4, 2021 I love it! i bought the Anytone AT-779UV, same radio! $99 at Amazon first mobile (because I hate HTs in a car) in 60 years of radio! Instant mobile radio: mag-mount antenna and cup-holder mount and cigarette lighter plug! Ask me any questions! EARL5555 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WyoJoe Posted September 4, 2021 Report Share Posted September 4, 2021 I also have the Anytone AT-779UV (three of them, actually). It is a very good mobile radio, especially considering the price (~$100). The Radioddity version appears to be identical, as does the Retevis RA-25, so I can't recommend it over the Anytone or Retevis versions. The biggest downfall, in my opinion, is the programming software. The "factory" software is cumbersome, and somewhat awkward to use. Chirp is what I prefer, as it is much easier to use, but doesn't work with this radio at this time. Other than that, I recommend this radio since it performs better than most handheld radios, for not a whole lot more money. Of course, you still need to buy an antenna, but all-in-all, it works pretty well for what it costs. Other options in this price range are some of the Midland radios or used commercial radios. These have their pluses and minuses, but in general can be more difficult or even impossible to configure/program for GMRS usage, especially if using repeaters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelLAX Posted September 4, 2021 Report Share Posted September 4, 2021 25 minutes ago, WyoJoe said: I also have the Anytone AT-779UV (three of them, actually)... The biggest downfall, in my opinion, is the programming software. The "factory" software is cumbersome, and somewhat awkward to use. Chirp is what I prefer, as it is much easier to use, but doesn't work with this radio at this time... Do you put them in 3 vehicles? I am considering another one for use in my shack, as it performs equally as well or better as my Yaesu FT-857d on VHF and UHF connected to my rooftop Comet Tri-bander. Nothing is as easy to use as CHIRP, but this software is not as bad as you make it seem, compared to other CPS software that I have used before. Yes, I would like to find an import/export utility for this software and I keep looking for someone to post something valuable or CHIRP to implement their program on this wonderful machine! I will separately post my "tips" for this radio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelLAX Posted September 4, 2021 Report Share Posted September 4, 2021 Some Operational Tips: Open up the Ham 2 meter and 70 cm bands to transmit on the USA version (also available in the provided software under Model): 1) Turn off the power. 2) While holding down the V/M button, turn on the power. Use the Up and Down arrow keys to change from the GMRS setting on the display to 136-174 MHz; 400-470 MHz and now power down. 3) When you power back up licensed operators can now transmit on the GMRS channels and the 2 meter and 70 cm Ham bands. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Giving a Channel an alphanumeric name without using a computer: 1) Go to the appropriate Channel 2) Push the FUN button and using the V/M and MAIN buttons to go through the Menu items until you reach Function 29: DSPCHANNEL and using the Up and Down arrow buttons, select NAME. Push the FUN button to exit the Function menu. 3) Push the FUN button and using the V/M and MAIN buttons to go through the Menu items until you reach Function 12: CHANNEL NAME. Using the Up and Down Arrow buttons, scroll through the list of 1-0, A-Z and a-z to find the first letter. When you do find it, push the MON button to confirm that character and move to the 2nd position. Repeat as necessary until up to 8 characters are entered. 4) When finished push the FUN button to exit the Function Mode. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Programming a repeater channel without using a computer: 1) Switch to VFO mode (from Channel Mode) using the V/M key 2) Using the number keys on the mic, enter the repeater's output frequency 3) On the mic, push FUN then 9 repeatedly until the proper split (+ or - or blank for Off) appears above the frequency. 4) Press the FUN key on the Radio and use the V/M and Main keys as an up/down to get to function 10:Offset. Use the Up and Down arrow keys to set your offset split, such as 5.00000MHz or 0.60000MHz (you can hold down the Up or Down key to have it continuously change). Once you get to the proper offset, push the FUN key again. 5) Press the FUN key on the Radio and go to Function 01:T-CDC and use the Up and Down keys to find the proper transmit PL Tone. Use the same method to optionally set the proper receive PL Tone, if necessary, on Function 02:R-CDC (or Function 03: RT-CDC if both tones are the same) 6) You can rotate through High, Medium and Low transmit power using FUN and 0 (zero) on the mic. 7) Save to the first open channel by pushing Fun and UP on the microphone (or then use the UP and DN keys on the mic to scroll through the available channels, with empty ones saying NULL Save to this channel holding down the "MON-*" key on the mic and you are done! ---------------------------------------------------------------- Use DCS Digital Tones: Go to desired channel Press FUN on mic Press 1 on mic Go to menu 1 using V/M or Main key on mic Press number 1 on mic to cycle to 000 N display for menu 1 Use up and down on mic to scroll to code corresponding to desired DCS code. List is in the instructions. Use V/M or Main to go to menu item 2. Repeat selection process Press DIL on mic to exit. _________________________________________________________________ New Radioddity DB20-G CPS software V2.02 1. Change the default bandwidth from Narrow to Wide. 2. Address the bug that "when repeater TX frequency change, RX frequency automatically match" ---------------------------------------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WyoJoe Posted September 5, 2021 Report Share Posted September 5, 2021 8 hours ago, MichaelLAX said: Do you put them in 3 vehicles? I am considering another one for use in my shack, as it performs equally as well or better as my Yaesu FT-857d on VHF and UHF connected to my rooftop Comet Tri-bander. I have one in my truck, and another in my "shack." The third is intended for another vehicle, but hasn't yet been installed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelLAX Posted September 5, 2021 Report Share Posted September 5, 2021 I've been trying to figure out if this rig has the "secret" ability to tell us what CTCSS or DCS tones are on a received signal. Have you figured this one out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WyoJoe Posted September 5, 2021 Report Share Posted September 5, 2021 I haven't found a way to scan CTCSS Tones or DCS codes with this radio. I looked in the manual, and didn't find it there, either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n4gix Posted September 5, 2021 Report Share Posted September 5, 2021 22 hours ago, MichaelLAX said: CHIRP to implement their program on this wonderful machine! The only way the CHIRP programmers can work their magic is when someone loans them a radio for a few weeks... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelLAX Posted September 6, 2021 Report Share Posted September 6, 2021 21 hours ago, n4gix said: The only way the CHIRP programmers can work their magic is when someone loans them a radio for a few weeks... I’m not loaning them my only one: I use it too often! i’ll just have to continue using the CPS software when needed EARL5555 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EARL5555 Posted September 6, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2021 Thank you very much, gentlemen. I appreciate your helpful answers very much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EARL5555 Posted September 6, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2021 21 hours ago, n4gix said: The only way the CHIRP programmers can work their magic is when someone loans them a radio for a few weeks... Hi, I hope this isn't a dumb question, but is the Anytone mobile radio type accepted for GMRS? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelLAX Posted September 6, 2021 Report Share Posted September 6, 2021 Yes! It is part 95 certified There is no such thing as a “dumb question! “ There are only dumb answers. pcradio 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobthetj03 Posted September 9, 2021 Report Share Posted September 9, 2021 I received the AT-779UV today. Cute little radio. It will fit nicely where I had my external speaker that I don't use anymore. The Talkabout's are for the grand kids to play with. Trying to get them interested in radio while they are young. DanW and MichaelLAX 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanW Posted September 16, 2021 Report Share Posted September 16, 2021 On 9/9/2021 at 4:30 PM, bobthetj03 said: I received the AT-779UV today. Cute little radio. It will fit nicely where I had my external speaker that I don't use anymore. The Talkabout's are for the grand kids to play with. Trying to get them interested in radio while they are young. Have you fired that thing up yet? If so, how do you like it? I've heard the speaker is really loud, which is appealing to me as it would be in a noisy Jeep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobthetj03 Posted September 16, 2021 Report Share Posted September 16, 2021 Actually, I'm having trouble with it. I can't get the software to download to my laptop. When I turn it on, it only displays 2 channels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelLAX Posted September 16, 2021 Report Share Posted September 16, 2021 How can I help you? Back and forth on a forum is not very productive for computer oriented problems Why don’t you write me at my screen name @AOLdotCom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelLAX Posted October 2, 2021 Report Share Posted October 2, 2021 On 9/15/2021 at 6:34 PM, bobthetj03 said: Actually, I'm having trouble with it. I can't get the software to download to my laptop. When I turn it on, it only displays 2 channels. Did you get the software to work for you? Did you try to initially "Read" from the Radio? Sometimes it comes with only 2 channels filled in but if you click the >> on the right it will open a box to allow you to program more channels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobthetj03 Posted October 6, 2021 Report Share Posted October 6, 2021 On 10/2/2021 at 10:58 AM, MichaelLAX said: Did you get the software to work for you? Did you try to initially "Read" from the Radio? Sometimes it comes with only 2 channels filled in but if you click the >> on the right it will open a box to allow you to program more channels. Didn't want to mess with it and ended up returning it. Purchased this one instead. https://www.buytwowayradios.com/wouxun-kg-xs20g.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelLAX Posted October 6, 2021 Report Share Posted October 6, 2021 Ok: good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PACNWComms Posted November 7, 2021 Report Share Posted November 7, 2021 Recently bought a combination package of Radioddity DB20-G mobile with a GM-30 handheld GMRS radios. Both work as expected, as described but with terrible manuals, the need to download software from the Radioddity website, and get the correct drivers for the programming cable. However, the DB20-G does actually put out 20 Watts, as checked with both a Bird/Thruline wattmeter and a Surecom dual band wattmeter. The GM-30 is very similar to many other Chinese made handheld radios of the past decade, and looks a lot like my Anytone 878 handheld. However, the DB20-G fits perfectly in an old Honda Civic dash cubby hole, looks like it came with the car. A Tram dual band antenna went on the trunk. The TYT, Anytone,Radioddity radios appear to work well. I may do as a previous poster mentioned, and buy more DB20-G radios for use in other vehicles, and as base radios where I do not want a larger power supply and Motorola CDM or XPR series mobile dominating the desk space. Dave805 and MichaelLAX 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave805 Posted November 12, 2021 Report Share Posted November 12, 2021 I liked it so much I bought 2! Like the form factor, and sensitivity is good. A lot of bang for the buck, scanning speed is decently fast, 300 channel memory. MichaelLAX and TOM47 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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