BAOFENG GM21 Reviews ?

[WSAW678]

Has anyone seen the new BAOFENG  GM21  GMRS Radio?

I have not seen a single post online concerning this new model, released on 17 JAN 2024.    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CSK1D3MJ/

 

[WRYS709]

WoW: I just got the Quansheng UV-K5(8) delivered from AliExpress today...

I CAN"T KEEP UP!!!

[WRQI663]

I just received mine (GM21) Friday.....I was curious about the keypad being "normal" with a zero on the bottom with # and * on each side.

It came with a standard duckie and one of those 771s which I don't like. It seems rugged and heavy compared to the uv5G

You need to screw in the battery (and belt clip to the battery) at the back which is made of metal.

So far I have only tested it using another ht to listen to the audio quality

It scans pretty slow, and with win7 I can't use the latest version of chirp so I don't know if I can program any memory channels other than manually.

The display shows only the ch number and frequency in channel mode. I seriously doubt I will use 999 memory slots.

The audio is ok (like any bo fung you need to duplex to find the sweet spot for the mic.)

I used my BNC adaptor for an old business band ht's duckie and the gm21 antenna is on the uv5g

Here is what they look side by side

[JBRPong]

I had the UV-21R version,  looks identical. Had the dark background. I like the display with the large numbers and the number pad being more "normal" with 0 at the bottom.

However,  the display went out after 1 week.  Returned it for replacement.  The replacement had white back ground,  which is the older firmware and the white back ground was harder to see and it had smaller numbers in the display.  I returned.   

Bummer because I like the 999 channels and upload and download to Chirp was way faster than my other Baofengs.

[WRQI663]

After using this GM21 ht for a little while now, I like it - with win 7 I have to use legacy chirp - it will not program the GM21, but BF's software works good enough.

It will receive from 200 to 259.9 too, and that inspired me to go for a uv21 'pro' v2 that will xmit there. In all my 57 years as an amateur op, I've never used 1.25 meters.

They look identical - I doubt I will have a need for 999 memory slots.

Anyone else have a GM21? What do you think of them??

 

[WSCR898]

I just got two of these and a friend also got two. I can only receive and I can  transmit. He has the same problem. There is an open repeater in the area. I can hear others chatting thoughout the day. And at one point heard someone about 30 miles away. I can’t hear my friend who is less than 5 miles from me and like wise. I also have another friend on the other side of town who has a baofeng 5g that can hear everything. Just not me. Does this unit need an update or did we both get bad units? New to gmrs and really would like to figure out what if anything is wrong with this radio. I have also tried to do a reset but that seems to do nothing since they are brand new. Thanks in advance

[Guest]

Do you have great line of site?  Anything in the way? 5miles may be on the edge depending on line of sight antenna and frequency disturbances.   As for the repeater same thing plus do you have times set correctly on the proper repeater pair channel?   Myself with a 771 antenna can easily do 30-40 miles with a hand held but I live overlooking a big desert valley.   Te same radio in the city can hit a repeater 30miles away but can o my transmit less then a mile hand held to hand held at ground level.  Just because you can hear someone or a repeater does not mean they can hear you. 

[WSCR898]

Pretty much where I’m at is flat and repeater isn’t that much more then five miles from me. Repeater is open to public with a coverage of around 60 miles. I have driven around trying to receive or transmit to either of my friends. Neither can hear me. Got two new radios on the way with program cable. If this goes the same way with the new radios, I’ll just put up a base station which was in the plans but not for awhile. My wife just says what ever so I guess that means antennas on the house will be fine. She has her license and next in the works is Ham. I don’t think she will be following me into that hobby lol

[Guest]

I’d bet you have time or programming issues for the repeater in this case.  Have you contacted the owner of the repeater for programming help?  If you post a link or picture of the repeater programing needs and your code plug that would help.  You can pm that info if you would rather I’d be glad to take a look.  

[WSCR898]

The repeater isn’t the issue I don’t believe. As the one friend who doesn’t have the gm21 has no problems communicating with anyone and has had a few convos here and there. He is new to gmrs as while. He has a 5g. Radios should be here tomorrow and I will try to dial them in as well as the new 5g pluses I picked up. If I need some help I will for sure message you.

[WSCR898]

Well I got the baofeng uv-5g plus. Drove across town to within 3 miles of the tower. Never was able to reach my two friends in town. Been lookin around and seems like the repeater is up but possibly could now be closed,  I am getting hourly time and a call sign every 15-20 minutes automated but I don’t know. The one guy I know who has been able to talk is now only able to listen in to the chatter but can’t hear me. I know the sun is playin a part right now but I’m still new to this so I’m kinda getting to the end of my limited knowledge

[WRXB215]

9 hours ago, WSCR898 said:

the repeater is up but possibly could now be closed

From what you've described, this sounds like the most likely scenario. Your friend could open squelch on the repeater but now can't, the owner must have changed the tone.

[Banger1776]

My Issue with the GM21 is it often will start out switching from channel mode to frequency mode one its own. I cant get it off frequency mode and have to reset the radio. I loose all my manual entry. Anyone else seen this/ 

[SteveShannon]

7 hours ago, Banger1776 said:

My Issue with the GM21 is it often will start out switching from channel mode to frequency mode one its own. I cant get it off frequency mode and have to reset the radio. I loose all my manual entry. Anyone else seen this/ 

That sounds like a quality control issue.  I suggest contacting the dealer to get a replacement.

[WRQI663]

Not with mine, my GM21 works just fine - it does what it should -- so does my UV21.

Your problem description is a bit vague......what are you trying to do??

 

 

[Guest]

8 hours ago, WRQI663 said:

• Quote

 

Just an FYI...

I tried to follow this link (dead sticker.jpg). It says it's posted on mygmrs.com so I assuming it is "safe" however, it returns the following:

403 Forbidden

• Code: AccessDenied
• Message: Access Denied
• RequestId: FFM1Z3FQPJRWK7B4
• HostId: jCBTi5aubgWvdbOzxIBAxbsEvlRlX1RDfD8u2gJHJg1uPPohmmsZjHsVPR+4PxZlO1Li62NNH6s=

[WRQI663]

Hmm, no problem for me. You're not on my ignore list or I wouldn't see your post.....

Maybe I'm on yours and you chose to read that post (?)

Maybe that link was on an earlier post when I couldn't figure out how

to place my avatar......

Maybe it's too early and I not fully coffied up yet

 

[SteveShannon]

1 hour ago, WRQI663 said:

Hmm, no problem for me. You're not on my ignore list or I wouldn't see your post.....

Maybe I'm on yours and you chose to read that post (?)

Maybe that link was on an earlier post when I couldn't figure out how

to place my avatar......

Maybe it's too early and I not fully coffied up yet

 

No, I have never been able to see it either.  I see a huge blank area at the bottom of every one of your posts that says dead sticker.jpg, so I have an idea what it’s supposed to be. But if I click on it I also get the 403 warning.  You’re definitely not on my ignore list.

[WRXB215]

@WRQI663 I can't see the dead sticker either. I don't have you in my ignore list.

[WRQI663]

This is what I see when I click on it:

 

[WRQI663]

What difference does it make anyway?

[WRXB215]

4 minutes ago, WRQI663 said:

What difference does it make anyway?

We want to see the sticker. 

[SteveShannon]

21 minutes ago, WRQI663 said:

This is what I see when I click on it:

 

 

22 minutes ago, WRQI663 said:

This is what I see when I click on it:

 

That’s what we see when also we click on your screen name.  It’s when we click on the image in your sig that we get the 403.  I don’t think that’s anything you’re doing wrong.  I think it’s just a permissions setting for the site where the image is stored.

[WSFJ408]

Hello Everyone! New to GMRS and picked up a set of Baofeng GM21s to go with my set of Baofeng GM15s. When searching for more info on the GM21s I ended up here. 
Found one decent review from Gadget Talk on YouTube . Have an old pair of Motorola FRS radios(TalkAbout MR351R) and was able to scan for the DCS code with the GM21 and now all my radios work together. I thought that was pretty cool. Display is more easy to work with than the GM15 but more difficult to see in bright sun.

On the GM21 when switching from Chanel mode to Frequency mode, the frequency is still the biggest thing on the display. Would rather have the channel number (or ideally a custom name) displayed. Is this something you can do in chirp or is there a better program to use?

Thank you!

[JBRPong]

On 12/18/2024 at 9:56 PM, WSFJ408 said:

Hello Everyone! New to GMRS and picked up a set of Baofeng GM21s to go with my set of Baofeng GM15s. When searching for more info on the GM21s I ended up here. 
Found one decent review from Gadget Talk on YouTube . Have an old pair of Motorola FRS radios(TalkAbout MR351R) and was able to scan for the DCS code with the GM21 and now all my radios work together. I thought that was pretty cool. Display is more easy to work with than the GM15 but more difficult to see in bright sun.

On the GM21 when switching from Chanel mode to Frequency mode, the frequency is still the biggest thing on the display. Would rather have the channel number (or ideally a custom name) displayed. Is this something you can do in chirp or is there a better program to use?

Thank you!

I don't think there is a way to do that.  I have the UV-21 version and I wish the name displayed has larger letters, same size as the freq numbers but have not found a way.