Best gmrs handheld radio?

[WSBT633]

I’m new to gmrs and curious to see what some of your more seasoned gmrs’ers think would be a decent radio? Right now I’m using the Tidradio TD-H3. 

[back4more70]

Of course it depends on what you want to get from it.  My favorite GMRS-only radio is the Wouxun KG-935G Plus.  I am also a huge fan of my Wouxun KG-UV9D Mate H.A.M. radio.  Other folks may not want to spend the money (I also have some cheapo Baofengs, like most here).  My suggestion is to watch a bunch of YouTubes, get a feel for what you want to do with it, and get a feel for the wide range of radios that are available.  It's kind of like asking "What's the best car for my needs?"

[Socalgmrs]

Yup. The “best” is a loaded question.  From my experience a $20 ht transmits just as far a a $500 Motorola ht.   So it comes down to features and build quality.  Water proof?  Budget? Open or locked? Noaa? Accessories? Extended battery’s? Easy to program? Type c charging?   Ect… I’ll say 90% of the time all my radios that are over $50 sit in the shelf and my $20 are the ones I use since they can get lost, broken, run over, stolen, go in the creek, get stepped on my a horse, ect… and I don’t care that much.  If some thing like that happens to my wouxons or Motorolas I’m gonna be upset. 

[Lscott]

1 hour ago, back4more70 said:

It's kind of like asking "What's the best car for my needs?"

Then they go out and buy a horse because it runs on green energy, grass, and the waste product is good for the environment, fertilizer.

[WSCB811]

I’d say for the most “complete” offerings regardless of price, the Wouxon KG-Q10G and KG-UV9GX come to mind first. The Tidradio TD-H3 and TD-H8 are also great options for a lower price. 

[SvenMarbles]

Just the absolute best, regardless of money? Someone will probably say get a Motorola. Best quality/performance/price ratio? some would say the TD-H8. For more money, great quality but is a mainline locked up 5 watter? Wouxun KGQ10G.

Best is going to be subjective based on what your parameters are..

[OffRoaderX]

Obviously "the best" is the UV-5R because it cost only $18.

as you can see, it depends on how you define "best" and what is important to you in a radio - so only you can answer the question.

[SvenMarbles]

1 minute ago, OffRoaderX said:

Obviously "the best" is the UV-5R because it cost only $18.

as you can see, it depends on how you define "best" and what is important to you in a radio - so only you can answer the question.

If you buy the $18 Baofeng and it does exactly what you hoped it did, there's definite case to be made that it is in fact the "best" GMRS radio.

[Hoppyjr]

If you buy the $18 Baofeng and it does exactly what you hoped it did, there's definite case to be made that it is in fact the "best" GMRS radio.

You’re not gonna insult him and call him a shill for Baofeng?

I was so looking forward to another drunken goat rope….

[SvenMarbles]

1 minute ago, Hoppyjr said:

You’re not gonna insult him and call him a shill for Baofeng?

I was so looking forward to another drunken goat rope….

I left my goat rope at your mom's house..

[MSnow]

6 hours ago, WSBT633 said:

I’m new to gmrs and curious to see what some of your more seasoned gmrs’ers think would be a decent radio? Right now I’m using the Tidradio TD-H3. 

I have a few of the Boof Wangs, they are ok, got the td-h3 and really like it its small like the uv-5r and i like that but has alot of the newer features of the bigger radios. I ordered a Wouxon KG-uv9x im a little worried I won't like it due to the knob on top for channels but I am sure it will be fine just like all the rest of the gmrs / ham radios. Best one will be the one you like using, only way to figure that out is to buy them all.

[Socalgmrs]

I’ve got a kg uv9 and the knob on top is super annoying.   I’m always hitting it.   I have to lock it down all the time.   And when it’s locked it will only transmit on the main channel not top and bottom. 

[Lscott]

20 hours ago, WSBT633 said:

I’m new to gmrs and curious to see what some of your more seasoned gmrs’ers think would be a decent radio? Right now I’m using the Tidradio TD-H3. 

If you want to stick with Part 95 certified radios, recommended for now, your choices are a bit limited. You have two routes to try, new or used. The prior posts cover the new more popular, and cheaper, Chinese radios. The second are the older used LMR, Land Mobile Radio, the type you see used by factory workers, security guards and some police and fire departments.

My personal experience is mainly with Kenwood radios. The software is normally fairly easy to find and the accessories, battery packs - charger bases - speaker microphones - spare antennas - programming cables etc. are easy to find on line new and used.

My top pick for everyday carry is either the TK-3170, or the version with trunking (which you don't use on GMRS) is the identical looking TK-3173.

https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/263-tk-3170jpg/?context=new

A radio with more channels and a few more features is the TK-3180.

https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/417-tk-2180jpg/?context=new

The above radios are analog FM only.

If at some point in the future you think you might want to try Armature Radio the above can be "pushed" to operate down in to the 70cm band to cover the repeater section there.

Also there are some radios that include various digital voice modes, currently illegal on GMRS, in addition to the typical analog FM mode. A few of these are also Part 95 certified, for FM use. They also cost significantly more money even used.

https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/254-tk-5320-1jpg/?context=new

https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/251-nx-300jpg/

If you don't care about Part 95 certification there are a bunch of Part 90 radios that can be used. Just be warned the FCC might not be enforcing the rules when Part 90 radios are being used, but that could change at anytime. Keep that in mind.

https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/418-nx-320jpeg/?context=new

https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/290-nx-1300duk5/?context=new

https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/261-motorola-xpr6550jpeg/?context=new

And then there are the non US radios that don't even have a any FCC ID or certification. They were never intended to be sold here but can occasionally be found for sale. They are however perfectly legal to use on the Ham 70 cm band.

https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/255-tk-d200ed300e-fmdmr/?context=new

 

[WRUU653]

As it has been said it really depends on how you define best. I truly like the KG-935 plus. However I recommend a fully immersive approach to the radio illness and keep buying radios one after the next. You’ll be in good company.

[nokones]

I would rather buy an used Motorola radio for the quality and longevity and the features rather than a new $18 CCR junk that does not have near the features of a professional Motorola.

[Socalgmrs]

8 minutes ago, nokones said:

I would rather buy an used Motorola radio for the quality and longevity and the features rather than a new $18 CCR junk that does not have near the features of a professional Motorola.

That really depends on the Motorola doesn’t it.  An xts3000 Motorola has almost no features.  No face programming, no noaa, no am/fm broadcast radio, no vhf,uhf monitoring.    So again it’s about what features the user wants and what budget they have. In a shtf scenario one would still need a CCr that does more than a Motorola   

[SteveShannon]

14 minutes ago, WRXP381 said:

That really depends on the Motorola doesn’t it.  An xts3000 Motorola has almost no features.  No face programming, no noaa, no am/fm broadcast radio, no vhf,uhf monitoring.    So again it’s about what features the user wants and what budget they have. In a shtf scenario one would still need a CCr that does more than a Motorola   

He already stated that the used Motorola he would buy rather than a CCR has quality, longevity, and features.

But in a real SHTF scenario (rather than a Red Dawn style farce) having the durability and especially the receiver quality of the Motorola far outweighs the  inclusion of “face programming, no noaa, no am/fm broadcast radio, no vhf,uhf monitoring”. 

[WRXB215]

I see the benefits of having a Motorola or Kenwood and would go that rout if I could. But my budget doesn't support that. CCRs are better than no radio at all.

Edited April 25 by WRXB215
typo

[WRUE951]

Everyone's most favorite hand held radio is the best.... And not a single sole can change that

[WRWE456]

Wouldn't it be nice if the "real" radio manufacturer's would make dedicated GMRS radios? But they don't!

So just what is the dividing line between good and junk anyway? It seems some of you think all dedicated GMRS radios on the market are junk because they are not made by Motorola, Kenwood, Icom, Yaesu, etc. Maybe some day they will step up until then I am happy with the performance, reliability and features of my Wouxun radios. Been using a pair of 935G+'s daily for over a year and not a single problem has come up. What else do you need?

[WRYZ926]

You can't always rely on the brand name either. My Wouxun KG-Q10H and KG-935G both outperform my Icom IC-T10.

And with the global market, most companies source parts from China and/or have their products made in China. Yaesu is having some of their radios produced in China now.

[WRXX460]

On 4/24/2024 at 8:44 AM, back4more70 said:

Of course it depends on what you want to get from it.  My favorite GMRS-only radio is the Wouxun KG-935G Plus.  I am also a huge fan of my Wouxun KG-UV9D Mate H.A.M. radio.  Other folks may not want to spend the money (I also have some cheapo Baofengs, like most here).  My suggestion is to watch a bunch of YouTubes, get a feel for what you want to do with it, and get a feel for the wide range of radios that are available.  It's kind of like asking "What's the best car for my needs?"

thanks for the info that is my next radio the  Wouxun KG-935G for g.m.r.s. and the KG-UV9D for amateur radio

[WRUU653]

15 minutes ago, WRXX460 said:

thanks for the info that is my next radio the  Wouxun KG-935G for g.m.r.s. and the KG-UV9D for amateur radio

Both good radios.

[WRXX460]

Just now, WRUU653 said:

Both good radios.

thanks i was already looking at the KG-UV9D for amateur radio  now i found my gmrs handheld  Wouxun KG-935G thankyou for the posting and sharing

[koni13]

I have a set of Baofeng UV82 and appears working nicely once programming with Chirp software. Anyone care to add comments and or experience with this radio, sense an upgrade from the UV-5R although like the compact size to the 5.