To RA-86 or to BTECH GMRS-20V2?

[WRVG829]

I purchased a Retevis RA-86 recently and have come to the conclusion that the receive side of the radio is defective.  Strong signals that will come through just fine on a handheld are broken up and sometimes completely wiped out by static on the RA-86, both in simplex and repeater mode.  I've upgraded the antenna that came with the unit with a Nagoya UT-72G with no change in reception.  I've also added a ferrite choke to the power cable; no observable change.  I've run a QYT KT-8900 in this vehicle for years without reception issues with a different (2M/70CM combo) antenna; I don't think the source of the noise is the vehicle's electrical system.

So here's what I want to know: is the RA-86 just an inherently poor quality radio?  Is the BTECH GMRS-20V2 any better with regard to RX/TX?  Because of the layout of the dash in my truck and my desire to keep the radio movable from one vehicle to another, I'm favoring the 'one hander' style radios with all of the controls and channel display in the microphone.  I need to be able to use this on both simplex and repeaters.  Is the Midland MXT-275 of better quality?  I've heard such negative things about Midland radios from the Queen, I'm not sure I want to even try one.

Anyone got a clear view on the relative merits of these?  

[jwilkers]

I have the BTECH. Nice radio. I haven't experienced any rx/TX issues.

Sent from my SM-S911U1 using Tapatalk

[Socalgmrs]

I won’t touch a retivis radio.  BUT.  Have you checked swr? Antenna? Coax? Mounting?   I own one btech and like it only slightly more than retivis.   In all our trucks and side by sides we run the tyt th8600. Zero issues with them in the rain snow heat cold dust ect.  

[WRVG829]

1 hour ago, WRXP381 said:

I won’t touch a retivis radio.  BUT.  Have you checked swr? Antenna? Coax? Mounting?   I own one btech and like it only slightly more than retivis.   In all our trucks and side by sides we run the tyt th8600. Zero issues with them in the rain snow heat cold dust ect.  

I could just reprogram the ham radio I already have (QYT KT-8900) for GMRS frequencies and call it a day.   I would prefer an integrated unit that has the controls and display in the microphone as I have really no need for amateur radio in the vehicle and I'm trying to cut down on my radio's footprint in the interior.  If all of the microphone-integrated sets are junk then I'll reconsider.   The form factor of the RA-86 is perfect, the sound reports I've gotten are good, it's just that receive is terrible.   If there's some filtering I can do on the antenna side maybe it's worth it.

[WRYZ926]

The Wouxun KG-XS20 G is an excellent Type 95 certified 20 watt radio. Yes it costs more than a Baofeng or Retevis radio. But the price is worth it. The Wouxun is IP65 rated. I use one in my SxS. Now if you don't care about having a Part 95 certified radio, then I will also recommend the TYT TH-8600. The TH-8600 is also IP65 rated. 

Now I do have to use an external speaker with the KG-XS20G and TH-8600 on the SxS since it is pretty loud. The 20 watt Midland SPK100 is an excellent speaker and I can hear the radio while driving around at 30+ mph on the SxS.

[amaff]

The BTECH GMRS-20V2 is the worst radio I've ever used. Awful interface, and then it stopped receiving after about a week. Back to the rainforest it went.

[WSCY649]

I have both and no problems with either of them. The BTech has the better display since it shows no just channel numbers but individual names for channels Programms beyond what is stock. The RA86 is just very basic.