Recommended GMRS radio for vehicle

[GreggInFL]

On 11/1/2024 at 10:18 PM, koni13 said:

Yes have seen reviews appears a highly recommended radio, leaning on this one as a favorite.

I have the 25W version and like it.  It had some QC issues, but the replacement is fine. 

[amaff]

3 hours ago, GreggInFL said:

I have the 25W version and like it.  It had some QC issues, but the replacement is fine. 

The DB-20G and the DB-25G are different radios, FYI. Pretty different features sets and form factor.

The 20G is based on the AnyTone AT779uv. The DB25G (and amateur DB25) seem to be their own thing.
 

[WSEM262]

On 11/1/2024 at 9:53 PM, WRXB215 said:

I'm starting to think this one is the UV-5R of mobile radios. It's popularity is quite impressive.

I tend to agree with this.

I bought one without doing any research at all... and was pretty surprised how well it does.

It is easily "jail-broken" and works well with a remote RF amplifier to push the max legal wattage into the antenna. 5 watts out of the DB20G = 50 watts out of the amp... which helps keep the radio cool by running at low power. The amp has a fan and heatsink on it. 

 

Ive gotten great signal reports and have heard others on the same radio. They sound fantastic.

[Guest]

6 minutes ago, WSEM262 said:

I tend to agree with this.

I bought one without doing any research at all... and was pretty surprised how well it does.

It is easily "jail-broken" and works well with a remote RF amplifier to push the max legal wattage into the antenna. 5 watts out of the DB20G = 50 watts out of the amp... which helps keep the radio cool by running at low power. The amp has a fan and heatsink on it. 

 

Ive gotten greta signal reports and have heard others on the same radio. They sound fantastic.

But by the time you pay for the radio and amp you could have just gotten a 50w radio with a fan and heat sink.  

[LeoG]

Gives you the option to try different HTs in the future.

[WSEM262]

On 11/22/2024 at 12:04 PM, Socalgmrs said:

But by the time you pay for the radio and amp you could have just gotten a 50w radio with a fan and heat sink.  

A 50 watt radio wont have the small footprint I needed to fit two radios in my truck... and would still have cost more than the $89 radio + $85 amp I am using. 

[Guest]

10 minutes ago, WSEM262 said:

A 50 watt radio wont have the small footprint I needed to fit two radios in my truck... and would still have cost more than the $89 radio + $85 amp I am using. 

So you did not spend $170 on 2 radios and an amp.  Second do you really need a50w radio?   Second why do you need 2 radios? 3rd a Motorola 40us watt radio with a removable face plate will blow your radio out of the water for much less then $170. 4th I’d venture to say you neutered your 50w(40-45)MAX UHF with a cruddy antenna.  Lastly if a 20w will do 100plus miles do you need more?  Ok one more….  Looks like you need a bigger truck with more room in it. 

I could put 10radios in my dash and still have room to spare. 

[amaff]

3 minutes ago, Socalgmrs said:

So you did not spend $170 on 2 radios and an amp.  Second do you really need a50w radio?   Second why do you need 2 radios? 3rd a Motorola 40us watt radio with a removable face plate will blow your radio out of the water for much less then $170. 4th I’d venture to say you neutered your 50w(40-45)MAX UHF with a cruddy antenna.  Lastly if a 20w will do 100plus miles do you need more?  Ok one more….  Looks like you need a bigger truck with more room in it. 

I could put 10radios in my dash and still have room to spare. 

 

This may be difficult to read, but other people ARE allowed to make choices that are different from the ones you'd make. No one's ever bought the right radio for you. Now someone's bought the wrong vehicle? C'mon man.

[WRXB215]

10 minutes ago, Socalgmrs said:

I could put 10radios in my dash and still have room to spare.

This is just ridiculous. Along with everything else you just said.

[amaff]

37 minutes ago, WRXB215 said:

This is just ridiculous. Along with everything else you just said.

I didn't even address that, but man...what? Legitimately one of the dumber things I've read on here, and that's saying something.

[WSEM262]

1 hour ago, Socalgmrs said:

So you did not spend $170 on 2 radios and an amp.  Second do you really need a50w radio?   Second why do you need 2 radios? 3rd a Motorola 40us watt radio with a removable face plate will blow your radio out of the water for much less then $170. 4th I’d venture to say you neutered your 50w(40-45)MAX UHF with a cruddy antenna.  Lastly if a 20w will do 100plus miles do you need more?  Ok one more….  Looks like you need a bigger truck with more room in it. 

I could put 10radios in my dash and still have room to spare. 

I did spend (less than) $170 on the GMRS radio and amp combo that you originally suggested should have been a single 50w radio.

The other radio is a ham unit and wasn't a part of the conversation. 

 

You are obviously an abrasive, insecure prick and Ive seen you trolling others here. 

Are you that miserable of a person that it makes you feel better to criticize others ?  Pathetic... and congrats on being the first jackwad to be on my ignore list. 

[Lscott]

1 hour ago, WSEM262 said:

$85 amp I am using. 

What kind of amp are you using BTW?

[WRUU653]

48 minutes ago, WRXB215 said:

This is just ridiculous. Along with everything else you just said.

No no you can do it! If you break the louvres off you can stuff Baofengs in the air vents and also they will stick to the dash in the desert heat. Also a rubber band or one of those hair tie thingys your wife or girl friend has will hold an extra one firmly in the ash tray… you can do it, totally.

[WRYZ926]

Use what works best for your situation.

I prefer 50 watt mobiles with removable faces since I have limited room in my vehicle. The main unit for both radios are under my seat and the heads are on a Lido seat bolt mount. I did have to go with external speakers for both since I couldn't hear either radio with them under the seat.

Now if I was still driving a vehicle from the 70's or earlier, then yes there would be plenty of room to mount all kinds of radios under the dash. But that isn't the case with new vehicles.

[WSEM262]

44 minutes ago, Lscott said:

What kind of amp are you using BTW?

Just a cheapie off ebay. They are normally $115 and I found mine used for $70.

[Lscott]

3 minutes ago, WSEM262 said:

Just a cheapie off ebay. They are normally $115 and I found mine used for $70.

I've seen those for sale. I always wondered if they were any good.

[WSEM262]

36 minutes ago, Lscott said:

I've seen those for sale. I always wondered if they were any good.

Long term... the jury is still out, but sofar it's been working great. 

[Lscott]

14 minutes ago, WSEM262 said:

Long term... the jury is still out, but sofar it's been working great. 

Great!

I had picked up a BTECH amp used at a Ham swap for about $50. It was basically new in the box.

https://baofengtech.com/product/amp-u25d/

I noticed the power gain drops off outside of the Ham band noticeably from the max of 40 watts. On the GMRS repeater frequencies for 4 watts input I get maybe 20 to 25 watts out. It could be better, but I didn't pay that much for it. I was more interested in something that would handle all of the typical digital modes and FM analog for the various HT's I own. The amp fit the requirements. I've been looking out for a deal on a used VHF version of the amp.

[WRTC928]

There are radios with all the controls in the handset which makes it convenient to mount them somewhere you normally couldn't like under a seat. I bought the Anysecu WP-9900 (recently posted a review) and it suits my purposes just fine. It was cheap and I wasn't sure if that type of radio was what I ultimately wanted, but it turns out I really like the setup. Midland also makes units with all the controls in the handset, and when (if) my inexpensive Chinese unit craps out, that's probably what I'll replace it with. The Midland 575, for example, uses an RJ45 connector for the mic/controller, and with an ordinary piece of cat 6 cable, you can extend it to place the mic wherever you want it. If you're using an amp, the power of the radio isn't a significant factor, so you don't necessarily need the more expensive 50 watt version.

[WRYZ926]

Just be aware that the Midland models with everything in the hand mic can only be programmed through the radio. There is no provisions to program them using a computer nor to update the firmware. Midland radios are made in China too. 

[amaff]

37 minutes ago, WRTC928 said:

I bought the Anysecu WP-9900

I normally wouldn't say anything, but since this is a 'recommend a radio' thread:
This looks to be the same hardware as the BTech GMRS-20V2. I had one for about a week... one of the worst experiences I've had with a radio. I hope yours is better than mine, but even if it didn't stop receiving entirely within a week (which mine did), the interface on the mic is not great. Having to open squelch to change the volume, at least on the BTech, was really annoying. And even at near full volume the speaker was no good. Maybe mine was a one off and others love theirs, but I can't recommend this one at all.

[WRTC928]

1 hour ago, WRYZ926 said:

Just be aware that the Midland models with everything in the hand mic can only be programmed through the radio. There is no provisions to program them using a computer nor to update the firmware. Midland radios are made in China too. 

I did not know that you can't program them via software. That kinda sucks, but for a GMRS radio, you'll probably only program it once and occasionally put in a repeater.

 

Yes, I know Midland radios are made in China, but their reputation is that they have better QC than the cheaper radios. The Chinese can build really good radios, but in general, if they adhere to more strict QC standards, they're going to cost more.

[WRYZ926]

Several of us in my local radio club have had the Midland GMRS mobiles and have since replaced them with the Wouxun mobile radios. They are close to the same price and are a better radio compared to the Midland radios.

And before Negative Nancy has a chance to comment. We don't care that you get 200 miles from your el cheapo radios. Most of us will never get that kind of coverage.

[WSEM262]

1 hour ago, WRYZ926 said:

Just be aware that the Midland models with everything in the hand mic can only be programmed through the radio. There is no provisions to program them using a computer nor to update the firmware. Midland radios are made in China too. 

I put a small Midland in my wifes 4runner and holy mother of god it was such a pain to program. I put exactly ONE repeater frequency in it (our home repeater) and walked away mad as a wet hen. 

Im already looking at tossing it in the garbage and replacing it with a DB20G if I can cram it in the same small pocket where the Midland comes out of.

[WRQC527]

1 hour ago, amaff said:

I normally wouldn't say anything, but since this is a 'recommend a radio' thread:
This looks to be the same hardware as the BTech GMRS-20V2. I had one for about a week... one of the worst experiences I've had with a radio. I hope yours is better than mine, but even if it didn't stop receiving entirely within a week (which mine did), the interface on the mic is not great. Having to open squelch to change the volume, at least on the BTech, was really annoying. And even at near full volume the speaker was no good. Maybe mine was a one off and others love theirs, but I can't recommend this one at all.

Mine sits in a radio junk box in my garage. I could never get the transmit audio to do anything but suck. I tried all the known tricks like enlarging the mic hole, etc. Nothing worked. It had other issues like showing low voltage that could only be remedied by repeatedly turning it off and on multiple times. I also cannot recommend it.