I need a new GMRS radio

[GMRSJohn]

I guess I’ve hit a growth spurt and I’ve outgrown my Beofengs. I’m going to sell them. I’m not happy with them anymore. 
 

So, with that being said, I’m between the Tidradio H3’s for strictly GMRS use and the Retevis Ailunce HA1G

I’m just reading and taking notes about the both.. Which one would you choose and why? 

[tcp2525]

55 minutes ago, GMRSJohn said:

I guess I’ve hit a growth spurt and I’ve outgrown my Beofengs. I’m going to sell them. I’m not happy with them anymore. 
 

So, with that being said, I’m between the Tidradio H3’s for strictly GMRS use and the Retevis Ailunce HA1G

I’m just reading and taking notes about the both.. Which one would you choose and why? 

Forget about those radios and buy the most beloved and best sub $100 radio on the market, the Radioddity DB20G. A radio that the set the GMRS world on its backside by delivering high performance and reliability in a tiny package. 

[WRYZ926]

Are you wanting another HT or a mobile radio?

[GMRSJohn]

7 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:

Are you wanting another HT or a mobile radio?

I believe I’m going with a HT. 

[WRYZ926]

I don't have any experiences with either of the radios you mentioned so won't be much help there. I do have a couple of Baofeng UV-5R GMRS radios and a couple of Wouxun radios. Yes the Wouxun are more expensive, but they are way better. My Wouxun KG-935G is an excellent GMRS only radio and I love the Wouxun KG-QQ10H quad band radio. They even outperform my Icom IC-T10.

[GMRSJohn]

5 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:

I don't have any experiences with either of the radios you mentioned so won't be much help there. I do have a couple of Baofeng UV-5R GMRS radios and a couple of Wouxun radios. Yes the Wouxun are more expensive, but they are way better. My Wouxun KG-935G is an excellent GMRS only radio and I love the Wouxun KG-QQ10H quad band radio. They even outperform my Icom IC-T10.

Beofengs.. people either love them or hate them. I’m shy of them now. Or I guess since I got the Yaesu I now know the characteristics of an expensive radio lol. 
 

I’ll take a look into Wouxun. I appreciate the suggestion.

[wrci350]

A couple more options:

Radioddity GM-30.  Black Friday special.  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08SLR7W7F/

Radioddity GM-30 Plus. Black Friday special.  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D8752P5L/

Alinco DJ-G46T.  Also Black Friday ... put in cart for discount price.  https://www.mtcradio.com/alinco-dj-g46t-portable-5w-gmrs-ht/

RT Systems has software for all three which I highly recommend but there is vendor software for all three as well.  Either way you'll need a programming cable if you don't already have one.

[GMRSJohn]

4 minutes ago, wrci350 said:

A couple more options:

Radioddity GM-30.  Black Friday special.  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08SLR7W7F/

Radioddity GM-30 Plus. Black Friday special.  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D8752P5L/

Alinco DJ-G46T.  Also Black Friday ... put in cart for discount price.  https://www.mtcradio.com/alinco-dj-g46t-portable-5w-gmrs-ht/

RT Systems has software for all three which I highly recommend but there is vendor software for all three as well.  Either way you'll need a programming cable if you don't already have one.

Ok.. the Alinco. Reminds of a ton of my Yaesu. What’s your experience with it? 

[wrci350]

My disclaimer is that I am not a GMRS power user by any means, but I do have all three of those radios.

Many consider Alinco as the fourth of the big three Japanese amateur radio manufacturers.  I have a number of Alinco radios (I'm also a ham) and I really like them.  The DJ-G46T appears to be built on the same chassis as some of their commercial radios.  Nice little radio and not cheap-feeling at all.

I posted a review here:

https://forums.mygmrs.com/topic/6817-amateur-radio-maker-getting-into-the-gmrs-market/page/2/#comment-72115

Couple other posts in that thread talk about the RT Systems sofware and cable.

[GMRSJohn]

8 minutes ago, wrci350 said:

My disclaimer is that I am not a GMRS power user by any means, but I do have all three of those radios.

Many consider Alinco as the fourth of the big three Japanese amateur radio manufacturers.  I have a number of Alinco radios (I'm also a ham) and I really like them.  The DJ-G46T appears to be built on the same chassis as some of their commercial radios.  Nice little radio and not cheap-feeling at all.

I posted a review here:

https://forums.mygmrs.com/topic/6817-amateur-radio-maker-getting-into-the-gmrs-market/page/2/#comment-72115

Couple other posts in that thread talk about the RT Systems sofware and cable.

I have a Yaesu and so far I have neither needed nor wanted another ham radio. So, if the Alinco is about the same build and quality I’m sold.

 I really appreciate the review. There’s not much about it out there. I’d love to read some longevity reviews about it.

[GMRSJohn]

40 minutes ago, wrci350 said:

My disclaimer is that I am not a GMRS power user by any means, but I do have all three of those radios.

Many consider Alinco as the fourth of the big three Japanese amateur radio manufacturers.  I have a number of Alinco radios (I'm also a ham) and I really like them.  The DJ-G46T appears to be built on the same chassis as some of their commercial radios.  Nice little radio and not cheap-feeling at all.

I posted a review here:

https://forums.mygmrs.com/topic/6817-amateur-radio-maker-getting-into-the-gmrs-market/page/2/#comment-72115

Couple other posts in that thread talk about the RT Systems sofware and cable.

Also too, is the programming cable the same as the Yaesu? 

[SteveShannon]

11 minutes ago, GMRSJohn said:

Also too, is the programming cable the same as the Yaesu? 

None of my Yaesu radios use the same pin out spacing as my one Alinco. 

[GMRSJohn]

18 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

None of my Yaesu radios use the same pin out spacing as my one Alinco. 

Do you have the DJ-G46T? And what are your thoughts on Alinco radios?

[SteveShannon]

3 minutes ago, GMRSJohn said:

Do you have the DJ-G46T? And what are your thoughts on Alinco radios?

No, I have the DJ-MD5XT, which is a dual band ham radio with DMR.  It’s nice.  I like this Alinco radio but it’s actually a slightly re-engineered (improved) Anytone radio on the inside.  I like my Yaesu radios too. My favorite GMRS radios are my Garmin Rhino and my Wouxun KG-805g, but I have no experience with the D-G46T.  If it’s like other Alinco radios it will be well thought out.

[WRCZ387]

1 hour ago, GMRSJohn said:

Do you have the DJ-G46T? And what are your thoughts on Alinco radios?

I have the DJ-G46T & love it

It's a cousin to the DJ-A446 PMR446 model & the DJ-A40T Part 90 commercial model

I have several Alinco Part 90 h-t's & I love them [DJ-MD40T, DJ-MD5T, DJ-AXD4, DJ-500TB, DJ-A40T for UHF, DJ-A10T for VHF]

I also have two Alinco amateur h-t's that I switched to commercial mode [DJ-VX50T, DJ-500T], but I've been using the Part 90's mainly

I've been using them since 2019, & I recommend the Alinco brand to anyone, any user, whether they're ham, GMRS, MURS

[GMRSJohn]

I appreciate the help y’all! I went ahead with the Alinco. Added a Diamond SRH77CA antenna too. 

[wrci350]

23 hours ago, GMRSJohn said:

Also too, is the programming cable the same as the Yaesu? 

@WRPV394 Were you able to get that Amazon multi-cable to work with the Alinco DJ-G46T?

Here's what I said in my mini-review about the cable:

• While the radio has a K-type accessory connector, it does NOT use a K-type programming cable.  That means the Baofeng cable many folks have lying around will not work.  Instead, an Alinco ERW-7 or ERW-15 cable is needed.  Expect to spend at least $25 to get the correct cable.  I'm also curious to hear if one of those Amazon multi-cables works since that might be a cheaper option.  Fortunately for me, I already had the RT Systems equivalent cable (USB 29-A) since it is used for a number of other Alinco radios, both HT and mobile.

[GMRSJohn]

2 minutes ago, wrci350 said:

@WRPV394 Were you able to get that Amazon multi-cable to work with the Alinco DJ-G46T?

Here's what I said in my mini-review about the cable:

• While the radio has a K-type accessory connector, it does NOT use a K-type programming cable.  That means the Baofeng cable many folks have lying around will not work.  Instead, an Alinco ERW-7 or ERW-15 cable is needed.  Expect to spend at least $25 to get the correct cable.  I'm also curious to hear if one of those Amazon multi-cables works since that might be a cheaper option.  Fortunately for me, I already had the RT Systems equivalent cable (USB 29-A) since it is used for a number of other Alinco radios, both HT and mobile.

I ended up buying a cable and the software from RT Systems.

[WRCZ387]

12 hours ago, GMRSJohn said:

I appreciate the help y’all! I went ahead with the Alinco. Added a Diamond SRH77CA antenna too. 

The Diamond SRH77CA is a dual-band antenna cut for 2 meters & 70 CM amateur frequencies, plus the connector is SMA-M

You'd be better off buying an antenna tuned to the GMRS frequencies which are a 462 MHz/467 MHz split

For the Alinco, the antenna needs to be an SMA-F connection

I would consider one from Smiley Antennas, centered at 465 MHz

https://bettersaferadio.com/smiley-antenna-slim-line-whip-gmrs-465mhz-sma-f/ 

https://bettersaferadio.com/smiley-antenna-slim-duck-gmrs-465mhz-5-8-wave-sma-f/

[GMRSJohn]

21 minutes ago, WRCZ387 said:

The Diamond SRH77CA is a dual-band antenna cut for 2 meters & 70 CM amateur frequencies, plus the connector is SMA-M

You'd be better off buying an antenna tuned to the GMRS frequencies which are a 462 MHz/467 MHz split

For the Alinco, the antenna needs to be an SMA-F connection

I would consider one from Smiley Antennas, centered at 465 MHz

https://bettersaferadio.com/smiley-antenna-slim-line-whip-gmrs-465mhz-sma-f/ 

https://bettersaferadio.com/smiley-antenna-slim-duck-gmrs-465mhz-5-8-wave-sma-f/

I appreciate that! I had read a review where a guy said he used it on his Alinco and it really helped. If it doesn’t work on my Alinco I’ll throw it on my Yaesu. 

[GMRSJohn]

I also got the female adapters for it.. 

[WRCZ387]

1 minute ago, GMRSJohn said:

If it doesn’t work on my Alinco, I’ll throw it on my Yaesu.

SMH, I shouldn't read & respond to posts after a long day at work, I forgot that you said you have a Yaesu, DOH!

[GMRSJohn]

5 minutes ago, WRCZ387 said:

SMH, I shouldn't read & respond to posts after a long day at work, I forgot that you said you have a Yaesu, DOH!

You’re fine, brother. 

[tcp2525]

On 11/29/2024 at 9:49 PM, GMRSJohn said:

I ended up buying a cable and the software from RT Systems.

Great choice as you can't go wrong with RT Systems software. I have it for all my amateur radio equipment and never had any issues.

[GMRSJohn]

So far, I like the Alinco. It’s very convenient in that all I have to do is program it and I have only a few buttons to push and talk. However, with that (for those who don’t know) this radio is not manually programmable. Must be programmed on a computer. Which stinks to an extent… if you have to put in a repeater or such on the spot. 

I haven’t explored much with it as far as other features. I don’t think it’s feature rich in many respects and it’s a pretty straightforward radio. I have performed checks while out and it hits repeaters that the Beofengs weren’t. So that’s impressive. 
 

Overall, I’m happy with it other than the programming issue and they packed it in the box a certain way and the antenna is bent… which plays on my “perfection complex”. But I’m not perfect either…