Best GMRS handheld radio to get

[MacLeod]

Hi,

 

I've been told that I should get the Wouxun KG-905G for the 5 watts, long range capabilities, & durability, and that Wouxun is the best. Does anyone have a difference in opinion?

[Socalgmrs]

I’m gonna get run over and flammed but I use radios every day.  All day 7days a week for 12 hrs a day.  I had woxouns.  They always get the worst signal reports. They are expensive and really have no better features then any one else.  The big gimmick is mark from Huntington Beach califonia pre programs them with all kinds of useless frequencies that most people don’t need or want.   To me woxouns are not worth the hype.  Woxoun retivis radiotitty midland and rugged all belong in the dumpster.   If you’re gonna spend $150 or so you can buy a kenwood or Motorola.  If you want a sub $50 radio that does just as good or better there are many other options as well. 
 

Now, some cross dresser ex hand model that calls him self queen will come out of his basement to yell at me and call me names. However I’m not the one making money from gmrs radios.  I just use them all the time. 

[SteveShannon]

16 minutes ago, MacLeod said:

Hi,

 

I've been told that I should get the Wouxun KG-905G for the 5 watts, long range capabilities, & durability, and that Wouxun is the best. Does anyone have a difference in opinion?

I suggest spending some time reading posts here.  The 905g has a very good reputation, but it’s also more expensive than many others. As far as Wouxun being the best brand I think that’s fairly subjective. 

[MacLeod]

I do also travel the 48 contiguous States, so wherever I get I want to make sure I get a radio that has as much power as I can get, & long range capabilities.

[WRUE951]

i learned the hard way after dozens of radios.  Hytera PD682 & PD612 for me.  

[SteveShannon]

16 minutes ago, MacLeod said:

I do also travel the 48 contiguous States, so wherever I get I want to make sure I get a radio that has as much power as I can get, & long range capabilities.

The difference in range between the least expensive Baofeng handheld radio and the most expensive Wouxun is zero. 

[OffRoaderX]

12 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

The difference in range between the least expensive Baofeng handheld radio and the most expensive Wouxun is zero. 

This ^ 

[Haroldo]

I have a pair of Baofeng UV-5G Plus that work well for strictly GMRS communications. 5W of power, according to the specifications.

I also have a Baofeng 5RM that works well for GMRS, as well as 2m and 70cm ham bands. 10W of power, according to the specifications.

They are very close to each other in price. Neither model has given any problems and are both CHIRP programmable.

The screen isn't too great when out in daylight, but they work well.

[WRYZ926]

As others have stated, there will be no difference in range. Look at different radios and go with what has good reviews, the features you want and at the price you want.

The Wouxun KG-905G is a good radio that is easy to use. The plus is no buttons for new users to push and then mess the programing up. Programming the 905G is very simple using the free Wouxun software available for download at Buy Two Way Radio's website. Note that the Wouxun programming software only runs on Windows 10/11.

And contrary to a single person's opinion, the Wouxun GMRS radios are well liked and they all get good reviews. In other words, learn to ignore Negative Nancy like the rest of us do.

[Jaay]

1 hour ago, Socalgmrs said:

I’m gonna get run over and flammed but I use radios every day.  All day 7days a week for 12 hrs a day.  I had woxouns.  They always get the worst signal reports. They are expensive and really have no better features then any one else.  The big gimmick is mark from Huntington Beach califonia pre programs them with all kinds of useless frequencies that most people don’t need or want.   To me woxouns are not worth the hype.  Woxoun retivis radiotitty midland and rugged all belong in the dumpster.   If you’re gonna spend $150 or so you can buy a kenwood or Motorola.  If you want a sub $50 radio that does just as good or better there are many other options as well. 
 

Now, some cross dresser ex hand model that calls him self queen will come out of his basement to yell at me and call me names. However I’m not the one making money from gmrs radios.  I just use them all the time. 

[MacLeod]

Windows 10 would work for me, until they get all the bugs and glitches out of Windows 11, I have no interest in changing over everytime I consider it and try it always says not everything may work on Windows 11 so what's the point?

[RayDiddio]

I have the TIDRadio TD-H3 (a pair) and the Wouxun KG-935G Plus. The H3s are dirty as all hell and can often be heard over police and fire frequencies in my city. The Wouxun is very well-built, solid feeling, has a decent sounding speaker, the control knobs feel nice and tolerant, and the signal + audio reports I get for it are always good and people often ask me what I am using and when I tell them, they are shocked while claiming they never thought it would be a Wouxun CCR.

That is my experience.

[TDM827]

Don't own a Wouxun. But I recommend searching the forum and you will get plenty of recommendations and reviews. You Tube can also be a good source of information.

When it comes to 5W handhelds I would not consider any of them "long range" out of the box. Of course range can be significantly increased if you plan on using repeaters. Or, if you make provisions to connect it to an external antenna, preferably mounted very high. 

Simply put you are not going to see a really noticeable differences in range from brand to brand. So I wouldn't assume one is much better than the when it comes to range. 

Commercial grade radios Motorola / Kenwood etc... are very nice. But it usually involves buying a used radio, programing software, a programing cable and a steeper learning curve. Not to mention determining if the radio is GMRS compliant. So if you are beginner an out of the box solution is probably the better way to go for a first GMRS radio.

Best of luck.    

 

[WRYZ926]

13 hours ago, MacLeod said:

Windows 10 would work for me, until they get all the bugs and glitches out of Windows 11, I have no interest in changing over everytime I consider it and try it always says not everything may work on Windows 11 so what's the point?

Just remember that any and all updates/support for Windows 10 will stop in October of this year. I think there is an option for continued Windows 10 support if you are willing to pay annually for it.

Yes Wouxun radios do cost more than other brands but they are better quality and are generally clean as @RayDiddio mentioned. I have Baofeng UV-5R GMRS, handhelds along with Wouxun and Icom handhelds. The Wouxun is definitely better than the Baofeng radios and it is even better than the Icom IC-T10 I own.

[Hoppyjr]

Hi,
 
I've been told that I should get the Wouxun KG-905G for the 5 watts, long range capabilities, & durability, and that Wouxun is the best. Does anyone have a difference in opinion?

You will get many replies for and against, so it’s really a silly question. How about doing some research on your own, read reviews, watch YouTube videos, and form an opinion based on that. Consider using the search function here, where you’ll surely find more info.

One thing is certain; Wouxun isn’t “the best”.

[Lscott]

7 hours ago, MacLeod said:

and that Wouxun is the best

The best radio, for your use, is the one you can afford. There are people on this forum who spent 4 figures on a hand held radio because it had the features they needed.

[OffRoaderX]

4 hours ago, TDM827 said:

Simply put you are not going to see a really noticeable differences in range from brand to brand

You will see zero difference.

[jfarr669]

My personal preference is anything that is designed more towards public safety. I use the older Kenwood portables, along with Motorola and Kenwood mobiles and Icom, Kenwood and Motorola repeaters. I don't care for China made radio's of any sort. Put quality where it is needed, most cheap radio's do not perform well. 

[Hoppyjr]

…..
 
Now, some cross dresser ex hand model that calls him self queen will come out of his basement to yell at me and call me names. However I’m not the one making money from gmrs radios.  I just use them all the time. 

Aaaaand you’re wrong yet again!

The individual you referenced is not a cross dresser, he simply enjoys silky undergarments, but don’t we all?

You’re very judgmental.

[AdmiralCochrane]

7 hours ago, jfarr669 said:

 most cheap radio's do not perform well. 

Historically so, but side to side testing shows the current batch perform well and the Japanese brands remain the gold standard of perfection.  In the field even experts rarely are able to discern the differences, only expensive sophisticated instrumentation consistently shows differences.

[73blazer]

Radios are rather subjective but you won't go wrong with the Wouxun's. Very rugged, the put out what they say they do and the 905 is especially easy to use.

I'll differ from the group a bit on the range thing. From my personal testing of many radios,  the 5w radios (or in the 935G's case 5.7w) does help slightly in range and especially clarity on the edge of the range in very heavy woods/foliage , but in most use cases yes it won't add range. In my woods I can get about 1-1.25mi radio to radio with a 2-3w radio and a 771g antenna, but the 5w radios get 1.4-1.7mi with a 771g antenna. But out in the open, or talking to repeater towers, there won't be a difference.

The 905 is a good solid radio, but there are many others that work too, all depends on what you want. I do not believe there is any true GMRS radio that is not made in China, they're all Chinese. There are some business radios from the US and Japanese companies that can transmit on GMRS and many people have these, but those radios are generally alot more expensive ($300-1500) and some can be problematic to program as they usually require licensed software to do it.

[WRUE951]

On 3/23/2025 at 8:48 PM, OffRoaderX said:

You will see zero difference.

True, but you might notice and appreciate better functionality, programing, ease of use, screen viewing, better receive sensitivity and last but not least, a prettier wrist strap   

[HHD1]

On 3/23/2025 at 3:43 PM, Socalgmrs said:

If you’re gonna spend $150 or so you can buy a kenwood or Motorola

Do you have any suggestions for online retailers for these brands, other than Amazon? I'm not finding much of a selection there.

[OffRoaderX]

1 minute ago, HHD1 said:

Do you have any suggestions for online retailers for these brands, other than Amazon?

That is because they don't make GMRS radios - You might find some Motorola GMRS or FRS radios, but those are the cheap/low quality type radios, not the high-quality non-GMRS radios he is referring to.  Basically, just ignore him because he is rheet-hard-ed.

[HHD1]

3 minutes ago, OffRoaderX said:

That is because they don't make GMRS radios - You might find some Motorola GMRS or FRS radios, but those are the cheap/low quality type radios, not the high-quality non-GMRS radios he is referring to.  Basically, just ignore him because he is rheet-hard-ed.

I had to try. Oh well.  His loss.