Best GMRS handheld radio to get

[WRUE951]

25 minutes ago, HHD1 said:

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

Try AtlanticRadioCorp.com        https://www.atlanticradiocorp.com/

[Lscott]

45 minutes ago, HHD1 said:

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

You'll find affordable models used. New will likely exceed your budget. I would look for Kenwood radios. Personally I've had far better luck finding programming software and support for many Kenwood models. I've hard much harder time finding stuff for Motorola. Some here might have have better luck with Motorola than I've had, might know where to get the software etc.

If you're looking for a Motorola radio I do own a few of these.

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

A number of the older Kenwood radios had FCC Part 95 certification so they are legal on GMRS, so long as they are properly programmed. The one I usually carry around is the TK-3170.

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

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

If you don't care about FCC certification this one is a nice radio. It's currently manufactured and available new, but it's going to cost you a lot more than the other ones. Even used they're not exactly cheap.

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

 

[WSGU500]

I am considering the Wouxun KG-905G based on a test done recently by myself and a friend. His house is over 13 miles away from mine. While testing my 10-watt portable repeater he could receive on his various inexpensive handhelds but couldn't really make out any words. However, on his Wouxun KG-905G he could hear me clearly with little background noise. This may never be an issue for most folks (receiving while on the fringe of coverage) but it did show that there is a difference, at least on receiving. This is probably simply due to the Wouxun KG-905G being a super heterodyne radio.

[piggin]

On 4/3/2025 at 9:17 PM, WSGU500 said:

I am considering the Wouxun KG-905G based on a test done recently by myself and a friend. His house is over 13 miles away from mine. While testing my 10-watt portable repeater he could receive on his various inexpensive handhelds but couldn't really make out any words. However, on his Wouxun KG-905G he could hear me clearly with little background noise. This may never be an issue for most folks (receiving while on the fringe of coverage) but it did show that there is a difference, at least on receiving. This is probably simply due to the Wouxun KG-905G being a super heterodyne radio.

I have a pair of them and they work great.  Unlike much less expensive portable radios they work great with my rooftop antenna.  I like them! 

For just portable use cheaper radios are fine. Depending on what you want to do.

[TNFrank]

Not legal advice so take it for what it's worth. I'm sure many of us won't admit it but we use an unlocked HAM radio to TX/RX on GMRS channels AND you can use it when you finally get around to getting your HAM license.

The Baofeng AR-5RM is a good radio and the BTech BF-F8HP Pro is another good one. For a budget radio either the Baofeng K61 or Radtel RT-900 is nice. 

I'm sure "some people" will chime in about the FCCs getting mad at you for using a HAM radio on GMRS channels but truthfully,  I don't think you'll end up in prison or get a fine as long as you don't act like a jerk on your radio. JMHO, YMMV. 

[WRUE951]

7 minutes ago, TNFrank said:

Not legal advice so take it for what it's worth. I'm sure many of us won't admit it but we use an unlocked HAM radio to TX/RX on GMRS channels AND you can use it when you finally get around to getting your HAM license.

The Baofeng AR-5RM is a good radio and the BTech BF-F8HP Pro is another good one. For a budget radio either the Baofeng K61 or Radtel RT-900 is nice. 

I'm sure "some people" will chime in about the FCCs getting mad at you for using a HAM radio on GMRS channels but truthfully,  I don't think you'll end up in prison or get a fine as long as you don't act like a jerk on your radio. JMHO, YMMV. 

Id bet 85% of us..  for sure...   could be 95%

[WSDD591]

There is something good to be said about the cheaper "beginner" GMRS HTs. I'm not going to be nearly so upset if a Baofeng, Tidradio H3, etc. gets lost down a mountain or mine shaft as I would be about an expensive radio like a Yaesu FT-5. I have both kinds, but a 4 pack of H3s works great for a group road trip and if one gets shut in a car door or hood (yes, that happened!) they are inexpensive enough to be disposable. 

Your mileage may vary, of course.

 

[TNFrank]

Expensive vs Budget comes down to build quality more than anything else. A 5w budget HT with a good antenna will have as many fars as an expensive 5w radio with the same antenna. 

Truthfully,  I carry my Radtel RT-900 with me more than any of the other radios I have. I have 3 of our work channels programmed into it, all the GMRS channels, the HAM Calling channels and all the local HAM Repeaters(2M/1.25M/70cm), MURS channels, 6M channels, 10M channels and even the more popular CB channels. 

Is it the best for some of those frequencies,  probably not but it will RX/TX on them so I can use them if needed. For $25 bucks for the non-bluetooth model you just can't beat it.

[WRYS709]

30 minutes ago, TNFrank said:

Truthfully,  I carry my Radtel RT-900 with me more than any of the other radios I have. I have… 6M channels, 10M channels and even the more popular CB channels…

For $25 bucks for the non-bluetooth model you just can't beat it.

6 meters?

10 meters?

CB channels (27 MHZ)?

I looked this unit up on Amazon and it seems it cannot receive below 108 MHz. 

[TNFrank]

Once you unlock it you can do 10M, CB and 6M. Don't believe everything you read on Amazon, LOL

 

[Lscott]

45 minutes ago, TNFrank said:

Once you unlock it you can do 10M, CB and 6M. Don't believe everything you read on Amazon, LOL

Or on some YouTube channel.

[TNFrank]

I have 2 RT-900's and can confirm that they will TX/RX on the frequencies I've listed. If you don't want to believe me pick up one(they're only $25 bucks, what have you got to lose)and try it for yourself.

[WROQ359]

The Wouxun 905G is a solid-performing radio for GMRS. It is by no means the "best" radio out there, that term is very subjective depending on your criteria. It is very easy to program, plenty of accessories available, battery holds a charge for a lot of use, price is very reasonable, simple no BS display, I could go on and on. I have owned one for several years and have no complaints. I have had some other less expensive radios that I no longer have due to they have stopped working and it wasn't worth replacing them. 

[Lscott]

8 hours ago, TNFrank said:

what have you got to lose)

About $25. 

[LeoG]

6 hours ago, WROQ359 said:

The Wouxun 905G is a solid-performing radio for GMRS. It is by no means the "best" radio out there, that term is very subjective depending on your criteria. It is very easy to program, plenty of accessories available, battery holds a charge for a lot of use, price is very reasonable, simple no BS display, I could go on and on. I have owned one for several years and have no complaints. I have had some other less expensive radios that I no longer have due to they have stopped working and it wasn't worth replacing them. 

Only problem with that radio is it's not a dual receive.   And then you go up to the 935G+ and it has dual receive but loses the superhetrodyne which is a big deal.  I was disappointed to find the 935 is only a radio on a chip.

[WRDJ205]

Plenty of options as everyone has said.  I’ve been using the tidradio H3 most often recently.  It is more compact with similar output as the GM-5RH that was my previous most frequently used.  

[RoadApple]

"Best" is a very subjective term.  It all depends on what features and capabilities YOU want in a radio.

[jrkiefer]

I too have a Tidradio H3 (original) with a Nagoya 701G antenna and folks seemed amazed at the clarity of my transmissions for a 5w radio. Very happy. Hoping my H3 Plus will be just as good or better as the firmware continues to improve. 

[WSAN813]

The one you choose !

[Raybestos]

I have purchased no less than four KG-905's, for myself and others.  Of all the Wouxun KG-series radios I have owned or used, they were the very worst with regard to PL decoder issues I have experienced, whereby the CTCSS/DCS decoder will sporadically fail to open for another base, mobile, ht, or repeater, that transmits the same tone as the decoder is set for.  FWIW, I have experienced this issue with every single Wouxun KG-series radio I have owned or used.  The list includes the 905G, 935G, 935G+, S88G, and 1000G.  Many will swear they have never experienced this problem with their Wouxuns and that may be.  Reasons they may not have experienced it might include not using the PL/DPL decoder often, not using the radios much or often, or perhaps they were really lucky in getting a good radio.  I find it difficult to believe that all of the radios with the decoder issue have wound up exclusively in my possession.As this has been an intermittent issue for me across a number of frequencies, PL's and DPL's, and brands of radios received, it is very difficult to diagnose.

I love the basic Wouxun platform and channel layout, which allows for use of all thirty GMRS channels PLUS being able to program a variety of simplex and repeater channels to your liking, using differing PL/DPL tones; but the decoder issue has become a deal killer for me.  I will not be buying any more Wouxuns unless and until they acknowledge the issue and fix or change the decoder algorithm to eliminate this issue.

[Jaay]

IF you hold Both, a Amateur Radio and a GMRS license, then I'd recommend the Wouxun 935H, for both flavors, as it performs very well on 2m/1.25m/70cm and Gmrs as well as Murs. Granted, they're Not type accepted for Gmrs or murs but it beats carrying more than one radio. 

[WRYZ926]

On 9/28/2025 at 1:48 PM, RoadApple said:

"Best" is a very subjective term.  It all depends on what features and capabilities YOU want in a radio.

That can't be said enough. What is best for one person isn't the best for someone else.

The $25 radios aren't any good if they keep malfunctioning. We have a guy in our club that keeps going through boofwang radios. I don't know what is is doing to them but they keep having issues. I tried telling him that he could have bought a better quality radio for what he has spent on the those boofwang radios. 

I personally like Wouxun HTs. They aren't the best available, but they meet all of my needs and I haven't had any issues with them.

Are Wouxun radios the best for everyone? Only the individual can decide that.

Some will argue that commercial radios are the best. Yes they have better quality. But they have their downsides too. Like trying to find programming software or software that will only run on older computers or in a virtual computer. Not everyone wants to deal with that.

And yes I keep a few boofwangs around for when I am doing stuff that I might damage a radio. I also keep them around to hand out to others. Again not too worried if a boofwang gets damaged by accident.

All I can suggest is to look at all the different brands/models. Weigh all of the positives and negatives of each and then go with what suits YOUR needs.

[LeoG]

8 hours ago, Raybestos said:

I have purchased no less than four KG-905's, for myself and others.  Of all the Wouxun KG-series radios I have owned or used, they were the very worst with regard to PL decoder issues I have experienced, whereby the CTCSS/DCS decoder will sporadically fail to open for another base, mobile, ht, or repeater, that transmits the same tone as the decoder is set for.  FWIW, I have experienced this issue with every single Wouxun KG-series radio I have owned or used.  The list includes the 905G, 935G, 935G+, S88G, and 1000G.  Many will swear they have never experienced this problem with their Wouxuns and that may be.  Reasons they may not have experienced it might include not using the PL/DPL decoder often, not using the radios much or often, or perhaps they were really lucky in getting a good radio.  I find it difficult to believe that all of the radios with the decoder issue have wound up exclusively in my possession.As this has been an intermittent issue for me across a number of frequencies, PL's and DPL's, and brands of radios received, it is very difficult to diagnose.

I love the basic Wouxun platform and channel layout, which allows for use of all thirty GMRS channels PLUS being able to program a variety of simplex and repeater channels to your liking, using differing PL/DPL tones; but the decoder issue has become a deal killer for me.  I will not be buying any more Wouxuns unless and until they acknowledge the issue and fix or change the decoder algorithm to eliminate this issue.

I have the KG20G and the 1000G.  Haven't had any issues with the 20G, but it is possible I have with the 1000G.  On very rare occasions it doesn't open my repeater on try #1.  I can't tell if it's the radio or the repeater.  Never have an issue with incoming signals and just about everything I have stored in memory for GMRS has a Tx/Rx code either CTCTT or DPL.  Certainly nothing I've complained about.

Is yours a receiving or transmitting issue?

[WRUE951]

The best is the one you carry the most..  The Hytera HP682 lives with me most of the time but i like playing with a couple Baofengs as well.  

[Lscott]

3 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:

Some will argue that commercial radios are the best. Yes they have better quality. But they have their downsides too. Like trying to find programming software or software that will only run on older computers or in a virtual computer. Not everyone wants to deal with that.

Just about all of my commercial radio programming software runs on Windows 10 just fine. I have two radios that have DOS only software, however CHIRP seems to handle those. 

My recommendation has always been to look for the programming software FIRST for any potential radio you are contemplating purchasing. If the software isn't available, or won't run on your compute, look at another radio.

The next on the list is finding a programming cable. Usually BlueMax49's is a good source. They might also have the programming software if you ask when buying a cable. In my experience I've had good luck find Kenwood programming software. I have a library of just about every package I can find.

The other areas that trip up people are the accessories, particularly battery packs. Some are almost impossible to find.

If you are looking at using an external antenna then watch out for weird antenna ports that require hard to find adapters. I have some Icom radios that fall into that area. Those cost me around $17 each and had to spend some time tracking down ones known to work.

https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/500-ic-f3162dt-front-and-back-sidepng/?context=new

I also maintain a library of all the documentation for each radio type/series in PDF format. That includes service manuals, user manuals, FCC grants (so I know where the radios are legal to use) and brochures (good source for a list of available accessories with MFG's part numbers).

The major issue with commercial radios are typically they don't allow front panel programming. Most of the time I don't find it a huge problem. I normally have have everything pre-programmed into the radio anyway. There are a few that do, usually as an extra cost option. One series I have it's included for free. The procedure is covered in detail in the service manual, not the user manual since the radios are generally not supposed to be programmed from the front panel.

https://comms.kenwood.com/common/pdf/download/NX1K_Specsheet_K.pdf

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