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FOR NEWBIES! HANDHELDS

I found this terrific YouTube video, which does show and outline the pitfalls of buying a cheap Chinese Amateur Radio Hand Held.


Most of us Hams who have been licensed for a while now (I'm still a newbie too, 15 plus years), have a cheap Chinese Handheld or two..


Yep.. me too.. but.. I have like many found that the cheap Chinese Handhelds just can't always do the distance compared to the known Japanese brands like Yaesu, Icom, Kenwood to name a few.


So.. if you are just getting into Ham Radio, this is a good watch for you..


It does point out the Spurious frequencies these cheaper radios transmit on. Plus, many of these cheap units are not approved by our ACMA, (FCC in the USA).. so be aware, check first.


Note: The Youtube clip prices mentioned, are USA based.. And there is references to the FCC in the USA.


Perhaps some of the Amateur Radio Guru's that read this, would like to add a comment or two to help guide the many newbies coming into our wonderful hobby.


You just cannot go past the Japanese Brand Radios such as:


Icom

Yaesu

Kenwood

Alinco


You will have these for years and years and much more support for them.



Hope this is of help.


Craig

vk3ncr




72 views6 comments

6 Comments


vk3jco
Jan 19

Roger Clark has kindly provided the following update information:


”Radios supported by OpenGD77 are :

The following radios are not currently in production, and may never be produced again

· Radioddity GD-77 - aka TYT MD-760

· Radioddity GD-77S (No keypad or display version of GD-77)

· Baofeng RD-5R - also sold as "DM-5R version 2" , or "DM-5R Tier 2"

· Baofeng DM-1801 - Not to be confused with the DR-1801 or DR-1801UV which are completely different radios even though they look the same.

· Baofeng DM-1801A


The following radios are in production

· TYT MD-UV380/390 aka Retevis RT-3S - Note. The "Plus" versions of these radios may or may not work. The 5W "Plus" seems …


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Unknown member
Jan 19
Replying to

Hi John,


Are these radios Chinese and are they approved to for use in Australia by the ACMA ?


Craig.

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vk3jco
Jan 15

I wrote a response here but it annonyingly vanished after hitting Publish!

I suggested looking at the excellent TYT MD UV-380,which I use, it covers VHF/UHF and DMR. The Retevis and Radioddity radios also when using Open GD77 software, which is specifically designed for Amateur use and highly recommended.

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Unknown member
Jan 12

Very good video. Recommended.

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Unknown member
Jan 12

But Bofang!!!

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Unknown member
Jan 12
Replying to

They are similar to the other Chinese cheap ones.. I have had three and all three failed.


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