Like you, I have seen a lot of advertisements for the My-EMR1 radio. “TIMES ARE UNPREDICTABLE… PROTECT YOUR FAMILY WITH OFF-GRID COMMUNICATION!” they exclaim. They go on to talk about how you can communicate locally and globally. I had to get one and see what it really was.
The HamGeek APX-8000 caught my interest for several reasons, including I had never heard of HamGeek in discussions of handheld radios before. Sure, I knew about the HackRF, but I honestly never heard anything else of them.
The Baofeng UV-5R is a classic, this UV-5RM Plus builds on that legacy and improves on it for a very minor price bump. Let’s take a look.
The TidRadio TD-H3 is a dual-band transceiver, being able to transmit and receive on 2m and 70cm like the majority of dual-band handheld radios these days. They call it multi-band because (even though technically two is multi) it can also receive on AM at 108-136MHz as well as FM on 50-76MHz, 76-108MHz, 174-350MHz, 350-400MHz, and 470-600MHz. Tidradio has it listed here:
This BF-F8HP Pro is billed as a better F8HP than the original, but is it? Let’s start with it being from Btech, which has a pretty good reputation for selling upscaled Baofeng radios at a premium. These radios are generally better built, have better accessories, and a better manual. They do, however, cost a little more.
Programming software for ham radios comes down to two main choices these days – CHIRP and RT Systems. Having used both extensively over the years, I can tell you each has its place depending on your needs and experience level. CHIRP gives you a free, open-source option that works with lots of different radio brands. … Read more
One of my favorite inexpensive radios is the Baofeng UV-9R Plus, is the Baofeng UV-9R Pro basically the same radio? That is what I wanted to find out so let’s take a deep dive into these two radios and see how they compare. Ergonomics I frequently seem to start my reviews with how a radio … Read more
Retevis A1 Review The Retevis A1, to paraphrase Retevis’ literature, is a GPS IP67 waterproof analog amateur two-way radio aimed for use in camping, outdoor exploration, emergency rescue, etc. It is waterproof and dustproof, has a 2200mAh battery, supports Type-C charging, and can receive aviation band frequencies. Grabbing the radio fits in your hand pretty … Read more
Samcom FPCN30A Review I have often wondered about Samcom radios. They are priced significantly higher than a Baofeng with similar capabilities, yet the battery, programming cable, clip, and many other features bear a striking resemblance to all the other Baofeng clones out there. Are they just another clone, or are they worth the price of … Read more
Baofeng UV-13 Review A lot of the time when I get new Baofeng, or other Chinese manufacturers, it can be a whole lot of the sames. The firmware, software, and even some of the components are almost identical. In fact, I have had some radios where you could swap out a few stickers and one … Read more