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The TYT MD-380 is probably the most famous DMR radio out there as just about everyone I know of started DMR with this radio. Is it worth its reputation? Read on and find out!
Around the end of the 2016 year, the TYT MD-380 was released quietly to radio enthusiasts. Trying to find a DMR radio without costing an arm and a leg was difficult back in those days, particularly one that was worth a flip.
For around $100 the TYT MD-380 showed a color screen, 70cm analog and DMR digital, a 2,000mAh battery, and more, which was very impressive.
As soon as you open the box and grab the TYT MD-380 you know this is not just a copy of an existing radio made super cheap. It is thicker than most of the cheaper radios and weighs more. It also has a much tougher feel. Very few radios in this price range feel this solid and substantial.
My only real complaint with the build quality on the TYT MD-380 is the belt clip which appears to be thinner than I would like. I want to point out that even though it looks thin like it might break it has never given me any problems and is nice and tight as it should be.
Turning the TYT MD-380 on shows you the next great feature, the full-color screen. For its day, it was one of the nicest screens on a radio for any price. Even today, years later, the screen is bright, colorful, and easy to read. My only complaint is that like most radios the screen’s backlight shuts off after a few seconds to save battery life, but unlike many other radios, the screen is completely unreadable when the TYT MD-380’s backlight is off. This isn’t unheard of with color screens, but it also isn’t mandatory either.
All of the controls on the TYT MD-380 feel and work well. If anything, the keys may have a tiny bit too much resistance to them but I like it as it keeps me from accidentally pressing something unintentionally. Both knobs on the top are smooth and firm with no issues.
Programming the TYT radio, like virtually all DMR radios, requires the use of proprietary TYT MD-380 software to program virtually anything with the radio. TYT MD-380 manual programming from the keypad is possible for most analog functions but not at all practical for anything more than a repeater or two.
Transmitted audio from the TYT MD-380 is, like a lot of DMR radios, a little on the weak side. It is however very clear which helps tremendously. I personally would rather have the clear but weak audio of this radio than some of the cheap Chinese radios that have very strong and overmodulated signals which seem all too prevalent today as loud and garbled doesn’t do me much good.
A lot of the inexpensive radios seem to have a battery that just seems far too small and light for the mAh they claim, that is not the case with the TYT MD-380. It comes with a 2,000mAh rated battery that feels substantial and seems to last plenty long enough for its rating. Given that most of this radio’s time in use has been on low power talking to my hotspot, it lasts longer than I do.
Overall I would have to say that these TYT MD-380s absolutely deserve their reputation and are hard to beat for the price, except for when compared to the newer TYT MD-UV380 dual-band versions.
Photos
TYT MD-380 Test Results:
| Screen readability | Very Good |
| In-hand feel | Very Good |
| Included antenna | Good |
| Construction quality | Very Good |
| Belt clip | Good |
| Programmability | Good |
| Transmit audio | CLICK TO LISTEN |
| Maximum power output (2m/70cm) | N/A / 1.9 watts |
| Size | 207 * 61 * 53 mm |
| Actual weight | 10.2 oz |
| TYT MD-380 manual | CLICK TO DOWNLOAD |
| Programming software | CLICK TO DOWNLOAD |
| TYT MD-380 Overall score |  |
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Conclusions
GET THE BOOK!
I hope you enjoyed my TYT MD-380 review!
This radio is amazing. I take advantage of it for everyday use and do not know what may be done to boost it. Profitable. Easy to program yourself via computer or Hsiang keyboard. The battery life is amazing. Super fast charging. and also the range works better than my Kenwood handheld. and that I love having the ability to use one handheld rather than two.
I agree, nice little radio. Have you tried one of these https://amzn.to/3CUOWhM ? I have had pretty good luck out of them.