Iam not a radio ham. I just need a cheep radio for mainly the walkie talkie frequencies. Also I would like to use it as a scanner. Is it worth me getting one?
A dedicated scanner would be best for scanning functionality - the scan offered on either of these radios is a bit slow. As for the ‘walkie talkie’ frequencies (I am assuming you mean PMR446), these radio can transmit there, however as they can transmit more than 500milliwatts, and have removable antennas they are not legal to use. I hope this helps!
The H3 is what i always pick up as it works a treat and is just a bit smaller to slip inside my pocket, even my running shorts 😂. Lost count how many Quansheng radios i have here and although great fun to play around with the software & hardware mods that is where it really ends. Good video, Thanks
The id-50 is now on sale for 350 in the uk whick makes it nearly half the price of the id-52 60th edition iam now considering to upgrade my id-51 at this new price
So Quansheng is not for using but for modding, and TIDradio is for using but the first thing you have to do is to load modded firmware onto it? Interesting....
Yes and no. You can use the stock firmware with the TIDradio, but the modded firmware adds functionality that should really have been in the stock firmware.
It’s a subjective thing. If you want to start playing around with different firmwares and pushing the limits of coding, get the Quansheng. Otherwise, if you want a radio to be reliable (maybe flash an alternative firmware once), grab the TIDRadio. If you have deep enough pockets, get both!
Before I watch any more of this, you say at around 5:00 that we should assume one has a hotspot. I don't. I'm trying to connect to a repeater. Is that covered in this video? Thank you.
Really cool ! I am in USA and some HF bands have been flat lately. But there has been some 6 meters going hear in NY. You don't need much power FT8 and you can run your amp all day at that level . I only have the IC 7300 and a 10/11/12 meter Radioddity QT 80. I got that doing FT8 with DiGi Rig . setting was a tad hard . was just getting levels set. Radio has no ALC meter like the Icom. So had to do it with PEP watt meter to get TX level correct. The ICOM is easy FT8 . bult in sound card and use the ALC meter to adjust TX level. I do have a transverter for 10 meters to 2 meters. That gets me AM/FM /SSB on my QT 60. The only amp I have for 2 meter SSB is a 1.5 KW tube amp and needs 80 watt drive for full legal power in US. 1.5KW . No way I want that much FT8. I may melt tubes with that duty cycle of FT4 and FT8 . But my transverter just has 5W PEP output. Was thinking about giving that a go FT8 2 meters. We get some tropospheric ducting hear in NY summer on VHF/UHF . Just don't have all the cables made up to connect it all. I do have small VHF/UHF amp for 5W HT but it is FM only. Class C bias. Some day I get one for SSB . 2 meter AM can be fun as SSB as well. No HT has AM TX so far or SSB TX . That IC 705 does . I just may buy some day. the $$ is hold up. I have a girlfriend and a car that takes priority. Nice job with FT8 FT4 contest on VHF/UHF I forgot about that. I don't contest myself but I want to make contacts. 73
I too have the 7300, which currently I use exclusively on 6m. I did manage an FT8 QSO with North America a few weeks back, so trans Atlantic openings are happening!
What about this isn’t real radio? My RF has got to get to the other station’s receiver. I suppose it’s just like how ‘SSB was the end of real radio’ or how ‘FM was the end of real radio’.
Saddest thing about the hobby today is folks making comments like these and thinking their idea of the hobby is the only permitted way. Live and let live, all activity keeps the hobby alive.
That's pretty cool, as the current G8AMC FT8 champion I need to look into this...:) 25-35w on FT8 seems to be the magic number you don't need loads of power to get some really good contacts :) (EDIT: To say I am the first comment I think as per RU-vid rules I am supposed to say "FIRST" lol)
That’s a very fair question. I think its success will be dependent on adoption by a major manufacturer (like DSTAR and Icom). I think unless it is included as part of a radios offering, it will remain niche and under used.
@@M0JSX My opinion is that it will not be attractive to a radio amateur because it is available on many radios, but because it is, for example, cheaper, the sound quality is better, it is easier to use, it provides services that are not available in other modes, and it does all this more reliably. So my question was what do you think would technically make this mode attractive to radio amateurs?
@@gaborm4767 I think it should already be technically attractive to hams. But I feel most digital voice users are buying a radio because of the ease of use and that a digital mode is included. And unless M17 is included as standard in a production radio, it probably won’t get mass adoption.
Hi Johnathan, I am holding back on purchasing a Tidradio H3. I have hurd rumours that the PA's die on them and you get no transmitter output. I own two Quancheng radio's and I think they are fantastic for the price. And I'm not bothered if I drop them or get them wet when I am dog walking. David M0DUU
Constantly seeing failed H3 radios.. My, H8 had failed after 3, months.. Had no help from Tidradio. So after 9 months it's a good, receiver. So I bought another Baofen and I measured a genuine,,9 watts on VHF. 8 watts on UHF..
@@kennethausten I’m sorry to hear that you didn’t receive any support from TIDRadio. That hasn’t been my experience with the company. If you want to email me (questions@m0jsx.radio), I’d be happy to forward your email to TIDRadio.
I was skeptical also being new to radio and never owning one. Pulled the trigger on a h3 and the 42inch abbree antenna and been hitting repeater’s 30 miles away and can pickup air bands / airport chatter that’s 14 miles away. For $30 I am more than satisfied with this little radio
Thanks for another great video. I have two UV-K5 one running F4HWN firmware & chose the version that has broadcast band and band scope, the other has the HF mod board with CEC0.51firmware, & a TD-H3 running NICMOD firmware. I have been running these for a while & find both radios are good after a few menu settings are tweeked with the audio sounding about the same. Both of them have USB C for charging, so is a nice touch to be able to charge when out, I find the Quansheng to be better for me with scan banks, battery volt meter, two programmable buttons, faster scanning, band-scope, better menu & over all nicer to use with the screen easier to see in bright sunlight. I find the TD-H3 to be a little buggy on its firmware at the moment with factory or third party firmware (which no doubt will be addressed in future updates) even tho the screen is nicer to the eye & has good sensitivity, overall its slightly smaller in size so makes a good pocket companion. I do have my concerns about the battery tho as I found the charge port on the bottom of the battery gets hot when changing from flat & it seems other users have had various battery problems as well. (base of the battery still gets hot using the drop in charger) Both are nice little toys for the radio enthusiast, so why not get both.....
i bought several mainly for the hacking scene thats developing not for the reasons you gave. its a cheap device that has major qc problems from the factory and it would be wrong headed to buy one for general use in my opinion. its more of a toy than the quansheng and far less reliable out of the box.
I've had both and donated the Quansheng to a friend. I now have two TD-H3 with Marcus' hacked firmware and really enjoy them. I am active in his community Marcus is taking on board great ideas from others all the time. They are a great price and the quality is good for the price range. Also TIDRADIO support is awesome, I had a battery fail recently and they promptly sent a replacement out that arrived today.
As a "use it as you got it" radio, IMO, Tidradio did everything right with the TD-H3. The only con for the TD-H3 is if you like hacking. It's not as hackable as the UV-K5. I say buy both. I bought 2 TD-H3s and 3 UV-K5s. The only reason I bought the third UV-K5 is because I stopped halfway through the HF hardware add-on upgrade on one of the first two I bought because I don't have the right tools to finish it. So that radio is out of service for now.
nice bit of kit, I would have wound the coil auto transformer style like this ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dgk0HtOuE0I.htmlsi=6RnTdAe8YZrIe7UV. fyi liquid electricians tape or cut up pieces of old inner tube also can make good gaskets for the holes you drill in the case. I would also drill a small hole (in the bottom of the case) to allow any water that gets in or condensation to escape. looking forward to seeing the testing results.
Great video Jonathan. My current setup uses the choke at 0.05λ and another choke as the coax comes into the shack. Can’t wait to see your results video. 👍🏼
@@M0JSX thanks for checking and a prompt reply, ive looked at these designs and its interesting… it appears if the coil is being used as an inductance coil the DC base connection isn’t required, if the coil is being used as an autotransformer then the base connection is required obviously. Thanks again M0KTY
Excellent video review. I love my D75 for travel using the broad band receiver all around the world and the GPS to augment the functionality on my IPhone. Still enjoy my Icom ID52, but this radio is clearly superior. 73 N3CI
Lovely to find you on RU-vid Jonathan. I hope life is treating you since leaving ML&S. I recently went back to basics and bought a TS-590SG (from ML&S of course) - what an underrated radio if ever there was one. Thanks for the 7610 review! 73 Mike M0SAZ.
For what the 7610 costs, you can purchase three (3) IC-7300’s, and run each one on monobanders. The receiver specs between the two are negligible. So that’s what I did.
I'm sure there are benefits either way. And I am totally not knocking the IC-7300. I have owned one for around 7 years, and would never consider selling it :)
