Radioddity GM-30 GMRS Walkie Talkie Review - New GMRS Radio On The Market for 2021 

The GM-30 GMRS radio IS NOW ON SALE on Amazon for only $39! Link: amzn.to/3e8KxLM

Just flogged and beat my way through the FCC website and GMRS application( multiple multiple tries) TODAY March 3rd, and got my license FINALLY and it's still 70 bucks. Hallelujah!

Actually, Radioddity is pronounced Wookson. Hope this helps. 🤣

I bought this after watching your video. Got my GMRS license and made my first call last night. NICE!!

I’m new to radio, I didn’t realize how good we had it in the army. This is crazy complex, but I love what you do man! Great reviews and great humor. I’m learning allot!

I got my GMRS license March 3, still $70. Thanks for not boring us sh*tless with an unboxing.

Randy, thanks for the tip on Radioddity, I entered in on one of their contest and won a Raddy RW3 Emergency Radio | Hand Crank | Solar | AM/FM/NOAA. Funny thing the Baofeng Customer Support did the follow up with me on the shipping. I’m thinking that Radioddity is an affiliate with Baofeng.

Dr. said not to get ham in it!! I'm dying over here...

I ordered one of these due to your review . Thanks. The antenna can be removed easily with a torx 6 wrench, and it unscrews from an sma connector, do external antennas are possible.

I just got mine today! Because of your video I wanted to try it out,We use them off roading and at the racetrack. Your videos are really entertaining Thanks!

I like your style a lot and you do great videos.I am a cb operator from Greece and my call sing is 18 sv 134.Hope to see another video soon.By-by from Dimitris the Greek.

I am loving it. Keep the GMRSsssssss videos coming!!!!!!

The current software from Radioddity allows multple repeaters of the same freq and the software also works on the Baofeng GM-15 pro.

The antenna can be removed with a 1.5mm allen key wrench.

If you want to remove that fixed antenna, just use a torx 5 and remove the hex screw you can now use a good sma antenna. Nice review.

I just picked up two on Amazon for $34 ea. Thanks for the vids, love the humor!

Just been playing around with this radio as well. Definitely a new favorite.

I got the Baofeng UV-5X GMRS radio 2 pack from Radioddity last month which are similar. But I think the GM-30’has a sharper look to it and a little bit nicer overall. Glad to hear you are testing under adverse conditions. Wonder how they all stack up. Thanks for the video.

Love the attitude. Right there with ya. Keep it up! GMRS license holder here...since diving in sev months back, I have learned a ton about Ground Planes and SWR. So important. P.S.--Beware the "Sad Ham"...lmao

Thanks very much for this review. I was thinking about getting into GMRS radio but did not want to spend much to enter. the GM 30 looks like a great first radio.

Thanks a bunch...needed something fast the other brand you reviewed still not in stock..I'm on wait list. Really appreciate your no nonsense approach. Tks again

Just bought this. It’s fantastic!

got my gmrs license 02/16/22. still trying to choose my first radio. Thanks,JP

You should add a couple of updates for folks looking now since the GM-30 is still a relevant option: Of course the license fee has finally dropped to $35, and the antenna is, of course, detachable. The Nagoya 771G is the business for these. Thanks as always for your videos; your infotainment is top-notch. Something tells me you may have been a prior USAF maintainer (or at least a maintainer from some other branch).

I’m enjoying your sarcastic sense of humor. 👍🏻🤣 You should try standup comedy, you would probably be pretty good at standup comedy 😂👍🏻 Hello from San Diego, Cheers 🥂 John

" Forgot to mention USB-C charging / adaptor" -THAT is why (sometimes) an "UHHHN-BUUUOXING" is useful. :) Good review. Thanks!

I Have some tenway gm55 radios. Looks exactly like these radios in the video. The tenway radios are really good. My brother just decided to get some.

I transmitted on GMRS with my baofeng last night

Thanks for the information,this will be good to have after I get my license for GMRS, GREAT VIDS 👍🏽

I ordered one yesterday, It will be here in a few days. Can't wait for it to arrive.

Pronounced: Ray-de-odd-itty. 😂 The struggle is over. Nice review.

Hey friend, Love your vids, and sense of humor. Gonna order a few radios, waching a lot of your reviews before I take the plunge. Appreciate you work, Thanks.

Great video. You would have made a good teacher. I don’t think kids would fall asleep in your class. Thanks for the info.

You are a hoot! You made this fun! Even managed to learn a lot, which is why I clicked on you in the first place:) thanks

Just got one of these to go along with my assortment of baofengs and for some reason it will transmit on 443.375 to a local repeater but nothing else(that I know of)outside of the gmrs range. Not sure what I did.

The Ham Radio clone of this radio is the TYT TH-UV88 (2 meters and 70 cms), which easily "opens" up transmission on all GMRS simplex and repeater channels, too.

License went down in April 2022, picked mine up for $35🙂

Indeed removable antenna. Several radios that are GMRS such as the Retevis RT76P have a little alien key to lock it. Easy to remove.

Thanks Randy, your vids are great, much appreciated.

My GM-30 antenna is removable. Takes a SMA male replacement antenna

Lmfao "Ahhh my eye Doctor said not to get ham in it" 😂😂 to hilarious Randy 0:48 @NotaRubicon Productions

You need to do videos on Mall Crawlers and Jeep Babes!

I did not appreciate the lack of multiple repeater programming until after I got a couple of these and experienced it myself. Not bad for the price, but will put these in the 'simplex only' box used by my family (they will not likely ever care about repeaters). Maybe Chirp or a future firmware update could get past this considerable limitation someday. I also ordered a Wouxon KG-UV9G PRO which I think should overcome this limitation and hopefully will become my daily GMRS driver.

Got similar BAOFENG UV-9G GMRS from Amazon $44, local operator has Radioddity GM-30. He likes his GM-30 . I am impressed with UV-9G, works well; although I had to do some programming with Chirp to configure to my need - Just Saying ; )

Great little radio paired it with a nagoya na-771g antenna and i can pick up transmissions inside my house i could only hear outside my house with the factory antenna its tempting me to jump down the base station rabbit hole

Love your vids. Always tempted to sound like a sad ham just for your satisfaction. Yeah, I know yer feelin' it...

I'm new to GMRS and loving this content. I'm having a hard time grasping manufacturer hardware updates. Are these radios like cell phones? New model every fall? Or do they stick around for a while? Looking at this GM-30 but wondering if any new model is on the horizon. Thanks in advance to anyone.

I would be interested in seeing a comparison between this and the BF-9G. Each seems to have some good feastures. One is simpler, and the other is fancier.

Thanks for the review!

The new version of the programming software allows for setting different tones for the same repeater frequencies. Much better.

like your videos, as of today 7 march still $70.00 for the GMRS license still waiting for it to come down

They must have changed something, because I just ordered this radio and it DOES have a removable antenna.

Dang! Sold out! Any idea when more will be available? For $45 I’m game and I can upgrade from the “bastard” of GMRS (baofeng uvr) 😂

Compare it to the Wouxun do a range test

Got my GMRS License on 2-25-22 still $70. Just ordered this radio.

Radio has worked well for me 👍🏻

I am a HAM, and bought a GMRS license, but I GMRS with family and friends who seem to have test dis-functionality, it is time to end CB by returning 11 Meters to HAM. I have these radios in my sights to supplement our Garmin radios, and complement our Midland Mobile units. WS7PB

Hi Randy happy licensed HAM and licen$ed GMRS user. Love your informative and humorous videos! I would like to see you do a video on the Baofeng GM-15pro which I suspect is the same radio as the GM-30 in this video. Also why can’t my 5 watt GM-15pro hit your repeater from 100 miles away??? 🙂 If I could hit it will you give me permission to use? Keep up the great work.

I bet that you can remove the antenna. It probably has a set screw on the base of the antenna. My Radioddity UV-5X GMRS has a SMA connector under the "fixed" antenna.

Another fun and informative video. 🙂

Wouxun KG-905G vs Radioddity GM-30 who's the winner??

Does anyone know what the jail term/fine is for operating a uv5r on gmrs without a $70 (someday to be $35) license ? I'm asking for a friend.....Thanks for the review !

I have this radio. I have set it to my repeater frequency 462xxx and correct ccts. 5.000 offset. When I PTT the frequency doesn't go up to 467xxx. I have heard people but can't "connect" to talk. Yes I new. About a week with gmrs license.

This video made me laugh so much .great video

Thanks Randy. I am getting my first Radioddity GMRS GM-30 and this will help me get started.I am not sure if there are any active repeaters in the Rapid City area. There are some listed but not sure if they are active. My license will have to wait until I can figure out where the damn license part is in the FCC webpage. LOL

I do enjoy your videos. Being new to GMRS and looking for an HT to purchase with both the GM-30 and the KG-805G having good points and bad points would you purchase either one for your personal use. Thanks

Enjoyed the video, for the price of the radio very inexpensive and nice.repeater capable that's a good thing.i plan to look into buying one.

Does this have NOAA weather ALERTS? I know it can SCAN noaa channels but can you set up automatic ALERTS?

I'm new to GMRS so be gentle with me. I have been glued to your channel for the last 3 weeks (I think I am in love 💕) PLEASE what would I be missing with this radio compared to the 805G other than À. a smaller amp battery, B. no dust/moisture protection, C. possibly a non-upgradeable antenna, D. In your (experienced, knowageable, professional) opinion is to 805G worth the difference??. Thanks for your time and keep up the GREAT work!

New to GMRS but NOT TO radio, RF, RADAR, or electronics in general (ex-military avionics tech). Just got a GMRS license (yea $70) and just received a new pair of the GM-30's. ISSUE: MAX power I can measure is 2.2 watts across any "5 watt" channel (i.e., 1,2, ..7 and 16, 17,...22, plus repeaters). SWR is around 2.1 (reads 2 to 2.2 depending) with the stock aperture so... Did the firmware website listed update (the advertised fix was for a narrowband issue - not sure what issue there was). Anyone else measured power on these yet? Get similar power readings? I'll be keeping this pair for grins - they work just not the "oomph" advertised. Not saying the GM-30's are NOT actually 5 watts, just the only equipment I have on hand, inexpensive Latnex PM-100W, measures it as 2.2 watts. The PM-100W literature says it was tested at UHF 430 MHz (and VHF 175Mhz) GMRS is ~32 or 37MHz higher than tested 430 MHz but "close enough for gov't work." BTW the little allen-head screw (metric, 1.5 mm) is just to help keep the antenna tight, just loosen that screw a few turns, and the antenna simply unscrews like any SMA antenna. However, note the antenna is a SMA-Male (not female) if you want to replace and "tune," which I will be trying, keep that in mind.

Picked one up at the sale price to go along with my "illegal" Baofeng BF-F8HP!

I bought this and have a kenwood in my rig. I’m trying to get them on the same frequency. Can I manually input a frequency?

Is there a Radioddity GM 30 book for dummies? I need one.

have they fixed the short battery life and clip problem ? and the roger beep turning back on by its self problem ? and have the made it at least rain proof ? thank you so much

Love your videos, well explained. Going to venture into GMRS. Is a Midland mobile a good start up radio? Thank you for the video.

A 2:40 min i laughed. I had to replay it a few times. That's the look on my face more often than I care to mention.

How do you change the frequency steps on this radio. Everything I try it cancel it

Seems just like a Baofeng GM-15. I like my GM-15's, but what is the benefit of going Radioddity for more $$?

After that Turd 5X That made me switch al fifty of my radios today over to the 5X Settings N RCTCS 67 hz I think I'll just stick with Wouxun from now on Even if I have been waiting 3 weeks for the Last $500.oo Order I made. (Um from the ONLY place you can get them.)

The BaoFeng UV5X, based on the UV5R, is also about $30. The Pofung P25UV is based on the GT3WP (waterproof) at about $30. Both are listed as Part 95E, The GM30 doesn’t show up in the FCC database as of 3/3/21.

Are you positive that you cannot program multiple repeaters on the same frequency? I have not had the opportunity to try it since repeaters in my area are limited. But there are extra DYI channels that can be programmed, in case I am out of town and try to connect to a repeater with the same frequency, but a different code on another DYI channel. I’m not doubting you Randy. I’m just wondering why Radioddity would give so many DYI channel options. Thanks!

Thanks....just ordered one!

One thing I find odd is that if the SYNC function is set to ON and you key down on a channel that has a frequency with a +5 MHz offset, the frequency on display doesn't change to the 467 frequency while transmitting. It only shows the Rx frequency. That's a little quirky. Makes me thing I'm transmitting in simplex. I'd love it if that were not the case. I also want to to stress that the USB-C connector is not for programming the radio. This confused me at first. Maybe I should have RTFM. At any rate, as stated in the video, you can use a Baofeng cable with the Kenwood type 2-pin connector, which has a 2.5 mm TRS connector and a 3.5 mm TRS connector.

Hello to YA! And thank you for your videos, I just purchased this radioddity gm30, as I scrolled through RU-vid for reviews on it for the past few days I came across one guy who explained that the antenna has an Allan key on the side to change the antenna but thats as far as he went, I for the life of me cannot find that video again, would you be so kind as to look into it and possibly tell us what I can upgrade to for much better performance? It would be highly appreciated

The Amazon description for this radio says it has 250 channels! That's the 22 default plus the 8 repeater, plus the hype? I'll have to buy one! 😉

FOLLOW UP- I conducted a non scientific test of this radio today. First I set up a Home GMRS base station using a Midland Mobile with the whip antenna. I then took a Midland GTX GMRS radio, a Wouxon KG 805 and the Radioddity radio tuned to channel 16 no CTSS. I put a recorder next to the Midland base and transmitted on each radio. I used the same remote location and keyed each radio for a 5 second count. The playback was that ALL THREE came in almost at the same level (Wouxon the clearest and slightly the loudest). So in the real world the Radioddity was about the same. Lesson learned-do not test a radio in close proximity to the receiver. Get into another room or have another person key the mike from far away.

Just got this radio. It’s confusing getting it all set up and their software isn’t very good

Hi have a question on the GM-30 about the frequency hopping choice and how it works ?

I thought you meant “pour” condition testing... like enjoying a nice beverage while communicating... well, one could hope. LOL Great video as always.

You should do an update on this radio. New version of the software (2.06) along with firmware version V06.02.006 allows multiple repeaters on the same channel with different tones!

Smoke signals were big, around here.

OK we got that question taken care of how about one more? What Antenna would YOU use for the GM-30. We are going to Mendocino-Stonyford- the end of the week to do some wheeling ,so I will definitely be using the radio's..

The Gene Simmons roger beep... I'm dying hahahahahahahaha

As of today’s , November 26, 2021, the FCC is still charging $70. I called them and they said they haven't updated their system yet. I told them it was supposed to change over 6 months ago and they said "sorry, but make sure you don't use the radio until you get a license". I said "riiiiight" ...

I just got mine and entered Ch 22 in the bottom line, then hit the scan button. It started scanning and picking up people, on channels, AND on a local repeater...AND some calls were labeled "DIY-8" or some number- WHAT is this DIY designation?

I enjoy ALL of your videos, I might be uninformed about some things but could you explain just exactly what a repeater is and how it works?

I had paid 33 BUCKS plus California sale tax from Amazon because it cheap to play around. For FRS, as power reduced, is great for battery life. I use power from off-grid solar for charger for all of my Ham radios. Nearly 7 years; I had no longer use the power supply for my ICOM ID-800H. It 100% run off LiFePO4 battery that is also charged from off-grid solar.

Randy, making mistake in programming my GMRS GM-5R radio with your Notarubicon/Ranchino repeater using Chirp. How about a video on Programming your Ranchino repeater?

Thank you for your honesty that the manufacturer paid you for this "review"

C charging. Why more don't do that.