Should you buy the tidradio wireless programmer? TIDRadio BL-1 

Totally agree. I bought one, used it once, then promptly put it in the junk box.

It all works just fine, I'm glad that I didn't listen to some of the bad reviews because this really saves a lot of time and makes things so much easier.

Just bought no problems works great

Don’t know why you had so many problems with it!! Mine worked great and I programmed 5 radios with it. Better luck next time!!

Thanks for this video. It reaffirmed my decision to wash my hands of it. Two weeks ago and after reading reviews I decided to risk it and order. It arrived, read some more neg. reviews plus the app instructions just creeped me out so didnt even install to phone. Boxed it back up and sent it back. Great idea, weird execution. It COULD have promise but I can't get past the idea of a Chinese big brother looking at my phone more than they probably already do. The manual was weird too - like they pasted from completely different teams, sources or maybe companies. Not much time was spent for it to flow with any sense. Thanks again for running it through the paces.

Several fantastic #proTip (s) found here♡ going on a trip? Bring a "don't mind if I loose it" radio, with you. Go prepared, pre-program a few of that area's repeaters into the radio before you leave home. Love this♡♡♡ 👍😊

You can't beat the tride and tested chirp!!

I didn't seem to have nearly the problems with this as you did. The app is definitely rough around the edges, but it works well enough for its intended purpose. The social networking aspect is the strangest bit. I've used it and have actually derived some 'value' from it (I guess?), however, it should be an entirely optional thing; signing up should not be a requirement for using this device. The other thing I dislike about the software is that it seems to lack a graceful way to exit the app. Once you shut it 'off', it continues to run in the background. I have to go into settings and do a forced stop. The hardware itself seems solid enough. A few tweaks to the app and TIDRadio would have a really solid product to offer.

FYI, the Bluetooth pairing for this device should not be done on your phone. Instead, it should be paired within the Odmaster app's Bluetooth feature.

I watched the video despite you telling me not to. I regret nothing

I think you could have made this video with the heading, "Why you should never buy this" And made it 5 minutes long with a good rant. I would have pulled it to bits already 😳 great video

I I think I will turn on my TV and watch reruns of Lassie

I bought one of these about a year ago. Great idea. I have 5 different Baofeng UV-5r variants. At first it sorta programmed one. After a dozen or so emails and software updates, it did not get any better. The real question, why a social networking software built into a programmer. Not worth the pain.

It appears that a lot of people have had problems with this app. And agree, it it asks for way too many permissions. But my biggest concern is why is its only available for use on the lower-end, cheap radios?

I glad you posted the video, and told it like it is...thank you! I agree, why do they want all that info. There is so much potential for this device, however looks like it fails miserably. Yes, please take it apart, it is just a wireless cable or is there much more? I think one would be better off just using the programming cable and a small raspberry PI computer with Chirp. Sounds like another open source possibility...thanks again! 73 de N6LPV

I think I'll buy $23 in lottery tickets. Thanks for the heads up

New version released with some upgrades

It works well if you par off the bloatware in the program app

I didn't find your video until today. I also received delivery of my Tidradio Bluetooth "thing". I tried connecting it to a Baofeng UV17 Pro GPS and after 10 minutes I threw it in the drawer in disgust. Absolute rubbish.

So true

I was given one of those by the company about 1 year ago to review. I sent it back to them and told them it was a POS!

Thanks for the info TO too bad there isn't a better device out that can do multiple brands also

Off but on topic. Do you think it can be used by a PC? I'm talking connected via Bluetooth from a Linux box and talking directly to the 'thingy?' Possibly a TNCish thingy with Direwolf or manual manipulation using AX.25? Lemme know your thoughts. I'm wanting to get one just to try this out. I've got chirp and can use with the FTDI cable but to cram it via Bluetooth would be funz!

It actually looks like the hardware is good. The app is terrible. And the permissions that it wants are suspicious. (Location could be good if it used that to suck down repeater book data, but that didn't seem like an option.) I presume that it presents a bluetooth serial port, since that's how programming those radios work. It might be fun to see if you can use bluetooth support under Linux to pair it and dabble based on what's out there about programming those radios. It could conceivably also present as bluetooth audio, maybe headset protocol, to allow transmit and receive (maybe even including digital, like packet via direwolf, etc.) from the connected computer. But I'm not going to spring for one to find out. I bet it's not compatable with Kenwood HT anyway.

Has the updated software make this device work now? Thank You

Imma be honest with you...I just want to hang a Baof in a tree in a leftovers container, and have a simplex repeater. With cool close tones and a few bulletins or reminders it is active. 🙉

The hardware at first sounds good. A Bluetooth connection instead of a cable? Sounds good. The app? Looks too clunky. First, why do you need to have an account to just program your radio? Are they gathering your information, for what? It should show you all the channels that are programmed. You have to go to each channel and see what's programmed. Stupid. Plus programming it, seems super clunky. Back to the hardware, why have it work only with the very bad app? It should be just a cable to the device it's paired to. And it should work with Chirp. This is a good concept but bad implementation.

So you program it from the uv-5r

Your video makes me want to cry I have a tidradio gmrs I was thinking about getting this to program my radio now I don't know what do you think I should do?

I read the ULA and long story short all information shared is sent to the chinese government.

Tried mine numerous times ,,, not working ,,, freezes up

It might need location in future software releases, to easily programme local frequencies... 73 DE W8LV BILL

I got lost when you turned it to vfo mode and tried to change channels...

I thing the hardware is awesome, it's the software that sucks. I think I read that the original app dev no longer supports it. Hopefully someone else can write a decent usable app for it.

The app is creepy too. All the permissions and the fact that it maintains a permanent symbol at the top of my screen in the notifications tab like it's a weather app. Half the time when I unlock my phone, the app is open, and I haven't touched it since I first installed it and tried it out last week. Definitely going to delete it.

At the speed your hand was going thru the functions on your phone on the app, one would assume you drank an entire case of red bulls prior to making the video. I have the tid radio programmer and it works flawlessly when im not going thru all the settings @ 200 miles an hour. androids arent the fastest phones.

It seems like it'd be a lot easier if they didn't make you do this on the phone. I think using a real keyboard would be helpful.

I would not install Odmaster on a phone that you use every day. Just sayin'. The software was written by street hackers.

Cringe, with an extra helping of cringe.