Thanks for the video. So many people have made videos, but finding simple text instructions is near impossible. Your video is perfect, short and to the point.
I had commented that the fccID wouldn't be valid when started in another mode, but it turns out that I was wrong. They have simply added GMRS to the end of the FCC ID, and both are listed on the FCC's web site. You can also use PTT & 1 to enter into 136-174 / 400-520MHz. And PTT & 7 gives a full reset of the radio. I'd like to see them add MURS to this radio in the same manner. I purchased the Ham version as I am a Ham operator. If you plan to become a Ham, then you might want to start with the Ham version. The reason being that it could be that the GMRS version might not include proper filtering to suppress harmonics in the Ham Bands. The Chinese are very good at omitting components which aren't needed, and they aren't needed if the radio is to be used for GMRS. Also a friend bought the GMRS version, and both versions have a very short lived flashlight. This does not affect the radio, but that light goes out rather quickly if you happen to hit the button for it on the side while hiking and don't notice this. My tests showed very close to 10w into a dummy load in Ham mode, and a little over 5w in GMRS mode.
Only thing that stinks is every time I switch between modes it erases ALL data and states it on the switch. Any way around this, as it defeats the use.
@@randalllewis2434import the radio settings to chirp and save the file or export the Chiro file to a .csv. THEN, reset to the mode you want. Just use it in ALL mode. No need to switch.
QUESTION - Does the radio save this change when it's powered off and back on, or do you need to press these buttons every time you turn it on? For example, if I change the state to "transmit on all bands" and then turn it off and on, is it still set to transmit on all bands? If not, which state does it revert back to?
Thank for making this video! As a newbie and know little about this, I have a question about the 3rd unlock option ("unlock all"). If I have a ham or a GMRS TD-H8 and "unlock all," can I program by hand/keyboard some ham and GMRS freqs. all together on channels, say 5 ham freqs. followed by 5 GMRS freqs.? I'm not sure my question even makes sense... :p
What's the noise in the background on Transmit? I only ask because another Review of this HT said it produced noise when held close to another piece of audio equipment but I believe with a later (or perhaps latest) FW version, that issue has been fixed.
I bought 2 of these and the one I unlocked, when I press the vfo button it wont toggle between channel and freq. mode. it just beeps when i press the vfo button.
just thought of something I use it as ham but i now have a gmrs license as well if i change to total unlock will it lose my 2m 70cm repeaters i have programmed in it and have to redo them ?
Did this totally change? Mine erased everything and now chirp can't see the radio. I backed it up but can't rewrite it now that it no longer sees the radio. Date of sw is 09 11 23 I believe.
I just updated the firmware here to test it out again. It worked fine for me. Remember, if you switch modes, you need to select the new model (Ham, GMRS, etc.) in either ODMaster or Chirp to read/write. Also if using Chirp, you have to grip the top of the cable with your kung fu grip to hold the connector as tight as possible to successfully read the radio.
Do you know if this is a bug or a feature? I like what I see but am afraid if I order this 10-watt radio from Amazon, I will not be able to switch it to GMRS.
@@RKingisonly bad part is is that it saves the lists per type. If you programmed everything in GMRS type, you can’t see or open the list in other types. I am also noticing that there is no channel mode. I only get VFO. But you can unlock both the older and the V2 radios.
@@RKingis yes. It stays in VFO mode and will not go to memory when it’s in unlocked version. I also just got the V2 today in Ham, and I used software to open the Gen 1 GMRS version I had, and even in unlocked mode, a lot of the frequencies, about 50 of them, will not go into the unlocked version. So to use it, I put new new V2 version in GMRS mode and just dumped everything into that. I would think unlocked, means unlocked, but it’s still restricting some frequencies that can be in GMRS. To be clear I am only using mine as a scanner for my areas fire departments. So most of it is on VHF frequencies. But on GMRS version I can input them all.
@@tuckmeat great thanks for the information My mate ordered them last week, so should be here soon, do you have to update the firmware to unlock the radio? Thanks Dave
It iS FCC approved for GMRS:apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas/reports/ViewExhibitReport.cfm?mode=Exhibits&RequestTimeout=500&calledFromFrame=N&application_id=lpLh9FYiHHEgkkbG8yqJAA%3D%3D&fcc_id=2AWL3-TDH8GMRS
@@tuckmeat No, it is NOT approved for GMRS. It has Part 15 B approval which ALL consumer electronics are required to have per the FCC. Even your toaster or paper shredder or washing machine should have Part 15 approval and a sticker on it saying so. To be legally approved for GMRS TX it must say PART 95E approved. This is a game China and others play to mislead buyers into thinking they are ok to use in the USA when they are not. I'm sure you would hate to have someone with a pacemaker drop dead next to you when you transmit because the radio did not pass testing and it had a spurious emission that shut down someone's pacemaker and killed them or opened someones garage door and they got robbed etc. There's a reason for accurate type acceptance.
.@@tuckmeat That filing is only for Part 15B and does not make the radio type-accepted for GMRS. That requires testing certifying Part 95E compliance. Ham radios must meet Part 97 requirements. I know of no inexpensive Chinese HTs which have tested to either of those sets of requirements and filed test reports with the FCC requesting a grant of type acceptance. Some ham versions that I've tested did meet Part 97, but the manufacturer still submitted only a Part 15B test report. All the FCC IDs i've seen on the backs of the Chinese HTs were associated only with a Part 15B filing.