My 60th birthday is May 3 and i'm hoping to get my hands on one. My son died on May 2, 2014 and he loved Gmrs and Hams, so i getting one in his memory if i can. Thanks for all you do here. You help so many ppl. Have a great day! WRKH707. -Bob
Thumbs up to Btech for moving forward in the GMRS world. All the other manufacturers just kept putting out the same stuff in a handheld unit for the past two years, it was getting boring until now. This new gem is sold out of course, but that's OK I'm just happy for this stride in technology in GMRS. Yo Wouxon time to play catch up!!! On another note, Btech congratulations on making a radio that actually puts out the watts stated on the box.
Thank you for the review, we were not aware of the channel… but after this video we certainly are quite aware of it now! We encourage any users to reach out to us with feature requests and additional bugs found, while we have spent a lot of time on this project - somethings will slip through, so please tell us. Tone scanning is coming in a firmware release to come Similar to our GMRS-V2 the GMRS-PRO also has a “quick add menu” right on the radio to add GMRS channels quickly without the app (or typing frequencies) We have multiple runs scheduled for manufacturing but our lead times for stock has slipped 4 weeks and continues to go out as more orders are placed in que - please bear with us as we ‘catch up’
Is the packet I heard here standard AFSK and is it using the APRS protocol? If so why has a packet enabled dual band 1200/9600 Amateur radio version with a USB C native radio port not on the market? Build it and we will come! Ohh and a 25 watt dual band mobile with the similar specs would be better!
Currently switching my 4x4 group from HAM and CB to GRMS and discovered your channel while researching. Pure gold man, thank you and keep up these hilarious and informative videos. 🙌
Yes, good for a laugh. Now that GMRS has data, Btech could make a ‘Grindr for GMRS’? Or replace Talkaround with a Sleeparound function? Or add CDC Monkeypox alerts? The possibilities are endless - lol
Just an FYI for everyone interested in this radio. I bought 2 of these recently. 1 the antenna was fairly easy to remove with pliers and replace with a 771G. The other is glued in place so well that it unscrewed the antenna mount inside the radio. So that one will keep the stock antenna, which isn't bad. It seems btech has upped their glue game to thwart replacing the antenna.
Randy, I am late to this radio, as I keep saying "I will never need another radio!" Great introduction, thank you. (I am already developing our family data "1x-Codes" short-hand, like the old Ten Codes of my EMS days.)
I caught this video when you first uploaded it, and today I was considering the GMRS-9R & GM-15 but found my way back to this video and I think I'm sold.
That's neat, and represents where GMRS should be going... Gotta love the FCC though "Can't do digital if the antenna is removable and transmission limits". Also the FCC "Why don't people use GMRS more???"
I ordered the BTech GMRS Pro yesterday using your affiliate link and thanks to the magic of Amazon received it this morning, the antenna there’s no glue and it does not remove so I guess it depends on which one you get but I’m loving it, it’s extremely easy to set up using the app And I’m surprised on how many fars it get from my little spot in Chicago. Thank you for the review
So, this video popped up on my dashboard and looked interesting. First one I've ever watched on this channel. Very informative, I enjoyed the intentional mispronounciations. But I completely lost it when the smart phone came into frame at 10:34 , well done.
FCC approved my GMRS application Monday. The BTech will be here Friday. Thanks for this review and all of your content (especially GMRS) Ive binge watched a ton of it in the last week or so. Looking forward to getting more fars than the FRS radios my daughter and I have been using.
Some of you may need to check yourself into the Betty Ford Clinic for a plastic screen removal addiction. They have developed a two step plan to overcome this monkey 🙉 on your back.
Only clicked on this video because I am interested in these types of radio communication, looking to learn about HAM and other types. But I respect your efforts so much that I wouldnt want to any undue influence from my end and so out of a deep respect for your efforts and to help you remain as impartial as possible I will not nor will I ever send you any money. You most certainly are welcome.
So far I really like this radio. Hopefully in a firmware update we could store commonly used text messages and send them without a phone or tablet. Messages using the keypad is terrible.
Your channel is the go to channel for GMRS. Every time I have a GMRS question I search your channel for the answer first and if no video, I go elsewhere unfortunately. Love your videos. Number 1 GMRS resource on the internet web in my opinion. I was gonna bring it to your attention, not sure if you did the plastic removal portion of your videos first or not? But I saw another channel that had lot of subscribers did a poor imitation of the plastic removal. lol you have copy cats out there.. lol
This may be the absolute best video I've ever seen! How you combine a heck of an honest and useful review with that much humor is beyond me. Had I been drinking the moment I saw your apps, I would have literally spit said drink out laughing my you know what's off. I'm subscribing just for the damn humor! You sir, are my new favorite UA-camr!
I don't really know why I did it, but my BTECH GMRS PRO came today. Nobody I know does anything with radios. Anyway, I'm glad I read the manual before I plugged the battery into a charger. There are so many different combinations of chargers and cables, that it's possible to hook up the wrong combination, which I WAS going to do. I initially thought that as long as it has a USB-C connector, and the radio is so new, that it MUST be OK to hook it up to a 25-45-65 watt charger. NOT! On page 16 of the manual, it specifically states; NOT to use a fast charger, or the accompanying cables. WHEW! Glad I read the booklet! I had to scrounge around in my collection of charging devices to even FIND one that was that old. I found the situation curious 🤔
Yeah apparently it uses a USB plug, but isn't actually compatible with any modern USB charging standards. Which actually really sucks, because it means this likely can't be charged off of any modern battery bank.
I have nothing to say, Sensei. except for spending my subscription dollars, "wisely", on a radio and video presentation, that will no doubt be a, "game changer", in the GMRS world! A radio, that's totally programmable, via a phone app, will have the competition, definitely scrambling to play catch up before years end. 👌 Thank You, Sensei. 👏👏 P.S. What's the Catch? A radio this good has to have a catch, and I'm not talking a missing wrist strap either. 😉
So close to perfect. Being able to monitor the AM aircraft band between 108 and 136 would have made this a better option for me than many dual band radios these days!
RANDY…THANKS so much for sharing this wonderful new GMRS RADIO + WITH US…UNBELIEVABLE as a HAM with well over 45 YEARS of loving all that HAM RADIO offers I am very glad that I am also a GMRS USER! WOW WHAT A RADIO THIS IS WOW…I JUST ORDERED 2 OF THEM FROM AMAZON…CANNOT WAIT TILL TUESDAY TO GET THEM! I JUST WISH THAT HAM HANDHELDS HAD MORE OF THESE FEATURES BUILT IN…WOW!!!!!!!🙃🙀😱🤣👍 PS THANKS AGAIN FOR SHARING THIS WITH ALL OF US…WELL DONE MY FRIEND! 73👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you for your knowledge-based insights. I bought 3 BTech GMRS units 2 handheld and 1 car/base unit with antennas from Amazon based on your UA-cam videos. Keep up the good work. BTW, You made me laugh at least a dozen times keep up the humor. Don-Michigan
I still literally laugh out loud every time you pull of a screen protector off of a new unit and go “ahhhh” , because I pretty much do the same thing. My wife thinks I’m a nerdy crazy person for liking it. Glad to see I’m not the only one who enjoys it! 🤣😂
I GOT A UDIDEN with gps/compass.. with an emergency beacon button. i have seen this before, but only with uhf love ya work captain.. i am learning alot
Overlord Randy, you are the reason GMRS is becoming the new standard. Within the first 2 minutes, I have purchased said radio. Looking forward to Wouxuns radio version. I'm sure mobiles will be on the way hopefully too.
I have really liked the ability to save any traffic it picks up on the app. I can set this outside while connected to my phone and put the scan on and see where the traffic in my area is. I can come back to it later on and see at what times and what channels anything has been received and replay the audio off my phone.
As a ham radio operator of 27 years, not including a useless flashlight LED that no one uses renders this radio completely useless. Otherwise great review
Correct! For people that never leave their "Ham Shack" it is utterly useless! Example: You're out hiking. Some of your friends are also out hiking but y'all aren't together. One of y'all decide to make a call. On your GMRS Pro HT. Your friends hear you AND know where you are. Now you can meet and talk about outdoorsy thing like drinking on the porch.
"as a ham operator for almost blah blah...." Anyway this seems PACKED with features and modernized in a way you never see on a radio at this price. I'm genuinely impressed. Thanks for the great video Randy
Dammit, Randy! I just purchased the Wouxun KG-935G Plus after watching your vid, and now I also pulled the trigger on this BTech PRO because you said it was a “Must Have”! LMAO! You’re gonna make me go broke! LOL! I’m looking forward to trying out both radios out on the Jeep trails. I would also like to recruit your assistance in setting up both radios. I’m not too far from you inSoCal. Maybe a weekend Jeep outing one of these weekends? Lemme know if you’re interested. Great vid! Can’t wait to get both of my new radios!
A big and exciting development in GMRS for sure! Word on the rumor mill is that this thing uses APRS for text/data, which would be huge for interoperability between devices if true.
Just picked one up. The features on this thing blew me away. Now to getva couple guys in the Jeep club to pick them up so we can use them to their full potential.
I just started watching your channel and am planning on getting licensed and started on GMRS! I saw the ‘Ranchino’ name for the repeater and got curious as I live in Hemet and it sounded familiar! Much love for the Inland Empire! Look forward to hopefully hearing from you then! 😁
Bluetooth headset test with this radio would be a great video.. Blue parrot etc (for truckers).. See if it would pair up to a "CARDO Packtalk" helmet system . That would be awesome.
That was my question. Wife and I have pactalks on our atv helmets. They get a pretty good distance by themselves but if the BT pairs then could use gmrs to extend the connection.
The apps on your phone through me off 😂 I had to show my gf and she 99% of the time is not amused by any of the radio videos I watch, but she giggled at that pretty good. Haha
Love your channel Randy! I was on Amazon ordering this radio while watching the video because I know how fast you can sell a radio out,(on your link below😇)had one secured on its way!!! Order number everything! Then wanted another one to be able to test the message feature out. Amazon by that time had “SOLD OUT” So I secured one at BTECH, (Baofeng)same price!! Now 2 days later “both” orders are lost(in transit?) or mysteriously out of stock??? Now I am told it will be 5 weeks?Just like the Wouxun KG-UV9GX(still 4-5 weeks out) Guess I have to wait till sometime in September to peel the screen covers🤣LOL
My first order from Amazon was delayed so I panicked and ordered one from BTECH. I ended up getting both! This was happening while I was wondering why Randy hadn't talked about the BTECH GMRS PRO. I probably got mine the same time he got his. But I have two he only has one....so far!
Wow. Very impressive radio. It basically has an APRS (🐷) location program, built in already. The phone programming is cool, but I would prefer PC programming too, just to save and transfer & share info, at different times. This one is a game changer for GMRS, and ham radio! {Now, if you had a Mobile Base Station, that could do all these features. That would even make a for a great Go-Box emergency radio!}
I have merged Haven with another non-profit called Rise Up AC and Haven is now operating as Rise Up AC. Same organization, same staff and same clients. It is still me! 👌
Thanks! Thank you for a super well-made video! Question from the rookie? Is the antenna that ships with this the best one for the unit? Or should I order some longer, manlier "Nagoya whips"? Thanks again
I really enjoy your show on you tube. You are very informative and interesting to watch. I have a comment and I didn't read all the comment about the GMRS PRO that people have made about this HT. The one thing that don't know if you knew about this product is that if you have the weather alert turned on and there is an alert sent out to turn on the weather report on the radio the volume will go up the maximum volume and you cannot turn it down to a lower volume. You have to turn the radio off and then turn it on and then the volume control works fine again. But if the signal to alert your radio again it will again put the volume back up the the max. Or just turn off this feature and it won't bother you.
Looks like the radios are starting to catch up with technology. I am curious to see what improvements/updates they come out with and what other new radios will be coming out with similar and better features. Thank you for another great video.
It must be nice to be able to talk on a GMRS. I have had my Btech 50x1 radio for over a year and only made 1 short contact. Very few repeaters in my NC area and even though I can hit at least 2 every once in awhile, it seems nobody can hear me when I try to make conversation. So,,,, I guess my CB Radio is still the best option for me.
Thats probably because GMRS is not really for "making contacts".. GMRS is a short-range family type service, intended for talking in groups like when off-roading, on the farm etc.. Of course some people always get on thinking they are on a ham band and want to chit-chat about nothing, and all the rest of us usually get annoyed..
@@TheNotaRubicon What? Since when? If GMRS is "CB 2.0," then making contacts is going to be a major function of the radio as it was for CB 1.0. This is especially true if truckers are adopting the platform. It gets boring driving a truck sometimes, ya know?
@@SergeantExtreme A good conversation can keep you alert and pass the time. Oh, and there was a day I had a headache doing a drop and hook, and some wonderful person on the superslab came on with " Hey, Swift, you might want to crank up your landing gear more than 2 inches."
@@SergeantExtreme NO! GMRS is not CB 2.anything. People use it to accomplish things, do not tie up the airwaves with stupid chit chat, stay on ham or CB for that. Last thing we need when we're doing something important is you guys jawjackin about nothing
So this could pretty well replace my whole GMRS mobile repeater + LORA mesh text/gps backwoods radio system. I love that! I was dying to know why this didn't exist back when I had to put all that together. Very exciting stuff! Thanks for the heads up.
Looks like it can do more than Meshtastic and isn't as cumbersome as ATAK. Plus I only need one transceiver per node instead. I'm looking forward to testing them out, I ordered two as soon as I got done with the video.
Are you asking whether a GMRS radio is capable of creating a mesh network? No. It does have build in simplex repeating, so in theory you could get a message passed along if your group was oriented in a way that could benefit from it, but FCC rules prevent data transmission through GMRS repeaters and whoever build the software for the Pro was incredibly paranoid about FCC rules, so passing along anything but voice is not an option.
Love the content. I’m getting into GMRS and I think not having a keyboard on the radio may be a deal breaker. Anyone have any thoughts on that? I guess I don’t like the idea of having to rely on the app so much. Is there a good alternate to this radio? Or do the positives outweigh not having a keyboard…
Impressive little radio, and listening to the data burst, it sounds like they're adapting APRS to the GMRS world. I'm curious how many APRS features would be legal on GMRS. That would be a complete game changer for Jeepers and overlanders if it could be fleshed out and becomes popular. Also, the physical buttons on that radio and the on-screen menu look very similar to the the Anytone UV-878, which is likely made in the same slave labor camp.
Per FCC the current rules are that digital transmissions must be no greater than one second in length and no more than one manual/periodic transmission every 30 seconds. However, the 30 second rule does not apply when the radio receives interrogation requests, so in theory you can set up GPS tracking that updates as often as you like (so long as there's a reasonable break between requests it seems). Excited to integrate this into our sxs's and atv's for long trail rides - great for rendezvous when riders become separated.
I own a Garmin Rihno 600 something or other. Its a GPS with built-in GMRS radio, you can transmit your locations to another buddy with same brand and series of Garmin GPS. Its proprietary signal. It will allow sending and receiving short text messages also.
You sound extremely condescending.
I know, but it's ok because I only sound that way to very low-IQ people, and as you have no-doubt learned through life, nobody cares what they think.
Nuh uh
I know... It's fantastic hahahahaha I love this guy!
Nah you got a point😂
Can you transmit from a UV-PRO to a GMRS-PRO? Not that I would though.
Almost made a giant mistake and bought one. Thank God you mentioned it not having a wrist strap! That’s definitely a deal breaker!!
But no roger beep? lol
@@jj-zy6gc now people wont be confused that you are not using a boadung!
Yeah but the sexy Chinese voice makes up for it.
@@ChatGPT1111 lmfao
@@ChatGPT1111 ohhhhhhhwwwwww yeahhhhhhhh!
My 60th birthday is May 3 and i'm hoping to get my hands on one. My son died on May 2, 2014 and he loved Gmrs and Hams, so i getting one in his memory if i can. Thanks for all you do here. You help so many ppl. Have a great day! WRKH707. -Bob
🙏❤️🙏
Glad you weren't expecting to talk to your son . Sorry for your loss❤️
Thumbs up to Btech for moving forward in the GMRS world. All the other manufacturers just kept putting out the same stuff in a handheld unit for the past two years, it was getting boring until now. This new gem is sold out of course, but that's OK I'm just happy for this stride in technology in GMRS. Yo Wouxon time to play catch up!!! On another note, Btech congratulations on making a radio that actually puts out the watts stated on the box.
Thank you for the review, we were not aware of the channel… but after this video we certainly are quite aware of it now!
We encourage any users to reach out to us with feature requests and additional bugs found, while we have spent a lot of time on this project - somethings will slip through, so please tell us. Tone scanning is coming in a firmware release to come
Similar to our GMRS-V2 the GMRS-PRO also has a “quick add menu” right on the radio to add GMRS channels quickly without the app (or typing frequencies)
We have multiple runs scheduled for manufacturing but our lead times for stock has slipped 4 weeks and continues to go out as more orders are placed in que - please bear with us as we ‘catch up’
Is the packet I heard here standard AFSK and is it using the APRS protocol? If so why has a packet enabled dual band 1200/9600 Amateur radio version with a USB C native radio port not on the market? Build it and we will come! Ohh and a 25 watt dual band mobile with the similar specs would be better!
Ya need to step up yer production. Amazon already sold out. Now I'm sad (but I'm not a sad ham...).
Love this radio!! I know it just came out, but it would be Amazing if you made a version of this radio with an alphanumeric keypad on it too!
256bit ENCRYPTION.
Any plans of doing a HAM version of this radio? Would be neat to have full Tx access to both VHF/UHF. 👌
Currently switching my 4x4 group from HAM and CB to GRMS and discovered your channel while researching. Pure gold man, thank you and keep up these hilarious and informative videos. 🙌
It never hurts to have multiple options haha. CB penetrates better through forestry
Just curious, if your group is already operating via the HAM bands why would you want to switch to GMRS? Just for the simplicity?
I'm planning on having CB, GMRS and Ham (UHF/vhf/hf) in my car.
I didn't really need much info on the Chinese walkies that I bought. I stay because he's funny while being informative.
@lucasrosa485 my guess is they were not licensed Hams, they were just using ham radios on FRS or MURS freqs.
Got my license that I've never had, then purchased 3 of these. thank you for your time and effort on this.
OMG... I got yelled at by my wife for waking her up while laughing! Great review... awesome comedy. The cell phone was perfect! LOL
I busted a gut laughing when I saw your apps, LOL that was great ! Very cool radio.. Great to see data over GMRS ! Very compelling.
LMFAO glad i wasn't the only one to notice and bust out laughing
Yes, good for a laugh. Now that GMRS has data, Btech could make a ‘Grindr for GMRS’? Or replace Talkaround with a Sleeparound function? Or add CDC Monkeypox alerts? The possibilities are endless - lol
Was beginning to wonder if I was the only one who saw that lol
I've watched this 3 times, but finally picked up on that.
Your comment made me go back and look...too funny!
Just an FYI for everyone interested in this radio. I bought 2 of these recently. 1 the antenna was fairly easy to remove with pliers and replace with a 771G. The other is glued in place so well that it unscrewed the antenna mount inside the radio. So that one will keep the stock antenna, which isn't bad. It seems btech has upped their glue game to thwart replacing the antenna.
Thanks!!
If the first one gave you trouble why didn't you put some heat on the second before you attempted to take it off?
@@orilion1820 if he got the first one off why would he think he needs heat on the 2nd to get it off?? Use your brain
@@evocati6523 👀 use MY brain 🧠 🤔😆😆😆😆👌🏻👍🏻fukn 🤡 Your reading comprehension is abysmal 🥳
Randy, I am late to this radio, as I keep saying "I will never need another radio!" Great introduction, thank you. (I am already developing our family data "1x-Codes" short-hand, like the old Ten Codes of my EMS days.)
Thanks!
This channel is becoming pricey. I just had a radio delivered today and now this one shows up ....
Yes I ordered one.
I caught this video when you first uploaded it, and today I was considering the GMRS-9R & GM-15 but found my way back to this video and I think I'm sold.
the small details, like the "extra" apps you have on your iphone are why you're always a must watch.
That's neat, and represents where GMRS should be going... Gotta love the FCC though "Can't do digital if the antenna is removable and transmission limits". Also the FCC "Why don't people use GMRS more???"
Get Your BTech GMRS Pro Bluetooth GMRS radio here! amzn.to/3zm1MlH
I already bought it and haven’t had a chance to watch your review yet! I’m living dangerously.
As of 19:50 Aug 6th they have sold out! I ordered my two units this morning at 0200. Thanks for the review
SOLD OUT. BOOOOO!
I just received my GMRS Pro today and am very pleased. I got my 4 local repeaters programmed in seconds. No confuckulation whatsoever.
I ordered the BTech GMRS Pro yesterday using your affiliate link and thanks to the magic of Amazon received it this morning, the antenna there’s no glue and it does not remove so I guess it depends on which one you get but I’m loving it, it’s extremely easy to set up using the app And I’m surprised on how many fars it get from my little spot in Chicago. Thank you for the review
So, this video popped up on my dashboard and looked interesting. First one I've ever watched on this channel. Very informative, I enjoyed the intentional mispronounciations. But I completely lost it when the smart phone came into frame at 10:34 , well done.
FCC approved my GMRS application Monday. The BTech will be here Friday. Thanks for this review and all of your content (especially GMRS) Ive binge watched a ton of it in the last week or so. Looking forward to getting more fars than the FRS radios my daughter and I have been using.
Remove the protective plastic slower please. Much slower. Asking for a friend.
If you could side screen you biting your lip when doing so we’d really like that…
WRONG GROUP! WRONG GROUP!!!!
If there is any way to incorporate bubble wrap popping, that would make my day.
Some of you may need to check yourself into the Betty Ford Clinic for a plastic screen removal addiction. They have developed a two step plan to overcome this monkey 🙉 on your back.
And whisper while you do it. Gotta get all the weirdos excited at one time.
😂 Thanks for that laugh.
Got mine. What an absolute marvel of technology. This radio is PACKED with goodies!
Only clicked on this video because I am interested in these types of radio communication, looking to learn about HAM and other types.
But I respect your efforts so much that I wouldnt want to any undue influence from my end and so out of a deep respect for your efforts and to help you remain as impartial as possible I will not nor will I ever send you any money.
You most certainly are welcome.
So far I really like this radio.
Hopefully in a firmware update we could store commonly used text messages and send them without a phone or tablet.
Messages using the keypad is terrible.
Thanks! After many many many videos I ordered it.
Thank YOU!
Your channel is the go to channel for GMRS. Every time I have a GMRS question I search your channel for the answer first and if no video, I go elsewhere unfortunately. Love your videos. Number 1 GMRS resource on the internet web in my opinion. I was gonna bring it to your attention, not sure if you did the plastic removal portion of your videos first or not? But I saw another channel that had lot of subscribers did a poor imitation of the plastic removal. lol you have copy cats out there.. lol
Thanks for the GMRS license step by step!!
Thank you!
Just ordered mine. Thanks for a great review, Randy. Your comedy is awesome.
Great video. I got so distracted studying the Mossberg blueprint that I had to re-watch the video for the radio part.
This may be the absolute best video I've ever seen! How you combine a heck of an honest and useful review with that much humor is beyond me. Had I been drinking the moment I saw your apps, I would have literally spit said drink out laughing my you know what's off. I'm subscribing just for the damn humor! You sir, are my new favorite UA-camr!
Agreed. And the T-shirts crack me up, too.
I died!
Did you see the apps on his phone? 🤣🤣
I don't really know why I did it, but my BTECH GMRS PRO came today.
Nobody I know does anything with radios.
Anyway, I'm glad I read the manual before I plugged the battery into a charger.
There are so many different combinations of chargers and cables, that it's possible to hook up the wrong combination, which I WAS going to do.
I initially thought that as long as it has a USB-C connector, and the radio is so new, that it MUST be OK to hook it up to a 25-45-65 watt charger.
NOT! On page 16 of the manual, it specifically states; NOT to use a fast charger, or the accompanying cables.
WHEW! Glad I read the booklet!
I had to scrounge around in my collection of charging devices to even FIND one that was that old.
I found the situation curious 🤔
Yeah apparently it uses a USB plug, but isn't actually compatible with any modern USB charging standards. Which actually really sucks, because it means this likely can't be charged off of any modern battery bank.
Man, the fourth page of your Home Screen is wild 😂
Got this for Fathers Day from the wife. She thought she was buying me a new ham radio. So far very impressed with this.
Randy, Congratulations on 12 million total views. Well done, young man.
This radio is a real step forward and I hope more radios will add this feature.
It's been a few months since I've watched this channel (I know, my mistake). But that radio collection in the background has grown quite a bit!!
Another great video. I’m getting the feeling I should expect nothing less. Keep up the great work.
By the apps on your phone, I can tell you are a sophisticated man of culture.
I remember when I first got my bowfing Uv-5r. Women rained from the sky.
I can't even begin to believe how excited you were in this video.
Holy crap, this is what I've been looking for to put in my dogs backpack as a tracker when in the woods!
Randy this GMRS radio is a step ahead of many other GMRS radio. Well done.
Amazon was unavailable but I'm glad the website still allowed me to place an order. I'm excited to try this one!
I have nothing to say, Sensei. except for spending my subscription dollars, "wisely", on a radio and video presentation, that will no doubt be a, "game changer", in the GMRS world!
A radio, that's totally programmable, via a phone app, will have the competition, definitely scrambling to play catch up before years end. 👌
Thank You, Sensei. 👏👏
P.S. What's the Catch?
A radio this good has to have a catch, and I'm not talking a missing wrist strap either. 😉
It broadcasts on every other frequency simultaneously, just like all other Bow-Feng.
I saw your Other apps and snorted my coffee. Brilliant!
I have this radio in my hand as I watch this. Just got my FCC call sign this morning and learning about the GMRS world.
Are you enjoying it? I’ve been wanting to pull the trigger on it but a majority of reviews are paid advertisements sadly
So close to perfect. Being able to monitor the AM aircraft band between 108 and 136 would have made this a better option for me than many dual band radios these days!
I ordered this to monitor aircraft channels specifically my local airport CTAF at 121.9. Now I'm confused whether this radio do that?
does it work?@@socomon69
RANDY…THANKS so much for sharing this wonderful new GMRS RADIO + WITH US…UNBELIEVABLE as a HAM with well over 45 YEARS of loving all that HAM RADIO offers I am very glad that I am also a GMRS USER! WOW WHAT A RADIO THIS IS WOW…I JUST ORDERED 2 OF THEM FROM AMAZON…CANNOT WAIT TILL TUESDAY TO GET THEM!
I JUST WISH THAT HAM HANDHELDS HAD MORE OF THESE FEATURES BUILT IN…WOW!!!!!!!🙃🙀😱🤣👍
PS THANKS AGAIN FOR SHARING THIS WITH ALL OF US…WELL DONE MY FRIEND! 73👍👍👍👍👍
Would love to see a 1 year update on this review - any good updates to the software? How have the features worked up in practice over more time?
The ability to input custom frequencies within the GMRS range seems to have gone away with the current firmware. 😞
Thank you for your knowledge-based insights. I bought 3 BTech GMRS units 2 handheld and 1 car/base unit with antennas from Amazon based on your UA-cam videos. Keep up the good work. BTW, You made me laugh at least a dozen times keep up the humor.
Don-Michigan
30 seconds in and im smiling, thanks mate.
I still literally laugh out loud every time you pull of a screen protector off of a new unit and go “ahhhh” , because I pretty much do the same thing. My wife thinks I’m a nerdy crazy person for liking it. Glad to see I’m not the only one who enjoys it! 🤣😂
I GOT A UDIDEN with gps/compass.. with an emergency beacon button. i have seen this before, but only with uhf
love ya work captain.. i am learning alot
Overlord Randy, you are the reason GMRS is becoming the new standard. Within the first 2 minutes, I have purchased said radio. Looking forward to Wouxuns radio version. I'm sure mobiles will be on the way hopefully too.
how do you like it so far?
I have really liked the ability to save any traffic it picks up on the app. I can set this outside while connected to my phone and put the scan on and see where the traffic in my area is. I can come back to it later on and see at what times and what channels anything has been received and replay the audio off my phone.
As a ham radio operator of 27 years, not including a useless flashlight LED that no one uses renders this radio completely useless. Otherwise great review
Correct! For people that never leave their "Ham Shack" it is utterly useless!
Example: You're out hiking. Some of your friends are also out hiking but y'all aren't together. One of y'all decide to make a call. On your GMRS Pro HT. Your friends hear you AND know where you are. Now you can meet and talk about outdoorsy thing like drinking on the porch.
at least it doesn't have a siren and strobe... LOL
Sad ham
“Some people”
@@Rusted_Link nope, they'll all compare who worked harder to get their license, who codes the fastest and who has had Extra the longest.
Couldn't help but notice your app line up. Priorities lol. Good stuff.
Their new 20w GMRS radio looked interesting. Just came out last month!
I'm interested in that
I wonder if it's been confirmed at 20watt
@@RicArmstrong brain cancer in less than a year would confirm.
@@forgetyourlife you may be using the radio wrong then. Try not sitting on it. 😅
@@forgetyourlife that only applies if you spend too much time on HAM bands 🤔
@@forgetyourlife hahaha! True although at that frequency maybe not. Who knows
I'm ordering it "as" I'm watching your review. - N Idaho -
"as a ham operator for almost blah blah...." Anyway this seems PACKED with features and modernized in a way you never see on a radio at this price. I'm genuinely impressed. Thanks for the great video Randy
....back when a license required a 5,000 word per second code test....blah blah
Dammit, Randy! I just purchased the Wouxun KG-935G Plus after watching your vid, and now I also pulled the trigger on this BTech PRO because you said it was a “Must Have”! LMAO! You’re gonna make me go broke! LOL! I’m looking forward to trying out both radios out on the Jeep trails. I would also like to recruit your assistance in setting up both radios. I’m not too far from you inSoCal. Maybe a weekend Jeep outing one of these weekends? Lemme know if you’re interested. Great vid! Can’t wait to get both of my new radios!
As soon as I heard that this radio came out, I knew I needed you to review it. THANK YOU!
Wow.. this is exactly what us tactical guys need. I'm sold...
A big and exciting development in GMRS for sure! Word on the rumor mill is that this thing uses APRS for text/data, which would be huge for interoperability between devices if true.
Just picked one up. The features on this thing blew me away. Now to getva couple guys in the Jeep club to pick them up so we can use them to their full potential.
I just started watching your channel and am planning on getting licensed and started on GMRS! I saw the ‘Ranchino’ name for the repeater and got curious as I live in Hemet and it sounded familiar! Much love for the Inland Empire! Look forward to hopefully hearing from you then! 😁
Real GMRS ops dont get a license
HEMET? I haven’t heard that city on a long time. I did 10years there. Was on the rez in 2008 during the shoot outs.
Couldn't even start the video without having to pause and laugh..... love the shirt!!!
Love your apps on the phone...
Mine arrives Wednesday. I’m pretty stoked.
Bluetooth headset test with this radio would be a great video.. Blue parrot etc (for truckers).. See if it would pair up to a "CARDO Packtalk" helmet system . That would be awesome.
lol I wonder if airbuds or a bluetooth stereo speaker would somehow work with it lol
That was my question. Wife and I have pactalks on our atv helmets. They get a pretty good distance by themselves but if the BT pairs then could use gmrs to extend the connection.
The apps on your phone through me off 😂 I had to show my gf and she 99% of the time is not amused by any of the radio videos I watch, but she giggled at that pretty good. Haha
Love your channel Randy! I was on Amazon ordering this radio while watching the video because I know how fast you can sell a radio out,(on your link below😇)had one secured on its way!!! Order number everything!
Then wanted another one to be able to test the message feature out. Amazon by that time had “SOLD OUT” So I secured one at BTECH, (Baofeng)same price!!
Now 2 days later “both” orders are lost(in transit?) or mysteriously out of stock???
Now I am told it will be 5 weeks?Just like the Wouxun KG-UV9GX(still 4-5 weeks out)
Guess I have to wait till sometime in September to peel the screen covers🤣LOL
My first order from Amazon was delayed so I panicked and ordered one from BTECH. I ended up getting both! This was happening while I was wondering why Randy hadn't talked about the BTECH GMRS PRO. I probably got mine the same time he got his. But I have two he only has one....so far!
Just got one, it arrives Monday. fun day for happy ham
Just bought two, through your link.
Just need to figure out how to unlock them now.... for “educational purposes only” of course. ,-)
It's an amazing device! I wish it could listen in on airband, ham channels and noaa alerts, receive only.
Wow. Very impressive radio. It basically has an APRS (🐷) location program, built in already. The phone programming is cool, but I would prefer PC programming too, just to save and transfer & share info, at different times. This one is a game changer for GMRS, and ham radio!
{Now, if you had a Mobile Base Station, that could do all these features. That would even make a for a great Go-Box emergency radio!}
I have merged Haven with another non-profit called Rise Up AC and Haven is now operating as Rise Up AC. Same organization, same staff and same clients. It is still me! 👌
I like this a lot. I believe if I wait long enough, they'll come out with an APRS version of this radio. That will make my day
Thanks!
Thank you for a super well-made video! Question from the rookie?
Is the antenna that ships with this the best one for the unit? Or should I order some longer, manlier "Nagoya whips"?
Thanks again
Thank YOU!
Thanks as always for a great review! I had to order one. Super convenient to have gps.
No joke, Sold out. In less than 24 hours after this video went live.
I tried to warn everyone!
Your a funny guy, I saw the other apps you installed on the iPhone
What A Beaut ! Now I Own 3 Baofeng Radios, But NOW I Want THIS , SDR And Then Mobile SDR Thats Tranceiver. Dream Devices
Great. Now I have to buy some of these. Thanks.
I really enjoy your show on you tube. You are very informative and interesting to watch. I have a comment and I didn't read all the comment about the GMRS PRO that people have made about this HT. The one thing that don't know if you knew about this product is that if you have the weather alert turned on and there is an alert sent out to turn on the weather report on the radio the volume will go up the maximum volume and you cannot turn it down to a lower volume. You have to turn the radio off and then turn it on and then the volume control works fine again. But if the signal to alert your radio again it will again put the volume back up the the max. Or just turn off this feature and it won't bother you.
Looks like the radios are starting to catch up with technology. I am curious to see what improvements/updates they come out with and what other new radios will be coming out with similar and better features.
Thank you for another great video.
Greetings from the Gulf Coast of Florida. As usual, great commentary. Love the dry humor.
Wait is that my iPhone? Oh whew, got scared a second there, we have the same apps so I didn't know.
Thanks for another great video, I have installed EVERY app that was displayed on your phone....kept me busy for hours:-)
It must be nice to be able to talk on a GMRS. I have had my Btech 50x1 radio for over a year and only made 1 short contact. Very few repeaters in my NC area and even though I can hit at least 2 every once in awhile, it seems nobody can hear me when I try to make conversation. So,,,, I guess my CB Radio is still the best option for me.
Thats probably because GMRS is not really for "making contacts".. GMRS is a short-range family type service, intended for talking in groups like when off-roading, on the farm etc.. Of course some people always get on thinking they are on a ham band and want to chit-chat about nothing, and all the rest of us usually get annoyed..
@@TheNotaRubicon What? Since when? If GMRS is "CB 2.0," then making contacts is going to be a major function of the radio as it was for CB 1.0. This is especially true if truckers are adopting the platform. It gets boring driving a truck sometimes, ya know?
@@TheNotaRubicon All Ham Radio people do is talk about their damn equipment; about like listening to your arteries harden.
@@SergeantExtreme A good conversation can keep you alert and pass the time. Oh, and there was a day I had a headache doing a drop and hook, and some wonderful person on the superslab came on with " Hey, Swift, you might want to crank up your landing gear more than 2 inches."
@@SergeantExtreme NO! GMRS is not CB 2.anything. People use it to accomplish things, do not tie up the airwaves with stupid chit chat, stay on ham or CB for that. Last thing we need when we're doing something important is you guys jawjackin about nothing
If you have the dough, sending text/data and to others with the same radio and a comparable phone is amazing. I'd buy enough for the whole family.
I wonder if this would work well with ATAK over the bluetooth connection. That would be game changer!
Laughing and learning. LOVE your content and delivery.
So this could pretty well replace my whole GMRS mobile repeater + LORA mesh text/gps backwoods radio system. I love that! I was dying to know why this didn't exist back when I had to put all that together. Very exciting stuff! Thanks for the heads up.
I believe it did with the Garmin Rino series I am surprised it took so long to be emulated outside P25 and DMR radios
I don't think this radio is all that. In practice, it looks to be lacking.
Looks like it can do more than Meshtastic and isn't as cumbersome as ATAK. Plus I only need one transceiver per node instead. I'm looking forward to testing them out, I ordered two as soon as I got done with the video.
So does it mesh?
Are you asking whether a GMRS radio is capable of creating a mesh network?
No.
It does have build in simplex repeating, so in theory you could get a message passed along if your group was oriented in a way that could benefit from it, but FCC rules prevent data transmission through GMRS repeaters and whoever build the software for the Pro was incredibly paranoid about FCC rules, so passing along anything but voice is not an option.
Awesome video. Really like the product. Once you showed your city location the phone apps made total sense! Good job! :D
I love NotaRubicon productions ❤
Nice try, but he said I'm his favorite.
Great video Randy. I bet you won a contest like George Costanza with those nice hands….
Love the content. I’m getting into GMRS and I think not having a keyboard on the radio may be a deal breaker. Anyone have any thoughts on that? I guess I don’t like the idea of having to rely on the app so much. Is there a good alternate to this radio? Or do the positives outweigh not having a keyboard…
You had me at USB C charging cable. I'm already sold.
Impressive little radio, and listening to the data burst, it sounds like they're adapting APRS to the GMRS world. I'm curious how many APRS features would be legal on GMRS. That would be a complete game changer for Jeepers and overlanders if it could be fleshed out and becomes popular. Also, the physical buttons on that radio and the on-screen menu look very similar to the the Anytone UV-878, which is likely made in the same slave labor camp.
I was wondering the same thing, is this APRS on GMRS? Could you use APRSDroid, a cable, and an analog Radio and message a person with a GMRS Pro?
Per FCC the current rules are that digital transmissions must be no greater than one second in length and no more than one manual/periodic transmission every 30 seconds.
However, the 30 second rule does not apply when the radio receives interrogation requests, so in theory you can set up GPS tracking that updates as often as you like (so long as there's a reasonable break between requests it seems).
Excited to integrate this into our sxs's and atv's for long trail rides - great for rendezvous when riders become separated.
I own a Garmin Rihno 600 something or other. Its a GPS with built-in GMRS radio, you can transmit your locations to another buddy with same brand and series of Garmin GPS. Its proprietary signal. It will allow sending and receiving short text messages also.
Aprs on gmrs is a wonderful thing.
I am new to gmrs and am curious ...what is APRS?