BTECH GMRS-50X1 - Dedicated 50 Watt GMRS radio Review!

[@Ham4All]

QUICK LINKS: - BTECH GMRS 50X1: amzn.to/2MGDgGf - Nagoya UT-72 antenna: amzn.to/2zqyhAJ - BTECH PC04 FTDI Cable: amzn.to/2MGGNEv - BTECH Radios: amzn.to/2Piicb7 - Baofeng Radios: amzn.to/2Pu5ZQu

[@Johnyrocket70]

Nagoya makes a antenna for gmrs that's tuned 462mhz 1:1-1

[@ThomasWeeks]

Why is this radio no longer available? I can't seem to find any decent, 50w GMRS rigs right now.

[@UncleFesterBond]

Great review. Much more information about the radio than I have found anywhere else. One complaint, using subtitles distracts the viewer from actually seeing many features your showing. I think your reviews would be much more impactful with voice describing the features. If your not comfortable talking during filming you could dub your voice in during editing. Just my two cents worth. Thanks again for the video.

[@havennewsome4281]

How to set rogger beep???

[@kg4hlz]

Forgive me but I am a little confused. Isn't GMRS a canalized service? If so, why do you need a VFO mode and and programming the channels?

[@Ham4All]

Because you can use this radio to MONITOR other frequencies as well, such as NOAA weather channels, HAM radio frequencies, or even EMS / POLICE / FIREFIGHTER and many others. Again, you can MONITOR them, but can NOT transmit on those frequencies. For legal use, please check your local laws and regulations regarding monitoring.

[@badatpseudoscience]

@@Ham4All Thanks. 73s.

[@mikestone9129]

I wish I could like this radio. However, after returning 2 of them I can't recommend anyone buy one. If you look at the reviews on Amazon you'll see I'm not the only one who has problems with it.

[@randyk6792]

UPDATE: I've been able to get Tone Scan to work on my new radio. You must first set a receive tone and turn it on for the channel. Tone Mode = "TSQL" or "Cross". Then you must use the mic to access memory 11. Press "Menu", "1", "1", "Menu" to get into tone scan mode. Press "*/scan" to begin the scan, and the middle two rows of your display will show "R-CTCS" and the frequencies flashing by as they are scanned. :)) To stop scanning press "Menu" again. To go back to normal, press "Exit/AB". This feature is really cool! I'm liking this radio better and better!! I hope this helps the rest of you - P. Randall Knowles, KAA 8142.

[@Ham4All]

Thank you very much! We will run a few more tests to see if it would work on our radio, because we couldn't make it work before.

[@randyk6792]

Be sure you wait until there is signal being received BEFORE you push the */Scan key!!!

[@jaycelliott2]

Love the video and radio by the reviews. Just bought one so should be here soon. Off question. The external speaker you showed on video, that looked interesting. Do you have a model name/number for that to share?

[@Ham4All]

That's just a generic, inexpensive but pretty good little external speaker we use. Here is our Amazon seller link: amzn.to/3nT4ecr

[@ucdesigns396]

@@Ham4All Thanks, appreciate it.

[@ucdesigns396]

@@Ham4All Got this speak in the other day, sounds pretty good actually. Glad I picked it up.

[@thebear6751]

Best antenna to use with it

[@randyk6792]

UPDATE: We spent some time with the spectrum analyzer on the GMRS-50X1 today. The transmitter is nice and clean. Audio is very dependent upon the mic gain setting in Memory 59. You can't just guess at this, it requires the right test equipment. Using the gear we got the MIC-G setting just right and audio is MUCH better. Ditto for the TouchTone (DTMF-G) in Memory 58. Tone Scanning is working very nicely and all settings are fully configurable with the latest version of the CHIRP Open Source software. This radio is good to go, and has the most incredible host of features I have ever seen for GMRS in over 50 years. Based on all the excellent features, I have to agree, THIS IS THE BEST GMRS RADIO OUT THERE. The ability to do either Wide or Narrow Band is especially useful, making this model compatible with ALL GMRS repeaters.. I'm delighted with my purchase and can't recommend it enough for any other serious GMRS user. P. Randall Knowles, KAA 8142.

[@timholtzclaw8930]

Would this make a descent gmrs base station?

[@Ham4All]

Yes!

[@randyk6792]

UPDATE: Baofeng has confirmed that, so far, there are no firmware updates for this model. I've ordered one and will post if I can get tone scan to work, for me. - Randy

[@georgegardner1500]

Any luck?

[@photomatt01]

will this transmit 15+ miles ? i want to get an easy to use radio for my parents to use, to communicate in an emergency situation,, They live about 15 miles away..

[@Ham4All]

Range ALWAYS depends on the area and the obstacles, such as hills, tall buildings, forests, powerlines, vehicle traffic, etc. In a large city the range is obviously shorter, while in an urban environment you can reach MUCH farther away! Also, for maximum range you need to setup a properly tuned antenna as high as you can (and as high as it is allowed by law). But under good conditions, YES, you can easily reach 15 Miles with this VERY powerful GMRS (UHF) radio! Just don't forget to purchase the necessary license from the FCC, which lasts 10 years!

[@photomatt01]

@@Ham4All thank you.. I have a GMRS licence which I beleive allows me to transmit with up to a 50w radio... and planning on getting my tech licence soon..

[@davidbrock4104]

How many programmable channels are available for transmit?

[@Ham4All]

22 + 8 repeater channels. The rest are all for monitoring only.

[@Soladaddy]

On the extra memory channels, can you add a unique GMRS repeater freq pair with tones, name and then be able to transmit?

[@Ham4All]

Unfortunately not! The frequencies you add are "monitor only" (listen only) channels. Everything else are hardware and firmware controlled and limited in order to fit into the criteria of the FCC for GMRS service.

[@Soladaddy]

@@Ham4All I have a new Wouxum KG-405G (part95) and was able to add several repeater pairs to the available memory slots. It also has 128 slots available. Would think they could make them available to transmit in the allowed freqs. It still looks like a very nice rig, probably better than the limited competition.

[@Ham4All]

Yes, we have heard about Wouxun coming out with both GMRS and MURS handhelds, but haven't had the chance to test them out. If you know someone who would donate one of each to us in order to do a Tech Review of them, then let us know.

[@Knarf14]

Hows the receiver , intermod and what not ?

[@Ham4All]

We didn't experience any intermodulation issues, but again, during our tests we haven't had much of a traffic, so the signals were very clear. We could only reach one repeater nearby, but the reception back that we have monitored on other radios was very good, clear and solid. So in this aspect the radio has performed very well.

[@patrickgerth4570]

You are going to have SWR problems with those multi-band antennas. And the radio does look confusing for someone that is not familiar with amateur radio. With that many features and the price I would expect it to have some bugs.

[@Ham4All]

Overall still a very good unit, but you are absolutely right, it does have a "learning curve" and bugs as well.

[@williamwiese9963]

I'm new to the gmrs radios, but I love the power and menu options on this radio, especially the mic menu option. Thanks for the testing and video. How's the range on this radio, I know the land layout has a lot to do with it, just curious about the 50 watts TX

[@Ham4All]

50 Watts of power output is, indeed, a LOT of power, especially if the "power distributor", which is the antenna, is located high up on a tower or above the treeline on top of a hill or high building, in which case the range can be a hundred miles +++ easily! But again, ALWAYS keep in mind that radio communication is NEVER about power, but proper power distribution! The better the antenna (properly made to resonate with the lowest possible SWR value) placed on the best location will always give the best results.

[@user-jr2ue9nu6y]

I am a bit new to all this but with this Radio can I basically contact another country across the sea? Need it for STHF

[@Ham4All]

Definitely NOT! This is a UHF radio operating on the 70 cm band! The higher the frequency, the shorter the range, but better the penetration of men-made structures like buildings. For worldwide communication you need an HF radio and probably use the 20m band at least.

[@z1catfish]

Great video, though I hate the subtitles of your videos. We use GMRs and Murs for family comms between jeeps, home/family etc. Sure wish this thing could transmit on MURS too. Could care less about HAM Freqs we respect the freq constraints, of the bands, and stay off them. Thinking seriously about one, till that one facet, if its Type 95 legal, why could it not be MURS legal too. To have a radio like a swiss knife, instead of having to chose, LEGAL Radio, multiples, or use a Ham dual bands, and Baofeng talkies... Thank you again...

[@projectdesertchaos2998]

My question is can you actually tx on say 153.100 or monitor only and if not can you modify it to transmit on those frequencies

[@Ham4All]

You can only transmit on the hardware pre-configured Gmrs channels and monitor the rest of the VHF/UHF frequencies but can NOT transmit on them.

[@RayburnLoewen]

So this radio does transmit on those frequencies 136-174 right? Just wondering because in the video I believe it said only monitoring but maybe I'm wrong.

[@Ham4All]

For GMRS to be certified, they HAD TO limit the Transmit to GMRS channels only, but the radio CAN indeed, monitor other channels, such as weather and MURS on VHF and HAM, Police, Firefighters, EMS on UHF.

[@RayburnLoewen]

​@@Ham4All Sorry to keep bothering but are you saying it WILL transmit and receive on those frequencies from 136 to 174? Wanting to get one but wanted to know for sure if it will work on those frequencies. Thanks.

[@Ham4All]

NO! It will only receive outside the GMRS frequencies, but can NOT transmit! Hope this is as clear as it can get.

[@thinairtoo8985]

30 to 35 watts max !

[@leroyjful]

How easy is it to setup and use two of these radios as a Duplex Repeater??

[@Ham4All]

We don't believe they could be used as a duplex repeater, only as a mobile or home station.

[@Scatch85_YT]

They recommend the 200-C antenna now. I have one with the ground plane kit and lmr-400 cable.

[@Ham4All]

Sounds great! A dedicated Gmrs/Murs antenna is much more desirable than an improperly tuned HAM antenna.

[@ucdesigns396]

I got this 200-C antenna and the ground plane kit with it. The advertisement suggests it is pre-tuned for this radio and it should be plug and play.... wrong, at least mine wasn't. Out of the bag and putting it up, on channel 1 the SWR was 1.86 and 22 was 2.98. So made sure I was grounded and all but no luck. After taking off a half inch of material on the top rod, i could get the SWR down to 1.51 on channel 1 and 2.1 on channel 22. So it is better but not what I expected for their ads. I'll keep working at it but I don't think I've ever taken half an inch off of any antenna to date, so I stopped for the night.

[@kidgokuxl]

All I care about are the Jeeps in front of me and the Jeeps behind me. I don't dare try to talk my wife into a new gmrs radio especially after the 30k I put into my rig over the last few years. Sorry I'll keep my wimpy Midland gmrs radio with a 6db antenna for the time being. It does the job. But if I end up needing a new unit, who knows.... I think I heard my wife talking about a divorce.

[@xSikks]

Looked for a video. Found a book with pictures.

[@Ham4All]

... but there are 30 of those pictures / second! LOL! 😄

[@wqxn966jason3]

I love how hams promote part accepted junk.

[@Ham4All]

We don't promote anything, only show, introduce, demonstrate and evaluate to draw a fair and balanced conclusion on two-way radio equipments.

[@randyk6792]

Jason - When a radio manufacturer takes an existing amateur or commercial radio and comes out with a separate GMRS only equivalent version, that is a significant development. It's no longer the old days where all UHF gear was Type Accepted for both 90 & 95. I appreciate commercial grade equipment as much as any GMRS operator, but now the FCC has blocked us from using it. See 95.335, which makes utilizing uncertified equipment UNLICENSED operation. Hopefully this will be the start of a trend, where more manufacturers come out with GMRS only versions of their top line equipment. Better yet, with GMRS-specific features, many of which would be different/additional than traditional Land Mobile. Again these are significant reasons why this radio is an important development, even if not ideal "commercial grade". P. Randall Knowles, KAA 8142

[@n3sjh]

Not dedicated gmrs if it does anything else.

[@Ham4All]

WRONG! The rules describe what a GMRS radio can and can not do! Adding additional features completely compliance with the rules does not make it "undedicated", but instead; more feature rich! Though this radio is not perfect, nor are its competitors that lack many useful features this model has, so in our opinion, with its flaws, this BTECH model is still the best out there right now.