GMRS Mobile Radio - Radioddity DB20-G Compact 20W GMRS Radio

Let's take a look a this mini-mobile and compact GMRS Mobile Radio from Radioddity. Rated at 20-watts, let's test the power output and see what the menus show.
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[@MikieLAX]

Great review: I just love this radio (Anytone AT-779UV exact clone) and now have one in my car and one in my shack. Attached to my rooftop Comet Tribander, it outperforms my Yaesu FT-857d on both 2 meters and 70 cms, as well as great coverage on many GMRS repeaters up to 70 miles away. Menu Item 29 toggles the display between Channel No; Frequency and Name. If you had changed yours to either Frequency or Name, you would have seen that the channels up around 494 are preprogrammed NOAA weather channels in the VHF band. High or Medium or Low power does not have a Menu Item; you use the Microphone: A-FUN then 0-POW to toggle through the settings. Again if you had changed to Name or Frequency, you would have seen which GMRS channels you were on; it has complete range from the 5 watt channels (1-7), the 0.5 watt interstitial channels (8-14 - Narrowband FM); the 50 watt Simplex channels (15-22) and the 50 watt Repeater Channels (23-30), with the ability to then add more repeaters on the same frequency but with different access tones. When you showed Menu Items 1,2 and 3 (Tones), and they are preset to OFF, pushing the MON button turns them ON so that the UP and DOWN arrows will change their value. These keyboard entered Tones, in Channel Mode (and not VFO Mode), will change back to those Tones previously programed into memory, once you change the channel. Some Operational Tips: Open up the Ham 2 meter and 70 cm bands to transmit on the USA version: 1) Turn off the power. 2) While holding down the V/M button, turn on the power. Use the Up and Down arrow keys to change from the GMRS setting on the display to 136-174 MHz; 400-470 MHz and now power down. 3) When you power back up licensed operators can now transmit on the GMRS channels (Channels 8-14* should be set to Low power and Narrowband FM*) and the 2 meter and 70 cm Ham bands. Unlicensed operators can set the 5 MURS* channels - *Be sure to set them to Low power mode and Narrowband FM (on GMRS Channels 8-14 and MURS 1, MURS 2 and MURS 3), in case you need to transmit during an emergency. NOTE: This can easily be accomplished with the provided software too. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Giving a Channel an alphanumeric name without using a computer: 1) Go to the appropriate Channel 2) Push the FUN button and using the V/M and MAIN buttons to go through the Menu items until you reach Function 29: DSPCHANNEL and using the Up and Down arrow buttons, select NAME. Push the FUN button to exit the Function menu. 3) Push the FUN button and using the V/M and MAIN buttons to go through the Menu items until you reach Function 12: CHANNEL NAME. Using the Up and Down Arrow buttons, scroll through the list of 1-0, A-Z and a-z to find the first letter. When you do find it, push the MON button to confirm that character and move to the 2nd position. Repeat as necessary until up to 8 characters are entered. 4) When finished push the FUN button to exit the Function Mode. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Programming a repeater channel without using a computer: 1) Switch to VFO mode (from Channel Mode) using the V/M key 2) Using the number keys on the mic, enter the repeater's output frequency 3) On the mic, push FUN then 9 repeatedly until the proper split (+ or - or blank for Off) appears above the frequency. 4) Press the FUN key on the Radio and use the V/M and Main keys as an up/down to get to function 10:Offset. Use the Up and Down arrow keys to set your offset split, such as 5.00000MHz or 0.60000MHz (you can hold down the Up or Down key to have it continuously change). Once you get to the proper offset, push the FUN key again. 5) Press the FUN key on the Radio and go to Function 01:T-CDC and use the Up and Down keys to find the proper transmit PL Tone. Use the same method to optionally set the proper receive PL Tone, if necessary, on Function 02:R-CDC (or Function 03: RT-CDC if both tones are the same) 6) You can rotate through High, Medium and Low transmit power using FUN and 0 (zero) on the mic. 7) Save to the first open channel by pushing Fun and UP on the microphone (or then use the UP and DN keys on the mic to scroll through the available channels, with empty ones saying NULL 8) Save to this channel holding down the "MON-*" key on the mic and you are done! ---------------------------------------------------------------- Use DCS Digital Tones: Go to desired channel Press FUN on mic Press 1 on mic Go to menu 1 using V/M or Main key on mic Press number 1 on mic to cycle to 000 N display for menu 1 Use up and down on mic to scroll to code corresponding to desired DCS code. List is in the instructions. Use V/M or Main to go to menu item 2. Repeat selection process Press DIL on mic to exit. _________________________________________________________________ New Radioddity DB20-G CPS software V2.02 1. Change the default bandwidth from Narrow to Wide. 2. Address the bug that "when repeater TX frequency change, RX frequency automatically match" ----------------------------------------------------------------

[@chadbourgeois2201]

Awesome information. Are you able to reverse the process and make it just gmrs again? Does it affect the memory?

[@MikieLAX]

@@chadbourgeois2201 Yes, just select US GMRS and revise your codeplug. Not sure what you mean by affecting memory, but I suspect the answer is no.

[@chadbourgeois2201]

@@MikieLAX Manny thanks. I have my tech ticket and was looking for something I could set up GMRS for the wife and family, but be able to switch it to ham if necessary. Now I just need to find some handhelds. Any recommendations? I've also been looking at their DB25-G. Thanks again!

[@MikieLAX]

@@chadbourgeois2201 Strange how certain replies get deleted. Radioddity may have a bundle for their GM-30; I also have the TYT-88UV which is similar but a Ham Radio HT and can be likewise opened to transmit on GMRS and MURS. HTs have limited range due primarily to their ducky antennas.

[@chadbourgeois2201]

@@MikieLAX I'll do some research. Thanks again for all the help. 73.

[@OverlandOne]

I bought one of these and installed it in my car. I like it a lot. This was an excellent review and I am glad I watched it. Thanks. Nice to see a ham guy talk about GMRS. I got my GMRS license the day the price dropped to $35 for 10 years.

[@bobherrell9202]

Thanks for that review. I just received mine yesterday and so far I love it. I use it on a simplex frequency as well as 3 different repeaters that we have in our town. I also have the GM-30 Handheld units. 73 de Bob AJ5C.

[@chrispy6313]

I have been using this for a couple of months now in my vehicles, I love it. Paired to a genuine 771 Nagoya & hit repeaters 20 to 30 miles out easily. Programmed with laptop & Radioddity software, not Chirp but worked well. I like it as mobile GMRS. In vehicle got about 18.2 watts/ 1.2 to 1.4 swr

[@bobdillashaw4360]

The 771 is a ht antenna, you sure it’s not the ut-72 that the only other mobile antenna I know Nagoya makes off the top of my head?

[@chrispy6313]

@@bobdillashaw4360 yup it is the 72 mobile antenna...oops! & thanks👍

[@DominicMazoch]

Powerx(SP?) Has a cig female to Anderson PP. Should have some way to go to APP out of box. Power cord with fuse, and then APP at end, then have APP to cig male as a separate pig tail.

[@MikieLAX]

@@DominicMazoch Powerwerx

[@OverlandOne]

@@chrispy6313 I bought the Nagoya 72-G antenna for my car that is designed for gmrs freqs. It works very well.

[@zac_in_ak]

appreciate your gmrs videos

[@Siskiyous6]

That is a nice alternative to the Midland 15W model. I could leave my Midland 40W in its current spot at my home base shack and that one could travel with me. I am going to get one soon.

[@benquintero7589]

Ben using it for several months now, pretty good hitting repeater about 12 miles away in Miami. I which the speaker was on top

[@1000to1]

I Contacted Radioddity all is well Yours truly was not applying enough force! The SO-239 has little slits in the copper allowing it to expand after looking at it with a magnifying glass.DAH!

[@TwoFeatherChannel]

Good selling point: GMRS Mobile Radio the size of a Beer Coaster

[@supermario-sz9ec]

I have been using this mobile radio with the UT-72 antenna for 3 weeks, I like it , i get about 3-5 miles range in my city and 8-10 miles in the country (simplex only no repeater in my area ,your mileage may vary) ,,, I leave it in my car on my central console all the time and use it as a police scanner, To make it `` less attractive from prying eyes`` when not in use just cut the bottom of an empty tissue box and hide it inside , it's that small !! you can also change the channels from narrow to wide band ...

[@idahoron]

Thank you for adding you can scan police channels. I was wondering about that.

[@MerchantsOfMisery]

Big brain idea with the tissue box, I'll be doing that. Thanks!

[@tallpaulmagic]

Just ordered one a few hours ago.

[@georgespeck8761]

the additional channels for receive only, are they vhf/uhf radio bands, if so maybe you can program fire/ems receive only.if you are a fire/ems on call to monitor calls

[@1000to1]

I ordered a Radioddity DB-25G GMRS I tried to hook up my UHf PL-259 cable and it would not go on the center hole on the SO-239 is .145 dia and the PL-259 center pin is .157 dia and you can not call and talk to anyone. Great!

[@HamRadio2]

Contact Radioddity, they're pretty good about responding

[@chriscraig70able]

There is a new manual!!! This is a great radio , paired with a NL 770-g antenna, I receive radio traffic from repeaters over 100 miles away. Programming is incredibly easy, no need for CHIRP. it's a great ,first ,gmrs radio. You are able to program repeaters on the same frequency, with different privacy tones . It does everything I want it to do. It'll hold me until I buy the kg 1000 plus...

[@MarcChavez915]

hold the V/M button well turning the radio on.....and let the fun begin

[@stargasm1000]

At this price point, this radio is using radio-on-chip circuitry. I understand that the squelch doesn't work so well with RoC radios. I'd be a little put off by that which is why I went for the Wouxun KG-1000G. I guess this is a pretty good choice for someone just wanting to be able to talk w/o breaking the bank.

[@tvcam32]

I have been a ham radio operator for a few years but just got a license for GMRS mostly because of it's popularity. I know the differences between handheld and mobile, biggest being power and price. If you were just getting into GMRS, what would you suggest handheld or mobile as first radio. Fyi, I live in the Chicagoland area. I watch alot of your videos so I do value your opinion Jason. Thank you.

[@photographywithbrallan1247]

I want it but cant program with macbook, just picked up a couple gm30s work great but cant program with MacBook

[@jamesmichaelwoods2930]

Have you done a review on the Wouxun KG-XS20G Mobile GMRS

[@HamRadio2]

Not yet

[@georgespeck8761]

What is good about receive only uhf, vhf frequencies is You can program in sky warn radio frequency to monitor during storm season

[@HamRadio2]

Yep

[@DellFargus]

Since you were only putting 11.9 volts into it, would that drop the wattage pushed out compared to feeding it 13.5 volts?

[@MikieLAX]

Yes

[@RhythmicSensations]

How hot does this radio get while using it?

[@travistexian]

What is the best mag mount antenna for this Radioddity DB20-G . Thanks in advance, Travis...

[@MikieLAX]

LGR Dual band mag-mount: $19 free shipping letsgetreadyinc

[@1000to1]

I prefer N connectors the adapter I was trying to install is a Messi & Paoloni Uhf male to N female. The coax cable from them has N male connectors

[@jesseespinoza367]

Dose this receive ch 8 to 14, and transmit. My pofung dose. So I can talk to the frs radios I have, thanks .

[@HamRadio2]

Yes it does

[@ChrisRomp]

Surprised it got type accepted with that power on the lower channels. 1-7 are 5W limit; 8-14 0.5W narrowband; 15+ 50W.

[@Siskiyous6]

You can be certain that the test instruments are calibrated where as this meter is not, that there is an allowable variation, that the certification is done in house by the manufacturer, and that the FCC is not all that worried about 1 or 2 watts.

[@ChrisRomp]

@@Siskiyous6 He said in the video that channels 8-22 are high power. 6:54

[@HamRadio2]

I don't think channels 1-7 on this radio are the same frequencies as some of the other models. I think they mixed-up the numbering scheme on this radio.

[@ChrisRomp]

@@HamRadio2 that would be interesting. 😅

[@djsoundzentertainment42]

Any idea if the Anytone branded version of this radio's software would also work with the Radioddity version radio and vice versa?

[@jjjh20man]

I have the AnyTone version of the radio its pretty much the exact same radio. I do recommend you do the hard reset so you get all the features. Such as using MIC controls to change the High to Low.

[@jjjh20man]

They do have their own code plug

[@MikieLAX]

To answer your question I have used both the Anytone 2.01 version and the Radioddity 2.02 version of their CPS software on my Anytone AT-779UV interchangeably. I have NOT tried to update to the 2.33 Radioditty firmware on my two Anytone 2.28 and 2.29 firmware radios. I understand that Anytone has released v2.30 of the firmware, but if it ain't broke, I don't like to update firmware.

[@wallysgaragenshop4567]

I have the Anytone version of this radio and it will transmit by itself. The VOX is turned off and it will from time to time transmit by itself. I even bought a Midland MXT 400 and it to will transmit by itself. Needless to say I sent it back to Amazon.

[@minimanr5052]

I am totally new here, but I do believe 462.625 is a GMRS frequency. Can you tell me why my baofeng will not receive this radio ? I transmit from the Channel mode while under same frequency as the baofeng , but nothing

[@dean-543]

Ctcss code might be blocking tx/rx either on the baofeng or the db20g. Turn them(the codes) off or match them up.

[@YU5CF-sv2cq]

OK this is a CB radio or hem radio. I'm broken English and you make me confused when you talk🙏👍👍👍👍👍

[@akblair3862]

It is not cb or ham. In the US , GMRS radio does require a license but there is no test. Just the cost of the license itself.

[@DialM4Microcontrollr]

Specs say 13.8 V +/- 15% which works out to 15.87 volts. Has anyone tried 16 V on this guy? Should I try? I have an old laptop supply that is 16V that I could modify, but I was hoping I would not be the first to try 16 volts. Thanks!!

[@fitzventure]

I run mine at 14.5 and the wattage only increases a little. 17.8 on 467 and 18.5 on 462. Not worth going much higher on the voltage.

[@johnreed1661]

Is the mic backlit?

[@HamRadio2]

No

[@jesseespinoza367]

Last question cctcs and dcss can be shut off ?

[@HamRadio2]

I believe so... been a bit since I looked at this model, but I think so

[@scouter231]

Anyone know what minimum amps power supply needed for base use?

[@supermario-sz9ec]

In the box they give you a fuse (10A 250V) so 10 amps i suppose...

[@scouter231]

@@supermario-sz9ec thanks, that makes perfect sense.

[@timtaylor8557]

@@scouter231 Actually the fuse rating has nothing to do with the max draw. I'm sure it states it somewhere in the manual but I would be surprised if it was any more than 5amps draw. The MIdland 15 watt is less than 3.5amp.

[@rogersnyder1294]

I used a 5 amp supply for a few days until I could connect a cigarette lighter plug to my 30 amp supply. The radio functioned normally.

[@kd8bxp]

Any idea on when the gmrs license costs will actually change?

[@HamRadio2]

I've not heard of a confirmed date yet, no

[@kd8bxp]

@@HamRadio2 figured if anyone would know :-) You'll have to do a video when it happens, that is how a lot of us keep up with things. 73

[@MikieLAX]

The day after you buy yours for $70, so please don't delay! :)

[@ekimp252]

@@MikieLAX I bought mine a month ago and the price hasn’t dropped yet!

[@MikieLAX]

@@ekimp252 You should have waited until 1 day after @LeRoy_Miller buys his GMRS license! :)

[@juanfgonzalez2039]

Do gmrs repeater have the same range as a 2 meter repeater?

[@Siskiyous6]

No, it is like a 440Mhz repeater.

[@dean-543]

Many fars.

[@timsmith9169]

What does the yellow s mean right next to the channel #

[@bryanrichey6840]

Simplex

[@timsmith9169]

@@bryanrichey6840 I thought so too .but I am hitting the repeaters with the s there .i can't seem to find any setting for simplex either ???

[@rustyhaddock7954]

@@timsmith9169 Scan skip?

[@KennethBarton-hw1ss]

Is this a CB radio?

[@HamRadio2]

No

[@juanfgonzalez2039]

First to say First and zero too and last too

[@DominicMazoch]

Does it get hot?

[@chrispy6313]

Yes it does a bit, the chassis seems to be the heat sink. That said I run this in my vehicles & have talked for 20 -30 mins. Radio is probably around 100 degrees or so. Still touchable.

[@DominicMazoch]

@@chrispy6313 In the ham world, on repeater inputs I usually set it up for mid on power. Keeps it cooler. But can hit a button and go to high. In GMRS on the repeater inputs, can you choose power levels?

[@W4TRI]

Wait for the firmware hack then it will be on par with my Lexien 899. (Not 898)