Is this the best PMR446 radio? (dPMR446 digital)

[@radiosification]

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[@RingwayManchester]

Great video Ben

[@radiosification]

Thanks Lewis!

[@redjohn20001]

Very informative. Have you any experience of the Hyterra bp515lf, a diigital/analog 446 radio?

[@radiosification]

@@redjohn20001 check on my blog I've got a comparison table of digital pmr446 radios which includes that model

[@aemitic]

Which one would you prefer between this one and the icom F29DR3?

[@radiosification]

Have a look at my comparison page linked to in the video description.

[@Ploggy.]

Great video thanks for making and posting 🙂👍

[@bearthrylls5759]

I have the previous version and what you can do in the dealer mode settings on a pc you can up the wattage to about 1w which makes a massive difference. Just thought I would leave this here :)

[@belabertalan]

Wondering if you could do the same with these too. That would be great.

[@Fivesx5555]

I use the american business version with a screen and limited keypad (NX1300NUK2) everyday as a scanner and ham radio, and it is amazing! Everything in my area is doing to NXDN and that's the big reason I use it, I also have the 2 watt no screen version (NX1302NUK) and that is excellent as well!

[@radiosification]

Yeah I really like the 6.25 kHz digital modes like NXDN and dPMR. They seem to have better range than DMR and sometimes I feel like the audio is better even though they use the same vocoder. Thanks for sharing your experiences

[@Fivesx5555]

@@radiosification Yeah. 6.25 kHz is excellent, and from video comparisons I think NXDN sounds better. Another reason I use NXDN is because police and fire, along with my dad's workplace use NXDN so it's really catching on in my area, most departments will be using that by the end of 2023 I think.

[@ElectronicNoobBlog]

You are pushing my PTT button to finally get my first Kenwood. Personally I always skipped them because of look - in my opinion antenna looks just sad - body is to massive for it - if it would be shorter and thicker like Motorola stubby - OK, I would give it a pass but it looks like skinny rat tail :D I would have justify getting one "just" for video! Thanks for presenting it up close.

[@radiosification]

I'll be looking out to see any of your videos on it! I'm sure you'll like it!

[@radiosification]

I just saw a document from the dPMR association saying that the Motorola XT600d series isn't compatible with other dPMR radios! Do you know anything about this? I know you have that radio so I'm curious if you've ever tried decoding it like with DSD or the dPMR decoder plugin in SDR#? I was really surprised that the XT660d is not a dPMR radio apparently

[@ElectronicNoobBlog]

@@radiosification I have couple of those radios (XT6xxx version with LPD and just PMR) but never had any opportunity to try them out with something else, It's not answer to Your question but I tested Hytera that are DMR Tier 1 with normal DMR Motorola (in lab dummy environment of course) and they talk without any problem. With dPMR I have problem not having anything to try it out. Are You referring to that vague Facebook post or there was published some real data? I'm asking because there was reply "it's not complaint' - and in reality it is very broad term that sometimes don't mean anything for end user like Motorola having keyboard and allow sending sms - in case it's not part of standard - that make it incompatible - or that could be something serious like using different vocoder. I'm tight on budget but I will try put my hand on something else that is dPMR complainant. Sorry, I don't own SDR.

[@radiosification]

@@ElectronicNoobBlog It was mentioned in their document here: dpmrassociation.org/downloads/2019-docs/Certified-Interoperability-Guidance-Paper-2019.pdf As well as the facebook post you probably saw. I went and looked it up after that but couldn't find anyone else confirming or denying it. I'm surprised you don't own an SDR. If you're interested in radios it's a great thing to play with and you can get them extremely cheap like 10 to 15 euros. Search for rtl2832u on ebay and you should find the cheap blue ones from china if you want to get one without spending a lot. I also noticed that in the brochure they don't talk about the dPMR mode. You might be right that it's a minor incompatibility and the dPMR association are just making it look worse because they want companies to do the interoperability testing. Anyway thanks for replying. If you ever do get the opportunity to try it I'd be very interested to hear about it.

[@VicGreenBitcoin]

dPMR operates in 6.25kHz channels and DMR operates in 12.5kHz channels (DMR using 9600 bps in 12.5 kHz channels and dPMR 4800 bps in 6.25 kHz channels) right? Why is dpmr so much better?

[@radiosification]

Less bandwidth = better range. The vocoder is the same for both and has the same bitrate too (since with DMR that 9600 bps is split into two for the two timeslots). So essentially DMR is dPMR but with a wider channel so there's more noise and you get more bit errors.

[@VicGreenBitcoin]

@@radiosification I see, however digital sound so badly, it's non usable in my book. I even stopped my work after the switched to digital due I can not understand the radio com anymore. So a bit more bandwidth is maybe a solution..?

[@radiosification]

@@VicGreenBitcoin tbh it's not a problem for 99% of people. Do you have hearing loss? Some radio brands have settings to compensate for hearing loss.

[@VicGreenBitcoin]

@@radiosification no hearing loss, I just have a problem whit the Unclear pinched metal like way the radios sound. Sometimes you miss entire syllables. it is as if the product or protocol is not completely finished. More colleagues are having trouble with it. we have tried different systems.

[@radiosification]

@@VicGreenBitcoin fair enough. If you're able to try out different radio systems maybe just switch back to analogue? Or even move to ptt over cellular instead like zello

[@zjonaitis]

Thank you for this incredible video on this radio, its features, range, sound and build quality. I bought pair of these to try out. So far, I'm very impressed - the range is definitely better than other analog PMR446 radios in difficult indoor conditions. This is the primary use case of mine. The voice quality is very good, without constant background noise, signal fadings and hisses. However, it took me some time to get accustomed to digitally processed sound as my all previous experience was only with analog radios.👍

[@LennartWennberg]

Thank you so much for another excellent video! I have three dPMR radios, one Icom IC-F29SDR and two IC-F4029SDR with the big batteries. Think they are comparable with this KENWOOD. I really like the stiff volume control, which my DMR446 Hytera radios don't have. If I was to complain over my Icom dPMR446 radios is the difficulty programming the radios...

[@deltatom2459]

good video, explaines everything understandable.... 👍

[@starrcadeius]

Bought a couple of kenwoods when I was out in Malaysia back in 2008 for me and a friend hiking and they still bloody work! They were analog and worked really well around town. Will have to get hold of the digital version

[@radiosification]

Do you know what frequencies they use? Are they PMR446 or something else?

[@starrcadeius]

@@radiosification I believe they were the Malaysian equivalent to PMR446. 12 channels pre loaded. I have no serial numbers on them anymore or I would have looked it up. Thanks for reply! Keep up the good work 🤝

[@radiosification]

@@starrcadeius Thanks!

[@gruezihans]

So, Zone 2 and 3 are both dPMR 1-32?

[@radiosification]

no. Each zone can only have 16 channels, so they are 1 to 16 and 17 to 32

[@bjarkenielsen8515]

Hi, - at 8:45 it seems only 16 channels are available via the dial on top of the radio. Is it possible to access more/the rest of the 32 digital channels without using the programming cable and software? I mean, can I acces al 32 digital channels via the radio unit itself, instead of only 16 digital channels via the dial on top? Also, can I change Common ID via the radio unit without using the programming cable and software?

[@radiosification]

yes you can switch between three zones, so you can access 8 x 3 channels in total from the radio without any programming. I think it's possible to change common ID from the radio, yes. Please check the manual to confirm

[@LennartWennberg]

Wish we could have a pan-European PMR446/dPMR446 association for the end users benefit.

[@radiosification]

There is the dpmr association. They promote dpmr including for pmr446 use

[@connorhopwood7947]

Is this radio compatible with retevis radios as some of my work places have them and they are not good quality and they do not want to buy decent ones. If I buy my own can they work with retevis?

[@radiosification]

They're probably not dPMR radios but if you're using analogue then these would work with them in analogue mode. But if you're just gonna do that there's no point spending the extra money and you should buy a cheaper analogue model instead

[@michaelloughlin734]

I thought monitor button didn't open squelch on DPMR Ben.

[@radiosification]

It does seem to on these ones

[@alexmannen1991]

im getting into radio afaik seems normal baofeng is a meme so dpmr is best for audio qualitu? there are no good comparison sites to find or simple explanations for noobs

[@radiosification]

Baofeng will work fine most of the time but just don't rely on them if it's something really important. dPMR and DMR both use the same vocoder so should sound about as good as each other. Any variations are down to how each manufacturer has implemented their radio.

[@oneskyled]

Hi. I have a question, does this radio have roger beep?

[@radiosification]

it can do if you enable it in the programming software I think

[@Rypcipypci]

Excellent video - thanks!!

[@radiosification]

Thanks :)

[@majorkonfuzion1007]

Currently unavailable😢

[@radiosification]

What are you talking about?

[@darrylyoung1121]

hi i see the ICOM F29SDR3 has a battery life of some 26 hours, and the TK3710D about 18. is there really a difference of + 8 hours more on the ICOM?. a deal breaker for the Kenwood?. thanks.

[@radiosification]

I don't have the icom to test that, but if the Kenwood lasts a full 18 hours then that's more than enough for 99% of use cases

[@darrylyoung1121]

@@radiosification thanks, also i was told the ICOM's don't make the beep noise when PTT is pressed compared to Kenwood. i am deciding between the TK3701D and IC FS29DR3. any choice ? thanks. 3710d was in 2019, DR3 was in mid 2023 if dates mean anything also. thanks a lot.

[@radiosification]

@@darrylyoung1121 you can turn off the beeps in programming software on the Kenwood. They're very good radios. The icoms seem good spec wise but I haven't tested so can't say for sure. From what I can tell, either is a good choice. The year probably doesn't make a difference

[@darrylyoung1121]

@@radiosification thanks, could this work if the other radio was another brand such as baofeng - on analogue thanks. or best both the same brand model?

[@radiosification]

@@darrylyoung1121 the single biggest benefit of buying either of the two radios we've been discussing in this comment thread is the digital mode which has better range and is clearer at long range. If you're going to use them with analogue radios (you can do this) then I wouldn't waste the money on expensive digital radios because you won't get the benefits. You'll be using them in analogue mode and then you might as well just buy a cheaper analogue model. I'd strongly recommend you buy a few of the same model or at least buy all digital ones

[@tech-rich]

Great video. Digital 446 has been around for a while now now yet it seems to have been a slow seller. In my area the 446 channels are full of analogue business users, yet i've never heard a digital 446 transmission.

[@radiosification]

Thanks Rich. Yeah I think it's just because of the high cost of the radios!

[@Antenna101]

I transmit QPSK500 on PMR and im heard in Czechia. If ur in Bosnia you would hear my QPSK500 on PMR.

[@mpol701]

Yes 200 quid, but also my guess is your average business just wants a radio easy to use, and while dpmr is not heard on my sds uniden with dpmr key there's lots using the new extended freqs mostly using dcs 026 which suggests a model which has automatically got the new channels 9 to 16 but not using the dpmr ones

[@michaelloughlin734]

Very informative video Ben.

[@radiosification]

Thanks Michael!

[@mediasatsng6889]

All PMR446 radios are completely useless at 500mw there is absolutely no usable range, these radios are good for retail shops and Garden Centres, if you can't guarantee 1 mile in a built up area then there not worth the money.

[@marcocunha7742]

You don’t know what are you talking about. A few months ago a world record of 1600km was broken in Portugal

[@CharlesLoukas]

Height is might

[@CharlesLoukas]

​@@marcocunha7742Portugal to where?

[@delta61]

​@@marcocunha7742You don't know what you're talking about. 0,5W won't reach anywhere near that distance unless you have very little disturbances and nothing in between sender and receiver - which is not the case in urban enviroments. If you're lucky, you have 5km range, if not, it's about 1 or 2km.

[@mpol701]

Blimey another reason not being used a business couldn't function on such crap battery time, they get by using the normal 446 freqs on cheaper radios and that does the job, always get one with the extra analogue, and dcs is better as less users on dcs at moment

[@radiosification]

I can't understand what you're trying to say here. Maybe use some sentences.

[@mpol701]

@@radiosification sorry I the fact u get 45 minutes out of these radio means no use to a busy business

[@mpol701]

Business users if 446 don't generally want 200 quid radios when u can use and rw use sane freqs using tones, my local tien has mukitole users on 446 and 449 business all using differant tones often using same freq, I too have used sand freq as other yseers at airshows, can't find a fully clear channel sometimes, ctcss and dcs help

[@mpol701]

So more users business wise on the new channels analogue mostly using dcs 026, these people get a radio and mostly leave as programmed at factory, as yet not found any dpmr on my equipped uniden sds100, but lots on analogue old chs and the new ones

[@mpol701]

Pmr446 as it was, us very useful and does the job most of the time for business users not wanting the expense of a proper licensed set up

[@GaryTravels]

You lost me at a non removable antenna

[@radiosification]

Fair enough, but all PMR446 radios have to have a non-removable antenna by law, so if you don't want this you have to use a licenced frequency or break the law and use a licenced radio on PMR446 frequencies.