My Opinion of TIDRADIO and the TD-H8 Second Gen HT -- Should You BUY?

Let me give you my honest opinion of TIDRADIO and the Second Generation of the TD-HR8HT
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[@TheSmokinApe]

These companies simply don’t care about the quality because people unfortunately promote these radios for them AND they sell like crazy. We need to hold them accountable to producing radios with the quality that meets the FCC standard. Well done Bob 👍

[@HOAHamRadio]

All the vids you've done to educate the ham community leave us with a choice to make a good informed decision, or ignore the facts and settle for the inferior. Appreciate all you do!

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@HOAHamRadio thanks man, I just do it for fun and the chicks

[@DonzLockz]

​@@TheSmokinApedoing it for the chick's?🐥😂👍

[@oncydium]

​​​@@TheSmokinApe Isn't that why we all do amateur radio when it comes right down to it (the chicks specifically)? Sometimes I have to push them out of the way so I can change frequency.

[@johnf817]

No one cares about government bureaucracy rules stop shilling for the federal government its gross

[@RobertJWashington-vi2xh]

The first H8 I received had some issues. I sent them a feedback email. They responded to me quickly. Finally, they replaced me with a brand new one. They do a great job with customer service. Love them.

[@HOAHamRadio]

Glad to hear you have had a positive experience!

[@RandallRash]

Thank you for saying it out loud. There is no excuse for any more spurious emission radios hitting the market that have not been tested.

[@HOAHamRadio]

I hope not to get pummeled too bad for this video, I know I'm going to make some people mad. But to your point, enough already.

[@josephcampbell1693]

The Tid-H8 can be a GMRS radio, a HAM radio, or both using the PTT, (on/off, the * key, or the 0 key, or the # key) and finally the menu key.

[@CharlesGarcia-kk1vb]

🤔🤔Tidradio feels like it is still a small company, and its testing is still incomplete so their products face various problems after they are launched. Luckily their customer service team is great. They are also willing to listen to people's opinions and constantly improve the product.

[@HOAHamRadio]

That is certainly one of their advantages. They are small enough to listen and act quickly.

[@SeanMHemming]

They did have a bit of a problem with their products early on. My H8 had spurious emission issues. They replaced my H8 with a problem-free device after I contacted them. They are also constantly improving their products. My friend's H8 that he bought later has no spurious emission.

[@HOAHamRadio]

Glad they are continuing to improve, this is what we all want.

[@michaelgates8331]

good, honest review. thank you!

[@HOAHamRadio]

Appreciate the view and feedback; thanks for stopping by.

[@appalachianamerican7171]

I guess I'm going to give them a shot. I'll get back to you with the verdict. Thanks for the very clear review. I hope they cleaned it up, I really like the layout of the H8.

[@HOAHamRadio]

The H8 is intriguing, and their new H3 is as well. I hope they do continue improving the quality.

[@paulyoungs7828]

Great video! I subscribed.

[@HOAHamRadio]

Thanks for the sub! Hope you enjoy the channel.

[@Chris-hy6jy]

They need to increase their pricing massively. This will allow them to make quality products and pay their workers a decent wage. If you want quality, you have to pay for it!

[@user-yk8ns6yf1y]

I’m considering what my first HT radio will be, looking at Tidradio and Baofeng primarily. Can someone explain how one would know if their radio has spurious emissions? Thanks.

[@HOAHamRadio]

You can count on Icom and Yaesu radios NOT having spurious emissions. Radios like Baofeng and Tidradio, you can search KZbin to see if anyone has done the tests...otherwise you would need to learn how to test yourself. Testing yourself requires special equipment and has a learning curve. The TD-H8 2nd Gen is believed to be improved and free of spurious emissions. Tid just came out with a TD-H3 that is also believed to be free of spurious emissions...it is new to market and has many more features. Initial reviews are good but it is still a little early. I'm will be reviewing one in several weeks: amzn.to/42zscP0

[@keathrhymer5449]

my H8 passes testing done at Purdue by friends barely but it passes. They have super customer support they answer questions or issues quickly. I had both batteries that came with mine go bad they stopped charging after about an hour an just flash red light on battery and get so hot you didn't want to touch them. they sent 2 batteries overnight.

[@HOAHamRadio]

You are spot on. This is why I am trying to be positive and encouraging to Tidradio while holding them accountable. They are doing some things great, we need them to do the quality side great as well; that means high standards of quality to the customer, and no spurious emissions. I hope we can get them there as it would be great to have another Retevis and AnyTone sending radios our way.

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

great job.. You opinion is valued and appreciated by many ham operators. thx for sharing. k0klb

[@HOAHamRadio]

Appreciate the feedback Kevin...

[@gahvno]

I'm seeing this conversation about spurious emissions on a plethora of discussion groups, mostly led by us hams, but, with rare exception, one of the most obvious things is either ignored or simply avoided because of the firestorms that inevitably ensue when it's brought up. This is the unavoidable probability that the vast majority of people buying these are not hams but rather are GMRS users (the majority of them being unlicensed) who couldn't care less about spurious emissions. We can rail about it all day, but as long as anyone with a credit card can order these radios from every online site that's out there, it's going to persist ad infinitum. They dont care. Welcome to the narcissistic dystopia of 21st century America. 😶

[@HOAHamRadio]

Heard and agree. As long as the wallets open, the manufacturers will keep selling them. I share information for those who care, and those who don't, well, doesn't matter what any of us say.

[@HUGH_JHANIS]

Waiting for mine now in the mail.. didn't know until after the purchase that the belt clip attaches to the battery and not the radio itself..

[@HOAHamRadio]

I hear you; most people do want that clip on the radio, not the battery.

[@HUGH_JHANIS]

@HOAHamRadio you would think the kit with 2 batteries would come with 2 clips ... eh for the price I can deal but It woulda been nice. Should be here tmoro can't wait..

[@larrytaylor7753]

I would use it for receive only. It s illegal to press the PTT based on what you know about the transmitter.

[@HOAHamRadio]

Receive only, that would work. Make it a scanner.

[@johnf817]

😅😂😅😂😅😂😅😂

[@glsracer]

I have had really bad luck buying from their store. The first order took over 2 weeks and didn't even reach me. I was given a refund. The second one was ordered a week ago and it still hasn't left the shipping department. I paid for expedited (3-7 day) shipping for both orders. I can't imagine how long the standard shipping would take. Do yourselves a favor and only buy off of Amazon.

[@HOAHamRadio]

Thanks for sharing your experience, always helpful for others to hear…

[@danielprout8987]

Do you have T-shirt for sale with "spurious emissions" and the devil? If so I will buy one!

[@HOAHamRadio]

Hmmmm, great idea.....

[@DonzLockz]

Well said. The clear case is attractive but thats not a good practical reason to buy a radio. I dont need another HT, especially a cheap alpha, then beta chinesium version. I need real, practical features, quality and reliability. Buy once, cry once. Thanks for the video.👍

[@HOAHamRadio]

I'm kind of tired of testing for the cheap radios; they can make them good and just wish they would put the work into it upfront one time and get it right.

[@DonzLockz]

@HOAHamRadio yes, I totally agree 100% :)

[@rogerwallace1976]

Tid radio mite be smart in that the td h8 has gotten more publicity than any other radio I've seen. I really do not however think they did this on perpous but thay shure have alot of youtube reviews as of late. plus the gimmicky features. Bluetooth programming, 10 watts, and there not priced like a yeasu $$ or an icom $$ or a kenwood $$ so we get great value plus something new to add to our hobby. I like it Thanks, Roger from mid utah KK7KLD and WRQZ243

[@HOAHamRadio]

Thanks for watching and offering your view. For sure, they have received a lot of press. Its about to get crazy again, their H3 is ridiculously cool and full featured...I have two of them I will be testing soon. I expect spurs out of acceptable range, and I expect the radio to sell like crazy!!!

[@fullsoundrecording]

thanks the fact I can't use the radio while charging is a big deal. My wife sets her HT in the cradle charger and uses it all day long, so if it can't be charging and used it's a bust. and the c jack on the bottom is a bust man, as well no transmit in freq mode is a problem. I was going to buy three of these with cradles but I'll look at another HT model. Too bad as the 10 watts and the blue tooth is a strong point, but without the above, it would be a frustrating three radios.

[@HOAHamRadio]

Curious what radio your wife is using; most manufacturers frown on their radios being powered on while being used -- its something I'll continue to poke them in the eye about.

[@fullsoundrecording]

@@HOAHamRadio ICf14

[@enginedave]

How do I throw it in the trash

[@HOAHamRadio]

It can be a scanner, or wall art; but if going the trash route, recycle it like any other electronics.

[@markgrewar3927]

I have 1 and it’s awesome Why do Americans waffle on ??

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

And a few small shop Chinese mfrs. take extreme care.

[@HOAHamRadio]

Like Yu with our FX-4CR. Awesome radio.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I will no longer review these radios and haven't done so for at least three years. They are always a hot mess and I can't in good conscious recommend them to anyone. I think if more people took that stance, these companies would take notice.

[@HOAHamRadio]

Thanks for stopping by Michael. Your feedback is valued. I was a little worried about how my video would be received, but mostly it’s agreement-we don’t want subpar radios no matter how inexpensive they are. Hoping more amateurs take this position. Thanks for all you do for the ham community.

[@bb_37]

"Spurious emissions? Who cares?" I used to test radios at hamfests using the same procedures that the ARRL Lab uses. I identified many radios that exceeded FCC limits for spurious emissions. The reactions from most of the owners was along the lines of "Who cares?". That's sad. One of the things that sets amateur radio apart from other personal radio services is that we have the flexibility to use many different parts of the radio spectrum and use different communications modes. But, that flexibility comes with a price. That price is a body of rules that we agree to follow when we apply for our licenses. If your attitude to those rules is "Who cares?", then the FCC might as well abolish amateur radio and allocate the spectrum to other users. Yes, the quality of early Japanese radios was suspect and the user manuals were often indecipherable. Maybe the Chinese manufacturers will follow the same path as Icom, Kenwood, and Yaesu. And, I do think that the quality of some Chinese radios has gotten better. But, when manufacturers like TIDRADIO and TalkPod continue to send to market crappy radios, that makes me wonder if these manufacturers are committed to selling quality radios or if they are just in it for our dollars.

[@HOAHamRadio]

So glad for your response! I will likely take a beating for this video over time, but someone needs to say it out loud. We love our low cost radios out of China, but there is no excuse for poor quality and spurious emissions. Retevis is n top of their game, I forgot to point out AnyTone is stellar on quality...both China manufacturers that invest in R&D and obviously have Engineering that gets the job done. We amateur operators should be holding everyone to these standards.

[@alessandroconcas]

hope someone make a stl file for a 3d cradle can charge the tid and still in vertical mode ... And buy one with no spurious ;) 73 de iz3qvb

[@HOAHamRadio]

Nice idea on the 3D cradle.