Radioddity GD-88: Is it worth buying now?

[@radiosification]

I am planning to upload more frequently. If you want to make sure you don't miss any of my videos, please click on the subscribed button and change notifications to all. This way you'll get a notification whenever I post a new video!

[@RingwayManchester]

Can’t wait Ben

[@radiosification]

@@RingwayManchester thanks Lewis!

[@DD6VD]

Thanks for this Test and the Info´s i will now take a look at the Anytone DMR Radio.

[@adityabhandari3447]

I just finished watching the first one, and what a coincidence a 6 month update one hour later 👋

[@HarryHamsterChannel]

He got lucky, and loaded the new firmware in only a half hour?

[@radiosification]

@@HarryHamsterChannel no, the videos were released 6 months apart and he just found the first one at the time of that comment

[@trevorsawicki4825]

Bought the GD-88, and it was easily the most disappointing ham radio purchase I've ever made. Bought it at launch and it felt like I was beta-testing an unfinished product. Based on this video, it doesn't look like that's changed much. This is one to avoid, y'all.

[@tech-rich]

I've given up on my Retevis RT73 which has the same interface. Far too many bugs.

[@theroguetomato5362]

Volume lag is still there at this date. Otherwise, though, I'm enjoying the GD-88.

[@DonzLockz]

I think they should can it and start again. Maybe a GD-99?

[@bryantwalley]

I have the GD-88 version of this radio. I have the BM talk groups loaded as contacts and use it to connect to my OpenSpot 4 Pro. I have the same volume lag as you but it’s not really a big deal as I don’t often change the volume. Everything else works great. I do think the software to program it could use some work.

[@radiosification]

Yeah, as I said in the video, it's not unusable. The thing is, there are radios out there that are better and cheaper. There's very little reason to buy this radio unless you really need one of the things I mentioned near the end of the video

[@Dorpmuller]

That's a second on canning it. What is it about rushing something to market that Radioddity won't understand? Get a Baofeng dm-1701 for 100$ and have done.

[@veldogs8912]

Thank you. Can I use it as regular repeater -2 dif frecuencies, On Same band. Simultanuos recive and transmit DMR?

[@radiosification]

You can, but it will be desensitised a lot so the range will be very poor, and it will also have low audio because the radio transcodes the audio. See my video on the single frequency repeater because I also show the cross band repeater functionality which works the same as what you want except should perform better because it won't be desensitised so much

[@cptnmedic]

Greetings, Do you think they will attempt fixing the RX only option not making a channel RX only? Additionally, do you have any insight why it takes them so long to release firmware that seemingly introduces more bugs than it fixes. I bought the GD-88 prior to knowing that it had the RX only issue, which honestly, is the biggest deal breaker for me because I like to ensure that certain frequencies I listen in to that I don't transmit by bumping the PTT. So right now, the radio is sitting in the box in the closet. I am still within the return period, but I am hoping that they will address these issues relatively soon. However, based on the the track record, I am not sure. If I was to return this radio, which radio would you recommend that supports OpenGD77 because the firmware just looks significantly better than many stock firmware for DMR radios.

[@radiosification]

My advice is to return it while you still can. The radio has been out for a long time now and they've shown that they're incapable of producing good firmware. I doubt that some of the issues will ever be fixed. It's common practice for Chinese manufacturers to leave some minor bugs in their radios because they're deemed not important enough to fix. The Rx only bug you mentioned (tbh I hadn't even noticed it) might end up being one that isn't important enough to get fixed. I haven't tested most of the models compatible with OpenGD77 so I can't really give you a good answer on which one would be the best choice. I suggest maybe asking in their forum.

[@Mxyzptlk21]

Well... This is a kick in the chins.

[@radiosification]

Why do you say that?

[@KE8ODY-WV-Ares-Ham-Dad-3O4]

How does it compare to a 878

[@radiosification]

@@KE8ODY-WV-Ares-Ham-Dad-3O4 it's significantly worse

[@zoszabo72]

Hello, what do you recommend in this category?

[@radiosification]

I think I'd go for the tyt md-uv380 right now (also sold as the retevis RT3S) and put Opengd77 firmware on it.

[@h2owindowcleaningleicester942]

Looks the same as the broadnet 880 3g radio

[@radiosification]

Wow, they look almost identical. They must use the same case.

[@raydzek]

The short answer is a resounding "No". Soooo many unresolved problems. Not for $200+.

[@actioncollectibles5826]

Does the radio still get warm while idle?

[@radiosification]

I tested it just for you. Yes it does.

[@actioncollectibles5826]

@@radiosification ok thanks. Yeah mine still does it as well after updating to latest firmware. I guess thats just how it is with it being 2 radios in 1. 😅

[@hzgl]

It’s still got an exceeding amount of chinesium in it after months of firmware updates 🤷‍♂

[@radiosification]

Hey Houzuo. I appreciate your comments and your support of my videos but characterising it as Chinesium doesn't really sit right with me. There are Chinese companies that make mostly good quality products, like Hytera. I don't know exactly what causes Chinese radio manufacturers that make radios for the hobbyist market to be so bad with writing firmware and software - maybe all the good software engineers are already employed by other industries or larger companies. Maybe they just have a very low budget for writing the firmware and don't see it as important. But I don't think it's right to call it "Chinesium". It comes off as a racial insult.

[@hzgl]

@@radiosification 😅please relax, it's nothing more than a humorous phrase - a slight over generalisation, it is not meant as an insult.

[@MrToymod]

Looks like a meh.

[@youtubeaccount7544]

For $200 that’s an easy pass lmao

[@alexmannen1991]

is this the best radio under 100?

[@radiosification]

100 what? It's not the best radio in any category at all in my opinion

[@alexmannen1991]

@@radiosification euro. whats better and different than baofeng 1702 and 1801 in similar price range of 60euro