Radioddity GS-5B Review: Who Should Really Buy This Radio

[@JimmyShot]

Nice review!

[@KO4VNX]

This is a useful review!!! You covered some angles that the technophiles often miss when they obsess with the specs and don't talk about practical use of gear!

[@K0LWC]

Thanks for watching!

[@W3AJD]

I just ordered one. I'm a trucker. I think this will be awesome in my line off work. Especially those red and blue strobes if I have to hit the shoulder in the dark!

[@TimHancock-h6e]

"hunter blaze orange" love the subtlety.

[@AdamWarrix]

USB mini charging and Bluetooth. Forgive me if I don't get excited over 12 year old technology that should have been on the TH-D74A and FT-3DR. This means it will be another 10 years until we see USB-C charging, faster 3.0 transfer speeds, and a slim battery with high 4000 mAh capacity.

[@BerrieSleijster]

Thank you for your review! Nice radio for the heavy duty ones. Also the option's as nearby radio's is special!

[@K0LWC]

It’s a solid radio for some interesting features!

[@davep6977]

I agree 101% with everything, and I do use it in a frequency agile public service type environment. With one issue. Use it at night or indoors. In sunlight the display TOTALLY is gone. If I'm doing something wrong or there's a hack I have found, let me know.

[@chuckchaffin3965]

Hello and thank you for the review. I just picked up one of these and its my first step into the wold of ht's, any chance you could do a video on how to set up and use this ht? thank you for your time.

[@bradl2636]

Nice video thank you. In 2023 is there a newer/upgraded version that you would consider for similar philosophy of use and approximate price point to say +$0 to +$75 more?

[@KurtClark]

Now I want one. The other 11 HTs I have might get jealous though LOL

[@backcountryamateurradio]

Nice Review! This radio is not bad at all and really blows the standard uv-5r series or other Chinese radios out of the water. My tests revealed a slightly lower than 5W output on High but the other features definitely outweigh the discrepancies. Also, did you have trouble with the PCS and supplied cable?

[@granitebuilt5836]

I like the nice big display and the ability to program via bluetooth.

[@kg7yts187]

I think the Wacker mode is handy if you get lost at night, rescuers can find you quickly

[@JC-Time2SaveSouls]

Hi, I saw your vid and got 2 of those radios. I'm planning on using them when hiking and talking to my GF when we go apart from camp. I'm also planning in using it if the SHTF situation, but I think I need a certification for that last part. Well, I want to thank you for the vid and got me interested in this cool radio, but when reading the manual, I noticed, there is not much information on how to program it or make it work between those two (same GS-5B Radios) them. The manual mention something about encrypted mode to make sure they can sync to each other, but don't know how. Could you please guide me with instructions? I'm going out on vacation this week and would like to try them while camping. I promise, I'll get my books for HAM radios and study, to learn more...BTW, which course, book or app do you recommend to get? thanks again

[@bearlycamping]

Hi there, great in depth video but I'm completely new to all this and just need to call in kms to a single vhf frequency. No idea what all the extra settings are lol. So basically just set up a frequency let's say 150.12 and then away i go? Hopefully it comes with decent instructions cuz i just need it for something very simple. Thanks!

[@pathallenan1009]

So here in Australia I am just wondering about the charging aspect of the battery. So I can by-pass the mains power and use the car 12 volt battery and charge through the cigarette lighter socket using USB adaptor and cable without everything blowing up or electrifying myself, is this about right ?

[@barryzoll9772]

I have 2 of them. They both sound like they’re slightly off frequency on either band. Not an audio distortion. Possibly overdriven ? Any thoughts?

[@bg45420]

Thanks for the review. Do they have any type of fcc type acceptance?

[@TheNoCodeTech]

Hey, that's a cool HT.

[@K0LWC]

Not a bad little radio for the money. If you see it less than $100, snap it up.

[@NicksStuff]

A word about the airband?

[@Perspectologist]

My concern with some of these cheaper radios is whether they have undergone enough quality control testing to ensure that they are not producing excessive harmonics. Some cheap radios can be all over the place if they have inconsistent filtering. I’ve heard some hams minimize the importance of this, but if you are operating in close proximity to public safety it would not be good to potentially be unintentionally jamming them. It would be interesting to see more testing of harmonic filtration of these radios. As amateur radio operators we are ultimately responsible for our RF emissions, but I don’t know if many hams have the understanding and capability to test this.

[@K0LWC]

I’m glad you brought this up. This radio was put on a scope and came up clean! That’s why I don’t hesitate to recommend this radio over some other clones of this same model. Always an important consideration with Chinese radios.

[@Doonit_hard_way_since_65]

@@K0LWC So, explain just how a "scope" told you that? I am highly curious if I can dump my Siglent analyzer on the market and accomplish the same with a 50$ crapscope from china. You would need a spectrum analyzer to actually tell you what was going on. Since we are talking VHF/UHF that is going to have to be a very broad banded analyzer. You could get partially accurate data from an SDR, with a bit of effort, but an oscilloscope alone is useless in accurately determining extent and level of harmonic emissions.

[@supertoaster94]

@@Doonit_hard_way_since_65 do it yourself, then.

[@Doonit_hard_way_since_65]

@@supertoaster94 you=idiot I have seen a similar model on my Siglent spectrum analyzer (doubt if you know what that is) and they are typical Chinese radios. not great, right on the edge of not making the FCC requirements, but mostly usable. The point you missed... eg, why you = idiot, is that this data is not available on a "scope".

[@radiohobbyist13]

I could duct tape it to the top of my car when I'm in wacker mode. 🤣🤔😅🙈

[@protacodan4225]

Thanks just bought this radio for remote 4 wheeling trips. Still learning how to program any tips or videos available?

[@K0LWC]

The Bluetooth app is touch and go, but when it works it makes life way easy. I don't have any programming videos, and recently gave that radio away to a young ham.

[@radiohobbyist13]

At first glance I noticed that the antenna is on the wrong side of the radio.

[@banderson5676]

Great review! 73s! - KB7VHK.

[@mariosallusti6873]

impossible de trouvez logiciel pour PC qui fonctionne pour ce poste , plusieurs archive télécharger mes aucune ne fonctionne !! >> ( archive inconnue ou endommager )

[@original_badgoose]

Can this pick up and communicate with murs radios?

[@K0LWC]

Yes.

[@original_badgoose]

Thank you I know it’s a basic question but I literally don’t know squat about 2 way radios

[@marioprzepiora]

Can you use the BT for earpiece listening?

[@K0LWC]

Yes.

[@Tacticalgearhead]

So these can transmit on the Marine bands too?

[@K0LWC]

Yes.

[@greyman5590]

TX 136-174 and 400-520 RX 87-108, 136-174, and 400-520

[@billisnice]

Can you gmrs?

[@Mrturcaz6]

Ty🤙🤙🤙

[@ivrsn_1569]

Would you recommend this for a bob? During emergency?

[@M.R.T.V.Videos]

Bug out bag . Yeah why not and you can charge it with a small solar panel by usb or your power bank you charged off the solar . Pretty cool .

[@AliReza-zx8km]

Nice....................................

[@oldladyme]

Note: check out www.reactintl.org no license required start your own radio team or join one we have been around for 60 years

[@K0LWC]

I was a member of REACT...like....twenty five years ago!

[@oldladyme]

@@K0LWC Yes and REACT is still around and bigger and better then before join a team or start your own be a 501 c-3 non profit group

[@adambrown6930]

But it’s a $100 Baofeng. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@K0LWC]

A little bit better than a Baofeng - no spurious emissions. 😊

[@adambrown6930]

@@K0LWC The TYT TH-88 will accomplish that for $35. I just can't see the draw here for $100. Not when you're just a stone's throw away from a better quality Yaesu HT.

[@K0LWC]

The TH-88 has a smaller battery pack, isn’t Bluetooth programmable, doesn’t have FM broadcast, not IP56 rated. Don’t think they’re comparable.

[@adambrown6930]

I’m not saying they are, just that you don’t have to spend $100 to prevent spurious emissions. I just don’t see the features being worth the $100 price for a Chinese radio.

[@Doonit_hard_way_since_65]

@@K0LWC Mysteriously made in the exact same city... ya, they are the same.

[@dudeski934]

First one here

[@K0LWC]

You win!

[@twohandsandaradio]

Yaesu FT-4XR and the FT-65R a MUCH better choice than this Chinese junk (and can be found cheaper than this). Way over priced.

[@elbebesito297]

junk radio i like your video but the radio is junk sorry