TID Radio TD-H3 vs. TD-H8: Which one should you buy?

[@USSJeff]

Bought both and loving the H3 more.

[@OnYourLefty]

I’ve been searching for a video exactly like this! Thank you

[@rick2853]

I went with the 10 watt unlocked H8 and have been extremely pleased. Full power on GMRS great range clarity and ease of use.

[@matthewcawley2571]

The Tidradio H8 is not IP rated. Confirmed by Tidradio. I just received email confirmation from them. That is why it is not listed anywhere in the specs, nor on their website.

[@samhiatt]

That was a very robust answer delivered in under 5 minutes. Nice. Thanks. :)

[@loneerv]

I have both, but I find myself grabbing the H8 when I leave the house. the H3 is awesome! sizewise and just as easy to operate as the H8. I even love the two PTT button feature and all that, but the sound is way better on the H8 and that's a bit of a deal breaker for me when it comes to outdoors radio usage. I really still like the H3, but like he said, it's more of an indoor radio.

[@jamisoncook1948]

This was very helpful! I have been on the fence and sound is everything to me. I hate small tinny sounding radios. The difference between a Baofeng UV-5R and Baofeng GM-15 GMRS radio is huge. I guess the H8 for me.

[@sweet65mustang]

​@jamisoncook1948 so did you buy the radio? And are you aware the h8 is not in rated as he stated?

[@kibiriuks1]

Im mainly looking for a hunting radio, and The frequence we use in sweden for that is ether 63 or 155mHz. IP rating is crucial in this case and H8 seems like it has it all

[@Everton4109]

Bought h-3 for gmrs h-8 for ham. Yes I know I know I can unlock and use both w just one. But switching back and forth will eventually annoy me. Especially having to erase and reload data every time I do it.

[@ledguy315]

I'm HAM and GMRS so I got both because ya know, radios... They each have their place situationally.

[@JavierRivera]

How you were able to display a channel name in both channel A and B?

[@timdietz350]

The H3 speaker is loud but because it's small sound can get tinny and washed out at high volume. The H8 has a much deeper sound which makes it easier to hear in a car. So assuming you're not going out with a risk of getting soaking wet the H3 is more convenient to carry around, H8 you can hear better somewhere like a car with background noise.

[@satnineam9126]

Im a newbie and I bought both the H3 and h8. they arrived a few days ago. Are they analogue or digital? Because I am able to hear my H8 triggering the repeater nearby, but I can not receive other voices, only scrambled response. Its not the squeltch, CTCSS is set right, direction is minus and correct, offset is correct also. I was thinking that the repeater might be only compatible to digital. Tried other repeaters too, with the same result. Need help.

[@Robert_Preston]

This helped out a lot - surprised I didn't think up the answer.

[@bengyg1994]

@KS6DAY Can you point at a reference for the HI IP65 rating you mentioned?

[@KS6DAY]

It was in the marketing literature for the Gen 1 TD-H8. I noticed it was missing from the Gen 2 marketing, so I contacted TID Radio directly and inquired about it. They confirmed that it is still IP65 rated. Why they don't list this as an important feature baffles me.

[@matthewcawley2571]

Tidradio just confirmed with me that it is not IP rated. That is why it is not listed anywhere.

[@KS6DAY]

@@matthewcawley2571 I got my info from the TID Radio company rep that sent me both radios. We discussed a great many things. That IP65 rating was one of the things we discussed. So, it looks like we're at an impasse. Don't know what to tell you beyond that.

[@matthewcawley2571]

@@KS6DAY I guess we are. Although I contacted Tidradio directly and received a response from Harry Nian. Considering Tidradio does not advertise the radio with any IP rating, which is an important selling factor; also, considering the price of the radio, the safer bet is that it is not IP65 rated. I’m not trying to argue btw. I love your channel and respect your opinion. I just wouldn’t want someone to think this radio is IP65 when it likely is not.

[@DonzLockz]

Totally agree with you. I have both. The H8 is in the car. The H3's are for daily carry on person. Well said, great concise info, Scott.👍🤠🇦🇺⁷³

[@bobharlan9870]

Can you wireless replicate the setting from one radio (H3) to the other (H8) ??

[@ZR2AL]

My question also.

[@michaelgross7016]

I got both. they are both excellent.

[@wolfdogarrow050]

@ksday can you talk about h3 possible having the ability to be turned into a repeater

[@btraindavidlemke312]

Interesting your T8 is water resistant.Mine isn't ,and its green.I love mine.

[@Gman-26]

I now have 4 H3’s. Im using them for low key almost covert situations. I don’t want to be heard outside of a mile or less if possible. H3 has definitely fit my needs. Wondering what you’re gonna touch on next. Thanks for another TID Vid. Looking forward to more like on menu 46. Ive done my testing.

[@ralphnunn3]

I have the H8. I like the H8 - it seems to do what I need it to do. What would I gain by getting the H3? I have Airband receive on other radios, so I don't need that. I have 1.25M on other radios, so I don't need that. So, I just don't feel the need to get the H3. Call me crazy... ;-)

[@markgutierrez2024]

Crazy 🤪

[@craigspada1676]

Excellent video! I did that, I really love them both, it's hard to beat my vx-7r, but the h8 is built really well, both are super radios for the buck! 73's WA2TWF

[@baron1c]

Perfect comparison thank you!

[@inakidb]

Awesome as always. I got 2 H3 for 52 on the official page in china. I think it is a good radio for the money. once I get more involved in the GMRS I will get the wouxun UV-9GX

[@timmturner]

I think the Radtel RT-470x is both of these combined but no IP rating

[@barrykery1175]

Interesting video. The two questions I have are. 1. Does the H3 actually hear air craft frequencies? I saw another brand advertising it covered the air craft band but it could not really hear air craft. Junk. 2. How RF clean are these things? I tested one HT and the third order harmonics was only down 29 DB.. Fail badly. What we don't need is more dirty Chinese junk causing RF issues all over the place. I've tested numerous Chinese HT and a lot of them were super clean, so they can manufacture clean HT's. Barry, KU3X

[@TheSaltyExplorer]

The H3 does hear aircraft band, with the right antenna that’s tuned to those frequencies. Out of the box with a stock antenna, no. Sucks that you have to change antennas, but that’s the deal to make it work.

[@kchaney56]

I own both and use both. Different circumstances different radio. I use the unlocked H8 as an EDC in a rotation and I use the H3 as my car to car com for the wife and I on GMRS.

[@Militaristics]

I returned my H8 because it would not unlock for me, the H3 has been great so far.

[@shadowpapito]

Very Helpful Video

[@TomSelleck777]

Based on my experience. By both

[@SK-rj1ti]

I have a lot of radios, including the H3 and H8, and a whole bunch of superhets. No radio is perfect at everything. So the question becomes: Which radio doesn't suck? While being a superhet snob, I find myself curiously attracted to the H8. Best RX sensitivity? Nope. Best RX selectivity? Nope. Highest TX power? Nope. Does it suck in those departments? Nope. If I want improvement in those areas, I will use a different radio. But if I want a solid inexpensive radio for average everyday tasks, I will grab the H8. Besides not sucking at anything, it has a few strengths, such as good IP rating, good battery life, great screen, excellent RX/TX audio, etc. But I agree: get them both. The H3 might come in handy, too.

[@kirkwalsh1932]

I have both here. The H-8 goes with me on the atv.

[@TheSaltyExplorer]

Just buy both and you have the best of both worlds 🤷‍♂️

[@goosecouple]

Buy both.

[@rogersmith4926]

They are doing this to us, so we have to buy both of them 😂, just kidding. I'm thinking about getting the H3 model, it looks handy, and I don't have a radio with AM where i can listen to air traffic, only my Uniden Scanner is able to do so.

[@craigspada1676]

I forgot to mention, thanks for the squelch follow up, I appreciate it. WA2TWF

[@TwitchRadio]

Thanks for the video and your time 😎✌️ 73... KG7QIS