Two Way Radio Review / Range Tests - Part 2

[@phbob-5547]

OUTSTANDING SERIES!! Watched all 5. THE single most comprehensive analytical presentation series I've ever watched on the topic. I've been 'radioing' since CB radios were 3 & 7 channels and the licenses were $20. I'm needing rolling terrain, trees etc agricultural communications for burn events and work projects. The bubble packers are junk. I can semifor or morse- code-blink line of sight more reliably than those things. Needed reliable controlled information and this 'gets it'. And, it's only 10 days old! Thank you

[@mjlorton]

My pleasure, thanks for the post.

[@crankybuzzard6867]

Hey Martin.... this has been one of the very best videos I have seen... and I have seen A LOT! Answered a lot of my questions about hand helds. Great job!!

[@paulrautenbach]

Again, an excellent and thorough review. I'm not in the market for a walkie talkie but I did enjoy it from a technical perspective. I don't understand why there are so few likes.

[@mjlorton]

Thanks for the feedback Paul. Trying to understand folks on KZbin and the Internet is like trying to understand Black Magic.. ;-)

[@211teitake]

Thank you for a very informative video. Is there any way you can show us how to program these radios?

[@repairfreak]

Great job in your explanation covering the basics and your well done reviews considering what radio would fit your usage best. Thank you for taking your time to make this two part video series. ✌️🙂

[@Hirsch3y]

I'm brand spanking new to HAM radio so I may be wrong, but I thought that part 90 only mattered for commercial use and channels. So I thought that baofeng and such are fine for use on amateur radio without the p90 certification, you just couldn't use it commercially.

[@johnnycee3313]

Hello my friend I have a question can I use a wouxun kg-uv9d mate as a gmrs radio

[@davidjones7887]

hey i heard that some radios you can dial out from the key pad do you can dial from the radio to your house.

[@DavidMNewbold]

Thank you for doing this thorough review. I know very little about radios. My wife and I are doing a fair amount of traveling and sometimes in places where cellular service is null. We wanted a set of radios that would be sufficient to keep in contact when we get separated hiking, etc. but we didn't want to get into a situation where we were breaking FCC rules or getting into something overly complicated. Your video convinced me to buy a set of the TERA TR-505 radios with the programming cable so that I was able to set it up using the VHF - MURS channels. These seem perfect for our needs. The price was great too. I ordered them directly from PowerWerx and they arrived in two days.

[@InnolutionLLC]

Hi David, how did the Tera TR-505 work out for you? I am looking to get some radios to use on a large 200+ acre parcel of forested land.

[@DavidMNewbold]

@@InnolutionLLC They really work well and we are still using them. They’re simple, no fuss, nothing complicated about them, and they just work. We’re happy with them.

[@InnolutionLLC]

@@DavidMNewbold I appreciate the response. Have you previously used them in heavily forested areas? If so, did you use VHF or UHF frequencies? Thanks!

[@DavidMNewbold]

@@InnolutionLLC Forested yes. Heavily forested, not as much. We’ve used the VHF frequencies pretty exclusively and they’ve done well for us. We’ve used these mainly in areas like the Grand Tetons and the Utah park areas.

[@InnolutionLLC]

@@DavidMNewbold Thanks David, I appreciate the responses.

[@mizzorian]

I don't understand, if the device is not FCC approved: 1-how can Amazon or any other shop sell them? 2- Since you can enter the frequency manually; can't you buy them and operate in allowable frequencies? or is it something other than frequency that makes it illegal?

[@karenwm1805]

Do you need a license for the tera radio?🤔

[@gonzalopatino302]

Do they communicate together ????

[@juliusbuma-at3899]

Great video. Very interesting comparison and analysis. I just bought a Baofeng UV-82 and it's working very well in my country here in the Philippines.

[@smoothdog0]

i know i mentioned it in one of your other video reviews, but for around town i've have very good luck, range, and clear communications using motorola DTR radios, they are digital and completely licence free.

[@mjlorton]

Yes, I saw those but as I recall they are quite expensive?

[@nick06111226]

they are 259.00 or 275.00 depending on series source is www.techwholesale.com/shopbymodel.html

[@softsmoken]

i got a tyt first ham radio and spent days trying to get the software to recognize it, the cable was good for sure i got it to read on other programs like zadig.. spent days messing with drivers. no luck could not get cps to read it..back to looking for a first ham radio

[@MikesPOV]

Where do you get the software to program the Tera TR-505?

[@mizzorian]

I don't understand much in radio technology; but can someone explain what do you need programming the device for?

[@WladimirCruz]

Very interesting and detailed work you have done, but in general the most people buy at Walmart, Best buy, and many accessible shop stores as well in web sites like Amazon, eBay... etc. and then most of customers spend less than a hundred box, could you also have tested Cobra, Uniden and Motorola talk about two way radios... Just to greater part of the customers don't want to spend to much money but want at least the reasonable good radio. greetings from Brazil.

[@StephanFilms]

For the Motorola micro usb charge port. Are you sure it is 5 vDC going in there? I have a feeling the transformer that is came with is putting out more than that. This being said, it may break your phone if you would use the motorola micro usb to charge it. Just saying because my Radioddity d-77 micro usb puts out 12 vdc!

[@gatesmw50]

Recent change by FCC now allows 2 watts on GMRS WITHOUT a license.

[@jasensmith3708]

is Tera Good for chicago downtown to about 6.9miles walking 7.5miles on train

[@MrPir84free]

Another thing about those Midland bubble pack radios. If you look closely at the ratings, and the "bumps" of the pack, you'll see that it's using what appears to be 5 AAA rechargeable batteries in the pack; as the ratings for the pack show 6V and 700 mAh, it fits along the line of AAA batteries. I think you can pull more mAh from a Alkaline battery, or so it seems.

[@richardcampbell4506]

Fantastic, very detailed review. Still relevant several years on. Thank you

[@lovemytechy]

Any update on this topic?

[@davedeiler2072]

Perhaps rhe difference is the Beafang FM raduo uses direct conversion unlike most FM radios utilize Super Hettradune

[@Sky1]

I think there was something with that Midland's antenna. Should have done a lot better. When I was young me and my friends used 2 watt walkie talkies and could get 2 miles consistently. Line of sight from the top of a fire tower I was going dozens of miles with no problem. We used telescoping whips.

[@masterofeverything6468]

is there a way on the FCC website to look up the radio without having the FCC ID number

[@jasensmith3708]

have you test Motorola TLKR T80???? VS TERA

[@mikesey1]

That dual PTT on the Baofeng UV-82 is it's most useful function, not a hindrance at all, saves pressing an A & B button. I have three, and love them! **The UV-82 has an excellent receive section. It's Baofeng's best radio. DMR sucks.

[@antonior1856]

any comments on the Linseng LS-A8 radio? they are about 60 dollars on amazon and I need them for travel... please give me input on this brand...ty

[@grahamnelson203]

The tera is on Amazon now.

[@chrismoss875]

which one of theses would you recommend for use in a 1-4 mile distance to talk to my wife at home if im down the street at the farm in a huge corn feild ?

[@snowbeard54]

I know a guy who runs a GMRS radio tuned to 50 watts. Will that burn it out?

[@lambo25]

Where do i find the Tera TR-505 UHF / VHF to buy can't find it. not even on ebay Thanks

[@gcastro239]

Sir, what radio would you recommend for around the town/neighborhood and wooded use? I’ve been looking at several radios and it seems like even getting a one mile range in a neighborhood is tough to get, according to reviews. Any good recommendations for not much money? I will need to get about 5-6 radios. I appreciate any insight that you may be able to provide. Thank you very much.

[@ittecklondon4500]

Hello Mr Martin, Do you have any idea what frequency use Motorola XT420 (9 channels) ? I have an Baofeng Gt3 mark2 and I do not know how to connect them. Please can you help me with this? Thank you mate. Have a nice day . Best regards, Petre

[@Vydra06]

Thank you so much for such a detailed video and great testing. Very much appreciated!

[@HWPcville]

Thanks for your comprehensive review. I'm leaning towards purchasing the TERA radio (for my wife and myself). I was wondering if I would be able to talk to my friend who has the Midland GTX. (this is assuming within range and correct channel).

[@S0N1Cua]

no Yaesu? I tested Baofeng UV5R vs Yaesu FT-60 and difference was notable, now I'm very suspicious of any positive reviews of Baofengs

[@tacticaltradecraft9898]

+S0N1Cx4z6y - The Yaesu FT-60 is way better than any Baofeng radio. But, Baofeng fans will say it is 3-4x more expensive. There is no substitute for quality. Great point you make. Don't always trust reviews especially on Amazon.

[@carlosmolina3850]

prefer motorola, icom, kenwood, yaesu and using it in vessels. we have many rubbish radios here including baofengs and other chinese produce. performance and construction wise as well as availability of accessories on known brand i have mentioned

[@Honeypot-x9s]

honestly... hard to compare such premium radios to such budget radios.. for one it would be unfair for avg viewer and person concerned with such.. most people looking to get into this don't need to speed more then $100 on a set of radios.... most people buying high end premium radios already know what they are looking for and what they want.. and know how to get it.. that being said.. I'm one of those people, I'm new to the HAM community and new to radios..don't hate.. I agree, most of these Chinese radios are and feel like crap.. they are much better than bubbly pack radios and much cheaper than similarly featured radios.. I don't own any strictly premium radios. but I have used a few.. I am on the fence.. price to preformance ratio, that's where Chinese radios start making better sense. alot more...I can buy 3 brand new MD-380s at third if the cost I seen more reasonably priced premium radios.. means I could possibly buy 3 of these for price of one... big savings in large bulk... . I have a pair of TYT MD-380 and they survived major dunks under water, drops from 40 feet up once.. no complaints yet.. range wise, well managed HT to HT in realistic testing around my city of about 2-3 miles(UHF) of use able range on included short antenna and 3-4 miles on included long antenna.. and I can key into a repeater from inside my solid stone and brick office , about 15 miles out(UHF). no complaint from the others apart from early issue with it being choppy which fixed in a firmware update. as for features again I don't own any premium radios and only used a few to test.. however I been told TYT and baofengs lack lot of features..however none me I seem to miss out on yet. I also heard people and seen people talk about how they take their little baofengs out about but leaving there ICOM and yeasu at home..to me is baffling.. those same people come on here and wonder why people say price to preformance thing... well it is

[@cordelmar]

I watched both your videos, it plain to see that you know your stuff. But i am equally confused on how the Tera w\ 2 watts can be better performer than a 5 watt unit. Back in CB days i had a ruff antenna in my office and a Cobra 148 GTL vhf & uhf Cb on one truck and i could reach over 35 to 40 miles in any direction. Im looking to buy two hand held radios for emergency like Hearth quake, or SHTF that can perform in a similar way so i can give one to my wife and be in touch. So i was disappointed to see that your test was only 7.3 miles line of sight. Is anything out there that can do better. Tank you.

[@kamtod]

What about antenna differences?

[@chadelliott727]

awesome review videos my friend, do you have a video or link on the programming of the Tera Tr 505?

[@justacentrist4147]

Would be cool if someone would make a handheld that would do CB am/ssb/FM, FRS/GMRS, and MURS. Transmitting only on un-licensed frequencys

[@GamingAmbienceLive]

*17:03** what do you mean TYT is not dual band, I am looking at the amazon listing and it clearly as day says VHF/UHF 136-174Mhz/400-480Mhz, there are no two different versions of this radio as you stated twice already, you said you bought UHF but it makes no sense because TYT MD-UV380 is a dual band radio*

[@andor7330]

Hello I'm looking for a good radio to keep in touch at motorways and in shoppin centres. Only thing what I want a high talk range with a kind of good sound quality. I'm going to use the radio on PMR446 channels with higher power. Can You suggest me a good ham radio please? I'm thinking about BF UV82HX and BF GT3-TP mrk3 and HYS TC-P10 (they are 8W radios. Here in Hungary people use high power on pmr and it's no problem police don't care about this.) Thank you for your help.

[@johncunningham5435]

Interesting comparison of all radios; nicely done.

[@JK-ug7rm]

Like to have seen the Tera TR-505 compete on the tests: "3.1 Test 1 - Over the Hills" and "3.2 Test 2 - Through the Trees" before it can have an overall rank. Looks like having more wattage is what is necessary if you have a lot of trees to penetrate, but not much more of an advantage with anything else. Curious about safety issues radiating 8 watts at the brain....especially for children who are still growing/developing their organs. Like to have seen the Baofeng UV-82HP without a keypad/display for more rugged and simpler use; rather program/preset the radio. Like to see micro-USB charging. It simplifies charging all my devices.

[@Honeypot-x9s]

I wouldn't be too concerned about radiation.. not typically ionizing.. I could be but I doubt these frequencies at 2-10 watts is enough to strict DNA to shreds (how deadly type works).

[@Honeypot-x9s]

as for wattage being king of it all.. theory is sorta a fail safe theory more than anything..like brute force... because 0.5 watts to 2 watts is a huge leap.. but 2watts to 5 watts isn't very big at all, 5-8 watts is even smaller..wonderful world of ...black magic, really... he could repeat these tests on another day and entirely different results.. I done exte dive testing and my numbers conflict with his numbers.. but neither of our numbers are wrong... my best performer was 5 watt UHF MD-380 with a 15 inch whip antenna.. almost half mile better than my 8 watt UHF/VHF radio with 15 whip antenna.. and best results came from UHF.. consistently no matter wat... apart from car to car with handset connected to external 15 inch antenna test.. 8watt VHF won that test..but the digital 5 watt UHF wasn't far behind.. probably only lacking because I suspect the antenna used isn't truly dual band.. and is mostly VHF

[@johnalexander2349]

That Midland AM radio looks almost exactly like my Navstar SY 101 radios.

[@frog5104]

Thank you this is thee most informing video when it come to 2 way radios !!

[@gamlemann53]

Thank's a lot. I have a TYT 380 DMR radio, and I love it, but I have a HAM-lisense. (LB1NH) As you say in this video it is slowly to charge, but it's ok. Good videos you have her!! The best from Arild

[@michaelloughlin734]

What an excellent informative video post one of the best I've seen so far well done a lot of work put into this thank you....

[@olechuga2]

Sir, very informative reports on both video #1 & #2. Thank you. On that TERA. It appears that model was their entry level 505. What do you think of the higher end model, like their #590, #7200 and/or #7400? Thank you Sir, very much indeed.

[@RD-xh9ss]

Wow very informative and helped me a great deal. Will be looking for a Tera 505. Appreciate your efforts.

[@BOOSTEDLASER]

best 2 way these days? Baofung?

[@tacticaltradecraft9898]

I find the Midland GXT5000 to be about the best consumer grade FRS/GMRS radio. It is pricey but holds up to abuse since it is built to mil-spec standards.

[@brunotvc15]

Great videos, Martin! Extremely informative and I enjoyed them thoroughly. Any experience with setting up a solar-powered GMRS repeater?

[@tonim8669]

So the tera radio almost seems to be the perfect radio I'm looking for. I just want to communicate with my family hopefully I can do around 50 miles and it's free FR-S don't want to pay for everything because it seems very confusing just to do somethingsimple. If it doesn't go up to 50 miles please let me know which one does that is free licensing and actually works around 50 miles I need to get four of them so I guess the price could roughly b-42 may be up to $80 so I'm going to spend at the 200 I guess if we can get what we need that will work good and doesn't require license please let me know if you know anything thanks

[@johncunningham5435]

Very interesting presentation; just getting into ham, great learning curve on alternate approaches.

[@zyper2012]

April 27,2017 FCC is proposing to increase the FRS power output from ½ watt to 2 watts license free, if that goes through you can get a cheep radio that works.

[@yaghiyahbrenner8902]

hey martin what's up man, long time. what happened to the power supply project.?

[@mjlorton]

Mr Brenner, good to hear from you. Many challenges at the moment...the PSU project is still on the cards.

[@yaghiyahbrenner8902]

ah great stuff man, I think the silence on my side is as a result of SA being in a bad state economically, less time to play nowadays! Im glad you guys moved in time out of the country. cheers!

[@ONS1696]

Please I need your help I'm looking for walkie talkies to use it on the ship cruise with my family I need the strong one but don't big one

[@dejanpetkovski8761]

Thank you so much on your info i like to make an update if you can about Midland GXT1000VP4 TWO-WAY GMRS RADIO i have this radio and i realy love that i change the original battery from the shell or housing with lithium battery because original has gone dead and i think this GXT1000VP4 is better then other Midland LXT600VP3 and GXT950VP4 and 75-822 AM CB, i don,t know about other brands i bay this because it has a best review in that time and I did not regret it. Thanks.

[@jasensmith3708]

which recommend RADIO traveling 7.8miles on train and 6.8miles walking

[@craigleventhal3779]

Another great video. Thanks for putting this together

[@michaelloughlin7108]

Great informative video thanks for all the time and effort you obviously put into making it I personally found it all very interesting. ....

[@mrmichaeltscott]

Best Elmer on KZbin!

[@Oo-ni5uz]

i need 3 motorola radios please help me out

[@nick06111226]

DO you want to pay for a FCC Licence or not? and is it for business uses or not?

[@Oo-ni5uz]

it is

[@nick06111226]

Fareed Berhan I suggest that you use Motorola, Kenwood or Icom for very good Motorola or Kenwood prices go to this website www.techwholesale.com/shopbymodel.html

[@2025_Is_Going_To_Be_Great]

The AnyTone had its Part 95 approval revoked by the FCC.

[@gerryf7015]

Great job and thanks Martin.

[@mjlorton]

My pleasure, thanks for the post.

[@bruce562]

Thanks for the excellent information.

[@mjlorton]

My pleasure, thanks for the post.

[@tacticaltradecraft9898]

With regard to Baofeng radios they tend to be all the rage lately because of their low price. I own four and have done extensive testing. Each radio has quality control issues. It is a shame that ham radio operators gawk over the Baofeng when their quality is very lacking. If they fixed their quality control issues they would be a much better radio. In my opinion low price is not an acceptable substitute for low quality.

[@nswpoliceforce9950]

Hey man I love Motorola and uniden can I have a Motorola please and uniden please

[@OfficialGhostWX]

buy it in the description

[@oneimade]

Thanks fore all the info very useful!!

[@normanjudkins7151]

GUD VIDEO, MARTIN EXPLAINS IT WELL. RECOMMED

[@gongjames9634]

Thank you for share the video.

[@z1522]

A couple random notes - using GMRS bands w/o license can result in a very hefty fine, way beyond what one might presume for a product anyone can walk in and buy, as in $thou$and$. However, an underplayed fact is that in any real emergency, using without a license is NOT subject to penalty. Hence, if a GMRS band gets you in contact with help, you are OK, and using FRS channels for normal chat is license-free; you just must be disciplined about your usage. Re: the Midland performance, one site indicated some only get full power with the provided battery, and using AA does not equal the rechargeable one but immediately reduces power, a real downside and opposite of his comments around 27:00. The X Talk may be better. FWIW, fifteen years ago my tiny Audiovox GMRS was still working at seven line of sight miles, so not much really has improved in this category. Outdoors the antennas are optimally oriented vertically; would indoor buildings not suggest a parallel alignment as optimal?

[@jornjacobsen3945]

Learned tons...thanks!

[@RadioGuy-wt1vr]

Interesting Analysis

[@WR3ND]

Get some Eneloop batteries.

[@brycef.5812]

I understand many get angry or annoyed by owners of baofengs... I understand they're Chinese and pirates could easily cause trouble... but its all some people can afford.

[@adriancarabajal]

great video

[@georgessemaan5617]

(From the 31 minute) Why you keep telling us "TERA" wasn't with you to testing it vs Baofeng or other ?! ... Then after all that without testing it as it wasn't with you on the day of testing "it was your favorite" ?! ... (Are you getting payed for marketing this TERA radio or what?!) ... With respect where was the TERA on testing day ?! "Did it take a vacation ?!" ...

[@robertcalkjr.8325]

Thanks Martin.

[@marinmarin7697]

2 Baofeng are the best and very cheapest.

[@MenAtWorkMedia22]

Thank you!

[@johnlupo3919]

BAT - TREE ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????? battery

[@jasonlin9805]

X

[@marylouiseacebedo706]

you are funny talking about radios you did not even test lol....

[@strangerhorse5209]

one of the most non scientific 'experiments' ever. Between disjointed technospeak and jumbled mumbo jumbo I left more confused than before. a waste of time and I'm sorry to say I watched it all.