Review on TD-H5 GMRS Radio with 4pcs 1500mah Batteries - 5W Long Range Two Way Radio for Adults, GMRS Repeater Capable, with Dual Band Scanning Receiver and Programming Cable (2 Pack) from TIDRADIO. by Jason Cho

I have been involved with radio communications since I was a child and have owned everything from vintage to modern commercial Motorola radios to public safety radios, Kenwood, Icom, King's Bendix etc. and now these cheap radios. I have to say I'm impressed with what you get for the money. Of course, these radios don't have the same level of quality and performance as commercial branded units in terms of durability, internal components, etc., but heck they're good. The radios are also pre-programmed for GMRS and FRS frequencies. as pairs of GMRS repeaters. If you read the radio in the program (you need to download it), you will see that the frequency fields are greyed out. This is because you cannot change the transmit frequencies as they are GMRS radios with common FRS frequencies and according to the rules they cannot be changed. Because of this, the antenna is not detachable (although you can loosen the small mounting screw at the base of the antenna and then remove it if it breaks - I think the screw is a workaround for the non-detachable requirement). However, you can program the additional memories to only receive frequencies. I really wish the radio software would allow you to reprogram or reorder the channels, even if you could only program the GMRS/FRS frequencies. The way these radios are programmed does not match the channel order/frequency of my other radios, although they do match the Pofung version of this radio. With that said, I got it all working by renaming the channels (memory locations) in the software and putting a label on the battery with a typed "pedestrian" to indicate which location in this radio is associated with the channels of my other radios. $80 for two radios, four batteries, two microphones with external speakers, and a programming cable is amazing. The audio is loud, the transmission is very clear, the range is on par with other portable radios I've owned and they feel solid. They're not waterproof or even waterproof, so keep them out of the rain - that's one of the reasons they can't get five stars. on them. Be aware of this and keep them dry. Charging batteries via USB-C is a big improvement over the charging station. However, they are still compatible with charging stations. They work with the Pofung P15UV base and from what I can tell it's the same radio except for one small blemish. Difference in speaker grille. This appears to be the same radio as the Radioddity GM-30. I even programmed them with each other's software and downloaded the code plugs from each radio to the other radio with no problem. If you're looking for a very similar radio without just being limited to GMRS/FRS frequencies, check out TYT TH-UV88 or Retevis RT85. Another thought stopping them from getting 5 stars is the battery . They have less capacity, but you get two per radio. I would like the batteries to be at least 2200mah and ideally 3000mah or more, although this adds a bit to the size and weight of the radio. Anyhow, I was able to get 8 hours on a single charge with about 12-14 minutes of transmit time at high power and about the same receive time before the battery voltage dropped to 7.1 volts. The battery only charges to 8.1 volts, which I find interesting since most other batteries charge to 8.3 or 8.4 volts. There may be a calibration error which is why it shows a lower voltage, but who knows (other than the manufacturer). You get two belt clips which is disappointing as the clips attach to the batteries so you always have a battery without a clip. if you don't buy extra. The screw heads securing the belt clips are easy to remove, so be careful and use the right size screwdriver. Lots of other things to find in radios are in the description (e.g. program (if you've programmed radios before) and again amazing value for what you get. It's all about how far they talk to each other That's a question that can't be answered because it dictates where you use it, the range as well as the altitude.You can be on a mountain with an unobstructed view of the city 20 miles away and have no problem with one to talk to others of these radios (this applies to any radio and why repeaters are placed. a height). could also be in town and just walk 1/4 mile. Enjoy things and you will be happy. I'll finish with the programming software - if it doesn't work for you, make sure you run it in administrator mode on Windows. Also make sure you select the correct COM port if the software fails to connect to the radio. Yes, I had to find out the hard way (but not too hard). Just hope this helps someone. The seller is also very responsive to emails, even on weekends. I received a response within 12-14 hours of sending my initial email and answers to my follow-up questions within a few hours. Oh, and get a GMRS license - $70 for 10 years, but it also covers your family, keeps you legal and allows you to request access and access many times through your local shared GMRS repeaters ( yes they are present in many areas you just need to do some research).