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 Will Bremer

I have to say straight away that this set of two radios with speaker mics and extra batteries represent excellent value for money at the time of writing this review. Although I have not seen these batteries sold separately based on similar batteries, their cost alone is more than half the cost of this pack. Add to that the cost of the speaker mics and programming cable, and you're essentially priced the same as this bundle, almost like getting a radio for free. As far as radios go, they work reasonably well, although I understand they can suffer from desensitization in high HF environments. This means that when there is a lot of radio interference, these radios may not "hear” the incoming signals very well. Where I use them, mostly outdoors and out of town, they work well for me. There are a few things I like about these radios. Not only are they programmed for the standard GMRS and FRS channels 1-22, but they also have programming for GMRS repeater frequencies, allowing you to program multiple DIY repeater configurations. So if you regularly use two or more repeaters on the same pair of frequencies but with different CTCSS tones, you can program each one independently. Channel name and frequency on the screen at the same time. Many users won't need this, but for those who use channel names, it's nice to see the frequency as well. Although I haven't tested the output power, it's 5W at high power. Other reports I've seen suggest the actual result is pretty close to his estimate. My experience with these radios is that they are comparable to other 5W radios. I believe these radios are a step above any "bubble pack" or "blister pack" radios that you can buy at Revain or the big department stores. First, the quality seems much better and the power output is higher than many similar radios. Second, these radios are infinitely more configurable and can be used with GMRS repeaters, which few, if any, bubblepack radios can. Offer. The advertised range can only be achieved from mountaintop to mountaintop in very remote areas where there is no other radio interference. These radios perform as well or even better than any bubble pack radio, but don't expect great range except in the best of conditions. They usually work well where there is a direct line of sight between radio stations or minimal obstructions. They might work well on a small hill, but they almost certainly won't work on a large hill. For GMRS users who want decent short range performance and may need the ability to use repeaters I would recommend these radios. I generally recommend these over bubble pack radios for most users. The only time I would recommend bubble pack radios is if they are only used for short range communications involving children. There are a few minor issues I'd like to mention as well. First, the belt clip seems weak to me. While I haven't had a single failure, there are belt clips for other radios that seem to be much more durable. Another issue is that the belt clip attaches to the battery, not the body of the walkie-talkie, and there were only two belt clips in the kit (and four batteries). I have ordered additional GT-3 belt clips for these walkie talkies (batteries). , as the GT-3 belt clip looks much stronger and a bit longer, allowing it to attach to wider belts than the TD-H5 belt clip allows. The GT-3 belt clip attaches like the standard clip, so no modifications are required. Another small issue is that the flap covering the speaker/mic jacks on the radio opens at the top and sticks out when the speaker/mic (or programming cable) is plugged in. I believe there are photos of it in another review on this site. I don't really care, but it would be nice if it opened up on the side so it doesn't stick out so much. There are some questions about the antennas on these radios. They are fixed with a locking screw and can only be removed after loosening the locking screw. The fixed antenna requirement applies to FRS radios, not GMRS radios, although both services can use most of the same frequencies and exchange data. GMRS radios can be used with upgraded antennas and these radios offer that. When upgrading the antenna, you will need an antenna with an SMA connector to connect to these radios. Note that this is different from the "standard" Baofeng UV-5R antenna, which has an SMA connector. The last thing I want to mention is that these are true GMRS radios, not FRS radios, so a GMRS license is required. legally transferred with them. Obtaining a GMRS license from the FCC is not that difficult (although the site is a bit more complicated) and not very expensive. The FCC license extends to the user and the user's immediate family, which, as the FCC generally defines it, includes multiple generations of the same family.