Review on 📻 TIDRADIO TD-F9GP Ham Radio Handheld: Upgraded UV-5R, High Power 2-Way Radio, 1Pack-Black by Polo Bradley

Essentially a UV-5R, a simple radio for the legal VHF 100 and 400 bands. Like the old version, this model is very easy to operate and use. There is a memory for 100 channels and you can quickly switch between 2 bands. The radio also features an FM tuner for quickly tuning into local radio and news stations. Overall build quality is good for the price and the radio is reliable with a good signal. The radio accepts SMA whip antennas and this new model has an improved design with a smaller LED indicator to allow the use of antennas with a larger base. A big improvement in my case since I couldn't install large antennas on my UV-5R radio. Another notable change in this model is that the dedicated "Groups" button has been removed, but the functionality remains the same. You must be in channel mode to switch to FM mode, not manual mode. Once I figured that out, I quickly adapted to the changes. Range is good with a standard antenna and the quoted 8W power rating seems as accurate as I am. can communicate over much longer distances than 5W and 3W devices, and with a larger antenna it further increases the range, which is impressive for such a compact device. The kit contains 2 antennas. This device has 3 power ranges: low, medium and high, which can be easily switched in the menu. Other accessories in this kit include an extra battery, charging station and power adapter, as well as a handheld microphone and earpiece. The earphone is not of very good quality but it works well, the rest of the accessories are slightly better. The battery charges in the dock when not connected to the radio, so you can always have a fresh battery ready as long as you have AC power. This unit does not come with a USB connection cable but I have one from the UV-5R and any compatible connection cable will work if you want to program channel presets with a computer. It takes a minute to understand the menu system, but it's a simple process of pressing Menu, pressing the blue text of the menu item you want to change, then pressing Menu again to make changes. Press the menu again to save your changes. The device talks when you turn it on and scroll through the menu, making it easy to use in those hard-to-reach places. The backlight is bright and changes color to alert the user to different modes. Overall I am very happy with this radio. It's simple and easy for anyone to use, and the user manual explains all the main functions pretty well. It is reliable for me and the battery lasts a long time, especially when idle. The built-in speaker is good and clear enough to hear. The microphone is decent and clear on the other end too. A good entry level radio for two-way or emergency use.