TIDRADIO TD-H3 GMRS Radio,Type C & Wireless Programming(4 Batteries,15.12" Antenna), 8-Band Long Range Walkie Talkies Rechargeable Handheld 2 Way Radios, NOAA-FM-AM-Full-Featured Crystal-2Pack

[9 month update] Upgrading to 5 STARS. This radio continues to impress. The battery life is great. I can talk on repeaters 5, 10, 15, and one over 20 miles away - in flat Indiana, not from mountain tops. I have upgraded to Tidradio 14” whip antennas, and it’s worth it. Programming over Bluetooth with the phone app is convenient, but not outstanding. USB-C programming however, without an additional $15-20 cable using CHIRP definitely IS outstanding. The buttons are still tiny. But that’s the only tradeoff I think I’ve found. This is a must buy; no question.[original review] 4.5 stars! And well deserved. This radio has all the bells and whistles. For the price and size I don’t think anything else can match it. Preprogrammed with all the GMRS and FRS channels, plus the repeater channels, and NOAA weather radio. Dual channel monitoring and a PTT button for each. FM radio too. Frankly the flashlight is top notch too. Three ways to program, K-type cable, USB, and Bluetooth via the free app. And once you program one radio, you can clone others via Bluetooth. Two radios, and four batteries mean you’re communicating right out of the box. (However you need a GMRS license from the FCC first. $35.) Chargers, cradles, and cables give you all the options for charging and the ability to program without buying any more stuff. Earpieces with mics included. Oh, and air band capability too, with appropriate antennas included.The screen is small but very legible and all necessary information right there, plus a backlit keypad.So why only four stars?Being a small radio, a very compact radio indeed, with this many features, comes with a couple drawbacks. They keypad is small and there is a need to use the same key to do multiple things, none of which is explained, or explained well in the manual. The manual assumes you already know everything about using a GMRS radio. The small keypad and need for sharing keys is a fine compromise and can be overlooked, but the manual isn’t going to help much if you’re a new user. If that doesn’t scare you, you will soon learn what you need to know from forums and watching videos. Sometime the key usage is inconsistent. For example, to scan, press and hold the button with SCN on it. But that doesn’t work for the FM button on it. You have to push the menu button then the FM button to get FM.However, now there is a feature to turn off the channel monitoring when listening to FM radio. Thank You!!! This was a simple change to my other TIDRadios, but so needed.I haven’t used the app to program yet but it all looks pretty straightforward. There are about 150 “channels” left for the user to program for various frequencies and codes for repeaters.

I know very little about radios, so keep that in mind...Was looking for a pair of radios with reasonable range for use in remote areas where no cell coverage was available.Looked at ham radios but was put off by the licensing requirements.Looked at FRS-only radios but the limited range ruled them out. One huge minus was the lack of user-replaceable antennas, which is apparently by design. I've had a couple of pairs of FRS radios where the antennas broke off and couldn't be fixed / replaced.GMRS requires a license, just a $35 application fee and no test. Reasonable range, good for our needs.The TD-H3 package was pretty remarkable. 2 radios, 4 USB-C rechargeable battery packs and 4 antennas. Supports FRS and GMRS frequencies and power settings, also can scan aircraft, EMS and other frequencies. Weather radio channels are pre-programmed.Radios are pretty easy to use. A quick look at the documentation and a couple of YouTube videos and we were good to go.A pair of TD-H3s are comparable in price to many of the FRS radios on the market, but offer a much better feature set, significantly longer range and the ability to replace broken antennas. A true bargain and an excellent value.

Purchased twin pack TD-H3 GMRS preset version to maintain group comms hiking/kayaking/camping/etc. NOAA is secondary use. Also, considering exploring amateur/ham radio in future.Impressions after about 5 months. Radio picks up FM clearly. Satisfactorily picks up NOAA (with typical AM static around signal interference sources such as my PC, monitor, desk lamps, etc). Startlingly small form factor. Very light, yet doesn’t feel ‘cheap’ or ‘hollow’ as did small blister-pack FRS units I’ve had in the past.Programmed for local GMRS repeaters. Worked well until one unit went into the ‘kill all lock’ (?) mode, seemingly spontaneously while in scan mode. However, was possibly user error on my part. Solution that was provided online at Tidradio required programming cable and Odmaster software. The only PC on which I was willing to download overseas software was quite old and would not recognize the port for either the supplied USB cable or the separately purchased standard-type programming cable. So, I returned to Amazon for a replacement pair of radios. (Note: The batteries of new radios were fractionally lighter than the ‘original’ batteries. Not sure of implications.) Again, after some use one radio popped into ‘kill all lock’ mode, again seemingly spontaneously. This time I found new online info and was able to easily fix by the following steps: Pressed PTT and * as I turned on radio. That bypassed the lockout and the screen displayed reset options: GMRS, ham, or regular (open). I chose ham, then turned off. I repeated steps and then chose GMRS to return to factory settings I wanted. I then used the Bluetooth copy function to clone programming (repeater settings & feature settings) from my other (not locked) H3 unit. In the three weeks since than both units have functioned perfectly.Other than the odd spontaneous lock problem, I have been pleased with the function of the radio. I paired with an external antenna for mobile use, and that has worked well. I purchased aftermarket antennas for direct mount to the radio, and these do yield better reception when compared side-by-side with OEM antennas.Now that I have an easy way to resolve the lock problem, I recommend this radio set. Functions well. A low cost but feature rich way to enter the radio world. Gives me the option to expand to ham when I’m ready for that step.

Great starter pack for GMRS or Ham radio license. You can configure them to be either. There’s a restart hack you can find on YouTube. They also work on walkie talkie bands if your with a group who has a simple set of those. Not waterproof but they’re not advertised as such. The app interface and Bluetooth connectivity allows for easy wireless configuration compared to the manual process using the unit keypad. Range is decent. Haven’t tried them with a repeater but that is supported. Good YouTube videos are available from independent enthusiasts to help familiarize yourself.

I've had great customer service and the product itself is great. Any questions that I had were answered in a timely manner great little radio gi for it

This is a great little radio the colored screen is great the size of the radio is awesome and the quality of the radio is one of the best that I've seen for the price that I paid I am simply amazed with all the features that this radio has and everything that came with this purchase I usually radios for hunting season and a lot of other outdoor activities and a reception of this radio and the clarity of the audio is amazing I can be in my house and be talking to my brother up on the side of the mountain and it is so clear in the audio it's like he's sitting right beside me in the living room I would definitely recommend this radio it's a great product with great features you can't go wrong for the price

I am the holder General Class HAM Radio operators license, as well as a GMRS license for these radios. I have built my own receivers and antennae, and have made contacts around the world with digital modes, using WSPR at less than a watt (Australia FTW), and JS8 at 1 to 5 watts, as well as some of the older storied digital modes.I am happy to report thatt these radios are surprisingly good. I picked up a pair using some amazon points I had, and I am anything but disappointed. It is well known in radio circles that VHF frequencies are line of sight, but I sure couldn't tell during a hike around my neighborhood. I was able to stay in crystal clear contact with my wife back at the casa as I went one mile in one direction, reversed, and two miles in the other direction, putting multiples of every conceivable urban obstacle between us along the way; the final radio check was from beneath a set of high tension lines and there simply was no degradation in signal quality here or during any other check.If you want a good set of handhelds at a bargain basement price, I say get you a couple of these before the imminent Trade Wars effect kicks in and you wont be able to get them at all.

Great GMRS bundle! Perfect for home use, camping or travel. The neon green makes it easy to find. Durable and good quality for the price. Display is easy to read and the texture on the radio provides for a good grip. Great sound quality.