BTECH Radios – BaoFeng Radios

Multiple ways to charge your BaoFeng & BTECH Radios

BTECH Radios — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 19:35:38 +0000

In our age of technology, we continue to produce more and more gadgets that just make our life, a little easier. This also brings new sources of power, or to be more precise, additional ways to convert energy to power all our devices, including your favorite BaoFeng or BTECH radio. Let’s look at a couple of our most popular power adapting cables, the BT1013 and the 10V USB Smart Cable.

You’re probably aware of the BT1013’s use with connecting your BL‑5L 3800mah battery to USB, or the 10V USB Smart Cable’s ability to adapt your stock radio charger to use USB — BUT there is more than meets the eye with both cables. USB ports are now everywhere, from our homes to our cars, and anything in between. Most vehicles today now include USB ports, but even if they don’t you can easily use your 12V cigarette socket, which allows for a USB adapter to plug in, allowing you to not only power your radios, but charge them on the go! What about taking your radios on an expedition without AC or DC power? Whether it is a simple hike in the hills, an overnight camping trip, or an excursion off the grid there are several solar powered USB kits that allow you to charge your radio wherever you go.

Whether you’re traveling or going off the grid, the BT1013 and the 10V USB Smart Cable can be a great addition to your go kit, helping you keep your batteries charged and ready to go.

What are our recommended off-the-grid power accessories to pair with your BTECH radio? We recommend either the BT1013 or 10V USB Smart Cable, a 12V Cigarette Socket to USB adaptor, and a good solar powered portable battery with USB support. Now you can charge from AC, DC, Solar, and USB! With these accessories, you will always be able to communicate using your BTECH radios.

BF-F8HP: The counterfeit problem on eBay, Alibaba, Wish, and other webstores.

BTECH Radios — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 18:16:01 +0000

BF-F8HP and Counterfeits: Their differences and how to spot a counterfeit BF-F8HP

The BaoFeng BF-F8HP has been an extremely popular entry-level amateur radio ever since its debut. Unfortunately, due to their popularity; there has been a huge influx of counterfeits and knock-off BF-F8HPs. It is important to make an issue of these counterfeits as: they are not assembled by BaoFeng, they are not FCC certified, they are inferior in build and performance, and they carry no distributor warranty.

How do you identify a counterfeit BF-F8HP?

First and foremost, when purchasing a BF-F8HP – verify the source. This is important and although we will document some differences between different types of counterfeits and a genuine BF-F8HP — counterfeiters will:

Adapt and change their listings
OR simply mis-represent their product (by using stock photos, or content that does not represent what they will actually ship you).

The BF-F8HP is only sold by BaoFeng Tech and through our authorized distributors.

COSMETICS:

Some counterfeits are completely cosmetically different, and the reseller will try to hide it. Their listings maybe a mixture of genuine BF-F8HP photos along with the fake BF-F8HP that they will send. Some counterfeits have support bars along their speaker grill. The BF-F8HP does not have support bars on the speaker grill. Some counterfeiters will simply send a basic UV-5R with a BF-F8HP label applied to the radio.

PACKAGING:

Some counterfeiters will source generic batteries, user manuals, and boxes. A genuine BF-F8HP will be clearly advertised on the packaging. A genuine BF-F8HP user manual will actually refer to the radio as a “BF-F8HP” and will not be generic.

FIRMWARE:

The BF-F8HP uses its own unique firmware – You can check your firmware by using CHIRP. The firmware is found in CHIRP as shown in the image below.

Valid Firmwares: N5R-340A, N5R-340B, HN5RV01

These firmware numbers could be replicated by a counterfeit and should not be solely relied on .

Most counterfeits use a hacked firmware, that may not have a third power level (L/M/H) or if they do, they will output the same power on both Medium and High settings.

HOW TO DEAL WITH A COUNTERFEIT:
We have personally dealt with hundreds of counterfeit listings and have had them removed from marketplaces. Unfortunately, most sites will not prohibit the counterfeiter from creating another listing. The most effective means to stopping counterfeits is to buy direct from a BTECH authorized distributor. What happens if you have purchased a counterfeit? You will stop counterfeiters by requesting a chargeback from your payment processor and then reporting that illegitimate seller to the marketplace.

NEED FURTHER HELP?
If you are still uncertain if you are dealing with a counterfeit; you can contact us directly for assistance and help identifying a genuine BF-F8HP at: https://baofengtech.com/contact

New firmware adds analog APRS to the DMR-6X2 handheld radio

BTECH Radios — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 13:04:05 +0000

BTECH recently released version 2.0 firmware for the DMR-6X2 handheld, and the most exciting new feature is analog APRS support. Previously, the DMR-6X2 could send APRS packets via DMR, but now it can also do analog APRS, making it more versatile than ever. Here’s how to set up analog APRS on your DMR-6X2.

First, you’ll have to upgrade the firmware. Go to the DMR-6X2 Software and Firmware Repository and download CPS & Firmware 2.01. This package contains new firmware for the radio, new icons, and new customer programming software (CPS). Once you’ve unzipped the download file, open README FIRST.pdf for instructions on how to install everything. Don’t forget to update the icons and do a full MCU reset before proceeding.

Now, you’re ready to set up the analog APRS. Open up the CPS programming software and click “APRS.” This will take you to the setup screen shown below.

Let me explain some of these parameters:

APRS Auto TX Intervals (s): This is the interval in seconds between APRS packet transmissions. When set to 180, the DMR-6X2 will transmit a pack every three minutes.

Destination Call Sign: This defines the type of device sending the package. APBT62 is the “to-call” for the DMR-6X2.

SSIDs. These numbers define typical ways that you might be using APRS. For example, “-9” designates that you’re a mobile station. See the APRS SSID Guide for more info.

APRS Symbol Table, APRS Map Icon: The combination of these two characters define the icon that appears on the aprs.fi maps (and, presumably, other sites). For more information on the icons available, see the APRS Symbol Look-Up Table. Since I walk around town frequently, I’ve set my icon to a walking man.

APRS Signal Path: This setting describes the signal path an APRS packet transmitted by your DMR-6X2 will take. A setting of “WIDE1-1WIDE2-1” is suggested for this setting. For more information on APRS signal paths, see APRS: SSIDs, Paths, and Beacons.

Transmission Frequency: 144.390 MHz is the most common APRS frequency in the U.S.

Transmit Delay (ms)m Prewave Time (ms): Set both of these to 600.

Transmit Power: Always set this to Turbo. Make sure that the transmit power in the channel setup is also set to Turbo. If set to another value, the DMR-6X2 will not send APRS packets.

Once you’ve set this up, you have to set up an APRS channel. See the setup screen below to see how I have mine set up.

Receive Frequency, Transmit Frequency: 144.39000 MHz is the most common APRS frequency in the U.S.
Channel Type: Since this is for analog APRS, set this to “A-Analog.”
Transmit Power: Transmit power must be set to Turbo. Setting it to another value will prevent the DMR-6X2 from transmitting APRS packets.
APRS Report Type: Analog (obviously).
Analog APRS PTT Mode: You can set this to “Beginning of Transmission” or “End of Transmission.” End of Transmission gives the digipeater a little time to hear your signal before you send the APRS packet.

That should do it. To start sending APRS packets, select the APRS channel and press the push-to-talk switch. That will get the DMR-6X2 started sending out APRS packets at regular intervals. When it does send a packet, you’ll see the message, “Sending Ana Aprs Data” on the radio’s screen.

Program your UV-5X3 with CHIRP

BTECH Radios — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 13:29:57 +0000

One of the most frequently asked questions that we get here at BTECH is, “How do I program the channel memories in my UV-5X3?” The answer is, “Get CHIRP!” CHIRP is a free, open-source application for programming many different radios from dozens of manufacturers. You can use CHIRP to program 11 different BTECH models, including our amateur radios and our GMRS and MURS radios. In this post, we’ll show you how to program a BTECH UV-5X3 with CHIRP.

CHIRP runs on Windows, MacOS, and Linux operating systems, but in this post, I’ll be describing how to install and use the Windows version of CHIRP. To install CHIRP, first go to the CHIRP website and click the “get it!” button. On the next page, look for the reccomended version for your operating system (highlighted in green) and click on it to download the installer. Once the installer has downloaded, double-click on its icon and the installer will install CHIRP on your computer.

Next, open the app and download the data from the radio. You do this by clicking Radio→Download. If you’ve just purchased your radio, you’ll see something like this:

You can save this information, so that you can restore the radio to the factory settings later, by clicking on File→Save.

Next, enter the frequencies and repeaters that you want to program into your radio. I live in Ann Arbor, MI, so I’ve entered the 2m simplex frequency (146.52 MHz), and the repeaters that I can hit locally. Remember to also program the tone mode and tone frequency of the repeaters. You won’t be able to access the repeaters if these aren’t set properly. Here are what my channels look like after I edited the repeater information.

Next, connect your UV-5X3 to your computer using the PC03 Programming Cable and turn on your radio.

Finally, you’re ready to program the radio. Click Radio→Upload to Radio, and CHIRP should download the memory channel information to your UV-5X3. Disconnect the cable and check to see that the radio has been programmed correctly.

For more information, check out the following links:

Why can’t I hit the repeater?

BTECH Radios — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 13:35:26 +0000

One of the first things that many new radio amateurs do is to purchase a handheld radio, like the BTECH UV-5X3 (right), to talk with their friends on a local repeater. After programming the radio, they’re often able to hear the repeater, but not access it. When this happens, the first question out of their mouths is, “Why can’t I hit the repeater?”

This is such a frequent problem, that there’s even a question (T2B04) on the Technician Class exam that addresses this issue:

Which of the following could be the reason you are unable to access a repeater whose output you can hear? (T2B04)

Improper transceiver offset ?
The repeater may require a proper CTCSS tone from your transceiver ?
The repeater may require a proper DCS tone from your transceiver ?
All of these choices are correct

The correct answer is D) All of these choices are correct.

If you can hear a repeater, but your signal is not accessing the repeater, the first thing to check is to make sure that your offset is set properly. The offset is the difference between the repeater’s receive frequency and the transmit frequency. On the 2-meter band, the standard offset is 600 kHz. On the 70-cm band, the standard offset is 5 MHz. In addition to getting the offset correct, keep in mind that the transmit frequency may be higher or lower than the receive frequency.

Once you’re sure that you have the offset correct, check to see if the repeater requires that your radio transmit a CTCSS to access it. CTCSS tones allow repeaters o receive particular signals and reject others. For more information on how CTCSS tones work, see, “Get your CTCSS tones right to access repeaters.”

In some cases, a repeater may require a Digital Code Squelch, or DCS, tone to access it. A DCS tone is similar to a CTCSS tone in that it is sub-audible and opens the squelch of a repeater when a station is trying to access it. DCS tones are, however, very rarely used on the amateur radio bands.

There are other reasons that you may not be able to access a repeater. Perhaps the most common reason is that your signal simply isn’t strong enough. One way to overcome this is by using a better antenna. You might, for example, replace the antenna that comes with your handheld transceiver with a Nagoya antenna. BTECH sells many different Nagoya antennas that simply screw right into your radio and improve the signal of your handheld.

Another trick is to connect your radio to a mag-mount antenna, such as the Nagoya UT-308UV (shown at left), placed on a metal surface to provide a good ground plane. This can also significantly improve the quality of your signal. The Nagoya UT-308UV provides up to 4.15 dBi of gain and is designed to be used with a handheld radio, but you can also use a mag-mount antenna designed to be mounted on a vehicle, as long as you have the right coax adapters.

Finally, if replacing the antenna doesn’t do the trick, then consider purchasing an amplifier to boost the signal. An amplifier, like the BTECH AMP-V25, will output 20 – 40 W, with a 2 – 6 W input. The amplifier can be used in a vehicle or at your base station, and is a good alternative to purchasing a second, higher-power radio for situations when you need more power than a handheld can provide.

Get your CTCSS tones right to access repeaters

BTECH Radios — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 13:38:52 +0000

One of the things that many newcomers to FM and repeater operation fail to do when programming a radio is to program the CTCSS tone properly. There’s even a question on the Technician Class exam that addresses this issue, question T2B04:

QUESTION: Which of the following could be the reason you are unable to access a repeater whose output you can hear?

ANSWER: All of these choices are correct

Improper transceiver offset
The repeater may require a proper CTCSS tone from your transceiver
The repeater may require a proper DCS tone from your transceiver

But, what does this mean really?

CTCSS stands for continuous, tone-coded squelch system, and is a technique used to allow repeaters—and radios—to receive particular signals and reject others. The signals that a repeater (or radio) will receive are signals with a specific sub-audible tone, called a CTCSS tone, that has been added to the signal. So, even though your radio may be transmitting and receiving on the correct frequencies for a particular repeater, you won’t be able to access the repeater if you’re not also transmitting the CTCSS tone the repeater has been programmed to respond to.

There are 55 standard CTCSS tones:

67	97.4	141.3	177.3	213.8
69.3	100	146.2	179.9	218.1
71.9	103.5	150	183.5	221.3
74.4	107.2	151.4	186.2	225.7
77	110.9	156.7	189.9	229.1
79.7	114.8	159.8	192.8	233.6
82.5	118.8	162.2	196.6	237.1
85.4	123	165.5	199.5	241.8
88.5	127.3	167.9	203.5	245.5
91.5	131.8	171.3	206.5	250.3
94.8	136.5	173.8	210.7	254.1

Why do we use CTCSS tones? One of the reasons repeaters use CTCSS tones is that they often operate in environments where there is a lot of interference. On a tower or rooftop, for example, there may be several repeaters, a paging system, and other RF equipment. In such an environment, the generation of spurious signals could cause the repeater to think it’s receiving a signal on its input frequency and turn on its transmitter. If a sub-audible tone is required, however, the repeater will remain off until it hears a signal that was definitely meant to be repeated.

Another reason for using CTCSS tones is to prevent interference from other repeaters that use the same repeater frequency pair. Although care is often taken to minimize this interference, sometimes long-distance propagation can cause stations accessing a repeater to also access one many miles away. If the two repeaters use different CTCSS tones, however, this is not a possiblity.

How do you know what CTCSS tone you need to access a particular repeater? Well, one way to do this would be to check a repeater directory. If the repeater is operated by an amateur radio club, you could look up this information on the club’s website. Some repeaters will even announce the CTCSS tone that it requires. In most cases, the objective is to reduce interference and not restrict legitimate access.

So, if you’re not hitting a repeater when you think you should be, first check to see that you’re transmitting the correct CTCSS tone. Refer to your radio’s user manual for instructions on how to do this.

By the way, you may hear CTCSS tones sometimes called PL tones. PL is short for “private line,” and is what Motorola, the company that developed the CTCSS system called it. Since PL is a Motorola trademark, we now use the generic term CTCSS.

Amp it up!

BTECH Radios — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 13:41:06 +0000

In some situations, the 5W output of a handheld transceiver just doesn’t cut it. You may be too far away from a repeater to hit it consistently, or you may want more range for simplex operation.

One solution to this problem is to get a mobile radio with more output power. Mobile radios, such as the BTECH UV-50X2, have an output power of up to 50 W. Some mobile radios are even higher-powered. A 50 W radio, especially when used with an external antenna, will extend your range quite a bit. The downside, of course, is that purchasing a second radio is an extra expense, one which may not be in your budget.

Another approach is to purchase an amplifier to boost the signal of your HT. In the 1970s and 1980s, Heathkit sold several different types of 2m amplifiers that were designed to boost the signals of low-power “walkie-talkies.” The Heathkit HA-201, for example, output 8 W with a 1 W input signal, and 10 W with a 1.5 W input.

Today’s HTs provide more output power than the walkie-talkies being sold back in the day, but amplifiers are still a good solution for extending their range. If your HT needs a boost, consider one of the BTECH AMP amplifiers. They’re an economical choice at less than $90 each, and provide up to 40 W output.

The AMP series is easy to use, too. Connecting an HT to one of the AMP series amplifiers is very straightforward. There are three ways to do this. The first way is to connect the antenna output of the HT to the RF-IN connector. In this configuration, the amplifier automatically switches between transmit and receive when it senses an RF signal at its input.

The second way is to connect a speaker microphone, headset, or compatible accessory to the radio and then connect the antenna output of the HT to the RF-IN connector on the rear panel of the amplifier. This operation is similar to the first method, but allows you to use an external microphone and speaker.

The third way is to use the amplifier’s speaker microphone. First, connect the speaker microphone to the MIC jack on the front panel of the amplifier. Then, connect to the antenna output of the handheld transceiver to the RF IN connector on the rear panel of the amplifier. Finally, connect the accessory port of your radio to the CONTROL jack on the front panel of the amplifier using the Amplifier Control Cable. This cable keys the HT via the PTT line and provides audio both to and from the HT. This is the configuration that you would probably use in a more permanent mobile installation.

In addition to providing a higher power output signal, harmonic filters on the input allow the amplifier to transmit a cleaner output signal. The amplifier is so well engineered that in most circumstances it transmits a cleaner, purer signal then it receives from your handheld radio.

There are five different models in the AMP series, and to select the correct amplifier for your application, you’ll need to know which band and which mode you’ll be operating. For example, if you’ll be using the amplifier for 2m analog FM operation, you’ll want the BTECH AMP-V25. On the other hand, if you’ll be operating a DMR radio on the 70 cm band, you want the BTECH AMP-U25D. If you need help choosing the right amp, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Using the DMR-6X2’s built-in GPS receiver

BTECH Radios — Sun, 18 Oct 2020 13:50:01 +0000

One of the cool features of BTECH’s DMR-6X2 is the built-in GPS receiver. When enabled, it gives you your latitude and longitude, height above sea level, date, and time of day. And, if you’re moving, it will even tell you how fast you’re walking or driving.

To enable the GPS receiver manually:

Press (Menu) to enter the main Menu.
Page down and select GPS.
Select GPS On/Off.
Select GPS On to turn the GPS receiver on.

This can also be done using the Customer Programming Software, or CPS. After you’ve opened the program, click Public → Optional Settings → GPS/Ranging. On the page that pops up, set both GPS and Get GPS Positioning to On. After you re-program your radio, the GPS receiver will be on by default.

Once enabled, you can easily check the GPS info. To do this manually:

Press (Menu) to enter the main Menu.
Page down and select GPS.

Select GPS Infor, and the radio will display the GPS information on the LCD.

You can also program one ofo the function keys to display this information with the push of a button. I programmed the PF3 key to display the GPS information with a short press. This can be done manually via the menus or with the CPS.

If this isn’t cool enough, you can also program your DMR-6X2 to report your position via a DMR repeater or hotspot. The first thing you need to do is to add a channel specifically for APRS. Program this channel with the frequencies, color code and time slot that will let you access the repeater or hot spot that you intend to use. In addition to these settings, you will also have to set APRS Report to “ON” and APRS Report Channel to “1.”

Next, you’ll have to set up the Digital APRS Information. To open the screen in the CPS to do this, click, Diigital, then APRS. A screen like the one below will pop up:

On this screen, you can set the following parameters:

Manual Tx Intervals
APRS Auto TX Intervals
Transmit Power. Set to High for repeaters, Low for hotspots.
Fixed GPS Beacon. Set to Not Used if you want to use the actual GPS data as the location. Set to Used to transmit a fixed location. In this mode, the radio will use the “dd.mm.nn” settings you enter below instead of the GPS.
Report Channels. Set Report Channel 1 to the channel name you used for your APRS channel.
APRS Talk Group. The Brandmeister talk group in the USA is 310999.
Call Type. Set to Private Call.
Slot. Set this to the same time slot used for the APRS channel.

Before re-programming your radio, remember to assign your APRS channel to a zone. The radio will not display the APRS channel if you do not do so. Once you have done this, download the new programming to your radio.

To turn on the DMR APRS, select your APRS channel and press the PTT switch to start sending APRS data. After pressing the PTT switch the radio will display “Sending Digi APRS Data,” and as long as the APRS channel is selected, the radio will send APRS data at your selected interval.

Finally, look for yourself on aprs.fi to see if you’ve been spotted. Below is a screenshot of aprs.fi spotting me once I got this up and running.

GMRS meets short-range communication needs

BTECH Radios — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 13:57:52 +0000

According to the FCC, the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) is “a licensed radio service that uses channels around 462 MHz and 467 MHz. The most common use of GMRS channels is for short-distance, two-way voice communications using hand-held radios, mobile radios and repeater systems. In 2017, the FCC expanded GMRS to also allow short data messaging applications including text messaging and GPS location information.”

GMRS licenses are available to individuals for short-distance, two-way communications that facilitate the activities of licensees and their immediate family members. No exam is required, and a license is issued for a 10-year term. The fee is $70 for most applicants. Before you can apply for a GMRS license, you will have to obtain an FCC Registration Number (FRN). Obtaining an FRN is free, and you can do this online by going to https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/support/universal-licensing-system-uls-resources/getting-fcc-registration-number-frn and following the instructions there.

A single license covers allows an entire family to operate GMRS radios. This includes the licensee’s spouse, children, grandchildren, stepchildren, parents, grandparents, stepparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and in-laws. GMRS radios may be used for business purposes, but a licensee’s employees may not operate licensed to an employer. New GMRS licenses are currently being issued only to individuals, but prior to July 31, 1987, the FCC issued GMRS licenses to non-individuals (corporations, partnerships, government entities, etc.). Some of these licensees may still be on the air, but they are becoming increasingly rare.

Licensees can set up a system that may include a combination of portable, mobile, fixed and repeater stations. 30 channels are available to GMRS licensees on frequencies that range from 462.550 MHz to 467.725 MHz. Many of these frequencies are shared with the Family Radio Service, but GMRS users can operate radios that have a higher output power (up to 50 W on some frequencies) and can set up repeaters that extend the range of a GMRS system even further.

Because GMRS radios use UHF frequencies, their range is limited to line-of-sight. For hand-held radios, with a maximum output power of around 5 W, the range will be about one to two miles. Fixed stations that have higher output power and higher antennas will have greater range, perhaps up to five miles. A GMRS repeater with an antenna that is high above the surrounding terrain can extend the usable range up to 20 miles or more.

BTECH sells both handheld and mobile GMRS radios. The The GMRS-V1 is a handheld radio compatible with all brands of FRS and GMRS radios and GMRS repeaters. Channels are wideband and narrowband compatible. The GMRS-V1 is also a VHF and UHF scanning receiver. Although it will only transmit on UHF frequencies, it is capable of receiving VHF stations, such as NOAA weather FM broadcast stations, and while talking on GMRS channels, you can monitor both VHF or UHF frequencies. Other features include privacy tones (both CTCSS and DCS) and dual monitor with a synchronized display. This feature allows you to watch two channels simultaneously.

For mobile operation, BTECH offers the GMRS-50X1. It offers all of the features of the GMRS-V1, including FRS and GMRS compatibility, scanning receiver, and privacy tones, but has a maximum output power of 50 W. This makes it ideal for users that need the maximum range from a base/home/or mobile environment. Another difference is the quad-watch receiver that lets you monitor up to four channels simultaneously. You can program both radios using the popular CHIRP programming software. With CHIRP, you can quickly import and rename channels using your personal computer.

If you have any questions about GMRS or our GMRS radios, please contact us. You can send us a message via our website or email us directly at sales@baofengtech.com.

New Release – BTECH GMRS-50X1

BTECH Radios — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 14:02:14 +0000

ARLINGTON, SOUTH DAKOTA – SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2019

A High Power 50 Watt GMRS Mobile Radio from BTECH is Released

BTECH announced today the North American release of the BTECH GMRS-50X1. The GMRS-50X1 follows in similar footsteps and abilities found in our handheld GMRS radio the BTECH GMRS-V1.

There was a huge void for users in that, an affordable fully functional GMRS mobile radio has never been available. BTECH took the initiative to engineer that very radio with feedback from the GMRS community. Our mission was to have the simplest GMRS mobile radio that can easily be used on all GMRS mobile radio channels, while being able to add features not seen on any GMRS radio before! With our team of engineers and designers, along with our BETA users throughout the GMRS community – we were able to accomplish it AND we are able to provide it all while costing less than any other high powered GMRS mobile radio!

More than just a GMRS Mobile Radio

The GMRS-50X1 is a 50 Watt GMRS mobile radio compatible with all brands of FRS and GMRS radios. It is also compatible with GMRS repeaters. Channels are wideband and narrowband compatible. The GMRS-50X1 is also a VHF and UHF scanning receiver capable of adding additional channels for receive only (such as NOAA weather and other channels of interest).

Three Power Levels: Depending on the channel used; you can select from High (50W), Mid (20W), and Low (5W) power settings.

The GMRS-50X1 is compatible with all CTCSS (PL Tone) and DCS (DPL Tones) privacy tones from any other brand of walkie talkies. You can easily scan and select the tone needed to transmit and filter to hear only the conversations you want to hear!

Another innovation, borrowed from our X-Series line, is using ‘Quad Watch’: The GMRS-50X1 operates as multiple radios in one, with a channel selected as the primary channel; while simultaneously watching up to 3 other frequencies or channels. You can simplify the radio to only watch one or two channels as well. The GMRS-50X1 includes dual sync display which allows for displaying both a channel’s name and frequency simultaneously.

We understand the importance of being able to program the radios on the fly. The BTECH mobile radios allow full programmability from tones, bandwidth, settings, and the channel name all without a PC. If you want to go in-depth modifying the radio – PC programmability is still available, allowing advanced tone setting modifications and easy scanner channel imports using CHIRP.

The GMRS-50X1 it also has a standard mono 3.5mm audio out jack to allow easy use with your favorite audio environment.

Channel List Overview

GMRS channels are setup in the standardized FRS/GMRS flow. Channels 1-22 are non-repeater channels coordinating with the GMRS channel list and channels 23-30 are GMRS repeater channels.

Channel List:

15 Modifiable GMRS Two-Way Channels (Channels 1-7 & 15-22) – Receive and Transmit*
8 Modifiable GMRS Repeater Channels (Channels 23-30) – Receive and Transmit
7 Modifiable GMRS Receive Only Channels (Channels 8-14) – Receive Only**
226 Programmable Scanner Channels (Channels 00 & 31-256) – Receive Only

* Per FCC GMRS Radio Guidelines; Channels 1-7 are limited to Low Power – 5watt output

**Per FCC GMRS Mobile Radio Guidelines Channels 8-14 transmitting is disabled; they can receive and monitor communications, but GMRS mobile radios cannot transmit on these channels.

Pricing and Availability

The GMRS-50X1 is available today. Pricing starts at $179. You can order direct from Amazon or BTECH at: baofengtech.com/gmrs-50×1

About BTECH

BTECH is headquartered in Arlington, SD with distributors and partners around the globe. For more information see www.baofengtech.com.

Contact

Do you have feedback on this article? We are always open to feedback from our loyal customers! If you have a suggestion or comment, please send it to us at: support@baofengtech.com