Vernon
Good Radio...
Look feel, functions all seem to work well. I havent really
put it through it's paces yet. Short distance contacts work well,
ability to download is good. I like this radio.
Radioddity
Radioddity GM-30 Pro GMRS Handheld Radio
5 videosCustomer photos & videos
From 16 customers
robert
Great feel, great sound, great starter or addition to the collection
The moment I opened the box this radio jumped out at me. Maybe I’m biased, but the blue looks sharp. It has a great hand feel too. Not a brick, not flimsy, just a comfortable refined design that sits in the hand exactly how you want it to. Out of the box it is simple. Put in the battery, screw on the antenna, turn the knob and you are ready to listen or start talking within seconds.
The stock antenna does the job just fine but upgrading it will make a noticeable difference. The menu layout is one of the cleaner ones I have seen in this price range. Easy to navigate and does not feel cluttered. The sound is crisp and plenty loud, and I say that as someone who grew up in the 90s where the volume knob only ever went one direction.
Never been a fan of earpieces and I stand by that, but it is still fun to mess with once in a while. Not something I would wear all day.
I have not had this radio long enough to put it through the full torture test yet, but so far I am impressed. I plan to make this my everyday carry and see what it can really do. If you are just getting into radios, this is a great starting point. And if you already have fifty of these things sitting around, this one still adds a little extra spice to the shelf.
Let’s be honest, whether you have one radio or a hundred, you always need another. So go ahead, hit buy, toss it in your car or bag, and have some fun. Side note, the FM radio mode is a nice bonus when you are out fishing, especially with ice fishing season rolling in for most of us.
jeff
Very capable handheld GMRS radio
A very capable handheld that has been a perfect introduction into GMRS radios. My son loves to listen to the local channels here in Texas. I haven't tried the app yet but the device itself is relatively easy to use after a brief review of the manual. A very good value at this price point and I was extremely impressed with its range. I believe I'm near a repeater because we've picked up crystal clear conversations from the other side of the city and possibly even further. The sound quality is great on the receiving end but I can't say either way on the transmission side.
Tiffany V Dolby
Very happy
Purchased 2 radios for cross country car-to-car communications. These worked perfect! Surprisingly good range, sometimes several miles. Speaker is clear and microphone is pretty sensitive. Made our trip possible because cell phone would had been way to difficult to use. We just picked up the radio and had instant communication. Quality really surprised me! I also purchased a couple of “better” antennas and didn’t use them, what came in the box worked great. I only have one complaint, battery life was not as advertised, we ended up plugging the radios into a charging cable in each car to keep them talking - drove approximately 12-hours per day so needed to charge a lot. Nice and small easy to hold and use
salinaoaks
I love it!
Radioddity GM-30 PRO GMRS Radio, Long Range Walkie Talkie with UHF/VHF/NOAA/FM/Airband Reception, Support APP Wireless Programming, 1.77" TFT Display, Frequency Copy, USB-C Charging, 1,000 ChannelsRadioddity GM-30 PRO GMRS Radio, Long Range Walkie Talkie with UHF/VHF/NOAA/FM/Airband Reception, Support APP Wireless Programming, 1.77" TFT Display, Frequency Copy, USB-C Charging, 1,000 Channels
So, I’m new to GMRS radio and I have a lot to learn still. At this point I am happy to have this radio in hand for any emergency that might pop up. The UHF/VHF/NOAA/FM/Airband features are what I’m most interested in right now. It is great to have access to all of those bands in one unit. I’ll be researching the licensing requirements and getting licensed soon, but until then I have been impressed with the reception that I have gotten. I live on a remote ranch and we have a lot of open ground here which is helpful for longer distance communication. I’m also not quite up to speed on programming yet, but I’m learning and it seems pretty easy once you learn the basics. The radio itself is a really nice looking unit. It has a bright screen and the display is easy to see and read in any light conditions. We only have a few FM channels in our area but the reception has been awesome. I love that it has so many features and think that I’ll be spending a lot of time with this radio in the future. USB-C charging works with my emergency small solar panel, and also my regular house current/auto/and adapter. The PRO version has a flashlight between the power/volume knob and the antenna. This radio is perfect for someone like me that doesn’t have a lot of experience, but wants to learn and enjoy GMRS without breaking the bank. I love it!
TM
Solid construction, big battery, nice screen
Solid construction, big battery, nice screen. Feels like quality. Comes with the detachable battery, charger and cable, antenna, carrying strap, and an earbud/mic. 10 banks, 100 channels each. I was able to set it up for local frequencies and pick up police and fire. Very functional -- also gets weather band and FM radio. Sound quality and reception are very good, especially considering smallish antenna, and using the radio indoors.
I did not test transmitting. I have read that it only transmits on the GMRS frequencies. Have not messed with the app or software -- was able to program it from the unit itself.
Ian
Great Radio with Lots of Features
The Radioddity GM-30 PRO is a well-built radio with solid quality and a clear display. The size is comfortable to hold, and the design feels durable for outdoor use. It offers a wide range of functions, and the large channel capacity makes it very flexible for different uses.
For me, the setup was a little bit challenging at first, but once I got used to the menus and app programming, it worked smoothly. The wireless programming option is especially convenient. The screen is bright and easy to read, even in sunlight, which makes operation simpler.
The reception and sound quality are clear, and it handles scanning well. The battery life holds up nicely, and USB-C charging makes it easy to keep powered.
Overall, it’s a feature-packed radio that delivers very good performance and durability for the price. A great choice if you want a reliable device with many advanced options.
Dory Launching Assistance
Great quality GMRS RADIO for emergencies or everyday use
This Radioddity GM-30 PRO GMRS Radio, Long Range Walkie Talkie with UHF/VHF/NOAA/FM/Airband Reception, Support APP Wireless Programming, 1.77" TFT Display, Frequency Copy, USB-C Charging, 1,000 Channels is great for on and off the grid for everyday use and emergency use.
This radio as others have stated requires a license to operate and transmit from. This does not mean you cannot operate the radio without a license you are allowed to receive and scan channels without a license.
This is not your everyday walkie-talkie it is much more I will list off some of the greatest features of this radio that I quite enjoy.
1 the ability to Bluetooth connect to the programming app.
2 the customizable side key can be customized to multiple functions.
3 the dual watch function (the ability to scan and monitor a single channel at the same time.)
4 the ability to scan and transmit on eight separate bands.
5 the ability to save 1000 channels on 10 separate zones.
There are a lot more features to this radio which can be a little overwhelming and have a pretty steep learning curve to them. Once you get comfortable and start to understand how the unit works with the app as well programming and usage becomes more simple.
I have owned other single side band radios as well as multiple different channel radios including but not limited to CB, VHF, UHF, and AM radio. This little handheld GMRS Radio has now made the list of some of the best made radios I have owned.
I have looked at the other reviews and they are all vine reviews. That being said I plan on purchasing another one of these radios one for at home and one for in my vehicle.
All in all I highly recommend this GMRS radio for anyone looking for a good quality customizable radio for everyday or emergency use.
Wes
Android app didn't work. Now it does.
Not great so far. The radio feels extremely well built and has excellent receive audio. That's not why you buy this particular model though. This one you buy so you can program it over Bluetooth and that hasn't worked at all for me. The first time I tried it I lost the factory programming and now every time I upload from the Android app it just gives me random channels that I didn't ask for.
Edit: Updating my review to say that the "walkie-talkie tool" app has received some updates and now works more or less as intended. More importantly, when it fails it hasn't wrecked my existing programming like it used to. It's still pretty cumbersome, doesn't always work, and feels a bit sketchy having to log in to a Chinese app, but it is nice being able to reprogram on the go with just my phone.
Ean
Great priced GMRS radio
Great priced GMRS radio. I did a range test and they work well for 3-5 miles where I live unless I go to my local park with slightly higher elevation. They also work well at receiving the weather channels and I can clearly hear two of them even with the smaller antenna and being indoors (as seen in the video). These are a must have for anyone in the outdoors, hiking, camping, or just wanting some solid communications without breaking the bank! These should also be programmable via CHIRP.
Would recommend.
Dr. Dan in Denver
Pretty sophisticated piece of technology for the price!
I've ordered FRS walkie talkies before, but haven't been too impressed with the range. This seems like a higher power more fully featured handheld radio transceiver, so I thought I'd give it a try. Because it's more full-featured, it will take a while to get up and running than a simpler walkie talkie. You will definitely want to read through the manual, and note that it says for some uses you will need a license to transmit legally, although you can listen all you want without one. There is a companion app that, as best I can tell, lets you store frequency bands for later use. You may also want to look for an app called Repeater Book, which will tell you frequencies where you can listen in on Ham radio broadcasts via repeaters, or use a repeater yourself if you have a license. The radio also picks up weather band and FM stations. You can use this with another walkie talkie if you know the frequency or frequencies it uses, or with another unit of this model if you are both on the same frequency. It's line of sight, so you'll need to be out in the open to get the full range benefits, but it should work well for you over shorter distances.
Customer
Not the best NOAA and FM reception but decent for a portable unit
Nice compact radio for weather and FM but not the best reception.
I really got this because I expected it to have superior reception for FM and NOAA stations and it wasn't as good as I expected. I will try to find a better external antenna that I can connect directly as other portable radios I have that don't allow for external antenna connections.
Overall a great value for the money.
Family of 6
Quick little radio
I like these radios because they are easy to work, quick to turn on and start communicating. There’s good value in having a straightforward radio like this in your kit because you can always hand it out to someone and not be out hundreds of dollars if it gets lost or broken. I always like to have an extra little radio like this hanging off my pack that’s easy to get to if I need it and I won’t feel such a loss if I lost it.
It has the ability to program channels into groups. It has channel and frequency modes along with the weather radio mode. It also has the ability to program direct from a phone.
I tested it out using another GMRS radio I have and it came in clear and was easy to understand. Research GMRS license requirements if you plan on using these.
Overall, this radio is durable, functional, easy to setup and has everything you need to start communicating out of the box. Mine came with a full battery charge out of the box too.
This radio did not come with a cradle but it did come with a USB cable as it has the ability to charge via USB C.
If you’re looking for a quick radio that’ll meet basic needs this one should work fine.
Josh Nation
Welcome to the amazing world of GMSR radio communication
I’m new to the world of GMSR radio use. As others have pointed out, you will need an FCC license to transmit with this radio but that process is quick and easy online. I did it in 10 minutes.
Now for the radio. This thing is a beast. It is a decent size, I saw others mentioning it being a bit big for them, but for me it is perfect. I’m 47 and have plates in screws in both of my wrists (because I am the reason they put the warning of not standing on the top ladder step ugh) and holding this is perfect and much better than the super small walkie talkies you find nowadays. The size makes it easy to handle and the controls are big and easy to manipulate.
This has excellent range and a bevy of features. I’m still in awe of the frequencies, range, and features this device has. After using for a week, I promptly purchased a second unit to use with family and friends. I am new to these devices so not as versed as others but this device has my vote!
This is built rugged and will hold up for years with proper care and storage. I highly recommend.
Amadeus Amadeus
GMRS Radio (license required in the US), nice little powerhouse!
GMRS radios are walkie talkies that can be used when long distance communication is required. They operated in a band that requires an FCC license. The license is issued per family (these are considered more family-oriented walkie talkies), and everyone in the immediate family can use the radio since they all share the same callsign (a call sign issued by the FCC to each license).
Now on to the radio itself. It is a solid unit. The brand Radioddity has many models, and the GM-30 has several variants with different features. This one is the "Pro". Although this item was provided by Vine for review, I did purchase another radio, the "Plus" variant, in order to be able to test the range and other features.
To use this radio you MUST become familiar with the licensing process, and be licensed before start using it (to transmit). The radio has 22 channels for GMRS, plus other features such as NOAA for weather, FM, etc.
I obtained a license to be able to test the radio. Interestingly enough, the license lasts for 10 years, which is quite practical. These radios are able to use repeaters, which are stations that extend their range dramatically. Getting into technical details is beyond the scope of the review, but its important to note that these radios, except for the weather, FM, and basic GMRS, have a learning curve and you must read the manual as not everything is intuitive or common sense.
The unit I received had some weird issue on the screen, but it is not noticeable when the radio is on. It comes packaged with a detached antenna, earphone with microphone, charging cable, belt clip, and the printed manual. It also supposedly comes with software, but I did not have much luck using it, as I think I may have to do some more research (and I did not reach out to the vendor).
The radio battery can be charged with a standard USB-C charger, and it also has connectors for base charging.
The radios have decent reach as long as there's line of sight between the units. Since I live in the city, I did give a radio to a relative who then drove about 15 blocks. Communication from indoors is impossible, the signal simply can't travel from inside a building. However, we both stood outside and we were able to carry out a very nice conversation. Mind you, this is in the middle of a residential area in a major city. I was surprised the radio would have such a reach with so many buildings and trees in the middle.
The use of repeaters can extend the range to dozens of miles, and that's where the real power of GMRS lies. Then again, you must do your own research and learn. I must admit it was fascinating.
Now as to the two models (Pro vs Plus), the Pro has a built-in flashlight next to the power/volume button. The Plus has built-in GPS, which is able to transmit its location to other radios with built-in GPS. Definitely your choice of application will determine which model is best for your needs.
Overall I see tremendous value on this radios. Keep in mind you cannot just "use it" as you could incur in hefty fines if you are not properly licensed. The licensing processing is easy enough and in about 2 days you should receive your license after applying. The process although easy, it is not intuitive. Make sure you find on Google how to properly get your GMRS license.
That said, these radios can be amazing when traveling in multiple vehicles through areas with no cellular reception, for hiking, camping, or going to big fairs or big events. And if you live in areas that are at risk of natural disasters like hurricanes or tornados or floods, it could definitely be a life saver. It is amazing so much can cost so little.
A. Tibbs
Radioddity GM-30 PRO GMRS Radio: Versatile and Reliable for Beginners
This radio is just what I was looking for. I recently got my GMRS license and hadn't used it much, so it's a nice choice for range tests with family members who can share my license (another reason I love GMRS). It receives 8 frequency bands including Airband, 10 NOAA stations, GMRS/FRS, UHF, and more! I like how it communicates with standard walkie-talkies most outdoorsy people already have. It can transmit on overlapping frequencies too (you'll see an 'L' for low-power restricted channels on radios with detachable antennas). Battery life seems to be a few days but I was using this scanning majority of the time so uses more battery too.
It charges via USB-C, which is convenient—I easily charge it with my solar panel and battery bank setup. It has zones but requires manual swapping since they removed the GPS module; they added Bluetooth instead, but the app is buggy on my Google Pixel Android (couldn't see text inputs, wouldn't save configs without explanation). The radio works great overall, though programming apps need improvement. Support responded helpfully in 12-24 hours.
Range tests showed 3-5 miles in my area, better from higher spots like my local park. It receives weather channels clearly indoors (even with the stock antenna in a standard home, though your mileage may vary). A must-have for hiking, camping, or affordable comms! It should work with CHIRP, but I haven't figured it out yet—tried the GM-30 profile on Mac, maybe PC would help.
