BTECH UV-PRO IP67 Dual Band VHF/UHF Two-Way Radio - APRS, Bluetooth, GPS, Text Messaging, Aviation Band Scanner, NOAA Weather Alerts, USB-C Rechargeable Battery

This radio is amazing. It works as advertised, has frequent firmware updates and is very well constructed. You really cannot beat the features for price. USB-C charging and the app is very intuitive. There is a learning curve as with all ham devices, but I figured most things out quickly. The NOAA weather alert I slowed and works as well as a standalone device. Thoroughly enjoying this radio.

While the radio is great I got to say that it feels a bit that the company is milking the consumer. Bluetooth ptt button, $22 for a small button that needs to be almost next to the radio.Anyhow. Programming the radio can be a little bit of a process. There are templates out there you can fill out and upload to the radio.Pros: bluetooth works work my cardo headset so I can stay in touch with other people in cars if we commute together.Radio feels solid, price was OK.

I love these radios and would recommend them to anyone.I purchased this for my brother. My dad got one as well. I have the VGC model.The HT, and Btech apps work on all of them, including the GMRS pro, which I have 2 of.The Ham versions and GMRS versions share the same BSS signaling protocol, while the ham version further supports APRS and KISSTNC. There is a Windows app available for controlling the radio as well, I believe it's called HT commander.There are differences from the VGC model, that is in support for weather channels built in, and positioning being limited to GPS on the Btech model. The VGC supports both GPS and BDS, and supports tandem use. This means that GPS positioning is potentially more accurate or reliable on the VGC model.There are a lot of less documented features, like bridging internet channels with RF channels, allowing for a kind or internet relay or repeater function. The GMRS version does not support this. There is also the ability to signal location data on a different channel from voice, which again, the GMRS version does not support.This radio is great, and getting better with software updates all the time. VGC regularly pushes firmware updates that add meaningful functionality.

FCC ID: 2AGND-UV-PROAn amateur or part 90 radio license is required to transmit with this radio.This radio is a dual band amateur radio. It receives and transmits on the 2 meter, and 70 cm bands. It also receives the civilian aircraft band.This radio has many unique features. It has send and receive APRS capability. It has transmit and receive I-gate capability. It has digipeater capability (which currently does not work). It has a relay (parrot) function that receives and retransmits the received audio. It has a nonstandard microphone connector. BTECH sells an adapter to allow K1 style accessories. A bluetooth microphone is available also.Transmit and received audio is great. The radio has a mic gain control.The radio is programmed via a smartphone application. Also, most radio functions can be set and adjusted from the app. The app does NOT need to be running for the APRS and other functions to work. The radio has a GPS system and can work autonomously. This radio is NOT CHIRP-Compatible.APRS is awesome, supporting send and receive. It supports all common APRS symbols and allows you to send and receive messages. The I-gate works well, sending received stations to APRS-IS and receiving the same. There is a digipeater function that you run from the app. This radio uses standard amateur AX.25 protocol for amateur use and a proprietary "BSS" protocol for business/Part 90 use.The radio uses AX.25/BSS to identify and indicate position for group use and can display onscreen the bearing of other UV PRO radios in the group. It can also display bearings of received APRS stations.A Bluetooth KISS TNC is now implemented! It works great! You connect it to your computer and run your packet program, directing it to one of the comm ports Bluetooth opens and you are running.This radio has more features than any other analog radio I've ever seen. It is firmware upgradeable, and the app is upgradeable. This future-proofs the radio and allows future development of the unit. I look forward to the future with this series.It is maturing fast! Firmware updates come often. It still has some development to go through yet, before it reaches its full potential; but it is darn close.The price is very attractive. You get a lot with what you pay for. I highly recommend this radio.Edited: Digipeater works, KISS capability, Added fifth star.UPDATE: Digipeater function only works with other UV-pros. I tried with my Yaesu and it didn't work. Also, another vehicle mobiling along wasn't picked up by the UV-PRO.Also, the radio is not a s sensitive as other radios I have. Very noticeable.So..... I'm taking a star back away.