CHEAPEST way to go digital HELP NEEDED

Licence free two-way radio services that now includes both FM and digital channels. Discuss models, modifications and other similar worldwide standards such as FRS and GMRS.
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WARLOCK
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CHEAPEST way to go digital HELP NEEDED

Post by WARLOCK »

Is there a cheap way to get onto digital radio ,these days ???
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Re: CHEAPEST way to go digital HELP NEEDED

Post by Admiral »

Yes, buy an MD-380 or one of its clones for DMR, or the dPMR stuff is getting flogged off cheap at the moment. Brand new about £85 these days for a 380 and the dPMRs can be got for around £50 new.
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Re: CHEAPEST way to go digital HELP NEEDED

Post by Farty »

PAYG mobile phones start at under a tenner.
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Re: CHEAPEST way to go digital HELP NEEDED

Post by thelad »

Farty wrote:PAYG mobile phones start at under a tenner.
Cant use that to TX over the shopwatch :lolno:
Uniden UBC120XLT
Uniden USC230E
Uniden UBC3500XLT
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Baofeng BF-888
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Re: CHEAPEST way to go digital HELP NEEDED

Post by radiosification »

Chinese manufacturers make dPMR radios for really cheap. I remember seeing some for as little as about £40 before, but it may have been a special offer or something.
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Re: CHEAPEST way to go digital HELP NEEDED

Post by Sgfcultrajon »

What about a baofeng DM-5R plus
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Re: CHEAPEST way to go digital HELP NEEDED

Post by Admiral »

gmbusman wrote:What about a baofeng DM-5R plus
Have they got Tier2 yet?
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Re: CHEAPEST way to go digital HELP NEEDED

Post by Sgfcultrajon »

The plus is apperantly Motorola digital comparable and digital repter comparably for an extra 4 quid for the plus witch says it tier 2
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Re: CHEAPEST way to go digital HELP NEEDED

Post by radiosification »

I don't think that radio will ever work on tier 2. It probably doesn't have the hardware for it, otherwise they surely would have done it already. I wouldn't recommend buying the DM-5R
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Re: CHEAPEST way to go digital HELP NEEDED

Post by FakeJake »

It does do tier 2, heard someone on UK wide using one via his local repeater. It may still be transmitting on both slots though, I suspect. Needs further testing.
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Re: CHEAPEST way to go digital HELP NEEDED

Post by Sgfcultrajon »

FakeJake wrote:It does do tier 2, heard someone on UK wide using one via his local repeater. It may still be transmitting on both slots though, I suspect. Needs further testing.
It well worth £68 then
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Re: CHEAPEST way to go digital HELP NEEDED

Post by FakeJake »

gmbusman wrote:
FakeJake wrote:It does do tier 2, heard someone on UK wide using one via his local repeater. It may still be transmitting on both slots though, I suspect. Needs further testing.
It well worth £68 then
Only if it's not taking up both slots. If it is, it will be causing any locals wanting to use the other repeater slot some problems and therefore should be avoided
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Re: CHEAPEST way to go digital HELP NEEDED

Post by Admiral »

If anyone can get a definitive answer on the plus that would be great, I've been holding off getting a VHF DMR for a good few months in anticipation of a dual-bander, but even at this price don't want to end up with a lemon, Bumfengs are renowned for not being able to flash the firmware, so I'm thinking that what you buy is what you get, period.
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Re: CHEAPEST way to go digital HELP NEEDED

Post by Sgfcultrajon »

What about a retevis rt3
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Re: CHEAPEST way to go digital HELP NEEDED

Post by Admiral »

gmbusman wrote:What about a retevis rt3
I have two TYT MD-380s (same animal) on UHF, one for legitimate hammy stuff with my 'official' RID and one for tinkering, I want a tinkering VHF set, but when I was looking to get one the dual-banders were anounced, I have been waiting for them to sort their house out so I can have the dual-bander as an ad-hoc set, get rid of one of the 380s and keep one as my hammy unit.
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