Reddit reviews BTECH Mini UV-25X4 25 Watt Tri-Band Base, Mobile Radio: 136-174mhz (VHF), 220-230mhz (1.25M), 400-520mhz (UHF) Amateur (Ham)
We found 5 Reddit comments about BTECH Mini UV-25X4 25 Watt Tri-Band Base, Mobile Radio: 136-174mhz (VHF), 220-230mhz (1.25M), 400-520mhz (UHF) Amateur (Ham). Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
What Makes the UV-25X4 Unique: Dual Synchronize Display Mode, Mic Audio Gain Settings, Expanded Frequency Range (up to 520MHz), In depth user's guide, Auto Power Off Function, Channel Mode Editing Settings, Auto Scan, Scanning Resume, and Variable Frequency Scanning, Quad Watch Delay Time, Randomization Privacy Mode, Builds upon previous generation UV-2501+220High / Low Power Settings (25W/10W); Frequency Range: 65-108 MHz(Only commercial FM radio reception) 136-174MHz (VHF), 220-260MHz (1.25M) (USA/ASIA), 350-390MHz (EU/ASIA), 400-520MHz (UHF); Broad (Wide) / Narrowband (Narrow) SelectableRecommended Accessories: Pair UV-25X4 with the Nagoya TB-320A Antenna (and RB-50 Magnetic Mount) for easy installation. The PC04 FTDI Cable is recommended for easy computer programmingDual Watch monitoring VHF/UHF and 220Mhz: The 220 MHz band antenna lowpass filter is switched with a relay and the 2 meter lowpass filter and 70 cm highpass filters are switched with PIN diodes - resulting in a audible relay switch noise when monitoring 220MHz with VHF/UHF simultaneously. A relay that completely isolated the 220 MHz RF filter won't impact the RF performance of the 2 meter/70 cm bands. If monitoring multiple 220MHz or VHF/UHF simultaneously the relay is not heard or used.Tribander Mobile Radio Kit Includes: BTECH UV-25X4, Speaker Mic, 6 foot DC Cable with Cigarette Plug Connector, Radio & Mic Brackets, Mounting Hardware, and User Guide
What's your budget? :-)
For starters I'm a big fan of the btech units. I recommend a dual band or a tri band unit. I've been using this and it's quite good:
https://www.amazon.com/BTECH-UV-25X4-Tri-Band-Mobile-Radio/dp/B06XCDWT6V/
They're not bad for $130.
However, make sure you:
Once you get more familiar with the radio-y bits you can look at the kenwood, yaesu, icom, alinco, etc VHF/UHF units. There are some very nice ones but you want to know what you're doing so you don't make them unhappy. It's better to learn that on a $130 radio.
I've been looking at the BTECH's. Have these two saved to my Amazon list:
https://www.amazon.com/BTECH-UV-25X4-Tri-band-Mobile-Radio/dp/B06XCDWT6V/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1525470026&sr=8-1&keywords=btech+mobile+transceiver
https://www.amazon.com/BTECH-MOBILE-UV-50X2-Mobile-Radio/dp/B06XK83VRV/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1525470026&sr=8-2-fkmr1&keywords=btech+mobile+transceiver
How far away is your closest repeater according to RepeaterBook etc?
To use a 4W HT (doesn't actually emit a full 4W BTW) in your situation you may need to resort to making a Yagi beam antenna. Something like this https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/9ggxhr/2m_yagi_v2_with_improved_feed_point_and/ though I'm not sure I'd recommend my exact plan for making one. (It works but it's a bit shoddy and doesn't fold up.)
A J antenna is also good and is omnidirectional but also involves getting at least 2m of coax (it's not a handheld antenna design, though it's easy to make with twin lead "tv antenna" cable and some cutting/soldering), some twin lead cable, and some SMA connectors.
Getting a 25W or better "mobile" (car type) UHF/VHF radio like https://www.amazon.com/BTECH-UV-25X4-Tri-Band-Mobile-Radio/dp/B06XCDWT6V/ with a reasonably well elevated J antenna is also an option that isn't too horribly expensive if you don't want to "QRP" around with 4W.
You might also want to use this http://www.hillmap.com/ as an easy way to figure out if you have any hills between you and repeaters around you. (This will show you a profile in a line between point A and B, but doesn't do radio propagation modeling. For that there's some other software called Radio Mobile.)
But basically even the best whip antenna isn't going to make it that far with a 4W HT unless you're on top of a mountain or something.
TYT TH-9000 is an "OK" monoband rig, but the PA gets damaged when it overheats. OTOH, it can run 60W and it has a nifty D-sub connector that can interface with controllers and such.
I'm currently using the BTECH UV-25X4, and I've been pretty happy with it for 1.25M use.
Either of these are about half of what the Alinco rig costs, but the Alinco is a higher-quality radio than either.
Add a 3-element Yagi to an HT, and that can work pretty well on the 1.25M band, too.
https://www.amazon.com/BTECH-UV-25X4-Tri-band-Mobile-Radio/dp/B06XCDWT6V