Radioddity Anyone tried the Radioddity DB50 yet?

[RenoHuskerDu]

I'm told that it's a rebranded Anytone, but I'm not sure which one. There are no reviews in Amazon yet for Radioddity DB50. I was hoping AntennaFarm would offer it, but they don't. The removable front panel would work well in my pickup.

Anyone have any review to share? Here is the rig: Radioddity DB50

 

[rf_patriot200]

I Have the Anytone 5888UV III which is a Triband 2/222/440 Mhz. and it's pretty much the Same radio, with the exception of 222mhz. R& L Electronics has these Here in the US for $9 more than what Radioddity is asking .

 

[superg7one3]

I picked one up last week, it appears to be a very good exact clone to the 5888 Anytone. I'm an Anytone fan, been running a 778 in my truck for some time and have wanted to upgrade power to the 5888, but had a lot of trouble with the two I bought off Amazon and returned them both. Pleasantly surprised to see a new copy come out of Radioddity because they stand behind their products better than most. I believe it's 1 year warranty if you buy thru Amazon and 1.5 years if you buy direct from Radioddity. Their version of the manual is pretty great, much better than the Anytone one I read. It's not nearly as fancy as some newer radios, I believe it's a 12 year old design, but it's pretty customizable, has tons of features for a dual band and seems to be a powerhouse. On my base station power supply I got out 50.1w on vhf and 39.6w on uhf with a 1.01swr. I plan to put it in the truck with the remote faceplate (5888 faceplate mounting kit fits perfectly). Pretty excited about it so far. Now that I've fiinally got one that works, I'm certain they'll come out with a 50w version of the 778, lol that's how it always goes.

 

[smeltn]

I got one the other day as my first unit to put in my pickup. It doesn't seem to work with CHRP yet. Does anyone know how I can mass import all my channels I have saved to a csv file or from chrp from my other radios? I have a huge list of my saved channels that I want to import into this new DB50 but I can not for the life of me see how to do it with the radioddity software.

 

[TimberDogs]

I got one the other day as my first unit to put in my pickup. It doesn't seem to work with CHRP yet. Does anyone know how I can mass import all my channels I have saved to a csv file or from chrp from my other radios? I have a huge list of my saved channels that I want to import into this new DB50 but I can not for the life of me see how to do it with the radioddity software.

I don’t think there’s a way to do it in the Radioddity software unfortunately…. I’ve still been waiting for CHIRP support on the DB-20 lol. It might be a bit before CHIRP decides to get with the DB50.

 

[rf_patriot200]

I don’t think there’s a way to do it in the Radioddity software unfortunately…. I’ve still been waiting for CHIRP support on the DB-20 lol. It might be a bit before CHIRP decides to get with the DB50.

RT Systems is Much Better software for Anytone radios. Chirp programming has some bugs.

 

[GuitarMan4444]

I picked one up last week, it appears to be a very good exact clone to the 5888 Anytone. I'm an Anytone fan, been running a 778 in my truck for some time and have wanted to upgrade power to the 5888, but had a lot of trouble with the two I bought off Amazon and returned them both. Pleasantly surprised to see a new copy come out of Radioddity because they stand behind their products better than most. I believe it's 1 year warranty if you buy thru Amazon and 1.5 years if you buy direct from Radioddity. Their version of the manual is pretty great, much better than the Anytone one I read. It's not nearly as fancy as some newer radios, I believe it's a 12 year old design, but it's pretty customizable, has tons of features for a dual band and seems to be a powerhouse. On my base station power supply I got out 50.1w on vhf and 39.6w on uhf with a 1.01swr. I plan to put it in the truck with the remote faceplate (5888 faceplate mounting kit fits perfectly). Pretty excited about it so far. Now that I've fiinally got one that works, I'm certain they'll come out with a 50w version of the 778, lol that's how it always goes.

Did you say "now that you got one that works"? I ask because it sounds like you had return back a DB50 and finally got one that works.
If so, what was the problem with the radio? I'm sending g back a DB-40D DMR to Radioddity because it's been a programming nightmare and/or the radio is bad. The package was damaged when I got it and after opening it up the inline fuse holder was crushed which looks like the package took a hard fall or hit.
So I'm now placing an order for the DB50 and the front face-plate assembly.
I'm glad to hear that on VHF it showed 50+ output and 39. on UHF. That's really the reason I didn't order the Anytone 7778 because I wanted a little more power.
Thanks,
Keith S.

I got one the other day as my first unit to put in my pickup. It doesn't seem to work with CHRP yet. Does anyone know how I can mass import all my channels I have saved to a csv file or from chrp from my other radios? I have a huge list of my saved channels that I want to import into this new DB50 but I can not for the life of me see how to do it with the radioddity software.

Ordering one myself and wondering about the same thing! It really seems there should be a way to import those channels into the program or CSP software but if you get it figured out let us all know and I'll do the same.👍🇺🇸

 

[rf_patriot200]

Did you say "now that you got one that works"? I ask because it sounds like you had return back a DB50 and finally got one that works.
If so, what was the problem with the radio? I'm sending g back a DB-40D DMR to Radioddity because it's been a programming nightmare and/or the radio is bad. The package was damaged when I got it and after opening it up the inline fuse holder was crushed which looks like the package took a hard fall or hit.
So I'm now placing an order for the DB50 and the front face-plate assembly.
I'm glad to hear that on VHF it showed 50+ output and 39. on UHF. That's really the reason I didn't order the Anytone 7778 because I wanted a little more power.
Thanks,
Keith S.


Ordering one myself and wondering about the same thing! It really seems there should be a way to import those channels into the program or CSP software but if you get it figured out let us all know and I'll do the same.👍🇺🇸

To program it use RT Systems software, rather than the download Radioddity gives you. You'll have a much easier time.

 

[GuitarMan4444]

Did you say "now that you got one that works"? I ask because it sounds like you had return back a DB50 and finally got one that works.
If so, what was the problem with the radio? I'm sending g back a DB-40D DMR to Radioddity because it's been a programming nightmare and/or the radio is bad. The package was damaged when I got it and after opening it up the inline fuse holder was crushed which looks like the package took a hard fall or hit.
So I'm now placing an order for the DB50 and the front face-plate assembly.
I'm glad to hear that on VHF it showed 50+ output and 39. on UHF. That's really the reason I didn't order the Anytone 7778 because I wanted a little more power.
Thanks,
Keith S.


Ordering one myself and wondering about the same thing! It really seems there should be a way to import those channels into the program or CSP software but if you get it figured out let us all know and I'll do the same.👍🇺🇸

I wish you lots of better luck with it than I had, I had it a month and never got to use it because of the programming. But I'm definitely not a computer whiz but I worked hours everyday for a month and had no luck.
I've ordered another type and haven't even received it yet but the program for the coming radio I've already started programming all my repeater frrequencies then I can just write them to the radio. Seems like CHIRP but better!

 

[rf_patriot200]

I wish you lots of better luck with it than I had, I had it a month and never got to use it because of the programming. But I'm definitely not a computer whiz but I worked hours everyday for a month and had no luck.
I've ordered another type and haven't even received it yet but the program for the coming radio I've already started programming all my repeater frrequencies then I can just write them to the radio. Seems like CHIRP but better!

Use Chirp at your Own risk. The Chirp website tells you right up front they're Not responsible if you brick your radio. When a website tells you this, Obviously they're not to be trusted. RT Systems is your logical choice.

 

[PaulSWIdaho]

I just picked up two of them on a bundle sale (one radio with free remote head kit). So far they are very good. My house is line of sight to a mountain with a LOT of 2way stuff on it and I have yet to hear any IM. Maybe in a big city area it will get overloaded, but none so far. I get great TX audio reports.
It does have a couple of quirks:
1- the lowest RX volume level is too high for use at home. I run an external speaker and made an 8dB attenuator out of resistors to cut the level going to the speaker. Now the lowest level is fine for a quiet room and there is plenty of up to go.
2- There is a button labeled TV/SQ which if you hold it it opens the squelch and momentarily changes the displayed channel name to the actual frequency. I like the later. But apparently there is some "TV" function and a "TV" output on the back. Maybe I'm confused, but I'm having a hard time rationalizing what a TV function is doing on a 2 way radio.
3- Bonus dislike: since only 7 characters are required to display the frequency, the channel name is also limited to 7 characters. These days we should get 8 minimum, 12 ideally. So it's a bit odd cramming in a repeater town name into 7 characters, especially where there are several repeaters in the same town and I want unique names for each one.

It has a couple of super great ideas IMHO:
1- the front control can be remote mounted using the remote kit. But, here's the great part, you really don't need the remote kit as the cable between the head and the radio is ETHERNET compatible. It's recommended to use CAT6 Ethernet so you get a larger conductor size to run the head over a long distance. But just not really having to buy a remote kit and using dirt cheap Ethernet cable is brilliant.
2- The fan, oh how I love this fan. It has yet to come on even when the radio is getting quite warm. I keyed down for a long time into dummy load just to hear it come on, and it's super quiet. Unlike several other radios from the past where the fan comes on the moment you key the mic and is so noisy that you have to turn the RX volume up. This radio is done very well in this regard.
3- bonus like: It comes out of the box fully unlocked. Any freq within it's range is all open. Just program and go, TX included.

Longevity, user friendliness and actual RF performance is still TBD.

 

[rf_patriot200]

I Have the Anytone 5888UV III which is a Triband 2/222/440 Mhz. and it's pretty much the Same radio, with the exception of 222mhz. R& L Electronics has these Here in the US for $9 more than what Radioddity is asking .

Bump ... 3 Bands are Always better than 2 for the Same price ! ... ok $9 fine.

 

[PaulSWIdaho]

yes, 3 are better than 2

I too am Anytone fan even though I have never owned one. I will say that the SW on this DB50 seems pretty good. Maybe the Anytone is as good or better, I don't know.

 

[rf_patriot200]

yes, 3 are better than 2

I too am Anytone fan even though I have never owned one. I will say that the SW on this DB50 seems pretty good. Maybe the Anytone is as good or better, I don't know.

I've had my AT-58888UVIII for 3 years, and it's Great, except for only 30 watts on 222mhz. But you can't have it all I guess. All the other bells and whistles are there though. Best prices are from R&L Electronics.

 

[PaulSWIdaho]

Just a question about these so called CCR's, that use SDR as receivers. Sure we can measure TX power, that's rather easy. Some people have measured TX spurs, that's not very difficult either. But what I don't see are measurements of RX sensitivity. Has anyone measured RX Sens on these radios or any of the other CCR SDR radios?
thanks in advance.

 

[nd5y]

But what I don't see are measurements of RX sensitivity. Has anyone measured RX Sens on these radios or any of the other CCR SDR radios?

I've seen a couple videos a long time ago where receiver sensitivity was measured on Baofeng UV-5Rs. I don't remember exactly which models. I couldn't tell how they had their service monitors set up so I couldn't tell if they were even doing it right.

They seem to be very sensitive when receiving one frequency while hooked up to test equipment and not affected by other real world signals and I think I only saw them check one frequency on each band.

I haven't seen anybody check rx or tx at the high end and low end of the specified operating ranges and several points in between to see how much the measurements vary across the operating range. Probably never occured to the youtube clowns to do something like that.

 

[PaulSWIdaho]

Very interesting. I would guess that there is not a lot of variation across the (ham) band as basically these receivers are a mixer followed by a DSP. Not much frequency selectivity going on there in the front end. What I'm pretty sure they do have is a bunch of receiver spurs. Having worked on cell phone receivers for several years I can attest that there are a bunch of spurious frequency sources going on and quieting them down is a challenge, something I doubt is done a lot in a $100 ham transceiver. Maybe the only good news is that the ham transceiver doesn't have much CPU stuff going on, so the opportunity for spurs is less than a cell phone.

Back to the original question, I did look at the specs of one of the SDR chips and concluded that it has RX sensitivity about 2dB worse than a decent superhet receiver could/should be. So that's really not bad when you come down to real world use. Sure I wouldn't want this in an SSB radio for example where I'm interested in weak signal DX'ing, but for "simple" FM work on repeaters or local stuff, 2dB is not much considering the antenna can make or loose 2dB in a heartbeat as they say.

 

[RenoHuskerDu]

I just picked up two of them on a bundle sale (one radio with free remote head kit). So far they are very good. My house is line of sight to a mountain with a LOT of 2way stuff on it and I have yet to hear any IM. Maybe in a big city area it will get overloaded, but none so far. I get great TX audio reports.
It does have a couple of quirks:
1- the lowest RX volume level is too high for use at home. I run an external speaker and made an 8dB attenuator out of resistors to cut the level going to the speaker. Now the lowest level is fine for a quiet room and there is plenty of up to go.
2- There is a button labeled TV/SQ which if you hold it it opens the squelch and momentarily changes the displayed channel name to the actual frequency. I like the later. But apparently there is some "TV" function and a "TV" output on the back. Maybe I'm confused, but I'm having a hard time rationalizing what a TV function is doing on a 2 way radio.
3- Bonus dislike: since only 7 characters are required to display the frequency, the channel name is also limited to 7 characters. These days we should get 8 minimum, 12 ideally. So it's a bit odd cramming in a repeater town name into 7 characters, especially where there are several repeaters in the same town and I want unique names for each one.

It has a couple of super great ideas IMHO:
1- the front control can be remote mounted using the remote kit. But, here's the great part, you really don't need the remote kit as the cable between the head and the radio is ETHERNET compatible. It's recommended to use CAT6 Ethernet so you get a larger conductor size to run the head over a long distance. But just not really having to buy a remote kit and using dirt cheap Ethernet cable is brilliant.
2- The fan, oh how I love this fan. It has yet to come on even when the radio is getting quite warm. I keyed down for a long time into dummy load just to hear it come on, and it's super quiet. Unlike several other radios from the past where the fan comes on the moment you key the mic and is so noisy that you have to turn the RX volume up. This radio is done very well in this regard.
3- bonus like: It comes out of the box fully unlocked. Any freq within it's range is all open. Just program and go, TX included.

Longevity, user friendliness and actual RF performance is still TBD.

7 character limit is a no go for me. I'll stick with used tri-band units from an old ham I know who has a 4-car garage full of used stuff to sell. I have not bought a new rig yet. Just one base antenna and several mobile antennas.

Thank you for the thoughtful review.

 

[rf_patriot200]

7 character limit is a no go for me. I'll stick with used tri-band units from an old ham I know who has a 4-car garage full of used stuff to sell. I have not bought a new rig yet. Just one base antenna and several mobile antennas.

Thank you for the thoughtful review.

The Anytone AT-5888UVIII is a Tri-band 2/222/440mhz. mobile. Most tri band radios are 7 characters in the display on A/B band. Fyi.