Talkpod A36 Plus

[Spankymedic7]

Hi all,

This radio (Talkpod A36 Plus) was recently released, and has been getting quite a bit of positive reviews...so I bought one. Granted, for $50 I wasn't expecting much, but was surprised that it did more than I previously thought. My question is this: It has the capability to encode MDC1200; however, it seems to want to add on a 3 tone ANI string at the beginning of the MDC1200 data burst. I've scoured the software (CHIRP) in an attempt to disable the ANI part of this, but can't find where to do so. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

Cory-

 

[AK9R]

has been getting quite a bit of positive reviews

From bloggers and YouTubers? Has anyone looked up the FCC ID? Has anyone looked at the output on a spectrum analyzer?

Interesting that Talkpod's website claims that it's a GMRS transceiver, but then goes on to say "Pre-Programmed for HAM" and only talks about it's FCC Part 15B authorization grant. Though, later on the web page, it says "Tx Locked at GMRS bands for USA market" which tells me that a firmware change is required to use it on amateur radio...which would violate it's equipment authorization for Part 95E.

Oh, it's Part 95E grant is only for 2.6 to 2.8 watts.

 

[WR9A]

From bloggers and YouTubers? Has anyone looked up the FCC ID? Has anyone looked at the output on a spectrum analyzer?

Lots of good, but one BIG bad. Really strong, multiple harmonic spurs!

 

[MTS2000des]

As can be expected with low rent radios based on the venerable and low cost RDA SOCs with no/poor transmit filtering. Ho hum.

 

[VK3RX]

I was considering buying one: nice size, great display, seemed to have fairly straightforward menu structure .... then I saw the videos re high level harmonics.

No thanks - pity. Hope in time they sort that out.

 

[BigLebowski]

So if you change it to the "expand" mode will it receive the entire 225-380 range in AM mode or just the two chunks without 260-350? If it will receive the whole band I may have a use for one as a receiver.

 

[turdish]

Radtel Rt-890 (aka Ruyage uv58plus) is a safer/better buy. Better UI, better features, Stable Chirp next support (as of early July), USBc charging support. Harmonics testing in 460mhz range is cleanish (only 1-2db out of spec). About the same price as the Talkpod, unless you wait a month and have it shipped from AliExpress. RT-890 has a flat top, so putting BNC-F to SMA-M adapter is not a problem.

 

[W4KRR]

So if you change it to the "expand" mode will it receive the entire 225-380 range in AM mode or just the two chunks without 260-350? If it will receive the whole band I may have a use for one as a receiver.

260 to 350 MHz still missing, and FM only in the remainder of the mil-air band

 

[86lidewell]

As soon as I add a duplex + for a repeater channel, it will no longer transmit. I guess all those reviewers never tested it against a repeater? Support email through amazon responded that they would look into it but have not seen a repsonse after that.
Works fine simplex. As noted in some reviews, the default configuration is non-standard, including all repeater offsets are set to 3.00000.

My virus software stopped the bootloader when I was upgrading to the latest firmware.

 

[Bolt21]

Just picked one of these up from Amazon recently and have some questions.

1) Mine has 256 memories slots, but it was advertised as having 512. Is this not the case?

2) I really liked the larger alpha tag font shown on the Amazon photos, but when I program channel names, it's just the small near-microscopic font while in Memory mode. Is the larger alpha tag font available in Memory mode like it is (the numbers, at least) in VFO mode?

Thanks.

 

[W4KRR]

Just picked one of these up from Amazon recently and have some questions.

1) Mine has 256 memories slots, but it was advertised as having 512. Is this not the case?

2) I really liked the larger alpha tag font shown on the Amazon photos, but when I program channel names, it's just the small near-microscopic font while in Memory mode. Is the larger alpha tag font available in Memory mode like it is (the numbers, at least) in VFO mode?

Thanks.

1) Only 256 channels total. You have A mode and B mode, but they're both the same 256 memories.
2) Large font is in VFO mode; small font is for memory mode. No way that I have found to get the larger font in memory mode.

 

[Bolt21]

Ok, thanks for your response. I can live with the 256 memory total, but would really like to know how they got those larger tags in the Amazon pics.

 

[madrabbitt]

From bloggers and YouTubers? Has anyone looked up the FCC ID? Has anyone looked at the output on a spectrum analyzer?

Interesting that Talkpod's website claims that it's a GMRS transceiver, but then goes on to say "Pre-Programmed for HAM" and only talks about it's FCC Part 15B authorization grant. Though, later on the web page, it says "Tx Locked at GMRS bands for USA market" which tells me that a firmware change is required to use it on amateur radio...which would violate it's equipment authorization for Part 95E.

Oh, it's Part 95E grant is only for 2.6 to 2.8 watts.

Like most of these, its not a firmware change, but a software toggle to switch it from GMRS mode to.. other modes.
Specific keys held down at powerup.

somehow, the justification for this (and some other GMRS certificated) radios is, it comes in box locked to GMRS mode, and thats 95 compliant, but if the user switches modes, its not the radios fault its now non compliant.

And, i know this is probably also beat to death but its messy as F on VHF. Hell, some harmonics draw so much power that it barely puts out 50% of its output power on the frequency you're TRYING to transmit on.

it DOES make a decent $50 GMRS radio, and i DID get some good results with it on 70cm (after i pressed the appropriate keys) on a hurricane assignment. For whatever reason, its not anywhere near as messy in the 440-460 range

 

[2IR473]

Just an FYI on the 256 channel capacity…Talkpod has released a new firmware version 1.22 and CPS that allows for 512 total channels. I would read your radio and save it, as it doesn’t seem to like to deal with a saved file from the previous 256 flavor.
The funny thing is...you can’t directly access the newly added channels via the keypad. You can only punch in up to channel 256 with the keypad. Trying to punch in 257 or above with the keypad will not work.Guess they missed that function, but that’s what firmware updates are all about.
Here is the link to Talkpod’s site that announces the update…Talkpodonline Blog