Baofeng DM-1801
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| Frequency | 136-174 MHz (VHF), 400-470 MHz (UHF) |
| TX power | 1 / 5 W (Rated 5W high / 1W low; measured ~4W high. DMR Tier I/II + analog FM.) |
| Modes | FM (analog), DMR (Tier I and Tier II, TDMA dual time slot) |
| Battery | Li-ion 2200mAh / 7.4V |
| Weight | 250 g (8.8 oz) - ~250g approximate with battery. |
| Connector | SMA-Male on the radio body - takes SMA-Female antennas (note: opposite of its GD-77 donor design) |
| Year | 2019 |
| antenna | SMA-Male on the radio body - takes SMA-Female antennas (note: opposite of its GD-77 donor design) |
| speaker mic | Kenwood K1 style 2-pin (2.5mm + 3.5mm) |
| charging | desktop charger (included) |
| power req | 2200 mAh 7.4V Li-ion battery (included). Desktop charger included. Programming cable NOT included. |
Estimated (unverified): AMATEUR (ham) radio - FCC Technician-class license or higher required (NOT GMRS/license-free). Dual-band DMR (Tier I/II) + analog FM; rated 5W (measured ~4W). 1024 channels; 1024 manually-programmed digital contacts - CANNOT store the full worldwide DMR user database. SMA-F antenna; Kenwood 2-pin; ~2200 mAh battery. Software defaults analog to 12.5 kHz (most repeaters use 25 kHz). Introduced late 2018 into 2019; largely superseded by the DR-1801UV.
One of the cheapest ways into both DMR and OpenGD77. It offers DMR Tier I/II for about the price of a UV-5R. OpenGD77 turns it into a radio that rivals DMR HTs costing several times as much, with hotspot mode, satellite tracking, APRS, voice prompts, and a full DMR ID database. It uses the same proven NXP/AT1846S/HR-C6000 chipset as the GD-77, with a 2200 mAh battery (~18 hr) and Kenwood 2-pin accessories, about 30% cheaper than a GD-77 for the same capability.
The stock firmware is minimal; DMR programming needs PC software (no front-panel DMR entry). Important: 2022+ versions are not OpenGD77 compatible (different hardware), and pre-2022 units are getting harder to find. No GPS, Bluetooth, or USB-C. The display is monochrome. The programming cable is not included. Baofeng provides no firmware support (the community does it all). Build quality is budget-grade, and the DR-1801 successor is not OpenGD77 compatible either.
An inexpensive DMR handheld that runs OpenGD77. The DM-1801's main draw is being one of the cheapest radios that runs the open-source OpenGD77 firmware. Flashed with it, a bargain-priced radio gains hotspot mode, satellite tracking, APRS, and DMR features that stock firmware does not match. For new hams exploring DMR, it is a low-cost entry. Verify you are getting pre-2022 hardware before buying.
The Baofeng DM-1801 is a budget DMR handheld, one of the cheapest ways to get onto digital amateur radio, and for many hams it was a first DMR radio precisely because it cost so little. It is an amateur (ham) radio for the 2-meter and 70-centimeter bands and requires an FCC Technician-class license or higher to transmit; it is not GMRS or license-free. It does both DMR (Tier I and II, with the two time slots) and analog FM, switching automatically between them.
It transmits a rated 5 watts (measured closer to 4), holds 1,024 channels, and stores up to 1,024 manually programmed digital contacts. That last figure is its key limitation: unlike the pricier AnyTone radios, it cannot hold the full worldwide DMR user database, so it will not automatically display every caller's name. Other rough edges include small keypad buttons, a short nine-character display line, and a programming quirk where the software defaults analog channels to a narrow 12.5 kHz spacing that most repeaters do not use.
The antenna jack is SMA-female and the accessory port is the standard Kenwood two-pin. It has been largely superseded by the updated DR-1801UV, but as a no-frills introduction to DMR it did its job. For a far more capable (and pricier) DMR handheld, the AnyTone AT-D878UVII Plus is the step up; the rugged, high-power Ailunce HD1 is another DMR option.