Radioddity DB25-G
$$$··
| Frequency | TX: 462.5625-467.725 MHz (30 GMRS channels + repeater channels), RX: 136-174 MHz (VHF) + 400-480 MHz (UHF) dual-band scanning receiver |
| Bands | GMRS (TX) + VHF/UHF dual-band scanning receiver (RX only) |
| TX power | 5 / 10 / 25 W (High 25W / Mid 10W / Low 5W switchable. Average output ~18W. Actual varies with power supply voltage and antenna SWR.) |
| Modes | FM |
| Weight | 450 g (15.9 oz) - 0.45 kg (450g) radio unit per Radioddity spec sheet. Dimensions: 98×44×128 mm. |
| Connector | SO-239 (UHF female — requires PL-259 antenna) |
| Year | 2021 |
| antenna | SO-239 (UHF female) |
| mic | speaker microphone (included) with mic holder |
| dc in | cigarette lighter plug (10-15V, included) |
| power req | DC 13.8V ±15%. Cigarette lighter plug included. |
Estimated (unverified): GMRS radio - a GMRS license is required. 25W/10W/5W (full 25W needs a 13.8V supply); the DB20-G is a SEPARATE 20W model. 30 GMRS channels (22 + 8 repeater); channels 8-14 are RX-only on a mobile. ~200 memory channels; quad-watch. Introduced 2021.
A 25 W GMRS mobile with a dual-band scanner at a budget price. The VHF/UHF scanning receiver (136-174 + 400-480 MHz) adds NOAA weather, MURS, marine, and other frequencies as receive-only channels, similar to the BTECH approach. Quad standby monitors 4 channels, with 260 privacy codes and VOX 1-9. It is CHIRP programmable with the included cable, uses a standard SO-239 antenna connector, and installs via a cigarette-lighter plug. A speaker mic and holder are included, and it is compact at 450 g.
25 W is mid-range (the BTECH 50X1 and Midland MXT575 offer 50 W). The included programming cable has Windows 11 compatibility issues (Prolific chip; an FTDI cable is recommended). Actual output averages ~18 W. No NOAA weather is pre-programmed (you add it via the scanning receiver). Build quality is adequate but not Midland grade. The dealer network is limited, with email-only support.
A mid-power GMRS mobile with a scanner. The DB25-G competes with the BTECH GMRS-50X1 at a lower power level (25 W vs 50 W) but a similar price. The dual-band scanner, quad standby, 260 privacy codes, and CHIRP support make it a capable platform. For operators who want a scanning GMRS mobile without 50 W, it is a reasonable choice.
The Radioddity DB25-G is one of the radios that made GMRS take off with overlanders: a compact, computer-programmable 25-watt GMRS mobile at a fraction of the price of name-brand gear. It is a Part 95E GMRS radio, so legal use needs an inexpensive, no-test family license, and unlike a handheld its 25 watts into a roof antenna gives real range for a convoy or a base station.
It covers the 30 GMRS channels (the 22 main channels plus the 8 repeater inputs) with three power levels, 25, 10, and 5 watts, a wide scanning receiver across VHF and UHF (which can hold NOAA weather channels), and a "quad watch" that monitors four channels at once, an unusually handy feature for keeping tabs on several groups. Note that on the FRS-only channels 8 to 14 it receives but does not transmit, because those channels are limited to low-power handhelds. Programming is done with Radioddity's software or CHIRP (a cable is included, though its Prolific chip can fight Windows 11).
It connects to an external antenna through a standard SO-239 jack and runs on 13.8 volts (a cigarette-lighter lead is included, though full 25 watts wants a proper supply). Do not confuse it with the newer DB20-G, which is a different 20-watt model. As a handheld companion on the same license, Radioddity's own GM-30 pairs naturally, and the BTECH GMRS-50X1 is a higher-power mobile alternative.