Radioddity GM-30
$····
| Frequency | TX: 462.5625-467.725 MHz (30 GMRS channels: 22 standard + 8 repeater), RX: VHF + UHF scanning receiver (219 programmable RX-only channels), NOAA weather + FM broadcast (receive) |
| Bands | GMRS (TX) + VHF/UHF scanning receiver (RX only) |
| TX power | 0.5 / 5 W (0.5W / 5W. GMRS handheld legal limit.) |
| Modes | FM |
| Weight | 230 g (8.1 oz) - Approximate ~230g with battery. |
| Connector | SMA-Female on the radio body - takes SMA-Male antennas (note: the GM-30 Pro/Plus flipped to SMA-Male on the radio) |
| Year | 2021 |
| antenna | SMA-Female on the radio body - takes SMA-Male antennas (note: the GM-30 Pro/Plus flipped to SMA-Male on the radio) |
| accessory | Kenwood K1 style jack |
| charging | USB-C port |
| power req | Li-ion rechargeable battery with USB-C charging. |
Estimated (unverified): GMRS radio - a GMRS license is required (Radioddity's 'amateur radio' disclaimer wording is misleading). 5W/0.5W; 30 GMRS channels (22 + 8 repeater); 250 memory channels; FM broadcast + NOAA RX; USB-C; removable SMA antenna; ~1500 mAh Li-ion. Introduced ~2021.
A properly FCC-certified GMRS handheld with a dual-band scanner, USB-C, NOAA, FM, and CHIRP support at a budget price. The scanning receiver lets you monitor VHF/UHF beyond GMRS. Display sync helps group coordination, and there are 250 channels with editable scan lists. Front-panel programming works without a PC, and the SMA-F connector allows antenna upgrades. The GM-30 Plus and PRO add GPS, 1,000 channels, airband, and more.
5 W GMRS max. Build quality reflects the price. The voice scrambler is easily defeated (voice inversion only). Receiver selectivity is basic. The firmware is Chinese, with email-only support. The GM-30 Plus, for slightly more, is a meaningful upgrade worth considering over the base model.
A budget GMRS handheld with a scanner. The GM-30 offers Part 95E legal GMRS with a VHF/UHF scanner, USB-C, NOAA, FM, and CHIRP support at a budget price. For slightly more, the GM-30 Plus adds GPS tracking, 1,000 channels, and 8-band receive, making it one of the more capable budget GMRS handhelds.
The Radioddity GM-30 is a budget GMRS handheld that does a lot for around twenty-five dollars: 5 watts, repeater-capable, computer-programmable, and USB-C rechargeable. It is a Part 95E GMRS radio, so it needs an inexpensive, no-test family license, and it has become a default cheap entry into GMRS for overlanders and preppers, often bought alongside a DB25-G mobile.
It covers the 30 GMRS channels including the 8 repeater channels, with a generous 250 memory slots, NOAA weather with a one-button scan, an FM broadcast receiver, and a wide scanning receiver. A nice touch is its "display sync," which shows both the channel name and frequency at once. It programs from the keypad, from Radioddity's software, or from CHIRP (added in a firmware update), and it charges over USB-C, still uncommon at this price.
It takes a removable SMA antenna so you can fit a better whip, and runs on a 1500 mAh lithium battery with a larger one optional. One labeling quirk to ignore: Radioddity's boilerplate disclaimer mentions an "amateur radio" license, but this is a GMRS radio and it is a GMRS license you need. It pairs with the 25-watt DB25-G mobile, and competes with the app-programmable TIDRADIO handheld.