Radioddity DB20-G
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| Frequency | TX: 462.5625-462.7125 MHz at 5 W (GMRS channels 1-7); 462.550-462.725 MHz and 467.550-467.725 MHz at up to 18 W (GMRS channels 15-22 and the 8 repeater inputs), RX: 136-174 MHz (VHF), 400-480 MHz (UHF), 65-108 MHz (FM broadcast), and 7 NOAA weather channels |
| Bands | GMRS (TX) + VHF/UHF/FM-broadcast/NOAA scanning receiver (RX) |
| TX power | 5 / 18 W (Marketed as 20 watts, but the radio's own specification sheet rates the high-power output at 18 watts (on GMRS channels 15-22 and the repeater inputs) and 5 watts on channels 1-7, which is the GMRS power limit for those channels. The 20-watt figure is a rounded headline; 18 watts is the real maximum. It is a GMRS radio, so use requires an inexpensive, no-test GMRS license.) |
| Modes | FM, NFM |
| Weight | 450 g (15.9 oz) |
| Year | 2021 |
| antenna | SO-239 (UHF female), 50 ohm; needs an antenna with a PL-259 plug (no antenna is included) |
| mic | 8-pin RJ45 modular jack; hand microphone with the main controls built in |
| ext speaker | 3.5 mm external-speaker jack |
| programming | Programming cable (included); CHIRP and the maker's CPS software are supported |
| dc in | Fixed 13.8 VDC cord with a 12 V cigarette-lighter plug and a 10 A fuse |
| power req | 13.8 VDC +/-15% through the fixed cigarette-lighter cord; no internal battery (it is a DC-powered mobile). |
An inexpensive, compact way into mobile GMRS. The plug-and-play cigarette-lighter cord needs no wiring, and the hand mic puts the main controls in one hand for driving. It carries 500 channels with alpha tags, display sync, 9 DIY repeater channels, wide VHF/UHF/FM/NOAA scanning, split-tone repeater support, and CHIRP programming, on a standard SO-239 jack.
It is a mobile, not a handheld, and the headline 20 watts is really 18 watts on high power and 5 on channels 1-7. No antenna is included, so budget for a mag-mount or NMO. The receiver is a simple direct-conversion design that can struggle near strong transmitters, the bundled software is basic, and the front-panel menu is awkward, so CHIRP or the CPS is easier. The warranty is 18 months from the maker and shorter through other sellers.
The Radioddity DB20-G is a budget, compact GMRS mobile that puts about 18 watts and a wide scanning receiver into a vehicle with nothing more than a cigarette-lighter plug. The hand mic holds the main controls, it stores 500 channels with display sync and DIY repeater slots, and it programs with CHIRP. It suits a first mobile for a UTV, small car or family fleet where 50-watt power is not the priority; just add a good UHF antenna, since none is included.
The Radioddity DB20-G is a compact, inexpensive 20-watt GMRS mobile radio, and despite an old listing that filed it as a handheld, it is a vehicle/base radio, not an HT. It is a Part 95E GMRS radio, so legal use needs an inexpensive, no-test family license; it is not an amateur or license-free radio. It runs FM only, and even at modest power into a roof antenna it reaches well beyond any handheld, which made it a popular budget choice for overlanders, UTVs and rural families.
Its power deserves a footnote. The specification sheet rates the high-power output at 18 watts on the main GMRS channels (15-22) and the repeater inputs, and 5 watts on channels 1-7, which is the GMRS limit there; the '20 watts' on the box is a rounded headline. It covers the 30 GMRS channels (22 simplex plus 8 repeater inputs) and adds 9 DIY repeater slots for storing one frequency under different tones, with split-tone support, 51 CTCSS and 1024 DCS codes. A wide receiver listens across VHF and UHF, the FM broadcast band and 7 NOAA weather channels, for 500 channels total with alpha tags, shown on a color display that lists both name and frequency.
It connects through a standard SO-239 jack (no antenna is included), takes a hand mic on an 8-pin RJ45 jack with the main controls built in, and runs from a fixed cigarette-lighter cord with a 10-amp fuse, so installation needs no wiring. It programs with CHIRP or the maker's software over the included cable. The receiver is a simple direct-conversion design, which keeps the price down but can struggle near strong transmitters.
It is current production and a strong value. The 25-watt DB25-G adds a little power and quad-watch for more money, though the real-world range difference is small; a GMRS handheld companion on the same license is the Radioddity GM-30.