Radioddity DB50-B Review: A Truly Surprising Radio

--By Robert Gulley K4PKM

The Radioddity DB50-B is a 2-meter/440-MHz multiband radio with built-in GPS and APRS/KISS TNC/ Bluetooth capabilities, in a very compact package. Control of the radio is performed through the handheld microphone, and/or through the free Apple or Android app. This ambitious product from Radioddity offers a lot of functionality at a price-point coming in lower than comparable radios by Kenwood, Yaesu, and other similar brands. Frankly, I am not aware of any other radio with this complement of features. It is a new generation of radio.

This is a review of a radio provided by Radioddity to me for testing purposes, along with an antenna mount and antenna discussed further down in the review. I have no other affliation with Radioddity, and the radio equipment is provided with the clear understanding I will report my Fndings whatever they may be, the good and the bad. I accept nothing from any company for review without this clear understanding. With that said and out of the way, let’s dig into the meat of the review.

First, any radio needs to be evaluated on the merits of its ability to accomplish its core function, which, in this case, means operating as a 2-meter/440 MHz amateur radio transceiver. This is a 50-watt radio which consumes 9 amps at 50 watts output. It may also be operated at 25 watts and 8 watts, medium and low power respectively.

I tested the radio using various repeaters approximately 40+ miles away and had no trouble hitting them using my 2m/440 log periodic antenna, even off the back of the antenna. I have my antenna pointed southwest but could still hit a repeater that was 180 degrees northeast with a very usable signal. I found the audio to be quite good based on the signal strength of the incoming signal.

I’ll discuss programming later, but repeaters can be programmed with offsets and tones, and stored in channels (memories). There are six banks of 32 channels, for a total of 192 channels. Each channel can be given a standard name (such as APRS, K4CO, CVG, ARES etc.). Offsets can be chosen automatically or, if non-standard, can be entered manually. For channel programming functions I prefer using the app. For other programming functions I prefer using the microphone. This really just comes down to what makes the most sense to you, and what allows you to get the job done most effciently.

One other programming feature I will mention here is the Sync function which allows you to program another DB50-B or the Radioddity GA-5WB handheld over Bluetooth using a “Sync” command. It takes only moments and is definitely impressive!

The radio has an extended receive capability which makes the radio useful for monitoring not only amateur radio, but also Air Band, GMRS/Family Radio, and analog public safety frequencies commonly in use.

RX: 88-108 MHz (FM) / 108-137 MHz (Air Band) /136-174 MHz / 174-225 MHz / 300-400 MHz / 400-520 MHz

While not speci𿿿cally allocated, NOAA weather stations may be programmed into channels, as well as analog police, fire, marine, and other public service channels. This radio does not replace a proper scanner for fast scanning of emergency/Public Service frequencies, but it is quite capable of monitoring/scanning programmed frequencies for a multitude of uses at home or in the field.

Just to be clear, this radio does not feature DMR, P25, Fusion, or any digital signals (packet and APRS being the exceptions). However, audio out from the main unit can be piped into a computer and processed through software (for example FT8 on 2m or 440 receive). The external speaker jack, located on the back of the main unit, has a TRRS con- nector, but only T and S are wired.

The radio can transmit on 136-174 / 400-470 MHz, but of course, amateur radio operators are not licensed outside of standard amateur bands, and GMRS requires a separate license. A nice feature of the radio programming is a “Disable TX” switch which allows monitoring of a frequency/channel without the risk of accidentally transmitting on unlicensed portions of the band. The radio has FCC Part 97 approval for amateur use.

Let’s be realistic. There are all kinds of 2m/440 radios out there, so why might this radio stand out? Well, for me, it offers a number of features which I enjoy operating, not the least of which is the APRS capability. When I previously had an APRS-capable radio, I enjoyed working through the Inter- national Space Station (AX.25 1200 Bd AFSK Packet Radio, Worldwide Downlink 145.825 Uplink 145.825), as well as tracking APRS movements on the aprs.fi Live Map of ships and planes and other vehicles, as well as working the Packet mode for messaging.

The DB50-B has GPS and KISS TNC built into the radio and so becomes a complete APRS solution. For those unfamiliar with APRS, a bit of background is in order.

APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) is a system designed around mobile communications, but with many uses for base operations as well. APRS was the brainchild of Bob Bruninga WB4APR (SK) and has been in continual development by Bob and others for over 25 years.

Many folks have the misconception that APRS is basically just a GPS-enabled tracking protocol, often mis- stating the meaning of the acronym as Automatic Positioning Reporting System. APRS is first and foremost a packet protocol, with the reporting being anything the user chooses to send as a block of information.

Some examples include local repeater information along with club information; weather information; announcements of local events; traf𿿿c conditions; voice alerts for simplex or repeater operation with other nearby hams; messaging; internet linking through I-gates, and a host of other information sent over packet radio.

We’ll get this one out of the way right off, because many people never get beyond APRS’s positioning capabilities. APRS does indeed offer a wealth of support for positioning data, whether moving vehicles, fixed stations, planes, ships, or satellites. If it moves and can be measured, chances are there is a way to get the information into an APRS format suitable for transmission.

Some of the more popular uses beyond following vehicles traveling down the road involve tracking hot air balloon launches, telemetry data from satellites, repeater locations/freq./tone, IRLP/ Echolink nodes/freq./tone, even important landmarks such as hospitals and police stations, or checkpoints along public service events.

Waypoints can be set as well as destinations, routes can be mapped and GPS logs can be saved or transmitted to track where you have been. Hikers/campers can find these features particularly useful, and anyone searching for someone can use several available online maps to locate someone who might be lost or in distress. APRS has even been used to track stolen cars since most thieves are not aware of its use!

As mentioned above, I have made numerous contacts over the years with stations around the country using the APRS capabilities aboard the ISS. There is something quite cool in knowing you have sent a signal up into space and having it relayed through the Space Station back to earth, and hearing stations answer back. The DB50-B has settings available for using the ISS as a repeater, as well as other amateur satellites, so channels or groups can be dedicated for that function.

Before the internet, APRS was delivering messages passed along from station to station with the use of digipeaters. Now APRS includes IGates (Internet Gateways) as well as traditional digipeaters, so signals can go through either gateway, or a combination of the two. Text messages may be sent, and even short emails are able to be sent by APRS through the APRS-IS network.

If you have never worked with APRS in the past, it can seem rather daunting at first. Receiving signals sounds like old-time modems connecting to a BBS. Setting up the radio to receive APRS is as simple as tuning into one of the common APRS area-wide frequencies for your geographic location. The most common frequencies are:
144.390 MHz – Colombia, Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, North America, Thailand
144.575 MHz – New Zealand
144.640 MHz – China
144.660 MHz – Japan
144.800 MHz – Europe, South Africa, Russia
144.930 MHz – Argentina, Uruguay
145.175 MHz – Australia
145.570 MHz – Brazil

Do some research at How APRS Works, and to find out some of its history, go to aprs.org.

Setting up to transmit APRS from the radio requires information from both manuals included with the radio, as well as an important tip not quite clearly indicated in the HT APP manual, as I found out the hard way. But hey, I learn these things the hard way, so you don’t have to! Two settings need to be changed from their default setting, or the radio will not transmit APRS beacon signals. The settings are: “Time to Live” and “Maximum Forwarding Times,” both of which need to be set to something other than the default “0” from the factory. The recommended setting is “2” for both, and this seems to work well with my station.

I felt the issue was important enough to report to the company as a suggested change to either the default factory setting or to the manual’s expla- nation, or both. Hopefully this change will be implemented in the future to make setup and operation easier.

This radio really does represent a new generation of 2m/440 radios, not only for the powerful programming of the radio made possible over Bluetooth, but also because it offers features I have yet to see in other radios of similar design.

First, programming and program updates over Bluetooth, without the need for programming cables, is excellent. Using the Android version of the app I watched the radio’s firmware get updated from version .8 to .9 with just the click of a button. Likewise, loading channels by groups is simplicity in itself, with a tap on one of the 32 channels in each group bringing up the programming interface to load repeaters, APRS channels, satellite modes, and so on. Programming channels through an app is easy, but even programming a channel through the handset is almost as easy – either way works. Channels can also be loaded from files, but I have not tried that function. Of course, you can also load frequencies into VFO 1 or 2 for temporary operation as needed.

Second, the ability to quickly synchronize multiple radios (DB50-B or GA- 5WB HT) gets everyone in your team on the same page, great for events like marathons, parades, or emergency operations. Any settings not applicable to the GA-5WB are ignored by the HT, and the process is very smooth.

Signaling between the group allows for messages, calling specific people, checking on individuals, and a search function for nearby people makes staying in touch and locating people on the radio’s maps easy. Also, there is a commander mode which allows folks within a group to receive command changes from the command radio.

Third, the radio is capable of finding, displaying, and tracking known amateur radio satellites, as well as being able to have new ones added as they come online. The radio knows how to adjust for frequency/doppler shifts automatically (!) and displays relevant information about the chosen satellite through the HT app.

Fourth, remote operation capability through Bluetooth and the Android app is a real game-changer. (I hope the Apple version adds this functionality, but much of that depends on how open the operating system is, as Apple tends to limit access for certain functions.) While I have not tested other Android software for things like FT8, Morse code, etc., it would seem these programs could greatly extend the functionality of the radio. Even so, just having the ability to play good audio from the radio over the phone or tablet, and push a software button to transmit, is an excellent addition. Yes, you read that correctly – you can transmit from your phone or tablet!

As mentioned above, for any channel programmed with frequencies outside your operating privileges, I would recommend setting the “Disable TX” switch so when operating remotely you do not accidentally transmit out of band.

Fifth is the ability to send and receive SSTV images to and from your phone or tablet (again currently only available using the Android app). How cool is that!

I suspect the list will only grow from here (I haven’t even included all the current features) as the software gets more features added, and more apps come out able to integrate Bluetooth operation through phones, tablets, and other Bluetooth-capable devices.

The main unit is solidly built with a large heat sink area as well as a cooling fan. The front panel has three indicator lights: Power on (amber), Transmit (red), and receive (green). The microphone is an 8-pin DIN-style plug with a locking ring. I personally prefer this style of connector over the modular jacks most common today for mobiles. I find them less likely to fray or have connection issues. One tip for these – periodically check to make sure the ring has not loosened. This can cause intermittent TX if the grounding ring is not secure on the connector.

The power cord uses the standard mobile T-connector, and I appreciate that both positive and negative lines are fused (and extra fuses are provided in the package). Having fuses on both wires offers extra protection, particularly when operating mobile using the car battery or similar power source. Included in the package is a 10-ft power cable with a mating T-connector on one end, and open wire on the other end.

A nice feature of the radio is a USB port for charging a phone, tablet, or similar item. There is a rubber cover over the port which is quite snug! Output is a standard 5V/2A. This is particularly nice when out in the field with just a portable power supply for the radio, or as another charging option in the vehicle.

The programmable microphone has a number of buttons which are explained well in the manual. There are 4 buttons (P1-P4) which may be programmed through the Apple or Android app as desired, and there are many different options depending on personal operating tastes. The non-programmable buttons also have a multitude of functions, so careful reading of the manual is important, along with practice for the needed short, long, or double presses. The buttons are solid, with little likelihood of accidental presses.

Ergonomics are a very personal thing, so each person will feel differently about the layout and ease of reaching the various buttons on the microphone. I have moderately large hands and can reach most of the buttons easily, but some require shifting one’s hand around, or making sure to not press the transmit button while adjusting the volume.

There is a slight bias toward right-handed folks, but being left-handed myself, I had no issues for the most part. One thing I did notice is that the placement of the microphone’s TX opening could be acci- dentally covered up with the left thumb of a lefty like me, but a couple of times doing that and you will likely remember not cover it over! Of course, when operating with VOX or remotely, this would not be an issue.

Another feature that is quite useful is the LED light around the transmit key. When red it indicates transmission, when green, it indicates reception. This is not just a flashy feature but is very useful when using APRS or when the volume is muted and you would otherwise not know there was activity on a band.

Mounting hardware is included with the radio, as well as a microphone clip for hanging the handset in a convenient location.

The antenna recommended for this radio from Radioddity is the RA-UV711 144/430 MHz antenna, with a 150-watt power capability and a reported 2.15 dBi gain on 2m, and a 5.5 dBi gain on 440 MHz. The 2-meter bandwidth is 19 MHz at < 2:1 VSWR, and 40 MHz at < 2:1 VSWR. The antenna can be adjusted to tweak VSWR with the included Allen wrench if needed. My copy is excellent on 2-meters and could stand a bit of tweaking for best performance on 440, but since there are not any 440 repeaters around me, it’s not of great concern.

The antenna is solid, with a standard SO-239 connector, and a length of 25.5-inches (650-mm). While slightly À exible, the antenna does not bend enough to handle low overheads such as some garages or drive-thru overhangs, so take care to see if you have clearance in these situations. On the top of my SUV this is something I will have to watch out for. You may want to get something more flexible or shorter if you regularly have low clearance obstacles. The Radioddity M916 Heavy Duty Antenna Magnet Mount is just that – heavy duty! I have had old used cars where the roof would have probably pulled back before the antenna mount would let go! This mount is going nowhere once attached. There is a resounding “snap” when the three magnetic bases con- nect to metal, while the three rubber pads protect the mount and your car from scratches. The mount includes a 4-meter/157-inch RG-58AU cable and a BNC to SO-239 adapter for additional antenna options.

Like all radios, there are good points and areas which could use improvement. I must preface this list with the following thought: just as each radio manufacturer has a theory of operation behind their design, this radio follows what might be called the Chinese mindset in design as evidenced by similarities to other Chinese-made mobiles and HTs. If you are familiar with them then this radio will seem very comfortable to you. If you are new to Chinese designs, especially coming from some of the more familiar Japanese designs, then you will find the learning curve steeper, but certainly not insurmountable, as you spend some time familiarizing yourself with the radio.

Regardless of your background, instruction manuals are your friend in this case, so read them carefully. They are available for download from the Radioddity site in PDF format, so avail yourself of this even before you purchase the radio to get a feel for its design and features.

• Compact and able to be controlled by the handset.
• Solid design and good ergonomics.
• Both Apple and Android Apps worked well once paired through Bluetooth on both my Phone and two tablets. (Be sure to check operating system requirements for both Android and Apple). No crashes or bugs seen on either operating system, but I am sure some folks have had the odd bug pop up as it is early days for the software.
• Map options on the App include graphic, terrain, and three satellite options. Remote operation possible with Android APP including audio and PTT which opens up opportunities for third-party software to control the radio (Morse code, etc.).

• Amateur Radio Satellite Finder (current list and ability to add new ones) and location display on map as well as tracking the chosen satellite.
• APRS and KISS TNC Packet built-in, with most controls available through the handset and/or Apps.
• Networking capable for controlling multiple radios in a work or emergency group setting (using the DB50-B or GA-5WB Radioddity radios).
• Easily synchronize settings between other DB50-B and GA-5WB radios.
• Firmware updates and programming over Bluetooth, no programming cables needed, when using it on an Android Galaxy tablet the software updated from .8 to .9 without any issues.
• 50 watts output for both VHF and UHF.
• Bluetooth pairing with accessories possible, such as wireless microphone, audio etc.
• USB charging port on main unit.

• Currently only able to be operated/programmed/updated through the handset and/or iOS/Android apps – no Windows/iMac/Linux capabilities. Limits software options to software running on the iOS/iPadOS and Android phones or tablets.
• iOS/iPadOS remote operation not supported (yet?). Not a limitation of the radio, but I wanted to note this for completeness.
• Menu options are slightly different between the handset and Apps which can make finding the same setting options a bit tricky sometimes.
• The two included manuals (User and HT APP) are somewhat sparse in explaining what a feature does or how it is enabled, requiring some experimentation.
• Default APRS settings of “Time to Live” and “Maximum Forwarding Times” are set to “0” from the factory, which means the radio will not transmit an APRS Beacon until these are set to “1” or higher. The recommended setting for both is “2” (see pages 10-11 of HT APP manual for details). This is not very clear in the manual explanation.
• Pairing with an App requires that the App be started first and then the radio turned on as per the manual, which is fine. However, if the app is running and the radio is turned off and back on, it does not always pair properly, requiring everything be shut down and then started in the proper order. You will see a message something like “Device out of range” or similar.

This radio has an amazing set of features which are, in many ways, groundbreaking, and which, unsurprisingly, will require time to fully understand and exploit. Perceived value, just as with beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. For me a radio coming in at its current price point as of this writing of $349 or the $379 bundle offer with free shipping, makes this an attractive option for APRS, Packet, and satellite work. (Hint – sign up for Radioddity emails and you will often receive news of special sales and points promotions!)

Its diminutive size (6.3-inches W x 5.3-inches D x 1.5-inches H) makes it able to fit almost anywhere in a vehicle, boat, or plane, and it makes for a convenient base unit as well. Couple this with the M916 heavy duty antenna magnet mount and a good antenna like the RA-UV711 and you will have a solid performing mobile radio solution.

The full radio description and links to the downloadable manuals may be found here