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Ham radio

Review: Radioddity GS-10B Pro handheld amateur radio transceiver

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Manufacturer’s marking image of the Radioddity GS-10B Pro radio.

The Radioddity GS-10B Pro crams an impressive amount of capability into a handheld transceiver of a typical size.

As a dual-band FM amateur radio transceiver, the GS-10B Pro performed admirably. With its 8.5-inch-long, flexible, VHF/UHF antenna, it received all my local repeaters as well as any other handheld radio in my collection. My transmitted audio was clear. Radioddity advertises that the radio transmits at power levels of two, five and eight watts, but I lacked the equipment to measure its output. Unlike its younger brother, the GS-10B, the GS-10B Pro’s specifications do not indicate receive or transmit capability on the 1.25-meter (220 MHz) band.

Key flexibility

The radio has three keys on its left edge. The top key is dedicated to push-to-talk (PTT) and the bottom two (labeled PF2 and PF3) are user-configurable. One possible configuration is to assign PF2 to be the PTT key for the “B” (bottom) channel on the display. In this configuration, the main PTT key operates only the A (top) channel. If the user does not choose to make PF2 a PTT key, the main PTT key operates either the A or B channel, depending on which channel is selected with the A/B key on the front of the radio.

Informative display

I appreciated that the radio’s 1.77-inch color screen displays both the channel name assigned by a programming app and the RF frequency.

Battery

The GS-10B Pro arrived with a 2,500 milliamp-hour lithium-ion battery. The battery has no contacts for a drop-in charger. A USB-C cable is the only way to charge it. Radioddity packages such a cable and a “wall wart” AC adapter with the radio. I left the radio on and scanning and it ran for more than 34 hours before announcing a low battery voltage. Many operators prefer to have at least one spare battery for their handheld radios, but I was unable to find the battery available for sale on the Radioddity website or elsewhere. The radio’s belt clip attaches to its battery, not to the radio’s case. If a user was able to purchase a spare battery, they’d want a spare belt clip for the spare battery.

Case and belt clip

I found the radio comfortable to hold and to carry, but the belt clip is not as secure as I prefer. On my belt, the bottom of the clip did not clamp tightly against the radio, making it easy for the radio to slide up and off my belt. For this reason, I’d be reluctant to make this radio my daily carry.

PC programming

The version of the open-source programming app CHIRP that was available when I wrote this review (CHIRP Next 20260904) supported the GS-10B but not this radio, the GS-10B Pro. Radioddity provides, however, Windows customer programming software (CPS) as a free download from its website. Version 1.03 of this CPS functioned adequately but lacked some valuable features. The CPS read from and wrote to the radio easily with a standard Prolific programming cable (not included with the radio). Typing channel information into the CPS was straightforward.

The CPS easily and correctly imported data from a comma-separated values (CSV) file created by CHIRP, which saved me a lot of time. I simply used CHIRP to export data from a file that I created for a UV-5R and then imported that file to the GS-10B Pro CPS.

The Radioddity CPS lacks the ability to insert channels in the table or move channels up and down the list. Users must add all new channels at the bottom of the list. The only way to change the order of channels is to export the list to a CSV file, edit that file with a another program and then import the edited file to the CPS.

The only way I found to delete a row (channel) with the CPS was to delete the frequency in the “RxFreq” cell.

Bluetooth programming

The GS-10B Pro has a built-in Bluetooth radio that makes it possible to program the GS-10B Pro with free iOS or Android “walkie-talkie tool” apps that are available on each operating system’s app store. I tested the Android app on my Samsung mobile phone.

After I enabled Bluetooth on the radio’s menu, I had no trouble linking the app to the radio. The greatest challenge the first time I used the app was finding the button to read data from the radio. Both the on-screen Read and Write buttons are partially covered by the Android navigation bar (see screen shot below).

A screen shot shows how Radioditty's Android app allows the Android navigation bar to obscure important functions.
Radioddity’s Android app allows the Android navigation bar to obscure important functions.

Adding and editing channels with the app was a straightforward process. Clearing the contents of a channel was less so. The app provides no single button to delete the content in every field of a channel, but I could empty each field the selecting it and backspacing over the field contents.

The app has no “next” or “back” button to switch from one channel screen to another. Switching from one channel screen to the next requires three touches. A touch of the channel number brought up a scrollable list of 998 channel numbers with no data to indicate which channels already had frequencies or channel names assigned. Touching any channel number in that list selects it, a selection the user must then confirm by touching a “Confirm” link. The app then displays a screen for the selected channel. Because the app displays only the channel numbers in the list, users must remember the number of the channel that they need to edit next. A more user-friendly interface would provide “next” and “back” buttons on each channel screen and a channel list screen that includes at least a channel name (if programmed) with each channel number, but the Radioddity app provides neither.

One key frequency copy

A third way to program channels in the GS-10B Pro is with its “One Key Frequency Copy” function. When activated, the radio detects the transmitting frequency and tone squelch code of a nearby transmitting radio. Once received, the user may store the data in an empty channel. This feature is useful only for simplex channels, because if the transmitting radio is configured with a receive frequency that’s different than its transmit frequency (as in a repeater configuration), the GS-10B Pro has no way to know what the other radio’s receive frequency is. Once a frequency is stored, users cannot edit channel frequencies from the keypad. This can be done only with the mobile or PC app.

Very wide receiving capabilities

A unique capability of the GS-10B Pro is its ability to receive signals in a wide range of frequency bands and modes, including the low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), FM broadcast and VHF aircraft bands and AM, SSB and CW on the long wave through short wave bands.

AM aircraft

I was able to enter AM aircraft frequencies into the radio’s memory channels, just like my FM amateur frequencies. With the radio connected to the supplied dual-band antenna, I heard aircraft clearly inside my home when they were near enough. I’m too far from the nearest control tower to hear air traffic controllers.

Magnetic loop antennas

The GS-10B Pro has two SMA antenna connectors on the top of the radio. The flexible UHF and VHF antenna connects to a male SMA connector on the radio. A female SMA connector, also on the top of the radio and normally covered by a threaded cap, is for the LF and HF bands. Radioddity supplies two magnetic loop antennas etched in round printed circuit boards that are 10 cm (3.9 inches) in diameter. The company calls them “donut antennas.” One donut antenna is for LF and the AM broadcast band (500 KHz to 2,000 KHz) and the other is for HF (4 MHz to 24 MHz). A male SMA connector is soldered onto each printed circuit board.

Connecting one of the magnetic loop antennas essentially converts the GS-10B Pro to a tabletop LF/HF receiver.

Surprising LF/HF reception

When hams use magnetic loop antennas to transmit on HF bands, the loops are typically 30 inches in diameter or larger, so I didn’t expect much from a 4-inch loop.

To test the performance of the radio’s HF receiver and included magnetic loop antenna, I first tried them on the desk of my shack well after sunset. I clearly copied an amateur station on 40-meter lower sideband (LSB) that was 157 miles away. I then took the radio and HF donut antenna outdoors. There, I clearly copied three HF AM broadcast stations between 7300 KHz and 7600 KHz; one whose transmitter was in Nashville, Tennessee (350 miles away) and two that transmitted from Greenville, North Carolina (564 miles away). Before I went back indoors, I copied another amateur station on 40-meter LSB; a Parks on the Air station 148 miles away.

Back indoors, I used an SMA-to-UHF adapter to connect the GS-10B Pro to the dipole antenna that I normally use with my HF transceiver. A station broadcasting from France on 9490 KHz AM came booming in.

Another night, near midnight, I connected the AM broadcast donut antenna to the radio. From inside my shack, I clearly copied stations 108 miles and 157 miles away.

I suspected that even a small wire antenna would out-perform the small magnetic loops, so I rigged up a way to connect 10 feet of wire to the center conductor of the SMA connector. Right around dusk, I took the radio outdoor and threw the end of the wire over the string of lights that hangs about seven feet over our patio. With that set up, I clearly copied amateur stations:

  • 108, 262 and 720 miles away on 40-meter CW
  • 720 miles away on 40-meter CW
  • 572, 633 and 852 miles away on 20-meter upper sideband
  • 890 miles away on 20-meter CW

The GS-10B Pro tunes these frequencies in steps no smaller than 1 KHz, so I often found it necessary to use the radio’s “BFO” setting as a fine tuner for both single sideband and CW signals.

Conclusion

As a handheld, VHF/UHF FM transceiver, the Radioddity GS-10B Pro offers typical performance. Its performance as an untraditional LF/HF receiver is better than expected, especially when connected to a random-length wire. The radio is no substitute for a purpose-built HF receiver but could be fun to use on a camping trip when space for gear is limited.

Disclaimer: Radioddity provided a GS-10B Pro for this review but had no control over the review’s contents.

Ham radio

Programming the Baofeng DM-32UV handheld DMR radio

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In 2025, Fujian Baofeng Electronics Co., Ltd. invited me to write a series of posts for the blog on the company’s website about how to program its DM-32UV handheld DMR radio. I wrote seven posts, links to which appear below.

Ham radio

DMR presentation for Whitley Co. Club

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This evening, I spoke to the Whitley County Amateur Radio Club about digital mobile radio (DMR). Here is a link to my presentation slides for reference:

WCARC DMR preso Sep 2023Download
Ham radio

W9LW’s TYT MD-380 codeplug programming guide

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I have created a guide to help users of the TYT MD-380 handheld, DMR amateur radio create codeplugs for their radios.

The link below will provide the latest version of the document.

Download the guide.

Ham radio

W9LW’s RD-5R codeplug programming guide

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Radioddity Baofeng RD-5R handheld DMR radio

I have created a guide to help users of the Radioddity/Baofeng RD-5R and DM-5R handheld, DMR amateur radios create codeplugs for their radios.

Version 3 of this guide combines and updates two previous guides into a single document.

Get the guide.

Ham radio, SKYWARN

COVID-19 pandemic affects SKYWARN severe weather operations

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WX9IWX ham radio station at NWS Northern Indiana
WX9IWX ham radio station at NWS Northern Indiana

Restrictions implemented to slow the spread of COVID-19 will affect one of the ways SKYWARN® storm spotters send reports to local National Weather Service (NWS) offices. Many NWS weather forecast offices (WFOs) have amateur (ham) radio equipment permanently installed. During severe weather events, volunteer ham radio operators operate that equipment to receive reports of tornadoes and other dangerous weather from fellow hams who are storm spotters.

Now, however, the NWS is forbidding anyone not directly connected with the agency from entering WFOs, according to NWS Northern Indiana warning coordination meteorologist Michael Lewis. That means that ham radio stations at WFOs are less likely to be on the air during severe weather events. Some NWS meteorologists have ham radio licenses and some of those might be able to sporadically operate WFO ham stations. But Lewis told me that to reduce exposure to disease, the NWS is trying to operate WFOs with as few people in the office as possible. This might mean that NWS meteorologists who have ham licenses will have no time to operate the ham radio equipment.

Ham radio operators will still be able to use their radios to report severe weather, but they’ll need someone other hams to relay those reports to their local WFOs. That’s where an internal NWS text chat system will be essential, Lewis said. The system is called NWSChat and access is limited a select population. That groups includes ham radio operators who serve as net control station operators. Local ham radio SKYWARN groups can (and should) designate such leaders to serve as liaisons between the radio networks and NWSChat.

Whether or not spotters have ham radio licenses, other ways to communicate reports continue to be available, including telephone calls to WFOs and Twitter tweets that include the appropriate WFO’s Twitter handle.

The voice communication app Zello can also be helpful to SKYWARN storm spotters. Unfortunately, Zello’s terms and conditions do not comply with federal government requirements, so NWS WFOs are prohibited from installing Zello on any government-owned devices. A specific Zello channel exists (“IWX SKYWARN”) for reports from areas covered by the Northern Indiana office. Because WFO staff are prohibited from using Zello, ham radio net control station operators, who have NWSChat accounts, plan to monitor the Zello channel as much as possible, to relay reports from spotters to the WFO.

All this could be tested tomorrow, March 19, when severe weather is forecast in much of Indiana.

Emergency communications, Ham radio, SKYWARN, Weather

WeatherBrains podcast features amateur radio’s role in the weather enterprise

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This blog’s author, Jay Farlow, W9LW, joining the WeatherBrains podcast Jan. 7, 2019, via Google Hangouts from his office/radio shack at home in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

A popular, weather-related podcast recently recorded an episode devoted to the role of amateur (ham) radio in the weather enterprise, especially storm spotting. WeatherBrains is a long-running, well-respected podcast hosted by Alabama broadcast meteorologist James Spann. It recorded the ham radio podcast January 7.

Ham radio has been deeply involved in the National Weather Service’s (NWS) SKYWARN® program since its inception, according to research done by Brian E. Smith, the warning coordination meteorologist at the NWS Omaha/Valley weather forecast office (WFO) in Nebraska. During the infamous Palm Sunday tornado outbreak of 1965, a tornado did F4 damage in northern Toledo, Ohio. Afterward, a ham who was also a meteorologist in the Toledo office of what was then called the U.S. Weather Bureau — Merle Kachenmeister, WA8EWW — organized ham radio operators in his area to report severe weather to the Toledo office via radio. This is considered the birth of the SKYWARN program, according to Smith.

WeatherBrains episode number 677 is available for viewing or listening on the the podcast’s website. Listeners can also access the audio-only version on their mobile devices via their favorite podcast apps.

The author of this blog was one of the guests who WeatherBrains invited to discuss ham radio. Other guests included Jeff Stapel, W8SWX of the Muskegon, Michigan SKYWARN organization and Rob Macedo, KD1CY, who is both the Section Emergency Coordinator of the ARRL Eastern Massachusetts section and director of operations for the VOIP Hurricane Net.

During the show, I mentioned several resources that might be valuable to audience members. For your convenience, I’ve listed them below:

  • ARRL, the national association for amateur radio®: This website contains a wealth of information about amateur radio, what hams do, and how to become a licensed ham radio operator.
  • The tornado outbreak of Aug. 24, 2016: This page on the website of the NWS northern Indiana WFO includes the radar rotation tracks I showed during the podcast, as well as other information about how the outbreak affected my home area.
  • ARRL Ham Radio License Manual: This book contains all the information you need to pass the exam and get your ham radio license, so you can join other storm spotters on the air.
  • Storm Spotting and Amateur Radio: This book is a valuable resource for anyone who is interested in either storm spotting or how to use ham radio while spotting. It includes information on resources, training, equipment, safety, storm spotter activation procedures and more.
  • Allen County (Ind.) SKYWARN Net Operations Manual: This PDF document discusses in great detail how the hams of the Fort Wayne and Allen County, Indiana area organize their SKYWARN net — i.e. on-air conference call — during severe weather events.

A couple resources I didn’t have time to get into regard equipment (although Rob mentioned some price ranges). Below are links to some equipment options you might consider, if you’re thinking about getting into ham radio:

  • Baofeng UV-5R handheld radio: Available on Amazon for only $25, this will get you on the air. Like any handheld radio, its geographical range is limited, but as long as you’re close enough to what hams call a “repeater” station, you can talk to people dozens of miles away.
  • AnyTone AT-778UV Mobile radio: Available on Amazon for $130, this radio mounts in your vehicle and connects to your vehicle’s 12-volt poser source. It transmits with 25 watts, versus the 5 watts of most handheld radios, enabling you to communicate while farther from the repeater station. It requires an external antenna, sold separately. Antenna options include those with temporary magnetic mounts and those that can mount more permanently on a trunk lid without drilling holes.

The “big three” brands of ham radio equipment are Icom, Kenwood and Yaesu. Their radios, while well respected, tend to be priced higher on the new market than the Chinese brands above. Note, however, that there’s a large market for pre-owned radios. These can be obtained through some dealers (who take trade-ins), at ham radio flea markets and through online auction sites.

Ham radio, SKYWARN

Info resources for SKYWARN storm spotters

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Tonight, I was the guest speaker at a meeting of the Allen County Amateur Radio Technical Society on the topic in the title above. I promised the members present that they would not have to write down all the web URL’s I mentioned, because i’d post them here. Each item in the bulleted list below links directly to the respective online resource.

Disasters, Emergency communications, Ham radio

Advice for worried families after hurricanes and other disasters

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NASA satellite image of Hurricane Maria over Puerto Rico
NASA satellite image of Hurricane Maria over Puerto Rico

I can’t imagine what it must be like to have a loved one on an island that’s struck by a major hurricane. The worry must be terrible.

Because I’m an amateur (ham) radio operator, I have received requests from strangers who are desperate for help getting welfare inquiries through to places like Dominica and Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria struck.

Based on my years of experience in emergency response (including disaster response) and emergency communications. I have some words for such people that I hope will be helpful.

First, it’s important to remember that absence of communication does not mean that your loved one has been harmed. In most cases it means only that the disaster’s survivors temporarily have no way to tell you that they’re OK. So, as hard as it might be, maintain hope.

In the absence of other means of communication, one of the few things a distant family can do is search the Red Cross’ “Safe and Well” website.

Second, in the absence of other means of communication, one of the few things a distant family can do is search the Red Cross’ “Safe and Well” website. For a number of reasons, that’s an imperfect answer, but it’s often the only option. The site does not allow families to send inquiries into affected areas. It does, however, allow them to see if a survivor has added himself or herself to the “safe and well” list. Of course, survivors can do so only if a.) they have access to the internet and b.) they know about the website.

In many cases, ham radio operators like myself are present in disaster-struck areas. It’s logical to believe that a ham outside the disaster area can help people learn if their loved ones are safe. There are some important things, however, that such people might not realize.

Any hams who lived through the disaster (e.g. hurricane landfall) must first deal with the immediate needs of their own households before they can be of help to others. This includes obtaining necessary medical care, shelter, food, etc. Depending on the intensity of the disaster, this could take considerable time.

Likewise, a hurricane can destroy the external antennas a ham needs to communicate with the outside world. Assuming the ham has the necessary materials, he or she can build a temporary antenna, but this can also take time.

Ham radio equipment requires electricity. As I write this, the entire island of Puerto Rico is without commercial power. Except for solar or wind-powered systems, the only electricity available is coming from privately owned generators (typically fueled by gasoline). Any ham who lives on the island and doesn’t have such a power source is off the air (or will be, after batteries die). And hams who have generators can operate their radios only as long as the generators’ fuel lasts. Finding fuel could be a challenge, with roadways blocked by trees and gasoline stations lacking power for pumps.

Now, let’s assume for a moment that there are hams on Puerto Rico whose homes and antennas survived the storm, whose families need no assistance and who have plenty of emergency electricity. It still might not be possible for these hams to receive inquiries from worried families on the U.S. mainland. Why? I’m sorry to say, that they might well have more important things to do with their radios.

In such disasters, ham radio operators are often busy for a time passing emergency and other urgent messages. An ambulance is needed here. A rescue team is needed there. Supplies are needed at that shelter. Such messages can completely occupy local hams for days after a disaster. They have no choice but to reject incoming welfare inquiries until all the emergency and urgent communication is handled.

Next, ham radio channels become busy with outgoing welfare messages. That’s what I was hearing on the radio today. Hams I heard in Puerto Rico were completely tied up sending messages off the island for their neighbors. It was one message after another, without a break for inquiries to flow to the island.

Eventually, the local hams will catch up and be able to accept incoming messages. Just as eventually, telephone and internet service will become available to survivors.

In the interim, difficult as it is, worried families need patience and hope.

SKYWARN

Making storm spotter reports while traveling

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U.S. map showing county warning areas of each National Weather Service weather forecast office
County warning areas of each National Weather Service weather forecast office (NWS image).

During the Central Indiana Severe Weather Symposium, March 5, 2016 in Indianapolis, an attendee asked how spotters, particularly those who are hams, can report to appropriate National Weather Service (NWS) weather forecast offices (WFO) while traveling away from home.

There are several good answers to that question. It helps to know that each WFO has its own area of responsibility, which the NWS calls a county warning area (CWA). It is defined by a list of counties (or parishes) for which that WFO issues weather warnings. Generally speaking, every county in a given WFO’s CWA is closer to that WFO’s doppler radar station that to any other WFO’s radar. This is why CWAs often cross state lines.

If you want to make a spotter report while traveling, therefore, you need to know two things:

  1. Which WFO’s CWA you’re in.
  2. How to contact that WFO.

SpotterNetwork.org

SpotterNetwork.org's reporting page displays the ID and phone number of the appropriate NWS office to members who are logged in and using a location-reporting app.
SpotterNetwork.org’s reporting page displays the ID and phone number of the appropriate NWS office to members who are logged in and using a location-reporting app.

By far, the simplest way to accomplish both steps above is to register with SpotterNetwork.org and install compatible position-reporting software on a smartphone or similar GPS- and mobile- data-equipped mobile device.

I use WDT’s RadarScope app on my iPhone. According the the SpotterNetwork.org website, Android users have several additional choices, including ChaserLocation, PYKL3 Radar and Radar Alive!

In my case, RadarScope (when properly configured and activated) continually transmits my iPhone’s GPS coordinates to SpotterNetwork.org servers. If I need to make a report, I just log into my account on SpotterNetwork.org’s home page with any Web browser (including the one on my phone), and then select the “Submit Severe Report” link.

Because SpotterNetwork.org knows where I am, it displays at the top of the reporting page the three-letter identifier of the WFO whose CWA I’m in and the best telephone number through which to make a report to that WFO (in most cases, it’s the “bat phone” number that’s reserved for spotters). Then, I can call that number (the best choice for life-threatening situations, like a tornado) or enter my report into the SpotterNetwork.org website and let SpotterNetwork.org send it to the proper WFO electronically.

Weather.gov

The watch-warning-advisory map on the NWS home page allows viewers to find the NWS office for any location by clicking that location on the map.
The watch-warning-advisory map on the NWS home page allows viewers to find the NWS office for any location by clicking that location on the map.

You can determine the appropriate WFO for any location in the country by using the NWS home page, www.weather.gov. Just click anywhere on the U.S. map. Near the top of the Web page that appears, you’ll see a headline that indicates the name of the WFO in whose CWA you clicked. If you scroll to the bottom of that page, you’ll find a phone number for that WFO. Unfortunately, it’s the main office phone number, not the special spotter report number. Depending on the time of day and how the WFO set up its phone system, you might not be able to reach a WFO staff member on that number.

Once you get on the appropriate WFO’s website, however, you should be able to easily find a weather reporting Web form, the WFO’s Twitter handle or even a link to the WFO’s Facebook page, all of which provide alternatives to calling.

If you don’t have mobile Internet, you can use weather.gov before your trip to make your own list of the WFOs through whose CWAs your route will take you.

911

You can call 911 to report life-threatening weather. The phone system will automatically route your call to an appropriate public safety answering point (PSAP) for your location, where a staff member will know how to relay your report to the appropriate WFO.

Disadvantages of this method include:

  • During times of severe weather, PSAPs are often too busy taking incoming calls to relay any information to the NWS.
  • The PSAP call taker might not appreciate being told about one-inch-diameter hail, even though the WFO would want to know about it.

Amateur (ham) radio

Learning how to make spotter reports via ham radio while out of your normal area can be challenging. You’ll have to determine which frequency is used by hams in your current location. Even if you’re successful, you might not be able to reach the WFO or someone who can relay your report to the WFO.

In most communities, hams conduct weather-related communications on a repeater system.  Ways to learn what repeaters exist in any location include the American Radio Relay League’s (ARRL) printed “Repeater Directory,” the website and apps of the ARRL-endorsed www.rfinder.net and the independent RepeaterBook.com website.

Some listings in the ARRL directory and on repeaterbook.com indicate that a listed repeater is used for weather-related activities. When that indication is available, such repeaters are good places for ham-radio-equipped spotters to start. You might, however, need to try multiple repeaters within range to find one on which a SKYWARN net operates. It’s therefore a good idea to communicate with local hams as you enter an area, so that you’ll already know about local on-air SKYWARN practices before you need to call in a report. This is especially important, because the local SKYWARN net might not permit participation by outsiders.

Call your home WFO

As a last resort, you can always use the “bat phone” number for your home WFO. Be sure to tell the call taker early in the call that you’re outside their CWA and that you’re requesting them to relay your report to the appropriate WFO.