A while back TIDRadio contacted me about testing the H6 which was a brilliant ham radio. Before I was done making videos (which I have one more to do) they wanted me to participate in the development of a new radio, the H8.
The H8 was promising. Here's the webpage: https://tidradio.com/collections/hot/products/tidradio-10w-built-in-bluetooth-programming-analog-radio - It can be computer programmed to be a Ham Radio and reprogrammed to be a GMRS radio. This is amazing. But it the TIDRadio H8 just doesn't work.
Buyer beware. This is just for you. I will not be making public posts about the H8. If someone stumbles on this, then so be it. Please feel free to forward this to others.
I have had the pre-production version of this radio. The Bluetooth interface works fine. That's about it. The battery is a huge, 3000mAh cell. It comes with an excellent antenna.
Bad News about the H8
When in transmit it sends some kind of high-pitched squeal across the air and the voice audio is next to impossible to hear.
None of the computer interface software has worked on my Windows 10 machine.
Comm Port Recognition failure in every way
Errors installing the software
I am using the TIDRadio programming cable...
The redeeming factor is that it is easy to program at the keypad (Simple Baofeng Software). The receive audio is great. The speaker sounds good.
However, it's a brick until proven otherwise. I cannot update the firmware or change the function as the computer software will not recognize the comm port on my computer. Then there's the transmit problem.
Do not buy this radio until you've gotten word that these issues are resolved.
KI7WJP/WRFS364 - Eric - Backcountry Amateur Radio