Best Mid-Priced Ham Radio Handheld? VGC VR-N76 (APRS & SSTV!)

Lets test the VGC VN-N76. Once I put it through its paces, I'll give you my thoughts.

This is an affiliate code and the radio was sent to me for free to review.

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[HamRadioCrashCourse]

This radio looks identical to the RADIODDITY GA-5WB, even down to the phone app. The GA-5WB doesn't seem to have an accessory speaker Mic. I cannot comment on "which radio came first", as I don't have a GA-5WB. I cannot comment further other than what I have seen of the GA-5WB videos here on Youtube.

[dangermandave]

I really like it. Used it on a SOTA activation in Italy a few weeks ago and it enabled me to spot myself after the mobile phone signal died as a bank of cloud rolled in. The fact that it now supports a KISS connection over Bluetooth so you can you apps like WoAD and APRSdroid is a winner.

[levisorenson]

Just picked one up with your code. An extra thing that sold me on it: 

they enabled using the iphone/ipad app on Apple Silicon Macbooks(Some companies disable this on the app store). So, if you've got a M-series Macbook/Macbook Pro you can use the app on there too. Pretty impressive and versatile for the price point, even if it is a bit quirky.

[genejoner]

Thanks Josh for taking the time to walk us thru this handheld!

[haxwithaxe]

I can see using sstv for doing damage assessment after a hurricane or something wide spread where you might not want to require assessment teams to sneakernet photos.

[Siskiyous]

Thanks for this review Josh, this is my favorite part of VHF/UHF/GMRS, the packet radio scene. I used your order code.

[Craigeek]

Also at Defcon conference in Las Vegas we play with SSTV pretty heavily. It's just something that is super fun and not the internet.

[HOAHamRadio]

You had me at Dessert Tan. I like quirky radios so this caught my attention; thanks for sharing.

[jexarbor]

For me it checks all my boxes. color screen, wireless programming, uhf, vhf, none spurious, comes in many bright colors, under $200, and it has aprs which I've been curious about.

[JP-tlrr]

I have the app on iPad but I do not have all the features you were showing at the top. Android you get all the features, great review Josh.

[Eric]

Digital over Bluetooth is an awesome concept. Let the Bluetooth connect device handle all the hard work. Can you imagine if portable Hf rigs did this? 818/891 like rigs with Bluetooth enabled digital would be killer!!

[Craigeek]

IMHO Anytone really needs to wake up and realize how the game is changing in their own country produced radios.
I really hope the next Anytone has app support in the next version.
This is a really neat radio. Thanks Josh.

[JungleBredCornFed]

Timing of this couldn’t be any better. Got a few buddies in Texas interested after the hurricane hit.

[didotb]

To my knowledge BSS is the data transmission mode that handles the gsm traffic from and towards phones directly

[Nick]

Wish they’d open up the TNC for use with RadioMail and WoAD

[JamesHannibalKHSR]

Very cool radio! I love how there are more affordable APRS radios starting to trickle onto the market. 73!

[temporarilyoffline]

I totally agree on the "full battery power" for power testing a radio - how often do you run around with your radio freshly charged? If I weren't so lazy I'd test them all at 50% power.

[blackhawk]

I was excited to see you review this after last video. I'm ordering mine later this week. I'm excited because there is hardly any integrated APRS support in radios, unless you drop a lot of money. With your code it almost evens it out to the same as the GA-5WB. There is a breakdown video of the GA-5WB on their website (it does look like it has a speaker mic, but not sure if it's a kenwood plug). I'm going to give Radioddity a go since VGC shipping options kinda sketch me out a bit.

[johnclark]

It only took this handheld to pick up the mobile radio, and the handheld. Love the opportunities it will create.

[stevethevoipguy]

I have been playing with the standalone HT App fir this radio and it is extraordinary. The next thing I would love to see is if someone will make a LoRa integrated solution so that a user could program the radio over the air.