Finally a cheap modern APRS handheld radio / VGC VR-N76

Use your smartphone to send off grid mesh APRS messages (just like Meshtastic), SSTV images, morse code and much more over bluetooth through this new interesting rugged and submersible VHF/UHF ham radio, which has USB-C charging and also receives Airband AM. The VGC VR-N76 in this video is also know as Radioddity GA-5WB.

This radio was sent to me for free for review.

0:00 Intro
0:30 Hardware
1:44 What is APRS?
3:34 Price, value and quirks
6:18 Smartphone app integration
8:45 The problems
11:10 Outro

[temporarilyoffline]

Hey sn0ren! Thanks for the shout out, big fan of your channel!

[dadsrcworkbench]

I came across this radio on another video and it intrigued me because of the price and built in APRS. I want the APRS function for off grid comms and POTA/SOTA spotting. Great video and keep it up.

[LrdKnda]

Don't hate the kenwood, embrace it, you know you want it

[Siskiyous]

TO is a great guy, you made a good choice following his lead. I love APRS and run digipeaters ang iGates. I just bought this radio to add to my capabilities.

[davemichaeli]

Very nice overview. This is quite helpful 👍

[bulldogbrower]

Thanks for a great review. Thank you even more for sending suggestions to the company to improve the firmware.

[msalsgiverb]

Sn0ren love the channel and have been learning a lot from your channel. Keep going brother!

[MyTubeUtoo]

Looks like a very promising radio.

Thanks for the video/review.

[tchambers]

BTech had the barebones of VGC in their GMRS PRO from 2 years ago. Same (roughly) open-source software. It's nice to see something on the market that's more full-featured

[RabbitStu-MUTS]

I have the ga-5wb cousin from radiodity…basically same radio with same firmware and apps. I have set the side buttons to switch between groups.

[electechyt]

Well explained and presented. Currently out of stock guess I'll wait but its on the shopping list. Thanks

[AllFouRoux]

I already ordered one before watching this because this is exactly what I was looking for too! I have an older chinese APRS radio, the HG-UV98, because I wanted an APRS radio that wasn't $400-750 dollars. I know that this one isn't perfect but I am hoping they will software patch the issues where the UV98 was forgotten. UV98 still works great though but you really need APRSdroid to get most of the APRS features.

I am really hopeful with this one!

[drright]

Between the VR-N7500 and the VR-N76, if they get those annoyances fixed and add Winlink support... You won't be able to give a big brand radio away.

[tvbox]

"chunky boy" ...good videos, thanks.

[jarredjones]

im glad your getting good battery use out of yours but i get a day out of mine from 100% down to the teens and thast whithout any actually transmitting except aprs. it needs a battery eliminator or a 3500MAh battery

[briankendall]

Why would Kenwood put a BT chip in the device that does not work with iPhone/iPad? Sorry that is a miss, especially for $700 radio.

[KDHOF]

Is its screen easily readable in sunlight?

[markphillips]

Can it do actual proper AX.25 packet radio to the local BBS?

[Schollergrott]

Good video.
I have several questions:
General settings
Can someone explain:
PTT follow
PTT lock
Tail elimination
Signaling preamble
Audio relay
Tone

Who can explain?

[MPJU]

I did not found the inbox for aprs messaging.