TIDRADIO Ham Radio Wireless Programmer Adapter APP and PC Program for Baofeng UV-5R and Multiple Models No Driver Issues Instead of Program Cable

UPDATE: 30 Jun 2022 - The Odmaster app repeater function works and returns repeaters based on the distance filter you set. When I scrolled thru the list, the app pauses slightly and I thought I reached the end of the list. Had I continued swiping, the list of repeaters would have continued to scroll.TIDRadio Wireless Bluetooth Programmer (New Version)For full disclosure, TIDRadio provided me this device. My review is my honest opinion of the Programmer.The TIDRadio Wireless Programmer Adapter allows you to program their supported HT without using a PC.The New Version Programmer that I’m reviewing comes with a USB-C cable charging to connect to the device’s USB-C charging port. I already own the Original version and it has a mini USB port instead of a USB-C port. The New version has a blue LED and the Original version has a green LED. Other than these differences, I can’t tell if there are any functional differences.The rest of the review is about the New Version Programmer and the Odmaster app.Pairing between the New Version Programmer and my iPhone was seamless. Make sure bluetooth is activated on your smartphone. Start the Odmaster app and connect the Programmer to your phone. Press the power button on the Programmer. You won’t need to touch the Programmer again until you have completed the programming process. At that point, just remove the Programmer from your HT.This device is most useful when you are traveling and want to program a repeater in your HT. You won’t need a computer to access a list of repeaters around you.The remainder of this review is about the Odmaster app.Searching repeaters near you is very helpful with a single click. Adding a repeater is very simple by selecting a channel and assigning it to your HT.The filter of repeater does not seem to be functional since the default of 100 miles radius only returns what is in my county regardless of the distance filter setting. When I set the filter distance to 1000+ miles, I still only get the repeaters in my county.To program your HT, you have to select and program each channel one at a time. While this is useable, I think it missed the target for me.A feature that was missing that I would like to have in the Odmaster app is for it to show a complete list of channels and the associated frequencies and channel name in list form. Without this feature, I feel like I’m programming my HT half blind.In conclusion, this device is very useful to program your HT without a computer. For me, I would use this device with my HT when traveling so that I can quickly program local repeaters in my HT. Not being able to display a complete list of already programmed channels on my HT is a big miss for me but it is not a deal breaker. My purchase of the Original version was well worth the very affordable cost. The New Version provided to me by Tidradio functions equally well.

I saw some videos on the TIDRADIO wireless programming device and i was curious, so I ordered it. I was pleasantly surprised. It paired up quickly with the Odmaster app and when you download the radio settings to the app it is faster than doing it on the computer. I could immediately see how this could be useful when camping or off roading etc. It makes it simple to clone or program radios when you are in a situation where connecting to a computer is not practical or even possible. It's true that radios like the Baofeng UV-5R can be programmed from the keypad, but that can sometimes be tedious. Moreover, some older radios have firmware bugs that will allow you to change some settings, but those settings will revert back the next time you turn the radio on. With the TIDRADIO wireless option, the settings stick.There are a growing number of radios supported by Odmaster, but not every radio is. Most popular models and even some more obscure models are supported, either outright or in a beta form.The software interface is a bit involved and if you're used to CHIRP, there will be a bit of a learning curve regarding location and wording of some settings, but you can do a lot with the software.Once you have your Odmaster account set up you can also access your frequency lists from a web browser if you like. You can save different configurations to your phone and the Odmaster portal. I liked that.I feel that for the price this is a very good programming option. It isn't necessarily the best or easiest option for every circumstance, but in certain situations this is outstanding.They have been updating the software regularly and the number of supported radios continues to grow.I highly recommend this, especially if you find yourself in situations where you wish you could quickly change the radio configuration in the field where traditional cloning is difficult if not possible. For example, if you want different repeaters in different remote locations and your radio doesn't support custom channels, you could create multiple configurations and simply upload them to the radio when needed. No internet, phone service or computer needed. Just your phone, the Odmaster app and the TIDRADIO programmer. Make sure to charge the TIDRADIO Bluetooth programmer before hitting the road. It isn't powered by the accessory port. It has it's own battery. They include a cable, but you will need to use your own charger.Even if you wouldn't need this on a daily basis, it is a nice-to-have for those situations where you might need it for a specific situation or location.I have used it many times since I purchased it and it has not failed or glitched once. It works perfectly. Just make sure to be careful plugging it into the accessory port because it is lopsided and I could see where pushing too hard on one side could possible cause a problem. Just push it in directly above the pins. Also, make sure it is all the way in. Sometimes it feels like it's in, but can go in a bit further.Excellent device. 5 Stars.

I bought this device because I purchased the TIDRadio H3 and already was using the Odmaster app on my phone to program it. I thought it would be great if I could use this adapter to also program some of the other Chinese radios I have. Let me be clear, my issues here are NOT with this device, they are with the program developed to work with it. This is a simple Bluetooth device, and it does its job.As for the Odmaster app (at least the Android one): It will program the Baofeng UV-82. It will not program Baofeng BF-F8HP, the most and highest rated Baofeng radio on Amazon. It will also not program the Baofeng GMRS v1.I think if they made the radios that this thing supported a bit more ubiquitous, this would be an awesome adapter. Being able to program the Chinese radios on the road / on the fly is great for traveling, emergency comms situations, and things like race support where you may need to switch frequencies on short notice.