Not sure when last I was so underwhelmed by a product ! But never the less the GT3tp did not fail in disappointing me .
Last time I purchased a Baofeng was the first model of the GT3 . At first I was not impressed , but with a larger battery and a aftermarket antenna I grew to like the GT3 . And it was my Fav Baofeng .
So at last I get around to getting a GT3tp . I just dont know what to say , but Baofengs were so much better 2 years ago if this one is any indication of recent trends .
About 2 years ago ? Cant really remember !
Anyhow what do I like about this new GT3tp ( Tripower )
Wow ! , I can’t believe I am saying this , but nothing ! I really don’t like it at all … My much older GT3 and my UV-5r ’s simply kick this new GT3tp to the curb .
Ok ! , there is really nothing I like about the new GT3tp ! ( Lets get over that for the moment )
So the first thing I wanted to try was that famous ( infamous ? ) tri power goodness (?)
So hooking the GT3tp to my external ( base ) antenna ( I have 2 ) it was time to try hitting some repeaters …
2m repeaters - Victoria Australia - Google My Maps Link is a map of 2 meter repeaters in my state …
Anyhow one of my fav repeaters to hit is the Mount Macedon Repeater 147.250 / 147.850 … Its a reasonable distance from me …
And with my Ed Fong antenna all the way down I can just manage it with a UV5r on low power …
So with my GT3tp hooked up and my other radio listening I was not able to activate the Macedon Repeater … Not on low power , not on medium power and not on High power !
What the parking lot ?
I quickly put the UV5r back and hit the repeater on low power ( ? )
OK!
I put the GT3tp back and tried again = nothing !
Ok so how sensitive is the receiver ( not ) …
Using my other transmitter to activate the Macedon Repeater the GT3tp heard nothing , deaf as a fence post …
So thats were I am at ! The GT3tp is a pile of something !
It simply can not compete with much older transmitters from the same company …
Not only that but the receiver is noisy as all heck … While the UV5r listening to much closer repeaters offer nice clear audio , the GT3tp is as scratchy as a chalk board …
So color me not impressed , and in no shape or form can I recommend a GT3tp ( Tri power ) …
In all likelihood this is and was and will be the last Baofeng I buy …
I was thinking of parting with one of my UV5r , but seeing how rubbish this GT3tp was , I don’t think so …
I will keep those early ( at least 2 years old ) Baofengs …
( It does cross my mind - the possibility this could be a fake GT3tp - If such things exist - maybe another reason to avoid )
Battery Warning !
I purchased a UV5r battery some time ago …
Looked genuine …
But the polarity on the battery was reversed … + was - and neg was + ( reversed )
Something else to watch for now , badly made batteries from the Baofeng Factory …
Like I said , the battery looks exactly like the genuine item - So either a brilliant fake , or a lousy factory item .
So ? for me , Baofeng is nada zip nothing - wont be spending money on that brand of product .