DOLCOM GP328 PLUS
Has this (cheap) old Cynic finally found the Chinese Radio that fits his needs? I'll update this later, but for now, here's a quick list of Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- Inexpensive. Mine was just over US$40 including sales tax
- AM aircraft receive actually works, and it seems to have a real AM mode (not just tuning the frequency and letting the FM detector try to sort out AM.)
- Color LCD display -- It reminds me of a vtech toy, but it is readable in every condition unless you are in direct sunlight, and really try to get it to wash out.
- The colors also actually mean something -- to a limited extent.
- It has the typical Channel, Channel name, and Frequency modes, but the frequency is always displayed at the bottom so that you know what frequency you are actually on.
- I was able to quickly enter the local repeater, and hit it easily with the included wip, and on "Med" power.
- Mostly full coverage Receive from 65 to 620MHz (There is an exception in the 200-300 MHz band), and broad transmit outside of the Ham Bands (albeit at much reduced power)
- USB-C charging.
- It has basic scanning capabilities for both a simple frequency scan, or a scan through the programmed channels.
- Your friends that just learned about a certain other more common Chinese radio are going to be quite jealous of your DOLCOM.
- Feels cheap and light (including the battery), but that's not to say that I don't think it won't survive general HT use.
- S-meter is essentially fake. It simply shows presence of a signal. It does light up half way when power is set to Medium, and you key, but it's just a hard coded half indication, it is not measuring actual transmit power or receive signal strength
- Menus are pretty basic. The essential functions are there, but not much more.
- More research is needed, but as of right now, it does not seem that you can use a PC (with either proprietary SW, or CHIRP) to program frequencies.
- The Headphones and Mic connectors are much closer together than other common radios. Headsets, Speaker/Mics, etc. for other radios won't work unless they have separate (not molded together) plugs. Of course this would include programming cables if the radio supports programming via these connectors.
- There's a white LED flashlight on the bottom. If the flashlight button is pressed again, small red and blue LEDs illuminate, but the white LED remains on, totally overpowering the red and blue LED's. Another press makes all 3 flash, but again it just appears white at any distance. I'm not sure what the intent here was, but it is just another aspect that makes this radio appear like a toy.
Test Set-up:
DOLCOM GP328 ----> Female SMA to Female SMA adapter ----> Male SMA to Male SMA jumper cable ----> 60 DB SMA attenuator ----> RF Explorer High-Z Input
RF Explorer set to appropriate band, Offset DB set to +60.
An on-line calculator is used to convert the dbm value observed on the RF Explorer to Watts.
NOTE: The unit was operating from a source of 5VDC applied to the USB-C port on the battery for these tests. Results will be lower if the unit is just running from the battery.
NOTE: The Advertising references "TX Power:10W/8W/5W adjustable". The results I got did not support this advertising claim. The User's Manual supplied with the radio states "Transmitting part -- Output Power 5-10W".
I should note that rated output power from HT's is often not attained unless the unit is operated from an external source of power. I am not aware of a "battery eliminator" or +12VDC connection for this radio. Also, the User's Manual states "The whole part -- Rated Voltage -- DC7.4V(battery).[SIC]" If the unit is capable of running at e.g. 12VDC, higher output power may be observed.
Measurements:
VHF (2M Band 144MHz):
Code: Select all
Low: 31.0 dbm = 1.26 W
Med: 34.0 dbm = 2.50 W
High: 36.5 dbm = 5.00 WCode: Select all
Low: 19.0 dbm = 0.08 W
Med: 19.0 dbm = 0.08 W
High: 19.0 dbm = 0.08 WUHF (0.70M Band 440Mhz):
Code: Select all
Low: 29.5 dbm = 0.89 W
Med: 32.0 dbm = 1.58 W
High: 34.5 dbm = 2.82 WRe: Mini Review DOLCOM GP328 PLUS and discussion|Administrator|webmaster@linuxslate.com|1682174998|admin|xx|0|99.95.50.81|I in the first post of this thread, I posted to following hypothetical question:
Has this (cheap) old Cynic finally found the Chinese Radio that fits his needs?
--- and The Answer is -- Yes. The DOLCOM GP328 PLUS is now my EDC (Every Day Carry) HT.
My HamGeek FB-8, Reviewed Here, will go into my bin of things to sell at the next Hamfest.
My Wouxun KG-UV9D Plus (See this thread about programming the Wouxun KG-UV9D Plus from a Linux PC) is a more serious, and more professional radio, but without USB charging, and given that the DOLCOM GP328 PLUS has all of the features I actually use, the Wouxun KG-UV9D Plus will probably just remain in a drawer, and eventually join the HamGeek FB-8 in my Hamfest display case.
If you are a serious Ham operator looking for your main HT, you probably aren't (should not be) looking at $40 off-brand radios.
If, however you are looking for a broad receive HT to have in your car, truck, backpack or pocket, and you may, on occasion slip off into the GMRS bands, business bands, or other places*, this radio will fit the bill -- and not a lot of bills.
It would also make a great gift or incentive for a young person to study and get their ham license.
*Operating this or any transmitting device outside of the bands you are licensed to transmit on is illegal. Setting a radio that is not FCC approved for GMRS, FRS, or specific business bands to those frequencies, and then transmitting is also illegal regardless of license. This radio did not come with any FCC markings, and thus could be confiscated in the United States regardless of use or non-use. This radio must only be used by a licensed ham, and must be use responsibly.