Baofeng DM-1701 first impressions

A section for forum members to post reviews of equipment they own or have owned.

Moderator: Nafenn

Post Reply
JhG123
150+ posts
150+ posts
Posts: 253
Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2018 8:20 pm

Baofeng DM-1701 first impressions

Post by JhG123 »

I recieved the radio yesterday in the mail, after just over 14 days, which wasn't too bad considering it shipped from China. I ordered it for $118.25 from eBay.
It arrived in the original box, which was a pleasant suprise, compared to the bubble wrap that they normally ship in.

Unboxing the radio was a simple process, with the radio on the top stack, in a plastic wrap, and the charging base, power cord, antenna, battery, belt clip, standard Baofeng earpiece and manual. underneath it. The radio also came with a wrist strap, but I am yet to find where it can loop.

Taking the radio, battery antenna out of the individual bags was easy enough and they all connected with little issue, although the nut around the antenna connecter was loose, I believe that was just the shipping. The radio feels very nice in the hand, although I wouldn't belt clip to stay put if you had to get somewhere quickly, as it feels loose. Once the charging dock is plugged in, the indicator on the radio flashes between red and green, but works normally once the radio is connected, this may just be an issue with my cable though.

Powering on the radio for the first time, you are greeted with the loud power on tone and channel number announced. The default channels are 6 DMR channels and 6 analouge channels, with a mix of VHF and UHF simplex frequencies.

The home screen displays channel A and B, with an arrow indicating which channel you have set to transmit on, with an A and D indicator for the mode. You can switch between them using the up and down arrows on the keypad, and mute the opposite channel with the red function button. The topbar displays the signal strength, although mine was fluctuating when there was no signal, the transmit power you have set, a shield if you're using a digital channel, icon for simplex or duplex and the current battery life. The bottom bar displays the date and time, which can be modified from radio settings.

Looking through the menus, you can do some basic front panel programming, but you're limited to adding and editing channels, no deleting them from the radio. From the handheld itself, you can edit the RX and TX frequency, channel name, CTCSS and DCS tones, timeslot, colour code, TX contact and grouplist. My only complaints about channel manipulation are the settings for DMR channels appear in channels set to use analouge, and the lack of being able to delete channels.

Zones are similar, you can name them add channels to them, but not remove them or delete zones. Scan lists must be made via the CPS too. Contacts can't be edited once created, which isn't much of an issue if you program it with the CPS.

Overall, my main complaints are the lackluster FPP support and not being able to change the volume of the poweron tone and PTT tone. You can turn off all sounds, but doing this won't allow you to hear the PTT preamble, which may be important if you plan to use DMR repeaters.

Until my programming cable arrives, this is my impression on the DM-1701. A worthwhile radio, if you have the proper cable to program it.
vk6hgr
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 2610
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2005 10:33 pm
Amateur callsign: VK6HGR
Scanners and Receivers: Various Yaesu, Kenwood, Tait, Simoco and Philips'
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Contact:

Re: Baofeng DM-1701 first impressions

Post by vk6hgr »

Nice review.

Doesn't look like Chirp supports the radio yet but if/when it does, it'll make programming it so much easier!
Gavin Rogers; VK6HGR
http://vk6hgr.ampr.org/
WARSUG forum administrator
Site and stream donations: https://www.paypal.me/vk6hgr
roland985
150+ posts
150+ posts
Posts: 218
Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2014 8:23 pm
Scanners and Receivers: Uniden EZI30XLT Scanner.
Bearcat UBC355XLT
Location: High Wycombe

Re: Baofeng DM-1701 first impressions

Post by roland985 »

Once CHIRP supports it, I'll be picking one up. Is there any way to lock out the transmit function on this? I tend to shy away from questionably legal radios unless I can either find a way to lock out the VFO or disable/desolder the TX amp IC.
WASES CSU
JhG123
150+ posts
150+ posts
Posts: 253
Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2018 8:20 pm

Re: Baofeng DM-1701 first impressions

Post by JhG123 »

I'm not sure CHIRP will get support for it, but the CPS that is provided works nearly as good. My only complaint is that you can't rearrange channels in scan lists or zones without having to remove and add, but if you don't need order, it's not a big deal.
You can TX inhibit channels, so I'd say go for it if you can find one, but you will need a programming cable that doesn't have the serial chip in it, like the ones for most analouge Baofeng's. As for VFO, that's difficult to enter anyway, but you can inhibit TX same as normal channels.
The CPS is very feature rich, and lets you customise nearly everything on the radio. But, it is hardware locked to 136-174 and 400-480, the CPS gives you the option to change the bands, but when you try to upload to the radio, it will fail and you'll have start afresh with your channels, as changing the bands will wipe your current codeplug. Otherwise, solid radio.

Quick overview I just made: https://youtu.be/swXBaTuLi1c
Post Reply