Baofeng DM-1701 vs Radtel RT-880G

The Radtel RT-880G is the clear winner for most users, earning a higher overall score of 66 versus 63 despite the $25 premium. The single most important differentiator is feature set: the RT-880G offers GPS and APRS capabilities, making it substantially more useful for emergency communication, location tracking, and outdoor activities. The DM-1701 compensates with DMR digital mode support, but this is a narrower use case.

For the Baofeng DM-1701: choose this if you're operating exclusively on DMR repeaters in your area and need to minimize upfront cost.

For the Radtel RT-880G: choose this if you value position reporting, emergency beaconing, or plan to use APRS networks alongside analog FM.

Our recommendation: go with the RT-880G. The extra $25 is justified by its significantly broader capability set. Unless DMR is your specific requirement, the RT-880G's GPS and APRS features provide genuine operational advantages that will serve you better long-term. Both radios lack CHIRP support, so programming convenience is equivalent.