TidRadio M-15

The TidRadio M-15: A Compact POC Radio for Everyday Connectivity

The TidRadio M-15 offers a highly portable, user-friendly alternative to bulky professional hardware. By focusing on a simple, somewhat easy to use app-based management, it bridges the gap between consumer accessibility and other types of POC devices that are more geared toward corporate or fleet-managed users.

• ​User Interface: The device features a basic, high-contrast screen with a black background and white text, making it easily readable outdoors. It displays essential information at a glance, including battery status, LTE connectivity, device name, and group status.

• ​Tactile Controls: Navigation is handled through a straightforward button layout. The four buttons beneath the screen manage menu navigation and display toggles; notably, the front-facing up and down navigation keys serve as volume selectors when you are not actively navigating a menu. Side-mounted keys provide quick access to group selections and member lists.

• ​Audio Quality: While I wouldn't compare it to the speaker set up found on a Sonim XP10, the M-15's speaker is loud enough for the everyday non commercial user 

• Mic Placement: Unlike some touchscreen devices that place the microphone at the bottom, the M-15 positions its microphone near the speaker grille, resulting in a more natural, user-friendly experience when holding the device like a traditional radio.

Configuration & Management

​Unlike corporate-managed systems, the M-15 utilizes the ODMaster app for configuration, making it a great fit for hobbyists and individual users.

• ​Setup: Initial setup is handled via a quick barcode scan, which binds the radio to the app. Once configured, you are not required to have the app running on a phone or any other device for the radio to work properly.

• ​App Experience: The ODMaster app is somewhat clunky and can be challenging for those unfamiliar with its layout. Additionally, it requires location services to be enabled for it to even work for initial setup as well as later changes you may want to make, which may be a deal-breaker for security and privacy-conscious users.

• ​Radio Management: Because group and contact management are handled through the app rather than a centralized web platform, it is highly accessible for individuals or smaller groups of friends.

Connectivity & Hardware Notes

​The M-15 is built to function as a reliable communication tool on cellular networks, though performance is tied to local carrier coverage.

• ​LTE Reliability: The device provides clear status indicators, with a top-mounted light that blinks slowly when connected to a stable network and rapidly when the connection is lost.

• ​Network Resilience: During a recent localized AT&T network outage, the M-15 lost connectivity alongside personal smartphones on the same carrier. This confirmed the issue was external to the radio's hardware. While T-Mobile remained functional in the area, the M-15 performed as intended once the AT&T network was restored.

• LTE Latency

​Testing indicates that PTT (Push-to-Talk) latency is more pronounced on the M-15 than on the Global-PTT P0. While the P0 requires a brief pause after the talk-permit beep, the M-15 requires a significantly longer delay to avoid "clipping" your audio.

​If you apply the same timing habits used with the P0, the beginning of your transmission will likely be cut off; similarly, failing to leave "dead air" at the conclusion of your transmission can result in the end of the message being lost. To ensure your full message is heard, we advise waiting for the device to fully engage before speaking.

​Users can verify they are clear to speak by either watching the top-mounted status light turn solid red or by monitoring the transmit indicator at the bottom of the screen. Checking either one will suffice to confirm you are actively transmitting. Additionally, even with proper timing, there is an occasional "echo" or duplication of the last word or two of a transmission; the technical cause for this behavior is currently unknown

• ​Time Settings: The device does not automatically adjust for daylight savings or time zone changes via the server or backend. Users will need to manually set the time in the settings upon receipt and during seasonal adjustments.

• ​Accessory Support: The device includes a standard Kenwood-style accessory port, secured under a protective rubber flap, allowing for the use of external speaker-mics.

• ​Power & Charging: The M-15 features a clever design where the USB-C charging port is integrated into the battery itself, which would make it easy to charge multiple batteries without them having to be in the radio, should they become available. While this makes charging the radio feel like plugging in a modern smartphone, users should be aware that battery-specific charging accessories, like desktop drop-in chargers may be limited in some regions.

• ​Battery Performance: During real-world testing, the M-15 battery proved highly resilient under moderate to heavy use. Units arrived with a substantial factory charge, and after topping them off, we achieved a full day of consistent operation without any concern of the device dying mid-use. For lighter users, the battery could easily span a couple of days on a single charge; even moderate users may find that they only need to recharge every other day rather than after every shift. However, please keep in mind that individual battery life depends heavily on specific usage patterns, so your results may vary. 

• ​Performance Quirks: While generally reliable, the device occasionally may benefit from a quick refresh via the app if groups fail to load after the device has been powered off for an extended period. During my testing, the radio sat powered off for a little over a day, when I turned the radio back on, I was met with the voice prompt not sounding as it usually does. Upon further investigation. I noticed that none of my groups that I had previously were displayed. After logging back into the o d master app and removing the channels from the radio and adding them back again, which solved the problem. I have not experienced that issue again.

Final Verdict

​Despite its small quirks and the app making it mandatory to have location permissions on, the TidRadio M-15 is a straightforward, no-frills radio for those who want a compact device that "just works" for POC "hobbyist" communications. By opting for a more consumer end user focused approach to management, I would recommend the TidRadio M-15 for those who want a friends group or "recreational" setup, rather than for business operations. There are more better managed, more rugged LTE devices and platforms that would better serve business users then the M-15 or its similar radios would. That being said, the ability for end users to control the channels they are in, create their own channels, invite friends, and just have control in general of their own radio is a step in the right direction for those who want a more open POC platform.

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