Baofeng UV5r questions

[Redbad]

I have seen the Baofeng UV5r HT and at $52-$65 US it is in the same price range as some of the more expensive FRS/GMRS radios with similar features (although the UV5R apparently can be programmed to TX/RX on 2m/440/Business radio (Blue dot/Green Dot)/and FRS/GMRS frequencies and possibly more (Marine VHF) and RX NOAA weather radio).

I have seen this radio reviewed as everything from a clunky toy to a serviceable HT with a clunky programming interface.

Does anyone have experience with this radio? If so, how does it function under field conditions (does it have good battery life, does it TX/RX well, interface with repeaters, fall apart, etc.)?

For the price, I don't expect a Alinco, ICOM, Kenwood, or Yaesu (or even a used version of those radios). I don't want to just throw away money on a radio of questionable reliability either.

[Kidd101]

I have the UV-3R and have been extremelly happy with it. I am Amateur and GMRS Licensed and this radio really has stood up to what I put it thru.
I daily carry this radio as well as a Kenwood TK HT.

My belief in a "survival" type radio is most versital. If the SHTF happens and we were roaming then the Kenwood would be useless IMO. As to communicating with my team that is already on our repeaters, then no problem as long as the repeater is op. the channels are programed in... but as to another group needing assistance, weather we are going into their area or them ours. who wants to find a pc or hardware/software to program radios. the Baofung s allow me to in unit program or software program. so as well as 2m, 440, gmrs, and weather band. I can scan the ranges for activity and with a different antenna can possably even track.

The only thing I do not like about the 3R is no keypad and to run to a different frequency not programmed in yet(99 channel capable on the 3R) is to scroll thru the frequencies.
The 5R seems to be the same radio but gains the keypad...
I love this radio, at around 50-60 bucks it cant be beat. I carry one daily, Have one in my BOB, and am getting one for each of my fam in there BOB... (programmed with a few emergency go to channels )

A few buddies that do a lot of radio work including professional day job ragged on me about it. They as most had never held much less used one and once they realized have really shut up about it...

I wouldnt hesitate to recoment the 3R and if the 5r is truly the same plus a keypad I might have to grab me a few.

[ImfromtheGovt]

The *ONLY* thing I like about the 3R over the 5R is its ability to charge via a USB cable. That means a lot of versatility for charging on the go in lots of scenarios, unlike the 7v 5R that needs a dedicated drop-in charger. Is it a huge deal? No. The 5R has 2x the TX power than the 3R. I have a 1st Gen 3R that I put a BNC adapter on so I can swap antennas quickly that I EDC in my stuff, but I plan to buy 2 x UV-5R's in the next month or so (waiting on money). To put this into perspective, I also have a Yaesu VX-8GR (and will be getting a second of those as well) and also have plans for a MT for my vehicle... probably an FT-8800R with some sort of APRS tracker on it (Byonics, Argent Data, etc).

[EODLRD]

I too have been interested in one. Right now for ht I am running a yeasu ft60 and a moto xts3000. I want another keypad programmable dual Bander for emergency use.

Don't really have any input, but if you do pick one up, make sure to give us a review.

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk 2

[nacho]

I have a bunch of friends who bought them as "toys" and they say they are really clunky to FPP. One had it for a week before he killed it.

If it's your first radio get a frequency agile radio that is easy to program on the fly. FT-60's can be found used for under $100 they do 1000 channels and are pretty simple to program, and I think they receive AM air band, High Band VHF, 200-300, 700-900.

Unless of course you need a Part 90 radio.

[Radio guy]

I was talking with one of the major Wouxun and Baofeng dealers (that I trust) at the Dayton Hamster Fest last weekend and he says the Wouxon handhelds are a bit more rugged and reliable than the Baofeng brand. I have several Wouxun radios but have only played with the new UV5R so I cant give any first hand opinions.

Compared to the mainline brands you get a lot of radio for the $$ despite the quirky menus and they are FCC type accepted for business/industrial/cop use but not GMRS or MURS at this time.
Radio Guy

[John La]

I have personally owned one for several months, so your not hearing this from a dealer that makes a lot more $$$ selling an Icom or Kenwood. (Both of which I have owned)
It will hold its own with the best.
This radio is Dual Band and extremely rugged.
It's been dropped on the driveway and down steps and keeps right on going.

There is a Yahoo Group UV5R with over 2,300 members.
Lots of great information available.

Also a UV5R Users Tutorial site http://www.miklor.com/uv5r
Don't let the price fool you. It's worth a lot more than $50 which includes the drop in charger.
I've paid more than that for a spare Icom battery.

[kbilly84]

Just got one about a week ago. Delivered Monday. So far, I like it. But then, I'm an absolute Newb.
I've managed to figure out the menus and programming (not entirely sure what it all means, but I figured out how to mess with it). Now, I'm trying to find some local traffic, or a repeater to get in on.

[sjshack]

Is there a AA battery adapter for the Baofengs like there is for the Wouxuns?

[ou812i87]

Hi to all. I just purchased a Boafeng uv5r and the device works quite well other than one thing... I am having problems with the ear peice that came with the radio. When I plug it into the radio it will tx fine with the small button but there is no audio from the ear peice nor the radio until I unplug the device. Anybody experience this problem?

[LBB]

I have seen the Baofeng UV5r HT and at $52-$65 US it is in the same price range as some of the more expensive FRS/GMRS radios with similar features (although the UV5R apparently can be programmed to TX/RX on 2m/440/Business radio (Blue dot/Green Dot)/and FRS/GMRS frequencies and possibly more (Marine VHF) and RX NOAA weather radio).


For the price, I don't expect a Alinco, ICOM, Kenwood, or Yaesu (or even a used version of those radios). I don't want to just throw away money on a radio of questionable reliability either.

I got a used ICOM quad band for a similar price.
So yes you can get nice ones for the same price.

I hope you have a ham radio license before using one.
And you can't use a ham radio on commercial frequencies.

[DocGary]

Just got mine today. So Far so good. Ill have to test it more to give a review but so far I have to say for a 4w output its doing good.

[mikester]

I have the semi-early UV-5R and the later UV-3R and I have to say there is NO down side to their performance. Yes, they program like Chinese radios and they have some functionality that is not useful on the amateur bands, but they have both been excellent units and would be a great value at twice the price. They may not have aluminum bodies, but it is a travesty that the big 3 are charging $300 for radios no better than the ones the Chinese are charging $60 for.

A Yaesu VX-5R has been my go-to HT for years, but it has been sidelined since I got these. I am probably close to a year on the 3R and 4 months or so on the 5R.

One minor down side that comes to mind with these is that the jack wiring, menus, antenna jacks, chargers, and literally everything else is completely different between them and also compared to everything else. Knowing how to do something on one does not translate in any way to being able to do it on the other. Also, the 3R looks like it would use Yaesu accessories but is wired completely different, and the 5R looks like it would use Kenwood accessories but is wired completely different.

Another down side is that the programming cables seem to use counterfeit PL2303 chips, so I had to roll back the driver to get the cables recognized. The third thing I wish they had (instead of alarm tones, flashlights, Chinese-language voice prompts, etc.) is auto power off. If left on they will run until the batteries are dead. At least they have TX timers.

I did have to drill out the mic hole on the 3R to get decent TX audio, but reports have been fine since. I made a Signalink cable for it and it has been great on our local Easypal/FLDigi 2M digital nets as well.

I am now using Chirp to program all my radios so I am able to clone across brands, etc. without any real problem.

Dive in with both feet and don't look back.