Just before Christmas 2023 I pulled the trigger on a pair of Baofeng UV-5R handheld radios with a bunch of extra goodies. I also bought everything else I thought I would need to make a well rounded emergency communications kit/bag. I will do a breakdown of that kit at another time as I want the focus to be on the radio itself.
What’s in the box? Where to buy?
I bought mine as a 2 pack from here at Amazon. I paid was $57.00 at the time I bought mine. You can find deals on the UV-5R on Amazon, eBay, Wish, Alibabba, Temu, and various other sites with a simple Google search for the Baofeng UV-5R. I ended up buying the 8W version instead of the standard 5W. My package came with 2 UV-5R radios, 2 batteries, 6 antennas (2 each of 3 different types), 2 wall chargers, and 2 PTT Earbuds.
I have read and watched many reviews on these radios. Most if not all have eluded to this radio being both easy to use but complicated to program. Using programing software like CHIRP make the learning curve easier, but do not eliminate it completely. From my personal experience, I do not find the latter to be true. With or without the programming software, I find this radio to be easy to program. I’m not sure if this is because of my radio communications or the simple application of some common sense. I served 6 years in the US military holding a MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) job title for Man Pack Radio, HF Radio, Multi-channel Radio, and Satellite Radio. But enough about me and back to the radio.
In the box
- Baofeng UV-5R Handheld Radio
- 1800mAh Battery
- Belt Clip
- Antenna Factory Rubber Whip
- Antenna AR771
- Antenna AR805S
- Headset
- User Manual
Initial Impressions
Upon first opening the box, I was surprised at how tiny the radio unit it was. As I continued digging into the box, I was impressed with how much was packed into such a small box. The battery had come with a charge and based on the battery indicator on the radio face, that was charged between 75%-100%, impressive considering most stuff I have bought requires the battery(s) to be charged if they’re even provided.
On first picking up the radio it almost felt like a toy walkie talkie, light weight and cheaply made. However, in the weeks since, it has proven itself to be far from a cheap toy. It has proven to be a bit more robust, though one must not forget that even in its niche, it is still very cheap compared to other options available.
The Antennas
Using my Surecom SW-102 digital SWR/Power Meter, I put the radio and 3 antennas through some basic testing.
SWR on 155.000mhz
- Antenna AR771: 7.24
- Antenna AR805S: 15.22
- Antenna Dual Band Factory: 13.67
SWR on 460.000mhz
- Antenna AR771: 1.99
- Antenna AR805S: 7.78
- Antenna Dual Band Factory: 2.31
I do have a 4th antenna option but won’t be including it in this writing as it is not part of what comes in the box. I will include it in another article when I dive into my Radio bag.
Final Thoughts
After having the pair of UV-5R’s for a couple months now, I have found them to be better than their reputation. They have been said to unreliable, not have good range, as well as not being FCC compliant. I have found the opposite to be true, so far they have been very reliable, and according to FCC number 2AJGM-UV5R they are indeed FCC compliant. I have not yet had an opportunity to test out their range either from UV-5R to UV-5R, UV-5R to mobile, or UV-5R to FRS Walkie Talkie.
For being a $25-$30 radio, it does perform remarkably well for being so cheap. As mentioned above, it is tiny, the whole radio without an antenna fits in the palm of my hand. In it’s performance, you have to keep that in mind, the UV-5R is not a $100+ radio, it is a cheap radio made in China. It is a handheld radio, so it is not without it’s limits. However, with the ability to be programed and access repeaters, it is a good option for the person on a budget.
Looking a my UV-5Rs, I am happy with them so far and have used them to form an emergency communications bag in the event that cell phones are no longer a viable option. I will be doing a post about my Commo bag in detail at a later date.
So no matter what your purpose for these radios might be, you can’t really go wrong with them. I know there are a lot of negative reviews out there in the interwebs about the UV5R, but if you look hard enough, you can can find plenty of negative comments about any radio on the market no matter how expensive. Yes, in most cases the ole addage, “you get what you pay for,” does apply, however, that is not always the case. But in this case, what you get may exceed what you pay for and you might be pleasently surprised as long as you keep in mind what it is vs what it isn’t and keep your expectations adjusted accordingly.
The following links may not be to the EXACT gear pictured, however, will be to what I could find comparable to what I have and use. Some are a generalized search so you can pick exactly what you want or give you an idea what might be found at that retail store if it applies.
Links
Remember, If I can do it, You can do it too!!!
The Wandering Leatherneck 