$40 BaoFeng UV-5R Dual-Band Handhelds

[User440]

I was mistaken, I thought it was a Baufeng I was looking at but it was another manufacturer. I'll search around on other threads for a cheap ~50watt mobile.
Thanks,

 

[cmj]

That Wouxun mobile is expensive - I can't imagine why anyone would bother buying that over a cheaper, proven Yaesu, ICOM, or Kenwood..

 

[DaveInDenver]

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/fm_txvrs/0920.html

List Price: $349.95
Your Price: $279.95
The Wouxun KG-UV920P is a dual band FM mobile transceiver covering 2 meters and 440 MHz. Three power levels are selectable: 5/25/50W on 2 meters, and 5/20/30W on 440. 999 memories are available. It can be mounted at a variety of angles and features a detachable head.

Wouxun China says his just released "P" version offers the following enhancements over the original "R" version:
Full Duplex Cross-Band (Offset Frequency and Frequency Shift Direction programmable)
Remote Control (Programmable for work mode, like Transceiver mode, Directional Repeating mode and Duplex Repeating mode). Remote Control (Programmable for reset function)
Duplex Work (TX in the master band while RX in the sub band simultaneously)
Automatic Fan (The fan is working once the radio powers on)
Frequency/Channel Scan (Once the matching CTCSS or DCS is scanned, the speaker is ON. Otherwise, it keeps scanning)
Ascended 1750Hz Burst amplitude

The radio has an 18 month limited warranty from the factory in China. The first 90 days (only) are covered by Universal Radio.

For comparison a Yaesu FT-8800 is $360 and a KenwoodTM-V71A is $380, which are the dual band, dual RX mobiles.

 

[JimBiram]

Be sure to check out the Anytone AT5888uv dual band mobile...at 299 delivered with program cable and software, I have found it to be a pretty good value. It wasn't designed as a ham radio but as more of a commercial radio, it still has dual radios with dual monitor and crossband repeat functions

 

[robgendreau]

The Yaesus are with rebate; end of the line? The FTM-400 looks more like the wave of the future in dual FM mobile.

 

[DaveInDenver]

The Yaesus are with rebate; end of the line? The FTM-400 looks more like the wave of the future in dual FM mobile.

I don't get the FTM-400. Yaesu delayed it for a year but still decided to go with a digital voice modulation that isn't compatible with anything already existing. It does not talk to P25, DMR or D-STAR. F-n brilliant, it's a $700 dual band FM with APRS that Kenwood does for $200 less and the FTM-350 did fine.

They have to convince people to invest a truck load of money for infrastructure to support a brand new DV standard, yeah, right. I so wanted to want a FTM-400 but I just can't see a reason for it. If digital voice is gonna go anywhere we need to figure out a standard and go with it. P25 and DMR work well and I believe P25 can be run without encryption to remain FCC compliant.

 

[Crom]

I may have to pickup one of these Baofeng dual band HT's. I wonder if I should pick the model-of-the-month, or the original UV-5?

I don't get the FTM-400....

Make that two of us. I wasn't even aware of the digital voice features until now... I thought the purpose of the FT400D was to better integrate APRS / GPS and the display of APRS symbols without the need of a third party product. There isn't a whole lot of detailed feedback on the product yet so it's not easy to analyze.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Make that two of us. I wasn't even aware of the digital voice features until now... I thought the purpose of the FT400D was to better integrate APRS / GPS and the display of APRS symbols without the need of a third party product. There isn't a whole lot of detailed feedback on the product yet so it's not easy to analyze.

There is a big lack of details. I need to add a radio to our other vehicle and was planning on doing another FTM-350, which I have in my truck right now. Some people rag on it and maybe the Kenwood is better but I really like my FTM-350. But they were all gone when I had my money to throw down. Doh! Sometimes Yaesu is so infuriating. The only advantage I can see with the FTM-400 is it has digital modes available and one can hope Yaesu can develop firmware (or maybe someone figures out how to crack it) that can do whatever DV that ends up being standard. D-STAR is fine but is technically inferior to C4FM modes like Yaesu is pushing or P25. I don't disagree with Yaesu there, just wish the big guys would get their act together on this. Plus, it's not like D-STAR is an open source, ICOM controls that pretty tightly.

 

[Ray_G]

Just to some more feedback on the subject radio, we used two in simplex mode in conjunction with the vehicle based radio (Yaseu 7900) throughout the Vermont Overland Trophy. Radios had a better antenna (the common one from Amazon) and the extended battery-charged both ones for a bit off an inverter on the 2nd night but otherwise ran them without tapping into the 12v for four days. Superb little unit at the price, worked exceptionally well for in/out of the vehicle comms both on the trail and on the highway. The AA or AAA battery pack is tempting...
r-
Ray

 

[crawler#976]

And they just get cheaper too boot. $33.00 on Amazon - that's $10.00 less than I paid just a couple months ago.

Sent via gigawatt laser...

 

[ghutch]

Great radio...I got the5r plus model, clip on mic,charger cradle,programing cable, ear phone 49.00 with shipping from a us vendor....lion. Battery lasts forever! Great unit tough and works very well. Buy a cheap mag antenna and screw on adapter and it really gets out well. Chirp software is a freebie and easy to program. A pain to program without it! You'll be surprised at the quality.

 

[SWITAWI]

One of our local HAMs is a Venture Scout mentor (http://www.venturing.org/) and he's got a group of 5-6 teenage boys who are interested in becoming HAMs. They get on the evening rag-chew net with him once or twice a week and these BaoFeng handhelds have been recommended as the perfect way for a high school-age student to get into HAM. I think it's a great suggestion for anyone just getting started, let alone someone looking to spend their yard-mowing money. No need to invest heavily at first.

 

[madmax718]

its worth getting just for the listening abilities alone.

 

[transporterjr]

I'm taking a class for my tech license, $10 - include's Gordo's book. (The book would be good enough, but at least this makes me commit.
If I join the local club for 2 years ($50), they will give me a Baofeng handheld. While I'm not really on planning on HAM radio as a hobby, it seems the help I can get from a club and setting up the radio makes it worth it - and it helps support their 2 repeaters.

Some forums have suggested getting a different handheld for $100-150, but the reviews, and the people giving the course, give the Baofeng good reviews.

So considering the above - should I go for Baofeng?

 

[Crom]

I recommend the Baofeng UV-B5 or the UV-B6. They are identical but the B6 has a LED flashlight and the B5 has a dedicated knob for changing channels /freq. They are superior to the cheaper 5R series of radios and the stock B5 antenna is fine whereas the 5R, you will probably want to replace.

I have two UV-B5's and I love them. great valve.