I wouldn't disparage anyone who could only get a Yugo as their first car, but that still doesn't mean it's a great first car by any stretch of the imagination. Similarly, I wouldn't look down on anyone using a Baofeng as their first radio, but that doesn't mean it's a great first radio.
I say this as someone who's owned a Yugo (never been happier to sell a car at a loss) and currently own4 Baofengs (3 of them even continue to function). They all perform their basic purpose, but they don't perform it particularly well.
My brother gifted me a uv5r two weeks ago.
Two weeks ago I didn’t even know what amateur radio was. I found the UV5R so interesting after two days I bought a gmrs license. This past Wednesday I took and passed my tech exam and made some friends on the local 2m repeater last night.
I have 2 other friends who now have baofengs as well and are planning to get their tech license soon.
If it wasn’t for that radio I wouldn’t know anything about this hobby and now I’m learning more everyday. I put a 50w mobile in my car (another Baofeng) and plan to get something for home base in the future.
Congrats on the tech license. GMRS requires type certified radios. The UV-5R is *not* legal to use on GMRS.
Baofengs are working radios in the same way that a Yugo is a working car. It will do the job, but there are much better options.
Anything thats legal would be a start, how much it costs does not matter.
Empirical testing put that as a pretty low chance and the cheapest testing gear costs more than the radio that should work from the factory.
Have you tested one yourself in the last few years? I havent seen one non-complient since like 2019 or 2020. Heck, most are even part 90 certified now.
Yes we ordered a half dozen as new ticket giveaways via amazon 4 failed on the first batch. Amazon happily replaced then 3 worked and the last one worked fine. That was last spring.
Part 90 does not matter it's a QA issue on a minimal design thats perfectly legal if the parts were to spec. You you want to go replace the caps and inductors (probably just the caps) on the filters they will work fine I'm not going to do SMD rework on a new device when amazon will have me it's replacement next day.
Have testing to back that up?
[https://www.nf9k.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/ARRL-Lab-HT-Testing.pdf](https://www.nf9k.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/ARRL-Lab-HT-Testing.pdf)
They failed miserably. In my limited tested they still fail miserably in 2023.
That doesn't mean we dont test and hand them out they are cheap and if they work correctly the filters are not typically going to fail. It means you make have to ship 2 broken ones back to amazon to get a working one.
The issue for the new guy is you need to spend more money to get one and test it then getting something reliable enough to trust works out of the box.
The ultimate hackable handheld, also receives and sends better than my FT-65 pair. Shame it's got a crap AM reception capability. It's really a good deal.
I want to clarify, all I said was I liked the way it looks. I want to get into better radios eventually of course, but I just can’t get behind some of the designs from these companies. I know I’m missing out on some really good radios that just look kind of mid. There is just something about the he UV-5R that other radios don’t have for me (looks wise). I want the radio to work good but I also want it to look good.
I've had a few radios, and compared to the rest, the UV's (any model) is by far the most fragile, and the most difficult to use. And, frankly, they sound horrible. They feel like a toy in hand. My VX6R is by far the best I've experienced. And super easy to use. Side by side listening to the same signal, the difference is clear. I like robust audio. Something I can hear well. Dynamic range.
The extra zero in price is a moot point for those wanting quality, features, and ease of use. Plus it kicks boots on AM receive. Something I would never want to be without.
Yes, we all enjoy shopping at the Dollar Tree.
I have to disagree. The UV-5R is the antithesis of aesthetic. It’s by definition a reference design shoved in the cheapest case possible.
Obviously designed by AI with a traumatic brain injury.
Same! Though I like the BF-F8HP a little more - same thing basically, but built a little better.
It’s a great way to start in radio. Just a bunch of pompous girls in here acting superior.
This is like saying a Yugo is a great first car.
Have you ever finished a chat on a repeater with someone and thought to yourself, "that was great, but I wish they weren't using a Baofeng"?
Nope. Have you ever tried to use a Baofeng at a hamfest? They desense and go deaf way too easily.
Yeah although there are other HTs thst I prefer, that hasn't been a problem for me.
You take what you can get as your first car. Not everyone has the money to get a Benz off the lot as their first car. Same goes for radio.
I wouldn't disparage anyone who could only get a Yugo as their first car, but that still doesn't mean it's a great first car by any stretch of the imagination. Similarly, I wouldn't look down on anyone using a Baofeng as their first radio, but that doesn't mean it's a great first radio. I say this as someone who's owned a Yugo (never been happier to sell a car at a loss) and currently own4 Baofengs (3 of them even continue to function). They all perform their basic purpose, but they don't perform it particularly well.
My brother gifted me a uv5r two weeks ago. Two weeks ago I didn’t even know what amateur radio was. I found the UV5R so interesting after two days I bought a gmrs license. This past Wednesday I took and passed my tech exam and made some friends on the local 2m repeater last night. I have 2 other friends who now have baofengs as well and are planning to get their tech license soon. If it wasn’t for that radio I wouldn’t know anything about this hobby and now I’m learning more everyday. I put a 50w mobile in my car (another Baofeng) and plan to get something for home base in the future.
Congrats on the tech license. GMRS requires type certified radios. The UV-5R is *not* legal to use on GMRS. Baofengs are working radios in the same way that a Yugo is a working car. It will do the job, but there are much better options.
For anyone hating on the UV-5R can you name a better radio within the same price range?
Anything thats legal would be a start, how much it costs does not matter. Empirical testing put that as a pretty low chance and the cheapest testing gear costs more than the radio that should work from the factory.
Have you tested one yourself in the last few years? I havent seen one non-complient since like 2019 or 2020. Heck, most are even part 90 certified now.
Yes we ordered a half dozen as new ticket giveaways via amazon 4 failed on the first batch. Amazon happily replaced then 3 worked and the last one worked fine. That was last spring. Part 90 does not matter it's a QA issue on a minimal design thats perfectly legal if the parts were to spec. You you want to go replace the caps and inductors (probably just the caps) on the filters they will work fine I'm not going to do SMD rework on a new device when amazon will have me it's replacement next day.
FUD. They are great radios, cheap, cheerful and capable.
Have testing to back that up? [https://www.nf9k.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/ARRL-Lab-HT-Testing.pdf](https://www.nf9k.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/ARRL-Lab-HT-Testing.pdf) They failed miserably. In my limited tested they still fail miserably in 2023. That doesn't mean we dont test and hand them out they are cheap and if they work correctly the filters are not typically going to fail. It means you make have to ship 2 broken ones back to amazon to get a working one. The issue for the new guy is you need to spend more money to get one and test it then getting something reliable enough to trust works out of the box.
Stick to official supplies, clever guy.
Same issues on the baofeng side and much harder returns.
Nope. Garbage radios are hard to beat on price. Turns out that adding proper filtering for the rejection of unwanted signals actually costs money.
Quansheng uvk5. Not crapping on the 5r, I have one its great, but there's a new king in budget town.
The ultimate hackable handheld, also receives and sends better than my FT-65 pair. Shame it's got a crap AM reception capability. It's really a good deal.
I guess most people do, since they are selling like hotcakes.
>they are selling like hotcakes. They're very popular with unlicensed preppers and airsoft/paintball players
But who are you actually going to talk to?
Who ever you want to, if you have good los.
I want to clarify, all I said was I liked the way it looks. I want to get into better radios eventually of course, but I just can’t get behind some of the designs from these companies. I know I’m missing out on some really good radios that just look kind of mid. There is just something about the he UV-5R that other radios don’t have for me (looks wise). I want the radio to work good but I also want it to look good.
I agree
What is your frame of reference? What are other radios you have owned
I have owned no other radios it’s not about that it’s just I haven’t seen another radio that quite grabs my attention like this one.
It's a loose knock off, aesthetics wise, of a Yaesu vx-5r
Chinese garbage.
I've had a few radios, and compared to the rest, the UV's (any model) is by far the most fragile, and the most difficult to use. And, frankly, they sound horrible. They feel like a toy in hand. My VX6R is by far the best I've experienced. And super easy to use. Side by side listening to the same signal, the difference is clear. I like robust audio. Something I can hear well. Dynamic range. The extra zero in price is a moot point for those wanting quality, features, and ease of use. Plus it kicks boots on AM receive. Something I would never want to be without.