I love Baofeng radios. It was my very first radio before I was licensed as a Technician and then a General. I run all sorts of experiments on the, building repeaters and what not. They are a great way to get people into the hobby! Great video!
If all you have is $20, It's a freaking bang for the buck miracle! Even if you never press the PTT once, it can make a half-assed VHF/UHF frequency scanner... FOR $17!!! Does it break easy? (No) but even if it did, it's $17!! Arguments against it fall apart when you consider the *actual* value
i have even have an old UV5R and BF-888s as a scanner they works good.. just got a UV-17R for $20 shipped.. like HOW??? And it works good i was talking on the local repeater's all day with it yesterday even power testing with my Bird it puts out rated 4/5w of power..
The UV-5R and its related radios, IMO: + Cheap and disposable. + Can be unlocked. + Easy to program with CHIRP. - Not spectrally pure, spurious emissions. - Not good for use in vehicles, even with a roof antenna adapter. - Sensitive, no decent filtering. - Squelch settings awe awkward. For $20-30, I’m not complaining too much. If you’re on a tight budget, and us Hams are cheap, then this is okay for short term use. Just my 2¢. KF0QNM
I love my cheap radios even more because the sad hams really despise them. They work and cost so little. Im gonna have a collection of them..Thanks to China, these radios have put the fun back into radios!
I have even have 3 old UV5R and 4 BF-888s use them as a scanner and Ham work they works good.. Just got a UV-17R for $20 shipped like HOW??? it works good i was talking on the local repeater's all day with it yesterday even power testing with my Bird it puts out rated 4/5w of power.. Compared to my Yaesu FT 65r it works the same! the Yaesu is going to have 100% cleaner RF out.
@@davidaaaa4611 technically yes however you can easily get a GMRS license which I highly recommend getting. It's a $35 fee with no test and one license covers your entire family including your in-laws and will allow you to connect to GMRS frequencies including the repeater towers in your area. It's the best $35 permission slip you'll ever buy. With that said you don't need a license to buy own or listen to this radio and while I'm not telling you to do so if you did transmit on normal GMRS/ FRS frequencies just talking radio the radio nobody cares. That's because these are the same frequencies used by regular radios you would buy at Walmart. Again I'm not telling you to do it but it's one of those things where it's also common to do.
@@MrTaylorfenoglio I would like one then I could get a better walkie talkie. But If it is a lot of paperwork like many pages to read and fill out I may not fool with it. And just keep my FRS and Cb.
@@davidaaaa4611 it takes about 10 min to do. but Technically speaking these can be used on FRS. its just against the rules. rules that have never been enforced
@@worldradio520 that is very very true. And even when you start getting into the 50 to $60 range the performance of the radios aren't any better you just get a couple more features which doesn't change The main function of the radios. But every time I walk outside with a newer radio with an LCD display it makes me miss the old displays more because you can't see them.
It sure is a great radio for the price. Some say it's junk. But who cares, this cheap radios can communicate with those very expensiive branded radios that not all can afford. What's important is communication and that is what ham radio is all about.
Junk that works i have 3 of them, and just got a UV-17R for $20 shipped it works good i was talking on the local repeater's all day with it yesterday. Even the power testing with my Bird it puts out rated 4/5w of power. Compared to my Yaesu FT 65r it works the same and is easier to use. The Yaesu is going to have 100% cleaner RF out but thats $120
Maybe you are rich and can afford high end branded radios. Cheap or expensive VHF/UHF ht's still have the same frequencies and both can communicate. That's my opinion.
I love Baofeng radios. It was my very first radio before I was licensed as a Technician and then a General. I run all sorts of experiments on the, building repeaters and what not. They are a great way to get people into the hobby! Great video!
Thanks! I'm totally ith you
amen!!!
The UV-5R got me back into radio. I bought a few for experimenting and I still have them and use them.
Just got 2 from Amazon today, 17.00 each. So far I got county fire and the weather so I’m on my way to radio superiority 😂
If all you have is $20, It's a freaking bang for the buck miracle! Even if you never press the PTT once, it can make a half-assed VHF/UHF frequency scanner... FOR $17!!! Does it break easy? (No) but even if it did, it's $17!! Arguments against it fall apart when you consider the *actual* value
i have even have an old UV5R and BF-888s as a scanner they works good..
just got a UV-17R for $20 shipped.. like HOW??? And it works good i was talking on the local repeater's all day with it yesterday even power testing with my Bird it puts out rated 4/5w of power..
The UV-5R and its related radios, IMO:
+ Cheap and disposable.
+ Can be unlocked.
+ Easy to program with CHIRP.
- Not spectrally pure, spurious emissions.
- Not good for use in vehicles, even with a roof antenna adapter.
- Sensitive, no decent filtering.
- Squelch settings awe awkward.
For $20-30, I’m not complaining too much. If you’re on a tight budget, and us Hams are cheap, then this is okay for short term use.
Just my 2¢. KF0QNM
I love my cheap radios even more because the sad hams really despise them. They work and cost so little. Im gonna have a collection of them..Thanks to China, these radios have put the fun back into radios!
I have even have 3 old UV5R and 4 BF-888s use them as a scanner and Ham work they works good..
Just got a UV-17R for $20 shipped like HOW??? it works good i was talking on the local repeater's all day with it yesterday even power testing with my Bird it puts out rated 4/5w of power..
Compared to my Yaesu FT 65r it works the same! the Yaesu is going to have 100% cleaner RF out.
Its crazy what a $20 radio can do!
Would I have to have a license to operate one of those ?
@@davidaaaa4611 technically yes however you can easily get a GMRS license which I highly recommend getting. It's a $35 fee with no test and one license covers your entire family including your in-laws and will allow you to connect to GMRS frequencies including the repeater towers in your area. It's the best $35 permission slip you'll ever buy. With that said you don't need a license to buy own or listen to this radio and while I'm not telling you to do so if you did transmit on normal GMRS/ FRS frequencies just talking radio the radio nobody cares. That's because these are the same frequencies used by regular radios you would buy at Walmart. Again I'm not telling you to do it but it's one of those things where it's also common to do.
@@MrTaylorfenoglio I would like one then I could get a better walkie talkie. But If it is a lot of paperwork like many pages to read and fill out I may not fool with it. And just keep my FRS and Cb.
@@davidaaaa4611 it takes about 10 min to do. but Technically speaking these can be used on FRS. its just against the rules. rules that have never been enforced
@@MrTaylorfenoglio Ok thanks.
I think they are great, lets put this in perspective you cant even buy kids play walkie talkies for what you can buy these for
@@worldradio520 that is very very true. And even when you start getting into the 50 to $60 range the performance of the radios aren't any better you just get a couple more features which doesn't change The main function of the radios. But every time I walk outside with a newer radio with an LCD display it makes me miss the old displays more because you can't see them.
Yes i love the size of them too just fit well in my hand i love them but i guess i am a poor ham on a budget@@MrTaylorfenoglio
It sure is a great radio for the price. Some say it's junk. But who cares, this cheap radios can communicate with those very expensiive branded radios that not all can afford. What's important is communication and that is what ham radio is all about.
Still junk. That’s just my opinion
i understand :) what do you not like about it? what's a better $16 radio?
Junk that works i have 3 of them, and just got a UV-17R for $20 shipped it works good i was talking on the local repeater's all day with it yesterday. Even the power testing with my Bird it puts out rated 4/5w of power.
Compared to my Yaesu FT 65r it works the same and is easier to use.
The Yaesu is going to have 100% cleaner RF out but thats $120
Maybe you are rich and can afford high end branded radios. Cheap or expensive VHF/UHF ht's still have the same frequencies and both can communicate. That's my opinion.