Don't Buy a UV-5R!
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- Опубликовано: 9 фев 2025
- UV-9R Pro with all the accessories seen: amzn.to/41zkXZ9
UV-9R Pro Battery: amzn.to/3XKFRkn
GT-5R Pro: amzn.to/3XyxTLi
Extended USB C Battery for the UV-5R: amzn.to/3XAB8Sf
Extended Battery (non USB C) w/adapter: amzn.to/3XRy85l
Nagoya NA-771 Antenna: amzn.to/3Xzocfw
Abbree/Baofeng Speaker Mic for the UV-9R Pro - amzn.to/3BUS67i
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
How to adjust squelch on Baofeng HT radios :
www.miklor.com...
Best dual band HT antenna there ever has been: signalstuff.co...
UPDATE: I mis-spoke in the video when I mentioned the IP rating, though I accurately said I believe the radio is built to handle splashes, not submersion as Baofeng claims. Also the GT-5R Pro is not a true triband radio. It can receive 1.25M but it cannot transmit on that band.
For all those concerned about unlocking the UV-9R Pro, yes you can do that. Hold PTT, button 2, and # on the keypad when you power it on. If you do it right it will say FACTORY, and you have successfully unlocked the radio. This is the same process used on the UV-82.
@@MattCoversTech oh nice and what does this do? :)
@@ragefires Allows you access to bands outside of HAM like GMRS.
@@MattCoversTech The UV-25 seems like a good option too; I SOMEWHAT recently decided to get the UV-21R BAOFENG radio, I also got an after market Nagoya NA-320A Triband 27inch or so antenna.
It has FM/AM and Weather band as well.
I don't know if it was a good pick, but I haven't had any problems with the radio.
DONT BUY THESE!! I just wanted a radio for camping and road trips one day so I bought 2 UV5Rs. Flash forward to today….. I have 48 different radios and both my GMRS and ham licenses. It’s a trap! At least my girlfriend hasn’t left me. Yet.
In all seriousness, I totally recommend the UV5R as someone’s first radio. Either in ham or GMRS flavored. Great way to learn how to program, tones, offsets, and such.
I would get a good GMRS radio that you know works in the cold and rain. But keep those baofengs as backup and for other members on your trip.
And get good antennas.
Ah ha ha.
Down the rabbit hole.
Thanks, dude.
I caught flack over
buying the gen. 3.
The UV-5R has been overtaken by technology. Modern radios have tri-band capabilities, airline radio RX, NOAA reception and a secret decoder rings. Okay, so they don't have secret decoder rings, but the rest is true.
The UV-5R is the reason that I got my ham license. I always thought of it as a prohibitively expensive hobby, but wound up running into these cheap little handheld transceivers and decided to give it a go. Haven't looked back. I recently got a Yaesu FTM-500DR too. Never would have happened if not for that little UV-5R.
@@FirstLast-vr7es
Thank you.
I might do this, too.
I've had my UV-5R since 2019. I'm still using the stock antenna. I bought it because I wasn't sure if I wanted to stay in the hobby and didn't want to invest too much money in it. I'm happy to report it still works. I did have to buy the interface cable to use it with CHIRP. I can reach all the local nets just fine. If it finally breaks I may buy the 9R. Thanks for making the video.
I switched to Tidradio a few months back and I am very happy with the change. Voice quality is way better.
@@kirkwalsh1932 I’m also a big fan of Tidradio, both the H3 and the H8, though neither one is water resistant. I did run into an issue when unlocking a GMRS H3 for use on ham bands. You can check out my other video for that.
Whoa moneybags! You can get in your Lambo and go elsewhere!
Agreed. I have both a UV-5R and a TID-H3. The H3 display and user interface is far better and easier to use. And yes, I had the UV-5R first and am comfortable with that UI. The TID is better.
@@kirkwalsh1932 Another plus on the TID is the battery life. They just seem much better in standby mode with out of the box settings. And for the person saying "moneybags", the price difference isn't that much, I believe my H3 was $33, and my H8's were as little as $45.
@@philipstaite4775 not to mention the Bluetooth programming. I freakin love that!
I wish I would have seen your video two weeks ago! I have 2 UV5Rs and sunk money into the extended batteries and Nagoya antenna. The UV9R would have been a much smarter move. Thanks for sharing and ruining my day. LOL
😅
😂😂
Your antennas can be ported to other radios that use the same SMA connector, so no worries there. Personally I would say your upgrade if you are looking for a great cheapo radio is the Quansheng K5 radio - a webpage can flash it and make it comparable to a much pricier analog radio via custom firmware. Its quite hard to tell the difference once price is considered going with a .... Anytone 878 if you are doing analog only over a K5, the K5 has everything except APRS (which can be done with APRSDroid or the iOS equivalent) and of course digital (DMR/DStar/C4FM). I _was_ carrying a rather nice Wouxun as my at work radio until the K5. Now and then I take something else if I plan on hopping on a digital net while at work, but frankly stomaching a potential $30 loss is easier than the other options if it gets damaged/stolen. Plus if you are good with the soldering iron, you can install a $10 addon board that adds in HF. On mine I use it to monitor only, but it can transmit down to 15Mhz with an appropriate antenna. So I have a CB, 2M/70cm ham, MURS, GMRS/FRS radio all in one ... finally! If interested look up EGZumer firmware, theres stuff on YT that I watched and got learned up on prior to ordering 6mo back or so.
UV5R still has uses......
Quansheng > Baofeng. With aftermarket firmware, I now have a shortwave/HF receiver with spectrum analyzer. I bought another Baoefeng literally the day before I realized the Quanshengs existed. xD
The Quansheng UV-K5 is definitely my favorite HT! Running Egzumer 0.22, I also run a 51" telescopic antenna when listening to 10m, 11m, 12m, 6m, etc.
We started with a bunch of Baofeng UV-5R 8w with extended batteries. I do think that the 5R transmits a little better than the K5.
Still Chinese junk. Buy an icom or yaesu
@@MVBriscoVolante Yaesu is also a junk nowadays. Sadly. I miss the old days of great Yaesu handhelds like VX-8. It's sadly all crap (with half the functionality old VX-8 had) nowadays.
Plus the Quansheng has that voice inversion scrambler.
Plenty useful enough to keep Bubba with his HT understanding what you’re saying.
Much better front end than the UV5R too.
But you need mods to make it work better! I will possibly get one because I like thinkering! On the HF band I mean.
AR-5RM Plus (bigger chassis, larger screen, air and marine band capable). Comes with 2800mah battery and the aftermarket batteries are 6800mah, both usb-c. Lasts 2-3 days of light use or 5 of just monitoring. (and gmrs locked UV-5G plus in same larger chassis is available) Worth looking into.
I prefer the BF-F8HP Pro which uses the same batteries as the AR-5RM but includes GPS, Zones, and is a tri-band as opposed to dual band. Thanks for commenting!
@@Will-W Word. The AR-5RM is the one to get.
I got my Baofeng UV-5R back in August 2023 since the Uniden BC125AT was too pricey for me. I mainly use it for rail-fanning to know if a train is coming or not. The problem is, its antenna covered a lesser range, so I got a Bingfu antenna for it (maybe 18 inches) and it covers a large range now. The only problem is that the volume adjuster started to become a bit weird. When I turn it on, it's completely silent. But when I adjust it, the sound is audible (followed by some annoying sounds when it passes the unwanted mute threshold). When I first got it, the volume was instantly audible once I turned it on. I still use it and it's my only ham radio. I don't get those big batteries for it though. I also programmed it to have its VOX disabled, so that I won't transmit signals on accident. I use it as a scanner basically.
I'm just falling down the rabbit hole... My SiL told me I should get a "radio"; he has a UV-5R, but I've been digging deeper into the different types. The -9R looks like the way to go, for a first radio. Subscribed, for more learnin'
This video is 100% spot on. I have juiced up several uv5r’s for over a decade and have found my favorite add ons. This is good advice. BUT I have my own advice which is not to discredit Matt. Personally I would go for TD-H3’s for the bluetooth programming and the ability to modify your program channel without completely deleting the channel manually or having to go into chirp or whatever program software of your choice to change a parameter to a channel. The bluetooth software is a bit clunky but I’m no genius and with the help of YT I figured it out. There are some audio improvements with the TD-H3 I’m my opinion. Also one of the coolest features is the wireless cloning feature on the TD-H3. One accessory I do recommend and it’s appx $55 but I feel it’s with every penny and extremely durable( I used them in the mining industry for years!) is the Kenwood KMC-21 Compact Speaker Microphone. This is all just my $.02.
Great video Matt!
This is a very helpful video and it would benefit anyone to heed your advice.
I would just add, that you need to be careful when buying a TD-H3, they have two different versions available that I discovered through testing. Check out my video on the channel on it for more details.
I just want to tell you that you're doing a good job. Nice delivery of facts and i liked how you arranged the case against the 5R vs other radios. You earned a subscription and hope to watch you grow. Cheers
I've picked these up over the uv5r for the same reasons. As an emergency radio, i wanted something that uses common equipment for charging. Not a cradle i have to carry around or a non-common usb cable. A couple comments though. First, they are supposed to be 8w, but we never see a Boafeng put out the full wattage advertised. 2nd, the one difference that may affect someone is the inability to change from channel mode to frequencies on the fly. This can only be selected at power on. Not a big deal to me and gives a newbie less to get confused with if you hand them a radio to use, especially if you have programmed the memory channels.
Buy a TIDRadio H8, ten watts. Great radio. Usb Charging. Bluetooth programming. Some amazing features. Great radio for $40. Some even come with a TIDRadio 771 antenna in the kit. Awesome radio
Thanks for watching and leaving a comment.
I agree. I have owned several radios over my 65 years as a ham radio operator. I have owned an Icom Yaesu Kenwood and a UV5R. I recently bought a TID H8 and it is a very good radio for the money.
@@robertyoung9589I just bought an h3 pack for my first radios. GMRS versions. I also want a couple HAMS as well and I’m between the UV 9R pro and the H8. Everyone says get the h3 over the 8. If I were to get the 8 what am I missing out on exactly? Is it that big of a difference?
Cool, I just learned about adjusting the squelch! Great video.
Thank you i have a similar farm of Hts recently got a uv9r for waterproof or resistant reasons lol i could have saved a lot of money if i seen this video awhile ago. Thank you.
i have a Baofeng uv5s its a superb radio i still use it often after 8 years cheers matt there are good ones and even better ones i watched a youtube video about the uv5s and got one its a keeper and that was 8 years ago now
@@m3hnl The only BaoFeng I ever got rid of was a UV-82HP because I just didn’t like it that much. It was actually the first HT I ever bought. I still have all my UV5R models.
What is nice is that there is plenty of accessories, and no problems getting a new battery.
Thank you for the review. Just got one for my birthday. Heads up, only comes with one antenna and no programming cable.
The link I put at the top had included both at the time, but obviously things can and will go out of stock. I'm glad you like it. I will continue to feature other radios in this price point that you may find interesting as you grow with the hobby. Thanks for dropping in!
Started with a pair of pmr446s, upgraded to a 5rh, and just waiting on a 5rh pro gps...
I bought my baofeng on amazon last year, listed as a UV-5R8W and it came eith the AR-771 antenna aswell. Only addition ive bought for it was the extended battery. I havent really felt the need to get anything else for it yet because it runs perfectly fine. Even without the USB-C port on the battery, i haven't had to charge it in like 3 months, but im not constantly on it either
I have an AR-5RM as my first radio, but ended up buying a UV-5R8W just because it was $15. The AR-5RM is a much nicer radio, and has many of the same features as the one you’re showing.
I chose the 5rm as my first as well. I’ll have it in a few days. I also ordered a Nagoya retractable 771 because I heard they were better than the stock. How has yours been?
good points! nice video. I feel like the greatest improvement in the last 10 years has been the USBC charge ports. Cheap air band and cheap tri-band are neat, but not huge for most
Got one for Christmas. Battery stopped making good contact, stock antenna is way worse than a Yaesu FT-65R stock which I have now. Also the extended battery swole up
Yeah, there are a lot of them out there, and the quality control varies among sellers. I personally only buy UV-5R models (GT-5R, GT-5R Pro, UV-5RTP, UV-5G) from Radioddity, usually through Amazon for easy returns. So far, they have all performed well. The UV-5RTP original battery showed a slight bloat, so I stopped using that battery and replaced it. That's been the only issue so far.
youtube been recommending me people with less than 1000 subs the past few days
Good stuff
People with less than 1k subs arent monetized. RUclips earns money off your view while not having to pay out the content creators.
Welcome! Thanks for dropping by.
Yes. That's great!
YT has been capping my subs at 2000 and overwriting them. There excuse is your not a premium member
Got mine s a part of a lot, for cheap. It works. For trivial comms, it's worked fine. Before police went to trunk ,it was fun to listen. Lately nothing on air. Still works to listen to broadcast radio. The latest military style ones look neat. Someone on Reddit sub mentioned, the Wouxuns are pretty nice. Either way, I'm in a low spot. Would have to get one heck of an antenna to make it useful. Post Helene, everything wnet out. No poilce for at least a week. NOAA tower blew down into electical transformer, and forced one reactor to shut down. No cell for couple weeks. Nothing.
As someone who knew and still knows very little about ham radio and anything related, I bought these as part of the 2020 events just in case. I slowly started gaining interest and ended up with a bunch of SDL dongles and like 4/5 radios. Maybe it was user error but I just could not get any frequencies to work. I've moved since 2020 but the closest I ever got was being able to listen to a repeater somewhat near me but I could not hear everyone speaking on it. Only some people.
I tried to have a mess with phase 2 or w/e it is that pd's use and again just couldn't get anything happening. At some point I'm going to buy a big antenna to stick on my roof and see if that changes anything.
I would recommend the Retevis RT85 even though it has been around a while. The RT85 is the same radio as the Gigaparts Explorer QRZ-1, Radioddity GM-30/GA-5E/MU-5, TYT UV88, and Baofeng UV13 Pro and they use the same battery which you can get in different capacities and some even have USB-C charging ports. The radios are very clean as far as spurious emissions and if they are locked when you get them they are very easy to unlock to be able to use them for ham, MURS, FRS/GMRS, or whatever in the VHF/UHF bands. They use the K style connector that you already have a ton of. They are a true 5w or more on all the different bands, and I haven't seen it go less than 5.5w or so anywhere on any band unless I put them on low power. And yeah they are only dual band VHF/UHF but that's pretty much all you need. NO bells and whistles, just plain old simple to operate and program, which after you get used to it it's easier than Baofengs are. And right now on Amazon you can get a set of 2 for $19 with free shipping for orders over $35, and for now they have a $10 off coupon that makes them virtually impossible to pass up. They would be great for Christmas for the kids or family use.I am thinking about getting more of them for both of my sons' families. 73s and take care.
Im buying 2 packs of UV5Rs with the big battery and antenna for $40... ill switch when a better version comes out and is popular for a few years.
I bought some improved versions a few years back, they are all discontinued
Quansheng with ezgummer is my favorite "cheap" radio. I am disappointed in the TD3 because several frequencies won't program, keeps saying in out of frequency spec. But these same frequencies easily can be programmed in UV5r and my Quanshengs.
Problem using radios so far out in the spectrum for on example GMRS is that the filters inside can get warm. And the output stafe can be weaker at that frequency.
In example my unlocked Yaesu VX-8DR. I get lower power output so high on example Maritime UHF (onboard use) that is around GMRS frequency.
I bought a UV-5R that was defective. The vendor didn't nave another to replace it so he gave me a UV82. I used chirp and loaded all the channels I needed. It seems to be a good radio, but where I live in northern Canada, there isn't much radio traffic.
I have modded firmware on my github which allows TX on all the frequencies (including air band) FM only. However, I have added a lock to the airband TX in the form of holding down the TX button for 3 seconds and when it displays ‘Lock’, you turn it off and on again whilst still holding the PTT. It’ll come on and ask for a PIN.
I’m working on more.
Good video. Thanks for sharing your options. Much appreciated.
I have two UV-5R's. I got them to use to use as back-ups in my secondary and tertiary vehicles to hear 911 dispatch callouts to my VFD. My issued radioworks well but sometimes I am in a different vehicle and left my issued radio in my main truck. Wanted a cheap back-up and was told my multiple people this is the one. So far, after countless hours watching YT videos that promise to walk me through the process, i can't get a single freq programmed, no one from other videos has responded to ANY question I asked, and I have never heard a single human voice come across these radios to date. I am not a tech guy. I'm no genius. My grandson helps me with programming stuff on my phone. And I believe I am best served passing these on to some of my fellow firefighters. Maybe they can find someone to help them. People make fun of HAM operators, but in my experience nearly ALL radio people are elitist snobs when it comes to helping those who are not gifted with technology of any kind. I offered a HAM guy one town over $300 to program my two radios with 5 channels. No dice.
Sooooo, excuse me if I don't quite believe the hype so many people put out about these. Venting is over. Sorry
Thanks, that was a good Baofeng video. As a noob, I also put money into a GT-5R and enhancements like a better antenna and better battery. It seems like an amateur right of passage or something. However, one thing I don't think you mentioned. I might be wrong, but I thought the UV-9R was 8W. That's 60% more than the GT-5R. Very significant RF power upgrade. Regardless, I finally bought a Yaesu FT-70D recently. The difference in the transceiver is night and day (of course it should be for 5x the money) over Baofeng. I'll probably sell all of my Baofeng gear one of these days because it would be hard to go back to Baofeng after being spoiled by Yaesu. 73.
Just get an AR-5RM for the same price and you have everything (tri-band, AM, 2500 mAh battery, USB-C charging, the longer antenna and a better belt clip. Plus it's unlocked from the factory and it's 10-watts.
My hesitation in recommending the 5RM series is that I haven’t heard of a single one passing the spurious emissions test. That may not matter to everyone, but I tend to steer clear of dirty HTs. Just my opinion.
@@MattCoversTech what do you recommend?
I have the gmrs version of this radio. Two of them actually. Very very nice radios for the money. They are pretty good at being waterproof. I got them for off roading on atv's and even have external mics from Abbree on them. Mine came with extra batteries too.
I have three. One of them is the 8w. Their one saving grace is they're easy to navigate. They make good short range walkie talkies but that's it.
you can get the UV-5R witht the Nogoya/Abree 771 antenna, extended 3600 battery, external Speaker/Mic, and programming cable for about $40, though you can get it on sale for around 35. All this plus the typical UV-5R radio items of the 1800 battery, the rubber duck antenna, wrist strap, belt clip and so on.
Not bad mouthing the UV-9R Pro (like you shown and I have 2 of), When I got my UV-9R Pro, it was 2022/23, a time when Boafeng ran into a shortage of a certain chip that gives the UV-9R Broadcast FM Reception. Therefore for a while the UV-9Rs were being made without FM Public Radio. On both my UV-9R Pros, you can press the button to ger FM, it will light up the screen with FM, but you would get dead air. - nada, zelch, zero, the Big Goose Egg.
Another problem, is the UV-9R Battery is expensive - around $25. I say that because one of the batteries of the UV-9Rs that I have died, and refuses to recharge. Going through the forums that are out there, not much can be done but to buy a new battery.
In my view, the UV-9R is an excellent radio for what it is - a UV-5R repacked in a UV-9R "Waterproof" case. But issues I have with it does not make it as that Be-all and End-all radio that the UV-5R is. Remember, you can but the UV-5R with all the trimmings for $40 or less on Amazon, Aliexpress, so on, just a few dollars more than a UV-9R. Furthermore, you can get (or make by 3D Print) items for the UV-5R that you can't for the UV-9R. This makes the UV-5R more versatile for the cost that it is worth.
This is a matter of personal preference. UV-9R or UV-5R. For somebody starting out in Ham Radion the UV-5R would be better to have and then expand on it. If you get the UV-9R, you are stuck with what you get. It is like a PC, you can get a big box PC you can throw in all the cards you want into it, of you can buy a little mini PC to save room on your desk and are stuck with what you got. The choice is yours. These two radios, are great as is. Only preference makes one more valued than the other, despite all things being equal.
I appreciate your thoughts. One thing, the battery for the UV-9R is $13.99 which is not more expensive than the battery for the UV-5R. Check the link in my video description.
you are the man, thanks for the info
Love my uv5rs just got them they are the gmrs models and won't work on ham frequency just gmrs and frs just what I wanted
I have a couple of those too. The UV-5G.
The UV-9R PRO is a great bargain. Thanks for an outstanding review. The UV-5R has stood its place as the utility radio of the decade. Thanks Baofeng for keeping it relevant with accessories and upgrades. Glad to see that their are economical alternatives that make sense. Dear sir, you should be paid for this great review. You save us money !
I appreciate that, thank you!
When did uv5r become clean?
Don't know the exact date, but it's been several years now.
You sold me on the belt clip alone! It's like what the Jedi use in the prequels. its called a covertec knob and belt clip.
Interesting video, but what are 'spurs' - something I have never heard of.
Spurs is shorthand for spurious emissions. Spurious emissions are harmonics of your transmitting frequency that aren't supposed to make it out of your radio. Let's say you're transmitting on 450Mhz. Well, if you hook your radio up to a spectrum analyzer, down the line you might see a harmonic at 900Mhz, which is double the fundamental of 450. If that 900Mhz harmonic is strong enough, and making out of the radio, that means it can be heard on that frequency (900Mhz), and this is NOT supposed to happen. Ideally you want to transmit on the frequency you select, and none other. The reason being that harmonics can cause interference for other radio users like first responders, who may not be on your frequency, but might use one higher up the band where you are stomping on them with a spurious emission/harmonic in that range.
@@MattCoversTech Thanks so much for your helpful and detailed reply. I wish more RUclips channel creators were as clever and thoughtful towards the viewers.
i got my UV5R‘s before the TX restrictions. THAT alone made the purchases worthwhile.
My every day chat is a 12 year old Wouxun VHF and 220. We have a morning 220 BS session most mornings. Yes, I have many Baofengs and they are solid but also picked up Quansheng. I like that one too. So many HTs so little space!
I won't buy any baofeng as "baofeng uk" refuse to support my gt-5r which has never transmitted. I can use it for testing but it's only a receiver. I've checked it with chirp, set up properly using chirp and also fm does not work. But for a cheap radio it will help me test my yaesu 500 dual bander. Thanks for the review.
Wow, if I were in your position I would feel the same! I usually buy my Baofengs from either Radioddity or Amazon because in both cases, the customer service and return service have been very good.
As far as the antenna it’s the swr that makes or breaks the range
As a newbie, I am confused as to what radios are GMRS and what ones are HAM or are they both? I did apply and receive a GMRS license, but that is as far as my knowledge goes. I am not looking to buy a 100 radios. I just want 4 or 5 for the family communications when we are in remote or SHTF, NOAA and preferably weatherproof.
Some radios are GMRS only. Some radios are HAM only. Some radios can be unlocked to do both, though certain members of the amateur radio community will tell you it breaks FCC regulations and that you will definitely most assuredly be going to a gulag for the rest of your natural life for doing so. Of course they are wrong about that second part. My family uses Radioddity GM-30 models for GMRS. They’re built well, are dead simple to use, can be upgraded with an extended battery, are inexpensive, relatively small to carry, and also pick up NOAA radio. I would start there before moving on.
They updated the UV-5R so it doesn't have the spurs in the output signal
Absolutely, they have been clean for years, as I mentioned in the video. That being said there are many other models of radio out there, at the same price point, offering a lot more, including the UV-9R Pro. I intend to keep highlighting other such radios so that anyone interested can make the most informed decision they can before spending their hard earned money. No hate for the UV-5R, I just don't think it's the best for the money at this point.
Is there a difference in “clean” with the higher wattage 5rs? Was looking at the 8 and 10 watt pairs on Amazon for like 60 bucks
Not necessarily, but anything beyond 5 watts really isn't going to help much with range (you'll get half an S unit at 8 or 10 watts which is nothing), but will DEFINITELY, without a doubt, you can bet on it, drain your battery faster. I have a couple 8 and 10 watt radios. I run them all at the Mid setting for 5 watts. You're better off investing in good antennas like the Nagoya 771 or the mighty Signal Stick from Signalstuff.com.
I have UV 13 Pro...what's the difference between UV 9r and UV 13 pro??
I don't think the UV-13 Pro claims any kind of IP rating at all, at least none that I see from the BaoFeng documentation. At least one listing says the battery is 1500 mAh just like the UV-5R, while the UV-9 Pro comes with the 2500 mAh which seems to be taking shape as the industry standard this year.
Oh no.. 60 bux 😮..
Seriously though, we use the 5r when were out riding, no issues, work perfectly, we ride in a desert environment and they can reach miles on a chest holster
Yep, all 3 of mine still work well, I just think that in the time since the UV-5R was brought to market, lots of other quality radios have stepped forward in the same price range that offer more bang for your buck.
Can the frequency range be unlocked to Tx/Rx on GMRS in an emergency?
Answered in the pinned comment.
What is the Baofeng UV5RX ? What is the "X" designation ? Thank you.
From what I can tell, it's a tri band radio (2M, 1.25M, 70cm) that also can receive airband and FM broadcast. I've not used it myself, so some of those (1.25) may be receive only like the GT5R Pro that is a much newer unit.
The UV-5R works for What i need it for so no need to spend more money!
I enjoyed your video, thanx, 👍
the btech uv pro seems like a good one by spec and seems to have traditional kenwood plug.
It does look very good and is basically BTECH's version of the VGC VR-N76. But it's more than 4 times the price.
nothing wrong with the radios they work perfectly fine
On the weather rating I think it’s a translation error they meant to print ip6 to 7
Baofeng can say the radio is ipv6 because they can say anything they like and get away with it, no one can stop them.
How does the K5 Plus compare to the 9R Pro?
Sorry, I don’t have a K5 Plus so I don’t know.
Can this UV-9R be "unlocked" to obtain access to ALL frequencies in the same manner as the UV-5R? (3 button power-on factory reset method).
Good video!
(Sorry, saw the pinned comment after I wrote the comment... Duh..)
Great Job!
Thank You :)
There are people selling add on boards for the Quansheng, should one purchase those as well? I wish I would have bought the Quansheng before it was known, I was looking at it.
Last I checked some circuit modifications were necessary for the boards to function. Some techs offer to make these modifications for prices in the neighborhood of $25.
And then seeing that belt clip was a deal breaker for me
“…$75! Talk about death by a thousand cuts!”
My MBTIR obsession: 👀
i bought Uv9r pro from amazon and it did not at all come with the usb c battery
The affiliate link above only links to the USB C version. I’m not aware of a non USB C version. If you received something different, I would contact the seller and ask them to send the proper battery OR exchange the radio via Amazon return.
@MattCoversTech i didnt see the affiliate link i may end up contacting the seller
Any idea why a Baofeng uv-5r will not transmit?. My brother has his radio license so I was going to buy him a used one but it only beeps when trying to transmit which I find odd, it will receive.
That can happen if duplex was turned off in Chirp, or if you are trying to transmit on bands that the radio has locked out from the factory. That’s just off the top of my head.
Note that the manual instructs that the radio should not be used while being charged. This is a major nuisance!
I don’t know if a single HT that doesn’t have the same requirement. Even Yaesu states this.
Enjoyed the video! thank you.
I have the RD-5R and after I purchased them they seemed to have disappeared. I cannot find one anywhere. They have been great radios for my small business.
Yeah that happens with Radioddity as well. They just stop producing radios after a time. Same thing happened to the GD-77 which is a phenomenal radio when loaded with the Open GD77 firmware. In your case they probably replaced it with an "updated" model.
Maybe in your country, there is no restriction in using an amateur radio for business use.
See what happens when you leave them unchaparoned? They multiply. One of yours is a girl Baofeng - doesn't have an antenna
🤣
WHAT!!! Mind Blown... going to verify your claims. Be right back!
Let’s get a “bad boy” counter going
great video thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day
I have uv5r8 with abree 771 and can’t transmit or receive as good as my buddies with midlands in under a mile ! What’s up??
Could be so many things. Bad antenna, poorly tuned antenna for GMRS, lemon unit, transmit power being set too low. Part of being an amateur operator is troubleshooting your equipment. See if you can find a local Elmer to help you out or buy some testing equipment to troubleshoot this one and any other radio you purchase in the future. 73
10/10 agree. I switched to those as well
I'm considering buying the UV-5RH or UV-5RM. Apparently the only difference is the RM model has airband.
I don’t think either one can be unlocked. If that’s important to you, you may want to consider the AR-5RM. It arrives unlocked from the factory.
Hi Just ran across your channel and I like the information.
Awesome, thank you!
Take the radio apart, spray protection coat on the circuits and connections, apt electric grease on it and you pretty much have a decently rugged radio.
Your Abbree antenna also is a tri-bander. The Abbree AR-771 is sold as a dual-band and a tri-band (more expensive). But they're both the same antenna (AR-771). And yes, mine works very well. The Nagoya antennas are vastly over-rated, but if I were going to buy a Nagoya, it would be a 24J. But it's about the same price as Signal.Stick, which is better. The Signal.Stick also does GMRS.
Great information, thank you! I have several Signal Sticks from Signal Stuff and I love them all. I did have one go bad on me (it was several years old), but they replaced it without issue.
@@MattCoversTech » Really? How did the Signal Stick go bad? Just curious.
@@johnroberts6695 It was spinning freely in the base.
@@MattCoversTech » 👍 Thanks!
It's not overrated at all. Unless you are referring to the counterfeit ones.
I was drunk and I wiped my UV-5R off my waistband with some wizardry, and it shattered the shitty battery clip fixings... as much as I hate the cheap and nasty design.. I want another one, cause its cheap and cheerful all in...
Your amazon link doesn't show a programming cable included. Could someone confirm?
Hmm, you’re right. I know one came with mine. The link is one I copied from my order history, and it’s definitely the same kit.
Learn to manually program anyway, just in case you didn't have a computer handy
How can the UV-5 there get airband? Is there amplitude modulation on it?
Must be, but it is receive only of course.
Baofeng UV-5R can't receive air band. I own several of them.
In this case bf uk and radioodity uk have failed me. Sadly mate
Interesting. Seems worth checking out.
Probably the most popular radio in the world.
I agree with you on everything but the clip. The clip is the stupidest clip ever made.
Fair enough, thanks for watching!
They work fine for the things I use them for, and my philosophy of use.
Thanks for leaving a comment.
imma buy another baofeng
Do it. Buy all the Baofengs.
@@MattCoversTech imma buy another baofeng
I reccomend Wouxun as an great alternative! Clean output.
What are your thoughts on the AR-152 over this radio?
It has a big battery, and it may transmit at 10 watts, but I haven’t tested that personally. It doesn’t claim to be water resistant, and the batteries for it can’t be charged via USB C. Also, replacement batteries are pricey at about $30 a piece. I’m not interested in it for those reasons, but I can see the appeal of the old school look. I have a UV-25 that actually does transmit at 10 watts, charges via USB C, and is pretty rugged though not water resistant, so I can’t see a role that the AR-152 would fill for me. I hope to do a video on the UV-25 soon.
@@MattCoversTech what radio do you recommend that comes unlocked or can be unlocked for all bands out of the baofeng's or equal price range hand held.
Are you looking specifically for 10 watts and a big battery?
@@MattCoversTech something for the field they doesn't need to be charged daily
I think the UV-9R Pro, or the GT-5R Pro would fill that role. Either can be unlocked via key press. As for transmit power, 10 watts will give you an imperceptible gain over 5 watts, about half an S meter and will only drain the battery faster, so stick with HTs that put out a solid 5 watts. Besides, best practices say to use the least amount of power necessary, which will also preserve battery life. The GT-5R Pro can host a 3200 mAh aftermarket battery, while the UV9R Pro comes with a 2800 mAh battery. Neither is as large as the 12000 mAh battery that comes with the AR-152, but in my opinion it doesn’t matter. Both will run for more than a day on standby, less if you’re transmitting a lot. My advice would be to get the UV9R Pro and pick up one or two extra batteries to keep with you. You’ll spend less money and have a more versatile package in the end that’s also a bit more rugged than your run of the mill BaoFeng. It’s available in green if that’s important to you.
Do they explode?
Negative
According to Baofang the UV9R has a max range with out repeater of just 5 miles.
That’s typical of any 5 watt HT radio, including the UV-5R.
@@MattCoversTech I wonder if that's because elevation and ground scattering?
@@MattCoversTech We used Motorola hand held radios vhf at sea while in the US Navy and accidently contacted a Jack in the box drive thru radio signal.
@@obsever97 A lot depends on environment and conditions. It's basically line of sight. Being out on the water, there's almost nothing that would block or attenuate your signal. You would definitely be able to go 5+ miles in those conditions, hence the contact you made by accident (a lot of businesses use Motorola radios). I am able to hit a repeater from my house that's about 30 miles away on my UV-5RTP running 5 watts, IF I go up to my second floor and transmit from there.
These beginner radios are fine for someone getting into the amateur radio hobby but they're hardly the goto radios! Anyone with the bandwidth should get used Motorola XTS 5000 radios! Nothing else comes close in many parameters plus the TX & RX aduio are second to none!!! Granted Motorola radios are difficult to get into not just from a cost perspective but the learning curve is steep for the programming using Motorola CPS software!!!
Can it be unlocked?
Great question, yes it can using the same method used for the UV-82. Hold PTT, Button 2, and # on the keypad when powering on. It will say FACTORY on the screen if you did it right.
Good review, would be better outdoors and radio check. Just bought a NA-771 for my UV-5R and not happy with the fit. Normally run portable with vehicle mounted.
2M0GWQ.
you mentioned several times it's "clean" and "no spurs"... what does that mean? like no chinese spy-ware or something??
or it doesn't bleed over to other channels when transmitting?
That’s basically it. No spurious emissions. Spurs.
@@MattCoversTech hahaha - yea, i'm new to the lingo... thanks!
Better option: Get a Baofeng AR-5RM
You May as well buy a Yaesu FT-65