How exactly are you guys using these Baofeng radios?

[dirtdevil]

Hi guys.. I have a few in my bag programmed with FRS/GMRS and MURS frequencies that I lend out(not lending out my Harris radios). I can hand jam the tones on the fly. Anyhow,
The Baofeng UV5R are NOT plug and play radios. If you’re looking for ease of use, get radios that are marked FRS/GMRS specific. Most of the UV5R on the market now are locked out due to a few lawsuits filed against Baofeng. These radios by default are front panel locked per FCC regulation. Technically even though not allowed, you can use the UV5R on many frequencies but there’s more to it. You need to know in advance the frequency and tone code your groups is using. You need to program the frequencies into the radio via pc or learn how to hand jam them in on the fly. I’m not saying it’s not possible but there is some learning curve vs the GMRS/FRS radios that are already setup for this purpose.
If you decide to use the unlocked UV5R Please Please be mindful as to what frequencies you’re using. Don’t stomp over responder frequencies even if by accident as these radios can hit some of them.. just my 2 cents.

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[Elff]

No issues with my Baofeng BF-F8HP

Chirp is not that hard to use.

 

[mquetel]

Hi guys.. I have a few in my bag programmed with FRS/GMRS and MURS frequencies that I lend out(not lending out my Harris radios). I can hand jam the tones on the fly. Anyhow,
The Baofeng UV5R are NOT plug and play radios. If you’re looking for ease of use, get radios that are marked FRS/GMRS specific. Most of the UV5R on the market now are locked out due to a few lawsuits filed against Baofeng. These radios by default are front panel locked per FCC regulation. Technically even though not allowed, you can use the UV5R on many frequencies but there’s more to it. You need to know in advance the frequency and tone code your groups is using. You need to program the frequencies into the radio via pc or learn how to hand jam them in on the fly. I’m not saying it’s not possible but there is some learning curve vs the GMRS/FRS radios that are already setup for this purpose.
If you decide to use the unlocked UV5R Please Please be mindful as to what frequencies you’re using. Don’t stomp over responder frequencies even if by accident as these radios can hit some of them.. just my 2 cents.

When you say tone codes, are you talking about the “private” channels some radios advertise?

 

[dirtdevil]

When you say tone codes, are you talking about the “private” channels some radios advertise?

Yes. In the FRS/GMRS world they are called privacy tones(funny no such thing as privacy). The same exists in LMR and Ham radios but we call them tone or PL tones.

 

[Woody's Bandana]

The Baofeng UV82HP
Is the handheld radio you want. It covers all FRS channels, all GRMS channels and Ham 20 meter.
Plus it 7 watts so way more distance.
I did direct line of sight from 8500’ high on Mt Charleston to way over east side of Las Vegas. (About 30 miles) load and clear.

and it’s way easier to use than the UV5.
about $70 on Amazon.
Get the plug in accessories for 12volt.
Cheers,
KG7LKH

 

[fourfa]

The Baofeng UV82HP
Is the handheld radio you want. It covers all FRS channels, all GRMS channels and Ham 20 meter.

you meant 2 meter right?

 

[Woody's Bandana]

Yes!

 

[Radio Guy]

The Baofeng UV82HP
Is the handheld radio you want. It covers all FRS channels, all GRMS channels and Ham 20 meter.
Plus it 7 watts so way more distance.
I did direct line of sight from 8500’ high on Mt Charleston to way over east side of Las Vegas. (About 30 miles) load and clear.

and it’s way easier to use than the UV5.
about $70 on Amazon.
Get the plug in accessories for 12volt.
Cheers,
KG7LKH

The difference between a 5w radio and 7w radio can usually be measured in yards, not enough difference to notice. What you will notice is reduced battery life on transmit with the 7w radio. It takes a good 6dB or 4X increase in power (like 5w to 20w) to make a noticeable difference at the other end and even that is not a huge increase.

It seems the UV82HP has a different chipset than the UV5R but both are usually considered a one chip wonder with 90% of the radio being handled by one large IC chip. So the receive performance of the UV82HP might be slightly better than the UV5R but they are both really cheap bottom of the barrel performing radios.

I and most radio people I know who have Baofengs have drawers full of other radios. I have seen first hand where I can be on a hill top or even in town talking to someone at a distance on a Yaesu, Icom, Anytone, not to mention a Motorola or Harris, and when I switch to a Baofeng I can't hear the distant station at all.

This is because these little one chip wonder radios receiver front ends have no RF filtering to keep strong out of band signals from trashing out the receivers front end overloading it and creating lots of internal IMD. A Baofeng can test really sensitive on a test bench receiving just one signal but use it in an area with lots of high power radio signals and they will fold.

So in my humble opinion (as a professional two way radio tech/engineer among other things) I would not put any Baofeng on the "this is the radio you want" list. The list they belong on is which one is less crappy that that one. At about $25 for a UV5R its a bargain and I actually think everyone should have one but more as a backup to your higher quality primary radio or use it as a loaner. If you drop it in the ocean its not going to hurt like dropping a more expensive radio and your more expensive primary radio will work where the Baofeng will fail.

 

[MPMB]

This Midland from Amazon should work for you with no modifications.
Amazon.com: Midland MicroMobile 15W GMRS Two-Way Radio with Integrated Control Microphone : Electronics

I installed this in my JT. I also have 2 Baofeng UV-5X (-5G), which are virtually identical to the HAM version UV-5R (which I have as well). They all "talk" to each other.

I also have a couple "cheap" low-wattage Midlands that were more expensive than the Baofengs.

With my limited experience, I'd point people to the Baofengs to start with because of the higher broadcast wattage. And since it's virtually the same as the HAM version, all your batteries/chargers/attachments will be interchangeable if you get into HAM.

 

[pjohnston]

I have this handheld GMRS radio https://www.radioddity.com/collections/consumer-radios-frs-gmrs-radios/products/radioddity-gm-30

Works great with my 2 cheap Walmart Onn FRS radios, which I think my daughter and son-in-law still have, and their Midland hard mount. It has worked fine on the runs I go on where everyone seems to have different radios.

Paul

 

[JTGuy]

I have a set of Midlands I bought at Overland Expo. They work OK and are simple to use. If I can see you, we can probably talk. I don't have much to say.

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