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Member |
A friend was selling two Baofeng radios. I thought hey, why not? Two radios, a couple of Andrew Jacksons, I can see what all the hoopla is about for this brand on 2m and 70cm amateur radio. Are you kidding me? The Baofeng products cannot be used without undesirable investment in more stuff. I don't have a Windows machine, so the free software does not work. I have a modern Apple computer, so the CHIRP software does not work with the new OS. The RT Systems software, the gold standard, does not work without their specific cable. I would have to find a Windows machine, or spend more money in software than I did for the radios. And, although the radio might be programmed without such software, I'll be dad gummed if I can find easy instructions how. I downloaded the source user manual. Nothing. I downloaded the best enthusiast manual, and even that can't describe how to add repeater CTCSS tones. The label on the UV5R fell off the radio, and I had to glue it back on. The antenna connection is of course the opposite gender to every antenna I have. So, I would have to purchase new antennas or adapters. The radio is so small I can't easily punch the buttons. I thought buying Baofeng would be educational. I just didn't know how informative they would be, in only a couple of days of attempted use. Give me Japanese products every day over this stuff. If only I could roast the Baofeng products like Jim Carrey. Like he does in the movie Liar Liar, as he lambastes each of the people in his law firm... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6YLAmKFpRM I know the products have a following, but I am sorely disappointed. Thankfully I can resell them. ------- Trying to simplify my life... | ||
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| Member |
These are great cheap radios to take on a boat, canoe, or doing other activities where you'd cry if your expensive radio were to become damaged. Break one of these, throw it away and be glad it's not your $400+ radio. You could presumably run a windows emulator on your current computer to use the programming software. I wouldn't blame these radios for the shortcomings of your Apple computer.  These aren't trying to compete with higher end radios, they're trying to be cheap, disposable radios to sell to preppers, entry level folks, and people who partake in activities where damaging a good, expensive radio is likely. ------------- $ | |||
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Member |
^ Yup, Baofeng is what our field guys use on the frac sites. Haven't heard any complaints. The Enemy's gate is down. | |||
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אַרְיֵה |
I don't know about the ham stuff (not my thing, yet), but ICOM is pretty much the standard for handheld VHF radios for aviation. I always carried one in my flight bag and it saved my bacon more than once when I had system problems in the airplane. הרחפת שלי מלאה בצלופחים | |||
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| Dances With Tornados |
^^^^^^^^ Baofengs suck green elephant dicks. Yaesu/Icom/Kenwood are the 3 major manufacturers of Amateur Radios, stick with these. Icom makes more than Amateur radios, as V Tail noted. I’m sure you’ve heard of Kenwood, they’ve been around since dirt, are huge with many types of products. Yaesu is excellent. For an excellent reliable etc hand held dual band radio 2 meter/440mhz VHF/UHF at a great price look no further than a Yaesu FT60R VHF\UHF dual bander. Period. $150-ish and worth every penny. . | |||
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Objectively Reasonable |
A Baofeng is one-half of my Satellite setup (TX on the Baofeng, RX on the Kenwood.) When I started, Baofeng was two-halves. It's served me well in that limited role (two grids away from VUCC.) Design and controls are what they are, so issues like the panel and programming won't change (I've never programmed either the Baofengs or my Kenwood any way other than Chirp or RT because of that.) QC is crap, so your individual Baofeng is luck of the draw. Best case, you'll get decent service life, marginally acceptable spectral purity. Worst case, lock it down and set a single receive-only Weather Band frequency so at least it'll serve SOME purpose. | |||
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Member |
They have a following because they are cheap as hell. I think I got my UV5RTP for like $20 and it works well enough. It's a great beater to keep in the Jeep. Try these instructions for programming manually. It's still a little clunky, but not bad once you get the hang of it. I use CHIRP for most of my programming, but I've done it manually too. These instructions give you what you need to know to set up for repeater use in the field even if you aren't going to set it as a memory channel. "The people hate the lizards and the lizards rule the people." "Odd," said Arthur, "I thought you said it was a democracy." "I did," said Ford, "it is." "So," said Arthur, hoping he wasn't sounding ridiculously obtuse, "why don't the people get rid of the lizards?" "It honestly doesn't occur to them. They've all got the vote, so they all pretty much assume that the government they've voted in more or less approximates the government they want." "You mean they actually vote for the lizards." "Oh yes," said Ford with a shrug, "of course." "But," said Arthur, going for the big one again, "why?" "Because if they didn't vote for a lizard, then the wrong lizard might get in." | |||
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| Caught in a loop |
They're small enough to fit in the backpack I carry everywhere, they program decently easily once you get the software to work, and they're cheap. Past that, I'd prefer my old Motorola for UHF, even taking into account that I'd need to find another Windows 3.1/95/98 PC to run the software and program over serial. I bought a bundle on Amazon; it came with a handpiece, two batteries, and both UHF and VHF antennas. It also came with a programming cable that turned out to be counterfeit, so I had to drop an additional $25 on a good one. They've apparently got such a huge issue with counterfeit parts that use the Prolific chipset (the genuine article uses FTDI if I'm not mistaken) that there are warnings on their web site about it, and I find that hilarious. "In order to understand recursion, you must first learn the principle of recursion." | |||
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Member |
A couple of years ago we were fortunate enough to go on a truly remote expedition to cross the Namib Desert in Namibia, an area that, due to its remoteness is strictly forbidden without written authorization and the use of a licensed local guide. When the guide looked at our comms and saw that we were using Baofeng he said he’ll no and loaned us much more powerful Kenwood radios. When it came time to set up my own comms I went with Kenwood and I have never had an issue. ------------------ Eddie Our Founding Fathers were men who understood that the right thing is not necessarily the written thing. -kkina | |||
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| Member |
I purchased the two Baofeng radios from a friend. So, good vibes there. One UV5R, one UV82. All accessories, etc. But, in the Apple ecosystem, it just doesn't work for me. The flaming hoops to get the Mac mini to facilitate the use of the USB programming cable alone are enough, but guess what, CHIRP won't work on macOS Monterey. RT Systems software will not work with the Baofeng programming cable. $50 then, for their software and their cable. I used the radios enough to know that I would rather spend $100 on ICOM than $50 on RT Systems software/cable. So, I am reselling to a fellow ham at work, who only has his 23-year old Yaesu now. The "new" Baofeng will allow him to tinker and set up and program and all that we do now. Me, I'm just going to standardize on Icom V86 and enjoy 2 meter communication. ------- Trying to simplify my life... | |||
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| Member |
That looks like a really nice radio for 2m only. "The people hate the lizards and the lizards rule the people." "Odd," said Arthur, "I thought you said it was a democracy." "I did," said Ford, "it is." "So," said Arthur, hoping he wasn't sounding ridiculously obtuse, "why don't the people get rid of the lizards?" "It honestly doesn't occur to them. They've all got the vote, so they all pretty much assume that the government they've voted in more or less approximates the government they want." "You mean they actually vote for the lizards." "Oh yes," said Ford with a shrug, "of course." "But," said Arthur, going for the big one again, "why?" "Because if they didn't vote for a lizard, then the wrong lizard might get in." | |||
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| Member |
Sold the Baofeng today. Cost me $10 to learn a lesson I didn't need to learn, but am glad I did. He is happy to have a new pair of radios and new technology and new software to configure and use. He'll get back into ham radio as a result. So, I learned, and I brought a dormant ham back into the active ranks. ------- Trying to simplify my life... | |||
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| Ignored facts still exist |
Baofeng radios are the Hi-Point Arms of radio. People buy them thinking, "how bad could they possibly be?" ---------------------- Let's Go Brandon! | |||
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Told cops where to go for over 29 years… |
I think the biggest benefits of BaoFeng are: -They have breathed new interest into Ham ranks (they got me interested in pursuing a long time, never sought after interest) -Their popularity and price point (in my opinion) have help to drive down 1st tier manufacturer prices. No way you could get Icom or Yaesu handhelds for $150 prior to their market saturation. I started with BaoFeng and Retevis “el cheapo’s”. Still have one of the cheap Retevis radios along with a few Yaesu’s (VX6, FT70, FT5DR). Also have some “high end” Retevis HT’s set up for GMRS/FRS Freqs. Oh, and a Wouxun, Anytone DMR, and just picked up a Tiradio CCR advertised as 10w (going to see how close it comes before deciding if I will keep it) If you aren’t a Ham, you won’t understand  What part of "...Shall not be infringed" don't you understand???  | |||
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| Dances With Tornados |
I'm not sure how long baefong and woxun (probably bad spelling) have been known in the market, but in 2012 I purchased my brand new Yeasu FT60R at HRO (Ham Radio Outlet) in Sandy Eggo CA for $159+tax. I still have it, as well as the receipt. . | |||
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I Deal In Lead |
I was buying Icom HTs for over $200.00 in the 1980s, so yes, the prices have dropped some for whatever reason. | |||
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Member |
Kenwood and Icom are some of the most popular marine VHF radios, too. Yaesu isn't, but only because the Yaesu brand is part of Standard Horizon, and they brand their marine VHF radios under the Standard Horizon name. Standard Horizon marine VHF radios are also very popular. Marine VHF is very close to the ham 2m band. Ham 2m is 144 MHz to 148 MHz. Marine VHF is specific half-duplex frequency channels and full duplex frequency-pair channels between 155 MHz and 162 Mhz. | |||
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| אַרְיֵה |
Aviation VHF uses 108.0, up to but not including 118.0 for navigation, and 118.0 up to 137.0 for communication. My ICOM handled both functions. It had ten pre-sets for fast access to the most-used frequencies, and a one-touch button to tune to 121.5, the "MayDay" frequency. I used the ICOM a lot when flying out of heavy traffic airports when departure delays were expected. All of the pre-taxi communication could be handled without the need for engine start until a couple minutes prior to taxi clearance. הרחפת שלי מלאה בצלופחים | |||
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| Member |
Well, I for one am shocked that a $20 radio won't match up to a $160 one. But they do have three things going for it. They are cheap they are cheap they are cheap. Kind of like a Ruger 10/22. They are awesomely cheap, fun, they work and there are craploads of aftermarket things, but don't enter any competitions. | |||
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