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UV-5R is shit but still the holy grail?

Anonymous Wed 11 Mar 2015 12:19:30 No.477140 View View Reply Original Report

Okay guys....

I really don't understand why everyone is still fapping so hard over the Baofeng UV-5R/UV-5RE/RA/F8+ (which is the 8W version)
The UV-82 is a bit better according to this guy and it looks like he knows what he's talking about.

https://hamgear.wordpress.com/2013/07/08/review-baofeng-uv-82/
https://hamgear.wordpress.com/2014/01/26/which-one-uv-5r-vs-uv-82-vs-gt-3/

The guy who makes the CHiRP programming software also claims the UV-82 is better.
http://www.miklor.com/COM/Compare-UV82-UV5R.php
http://www.miklor.com/UV82/

Or this one is better if you're primarily receiving
https://hamgear.wordpress.com/2012/12/18/review-baofeng-uv-b5-baofeng-uv-b6/

Don't get me wrong. the UV-5R looks way sexier than those other 2 radio's (and has way more accessories like the AA battery case) but I don't know mane. I also have a Uniden BC-200XLT for scanning, so I don't know what I should buy...

TL;DR: BF-F8+ (has a bit more power and the black/white inverted display) or the UV-82?
Things I wanna use it for: Getting in the HAM radio hobby, and SHTF general. The Uniden takes care of the Airband and has a really good receiver, but I also want to reach out if I need to.
One of the most important things I need the Baofeng to do is receive and broadcast om PMR446, since my Uniden can't do that.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 12 Mar 2015 04:45:05 No.477485 Report

Quoted By: >>477512

>>477140
You've sparked my interest OP. When out I usually have maybe my cellphone that I'd turn on if I needed to and maybe a relatively cheap two way radio set to use with hunting buddys. I've never thought about getting something like that.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 12 Mar 2015 05:53:04 No.477501 Report

Quoted By:

>>477140
Get the Puxing 888 or 888k

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 12 Mar 2015 06:02:33 No.477504 Report

Quoted By: >>477529

The Baofeng's are a decent first radio, and handy to have if you need to loan one out to a friend for day-trips. Be prepared to upgrade if you delve into HAM any further, however, as you'll find that a big 3 (Icom, Kenwood, or Yaesu) HT will perform much more reliably and sound better on HAM frequencies.

You might also consider the Anytone series of handhelds (try wouxun.us,) or even an inexpensive mobile (50W +) unit. You'll find that most of this depends on how much you're willing to spend. As a general rule, these 136-174/400-520 handhelds will burn out fairly quickly if used extensively to transmit on a variety of frequencies. You sound like you'll be doing mostly scanning, so that shouldn't be an issue. What you will encounter are the limits of the firmware in regards to things like memory banks (non-existent on the UV-5R) or adjusting channels in the field. You already have a scanner, it may be worth getting your HAM license THEN buying a radio. You might enjoy the VX line from Yaesu, or even a VC80 from Icom.

Good luck!

P.S. Most radios have a AA battery case, it's just a matter of poking around.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 12 Mar 2015 06:29:08 No.477512 Report

Quoted By: >>477515 >>480661 >>484262

>>477485
Pretty much in the same boat as this guy. Why do you guys carry these? Do you take one? Who are you able to contact? What's the range like? If carrying for emergencies how reliable/how easy is it to get setup?

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 12 Mar 2015 06:40:29 No.477515 Report

Quoted By: >>477537 >>477854

>>477512
>Why do you guys carry these?
Different people have different reasons. Scanning is popular, especially if one doesn't have a license. Logging/resource roads have their own frequencies and having a radio can improve safety. There's even a HAM sub-discipline called Summits On The Air (SOTA) where you can get points for establishing contacts from different mountain tops. Other people just use them to keep tabs on the kids/hunting partners/etc.
>Who are you able to contact?
Anybody else in range on VHF/UHF frequencies. Most of the time it's a bad idea, unless it's an emergency.
>What's the range like?
Not very far, and it depends on the terrain. Further than those FRS/GMRS fixed antenna (or 'bubble pack') radios, but not by a lot. You won't make it to the other side of the mountain or even across the state.
>how reliable/how easy is it to get setup?
Once you know what frequencies/tones are being used, it's fairly straightforward. Reliability depends on location, power used, proper antenna selection, and which radio you buy.

If you don't need 2-way voice then I usually recommend a SPOT messenger. You can check in, send one (1) custom message, call for help, or bring whatever local organized SAR group is available to you with the touch of a button and no fussing around with frequencies.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 12 Mar 2015 07:29:25 No.477529 Report

Quoted By: >>477658

>>477504
>these 136-174/400-520 handhelds will burn out fairly quickly
th.. whut?

Fuck it, I think I'll get the UV82...
There is too much finnicky shit going on with the people sell the UV-5R's, they mostly don't have a clue what they're selling, wrong pictures with a lot of the listings etc etc.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 12 Mar 2015 08:07:35 No.477537 Report

Quoted By:

>>477515
>Summits On The Air

I went up snowdon the day before new years eve last year and on the top, wresting with a huge ass mast in gale force winds and a fuck load of snow was a guy doing this. Fuckin insane he was. We left at danger o-clock and he was still up there trying his best to keep that ariel upright.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 12 Mar 2015 15:44:14 No.477658 Report

Quoted By: >>478100

>>477529
>th..whut?
Frequency range.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 13 Mar 2015 01:14:19 No.477854 Report

Quoted By: >>478038 >>484303

>>477515
SPOT messenger you have to pay a yearly subscription to. They also work with private sat's and are less reliable. Your distress call goes to a private company first rather than a government agency.

I would reccomend a personal locater beacon that works off of a 406mhz. Something like the McMurdo Fastfind Ranger. They're much more reliable an SAR agencies prefer them especially if you resister your beacon with them. They'll run you about $250

Mule

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Mule Fri 13 Mar 2015 05:30:27 No.478038 Report

Quoted By: >>484303

>>477854
>personal locater beacon
Seconding this.

The SPOT isn't a "bad" tool, but if you don't need/want tracking, facebooking, ok-messaging, or yearly fees... and do want a more professional rescue tool, the PLB's the right tool for the job.

Pic related... buddy carries a SPOT Gen3, I have a ResQLink on my pack.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 13 Mar 2015 07:50:31 No.478100 Report

Quoted By: >>478455

>>477658
Care to explain a bit more? I'm just getting in to it

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 14 Mar 2015 04:34:46 No.478455 Report

Quoted By: >>479329

>>478100
To keep it simple: most radios are tuned to transmit reliably between certain ranges (i.e. 144-148 MHz, but are capable of transmitting on a much wider range (i.e. 136-174 MHz.) If one transmits outside of the tuned range for too long the internal components experience more wear and will fail more quickly. This is commonly observed on HAM specific radios modified to transmit on commercial/land-mobile frequencies.

The Baofeng you are looking at purchasing probably won't experience this unless you spend a lot of time transmitting (not receiving) on a broad range of frequencies. I have no idea what the UV82 is tuned to, but there's a chance it's in the 155 MHz area (just a guess.)

Once you have a better idea of where you'll be doing most of your talking you can get a radio tuned to those frequencies that will last for decades if treated properly. The Baofeng, as mentioned, is a good starter or loaner radio, but probably won't last you more than a few years. This should be long enough for you to get your feet wet and decide whether or not you want to spend more money on a better radio. I own several, they don't see a lot of use, and they're still working after 3 years. If you end up transmitting on them frequently then you'll notice they 'burn out' more quickly. Hope this helps.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Sun 15 Mar 2015 18:24:15 No.479329 Report

Quoted By:

>>478455
sweet. Thanks for the advice and info man!

Anonymous

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Anonymous Mon 16 Mar 2015 04:29:02 No.479664 Report

Quoted By: >>491139

I own a UV-5r and a BF-666s. But i have never had a chance to test them at range with each other.

Also on the Baofeng radios you can get different antenna that are better then the stock ones.

Also i have yet to see anyone talk about the UV-B5. I was looking at maybe getting one soon.

Oh and you can make the UV-5r and the 666s,888,777 etc work on normal walkie talkie channels. So if you want to go use legal channels without the FCC on your ass you can do that.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Mon 16 Mar 2015 19:57:15 No.480018 Report

Quoted By: >>483840

bampin

Anonymous

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Anonymous Tue 17 Mar 2015 17:13:08 No.480528 Report

Quoted By: >>481062

UV-5R or the BF-F8+?

I've found them at the same price, and was wondering if the newer version is at all better.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 17 Mar 2015 20:03:03 No.480627 Report

Quoted By: >>481018

So I just got a UV5RA and a programming cable. Can I add shit to it and customize it? Or is the cable just to program channels to memory so you can tone-in on repeaters?

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 17 Mar 2015 20:55:20 No.480661 Report

Quoted By:

>>477512
I do backpacking and carry a UV-5R primarily for the weather forecasts and as insurance against my safety. If shit goes wrong cellphones don't usually work in the backcountry, but there should be someone in range on the standard emergency frequencies (or SAR if I miss a check-in deadline with family by more than 4 days)

I use it with a Nagoya NA-701 antenna, best I've found so far for portability+ reliability

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 18 Mar 2015 08:36:13 No.481018 Report

Quoted By: >>481019

>>480627
Customize how?
You can program channels and names and CTCSS to key up repeaters yeah. Some radios are mod-able to RX/TX outside their bands but it rekts it pretty hard.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 18 Mar 2015 08:38:48 No.481019 Report

Quoted By:

>>481018
Yeah for some reason I went into it thinking there were some parts of the UHF/VHF band it couldn't Rx/Tx on by default and you could add them in with CHIRP. I'm currently doing a lot of reading on amateur radio... Trying to educate myself here.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 18 Mar 2015 11:10:04 No.481062 Report

Quoted By:

>>480528
Bumping

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 19 Mar 2015 03:54:25 No.481511 Report

Quoted By: >>481519 >>491146

I live in the US and bought a UV-5R. Realistically, what are the odds of getting caught for using it without a license? Like if me and a buddy go innawoods and find a frequency that no one seems to be using, and talk to each other, will I get a fine in the mail or what?

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 19 Mar 2015 04:22:59 No.481519 Report

Quoted By: >>481549 >>484237

>>481511
Yes. Just get your HAM technician's license (super easy) and use appropriate frequencies. It's not hard, and you won't piss anybody off/get fined.

http://www.arrl.org/getting-your-technician-license

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 19 Mar 2015 05:44:47 No.481549 Report

Quoted By: >>483114 >>483163

>>481519
Not that anon; what about the UK? Can I use these whilst hiking without issue?

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 22 Mar 2015 00:26:56 No.483114 Report

Quoted By:

>>481549
Actually it's worse in the UK. Just get your license (again, stupid simple) and avoid the hassle/stress.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 22 Mar 2015 01:51:16 No.483163 Report

Quoted By: >>484412

>>481549
Just use channels that are open for these cheapy walkie talkies.
You won't get in trouble there
Here in Europe it's called "PMR Frequencys" I'm sure you have some counterpart
I haven't gotten into any trouble

Anonymous

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Anonymous Mon 23 Mar 2015 01:45:06 No.483754 Report

Quoted By:

I've used a gt-3 and a bf-f8 for over a year and no problems at all. Not bad radios, but I'm getting number two a yaesu vx-8dr. I just want aprs capability.

Tech license is super easy to get in the states.

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 23 Mar 2015 03:01:48 No.483797 Report

Quoted By: >>484114

I was looking at a Baofeng Gt-3 for my motorbike because it can pick up FM radio, it says it's waterproof, but how waterproof are these things, if I attach it to my camelbak will it die if I get caught in heavy rain?

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 23 Mar 2015 03:56:50 No.483840 Report

Quoted By:

>>480018
I like this bamp.

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 23 Mar 2015 16:28:16 No.484114 Report

Quoted By:

>>483797
it's not waterproof, it may be water resistant. It will probably short out in heavy rain/sudden wave of water. The batteries have a short protection in them. They will cut power if shorted, and you have to remove and re-install the battery for it to reset. That being said if you are on a motorbike just put it in a jacket pocket or make a plastic bag for it.
This is what I used for a while.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KKCD6Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 23 Mar 2015 20:31:23 No.484237 Report

Quoted By: >>484265 >>491146

>>481519
How would anyone ever catch you innawoods and if they did couldn't you just deny having a radio...?

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 23 Mar 2015 21:14:13 No.484262 Report

Quoted By:

>>477512
>Why do you guys carry these?
Emergency TX, talk to other hams, get weather reports innawoods
>Do you take one?
Often, yes
>Who are you able to contact?
Anyone monitoring the 2m frequencies I use who is in range.
>What's the range like?
Depends entirely on the terrain, antenna, and atmospheric conditions. Some people have made 200 mile contacts under ideal conditions with directional antennas.
>If carrying for emergencies how reliable/how easy is it to get setup?
You should use CHiRP to program this radio because otherwise it's a bitch

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 23 Mar 2015 21:15:20 No.484265 Report

Quoted By: >>486913

>>484237
>How would anyone ever catch you innawoods
Signal triangulation

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 23 Mar 2015 22:11:21 No.484303 Report

Quoted By: >>484395

>>477854
>>478038
I've used a SPOT, it's a fun toy but nothing that would make me feel safer innawoods. Here's why:

4 out of 10 "OK" messages I've sent... well, they've never arrived. SPOT relies on the Globalstar system, which is... err... spotty. Eheh, get it? SPOTty? ...m'kay.

PLBs on the other hand use the SARSAT / GEOSAR network. Yeah, you can't live update your position to your Facebook profile and/or send "OK" messages, but in a SHTF situation a PLB will yell for help, much more reliably than a SPOT.

Also: PLB alert will get SAR / Coast Guard / what have you into gear in the very instant they receive it. SPOT alert will flash on a screen in what is basically a private company's call center... way more links in the chain there.

As for those PMR/CB gadgets... I'll say, if you're out of cell phone range, you're way, way out of PMR/CB range too. Even on licensed 2m/70cm ... these bands are dead, man.

tl;dr: - PLB to save your sorry ass when SHTF innawoods
- SPOT because it's really cool, when it works.
- PMR/CB/2m/70cm yeah... no.

Source:

- Airline pilot and radio amateur. In before: where is MH370?! ...
(radiowaves just tend to not work all that great when being emitted from 20,000 feet down on the ocean floor.)

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 24 Mar 2015 00:32:07 No.484395 Report

Quoted By: >>484412

>>484303
2m is far from dead.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 24 Mar 2015 00:42:40 No.484412 Report

Quoted By:

>>484395
much agreed.
Still, his points are valid

>For everyone in doubt about using a real ham radio
>>483163

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 26 Mar 2015 21:45:29 No.486053 Report

Quoted By:

Blemping

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 28 Mar 2015 05:40:46 No.486913 Report

Quoted By: >>487234 >>491146

>>484265
It takes like a van or truck full of equipment to reliably hone in on radio signals, even then the range is only a few miles. Plenty of moonshiners and hunters around where I live use the marine band because they know no one bothers finding illegal radio use innawoods.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Sat 28 Mar 2015 17:12:15 No.487234 Report

Quoted By: >>491637

>>486913
no it doesn't, fox hunting. look at that. two people could do it, and without a van.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Wed 01 Apr 2015 05:50:19 No.489155 Report

Quoted By:

Niggers

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Apr 2015 17:51:26 No.491139 Report

Quoted By:

>>479664
You could rig some cables to put the output from one Baofeng to the input of your soundcard, and set it recieve constantly 1 frequency.

Then take the car and your other Baofeng and transmit some tests at different distances etc.

Listen to the recording and take note of your findings

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Apr 2015 18:10:19 No.491146 Report

Quoted By:

>>486913
>>484237
>>481511

There is literally no reason not to go get your tech class amateur license is you wanna use those frequencies. The test is stupid easy, only cost $15 for 10 years, and you might actually learn a thing or two about radio frequency propagation/antenna design which is honestly a really interesting subject.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 05 Apr 2015 04:02:41 No.491369 Report

Quoted By:

As if you'd get it in grey1, get it in black

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 05 Apr 2015 20:15:15 No.491637 Report

Quoted By:

>>487234
It's easier with better gear. It's harder when the person you're trying to track is moving and transmitting infrequently on low power.

If it was so easy, then nobody would use radios to talk in warzones because they'll instantly get backtraced.

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