If you're a new amateur radio operator, you probably have one of these:
This is a Baofeng UV-5R. Like the Pixie kit, some amateurs talk it up, some talk it down. For a beginner, it's a great little handheld for 2m/70cm operations. It's affordable, being almost $30 or less for just the radio. It can be programmed using CHIRP or by the user themselves, and can have special properties programmed for repeater operations, CTCSS/DCS tones, and much more. Plus it comes with a built-in FM radio! What could be better than this?
Unfortunately, the Baofeng has its drawbacks. It's limited to 5 watts (8 watts with the 5R+), technically making it a QRP rig. It's analog FM only, meaning you can't operate DMR or other digital FM voice modes like C4FM. Lastly, many of these sold at a particular time were not FCC compliant - they could transmit in other frequency ranges other than amateur ranges. Accidental use of these frequencies could mean men in suits and ties showing up at your door with handcuffs, a cease-and-desist, or permission to take away your license for good.
Despite its drawbacks, it's a good radio to have at your side, whether you're new or a seasoned operator. I have one in my school backpack. For as much as it has been slammed on the ground, thrown around, and even stepped on, the radio has survived and hopefully will continue to, knock on wood.
I have heard from an operator or two that these were made for the Chinese army. This could explain why they are so cheap, since they apparently continue to make too many of them for the army's handling. I got mine when I became an amateur radio operator in 2018 and immediately made a contact out of the box on my local 2m repeater. My signal reports have been good, I've gotten one report which said I had a good, quieting signal coming into that repeater. Of course, I was using a repeater, and the person I was talking to was about 50 miles away from me.
Being a Chinese product, I didn't expect it to last long. I expected at least two years out of it, but so far it is still working as it should've been six years later!
The Baofeng is an excellent choice for someone on a budget. It's very portable which makes it good for someone who wants portability and versatility. In fact, it could be made into a mobile transceiver with an external antenna from sites like Amazon. Besides amateur monitoring, you can monitor NOAA satellites which transmit APT on the 137 MHz band, and listen to the NOAA Weather radio, monitor law enforcement activity (if it's legal in your area), just to name some things. Programming the radio is stupidly simple, especially if you use CHIRP. It also has an FM radio built in, for receiving local radio stations. You can talk on repeaters with ease on the same frequency setting. Additionally, the battery life is amazingly long. I haven't charged mine in weeks and it is still full!
With every good rig comes the drawbacks. This radio has potential, but its flaws limit it. I don't expect much in power, but 5 watts it too limiting. Something like 10 watts would do much better. It is a solid radio, but don't expect bulletproof performance. One drop in a muddy puddle would kill it for good. The buttons on mine are starting to scratch off, but that's expected for a silicone keypad. Most importantly, no one can repair these. It's best to buy a new one if you were to ruin it.
Besides voice, you can do digital modes like APRS, SSTV, and 8PSK, just to name a few. In the ARRL's band plan, 145.500 - 145.800 has been set aside for "experimental" modes, and most of these modes are a perfect fit here. These modes aren't commercially popular on 2 meters, but some modes have grown popular in recent years. MSK144 is a good place to start too, though operations are better on 6 meters.
The ISS has SSTV events every so often, and you can receive these images with a Baofeng easily, as well as any other 2m scanner. You can even talk to amateur satellites with the Baofeng's 5W of power. An external Yagi antenna will give optimal results, but I've heard reports of operators using the stock rubber duck antenna.
In conclusion, is getting a Baofeng worth it? ABSOLUTELY. That's all there is to it. If you're on a budget and want to get on the air fast, getting one of these is your best bet. The only drawback is the quality: some have had theirs for a while and some break right out of the box. Due to the inexpensive nature of these radios, fixing it is just as worthwhile as replacing it. As for programming, using CHIRP is recommended, as it basically flashes a spreadsheet image (.csv/.img file) to the radio.
UPDATE (4/8/22): I previously mentioned that you could use this as a mobile transceiver, not just as an HT handheld. You can buy mounts off of Amazon or even print them using a 3D printer. I am in the process of printing one off from Thingiverse. That project is here. You'll need an external antenna, as your car acts as a Faraday cage, which will block reception and transmission of signals. I am getting a window mount that the folks at Nagoya sell for a relatively fair price. See the link below for more details.
Here are some helpful links:
RepeaterBook - Useful in finding repeaters near your area. Available on your mobile device (Android/iOS) too!
Until next time, 73s!
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