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View Full Version : BaoFeng UV-5R Plus duo-bander


WX7P
02-13-2013, 01:08 PM
This is one of the those Chinese 2m/440 radios. I got it from Amazon for $55 shipped.

I have to admit I'm pleasantly surprised. It's a very solid little radio and despite what some of the whiners on eham say, it's not hard to program.

The antenna leaves something to be desired on transmit, but after all, it is a compromise.

This thing comes from the factory fully opened up on its entire frequency range. I know, because I accidentally keyed up on the fire frequency here in two (they are a block away) and they responded on the air. I had the vfo's switched. We won't talk about this. I also tried it on FRS, and it works fine.

It also has a FM broadcast radio receiver installed which works reasonably well.

The HT has nice sounding transmit and receive audio as well.

Hey, for $55 shipped, this is a good deal.

8874
W7XF
02-13-2013, 01:19 PM
I have the Wouxon pair (2/440 and 2/220) and I've been told that they have better audio quality than my VX-6.
X-Rated
02-13-2013, 01:20 PM
I have a few Chinese radios now. They work well for what they are. They are very inexpensive and that is their key attraction.

Pro's that I have found...
* Cheap
* Battery life is very good
* Audio Xmit and Rcvr are excellent
* Light weight
* Menus are easy to use
* Programming cables are easy to use with their programs. Can be quirky, but what isn't?

Cons:

* scanning is very slow
* Some use NiMH and I think that sucks. Some use LiIon and that is excellent.
* Fewer bells and whistles than Japanese radios
* No DC to Daylight receiver


These are off the top of my head. I don't have a Baofeng. Each company is a little different though. I have radios from TYT, Feidaxin, Puxing, and Wouxun. Feidaxin is the most basic. Wouxun and TYT have the most bells and whistles.
W3WN
02-13-2013, 02:04 PM
Hey, if one of you guys would like to expand your comments into a longer review/evaluation, I'll put it in an upcoming issue of my club newsletter. (Yeah, I'm trolling for articles again... sue me. On second thought, let's say take me to court... never mind)

Doesn't have to be much, a few paragraphs will do nicely.
KC2UGV
02-13-2013, 02:05 PM
Not meaning to sidetrack on the review of the Baofeng, but did anyone notice these come out?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wouxun-KG-UV920P-Car-Mobile-Dual-Band-Radio-136-174-400-480Mhz-65-108-DTMF-mic-/380567580396?_trksid=p2045573.m2102&_trkparms=aid%3D555001%26algo%3DPW.CURRENT%26ao%3D 1%26asc%3D146%26meid%3D5570703182171075729%26pid%3 D100034%26prg%3D1079%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D170860488102% 26
PA5COR
02-13-2013, 02:21 PM
Wouxun UDV1 or summat like that, mostly used for fairs 1700 mA Lion battery and 1300 mA one the 1700 mA will keep strong all day long.
Kenwood TH F7 and Icom Q7 are the 3 i have, the icom is already quite old all have FM recieve and the Kenwood AM and Short wave SSB all mode recieve as well, reason i bought that one to find plasma's in my neighbourhood etc.

All with speaker mike's the wouxun has the Yaesu speaker mike that also fits the Icom.
The all have their uses, work well, the wouxun has a good modulation ( after a tweak) and good recieve.
X-Rated
02-13-2013, 02:49 PM
Not meaning to sidetrack on the review of the Baofeng, but did anyone notice these come out?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wouxun-KG-UV920P-Car-Mobile-Dual-Band-Radio-136-174-400-480Mhz-65-108-DTMF-mic-/380567580396?_trksid=p2045573.m2102&_trkparms=aid%3D555001%26algo%3DPW.CURRENT%26ao%3D 1%26asc%3D146%26meid%3D5570703182171075729%26pid%3 D100034%26prg%3D1079%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D170860488102% 26

Seemed pricy to me. The only advantage I see of this over a Japanese mobile is the out of band transmit and I have no use for that. If it was a half of that price, I would get one. I feel like the "Con's" I mentioned earlier would follow to here except for the battery, so I don't see what the attraction would be to this without the price advantage. At the moment, the Yaesu 8800R is at Universal Radio for $390, and if I was in the market, I would pay for a Japanese radio at that price differential.
KC2UGV
02-13-2013, 03:01 PM
Seemed pricy to me. The only advantage I see of this over a Japanese mobile is the out of band transmit and I have no use for that. If it was a half of that price, I would get one. I feel like the "Con's" I mentioned earlier would follow to here except for the battery, so I don't see what the attraction would be to this without the price advantage. At the moment, the Yaesu 8800R is at Universal Radio for $390, and if I was in the market, I would pay for a Japanese radio at that price differential.

You can get them (THe KG-UV920P), as cheap as 350 from what I see. And, it only took a year or two for the Wouxons to drop from $150 a piece to $50 shipped.
WX7P
02-13-2013, 03:15 PM
You can get them (THe KG-UV920P), as cheap as 350 from what I see. And, it only took a year or two for the Wouxons to drop from $150 a piece to $50 shipped.

That's the key on the duo-bander. They WILL drop the price at some point. If they don't drop in price, I agree with Jerry.
X-Rated
02-13-2013, 03:40 PM
You can get them (THe KG-UV920P), as cheap as 350 from what I see. And, it only took a year or two for the Wouxons to drop from $150 a piece to $50 shipped.

Sure. If they drop below $150, I would no doubt get one.
NQ6U
02-13-2013, 03:47 PM
The KG-UV920P is overpriced and it's got some problems. I've already seen people trying to dump them on the Zed and eBay.

Despite the silly-sounding name, the Anytone AT-5888UV (http://www.wouxun.us/item.php?item_id=295) seems like a better radio and a better deal.
WX7P
02-13-2013, 04:01 PM
The KG-UV920P is overpriced and it's got some problems. I've already seen people trying to dump them on the Zed and eBay.

Despite the silly-sounding name, the Anytone AT-5888UV (http://www.wouxun.us/item.php?item_id=295) seems like a better radio and a better deal.

Anytone? That sounds like a 15 transistor radio from the 60's :lol:
KB3LAZ
02-13-2013, 05:18 PM
Sure. If they drop below $150, I would no doubt get one.

I agree.
NQ6U
02-13-2013, 05:52 PM
Anytone? That sounds like a 15 transistor radio from the 60's :lol:

More like eight transistors but, otherwise, I agree. 'Tis a silly name.
VE3FMC
02-13-2013, 07:23 PM
I bought a UV5-A+. Now I am not the guy to ask about the performance compared to other HT's because I do not own another HT. I do know it has very good tx audio as I talked to a guy in town on simplex, and on the local 2 meter repeater and he said it sounded just fine. RX audio level seems fine to me.
I mainly use mine to monitor the local police frequency (have come to the conclusion that there are many many losers living in this city!)

I have ordered the hand mic and the SMA cable so I can connect it to my outdoor dual band antenna. Then I will be able to see how well it performs.

I took mine to the last ham club meeting and everyone was impressed with the radio, for $53 shipped with the program cable you can't beat that with a stick. I use CHIRP to program it.
8877
WX7P
02-13-2013, 11:02 PM
More like eight transistors but, otherwise, I agree. 'Tis a silly name.

They actually had 15 transistor radios. http://www.transistor.org/collection/encore/encore7.html

I think the thought was the more transistors, the better, even though the bulk of them weren't used...
kb2vxa
02-14-2013, 06:08 AM
"More like eight transistors but, otherwise, I agree. 'Tis a silly name."

Not a silly name for Yapanese transistor radios but American companies can have silly names too like Berlant/Concertone in Los Angeles, CA which made my 10 1/2" NAB reel to reel recorder in 1956. It looked like this but being 2 track stereo it had two record/playback amps and was rack mounted. I don't know if there is any connection to today's Concertone in Rolling Hills Estates, CA that sells high end entertainment equipment but I seriously doubt it's made in USA.
KK4AMI
02-14-2013, 08:32 AM
Not meaning to sidetrack on the review of the Baofeng, but did anyone notice these come out?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wouxun-KG-UV920P-Car-Mobile-Dual-Band-Radio-136-174-400-480Mhz-65-108-DTMF-mic-/380567580396?_trksid=p2045573.m2102&_trkparms=aid%3D555001%26algo%3DPW.CURRENT%26ao%3D 1%26asc%3D146%26meid%3D5570703182171075729%26pid%3 D100034%26prg%3D1079%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D170860488102% 26

I know I'm still relatively new to the world of Amateur radio. I noticed in the specs for the Wouxun KG-UV920P that it lists a "Stun and Kill" function. I never heard of that. Is that something I'll learn when I go for my Extra license?
KC2UGV
02-14-2013, 08:41 AM
I know I'm still relatively new to the world of Amateur radio. I noticed in the specs for the Wouxun KG-UV920P that it lists a "Stun and Kill" function. I never heard of that. Is that something I'll learn when I go for my Extra license?

:rofl:

I just noticed that. Maybe it's got a charging station for a Type I Phaser?
N2NH
02-14-2013, 01:45 PM
Thanks for a great thread. Looking at a backup radio for NHE. I really enjoyed the transistor radios. Brought back memories of my Realtone and Lloyd radios.

One thing, who makes the 220 XCVRs?