A new little VHF/UHF rig (really cheap...)

[radiowave15]

Baofeng UV-5R

This little thing caught my eye while I was poking around looking for a cheap mobile 2 meter to replace the one I dropped. For about $60 new with free shipping on Amazon it was hard to pass up. It also came with the base desktop charger and little lapel speaker mic. It has an odd assortment of features - a bright flashlight in the top and an FM radio button. This is really a good back-up emergency radio to leave in the car, the boat, or to just keep in case of hurricanes or other disasters.

I haven't played with it much but did do an unboxing video. (I am listening to the FM radio on it while I'm typing this - that much I have figured out how to work) When I play with this this some more and really figure out how it works I'll post more information - although there are some other good videos available.

Baofeng UV-5R VHF/UHF Transceiver Unboxing - YouTube

Dan

 

[W2NJS]

It's not all that new. Both this brand and the Wouxun radios have been discussed extensively on this Board over the past year or so. Opinions on the worth of these radio vary widely. Personally I would not rely on one to be my emergency backup.

 

[gewecke]

....chinese junk. :wink:

73,
n9zas

 

[radiowave15]

Thanks for the replies. Didn't know it had been around for a while. For around $50 it's not bad for what it is. Compared to other rigs here on the desk it's certainly not a Kenwood or Icom, but for having a dual band radio and not worrying about it getting trashed in bad weather does have some merit.

Dan

 

[K9WG]

....chinese junk. :wink:

73,
n9zas

Not to mention the non FCC certification..... But I get off topic and open myself up to flames..... :twisted:

 

[scannerboy01]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; CPU iPhone OS 5_1_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9B206 Safari/7534.48.3)

Does anyone know if the Wouxun radios are certified by Industry Canada?

 

[N5DRM]

I own two Wouxun HT's, the KG-UVD1P model. I've had them for about a year and a half. Both have been through an Arkansas very hot and humid summer as well as many Skywarn callouts and have stood up quite well. Not to say they will go dead tomorrow, but they seem to do pretty well for the price paid. I have a VX-170 that is used as my main backup HT.

David

 

[gewecke]

Not to mention the non FCC certification..... But I get off topic and open myself up to flames..... :twisted:

:lol: Me too.

73,
n9zas

 

[geomagneticstorm]

As of 5/21/12 the Baofeng UV-5R is part 90 certified. FCC ID: ZP5BF-5R

 

[K9WG]

As of 5/21/12 the Baofeng UV-5R is part 90 certified. FCC ID: ZP5BF-5R

And with that I humbly retract my previous statement.

 

[n5ims]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; CPU iPhone OS 5_1_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9B206 Safari/7534.48.3)

Does anyone know if the Wouxun radios are certified by Industry Canada?

Based on a search here (REL - Search) for the company "Wouxun", I find these:

Model Certification Number Approval Date
KG-UV2D 9253A-WOUXUN01 11/19/2010
KG-UV3D 9253A-WOUXUN01 11/19/2010
KG-UV5D 9253A-WOUXUN01 11/19/2010
KG-UVA1 9253A-WOUXUN01 11/19/2010
KG-UVD1P 9253A-WOUXUN01 11/19/2010
KG-639E 9253A-WOUXUN02 9/6/2011
KG-659E 9253A-WOUXUN02 9/6/2011
KG-669E 9253A-WOUXUN02 9/6/2011
KG-679E 9253A-WOUXUN02 9/6/2011
KG-689E 9253A-WOUXUN02 9/6/2011
KG-699E 9253A-WOUXUN02 9/6/2011
KG-703E 9253A-WOUXUN02 9/6/2011
KG-801E 9253A-WOUXUN02 9/6/2011
KG-833 9253A-WOUXUN02 9/6/2011

 

[Skypilot007]

I have one of the wouxun KG-UVD1P 1st generation units strapped to the handle bars of my mountain bike. Its been taking a beating pretty good so far. It even got rained on and it still works. I do notice its very bad in high RF environments with intermod and I can't use it in the shack near the computers, it just freaks out. Other than that I ain't complaining for eighty bucks or so.

 

[rec913]

I have the Wouxun KG-UVD1P have had no trouble with it

 

[Rt169Radio]

It looks like a good radio to play around with and not worry if something happens to it.

 

[KF6DGN]

Ebay has them for $48.68 with free shipping too!

 

[wb4dyu]

Love the FT-60. Got 2500mah battery packs from W&W manufacturing. All work great. While on a cruise ship, 160 mies N.W. of Puerto Rico wife and I were able to work the 147.21 repeater with 99% quieting signals! incredible radios.

 

[gewecke]

Love the FT-60. Got 2500mah battery packs from W&W manufacturing. All work great. While on a cruise ship, 160 mies N.W. of Puerto Rico wife and I were able to work the 147.21 repeater with 99% quieting signals! incredible radios.

Ditto on the quality! Vx-6r here.

73,
n9zas

 

[scannerboy01]

Ditto on the quality! Vx-6r here.

73,
n9zas[/QUOTE
Unrelated to what the original poster asked, but does the VX-6R have the time and weather display? Just curious since I'm thinking about a handheld to put on my radio wish list.

 

[gewecke]

Ditto on the quality! Vx-6r here.

73,
n9zas[/QUOTE
Unrelated to what the original poster asked, but does the VX-6R have the time and weather display? Just curious since I'm thinking about a handheld to put on my radio wish list.

There is a option to display temp and barometric pressure if that's what you mean but I don't have it. also no clock but that's ok.
It does everything else tho. Weather reception too of course.


73,
n9zas

 

[K9WG]

OK OK - Just ordered one. Couldn't resist the price....