I think that Baofengs are great, and other radios are more expensive with diminishing returns. - Change my mind

[prcguy]

There is a time and place for CCRs but commercial use is not one of them. Personally I would not even use a Baofeng on GMRS or MURS. However they are very prevalent among new hams and in my experience more hams have them than any other type of radio. And they hold their value better than any other radio anywhere. A new UV5R is under $25 new. Even a 3 year old one will fetch at least $20 used in any working condition. Name just one other radio that is still worth 80% or more of the new price after several years. Go ahead, name one....

Sometimes but not that often I do grab a Baofeng UV5R for amateur use, other times I reach for something a little better from this group. But most of the time I grab a Yaesu FT3D or an Anytone 868 depending on what the digital flavor of the day is.

 

[MTS2000des]

I fail to see what pictures of a Baoturd next to a Unity or Thales addresses the concerns raised regarding these turdy spur radiators creating potential interference both via spurious transmissions by the user and their being preset to many common part 90 frequencies out of the box.T

We can post "mine is bigger and badder" than yours JPEGs all day long, that doesn't address this concern which is why many CCRs are a bad idea.

 

[prcguy]

My point is I have other choices besides Baofengs and sometimes its the best radio for my needs.

I fail to see what pictures of a Baoturd next to a Unity or Thales addresses the concerns raised regarding these turdy spur radiators creating potential interference both via spurious transmissions by the user and their being preset to many common part 90 frequencies out of the box.T

We can post "mine is bigger and badder" than yours JPEGs all day long, that doesn't address this concern which is why many CCRs are a bad idea.

 

[MTS2000des]

So your cool with using a potential source of QRM inside (and outside) of the ham bands when transmitting on one?

 

[prcguy]

Just now I took a brand new Baofeng UV5R out of the box and measured the 2nd and 3rd harmonic on high power. At 146Mhz the second was -53dBc and third harmonic was -46dBc. That is well under FCC specs for Part 97 for both the minimum of -40dBc and less than 25uw of power for any harmonic for a transmitter operating between 30 and 225Mhz and less than 25w.

At 445MHz all harmonics were greater than -50dBc. I can't find a Part 97 spec for UHF at the moment but I suspect the -40dBc applies there for a transmitter less than 25 watts. If you find a specific spec for a low power UHF transmitter then let me know. BTW, I would not consider all harmonics down more than -50dBc as a source of QRM. So I am cool with all that, how bout you?

I also suspect some radios were measured a few years ago and problems were found and everyone went crazy then Baofeng addressed the problem. Maybe, maybe not but this particular radio looks fine to me.

So your cool with using a potential source of QRM inside (and outside) of the ham bands when transmitting on one?

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Back to my challenge: EIA/TIA603D Baofeng vs Motorola

Does the Baofeng even make its OWN published TIA RECEIVER Intermodulation, adjacent channel rejection ,specs?
Oops, - My Bad! Baofeng has NO published TIA specs.

 

[prcguy]

For under $25 new why should it? Why would anyone care at that price? You buy a couple, you use them and they seem to work adequate for a very high percentage of users and if they break you throw them away without shedding a single tear.

I am one of the very few people I know that have experienced what a crappy little receiver they have, and I'm about as picky as you can get with how a radio performs. Nearly everyone else I know who uses a Baofeng is very happy with the performance and battery life and especially the price. My standards are very high, but I still buy Baofengs here and there because they work fine most of the time for me and that is all I expect for the price. If I never venture to some high RF areas again then I will probably never have a complaint about their crappy receivers again.

Asking to see EIA/TIA603D stuff on a Baofeng is like asking to see proof that your new Ford Fiesta has a factory balanced and blueprinted engine. C'mon girls, its a $25 radio.

Back to my challenge: EIA/TIA603D Baofeng vs Motorola

Does the Baofeng even make its OWN published TIA RECEIVER Intermodulation, adjacent channel rejection ,specs?
Oops, - My Bad! Baofeng has NO published TIA specs.

 

[AK9R]

Just now I took a brand new Baofeng UV5R out of the box and measured the 2nd and 3rd harmonic on high power. At 146Mhz the second was -53dBc and third harmonic was -46dBc. That is well under FCC specs for Part 97 for both the minimum of -40dBc and less than 25uw of power for any harmonic for a transmitter operating between 30 and 225Mhz and less than 25w.

I got a new UV5R last summer and it tests clean. However, my older UV5R and every UV5R that I've tested at local hamfests has had spurs that exceed the 25 μW standard.

 

[prcguy]

Well there ya go, apparently Baofeng addressed the spur problem and I suspect its not a concern any longer. With that out of the way now what can you bash the little radio for? Certainly not for having a receiver that doesn't hold up against a $1,000 hand held. Maybe its because it doesn't need $300 on up software to program it? Or maybe because a spare battery doesn't cost $89 and up?? What is it going to be now???

I got a new UV5R last summer and it tests clean. However, my older UV5R and every UV5R that I've tested at local hamfests has had spurs that exceed the 25 μW standard.

 

[N1KK]

Baofeng offers a cheap way to get into the hobby. I bought a $54 Baofeng DM-1801 for DMR/FM. It works great.
Doesn't have all the bells and whistles but I can still talk to anyone a more expensive DMR radio can talk to
just without the bells and whistles. The best part is when it breaks you tossed in the garbage because you
can't get it fixed cheaper than a new one. I like to see them come out with a cheap Dstar,Fusion,P25 and DMR all in one for
less than $100. Even better a digital Police scanner for less than $100