Baofeng Upgrade

[pb_lonny]

Hi.
I am currently using a Baofeng UV-17 and am pretty happy with it. I am looking at a second one. I have seen the UV-21 / UV-5RM / UV-32. Are any of these any "better" or an upgrade from the UV-17? If not, I will stick with what I know and get a second UV-17.

Paul

 

[rf_patriot200]

Hi.
I am currently using a Baofeng UV-17 and am pretty happy with it. I am looking at a second one. I have seen the UV-21 / UV-5RM / UV-32. Are any of these any "better" or an upgrade from the UV-17? If not, I will stick with what I know and get a second UV-17.

Paul

I'm waiting to see if someone bites on a UV32 ...

 

[K5bjt]

I'm waiting to see if someone bites on a UV32 ...

I ordered 1. It made it into the USA yesterday.

 

[rf_patriot200]

I ordered 1. It made it into the USA yesterday.

Best of luck to you !

 

[rf_patriot200]

I ordered 1. It made it into the USA yesterday.

M0FXB has a youtube channel and he's done several videos on the DM32 already, that you can see if you're interested. Somewhat accurate for the UV32 as well.

 

[lamarrsy]

I'm waiting to see if someone bites on a UV32 ...

I have an UV-32 and now a DM-32.

The Uv-32 is roughly the same as a UV-5RH / UV-5RM, it even has the same quirks (eg no S-meter when it stops on an active channel, etc.).
It has a nice form factor, easy to use one-handed. The keys feel more solid and less spongy than other Baofengs.
No belt clip is a bit annoying though.

My recommendation for a real “upgrade” would be the BTech BF-F8HP-PRO. It’s an UV-5RH on which radioamateurs have put their grain of salt. Many nice features, 10 zones, nice color display, etc.
The DM-32 is another animal : it has the same form factor as an UV-32, but the resemblance stops there; the DM-32 and its CPS programming software are a total mess, and some features and options simply don’t work (should I add : “for the moment”).