Baofeng [UV-5R MINI] Quick Review

[devicelab]

I received my 2-pack of Baofeng UV-5R Mini radios today. Cute little buggers -- about 15% smaller than the TIDRADIO H3 variants.

Here's a quick review so far:

Good: compact size, USB-C battery charging, flashlight, FM Radio, dual VFO (with dual watch), audio output is decent for a small speaker, good MIC gain during transmit, dual PTT (?), CHIRP support, smooth volume knob, PTT buttons feel excellent, clean display and clean user interface (very simple to use)

Bad:

Keypad requires extra button press when screen is in standby/sleep
BEEP is annoying with an active frequency; each BEEP cuts off audio
VHF AIR locked to 8.33khz steps, not user adjustable
VHF AIR has major problems (off-frequency and/or poor AM modulation); VHF AIR has poor sensitivity (might be related)
Power output is lower than expected
Factory antenna is below average (SWR)
No 222 MHZ support
Volume knob has long throw; volume level not really adjusted properly (IMHO)

Power Levels:

3.81w (VHF) and 3.65w (UHF)

Radio Info:

Firmware: V0.26
Hardware: V1.0

Miscellaneous:

The included (2x) of Nagoya NA-771 SMA-F antennas are really awful. I wouldn't recommend for transmit.
CPS and PDF manual available on Baofeng's support page (no firmware update as yet)

Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/1BfmmT8

 

[EAFrizzle]

Thanks for the review! I've found that the stock Baofeng antennas are as good as or better than the aftermarket ones that cost about the same as the radio. Not sure what the deal is with Nagoya's QC recently.

 

[lamarrsy]

Thanks for the quick review !

I too received my two-pack early this week and I’m impressed with how much they squeezed into the small form factor.
On the plus side I would put the battery capacity / drain which lasts well into 2 days scanning a bunch of channels.

The flashlight served me frequently on my camping outing this week, as there is a dedicated button on the front of the radio, and at last it can’t be mixed with the “Baofeng siren” like on the UV-5R..
By the way, they (at last!) have put the “Baofeng siren” sound in the “local” position by default (that is, only heard thru the internal speaker, not transmitted on the airwaves).

USB-C charging is a nice shift of standard, which means a battery with no external charging posts (no risk of shortcircuits with metal objects if stored carelessly).

The display lighting is adequate for inside, and outside in the sun too. That’s better than many other color display radios.

If using VFO + up/down buttons, or « VFO scan » to screen thru the AM air band, the steps will be 8.33.
But if entering any precise known AM aviation frequencies, be they right on or not a multiple of 8.33, to listen to North American AM airband, the radio take them no problem.
It may be a question of ear sensitivity but, i was pleasantly surprised by the good quality of AM received audio : not too much hiss or high pitch screeching noise like on the Quansheng K5 attempted AM receive by skewing FM RX.

I agree that the provided antenna is less than stellar. It seem only average for UHF, forget it for VHF 2m ham band ( of useable), and also forget AM 118-136 « normal » receive with this antenna.

It looks to be the little brother of the BF-F8HP PRO / UV5RM / UV32, in terms of color screen and menu system minus the “zones” grouping of memory channels.
I don’t understand why allow 999 channels, but not offering a grouping method of channels… this is a pita to use (maybe it’s for peoples who don’t scan memory channels?).
The scan speed is a bit better than the classic UV-5R, but not in the class of dedicated « radio scanners ». Oh, and, the delay to resume channels scanning if using carrier scan, is regretly back to 7 seconds fixed delay (way too much long for efficient scanning).

 

[lamarrsy]

Oh, and I forgot to mention :
- The US NOAA / Canada Weather Radio 10 frequencies that are preprogrammed into the radio: hold the zero (0) key for 1 second and the radio switch to this service.
- The wireless programming App is rather clunky to use : the menu system is strangely laid out, and the sync process do not always work correctly, for an unknown reason. It’s quicker to program by hand or with Chirp on a PC than with the smartphone app.
- The dual PTT is a nice improvement : no more need to always look at the display to make sure the radio has switched to the “A” or “B” section before transmitting, when keeping the radio on standby on two frequencies/channels.
- a programmable side key located below the two PTT is also a nice inclusion : I happily assigned the “Scan” function to it.

 

[vagrant]

I have a TID-H3. After comparing and contrasting the two, I‘m fine with the TID-H3. The differences are negligible, but the H3 comes out ahead of the UV5R mini except for the very slight smaller size difference.

Still, the radio I carry more often is the Yaesu VX3R. Basically, I can tell when the TID-H3 is in a pocket and not so much with the VX3R. Also, while much smaller and lighter, the trade off is the lower wattage on the Yaesu. Another significant factor is the VX3R is $100 more on the used market.

Ultimately, I would choose the TID-H3 if I had to choose one of the three at this small size and weight category. I also still use the stock firmware as I enjoy the BT programming.

 

[devicelab]

Still, the radio I carry more often is the Yaesu VX-3R.

I have the VX3R and while it is good its battery management is not good.

The H3 is a solid radio. The H3+ may be a bit closer to the H3 with the latest firmware update.

I revert to my LMR portables if I need to verify something, although I often go to my Yaesu FT-70DR which is a very nice radio. It's up there with LMR type specifications.

Sadly these olders radio really miss the USB-C charging. I hate managing these damn cradles/docks for these older rigs.

 

[vagrant]

My distance away from either mobile or home stations is minimal, so the VX3R mostly works for me. Still, the H3 has fantastic battery life. While in the rough the APX7000xe VHF/UHF is used. I "really" like using the Motorola BT handset with it. Basically, it allows me to place the APX on top of a vehicle roof, or metal ground plane and then TX/RX using the BT mic.

While I use a USB external battery charger for the VX3R, yeah I like it that much, there is also a USB to whatever size power plug for the VX3R as well. Still, I've been fine with swapping batteries.

+1 point for you as I was not aware of the H3+ and I would use some of those additional features. At least I will have a spare H3, or an extra battery for the H3+ in a few days. I definitely enjoy using a BT hand mic with a radio as I noted with the APX, so this will afford me an inexpensive solution as well. Time and place for everything kind of thing.

Hmmm....I wonder if I will use the H3+ more often. I would say probably due to the features it has over the VX3R. I will suffer with the additional size and weight.

[ UPDATE ] - Hmmm...I'm reading some unfriendly reports about the H3+. I will wait a bit for that to be resolved.

 

[lamarrsy]

+1 for the Yaesu VX3R too, I used it so much with earphones while at work, listening to FM broadcast while silently scanning VHF and UHF in the background and interrupting the FM to pass the audio when there was “action”, most of the keys on the radio are partly erased !
I am not familiar with the TID H3 (yet!), so I enjoy the 5R Mini for its crisp display, nice audio, good battery life, and its small size, for when I go out and don’t want to carry a big radio like my Motorola XPR7550 or HT1250 or TH-D75, and rather still have a small radio on the hip, “just in case”.

 

[devicelab]

Yes the H3+ has some gremlins but the latest firmware seems to have stablized it a bit. I don't use the BT features so I can't comment on that.

The H3 is a decent (and stable) radio with its last update so don't rush out and buy the H3+ just yet.

 

[devicelab]

Power Levels:

3.81w (VHF) and 3.65w (UHF)

Wanted to update my numbers here. I used a different adapter and wanted to check different frequencies.

3.87w (VHF) @ 146.52 Mhz
4.90w (UHF) @ 446.00 Mhz

(The power output is slightly higher at 433 Mhz.)

 

[devicelab]

[ UPDATE ] - Hmmm...I'm reading some unfriendly reports about the H3+. I will wait a bit for that to be resolved.

TIDRADIO released a calibration application for the H3+ radio. I've set clocks so that the radio is spot on frequency. I've also set the power levels to their max setting. (The only other feature is to adjust the squelch sensitivity.)

With the power change, I'm getting 4.60w on VHF and 6.10w on UHF. Not bad from a tiny radio.

 

[bw415]

It seems everywhere I look they sell the UV-5R Mini in sets of 2. I'm interested but only need 1. Hopefully some USA based seller will sell single units sometime soon.

 

[devicelab]

It seems everywhere I look they sell the UV-5R Mini in sets of 2. I'm interested but only need 1. Hopefully some USA based seller will sell single units sometime soon.

The box is so small you might as well just get the 2-pak. Amazon has the grey model in stock with Prime shipping.

 

[devicelab]

Here's a teardown of the UV-5R MINI: