Posted on 04/23/2024 6:45:29 AM PDT by srmanuel
Not trying to sell anything to anyone, I am looking for anyone who has this radio and what their thoughts are. From all the articles and videos, I've seen, it's a Baofeng UV-5R modernized to 2024, which is easily hackable to expand the frequencies you can listen to. There is a ton of free public domain firmware available for download. I have one coming for $30 and I'm looking forward to finding out what this device is capable of, it seems like a cheap way to expand my knowledge and to throw into my emergency communications kit.
My fellow hams who have these types say, “it works...for a while”.
*
It’s cheap but so are the Baofeng that I own, if I get what I pay for, I’m okay with that, it will be fun to see what kind of modifications I can make to the device to see what it can do.
They are cheap Chinese pile of crap.
Yep, like pretty much ALL Chicom electronics from watches to HiFi amplifiers.
Ever look into the stuff sold on Aliexpress? Scary what the Chicoms copy and sell as OEM, the off-label stuff even shoddier.
I know a few guys who have them. Your assessment is correct.
These days, $30 is two meals at McDonalds…so it’s hard to think you could go wrong. Let us know what happens.
I’m happy with my Baofengs.
L
The Ham Radio hobby can get boring at least to me, calling CQ or checking in on a Net it not really my thing, but hacking a cheap handheld to expand the features is more of what I’m interested in, at this price, what’s the harm if the device doesn’t last over the long term.
I have 4-5 myself, I have no issue with them, they work and are cheap way to expand your emergency communication plan.
All quiet on the ham front?
I have one early UV 5R my only 2 meter dual band radio. It’s attached to a J pole antenna at times and when so attached appears to listeners, to be more than just a hand held.
Another such radio would be advantageous if nothing more than experience programming one. My son did my original programming.
Not true for all Chinese radios. I have a G90 by Xeigu and an FX-4CR which is hand-produced by a Chinese ham. Both are good radios and fairly inexpensive. The FX-4CR is the best low-power (20Watts) radio I own, other than the T41-EP.
The constipated boomer snobs have a problem with anything that costs less than $200 and isn’t made within a mile of their home. Never had a problem with my Baofeng, either performance or quality.
It’s not super difficult to program one of these devices if you have the right software, you can dump dozens of frequencies into the device.
Here in Florida, they have something called Sarnet which a statewide repeater network which is open to the public, it’s statewide and can be accessed with just a handheld, during hurricane season, when a storm gets close, they start up a statewide Net of EOC centers, you can tune in and listen to emergency plans being put into action.
It’s the same no matter the hobby, my 3 hobbies are Ham Radio, Guns, and Grilling, the attitude you mentioned is the same, their way is the only way and if you don’t have a specific thing, you don’t know anything and are a terrible person. I just let it go in one ear and out the other.
73 de KE4HTS
All quiet on the ham front?
Well, it was before I posted, now not so much.
I’m with you on #9 and #10
I don’t plan on transmitting with mine, I just want to hack it with some public domain firmware and see what it can do, if i break it, it’s no big deal for the price and great way to perhaps learn something new.
If you don’t mind me asking, what firmware have you loaded into them.
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