Baofeng Tech announced their new tri-band HT: UV-5X3

Announcement

"First and foremost, the UV-5X3 was built by adding filtering and support for the 220MHz Amateur band. The original UV-5R was a 4-watt dual-band radio; while the UV-5X3 can now output 5-watts on VHF and 4-watts on both 1.25M and UHF. The UV-5X3 focused specifically on the amateur band frequencies of the 1.25M band during design. The UV-5X3 supports: 65-108MHz (RX only - FM Radio), 130-179.99MHz (RX/TX), 222-225.99MHz (RX/TX), and 400-520.99MHz (RX/TX)"

The announcement also talks about simplified scanning, the option to sync the display (channel name and frequency), CHIRP as the programming software, and more.

Baofeng Tech UV-5X3 page
Amazon Link $65



Cheers,
Brick
The Radios

(edit: duh - I typed the model number wrong in the subject line - corrected to UV-5X3.)

Thanks Brick!  

New info is always appreciated.

Would you recommend a certain replacement antenna for it?

I've not got a current favorite tri-band HT antenna - it's such a compromise. I reckon that's why it's common to get two antennas with the tri-banders.

John's got a review up at his site:

Miklor.com UV-5X3 Review

Cheers,
Brick

I hate you guys.

I hope that is b/c we keep tempting you to buy another radio.

If that's the case, definitely don't check out the $20 KD-C1!

(sorry for hijacking the thread with that - couldn't resist)

Cheers,
Brick
The Radios

Nice

Big Brown truck stopped by this evening and dropped a box for me.

Now its been a long time since I've tried to program a baofeng and I'm quite rusty but got the one repeater in town programmed in.
On tonight's 2 meter net I mentioned the new UV-5x3 and it being a true tri-band radio. NC had me key 1.25 up and he heard me on his receiver, and managed to grab 4 others with 1.25 radios. So for a real short time we had a 2 to 1.25 cross band going. Mainly hearing the 1.25 repeater on NC's receiver while he was calling the net.

That's why I FO on a Icom ID-51a Plus....  I couldn't get my now missing Baofeng programmed....  My dad somehow managed to get it programmed. My Icom should be delivered tomorrow, and I hope it's NOTHING Like programming a baofeng.

I never had a huge problem with programming them.  make sure you use the right VFO (can only program from one of them) and do it once for the receive freq, and once for the transmit freq (into the same channel) and you're done.  could be simpler, but not horrible.

The issue is that 220mhz is not a harmonic of 2 meters or 440. So you can't make an efficient multiband antenna that includes 220.

Multiband antennas are not an issue if designed correctly. But don't hold your breath for that being done on a $20 "radio."

I'd recommend this one...

Good news - a chance at a free radio. Bad news - Facebook:

Baofeng Tech is giving away a UV-5X3 on Facebook.

Cheers,
Brick
The Radios