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Posted: 6/30/2019 11:08:58 AM EDT
[#1]
So what are the pros/cons vs Baofeng being lower priced?
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Posted: 6/30/2019 1:22:10 PM EDT
[#2]
I understand where you are coming from, but for $80 you could get the radio and a decent mag mount (Or a N9TAX + coax) and that will definitely outperform the Yaesu for the same price.
You also have the benefit of being able to basically find anything you'd need help on via youtube walkthrough on Baofengs. There's also the perk of very inexpensive accessories all over ebay and amazon. I still use my baofengs for APRS and other 2m packet stuff, and those radios are 6+ years old. |
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Posted: 6/30/2019 1:46:12 PM EDT
[#3]
"No reason at all"?
How about "I picked up 4 UV-82 HTs for the same $80, programmed one with chirp, and cloned them all. If one breaks, I just buy another and clone it." It's great that Yaesu is offering a more affordable HT. But some of the veteran hams out there sound very Fudd-like regarding anything new that isn't from the Big 3. |
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Posted: 6/30/2019 2:48:36 PM EDT
[#4]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
"No reason at all"? How about "I picked up 4 UV-82 HTs for the same $80, programmed one with chirp, and cloned them all. If one breaks, I just buy another and clone it." It's great that Yaesu is offering a more affordable HT. But some of the veteran hams out there sound very Fudd-like regarding anything new that isn't from the Big 3. Click To View Spoiler |
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Posted: 6/30/2019 2:54:18 PM EDT
[#5]
Baofengs are Chinese dogshit and technically they are VERY poor. The FCC recently halted inportation of certain models because they don't meet FCC minimum specs.
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Posted: 6/30/2019 3:02:05 PM EDT
[#6]
The point of the Baofeng is that an HT is what every newbie thinks they want, but in reality is the least useful radio.
The sooner they get the HT out of their system, the faster they can move on to other radios, and the more money they still have in their pocket at that point the better. Baofengs also force many to get help to program the radio, thereby getting the radio programmed correctly more often, and working with other people (the elmer system). |
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Posted: 6/30/2019 3:07:51 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Baofengs are Chinese dogshit and technically they are VERY poor. The FCC recently halted inportation of certain models because they don't meet FCC minimum specs. |
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Posted: 6/30/2019 3:21:07 PM EDT
[#8]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Baofengs are Chinese dogshit and technically they are VERY poor. The FCC recently halted inportation of certain models because they don't meet FCC minimum specs. |
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Posted: 6/30/2019 3:23:27 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Baofengs are Chinese dogshit and technically they are VERY poor. The FCC recently halted inportation of certain models because they don't meet FCC minimum specs. They're not the best but people exaggerate. |
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Posted: 6/30/2019 3:51:41 PM EDT
[#10]
No MURS Tx capability = No care
We stay on MURS while camping and doing other outdoor activities, keeps the airwaves clean. No riff raff talking all over the place. Wish some of these guys woke up and gave us better MURS radios that didnt cost an arm and a leg. |
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Posted: 6/30/2019 5:11:38 PM EDT
[#11]
I’m glad to see Yaesu offering great radios at an affordable price for ppl that don’t need/want all the bells and whistles. I’ve been very happy with my ft-65r. I plan to pick up another now that the price has dropped to $85.
that being said baofengs still have a place. To a younger ham with limited budget. A $25 uv-5r vs a $80 Yaesu can be a big difference when you are just testing the waters. I also like having a few baofengs hanging around to let new hams barrow to get started. If something happens to one, I’m out $25-35. |
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Posted: 7/1/2019 8:48:31 AM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
that being said baofengs still have a place. To a younger ham with limited budget. A $25 uv-5r vs a $80 Yaesu can be a big difference when you are just testing the waters. I also like having a few baofengs hanging around to let new hams barrow to get started. If something happens to one, I’m out $25-35. Since then, he's got his General and is studying for Extra now. And, he still uses those Baofengs. |
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Posted: 7/1/2019 11:54:31 AM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
No MURS Tx capability = No care We stay on MURS while camping and doing other outdoor activities, keeps the airwaves clean. No riff raff talking all over the place. Wish some of these guys woke up and gave us better MURS radios that didnt cost an arm and a leg. BTECH MURSV1 HT Radio |
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Posted: 7/12/2019 9:10:38 AM EDT
[#14]
For $25 I can see if HAM is something I want to mess with and not feel guilty if the radio just sits or gets lost, trashed, given away, etc.
$80 changes that entirely. That price makes me lean more towards not buying one to even give it a try. |
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Posted: 7/12/2019 2:30:04 PM EDT
[#15]
Baofengs are like Harbor Freight tools. They are not high quality and not tough enough to daily use but they are cheap and affordable to keep as a backup radio, as a loaner or as a "throw away" radio you are not afraid to loose.
Another plus is that they can operate on MURS and GMRS channels if necessary, and yes, I know they are not type accepted for this but no one ever got penalized for this. IMHO, it's no big deal as long as a proper frequency, bandwidth and power levels are selected. I have MURS and GMRS channels programmed into my UV-82 Baofengs, just in case. |
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Posted: 7/12/2019 4:49:02 PM EDT
[#16]
Baofeng is the King of the Chinese "rubber dogshit" HT's.
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Posted: 7/14/2019 8:33:55 AM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
And that's true, but find someone who was licensed in the last 5 years that didn't start with one? I want to have as many licensed people as possible to keep everything alive. Those radios have been a great thing for ham radio, moreso than any sort of abuse/interference. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Baofengs are Chinese dogshit and technically they are VERY poor. The FCC recently halted inportation of certain models because they don't meet FCC minimum specs. It’s the “gateway drug” to ham radio. The radio club at my university was talking about ordering a case of UV-5Rs, and giving one to each student who passed their technician license, as a way of getting more members. Ain’t no way we’re doing that with a $80 HT... |
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Posted: 7/14/2019 9:58:55 AM EDT
[#18]
I didn't start with one and have yet to have ever owned a UV5R or any of it's variants.
My first was the Wouxun, from Ed in NC. $120 and since have added about 6 others in varying freq combos. I have a handful of UV3R+ and they aren't good for anything beyond dorking with APRS, sometimes. Sadly I now have thousand$ invested and our current life situ prevents me from even thinking about using any of it. It'll all change soon enough I'm sure and I'll find the time to play again. Till then, high-dollar dust collectors :) at least I have arfcom! |
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Posted: 7/14/2019 11:43:57 AM EDT
[#19]
Baofeng's are great. They don't just make the UV-5R, which is also great for what it is. They also make the likes of the BF-888S, a 2 W UHF radio that can be bought for $8 and works as well or better than any $50 midland. Everyone knows Baofeng can't compete with the big three on quality and features, but thats not why people buy them.
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Posted: 7/14/2019 12:44:37 PM EDT
[#20]
I respect quality, but for the same price you’re talking about I got:
UV-5R+ Na771 antenna N9tax roll up antenna Extended battery A few different USB charger and programming cables The buttons may be a pain in the ass, but CHIRP is free. 
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Posted: 7/15/2019 2:38:21 AM EDT
[#21]
Hmmm a $25 dollar radio from a co that wont answer emails or warranty support the radio, OR an $80 radio (or $200 or $400 depending upon model)
From a company (YAESU) who wont answer emails about getting a radio serviced warranty or otherwise, answers Facebook programming questions with "read the f""""####*! manual!" ---but that's because they release radios with no programming cables or software to program them. Yaesu is the HK of ham radio. I have a ton of Yaesu stuff but they SUUUUCCCCCKKKKKKK! royal donkey d#&! from a customer service standpoint. I tell noobs to buy the baofeng learn how this crap works and figure out if this is for you before you dump 200-400 bucks into a radio. Theres absolutely EVERY reason to recommend a Baofeng over anything else right off the bat. Inexpensive,simple, wide knowledge base out there, tons of them out there-- in that respect the UV-5r may have saved Ham radio. |
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Posted: 7/15/2019 5:13:29 AM EDT
[#22]
The UHF-only Baofengs start at around $12 - with a battery and charger.
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Posted: 7/17/2019 11:48:23 AM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I didn't start with one and have yet to have ever owned a UV5R or any of it's variants. My first was the Wouxun, from Ed in NC. $120 and since have added about 6 others in varying freq combos. I have a handful of UV3R+ and they aren't good for anything beyond dorking with APRS, sometimes. Sadly I now have thousand$ invested and our current life situ prevents me from even thinking about using any of it. It'll all change soon enough I'm sure and I'll find the time to play again. Till then, high-dollar dust collectors :) at least I have arfcom! |
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Posted: 7/17/2019 10:45:27 PM EDT
[#24]
Since I’m one of those “no code generals” that are ruining the hobby for everyone anyway, I might as well recommend a radio that all the old timers hate. Technology advances and electronics especially get cheaper. I have 3 HT’s, one Yaesu and 2 Beofeng. All 3 work well. I have 2 VHF/UHF mobiles. One Yaesu, One TYT. Nobody can tell which one I’m using. My HF rigs are all Yaesu, For now. I’m sure the “cheap” radios will soon have a good selection of HF radios. I for one look forward to that day. I’ve been a Tech since 1994, only got into HF in the last year. That’s because I wasn’t willing/able to spend the money for the HF gear. As gear gets cheaper more people will get involved. Which in my opinion is a very good thing.
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Posted: 7/18/2019 7:28:30 AM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
The UHF-only Baofengs start at around $12 - with a battery and charger. |
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Posted: 7/18/2019 1:35:24 PM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Since I’m one of those “no code generals” that are ruining the hobby for everyone anyway, I might as well recommend a radio that all the old timers hate. Technology advances and electronics especially get cheaper. I have 3 HT’s, one Yaesu and 2 Beofeng. All 3 work well. I have 2 VHF/UHF mobiles. One Yaesu, One TYT. Nobody can tell which one I’m using. My HF rigs are all Yaesu, For now. I’m sure the “cheap” radios will soon have a good selection of HF radios. I for one look forward to that day. I’ve been a Tech since 1994, only got into HF in the last year. That’s because I wasn’t willing/able to spend the money for the HF gear. As gear gets cheaper more people will get involved. Which in my opinion is a very good thing. BTW, two old HTs - Realistic HTX-202 and Radio Shack HTX-404 still remain my most favorite HT radios. They have excellent, true FM transmitters (not phase modulation, like everyone else uses) and far superior receivers. The TX audio quality is mazing. These radios also have receivers with excellent front ends, impervious to intermod in big cities or high density RF environments (like hamfests). They simply work when Baofents, TYT and even many wideband RX Yaesus, Icoms and Kenwoods become useless due to intermod effects. My dad lives close to a TV broadcast tower. Many VHF/UHF radios simply loose their ability to receive anything when he rotates the Yagi antenna in the direction of the TV tower. Guess what, an old, Radio Shack radio works just fine, like if the TV tower interference doesn't even exist. |
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Posted: 7/18/2019 1:41:55 PM EDT
[#27]
For some Boy Scouts who don't have much pocket money, but have the discipline to study and get
licensed, the Baofeng might be a good introduction to ham radio for them. A $30 radio they can afford vs. an $80 radio they can't, or will have to save for for some time, well... |
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Posted: 7/18/2019 4:21:28 PM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted: One thing I've noticed with many Baofengs and other Chinese brands, is poor audio quality when compared to a Yaesu or Icom. They often sound very dull and muffled, like if the microphone is under a pillow. BTW, two old HTs - Realistic HTX-202 and Radio Shack HTX-404 still remain my most favorite HT radios. They have excellent, true FM transmitters (not phase modulation, like everyone else uses) and far superior receivers. The TX audio quality is mazing. These radios also have receivers with excellent front ends, impervious to intermod in big cities or high density RF environments (like hamfests). They simply work when Baofents, TYT and even many wideband RX Yaesus, Icoms and Kenwoods become useless due to intermod effects. My dad lives close to a TV broadcast tower. Many VHF/UHF radios simply loose their ability to receive anything when he rotates the Yagi antenna in the direction of the TV tower. Guess what, an old, Radio Shack radio works just fine, like if the TV tower interference doesn't even exist. |
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Posted: 7/18/2019 4:59:22 PM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
My first radio was an HTX-202. It lived until about 2 years ago. I believe in buying quality stuff. I’m just saying that I would have gotten into HF many years sooner had a cheaper alternative been on the market. We all acquire better stuff as your situation and mainly money allows, this usually comes with time and age. The money I gave for my first truck wouldn’t buy a set of tires for the one I drive now. I used to have a crappy, black and white picture of a Kenwood TS-520 on my shack wall. I thought I'd be the happiest man in the world if I had one of those radios. Now I have many nice radios but using them is not as much fun as it was when I built my own, first HF radio. There is a "like new" TS-520 in my shack now to remind me of my earlier days. The dream has materialized! |
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