Portable Communications Kit

Just purchased a pair of UV-5R+ a couple months ago. Glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks they're a good fit. And, they're cheap.

I have access to a comm analyzer and a quick check reveals 4.5W VHF and 3.9W Uhf transmit. Rx sens is right around .2 uV or probably a little better. (Couldn't really do a SINAD without coming up with an audio cable.) They get a little noisy and tend to break squelch around computers and monitors. But hey, for $30 a copy....

Just for shi*s and giggles I added Nagoya NA701 antennas (cheap, about $3 or $4 bucks) but so far can't tell that there's any real advantage over the factory supplied. The NA 771s look intriguing, but they're half a mile long.

The Baofeng BF888, (UHF only), claim 5W output but really only output about 2W on transmit. They do have the advantage of voice scrambling. It's only inversion but it would be enough to thwart most yahoos of the $89.00 scanner variety, as @Tevin so aptly pointed out. Most who've purchased the 888 haven't a clue as to how to program them, are even aware that they have scrambling capability, or how to enable it. Wish the UV-5Rs had it.

The 888s are going for about $25 or $30...for two. That's cheap enough so that if you have one stuffed in your back pocket and stand up and hear a splash, you can simply flush twice, not a big loss.

 

If one goes with the UV-5R, don't forget the extended battery:

Amazon.com: ExpertPower Baofeng Extended True Capacity Battery (Model: BL-5L, 3800 mAh, Black): Cell Phones & Accessories

I have one for each of my UV-5Rs, and they last all day. If we go to an event I throw the original battery in a pocket or pack for back up.

 

also the AA battery case

 

I have improved my comms slightly, still not enough, but maybe this Winter or by early Spring will have major improvement. I will finish my Extra License (already have tech & general) this winter so that is a next step... What I have now is the 2 ea. Baofeng UV-5Rs, and a pair of cheap Baofeng walkie-talkies (dunno what they are called)... I really should put on my do-list to make a long wire antenna this winter... Strange that I was in comms all my life and now I have nothing, sort of like a carpenter whose house is falling down LOL!

 

How have everybody's portable solar chargers and batteries been holding up?

Also I have been finding that you need to periodically charge and test radios. I took a pair of Motorola IDEN's on my camping trip to the Olympics last week. One held a charge and the other one didn't, even though both got new batteries last year.

My only updates to what I posted earlier was I have a second Kenwood handheld, got my Amateur License and am now looking for a mobile solution for my vehicles that goes into HF. The Yaesu 857D with appropriate antennas is so far at the top of the list

 

@3M-TA3 "...looking for a mobile solution for my vehicles that goes into HF. The Yaesu 857D with appropriate antennas is so far at the top of the list."
Yes, it is at the top of my list also, seems hard to beat. I was also looking at Yaesu FT-450 which has the internal antenna tuner, not sure they are still selling it now...

@BTPost "You might look at a Kenwood TS-480SAT for a Mobile Rig..."
I have added that to my list to look at also. I could see where the CB portion would be extremely handy and save physical space, good idea.

 

So after some research I had decided on the BF F8HP. However, I'd appreciate some feedback on two issues:

1) Is the F8HP (currently $63 on Amazon) enough of an improvement over the UV5R (currently $25) to make it worth the difference in price? The 8W listed output on the F8HP is the biggest reason I could find for wanting this model. Note: I plan to use the radios with the BL5L extended life battery packs and the UT72 antennas.
2) If I decide to go ahead and get the UV5R is it worth the risk do you think to get them on eBay, direct from China, for $19?

 

@Imasham "Is the F8HP (currently $63 on Amazon) enough of an improvement over the UV5R (currently $25) to make it worth the difference in price?"
There are many here that are better in the VHF/UHF world than me (BTPost, ghrit, tempstar ...to name a few), but, in my opinion, I would say no. My reasons are pretty simple: 1) these radios are simple, cheap throw-away radios. Frankly, none of them are going to hold up in durability and reliability, again, in my opinion, and I am hard on equipment and expect a lot from it. 2) 8W is nothing to sneeze at but I think you will find that a good antenna and its placement would serve you a lot better and more often than having the extra wattage. So, I think I would a) rather spend the money and purchase extra UV5Rs (2 each for every 1 each of the F8HP) or b) a few of each...which now that I think about it makes much more sense and the gets the best of both.
In my case, I will purchase a few of the UV5Rs (used to fill gaps and as throw-aways) and save for a higher quality and more dependable Yaesu (a couple of portables and a base station).

"If I decide to go ahead and get the UV5R is it worth the risk do you think to get them on eBay, direct from China, for $19?"
I wouldn't think so... But, I don't have much experience with eBay but I do with Amazon and know that its return policy is rock solid and easy so for $6 bucks in savings I would stay with Amazon...besides it wouldn't surprise me if there is a counterfeit Baofeng on the market. Again, some of the Radio heads around here will know. My career was in Satellite (C, Ku, Ka, X-band...) except for one small stretch so I know the theory and can whistle the tune quite well but lack much practical experience in the VHF/UHF/HF world.

 

Thanks for the feedback @Bandit99 . Your opinion seems to match mine with regards to going with the UV5R especially with what I want to use them for. I have no desire to be a ham radio operator, I will only be using these for emergency comms where range is the most important factor I desire. They will only be used in an emergency except for two or three tests per year. The UT72 antenna claims just over a 4dB gain over the stock antenna and I am hoping that this alone will provide great range extension. Some user comments on Amazon claim that they are hitting repeaters 20-30 miles away using the UT72. Obviously that is very subjective.

For the limited purpose I want to use them for I think I will go ahead with the UV5Rs. The price of the setup I want (UV5R + BL5L + UT72) is $66 on Amazon so my savings with the radio alone is paying for the accessories.

Your comment on Amazon vs eBay is a good one. Perhaps I'll get the radios from Amazon and battery plus antenna on eBay. That way my package price will be around $55...a good saving over the F8HP alone!

 

Thanks for the advice @ghrit There appear to be no repeaters within 60 km of me. My main purpose is to have local comms between my house and me or between my wife and I. That said, I may travel and it could be helpful to have the models I've researched with me. I was not planning on getting my license.

 

My NEW vote for a hand held is the TYT MD-2017. Dual band and DMR in one radio.

Legal CB radios are 4 watts and A.M. Any 5 watt F.M. hand held with an external antenna will outrange a CB in clarity and most times range. A mag mount on top of a vehicle is usually good for 10 miles, and out to 14 (horizon plus a few % ) with nothing in the way. CB only wins when skip is in effect, which is very unreliable as to when and which direction, relying on atmospheric conditions at the time.

 

@Tempstar I was reading the specs for the TYT-MD-2017 on Amazon and it said 'Encryption function.' Can you indeed encrypt your channel? Spec wise it appears like a good portable with Dual-band, DMR within a good price.

@BTPost concerning your TS-480SAT in the white 4X4 Toyota Pickup...do you need a separate/different antenna when you tune to CB Freqs/Channels

 

Lots of the China radios have encryption, mostly simple speech inversion that anyone with a like radio can intercept. It is turned on in the programming software.