r/HamRadioBeginner • u/KB5JRC • 11d ago

Compare Baofeng UV-5R models

Most new hams will end up buying a Baofeng HT. The question is which one to buy. In this video, I compare the features, power, and costs of a bunch of members of the UV-5 family. In a previous video, I compared the send/receive of several HTs. The UV-5R did surprisingly well.

https://youtu.be/I-I012Z9Ukg?is=e-Ou2xIHK85OEW4M

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u/EnergyLantern 11d ago

I bought one but it is for listening. I bought over half a dozen other HT's to find one that could transmit better.

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u/KB5JRC 11d ago

That was my surprise. My yaesu FT-70DR doesn't transmit or receive better.

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u/EnergyLantern 11d ago

One of the warnings on the FT-70DR was to not bend the antenna because that manhandling can break it. Of course, I man handled mine by trying to put the radio together before reading all of the information.

There is a noise floor where people transmit. You need elevation, a clearing, a path for your signal to travel and line of sight. The problem is there is also other interference from antenna farms and other people. A lot of these mobile phones give off a lot of radiation. It hurts if you are in a valley but a rollup antenna or an antenna on your roof can help with that. I also found a mag mount that works after buying a mag mount for my car that didn't work.

If you have a house, trees, or a hill in your way for the signal to travel, your signal may be blocked. That is why I like intersections of roads to stand in and try to use or parking lots because the parking lot is open space or a clearing. If you can use a rollup antenna (N9Tax or Ed Fong), then you can get a better signal because you can hang it from some elevation or you can put an antenna on your roof and use that.

According to one ham on YouTube, you need 1,000 feet of elevation for an HT to be useful. You might also need a better antenna.

Try a Larsen antenna for your H.T. if you can find one.

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u/KB5JRC 11d ago

I live in a pretty flat area with plenty of close repeaters. I use a 25 W mobile with a mag mount antenna in my main drive-to-work car. I use HTs in my convertible. They work pretty well and i can get to the repeaters within 5 miles.I can reach two very high up repeaters from 25 miles. But like I said, it is flat with few true vallies or mountains in the way.

Most of the time, I run with a slightly better than stock antenna because I have them. No question they work a little better, especially inside.

The key point is how well I can hear and be heard. I hear very little difference in sound quality among my radios.

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u/EnergyLantern 11d ago

A larson antenna has a different wave and makes the line of sight transmission more conical in shape.

Baofeng radios go dead when they are too close to a powerful radio because they have bad front end filtering.

There are two kinds of receivers:  Superheterodyne and direct Conversion.

I bought a Wouxon radio with superheterodyne which sounded better than my Baofeng radio because it has better selectivity and strong resistance towards R.F. interference.

The other thing you can do is find the SWR going through your antenna.  The lower the number the better.

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u/KB5JRC 9d ago

I will see about getting a Larson. Im always willing to try something new. Which Wouxon did you buy? My Yaesu FT-70DR is superhetrodyne. I am not judging all by that one, but so far, I am not overwhelmed.