Reddit reviews BAOFENG BaoFeng BF-UV-5RE Radio Two Way Radio
We found 8 Reddit comments about BAOFENG BaoFeng BF-UV-5RE Radio Two Way Radio. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Frequency Range: 136-174 / 400-479.995 MHz.With full high two colors LED definition display, the screen exquisite clarity.Upgrade the frame material. Metallic, more durable and more fashionable.The new English,German,French instruction, more convenient and more humanized.The New 2013 packing,more beautiful and quite well-done.
I'd take two approaches on this: high tech and low tech. Low tech I'd pick up a signal mirror. High tech I'd suggest this radio that I know a lot of preppers use. It's a good price and feature packed: http://amzn.com/B00C83AU9S
Amateur/ham radio operators monitor and participate in the SKYWARN Network of North Alabama/Southern Middle Tennessee. Here are two Huntsville frequencies I monitor during bad weather:
KB4CRG: 147.240
KB4CRG: 442.775
Here's a $24 ham radio on Amazon.
Learn more about getting your Technician Class license here.
Sure why not! There is a little of everything in this hobby for everyone and if you find it fascinating then its already for you. Unfortunately you need a little time to learn the material to get licensed. It takes roughly 10 hours of studying to pass your technician license. As for money you can dump loads of cash or spend 50$ and get on air. What would your price range be? You can pick up a 30$ Baofeng UV-5R or a little more expensive $170 Yaesu FT-60R which from what I've heard is a tank and a very good starter radio.
Did you have that specific stock antenna on it or the older one that didn't have the tapered base? I've seen multiple measurements backing up the newer tapered base (as in OP's image) has NO difference to something like a Nagoya NA-701. The older Baofeng antenna, that looks like this, was definitely shit.
Of course if you put a longer antenna on with more gain you can do better.
Most free flight guys I know use the 2m ham band. You need to be licensed in the US to use these things.
Most frequently seen: http://www.amazon.com/Yaesu-FT-250R-Amateur-Transceiver-Desktop/dp/B004H5MSNQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395337840&sr=8-1&keywords=yaesu+ft250
New champion due to price: http://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-Dual-Band-Improved-Stronger-Enhanced/dp/B00C83AU9S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395337899&sr=8-1&keywords=baofeng+uv-5r+plus
Most of the PPG folks use FRS radios. Something about the motor itself seems to cause interference on the 2m band.
Yeah. I'll admit. I did my research about the Baofeng radios. I was going to get a couple of these. But I read somewhere that the UV-B5s were improved and much better.
I initially thought to myself, "So I'm getting an improvement on something that was a piece of junk. So I'm getting a piece of junk that is slightly better than the other piece of junk."
I was completely wrong. Sure, I use my Yeasu FT-7900 when I'm in my Jeep. But when I'm at home I use the UV-B5 exclusively to hit the repeaters nearby. I'm in Charleston, I can hit the USS Yorktown repeater, both MUSC repeaters, a 70cm repeater down the road a piece and another two meter repeater 'round the way a bit. These are great radios.
I've also used these radios helping out with hour annual bridge run, they did great.
How does $30 sound?
I need help choosing my first radio. I want to get it just after my exam in late December (after Christmas) so that I can order it right after I get my license (hopefully!). I've narrowed it down to 4 radios. I'm on a bit of a budget, so that's why I'm going really cheap.
This list is in no particular order but I would prefer to get the UV-RE because I want the emergancy alerts and the flashlight (I'm not sure if any of the other ones have those).
I have also found what seems to be a [good, cheap antenna] (http://www.amazon.com/NAGOYA-NA-771-Antenna-BAOFENG-KG-UVD1P/dp/B00BY3XN7E), an NA-771, but I would like to know if there are any better, cheaper ones out there that connect to the radios I stated above.
My price range for everything is about $45, but I will go to $55 if I have to. I would also be open to any better radios out there that are within my price range. Thanks in advance for your help!
Tl;dr - I need a $45 radio and I need you guys to help me decide on one, or lean me towards another one.