Reddit reviews BaoFeng UV-5R Plus Dual-Band 136-174/400-480 MHz FM Ham Two-Way Radio (Black)

I'll probably get downvoted, but if you just want to talk to your neighbor like that, nothing wrong with a CB radio.

Then there is the obligatory answer, get your tech license and a couple of Baofengs

Get a portable 2 meter ham radio. The 7 NOAA weather radio frequencies are between 162.400MHz and 162.550MHz, which is FM in the 2 meter band. Anyone can listen to ham broadcasts and you only need a license to broadcast. There are radios that fit your requirements out there. Also, you can listen to your local county repeater (if there is one, depending on your location) which may have a SkyWarn net up when the weather gets bad, or there is a local emergency. Also gives you the capability of communication if the cell towers or power goes out (*with license).

Extra bonus points for taking a few days to study and get your Technician license, which is pretty easy, and you can broadcast on 2 meter, as well as a select few other bands.

the radio I carry with me daily is here:

http://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-UV-5R-Dual-Band-Improved-Stronger/dp/B0097252UK

It may not be the best, but the price is right. This will also pick up your local FM radio broadcasts if you switch modes, which can be very helpful.

>I dont know Im only 14 and I just dont feel like I would fit in with a group of adults.

I'm 38 and I still don't feel like I fit in with the ancient guys at most of the clubs. The good thing is that a lot of them are really smart and passionate about the hobby and really willing to help you out. With having something in common (radio) you just may find you do fit in.

But, you can also go another way and learn on your own (or get started on your own so they know you're serious).

Here is a bunch of different resources for reading up on the things you'll need to know to get that license. And a great place to go through the multiple choice questions you'll have to answer is http://www.hamstudy.org/. All of those are free, and actually taking the test will cost you $15.00.

With a technician license and a $50 radio you could be on the air talking on local repeaters or doing even more interesting stuff like making an antenna for that radio so you can talk to the ISS.

Isn't that just the UV-5R plus?

That radio doesn't transmit. How is that going to be useful for communication?

You should study for a ham technician test, which is easy peasy and a 10 year license costs $15. Then, pick up something like a Baofeng dual band radio and a roll up antenna. You'll be able to get up to 60 miles range (or so) with that setup, and you'd be hard pressed not to be able to find a repeater station within 60 miles. Climb a big hill or mountain and you're virtually guaranteed a contact.

My opinion, this is all you really need. My team made speaker mics the standard because they are cheap, effective and simple. The guys on my team who have been in the Army/Marines said this is how they used comms and it worked for them. Also My Radio is a BaoFeng Uv-5r. It's cheap and has never failed me.

FWIW I gotta recommend Duracell's Procell for bulk batteries. :)

Also if youre into radio stuff, have you checked out these VHF/UHF handsets? They are freaking amazing.

I have a baofeng ham radio with a remote speaker/mic that I plug into my ear pro. I also have the extended battery and antenna

edit: links

Thanks as always. You're always a wealth of information.

I was actually looking at these on eBay and found they are also some on Amazon. Number one best seller too!

Baofeng UV-5Rプラス トランシーバー デュアルバンド 5色選択可！無線機 アンテナ！イヤホンマイク付き！ブラック 並行輸入 https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0097252UK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_9jPlxbPGYHP1B

So I assume that HAM radios are OK? I wouldn't need a license to use something like this?

Interesting project!

I investigated similar options a few years ago. As a ham radio operator, I was passingly familiar with APRS, which is a 20-year old networked position reporting protocol with some available hardware. It turns out that the Black Rock Amateur Radio Association for years has been running a permanent solar-powered APRS repeater on top of Razorback Mountain, which overlooks BRC. It is linked to a similar station in Gerlach, which relays to the internet. If you zoom out a bit from http://aprs.fi/#!addr=black%20rock%20city%2C%20nv you can see the stations RAZOR and GERLCH along with whoever is running APRS in the area at the moment.

The last few years, we've been putting APRS trackers on some art cars, which is accessible to anyone with an APRS receiver or via any participant network connected smartphone via an on-playa live map server (currently down) accessible to anyone on the BRC participant network.

If you have or get a ham license, you can standalone trackers for ~$120 or so, or can combine a $30 Baofeng ham radio with an old android phone running APRSDroid to do two-way position reporting.

Baofeng UV-5r+. They're about $40 per radio with shoulder mic.

These are 2m HT's, which can transmit into the amateur radio bands.

DON'T USE THE AMATEUR BANDS!

These radios can also tune to FRS, GMRS, and most importnatly, MURS bands. You can tune these radios to MURS without a license, lock them,and have a very good walkie system. Technically you need a license to transmit on the GMRS bands, but the FCC doesn't really enforce that. Still illegal, though.

Hit the books, then get some of these. http://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-UV-5R-Dual-Band-136-174-400-480/dp/B0097252UK

Just get a UV-5R+

http://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-UV-5R-Dual-Band-136-174-400-480/dp/B0097252UK