High / Low Power Settings (4W/1W) Programmable Amateur Radio
Frequency Range: 65-108 MHz (Only commercial FM radio reception) VHF: 136-174 MHz(Rx/Tx). UHF: 400-520 MHz(Rx/Tx)
1500mAh Battery; Broadband (Wide) 25khz / Narrowband (Narrow) 12.5khz Selectable
Customize Channel Names, the Boot Display and More by Using the PC03 FTDI Programming Cable
AUTO Keypad Lock, Dual Band, Dual Display and Dual Standby
Product Description
The BaoFeng UV-5R is a compact hand held transceiver providing 4 watts in the frequency range of 136-174 MHz and 400-480 MHz. It is a compact, economical HT that includes a special VHF receive band from 65 - 108 MHz which includes the regular FM broadcast band. Dual watch and dual reception is supported. You get up to 128 memories. Other features include: selectable wide/narrow, battery save function, DCS/CTCSS encode, key lock and built in flashlight. Selectable frequency steps include: 2.5, 5, 6.25, 10, 12.5 and 25 kHz. RF power may be selected at 4 or 1 watts. This radio comes with an SMA-Female antenna, flexible antenna, BL-5 Li-ion battery (7.4V 1500 mAh), belt clip, wrist strap, AC adapter (8.4V 600ma) and drop-in charging tray. This radio requires the PC03 FTDI programming cable.
Top comments
fireman1 to nbgrobbo
13 Feb 174#29
Never seen these before, never considered getting any, didn't need in the slightest for any reason but now ever so slightly gutted that the they have gone.
Latest comments (48)
pompey87
13 Feb 17#13
Could I use these on holiday when I'm going out to get food and family are back @hotel so don't need to buy 2 SIM cards with expensive add ons, I normally have to buy a sim when I go dubai for holidays. And it costs £20 for SIM card for 50min and 50 text messages
MrHot to pompey87
13 Feb 171#17
Regulations vary by country...
supermann to pompey87
20 Feb 17#48
I wouldn't risk it, not unless you fancy catching licd and flees from a UAE jail cell.
Sancho
15 Feb 17#47
Received mine today. I'm new to these radios. How do you get rid of the static sound? I've tried squelch but it's always there. Edit: I'm indoors, could Wi-Fi cause issues?
Savo
15 Feb 17#46
Soo angry I missed this Grrrr :-)
0scar222
14 Feb 17#45
They also work well with amateur radio repeaters as you can set the repeater pairs/offsets up in the settings
But dont ever do this if unlicensed
dealhuntaa
13 Feb 17#41
What people actually use these for? Talking to a friend that lives close by?
Bendown to dealhuntaa
14 Feb 17#43
I guess with the right equipment you can talk to people many many miles away. Not sure if there are many users no a days with invention of the mobile phone. I will keep one and sell the other, they have fm radio built in so be usefull for holidays at the very least
gavin1 to dealhuntaa
14 Feb 171#44
We use them for general talk when running small events, it means we know we have good operational coverage over the event, so as examples the car park can talk to the front gate and stop more cars coming in when we are full. The various areas can call for more staff when they get rushes, to call finance when we need more change (or need money taken away) as well as general operational stuff.
We could use mobiles but not everyone always has coverage, and its always 1:1, whereas with two way radio a call for help is heard by all radios. Radios are also easier to manage in the sense that if someone changes or goes for a break they can pass the radio on, no-one would pass their own phone on, so we can always get to talk to a certain place.
HAM and CB are more like cousins, CB is license exempt as its low power / low range, Ham isn't
CB has defined frequencies in the 27Mhz range and a max of 4W power is allowed in law (I know it can be boosted, but that becomes outside the law). The equipment has to be bought as certified and cannot be modified in anyway.
Ham radio users have a much wider range of frequencies they can use. Depending on your license level you can even make your own radio transmitters and can transmit up to 400W.
400W on the wrong frequency could block out other transmissions, while as I mentioned earlier the emergency services are mainly digital and you can't overhear there conversation, however if you were to transmit on the emergency services frequencies at 400W you would swamp the 25W airwave radios around you. It would be like trying to listen to someone a whispering if someone else is shouting in your other ear.
The rules are in place to give everyone a fair use of the radio spectrum, and try and stop too much interference. They also give bands to various groups which helps find each other, if you had to talk to someone and didn't have an idea where in the frequency band they may be you may never find them...
FoxForce5
13 Feb 17#42
You need a licence for cb radios? I'm assuming Ham radio is another name for cb radio?
My dad & uncle used them all the time when I was a kid, & I used to mess about with one my dad left me in my teens too, had no idea it was supposed to be regulated.
Is there actually a good reason for this or is just bureaucratic nonsense?!
0scar222
13 Feb 17#40
Thanks for the info always thought UK Simple frequencies were for fixed channel radios bit like PMR
But looking into it cant see any why you cant use these only on UK Simple frequencies legally
gavin1
13 Feb 17#39
There are no terms of Sorry didn't realise the question.
Emergency services are pretty much all digital and encrypted. However even transmitting without a licence is illegal with the exception of the predefined PMR446 frequencies and then only on specially made PMR radios. That really means only specially made radios you can't change frequencies es or alter the power output on.
Mathaeus
13 Feb 17#38
Hate to have to ask this again but.. what CRIME can be committed with this devise? I'm guessing you'd be listening on police frequencies or something? :/
gavin1
13 Feb 171#37
There are no terms of specific hardware set out in the UK simple rules, only (as I said) that you are limited in terms of channels and power. If you program and use the UK Simple channels it is legal. The fact you can enter and transmit on an illegal frequency doesn’t make it illegal, only if someone transmits in any other part of the spectrum than the UK Simple frequencies.
UK simple licences the person or body and their two way radios, if you want to go down the foundation route, every one needs to get a FL and also they need to obey radio ham rules, the same rules on radio use generally don’t apply to UK simple use.
Without a UK Simple of Foundation (or better) you’d be breaking Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 at the very least…
pompey87
13 Feb 17#36
Lol
Mathaeus
13 Feb 17#35
But what crime would you be committing? :/
0scar222
13 Feb 17#34
Foundation Licence (basic radio Ham Licence) require to take exams as well
0scar222
13 Feb 17#33
£75 Licence does not cover these you need at least Foundation Licence (basic HAM licence) only £26.50 but you have to take exams
0scar222
13 Feb 17#32
Thought to problem was between the prolific driver and fake prolific usb to serial chip and not operating system
dont know much about Linux though
0scar222
13 Feb 17#31
I know did they are illegal (stated that clearly in comment) and was aware 500mw limit on PMR also they have to have non removable antenna these dont .But if you stick to PMR channels you should be ok
MrHot
13 Feb 17#30
There are loads about, and they aren't normally 50 quid. If you just want to programme them once and be done, the 888 are similar but need the 2 quid programming cable. UV-3R is similar, and even smaller.
nbgrobbo
13 Feb 17#26
Now £48.99
fireman1 to nbgrobbo
13 Feb 174#29
Never seen these before, never considered getting any, didn't need in the slightest for any reason but now ever so slightly gutted that the they have gone.
vulcanproject
13 Feb 172#28
No they would just taser you until you caught fire. If they found Class A drugs instead they would probably just let you off though.
0scar222
13 Feb 17#3
Great radios very well made battery's last ages yes they are illegal unless you have HAM license
But just set them up on PMR channels and you should be ok using them
Then they become really good PMR radios 4 watts and ability to use better antenna so very good range
Mathaeus to 0scar222
13 Feb 171#4
You need a license? :0 please elaborate..
liam_dob to 0scar222
13 Feb 17#5
PMR legal power is Half a watt, 500mw, these are way overpowered at 4w to use legally on PMR
gavin1 to 0scar222
13 Feb 17#27
You could (to stay legal) get a UK Simple License, costs £75 for 5 years and program the radios to only use those frequencies,, (of course you need to make sure the end users stick to those frequencies).
MrHot
13 Feb 17#25
Depends on countries, most police won't know/care unless there are complaints, and even then someone else normally does the tracking.
Pigsleg
13 Feb 17#19
This is halfprice. Just ordered two. I am licensed and for the money these are great. Buy a programming cable and download a piece of software called "chirp". Be prepared for driver problems as the cable chips are not legit! A bit of wrangling gets it to work. Excellent deal.
MrHot to Pigsleg
13 Feb 17#24
These problems don't exist under Linux at all.
IIRC chirp provides a livecd/USB you can boot off.
Sancho
13 Feb 17#21
Do these need the PC03 FTDI programming cable to work?
MrHot to Sancho
13 Feb 17#23
No, they can be setup from the menu, which with the keypad isn't so bad. Some units don't have a keypad and it helps, some don't even have a screen which do need the cable.
Hodgey
13 Feb 17#6
I've set mine up for PMR frequencies in U.K./Europe. US and some Asian countries. They work fine. I set the power to 1watt (I know the limit is 500mW but power dissipates quickly over distance). Heat added
99rb to Hodgey
13 Feb 171#22
I was only doing 140mph officer but the speed decreases really fast over distance.
G5RV
13 Feb 17#20
Good price for two.
pompey87
13 Feb 17#18
Thank you, would I get questioned if I got pulled over by police and they found this in my car??
MrHot
13 Feb 17#16
When you see 5W it's actually 3W and 2W etc.
There is a low setting, but its still much higher than 0.5W.
PMR also requires a fix antenna.
I got a basic 888 recently, and their default channels clash with fire and other services in certain locations.
The real answer is we need more free band access, but that would mean less money, so **** it, 3W PMR, go for it.
silkyskills
13 Feb 17#14
Transmitting on these without a lience will probably result in a big fine.
northwales to silkyskills
13 Feb 172#15
care to show when the last person was fined for using these freq without a license
Bendown
13 Feb 171#12
Too late for me, already have done. What do I need them for ?
leet
13 Feb 171#8
Do I actually need these? Apart from walkie talkie's what could I use them for? Just for information purposes obviously...
chrisjdhuckle to leet
13 Feb 172#11
I defently don't need these but thinking of buying
argosextra
13 Feb 17#9
My 5 year old has been after walkie talkie for sometime is this suitable for kida
Bendown to argosextra
13 Feb 17#10
Not really
srp111
13 Feb 17#7
cool bought thanks op :smile:
hafizpatel
13 Feb 17#2
Good Find.
paolo
13 Feb 171#1
Wait on it - here it comes... You need a licence to operate these - blah, blah, blah... :smirk:
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Opening post
Frequency Range: 65-108 MHz (Only commercial FM radio reception) VHF: 136-174 MHz(Rx/Tx). UHF: 400-520 MHz(Rx/Tx)
1500mAh Battery; Broadband (Wide) 25khz / Narrowband (Narrow) 12.5khz Selectable
Customize Channel Names, the Boot Display and More by Using the PC03 FTDI Programming Cable
AUTO Keypad Lock, Dual Band, Dual Display and Dual Standby
Product Description
The BaoFeng UV-5R is a compact hand held transceiver providing 4 watts in the frequency range of 136-174 MHz and 400-480 MHz. It is a compact, economical HT that includes a special VHF receive band from 65 - 108 MHz which includes the regular FM broadcast band. Dual watch and dual reception is supported. You get up to 128 memories. Other features include: selectable wide/narrow, battery save function, DCS/CTCSS encode, key lock and built in flashlight. Selectable frequency steps include: 2.5, 5, 6.25, 10, 12.5 and 25 kHz. RF power may be selected at 4 or 1 watts. This radio comes with an SMA-Female antenna, flexible antenna, BL-5 Li-ion battery (7.4V 1500 mAh), belt clip, wrist strap, AC adapter (8.4V 600ma) and drop-in charging tray. This radio requires the PC03 FTDI programming cable.
Top comments
Latest comments (48)
But dont ever do this if unlicensed
We could use mobiles but not everyone always has coverage, and its always 1:1, whereas with two way radio a call for help is heard by all radios. Radios are also easier to manage in the sense that if someone changes or goes for a break they can pass the radio on, no-one would pass their own phone on, so we can always get to talk to a certain place.
HAM and CB are more like cousins, CB is license exempt as its low power / low range, Ham isn't
CB has defined frequencies in the 27Mhz range and a max of 4W power is allowed in law (I know it can be boosted, but that becomes outside the law). The equipment has to be bought as certified and cannot be modified in anyway.
Ham radio users have a much wider range of frequencies they can use. Depending on your license level you can even make your own radio transmitters and can transmit up to 400W.
400W on the wrong frequency could block out other transmissions, while as I mentioned earlier the emergency services are mainly digital and you can't overhear there conversation, however if you were to transmit on the emergency services frequencies at 400W you would swamp the 25W airwave radios around you. It would be like trying to listen to someone a whispering if someone else is shouting in your other ear.
The rules are in place to give everyone a fair use of the radio spectrum, and try and stop too much interference. They also give bands to various groups which helps find each other, if you had to talk to someone and didn't have an idea where in the frequency band they may be you may never find them...
My dad & uncle used them all the time when I was a kid, & I used to mess about with one my dad left me in my teens too, had no idea it was supposed to be regulated.
Is there actually a good reason for this or is just bureaucratic nonsense?!
But looking into it cant see any why you cant use these only on UK Simple frequencies legally
Emergency services are pretty much all digital and encrypted. However even transmitting without a licence is illegal with the exception of the predefined PMR446 frequencies and then only on specially made PMR radios. That really means only specially made radios you can't change frequencies es or alter the power output on.
UK simple licences the person or body and their two way radios, if you want to go down the foundation route, every one needs to get a FL and also they need to obey radio ham rules, the same rules on radio use generally don’t apply to UK simple use.
Without a UK Simple of Foundation (or better) you’d be breaking Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 at the very least…
dont know much about Linux though
But just set them up on PMR channels and you should be ok using them
Then they become really good PMR radios 4 watts and ability to use better antenna so very good range
IIRC chirp provides a livecd/USB you can boot off.
There is a low setting, but its still much higher than 0.5W.
PMR also requires a fix antenna.
I got a basic 888 recently, and their default channels clash with fire and other services in certain locations.
The real answer is we need more free band access, but that would mean less money, so **** it, 3W PMR, go for it.