Radio Baofeng UV-5R: reviews. Baofeng UV-5R: prices, photo

Portable radios are used in a wide range of industries. The development of technologies in this direction has led to the emergence of models of radios adapted for a wide variety of users. Now the choice of universal budget models is quite wide in the segment of portable radio stations. Many experts see the optimal solution from the Baofeng brand. Namely, a device of the Baofeng UV 5R type. What are its main features?

General information about walkie-talkie

Walkie-talkie Baofeng UV-5R experts in the market of household radio equipment refers to devices of the amateur level. At the same time, many of the functionality of the device closely bring it closer to the category of professional devices. One possible confirmation of this thesis is the range of application of the device.

Using Baofeng UV-5R truckers, hunters, employees of the security services - we can say that all those who need an inexpensive device for solving problems associated with the organization of the channel of autonomous stable radio communications.

Main characteristics

Let's consider the basic characteristics of the device. The battery equipped with a walkie-talkie - type Li-Ion, capacity 1.8 mAh, power - 4 watts. There are modern modulation hardware that provide high quality sound. The radius of action is up to 10 km (in line of sight), in the city - 2-3 km, in the forest - 5 km. For best results, it is recommended to purchase an additional antenna. There is support for communication in two channels at the same time. Software firmware Baofeng UV-5R provides a display on the screen of 2 frequencies. There is a regime of effective energy saving. Implemented the sound function when you press the keys. The device can scan radio channels. The radio is compatible with channel type stations of other brands. There is support for an external headset.

There is a bright, color-coded and time-out screen backlight. There is a keypad backlight. VOX technology is supported, which can be turned on automatically. There is an FM-receiver.

Dimensions: height - 100 mm, width - 52, thickness - 52. Weight of the device - 250 g. The spectrum of supported ranges: VHF, UHF (reception and transmission), FM. There are CTCSS, as well as DCS-codes.

The combination of these characteristics of the radio is recognized by experts as one of the most competitive relative to the capabilities of analog devices in the same price category. Very few brands are ready to offer the same functionality at a comparable cost of the device.

Contents of delivery

In the factory box of the brand-manufacturer Baofeng UV-5R - instruction, the device itself, antenna, battery, headset with PTT support, strap and clip for easy use, charger. In general, this set is quite typical for the category devices to which the radio belongs.

Design, appearance

What can be said about the design solutions used in the radio walkie-talkie and its appearance? According to many users who left feedback, Baofeng UV-5R looks pretty ordinary. But at the same time in the design of the walkie-talkie there are no elements that would look useless. The appearance of the device is quite strict, without frills, the body is rectangular. The location of the control keys and the antenna is quite common for devices of this type. The material of the body is plastic, the features of its structure are such that the device is convenient to hold in the hand, it does not slip out.

Capabilities

The device works, as we already noted in the characteristics, in two bands at a time, namely VHF and UHF. The Baofeng UV-5R can also function via two channels. That is, for example, its owner can receive an incoming signal from one interlocutor and at the same time send outgoing messages to another. Switching between channels is possible using convenient device controls on the display. Another notable feature (its usefulness is evidenced by the reviews): Baofeng UV-5R is equipped with a radio receiver in the FM-band. The maximum radius of the signal when using a radio station due to the 4-watt transmitter power is 10 km. This is sufficient for a comfortable solution of most of the tasks essential for the main groups of users.

Through the built-in memory cells in the radio, you can store the frequencies of the channels used. There is support for VOX technology - voice communication without pressing the corresponding transfer button. As evidenced by many reviews, Baofeng UV-5R has an effective noise reduction function. Comfortable use of the device is possible with considerable external interference.

The radio has convenient management tools. In its design, elements of personification of design are noticeable: for example, the user can choose the backlight of the screen with the desired color. You can also adjust the optimal time interval for turning off the backlight. There is a function of locking the keyboard - it can be implemented both in automatic and in manual mode. Using the backlight makes the use of the radio comfortable in all lighting conditions. There is a LED flashlight that can always come in handy.

Programming walkie-talkie

Among the most noteworthy features that characterize the device are the programming of Baofeng UV 5R. It is implemented using a fairly simple and understandable algorithm for most users. What are the main points of this process? You can program a walkie-talkie using a branded program or a product such as CHIRP. Many owners of the device prefer to use the second option, noting its convenience and simplicity. To program a walkie-talkie, you need to start the CHIRP program, then select the radio station of the brand in question and specify the COM port. After setting the optimal values for Memory Range, then optimize the values for LPD and PMR-channels. After downloading the result of work into the memory of the radio station and restarting the device.

Battery

Equipped with a radio station Baofeng UV 5R, as we already noted above, a battery capacity of 1.8 thousand mAh. Is this indicator optimal? According to many experts in the field of the appropriate type of electronics, portable radios with such a measure of battery capacity are quite typical solutions for the market. Some experts consider the battery with the specified capacity quite powerful, capable of providing autonomous operation of the device in a time sufficient for solving the most pressing problems for the main groups of the user of the radio station.

The battery, which is equipped with a walkie-talkie, is removable, that is, if necessary, the device owner can purchase one or more additional ones and carry them with them, in turn charging and using. Note that in order to save the battery, the radio station has a remarkable function of putting the device into sleep mode, which is activated if the person does not transmit or receive voice messages for a while.

To save battery power can also help the function of the radio signal power control. In addition, you can control the activation of the audio signal, which accompanies the pressing of buttons. The corresponding function also takes a little bit of battery life - turning it off will slightly increase the battery life of the device.

How effective can the battery of the device be in practice? The average duration of autonomous work, which was found in practice by device users and experts, is about one day. But this is with active use and without frequent use of options to save battery. When the device is activated in standby mode, the battery life will be longer. There is, by the way, the ability to purchase and install a compatible battery with a larger capacity. In particular, samples are produced that have a resource of 3.8 thousand mAh.

Competitive price

Some experts believe that the device in question is among the most competitive, if we consider the ratio of price and functionality. Also, according to many owners of the device, leaving reviews on the thematic portals, Baofeng UV-5R is a device with excellent quality, despite the fact that it is sold in the budget segment. How much does the device cost? Now in the catalogs of Russian retailers, in which there is Baofeng UV-5R, the price of the device is about 3 thousand rubles. At the same time, the pricing policy of different dealers may differ due to the exchange rate fluctuations of the ruble and the marketing priorities of the sellers correlated with it. Experts recommend to look not only at the price, but also on the terms of delivery of the goods - however, this rule is valid for all types of online purchases.

Typical tasks

What, in fact, are those typical tasks for which the device is optimized? They can be conditionally classified into two types. Firstly, it is the solution of tasks related to the performance by these or those groups of specialists of their professional tasks. As we have already noted above, the categories of users, in whose environment the radio station Baofeng UV 5R is popular, is truckers, special services and other government agencies performing their functions in a mobile mode. Also, the builders, engineers, shift workers, employees of departments involved in forestry activities can use the radio's capabilities in the aspect of solving professional problems. Secondly, travelers can also use the device, hikers, climbers. For them, portable radios are an indispensable assistant, especially when other means of communication are not available.

To a lesser extent, the walkie-talkie is adapted to solve military problems: for the army, a completely different level of device is required. However, if we are talking, for example, about the procedures for training fighters within the framework of the theory, about training the cadets or undergoing instruction in school lessons on civil defense, the radio station Baofeng UV-5R may well come in handy. Such walkers are also actively used by hunters, fishermen, researchers of natural landscapes, fans of cycling.

Voice transmission

What are the main features of the Baofeng UV-5R radio station - voice transmission? The device, as we have already noted, can operate in two basic modes: voice transmission with keystroke, and also with VOX technology. The quality of communication is estimated by users and specialists as excellent. The voice of the interlocutor is clear, the main speaker of the radio transmits it at a sufficient level of loudness. If necessary, you can connect a headset, which also supports voice transmission with the push of a button.

Practice of use

It should be noted that the instructions in the Baofeng UV-5R delivery kit describe in sufficient detail the nuances of using the device. However, it will be useful to study some basic features of device operation. For example, if we are faced with the task of switching from one communication channel to another, then we can do this simply by pressing the A / B key. A quick transition, for example, from the VHF to UHF range, is performed using the BAND button. There is a convenient function, which provides for the firmware Baofeng UV-5R - signal reception at two frequencies simultaneously. In turn, the VFO / MR key allows you to switch between different modes of using the radio - frequency and channel.

On the radio Baofeng UV-5R, the frequencies can be adjusted in a wide range - from 2.5 to 50 kHz. In addition, there is an interesting feature that allows you to change the frequencies when the radio is operating with repeaters. Also there is the option of prohibiting the transmission of voice on the already used frequency. There is a function for monitoring sub-tones. The noise reduction option can be flexibly adjusted - values from 0 to 9 can be set according to the established technological scale.

Navigation in the menu

The instruction attached to the walkie-talkie generally contains everything necessary to help resolve the issue of how to set up the Baofeng UV 5R. However, it will be useful to consider the basic nuances of using the radio from the point of view of navigation in the program menu of the device. The knowledge of the features of its structure will help you to learn the tuning procedures faster, to choose their optimal combination.

On the right side of the display is an indicator that reflects the frequency value. For example, 188. Nearby, as a rule, a substage is displayed - for example, 75/25. If the letters CT are displayed, it means that the device is operating in CTCSS mode. If, in turn, the letters DCS are visible, it means that the other mode is active - DCS. If the radio is operated via a repeater, the "+" and "-" signs indicate the presence of an appropriate indicator for the shift. If the letter S is displayed on the screen, it means that the device is working by scanning two different channels.

The abbreviation VOX on the display means that the corresponding type of voice control functions. The letter R on the screen indicates that the reverse option is active, N indicates that the device is operating at a wide modulation frequency, L is in low power mode.

Radius of action

What are the practical results achieved by the specialists and owners of the radio in terms of identifying the real range of the device? With the amendment that the use of a radio station takes place in very individual conditions, the following benchmarks based on feedback from users and experts can be identified. In the city, surrounded by dense residential buildings, the owner of the radio station has the right to expect a confident signal reception within a radius of about 2 km. If you climb, for example, on the 5th floor, then really increase the corresponding figure to 3 km.

When using radio on the nature of everything depends on the specific conditions of the landscape environment. If the speakers are in the forest, then the probable radius of confident reception will be of the order of 2 km. If communication is organized in the steppe, field, on a wide river or, for example, on the high seas, the corresponding figure can reach 10 km.

Features of work with the antenna

Some experts, as well as users, believe that to fully utilize the capabilities of the radio it is desirable to purchase an additional antenna. This will achieve the highest efficiency of the device at large distances between speakers.

The optimal external antenna recommended by many users for Baofeng UV-5R is Nagoya NA-771.

User Reviews

What do the owners of the Baofeng UV-5R radio station say about the fact of operating the radio station? The prevailing degree of mood of the users of the walkie-talkie is positive. People speak of it as a convenient, practical, functional device. Many praise the device also for a democratic price. There are no problems with that, users note, to master the functions of Baofeng UV 5R - the device setup is very simple, the instruction in the attached manual is understandable and logical.

Some people note an interesting trend - despite the fact that the device belongs to the budget category, there are factories that forge it and sell it even cheaper. The functionality of such copies, as well as the quality of their work, can be much inferior to the original. Users recommend those who are going to buy a device, carefully read the product description in the electronic catalog or on the display case. The brand may sound very similar to the original, but at the same time do not match it. It is recommended not to be mistaken, to look under the battery of the walkie-talkie - there should be a factory stamp of the company Baofeng.

Many owners of the device praise him for the quality of the FM-receiver, as well as the convenience of using this option. Radio channels, users note, catch fast, communication with them is sustained.

Among the shortcomings of the walkie-talkies, users note some problems of device compatibility with products from some other brands. In particular, when using a channel with a certain number. If it is activated on a radio station issued by another brand, the Baofeng UV-5R may not recognize the corresponding signal correctly. At the same time, many users did not observe such problems at all with analogous schemes of connecting to the portable devices of other brands.