UV-5RA radio from Baofeng. I can’t say enough good things about this little radio! This radio is compact, battery charge lasts a very long time, versatile, and so far it is proving itself to be very durable. The downside? Yeah, made in China.
FYI…I spent about $130 for the radio and all the accessories to make this radio really work in every aspect for me. This is a true bargain in every sense of the word. This radio, as I have outfitted it with accessories, goes a very long way towards overcoming communications issues during emergencies and disasters. When it comes to “grid-down” I believe this little beauty will make a life-saving difference.
One of the highest priorities in any emergency or disaster (yes, including “grid-down”) is the ability to 
communicate. And this sweet little radio is fully programmable; it is wide open to programming on any of the standards 70cm and 2m frequencies available to Ham operators, plus a whole lot more! It can also be programmed for all the NOAA, FRS, GMRS and MURS frequencies for use during emergencies.
This is a true dual-band radio as well. You can monitor 2 frequencies at the same time, even frequencies on different bands. The LCD screen clearly displays the frequencies or channel names. And switching between the two frequencies is very easy, push one button.
At just $24 per radio it is an unbelievable bargain. Easily affordable for each member of your family or group.
Some standard, web-based information and technical specifications…
The handheld radio is a micro-miniature multi-band FM transceiver with extensive receive frequency coverage, providing local-area two-way amateur communications along with incredible monitoring capability.
Tech Specs:
- Frequency Range: 136-174 / 400-479.995 MHz.
- Full height two-color LED definition display. The screen has exquisite clarity.
- Field programmable from keypad.
- Programmable via computer software.
The Baofeng UV-5RA is a compact F.C.C. Part 90 hand held transceiver providing 4 watts in the frequency range of 136-174 MHz and 400-480 MHz. It is a compact, economical handie-talkie (HT) that includes a special VHF receive band from 65 – 108 MHz which includes the regular FM broadcast band. Dual-monitor and dual-reception is supported. You get up to 128 memories that are programmable from the keypad or via programming software.
Other features include:
- selectable wide/narrow,
- battery save function,
- VOX,
- DCS/CTCSS encode,
- keypad lock,
- built in flashlight.
Selectable frequency steps include: 2.5, 5, 6.25, 10, 12.5 and 25 kHz. RF power may be selected at 1 or 4 watts depending on your field needs and battery life requirements.
This radio comes with:
- ANT5 SMA-J flexible antenna (rubber ducky),
- BL-5 Li-ion battery (7.4V 1800 mAh),
- Ear piece and lapel microphone,
- belt clip,
- wrist strap,
- drop-in charging tray with AC adapter (8.4V 600mA).
I loved this radio as soon as I took it out of the box! There is a “feel” to it that just gives that impression that it is a decent quality little radio. It doesn’t quite compete with my Yaesu FT-60R but my 60R was also SIX TIMES more expensive!
From a fully functional, field utility perspective, the UV-5RA competes just fine with the 60R. And I would rather every member of my family have a UV-5RA than only one member of the family have the better quality, far more expensive, Yaesu FT-60R.
I did some field programming from the keypad and it is OK but would be tedious and challenging to try and do to much of it without a manual right there and plenty of patience. I use the RT Systems software to program the UV-5RA. The RT Systems software works perfectly, easy to use, dependable, and I love the support from RT Systems folks if you ever have a question.
There is a huge bunch of accessories for this little gem. You can add-on to this radio to make it function in just about any role or perform any mission you need it to. Couple things that I did with this radio that might interest you:
- Turned it into a vehicle based mobile radio with improved range.
- Made a “mini-communications” center with it with way better antennas for improved range.
- Increased its battery life by adding a 3800 mAh battery to it.
- Added a AA battery tray to it making it more versatile with alkaline or rechargeable batteries.
- Made it independent of internal power with a 12vDC adapter cord.
Here is a list of accessories that I consider a “must buy” to really make the radio fully function for emergency, disaster and “grid-down” usage:
- 14.5″ dual-band antenna – Significantly improves operational range and quality of reception.
- Vehicle external antenna & connector/adapter cable – Allows the radio be operated from a vehicle with considerably more transmit and receive range.
- Speaker Microphone – Makes radio operation in many circumstances way more convenient, especially during vehicle operation in conjunction with the vehicle external antenna & connector/adapter cable.
- Programming software & cable – This is an absolute must as far as I am concerned to allow this radio to become fully functional for you. It opens up a whole lot of capability and “usability” for you. RT Systems is the only programming software I use or recommend.
Bottom line…
“BUY” this radio and you won’t ever regret it!
If you would like to see the best price just for the UV-5RA radio visit Amazon →
The radio is now only $24.00 on amazon!!
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A.H. Trimble - Emergency preparedness information for disasters and grid-down 
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A long time ago, before I discovered AH Trimble, I had already invested in the original UV-5R . . . to the point of 5 of them. Long term everyone in the family has one and one spare. However you introduced the concept of the MHP Multi-HI Power to me before you were so rudely hacked I imagine. I ended up in the time you were bumped off the web with 2 UV_5R TP, meaning 1, 4, and 8 watts of power. rather than the customary 1 + 4 watts of power. Then Baofeng came out with a tri-bander. Yes Baofeng has put in the intermediate band that is so often neglected.
Ham people constantly worry that if we, the owners of our own airwaves DO NOT USE this band; that will be excuse enough to deny it to the gen pop.
I have now purchased 2 of these tri-band Baoteng’s. They are getting good reviews and are the least expensive tri-band walkies available.
.
I hope that you will look into the tri-banders and do an article on them in the future
I also purchased the Anytone handheld mic which came in highly rated by you, At considerably less cost than the last one you came across and rave about.
And I will have a comment when you re-post about the Ear-Muff style headphones including 2 major issues I have with the one I purchased.
I want to make a couple of comments about shopping for both these upgraded radios.
There are several commercial sellers of both the tri-power and the tri-band versions of the UV-5R and it is hard to figure out exactly who to deal with. Over time, I purchased ratios from 3 of the most prominent sellers of this equipment…Buy Two Way Radios, RadioOddity and BTech.
The two tri-banders and the Anytone’s came from the last mentioned. The Anytone speaker-mics seem to have been acquired by BTech. The tri-banders are more expensive when purchased through BTech, but seem to be top quality items.
This is my history with acquiring hand held walkies to date. Since the UV-5R has been discontinued; although there have to be tens of thousands of them in warehouses and yet to be sold. I think that the newer tri-power and tri-band (Especially the tri-band) are the way to go as far as Baofeng is concerned)
Finally, as much as I do want the Yaesu FT60R times 4 I have to hold off, and concentrate on the antenna projects you have put back online along with a full set of accessories for each person in the family. As my budget allows.
Those of us on fixed incomes have to think thru purchases like these and what you have written makes it so much easier to set priorities and get only the things that matter without being side-tracked by all the “available fru-fru”.
As always, thank you for the time, effort, research, and expense that you have gone to in order to make all this information available and in a way that folks like me without a lot of experience in Comms are using to set up functioning Comms kits.
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