Radios for tactical communications should be: For my tactical radios, I configure them to only use simplex frequencies like the national VHF calling frequency of 146.52, FRS frequencies, GMRS frequencies, and MURS frequencies. Shop carefully. Just bear these things in mind when antenna shopping: Again, I just go with the included antenna for my tactical radios. good recommendations. Their price and features make them mainstays in bug out bags and on plate carriers around the world. The BOOK about 2 way radios - Good Reading. But those headsets tend to be expensivethe TCI Liberator II costs over $600. I think theyre cool, but expensive overkill for most people. I dont have specific recommendations here, but most phone mounts should work fine. Read more, Our 40 favorites after reviewing hundreds of packs. More: Beginners guide to amateur (ham) radio for preppers. the tram antenna looks to have a stronger magnet than the Hypario. The 3800 mAh battery adds a couple of inches of length to the radio, which makes it bulkier but also easier to hold. A dedicated mobile radio will perform much better in your vehicle than a handi-talkie, but you can still use your BaoFeng on the road. I think an icom or Yaseu model is better made and from my experience you won't run into the overloading problem. 
I've looked at a used prc 320 clansman but then i'm not sure if i want to scan all the freq's turning all those knobs so i'm not sure what kind of scanner / sw radio i would need to do this digitally for me. Then point your radio towards it with both radios and both antennas and see which is better when you know where the source is. The guys from the local HAM club recommended getting a Baofeng uv-5r with an upgraded antenna and the USB cable for programming. For $40 I do not plan for it to be able to extend to people while I am inside my house as you are correct ih88hi10 that the govt and everyone and their mother would have one. Mods: H55F 5-speed * Desmogged * TH Carb & Dist. If you go that route, you might also consider the aforementioned speaker mic to make it easier to talk while on the road. I'm not exactly sure what is the cheapest way to accomplish this. But if you only need 2 meter, you can get a mobile unit for around $130-$150. 1987 FJ60, bronze. That's precisely the problem. The antennas are not genuine Nagoyas, but the gear in my kit is fine for a semi-disposable communications setup that stays in my closet 99% of the time. Classifieds - Engine/Transmission/Transfer Case, BJ42 | FJ43 | BJ44 | FJ45 | FJ45LV | HJ47, North American Clubhouses - Central Region, CA.AB- Rocky Mountain Land Cruiser Association, CO/WY- Horsetooth 4 Wheelers Cruiser Club, TX- Lone Star Land Cruisers - Austin Chapter, TX- The White Trash of the Elwood Chapter, CA.BC- Okanagan-Similkameen Land Cruisers, NV- Battle Born Cruisers of Northern Nevada, Vendors: Accessories - Electronics - Recovery, VHF/UHF Antenna Recommendations for Mobile. * Roundeyes + WiredWagon lights * OME med lift kit * ARB front bumper * Kenwood D710A VHF/UHF @KV4OS * Alpine 200W sound * Hella Superhorns * NOS FJ62 mirrors * 31"Toyos * BMW E46 seats * Weathertech mats * 4+ rear bumper * Smittybuilt console w/ Tuffy cupholders * Comeup DV-9S winch. Thats weird, it should be at least somewhat better because the included antenna is so bad. I carry a BaoFeng in my plate carrier, sans belt clip and wrist strap to keep the bulk down. ( See our Antenna Analyser Photos of this model ) Nagoya Dual-band mobile antenna for (UV5R type Baofeng) with SMA-F + Cable included! The BaoFeng radios come with almost everything you need out of the box: a battery, antenna, belt clip, wrist strap, earpiece, and a charger, but there are some key accessories that can make your BaoFeng handi-talkie even more useful in the field. on Must-have BaoFeng radio accessories for tactical comms, go-bags, and cars, Email me new articles and giveaways 1-2 times per month, Emergency preparedness checklist: prepping for beginners, Rational reasons why you should be prepared, Get our free newsletter for more reviews and how-to's, Alden Summers Jones suffered a diabetic seizure, (a radio is part of the bug out bag checklist), kit that included a BaoFeng UV-5R, the aforementioned shoulder mic and earpiece, an extra battery, and a couple of NA-771 antennas, Food list: How to build your survival pantry with long-lasting food from the supermarket, Best water purification tablets (and other portable purifiers), Emergency preparedness checklist: Prepping for beginners, Short-range, line-of-sight comms with family members or other allies, Primarily used to coordinate movements and announce potential dangers, As streamlined as possible to prevent confusion in stressful situations, Configured to turn off noises and lights to avoid revealing your location, Equipped to be used with minimal interaction. But if tactical gear is your passion, its something to be aware of. 
I was thinking from the UV-B5 going SMA female to BNC Female. For a dedicated tactical loadout, you probably want something a little more robust.
Ive found this acoustic earpiece to be a cheap yet worthy upgrade over the included one. Half K--Welcome to Ham radio. Theyre often derided by ham hobbyists, but theyre popular because theyre cheap and useful, despite their flaws. 2Pcs NA-771 SMA-F SMA Female For Baofeng UV-5R UV-B5 UV-B6 BF-888S Two Way Radio Dual Band VHF/UHF 144/430MHz Antenna, BaoFeng UV-S9 Plus Walkie Talkie Tri-Band 10W Powerful 10W CB Radio Transceiver VHF UHF 10W 10km Long Range up of uv-5r Portable Radio 2xAntenna, 2022 BAOFENG UV-S9 Plus Walkie Talkie Green Yellow Tri-Band 10W With USB Charger Powerful CB Radio Transceiver VHF UHF, 5Pcs NA-771 SMA-F SMA Female For Baofeng UV-5R UV-B5 UV-B6 BF-888S Two Way Radio Dual Band VHF/UHF 144/430MHz Antenna, Magnetic HF Antenna UT-106UV Vehicle Mounted Talkie Car Antenna For Baofeng 888S UV-5R UV-10R UV-9R, 10Pcs NA-771 SMA-F SMA Female For Baofeng UV-5R UV-B5 UV-B6 BF-888S Two Way Radio Dual Band VHF/UHF 144/430MHz Antenna, NA-771 SMA-F SMA Female For Baofeng UV-5R UV-B5 UV-B6 BF-888S Two Way Radio Dual Band Antenna, Newest Arrival Soft Band SMA Mini Antenna for Kenwood Walkie Talkie Baofeng Radio UV-5R Plus BF-888S, 2PCS Retevis RHD-701 Dual Band VHF/UHF Antenna For Yaesu BAOFENG UV-5R BF-888S RETEVIS H777 RT5 RT6 RT5R Ham Radio C9045A, Original Nagoya NA-805 SMA-F Female Dual Band Antenna for BaoFeng UV-5R GT-3 UV-82 BF-F8HP BF-888S Retevis H777 RT-5R, BAOFENG UV-5R Dual Band Handheld Transceiver Radio Walkie Talkie. Dont know if any of this helped, but know that I faced something similar. Cruiserdrew, thank you for the helpful reply. I havent tried it myself, but it looks like a great product. The Prepared helps you get ready for emergencies without wasting time, money, or sanity. I have not yet gotten my ticket but plan to at the next HAMcram. And congrats on doing it right-getting your license and buying your radio. Its somewhat like how trying to pick out a single flashlight on a mountainside full of lights; its awfully difficult to see if it is on or off. And you may have noticed the lack of ads and other junk. I contacted the manufacturer and they said this was fine and that our bodies made up of water are naturally a good block against signals. I noticed that the rubber ducky was receiving some frequencies better than this new antenna I got, especially when my body was between the source and radio. I downloaded chirp for the mac to program the radio. You must log in or register to reply here. I want my tactical radios slick and idiot-proof, but for my bug-out radios I want every available option to call for help. The packaging and the markings on the antenna look authentic.
The truck radio has 50W and really gets out there. Just for reference, I talk using my UV5 on a repeater that is 90 miles away, not bad for the 4.5 watts this cheap little radio can manage. That could be the battery pack or solar panel you keep in your bag. The BaoFeng handi-talkies feature a female SMA, or SMA-F connector. Echoing Mundfein on the first comment, which frequencies are you planning to use? I'm worried about getting a more expensive radio because it would make it more likely for someone to break into my car, New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Everything related to Baofeng Radios, and other similar models, Press J to jump to the feed. The conditions are just about perfect-line of sight. Then you tie your line to the end loop of the antenna, pull it up the tree as high as you can without the antenna touch anything, and connect it to your radio. I will more than likely pick up one of these small units with the upgraded antenna as it will STRICTLY be used for when I am on a trail run and communicating with my groups or the off chance that I need to contact someone while I am out and about looking for fishing spots. Hopefully that deals with the issue. During Prime Day 2020, I picked up a kit that included a BaoFeng UV-5R, the aforementioned shoulder mic and earpiece, an extra battery, and a couple of NA-771 antennas. One test you can do is to use an app on your phone called Repeater Book and find a local ham radio repeater. Are you going to eventually get a 50w radio and want to use the same antenna? I dont have a perfect answer for you, but I can share my experience that sounds somewhat similar to yours. I will do some research on those mobile setups you recommend and keep them in mind for when/if I decide to upgrade. I figured the handie talkie will still be nice to have when out on the trails or camping. Just passed my technician test yesterday and have been looking around at a first setup. The downside to these antennas is that theyre not especially mobile.
Heres a video on spotting the difference. I use the Diamond SRJ77CA antenna on my Baofengs - has the female SMA connector that matches the radio. Any ideas? If you want to go full hardcore LARPer, YouTube is full of tutorials on connecting tactical headsetswhich combine audio, a microphone, and hearing protectionto a BaoFeng. And the battery life is ridiculous. The soft earpiece is much more comfortable, the PTT button is larger and more robust, and both the mic and PTT button can be clipped to your clothing. They are fantastic for the trail, and the 2 I own have no trouble getting out to repeaters, sometimes local, sometimes not so local. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. My tactical BaoFeng stays in a pocket on the carrier and the speaker mic stays attached to the strap, so once I don the plate carrier I have a communications setup ready to go.
I think this is the route I am going to go.
The one fitted to the frequency range you plan on using. Lets talk about accessories for tactical communications.
Read more, A cheap but core item for your go-bag. Where did you buy the antenna? Which repeater? They can be found for as little as $25, and sometimes even cheaper in bulk. If you keep the UV-5R as-is and just throw it in your cup holder thats one thing, but if you try to add an external roof-mount antenna then it becomes more cumbersome to use the HT as the hand set. There is a slew of radio pouches on the market, but our own Tom Rader pointed me to one that hes a big fan of, and after seeing it, I think Im a fan too: the ITS Tactical 10-4 Radio Pouch. Someday if enough of my buddies get there ticket I may decide on a dedicated mobile setup. New baofeng hams think they're getting in but they are total noise. Thanks for all of the great info guys. I use a Nagoya UT-72 on my truck, which is one of the most effective antennas I own. W/o knowing this, it's nearly impossible to recommend one.
You can easily pull the radio out to use it without much fuss. The NA-771 is the gold standard for BaoFeng antennas. The Prepared is more like a curated wiki than a blog. You want some way to use the radio without having to fumble with it. It is definitely more expensive than a UV-5R, but it just seems like a cleaner installation. And even then, its extremely unwieldy. I was also thinking that because most of the transmissions I have been picking up are in the UHF range (FRS/GMRS) that maybe this antenna was too long. Technically, you should not use a BaoFeng with FRS and GMRS frequencies, and the latter of which requires a paid license, but the reality is that those rules are seldom enforced and will be the least of your concerns in a real emergency. The antenna uses a PL-259 connector, though it includes an SMA-F pigtail adapter. The nice thing about that particular earpiece is that its squishy enough that it fits well under ear protection earmuffs. Theyre just long enough and get the job done. The padding over the ear insert comes off so easily you might as well save yourself some frustration and go ahead and pull it off. However, it was in a too large box with a few other items like the extended UV-5r batteries and other heavier items. Another thought that I have is that there are directional antennas and also omni directional antennas. You can program them by hand, but CHIRP is much more efficient and makes it easy to set up several radios in quick succession. it would be nice to use morse code / cw. N9TAX also makes a well-regarded roll-up antenna. The market is full of counterfeit and subpar antennas. If you plan on casually using FRS or GMRS frequencies, I recommend that you buy type-approved radios for those purposes and buy a GMRS license. I'm thinking about taking it in order to boost my knowledge of the subject. I don't want to spend a bunch of money on something i'm just getting into, since I don't know what I like / dislike yet. Thats overkill for the most extreme home defense scenarios, and its a little silly to pair a $30 radio with a $600 headset. I want to use a BNC for quick connect and disconnect. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, http://www.amazon.com/Tram-1185-Amateur-Dual-Band-Antenna/dp/B0045EQUBK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1448199867&sr=8-1&keywords=tram+2m+antenna, http://www.amazon.com/DHT-Handheld-Antenna-Baofeng-Quasheng/dp/B00COKNKS8/ref=pd_sim_422_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=41wpeu5fcuL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=06Q20NF8TG6MSSSH5YM1. We are gradually shifting away from that CB nonsense. One antenna might be better for receiving from all angles if the source is not known, but the directional antenna needs to be pointed towards the source for the best reception. These antennas are great for your go-bag because theyre light and roll up into a small loop. The inside of a vehicle acts as a Faraday cage, which blocks most radio signals. A more common issue that I see with *all* aftermarket antennas on many Baofeng radios is that some of them have very poor filtering and in those cases you may find that the stock antenna receives better than the aftermarket antenna because the radio gets deafened by signals on frequencies other than what you are receiving on. The antenna looked undamaged, but maybe something happened to it. One thing to keep in mind for hands-free radio operation is that handi-talkies like BaoFengs are designed to be held in your hand, with your body acting as a counterpoise to the antenna. He is a certified blacksmith, a General-class ham radio operator (KO4EMJ), and lives on a small farm in Tennessee where he gardens and raises chickens. To deploy them, you need some way to launch a line into a tree, like a roll of twine, or a slingshot, a nut, and some cordage. Maybe your stock antenna is better for receiving FRS than your new Nagoya, but your Nagoya is better for ham bands than the stock antenna. Read more, See exactly what you need to buy and in what order. One option is a stubby antenna like the Diamond SRH805S. At that point, you're still ahead on cost, but it just seems clunky to me at that point. On the power front, theres a great option: the BaoFeng extended battery. Another accessory you might consider is a car mount for the radio. That's an unrealistic claim and one that I have a hard time believing unless you've got a band opening. Hi, question I am hoping someone can answer for me. BNC can be quickly removed with a twist and pull, while SMA has to be unscrewed. You may have to call a distant station for help, so you want a longer antenna, You dont know how long youll be on the run, so you want a longer battery life, You also want to be able to keep the battery charged indefinitely. The local club is putting on an Extra class in January, four Saturdays of the month. The only bad thing is having to swap the battery out for the eliminator when you get in the car, so it only makes sense for long trips. The problem with using a uv5r or any portable for that matter as your first radio, is for most people who don't live real close to the repeaters, you're not going to be able to put a respectable signal into a repeater if you can even hit any repeaters. I did forget that there are quite a few bootleg antennas out there. Its also short enough to not poke me in the face or otherwise get in my way, which is key. BaoFeng radios come with a very basic push-to-talk earpiece. I too use a UV-5R and upgraded the stock rubber ducky antenna with a flexible antenna from Signal Stuff. This is just a theory of mine, so if anyone knows better, please correct me. The ITS 10-4 Radio Pouch can even be equipped with an optional lanyard and retraction system, so you wont lose your radio even if your grip slips. ), Cheap and very effective: http://www.amazon.com/Tram-1185-Amateur-Dual-Band-Antenna/dp/B0045EQUBK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1448199867&sr=8-1&keywords=tram+2m+antenna, You will need an adapter to go from the radio to the antenna: http://www.amazon.com/DHT-Handheld-Antenna-Baofeng-Quasheng/dp/B00COKNKS8/ref=pd_sim_422_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=41wpeu5fcuL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=06Q20NF8TG6MSSSH5YM1. So you buy a mic, and mounting kit to put the HT in one spot. Lets look at three kinds of BaoFeng setups: one for tactical communications, another for your go-bag (a radio is part of the bug out bag checklist), and a third for your vehicle. There are all sorts of antennas on the market and its easy to develop a collection of them. In fact, its too long to be resonant on the 2m band, so you need to fold it back a bit to make it fully effective (it should be 39 inches long). Stubby antennas are terrible for range, but they get out of your way and if you are in an actual tactical situation, you may want to keep your signal as local as possible to avoid interception. Where is it?
Am I doing something wrong, or maybe its just a faulty antenna? For trail coms, 5 watts will be PLENTY. Read more. Not even the roof top type. Tactical communications are characterized by: You might use a tactical communications plan in a protest or during civil unrest, in case of an incursion by enemy forces, or even on something simple like a family camping trip. Quick tips for finding in-stock and cheap ammo. & then BNC Male to SO-239 then connecting that to the Tram 1185. http://www.amazon.com/Original-Hypario-Antenna-baofeng-Sma-Female/dp/B00DTQ4A6M. You must be at least 18 years of age to enter this section. I think we also have to remember what the intended use of this radio is. Do you need one that folds over when you drive into a garage? I do like to use crossband repeat to hit distant repeaters from the handheld at hunting camp. Decided to get a CB as well as a Handie Talkie so I can monitor the trucker frequency's and buddies without HAM as well as start testing the waters of the HAM radio. You might choose to keep an antenna like the Nagoya NA-771 on the radio, but there are some great options to give yourself more range like the Nelson Antenna roll-up slim jim I have. With a radio with poor filters when you put a better antenna on it *all* of the signals get louder, not just the signal you want and that causes the radio to not be able to pull out the signal that you need. It does the job, but I worry about fumbling with an earpiece while hurriedly putting on my plate carrier, so Ive mounted a speaker mic to the left shoulder strap. Tactical communications are the most basic category, and your bug-out communications might become tactical communications depending on the scenario. That means you want the greatest possible transmission distance. I do not know much about antennas, but I think that some antennas and their length are better to receiving signals in different frequencies than others.
I will probably be ordering tonight or tomorrow at the latest. That is a great explanation with the flashlights on the mountainside. I have also seen a lot of the guys on here recommending this radio. Another excellent option is the Signal Stick, which has the advantage of being flexible enough to tie into a loop, so it fits more easily in a bag or on a plate carrier. All material on The Prepared is copyrighted. Plus I need to get some of my buddies on board so I can have someone to chat with. Just for reference, I talk using my UV5 on a repeater that is 90 miles away, not bad for the 4.5 watts this cheap little radio can manage. It will allow you good coms at a distance. Dual band mobile setup seem to all be moderately expensive, dual VFO type units. Here's what I've got. Not sure about the frequencies but I am in the LA area. The Prepared is supported by readers, and when you buy something we recommend, we may get an affiliate commission but it never affects your price or what we pick. The main accessory you need is an external antenna. BaoFeng radios like the UV-5R and BF-F8HP are some of the most popular ham radios in the world. Not all baofengs suffer from this, but its common enough that I have a list of links that I send people having this issue to help show that Im not just trying to excuse the performance of the antennas that I build and sell . Magnetic Dual Band SMA Female Car Mobile UHF/VHF Antenna 144 /430MHZ - To provide customer quality , all our antennas are (Tested!) There are some other antennas you may consider for your tactical needs. Josh Centers is founder of Apple Buying Advice, managing editor of TidBITS, and the author of Take Control of iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, Take Control of Notes, Take Control of Apple Home Automation, Take Control of Apple TV, and is co-author of Take Control of Preview. ), 2.Connector: SMA Female to fits Wouxun KG-UVD1P , Boafeng UV5R (ALL models) , Many Kenwoods also portable radios, 3.Frequency: VHF 136-174MHZ / UHF 400-480Mhz, 7.Cable: RG-174 / 3 meters long coax included with SMA-F fitting, 8.Magnet DiameterSize: 31mm ( 1 1/8" ) Small footprint, 9.Antenna Length: 390mm , only15 and a half inchhigh. When carrying a BaoFeng in your go-bag, your considerations are a bit different.
A lot of times people think they're getting into a repeater because they can key it up and hear it come back to them but that doesn't mean they are actually putting a workable signal into it. The downside is that the speaker could give my location away or let someone eavesdrop on my communications.
but concerning the adapter to the tram 1185. You want an antenna designed for the 2m VHF band, around 144 MHz and/or the 70cm UHF band, around 430 MHz. And it folds open, giving you full access to all of the radios controls. And if you are using a matcher, the antenna is not sooo important .
One of the down sides of a 5r, I've read, is from high gain antennas. I purchased from Amazon using the link in the article. Once he regained consciousness, he used his BaoFeng handi-talkie to contact a local repeater for help and was successfully rescued. There are a lot of fakes out there. It firmly attaches to the roof with a magnet. Read more, 70+ items from local stores that are great for your pantry. I would love to have a dedicated mobile setup but I don't really want to invest a lot of money yet until I get more into it. It was obvious that the contents could move around considerably in the box. Specifications: (FITS PERFECTLY YOUR : BAOFENG PORTABLE UV-5R RADIO TO GO MOBILE!!! But lets be honest: that entire scenario is extremely unlikely, and if were at the point that those are real concerns Ill just swap out the shoulder mic for the headset. BTECH sells an adapter cable so you can charge your radio from any suitable power source with a USB port. You can google about upgraded rubber duckies for that radio. Its the first radio pouch Ive seen thats grabbed my attention. Well I pulled the trigger on some new communications gear. The new antenna struggled to receive as well when my body was between the source and the radio. I personally find that too finicky and complicated, but its good to be aware of the option. The extended battery features a DC barrel plug input, which means you can charge the radio without carrying the bulky dock in your bag. The price point of the UV5 series have led to about a dozen ham licenses in our local club. Again, heres yet another advantage of the BaoFeng extended battery: you can keep a USB adapter cable in your car and use any regular USB phone charger to charge your radio. But the VHF like NOAA stations are much worse with the NA-771 than the stock antenna, so I dont think that is the issue. I accidentally left a radio on for a week while the extended battery was attached and once I realized it, I checked the battery life and it was still full. The antenna included with the UV-5R is not great, but its fine for these purposes (the one included with the BF-F8 is much better). 1 X SMA Female Dual Band Antenna with coaxial cable, ready to install!.. Note that it features a BNC connector, so youll need an adapter to use it with the BaoFeng, which takes an SMA adapter. If you want to go into full LARP territory, buy an antenna designed to be woven into a plate carrier like the Disco32 vest mounted antenna system.
(disclaimer: I make the Signal Sticks). If the antenna doesnt have an SMA-M connector you will need an adapter. You may not commercially benefit from our hard work without permission. Whats the difference between UHF and VHF?
I have two UV-5Rs so I left the original antenna on one to compare and reception is significantly worse with the NA-771 even for NOAA weather bands. You might need your radio for tactical communications, but generally speaking, your communication goals are different: One big difference in the way I program my bug-out radios as opposed to my tactical ones is that my bug-out radios have many more frequencies, including weather stations, first responder frequencies, and all ham radio repeaters within a 50-mile radius. It will also tune to gmrs, frs and murs bands which is nice. Thanks for the quick response. But battery life isnt the best part. To learn more about programming BaoFeng radios, check out our guide to using the free CHIRP software. I dont have a HAM license and just getting into radio so I mostly monitor FRS/GMRS and MURS range with most traffic on FRS/GMRS bands. Thanks for bringing that up Josh. You can power your radio from the battery while in the car, but if you have the BaoFeng battery eliminator, you can spare the wear and tear on your battery. What a lot of people do to make long antennas more manageable is mount them on a backpack or a plate carrier and then use something like this ABBREE relocation cable to connect the radio and antenna. However, if Im trying to hit distant repeaters, I need something better like an NA-771 or another option Ill tell you about below. Read more, Medical experts with 180 years of experience organize this 37-item list for your portable first aid kit. If you can filter out all the other lights by looking through a pinhole at just exactly the right spot, though, youd be able to see if its there or not. You are using an out of date browser. I keep one of those earpieces in my BOB because theyre lightweight, might come in handy, and I have a collection of them now.
I never changed the antenna. It actually makes receiving quality much worse. If you watch footage of protests, you might see guys in tactical gear with long, flat-folding antennas like the ABBREE 42.5-inch foldable whip. Theyre good to use when youve set up camp, but you cant use them on the run. Note that its designed to accommodate a BaoFeng with the extended battery installed. It's a perfect fit for an offroader. I replaced the antenna with the recommended Nagoya NA-771 on my BT UV-5R. The usefulness of BaoFeng radios was proven recently when Alden Summers Jones suffered a diabetic seizure while hiking on a mountain, outside of cellular coverage. They work, but theyre a little flimsy and uncomfortable. What I like about it is that it can mount on pretty much anything: a belt, PALS/MOLLE webbing, or even on a shoulder strap. I really don't like using it in the vehicle, though. It features a dummy battery to plug into your radio which powers it directly from your vehicles cigarette lighter socket. With the stock antenna everything is dimmer which makes it easier to pick out what you want, but it also means that you arent able to pick out as much overall. I got a dedicated mobile radio for that. Thats not a bad thing, because BNC disconnects much faster than SMA. On the other end of that, you might consider a longer antenna like the Nagoya NA-771, which is considerably longer than the antenna that comes in the box. The locals tell me they regularly get out 70 miles on repeater with one of these.
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2007 Tacoma TRD 4wd daily driver/mild off-roader. I have one and it is definitely worth the $49.99 I paid for it. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I talk using my UV5 on a repeater that is 90 miles away, not bad for the 4.5 watts this cheap little radio can manage. I find screwing in the SMA connector to be a pain, so at some point, I might get one of the aforementioned BNC adapters so I can easily change antennas.