BAOFENGK5PLUS Radio Ham Radio 10W Rechargeable Walkie Talkies Long Range UV32 5RM Handheld Two Way Radio NOAA Weather Radio with Copy Frequency,USB-C Charginng for Hunting Survival Gear

Radio seems solid and durable. I performed an unsophisticated test on the SWR and power output using the following:-An analog SWR/Power meter-Since I did not have the necessary adapters or a dummy load, I could not test with the supplied antennas, so I had my Diamond X50A (or maybe X52A?) base station antenna hooked to it (this is a dual-band 2M/70CM antenna-not designed for 1.25 meters). All tests were done on high power. The results were as follows:2 meters: Power output of 10 watts, SWR about 1.3:1 (tested on the 146.520 simplex frequency)70cm: Power output of 10 watts, SWR about 1.1:1 (tested on 440.000 MHz)1.25 meters: Power output of about 4.5-4.8 watts, SWR of about 1.1:1 (a big surprise that the SWR was this good). This test was done on 222.000 MHz.Since I did not test with either of the two included antennas, I cannot speak for their SWR. I did not have the adapters to connect it to the two included antennas and my meter.NOTE: If you are going to use this radio for FM broadcast reception, here is how you do it (the manual has an error):You MUST select channel (memory) mode in the top display. You then press the top orange sidekey on the upper left-hand side of the radio. The user manual says that you can do this from either frequency mode or channel mode, but it only works if the top display is in channel (memory) mode. If you are in VFO mode, the orange sidekey will not turn on the FM radio and you cannot even enter FM broadcast frequencies with the numerical keypad. For my first 2 days with the radio, I thought that the FM broadcast radio was not working.I made my first 2 meter contacts today on a nearby repeater using the included long antenna and received great signal reports. I purchased the programming cable and was able to program the radio using the free CHIRP NEXT software, and this specific radio is now shown in the dropdown menu for the Baofeng K5 Plus. There are some excellent YouTube videos showing how to use the software. It is easier than you might think, especially if you watch the YouTube tutorials. The software even includes the ability to auto-populate from the electronic repeater book.So far the battery status bar has not dropped down at all from maximum even though I have been experimenting with the radio for several hours.I am very impressed with the radio, even if it had been at a much higher price point. At less than $25 it is a stellar value!

In all the years as a federally licensed amateur radio operator I have only purchased the common name brands (Kenwood, Yaesu and Icom) transceivers. Up until recently, I never had a desire to purchase one of the cheaper HT transceivers found here on Amazon. But, a few weeks ago I decided to see what was available in a tri-band HT.I've been using a high-end Kenwood HT in my company vehicle, and I had become concerned about the extra wear and tear it was receiving on a daily basis as I travel around the country. I wanted something that wasn't such a large investment. Something that is reliable and performs well. Can I get this from a $30 radio?In my search here on Amazon, I came across the Baofeng K5Plus. I had heard of Baofeng from other hams. Some hate them, some like them, some make fun of the name. I watched some youtube, read reviews here, and in the end I decided to take the plunge. For $30, I'll try it and see.I'm here to tell you, that for a $30 investment, I am impressed. This little HT performs very well. I have gotten excellent audio reports. The battery has held a charge for a very long time - several days of scanning programmed frequencies and a few extended rag chews, and the battery display says that I'm down to 7.7 volts. Not bad. For the first 2 charge cycles, I did let the battery fully deplete before charging again.And, for $30 the radio came with a tri-band antenna (ABBREE AR-771), another dual-band antenna, a charging cradle (the AC cord is a bit too short for my taste), and ear-piece microphone, a lanyard and a nice belt-clip. Oh, you can charge the battery with a USB-C charging cable. This also came in the box.Separately, I purchased a few SMA female to BNC connectors to use in my mobile antenna set-up. I already had a Kenwood HT microphone, and it plugs right into this radio and works like a charm.I did some audio checks to check the audio quality of the transmitted audio with and without the Kenwood mike. To my ear, the audio from from the built in microphone on the Baofeng is as good (and maybe better) as the when using the Kenwood mike. The received audio is good as well.Did I say that is a $30 radio? Amazing.I measured the output power using what I have at hand. No dummy load. Just a regular home brew antenna and a standard SWR meter. So granted, this isn't precision. But keep in mind that the high-end Kenwood underwent the same exact test with the same components. The Baofeng transmit power is higher than the Kenwood. Did I mention that this is a $30 radio?Okay, it's a $30 radio. It's not perfect. The receiver does suffer in high RF environments. If you're in an environment with a lot of strong RF, you'll get some breakup of the signal you're receiving. But this is temporary until you move out of the high RF area. But hey, it's a $30 radio. My Kenwood even has issues at times, but not as bad. So far, this is the only knock I would give the Baofeng K5Plus.The display is nice and clear. I can even see it without my readers on. I have not tried viewing it in sunlight, I read that this is a possible issue. But for me, in the car, it hasn't been an issue. The display will turn off completely after a bit (depending how you program it), or not (you can choose always on setting. But a key press turns it back on. Scanning is slower than what you will find in higher end radios. Hey, it's a $30 radio.Programming the radio from the keypad was a bit daunting at first. But after you figure out the key sequences, it's a breeze. You can also use CHIRP to program the radio. But then you'll be missing the cute Chinese female voice (if you have that feature enabled) guide you through the key sequences. I kind of like her. Hahaha.Again, I'm impressed. This radio can receive AM air band, FM broadcast, and it can transmit on GMRS frequencies.Do you get what you pay for? My opinion is that you get more. Now, this transceiver is only 3 weeks old. Time will tell. Heck, for $30, I may outfit the whole family with this HT transceiver. It's a keeper!

Fisrt radio I received was a return of somebody else's and used. The knob was very stiff when turning and it didn't have a screen protector like the new ones I've seen on YouTube opening reviews. After programming I never transmitted anything incoming. I did a return for a exchange and Amazon customer service was great. Immediately sent out a new radio replacement and this one was brand new. It works great from the start and after programming it's non stop activity. My only advice is, if you order and pay for a brand new one make sure it is brand new. Also Immediately get the Nagoya 771 antenna for better reception. For the price this is a very nice unit. Only gave 4 stars because of the first initial used dud that was sent out first.

My K5 Plus arrived yesterday and I manually loaded in my work frequencies for a quick test. Side by side with my company-issued Motorola, the K5 is getting better reception, and this coming from a longtime Motorola guy. The Baofeng feels good in the hand, too. I can’t wait until my CHIRP cable arrives so I can load this thing up and really take it for a spin, because it’s completely amazing for an under $30 unit. I am a little concerned that the screwed-in-place belt clip will fail, but everything else, so far, has been an A+.

Radio works great. Even with a Bluetooth programmer entering data takes some time.

Nicely made, works well, Chirp programming, bought several with different designs for use.