UV-5R 8Watt Ham Radio Handheld Long Range UHF/VHF Radio with 2 Rechargeable Battery, Portable Radio for Adults with Earpiece, GV-771 Antenna, Programming Cable (3rd Gen)

This is clearly a BF-F8HP, with all the pros and cons. Looking at the buttons shows it. Managing it with chirp proves it. Without the correct name, you can't set all 3 power levels.Worked great with chirp on my M1 Mac on MacOS X. Just follow the instructions (install the older version of python per the instructions) and it worked very easily.I hear that the power isn't as advertised. Many point out- it wouldn't matter much. It's over 5 watts, and for a handheld, that's fine. The accessories (spare battery) are awesome.Just like the UV-5R, you can't plug DC straight into it. That's a Baofeng problem. It means if you go on a trip you need to bring the silly "dock". Fine on a desk, tough to keep charging if you don't have counter space. At this price, I have no fear travelling with it. It's presumed less durable than my Yaesu, but for my use, that's fine. That durability would matter a whole lot more if you were separating from civilization and needing it for emergencies.

As a “brand new” HAM Operator, I bought the BaoFeng BF-F8HP because BaoFeng Tech (aka Pofung) radios and their accessories were recommended as great “starter” dual band (2M/440 MHz) handheld transceivers (HT) for a new HAM Operator’s “first radio”. BaoFeng HAM radios and accessories cost significantly less than most other Amateur HT radio brands with equivalent dual band (2M/440 MHz) capabilities. The BF-F8HP model can also transmit more power (~8 Watts) than most other brands that transmit the more or less “standard” HT maximum of 5 Watts. How BaoFeng managed to produce almost 8 Watts of power out of such a tiny radio simply amazes me.This 3rd Generation BaoFeng BF-F8HP radio can also be programmed to receive commercial broadcast FM radio stations and National Weather Service (NWS) NOAA All-Weather radio broadcasts (here is an Internet website URL address to find NWS NOAA radio stations in your area - http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/coverage/station_listing.html). In addition, FRS and GMRS radio service frequencies can also be programmed into this radio (note - the BF-F8HP radio is not FCC approved to transmit on FRS or GMRS channel frequencies).This radio’s large 2100 mAh rechargeable lithium-Ion battery powers it for many more hours than you would think is possible. Battery use time also depends on how much time is spent transmitting at its 1, 4 or 8 Watt setting with lower transmit power use obviously allowing the battery to last longer. My BF-F8HP factory package came with the radio, the 2100 mAh battery, an optional belt clip, an optional wrist strap, an improved BaoFeng V-85 antenna and a 110v desk battery charger with a wall-wart “plug-in”. A bonus accessory (also in the box) was a handy earpiece speaker/microphone cable that incorporates a tiny microphone with a push to talk (PTT) button and a lapel clip on the cable. I haven’t quite figured out how to install the included foam ear pad on it (it doesn’t seem to have an opening) but this “over the back of the ear” hook design works for me even though I use “in the ear canal” hearing aids. This apparently “bonus” accessory did not show on the box and it wasn’t on the User Manual’s list or pictured under “What’s in the box”.The 78-page User Manual that came with my BF-F8HP radio made it relatively easy for this “new” HAM Operator to learn how to program it for both Simplex and Duplex (i.e., repeater) communications. I would have come up to speed more quickly if I had followed the included BF-F8HP User Manual more carefully. At the bottom of the first page the Manual states “PLEASE READ THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY BEFORE USE”. I highly recommend that buyers of this radio follow that instruction step; especially guys like me who typically only read the pages we are interested in reading (erroneously believing that we will be able to “crank up” a new radio and use it more quickly that way). Had I followed the Manual’s advice, I would have more quickly learned how to manually program my BF-F8HP. I also would have avoided some frustration I experienced when I initially attempted to manually program it “incorrectly” using the lower display (only use the UPPER display to manually program this radio!). I would have preferred that the manual was more intuitively sequenced to reduce the need to page-jump back and forth during the learning process. Otherwise, the manual is excellent and will tell you everything you need to know about maximizing the capabilities of this well-designed dual band HT radio.If you buy a BF-F8HP radio, I highly recommend that you also buy the optional USB Programming Cable that BaoFeng makes for it (the cable does not come with the radio and must be ordered separately). With that USB cable you can more easily and more quickly program the BF-F8HP radio using a Windows computer. Even though the BF-F8HP manual teaches the manual programming process, using a computer to program this radio makes programming it much faster and easier. The computer programming option also allows a 7-character “Name” to be entered for each channel (for example, personal names for Simplex channels and Repeater locations for Duplex channels). Channel names cannot be programmed into the radio manually, but the radio will display the computer-entered Channel names if “Display Mode (A)” and/or the “Display Mode (B)” under “Settings” is changed to “Name”. I set my “Display Mode (A)” to “Name” (the upper display) and kept the lower display “Display Mode (B)” setting at the default setting as “Frequency”. By doing so I can display both if I put the same channel on both displays. If the Channel “Name” is left blank during the computer programming, the channel’s Frequency will display even though the Display Mode for that display is set to “Name”. BoaFeng also sells the software necessary to use the USB Programming Cable but I chose to download the free CHIRP software that is available from Miklor.com. The CHIRP software for the BF-F8HP radio is very easy to download, understand and use. In my “new HAM Operator” opinion, I agree with the recommendations that the BaoFeng BF-F8HP is a great radio to start with for new Amateur Radio Operators.It is also an inexpensive (and more powerful) backup radio option for “old” HAMS that currently only have “standard” 5 Watt HT radios. In addition, the BF-F8HP also seems to be a perfect all-in-one “bug-out” radio package due to its dual band (2M/440 MHz), FM Broadcast, NWS NOAA, FRS/GMRS and emergency services frequency capabilities coupled with its powerful 2100 mAh factory battery and optional 3800 mAh battery. I have thoroughly enjoyed my BF-F8HP so far and I plan to use it with my homemade “Tape Measure” 2M antenna during Fox-Hunts and my general dual band HT radio needs. In my opinion he BF-F8HP radio is well made (my XYL accidentally dropped mine on a hard tile floor with no damage other than the battery released with no damage to it either).The BF-F8HP radio is sold as a complete “ready to go” package as it comes from the factory. There is also a large variety of optional accessories for this radio that greatly extend its utility. I bought two different larger (higher gain) attachable antennas, the larger 3800 mAh battery and additional power options for mine. The attachable 15-inch Nagoya dual band antenna I bought allows me to easily work a 2M Repeater 18 miles away. The larger BaoFeng 3800 mAh lithium-ion battery is about an inch longer than the factory battery and is designed and shaped to fit the radio like a glove. I also bought the BaoFeng 12v cigarette lighter cable that enables “plug-in” vehicle power. If you plan to use the BF-F8HP with dual band vehicle and/or base station antennas, be sure to buy a flexible antenna cable to minimize the physical stress on this small radio’s antenna connector.Antenna cables for the BF-F8HP require a FEMALE SMA connector to attach to the radio and whatever connector fits your vehicle or base station antenna cable on the other end (typically a FEMALE SO-239 connector). I also bought BaoFeng’s handheld microphone and cable so I could use my BF-F8HP in my vehicle without having to hold the radio attached to the antenna cable to transmit while driving. The BaoFeng handheld microphone comes with a lapel clip on the cable which makes it virtually “hands-free” with the BF-F8HP clipped to a belt or attached to the top of a backpack to get the antenna higher in the air.Unfortunately, the inexpensive BaoFeng speaker/mic reportedly produced extremely muffled audio on the receive end when I tested it so I will not be using it. I've ordered a codeRED Signal 21-K speaker/mic that cost almost as much as the radio to use instead. Otherwise, my “new" HAM experience with the BF-F8HP radio indicates that this dual band HT radio was indeed the perfect choice as my first Amateur Radio “rig” considering its low cost, reliability, expanded frequency options, all-in-one bundle from the factory packaging, higher than standard HT radio power and the large number of less expensive accessories available to enhance its utility. I highly recommend the BF-F8HP for new as well as more experienced HAM Operators.73!

When I saw this radio posted I felt there was no way you could get an 8 watt dual band HT with all these accessories included for less than $50.00. The radio is more ruggedly built than your standard UV-5R. You can feel the difference in quality in your hand. The radio is just as difficult to program as any Baofeng, however. Sometimes, you can actually get more than you paid for, and this is one of those instances.However, the long 771 antenna that's in the box is no resonant (doesn't work). The two batteries are not 2100 mah, but 1800 mah. The battery issue is not necessarily bad. If you read the reviews of the Baofeng BF-8HP the 2100 mah batteries are snapping off the belt clip. This radio also only does about 6 watts, as it turns out. But if you read the reviews of the BF-8HP you will notice they're complaining about the same issue with it. As for those claiming this is a counterfeit, it can't be. Never do they advertise this as a Baofeng. With that being said, the difference between the Baofeng and the Graeval are negligible. This is a well built radio that's equally functional. Just a little deceptive about a couple of the extras added in.

I bought this radio a few years ago but never used it until recently when I did get licensed. My Elmer told me it would never work and the ground plane Nagoya antenna system I bought was junk. Well I can't afford the antenna he suggested so I researched and made this system work. I have this radio running on an external power source into 12.75 wavelengths of RG8X coax at 146 MHz and the final 1/4 wave ending with the antenna for 13 wavelengths total. This radio puts out the full 8+ watts depending on the outside temperature. In the cool 65 degree F morning it is 8 watts, in the afternoon almost 10 watts at 146.720 MHz. The antenna was not tuned at all, and sits on top of a 25 foot collapsable flag mast. This radio and antenna system can reach repeaters over 40 miles away and with the Utah linked repeater system I can talkto people in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Arizona, Nevada.I consistently get exceptional signal reports on our weekly nets.I would definitely buy this radio again hands down, and probably should right now as a backup.I would suggest a different hand mike as the one in this kit has a short cord, (but works just fine).I am completely satisfied with this little radio and it performs WAY better than I ever expected it to.