BAOFENG Two Way Radio, UV5RE 8-Watt Dual Band Radio with 2100mAh Li-ion Battery Portable Walkie Talkies with Includes Full Kit.Frequency Range 144-148/420-450Mhz

The BaoFeng BF-F9 is an impressive entry-level handheld radio that offers great value for its price. With its robust build and intuitive controls, it’s perfect for both amateur radio enthusiasts and those new to the hobby. The BF-F9 delivers clear audio quality and strong signal reception, making it reliable for various communication needs, whether you’re hiking, camping, or just staying in touch with friends and family. The inclusion of features like a dual-band frequency range and a bright display adds to its versatility. While it may require some initial learning to fully utilize all its functions, the BF-F9 proves to be a dependable and feature-packed radio that delivers solid performance.

The UV5R is my personal go to radio for anyone looking for a cheap but reliable radio for any situation. The speakers are surprisingly loud and clear, the basic antenna is best suited for very close range, but that can be fixed with a longer antenna. The batteries last a VERY long time during use from my experience. My only complaint is the battery clip on mine broke off, but this was after two years of pretty significant use and ALOT of drops, so that's on me.

Great value for radio communications beyond a simple Walkie/talkie. This does everything you want it to do. Also, the battery lasts a long time, no need to upgrade. After initial 5 hour charge, it lasted a month before needing another charge…4 weeks. The antenna is good too. I tried antenna upgrades, but the stock antenna outperformed them all, and I returned those antenna. This works great right out of the box! I bought another I like it so much. Contemplating buying more for family members and programming them with CHIRP (which works great) so we can all communicate if cell phones/internet go out.

I am a recent, amateur HAM radio enthusiast and was excited to give this BaoFeng radio a try. My previous radio was made by Olywiz, but it lacked features that this BF-F9V2+ model has (which is similar to the VERY popular UV-5R.)First, the most important piece of information: if you are planning to use this radio, be prepared to obtain a HAM license (costs $15, is easy to pass, and is worth studying for as participating in the HAM community can be a LOT of fun.) The frequencies this radio is capable of put it squarely into HAM territory, requiring a license to transmit. Licensing is not based on transmission distance, but on the frequency operated in. If you plan to only LISTEN (not transmit), you do not need a license.PROS- Can be operated in 3 bands: VHF 136-174 MHz, UHF 400-480 MHz, FM 65-108 MHz- Sturdy, professional feel- High/Medium/Low transmission power setting (8W, 4W, 1W) for increased distance or longer battery life- Dual band!- Water-resistant but not waterproof (keep it out of heavy rain)- Standard battery life with 2100 mAh (16-29 hours of use, longer while on standby). Newer Baofeng models come with 2800 mAh that can last 24-48 hours- Battery can be charged on its own or while still attached to the walkie talkie- Voice transmission was loud and clear- VOX hands-free operation- Memory settings- Keypad backlighting- Has a slot for an earpiece- Built-in flash/strobe light- Very detailed user guide, though it can be mind-boggling for the beginning person new to HAM radio (or walkie talkies in general)- Radio can be programmed with CHIRPCONS- Detailed user guide can be overwhelming to the beginning person new to HAM or walkie talkiesTIPS- If you are wondering why your transmission is not going far without using enhanced antennas or turning into HAM frequencies, note that the Earth is curved. Because of that, the working distance is about 3-7 miles at most in open space at sea level. That range goes up to 36 miles while you are on top of a mountain communicating with another also high on a mountain (and there is nothing blocking both mountains in-between, such as radio interference, weather, etc). There are various technologies to enable communication across a wider range by bouncing radio signals off our atmospheric layer, but that goes into advanced territory- FRS (Family Radio Service), MURS, and CB are the only bands that do not require a license- Unlicensed use, especially at a high transmit power, can result in a VERY hefty fine by the FCC (as much as $10,000), and the HAM community regulates itself: they can zero in on your location for fun or for self-policing. Absolutely never ever transmit on public service or military bands! They will find you VERY quickly- You do not need a license to listen in. With the right, standard antenna (Nagoya ones are GREAT), you can listen to public broadcasts, including police and fire departments, and even transmissions from the OTHER side of the planet- Search the web for a list of local repeaters or local HAM clubs. Repeaters are mostly open, and if you are not sure, just ask if you can use it, and usually they will let you join in.Overall, this is an excellent, inexpensive starter HAM radio. Just remember: get your license if you plan on transmitting via the regulated frequencies!

I bought this little radio just over a year ago as an introduction into HAM Radio and honestly, I'm really glad I did. Its held up great and transmits and recieves so much better than I thought an HT at this price point would. I understand they get some flack (and rightly so) for their claims of some of their radios being 8 watts but really, who is going to notice the difference between 5, 6 or 8? It does what its supposed to and does it very well, especially at this price point. Would I reccomend it, absolutely. I would also recommend biying an upgraded attenna for it like an Expert Power XP669 or Nagoya, both are great and will make a difference. One other recommendation, do NOT try to save money when buying a program cable, not worth the headaches.

Looks nicer, better build quality, speaker sounds much better-not so tinny and shrill. It'll never be hi-fi but is more pleasurable to listen to. Programs on Chirp as a BF-8HP. I'm liking these CCR's. (cheap Chinese radio) Not the junk from a few years ago. Oh, there is still a lot of garbage out there... for CCR's stick with Baofengs. Caveat: I'm in a rural area so I haven't been to an RF dense area with one, so be aware.

These radios are an excellent bang for the buck. They aren't quite as simple to operate as the more fancy more expensive Yeasu or Icom. I bought them for travelling cross country and a few spares just in case. One had lower volume than the rest, but still worked. I now have 8 of them in case of emergency. car to car or truck to truck works great with good squelch and run time. They use USB cables to charge so keeping them charged is great in the car. I also ran them without a charge cable and the battery lasted a long time , about 4 hours without too much talking. Will buy more as I feel I need them, maybe even give them away for Christmas in pairs.

Decent product but not worth the price. Was a bit difficult to set up initially and had some static or bad audio quality in some cases. Quality of the device feels nice and works as it should. Good product just doesn’t go above and beyond for its price.