Baofeng HT - How are they?

[nakman]

Got my UV-3r in the mail today, you guys get yours? At first glance it's a very close approximation to the Yausu VX-3, not exact as it has less buttons, not quite as intuitive, etc. but heck, it's dang close. And it's got a flashlight.

What else is cool is the threads are normal for the antenna, which means my other HT antennas will screw right on. Still not sure why they had to reverse the threads on the UV-5. Also it takes the same charger as the Yaesu, which means one less charger to bring along. It's got a cradle, but it's not a charging dock like the 5, really just a holder, that will also charge the battery if you remove it (like a digital camera battery charger).

I will fire up the laptop and see how the programming goes..

 

[nakman]

Well, shoot. My programming cable doesn't fit. I realize now that I bought the cable for the 5V and 3V "plus," but I only got the 3V radio, not the "plus." Other than the different plug config, I'm not sure the difference between a plus and a non-plus.

So I just ordered another cable, the non-plus cable. In hindsight, I should have got the 3V-r plus, so I could have used the same cable for it and the 5.

 

[daveIT]

Dang, these have come down a bit...might need to grab a couple extra to leave in car, work bag, etc. Have to sort out all the "plus" and "5A" stuff though...seems to be multiple versions out there. Is it just firmware or are there added features? I currently have the plain ol' UV-3R and 5Rs (and a Yaesu FT2900R.)

 

[rover67]

I got the UV-3R the other night, it seems like it will be a nice little radio for around camp and while wheeling. Due to the low power and my non willingness to figure out repeater programming it's functionality will be limited around town I think. I haven't had a lot of time to play with it yet.

I certainly don't mind a tiny radio for $35 though. It'll be nice to have around.

 

[OilHammer]

Well, shoot. My programming cable doesn't fit. I realize now that I bought the cable for the 5V and 3V "plus," but I only got the 3V radio, not the "plus." Other than the different plug config, I'm not sure the difference between a plus and a non-plus.

So I just ordered another cable, the non-plus cable. In hindsight, I should have got the 3V-r plus, so I could have used the same cable for it and the 5.

I have the Plus Tim. Case design, mic design, battery, and antenna mount are supposedly different. I need to meet up with someone with a 3R to compare them beyond that though.

 

[LARGEONE]

Just got my UV-5R Plus

Tim...can you help me get it programmed so I can listen on the trail. Won't have my license for a bit. Test is tonight and I won't make it. Will have to wait until May.

 

[nakman]

Just got my UV-5R Plus

Tim...can you help me get it programmed so I can listen on the trail. Won't have my license for a bit. Test is tonight and I won't make it. Will have to wait until May.

Can you do next Saturday night in Northglenn?

04/27/2013 | Northglenn CO 80233-2011

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Time: 8:00 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
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but yeah, I can program you up, lmk

 

[nakman]

So far I'm not at all impressed with the UV-3r. I can't get it to transmit or receive, it literally just sits there. I spent 2 hours fiddling with it last night trying to reach another HT 3' away on simplex, to no avail.. .it's like it's already keyed up somehow? And no sound comes out of the speaker, not even in FM radio mode. Tried in VOX mode and without, tried with the headphones and without, tried an "all reset," nothing.

The flashlight works. Once my programming cable comes in I'm hoping that'll kick it into action somehow, I know there are more settings within the software than you can get to through the radio. So far though, pretty unimpressed... anyone else able to send/receive simplex with their UV-3?

 

[rover67]

mine worked out of the box.. I simply programmed the simplex freq. I wanted and keyed up and was talking to myself in the truck in no time.

maybe something is wrong with yours?

 

[DaveInDenver]

If you did an all reset to defaults, twirling to a frequency and just receiving should be so easy even a mechanical engineer could get it to work.

 

[rover67]

Ha!

 

[OilHammer]

Mine worked out of the box too. I just changed the frequency and baddabing. Even chatted with Marco on it tonight. Range is not super impressive, but it works.
I can also confirm that the Plus is pretty different than the base 3R now that I compared the two side by side.

 

[Fishy]

So, do you guys recommend the basic, plus or 5?

 

[nakman]

I am liking the functionality of the 5 over the 3, but then again not sure how much I'll use the additional menu items that much. But it's a little more intuitive to navigate the menus on the 5. I'm looking forward to fiddling with a 3+ for a bit...

Haven't messed with the 5+ much, but I think that's what Brad has? We're hooking up on Monday to program his.

 

[daveIT]

I'd recommend the UV-5 over the 3R...haven't played with the 3+

 

[OilHammer]

I should correct my post. Somehow when Marco and I were chatting, I bumped the dial and changed the frequency ever so slightly. I guess I didn't have it locked down, but it was dark and I was shifting and driving.
My guess is that would account for why it got static so quickly. I'll plan a more thorough test of it in Moab. I will say, I've had it ON during the day since Tuesday and the battery is only at half, and that's on the factory charge. Holy smokes!

 

[daveIT]

I've found the 3R I found that the battery last quite awhile while monitoring...it's the transmit that kills it. Kind of a moot point though, because the batteries (NP-60) are so cheap that it's easy to have a bunch for backup.

Does the 3+ use the same battery? I'm not sure how battery life compares to the small Yaesu, etc models.

 

[OilHammer]

No, completely different battery. The 3R uses a common camera battery, but the plus uses a proprietary battery that's got half the case bonded to it.

 

[daveIT]

Ah, like the UV-5R then. Thanks for the info!

 

[Caribou Sandstorm]

Testing distance with the 3R yesterday afternoon with Barry.

He was on University and Hampden and I live on Fillmore and Buchtel. I cold hear him really clear and then I added an aftermarket antenna and could hear him on Exposition and Gaylord area..

Pretty good distance and range even with the small OEM antenna. Guessing the range on the 5V would be a bit better by maybe a few miles.