Baofeng Low Cost Radios

Announcement: Many new Baofengs are limited to only transmit on ham radio frequencies in firmware. 144-148 MHz, 222-225 MHz, 420-450 MHz -- ONLY

2021-07-11T23:04:34+00:00

Due to FCC action, new devices seem to be locked to these transmit frequencies in firmware. Be aware of this when purchasing new devices.

That means they cannot be used on MURS, GMRS, FRS, Marine VHF, or Part 90 business frequencies. No LARPing without a ham license.

This cannot be worked around via Chirp programming, AFAIK.

Relevant threads:

Outstanding questions:

Does this apply to all new Baofengs or just the UV-5R?
Is there a hardware mod to open up all-band transmit?

YMMV, as old stock may still be present with some sellers.

Edit: this seems to apply to USA sold/distributed models only.

submitted by /u/kc2syk
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PSA: Do not get a Baofeng or other cheap radio to transmit on air band!

2024-02-08T14:12:45+00:00

We have had several pilots post their interest in getting a Baofeng as a "backup" radio for air band use. This is a BAD IDEA™ for multiple technical and legal reasons:

These radios have FM transmitters only. There is no way for these radios to transmit using the AM modulation required for air band. If you transmit with FM, your signal will be unintelligible and you will fail to communicate. Example of listening to a FM transmission with an AM mode receiver. (thanks /u/W2XG)
These radios lack AGC required for usable 2-way radio in AM mode.
Baofengs have direct conversion DSP receivers in them that go deaf at altitude due to being overloaded by the many strong transmitters that will have clear line-of-sight above ground level.
These radios lack the filters required to transmit a clean signal on air band.
These radios lack FCC Part 87 certification for air band use.

In short, these are the wrong tools for the job for multiple technical reasons in addition to the legal reasons.

Furthermore, I would question your judgement as a pilot if you were to rely on a $30 piece of crap radio as a backup. Remember that baofengs aren't popular because they are good, they are popular because they are cheap.

There are technically competent and legal air band handheld radios from Yaesu and Icom. Get one of those:

Edit 2025-12-23: update Yaesu link

submitted by /u/kc2syk
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I got a new UV-5RH Baofang along with two other uv-5r’s, What should i use them for?

2026-06-09T12:12:54+00:00

submitted by /u/Separate_Let_8236
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Baofeng uv-5rm plus

2026-06-09T23:55:34+00:00

Help, I think I just bricked my Baofeng. I was trying to update the firmware, and now it doesn't transmit nor receive anything. It can do FM radio and flashlight, just that. Also, the beep prompt, even though it's turned on in the menu, just refuses to make any sound. What can I do?

submitted by /u/Akanneth
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Check out the LARP setup

2026-06-09T02:43:32+00:00

submitted by /u/AerisAir
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What do you think of My radio?

2026-06-08T16:16:49+00:00

submitted by /u/Marko_561
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radio transmissor

2026-06-09T18:47:47+00:00

comprei um radio transmissor modelo GRASEP D-5R, me falaram que era uma replica do BAOFENG UV-5R mais não estou cosehuindo programar no CHIRP

Tentei todos modelos da Baofeng nenhum conseguiu ler o radio

meu cabo é bom pq uso para programar o uv-5r

alhuem ja teve esse tipo de poblema ?

submitted by /u/RodolfoGS2001
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I mean... if it works it works...?

2026-06-08T15:43:42+00:00

Powering my baofeng UV-5R Mini using flippers 3.3V..

submitted by /u/morty517
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Prepping a radio

2026-06-08T22:34:54+00:00

submitted by /u/EquivalentTip1902
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Any chance the aftermarket volume knobs for the UV-5R would work for my K63?

2026-06-08T08:08:45+00:00

The volume knob is simply too easy to turn on or off and I'd like to get the ones that are metal and have a O ring to add more turning friction

submitted by /u/8178cry
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UV-32 Antenna

2026-06-08T00:26:09+00:00

Just asking but does anyone know of a good smaller antenna to replace the stock one on the UV-32?

submitted by /u/Alchemist549
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Something that worked for me and I have seen no other mention of it. mini-5 "no response" message from chirp

2026-06-07T23:58:21+00:00

First I went thru the driver thing with the "not a real prolific" message. So I bought another cable with the 340 chip, I knew I already had this driver installed and working.

Still got the message. Plugged in one of my old uv-5ra radios and it worked straight away. So now I carved down the plug on the cable. Still got the message on the mini-5

Ok, now I'm a little pissed. I put the hand of god to the cable connector, pressing until i heard the case start creaking. When I do that it transmits on B. Stopped doing that.

Tried taking the battery out for a minute, same message.

So I tried twisting(pretty firmly, but not hand of god firmly) the cable connector while it was plugged in and it started working just fine.

Try twisting your connector as well as pushing it in firmly. This might help someone else out.

submitted by /u/ilikehosewater
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Battery green light blinking problem

2026-06-07T20:15:52+00:00

Hello. While charging battery of my Baofeng K5 Plus device through the Type-C port, led indicator got stuck. Currently, green light is constantly flashing. Device turns on normally and continues to receive charge from desktop charging stand as well. I tried many things to solve the problem but I couldn't fix it at all. Does anyone have any ideas about this issue? Thank you.

https://reddit.com/link/1tzms1k/video/ib37tfhy4x5h1/player

submitted by /u/kuduruk
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Looking to buy but want one that can pick up on walke stations

2026-06-07T17:35:51+00:00

I’m looking to get one mostly for nooa but would also like if it picked up on radio stations at work will the ham radios be able to do that

submitted by /u/Mercari_cryptic_2
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Help signing onto Chirp

2026-06-06T03:45:07+00:00

Hey Guys, completely new to the HAM radio world. Learning day by day. So I’ve been experiencing some trouble signing onto chirp once downloaded into my windows. I made an account on the chirp website and then proceeded to download the program recommended for my Windows application. Once downloaded I input the same information from the web, but it keeps saying incorrect. I contacted Chirp through the questionnaire form but haven’t heard back. Has anyone experienced this before? Any thoughts? Much appreciated!

submitted by /u/Suspicious_Owl_5003
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BF 888s it can only be heard with the external microphone

2026-06-05T03:02:54+00:00

Good morning, I recently acquired a pair of 888s to get started in radio communication, when programming them 1 of the radios transmits on all channels but I don't know how to listen to anything. It can only be heard if I connect the external microphone that comes as an accessory. I already returned to the initial configuration but I don't know what to do anymore, could you please help me

submitted by /u/NothingVivid9050
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Something I never really noticed before.

2026-06-02T14:44:09+00:00

This past weekend I was showing a friend one of my radios(mini 5) and explaining radio stuff to them. I was telling him about the "call at the top of the hour" protocol for if you are lost in the woods. At which point he said "so, I have to have a watch with me too?"

It took a few seconds before I realized what he was saying. All the features on this radio and there is no clock!?! There is no clock on any of my uv-5 variants.

submitted by /u/ilikehosewater
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Buying My First Radio: BAOFENG BF-F8HP PRO

2026-06-03T02:37:10+00:00

submitted by /u/Disgruntled_Veteran
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BTECH UV-25x2 power supply

2026-06-03T01:59:55+00:00

Recently purchased a BETCH UV-25x2 to mount in my truck. It came with a power supply cord to plug into my cigarette lighter. I would prefer to pass it through my firewall and connect it to my fuse box. I’m sure it exists I just don’t know what it is called to search for it.

Can anyone point me in the right direction, share a link or tell me it doesn’t actually exist? Thank in advance for the help!

submitted by /u/osrszak
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Ar 152 not turning on

2026-06-02T16:40:32+00:00

My ar 152 isnt turning on. I just started using it the past three days. I was leaving work the other day and when I went to turn it on in the truck it won't. The charger light is showing green but whenever I try to turn it on nothing. Need help or did I just waste $60

submitted by /u/Dontputmeonthesquad
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problème chirp et BF UV-5R8W

2026-06-02T11:41:20+00:00

bonjour, j'ai un problème pour connecter mon UV5R8w avec chrip avec un cable baofeng j'ai essayer avec le pilote du BF-F8HP mais ca ne fonctionne pas.

en lecture in met l'erreur "no responce from radio" et pareil en écriture. Je ne pense pas que cela vienne du cable car il fonctionne très bien avec mon bf 888smax.

quelqu'un aurait une idée? merci

submitted by /u/madmaxdu24
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Looking For Radio to Buy as Gift

2026-06-02T03:03:56+00:00

I was showing my Baofeng and Quansheng to my brother tonight, and he expressed interest in getting into radio. I'm very happy to hear this since most everyone else I know seems uninterested. His true goal is to transmit between friends, family, etc from his house or in the vehicle.

His birthday is coming up, and I was recently considering adding the TIDRADIO TD-H3 to my arsenal. I was wondering if this radio would be a good choice to get him into the hobby? Other suggestions are welcome. I know some of these transceiver models are a bit controversial, but at the price- it seems like a great way to get people into radio without breaking the bank. I also love all the modifications you can do with these different radio brands.

He isn't currently licensed for ham radio, so most contact would be via FRS/GMRS. I also thought maybe some sort of base CB may be in order since he isn't licensed, making simplex contact more important. I'm trying to make the right decision. If this isn't a good experience, he won't consider putting in the effort to get his ham license.

Thanks, everyone!

submitted by /u/MrLanGT
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What's the difference between all the various UV-5 models?

2026-06-01T20:46:55+00:00

Looking online to buy a UV-5 since there's a lot of resources for it, and I see several different variations. What are the differences, and what should I be getting for GMRS today?

submitted by /u/ultradip
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PTT only transmitting audio on UHF.

2026-06-01T15:06:39+00:00

submitted by /u/gautham1070
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Getting licensed soon (hopefully)

2026-06-01T00:06:53+00:00

submitted by /u/Think-Ad-8169
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