BAOFENGRadio Ham Radio Handheld Dual Band Long Range Two Way Radio for Adults UV-21R Rechargeable Walkie Talkies with Earpiece and AR-771 Orange Antenna Full Kit

The Baofeng UV-5R has long been a popular choice among amateur radio fans who want to save money. That being said, this "so called Baofeng" basic ham radio is a whole different story. It doesn't have the programming ease of CHIRP and P15UV-CPS as I tried for three hours. Its low price may be the only good thing about it, but it has a lot of annoying problems that make it hard to suggest.The most significant drawback of this radio is its software. Unlike more user-friendly options, it forces you to rely on a scarce and hard-to-find Baofeng software, which is far from intuitive. One might expect that an entry-level ham radio should be welcoming to newcomers, but this software leaves much to be desired. The absence of support for popular programming software like CHIRP or P15UV-CPS is a massive inconvenience.Another significant drawback is the lack of compatibility with existing Baofeng UV-5R lists. You cannot easily copy and paste frequencies from your UV-5R to this "Non-Baofeng" radio. This limitation is perplexing, given that many users may already have extensive lists on their Baofeng radios.In conclusion, this entry-level ham radio may be cheap yet durable, but it is not very easy to program and the software doesn't do what it's supposed to do while at the same time version 01 is likely another issue as I would like to see an upgrade to this software. This radio is hard for both new and experienced ham radio operators to choose because it relies on bad Baofeng software for this unit, thus you can't use standard programming tools, and requires you to enter frequencies by hand at times, which can be annoying. I do like the color, the durability and the accessories it comes with but I am not impressed "AT ALL" with the programming ability on the desktop software. P.S., watch for tracking software from third party vendors as well.PRO's: Excellent Reception!!! Good Quality (even though mine looks like a return based on smudges on the inside screen). All programming matters aside, this is still a good radio!

Yes this a Baufeng so you never know what you’re going to get. This is my 3rd Baufeng variation since the original UV-5R. They don’t even tell you this is a 220 MHz capable radio and it does are very nice job there on local repeaters. A new band for me in 50 years a ham!!Radio charges easily with the drop-in charger or the USB connection in back. Battery life is typical Baufeng, very good. Chirp programs easily, but remember to select the proper other model radio for successful programming. Hopefully they will get that bug straightened out.Analog public safety monitoring is also very good sensitivity and good audio quality.All n’ all, a good radio.

Took me Forever to learn to program this radio. But I guess that is part of the hobby. Nice radio, this is. My favorite radio, that I use. Comes with a lot of accessories (but not the programming cable)Will use this radio daily as travel and around the house.Great Prosuct.

Solid robust feel. USB-C is handy. Easy to program, nice large color display. Receive sensitivity right there with my Yaesu FT60R. And it does 220mhz IDK why they font advertise that. Manual is chenglish but is OK. Battery life is very good..Best Baifeng yet !Cons:Bottom is slightly rounded, essy to knock over.Display can be hard to see in sunlight.After display times out (adjustable), theres no indication that it is on. You'll leave it on by accident.All-in-all a great HT even at twice this price..

This is the second model of this radio I have purchased this month. I am using it primarily for 220 mhz band on a dedicated 1/4 wave attic antenna. Performance has been excellent and I programmed it with Chirp. Found a great use for the frequency scan S2 button last night. I was tuning my 2 M SSB radio and wanted to verify the frequency. Not having a frequency counter, I decided to try the UV-21r’s scan feature. I identified and keyed my 2M radio and then started my scan on the UV-21r. I found I was 18 hz off frequency and I verified the results with my other UV-21r radio too. Nice, and worked while standing below my outdoor antenna too. 73. I like the bright color too.

I love these! I am a Jeep owner and we go on trail rides often. I always borrow a radio from someone in the group so when the last ride came up, I decided it was time to get my own. It was recommended to get the UV5’s and when I did a search I saw this was the upgraded version. I checked the why..and it has a bigger screen. That’s always helpful. I love the bright orange color. It also comes in green and grey. But I tend to set things down and orange is easier to see in the forest. I love the scan feature..you position your radio near another and it picks up their frequency! The light is also great. I’ve been wanting to get a Ham radio so that too is a bonus. I highly recommend this for those looking for long range and or short range. These come with two different size antennas. It has 4-6 hr battery charge plus USB plug in. Which is great for camping or longer trips!

Just got the radio today, so no opinion on the battery yet. Having owned several Baofengs, including the iconic UV-5R, I have a high opinion of their quality, battery life and durability. Some of my old radios are still going strong. No one believes me how little they cost compared to "big brands".This radio feels great in the hand, seems to have a sturdy build.For those of you struggling with Chirp support: you need to select UV-17Pro. Works great for me. One of the screenshots on the product Amazon page points it out.The crazy long antenna is a welcome bonus!

I purchased this for work as they have a bunch of uv82s they use. It's a nice looking radio and programs really easily. Nice big, bright screen. Type C charging is highly convenient.The only negative so far is the speaker is low volume. I have it set "wideband" and volume maxed out.Other than that, not bad for the price. Although you will want to but a different antenna.