Author Topic: Good cheap ($43.60 delivered) dual-band 2 watt Handheld (Read 15739 times)

garysco · « **on:** March 12, 2012, 11:24:31 PM »

I have been playing with a mini sized 2-watt handheld for a couple of weeks now and like it a lot. It is a BAOFENG UV-3R (Mark II) from 'mega409shop' on EBay, delivered for $43.60 with charger.

It covers all MURS, FRS, 2Meter and 440 ham (complete VHF and UHF bands). It is not as military-durable as a good Kenwood/ Yaesu/ Icom/ Motorola, but hey, at less then $50.00 delivered I have no complaints. Audio is excellent both transmit and receive, has an external SMA antenna connector, a Yaesu style jack for external speaker/ mic, and uses a swap-able LiIOn rechargable battery (about $12.00 each). It comes in different colors, and measures 3 1/2"H x 2"W x 7/8"D. One nifty feature is that it will listen to a local FM broadcast station while still monitoring my 2-way channel (usually my driveway MURS-ALERT).

The scan feature is SLOW so I don't use it. The only negative is that you cannot turn the speaker volume down real low without a circuit board resistor (18k) mod, that I have now done, but do not recommended for the technically challenged as you have to solder in a REAL TINY chip resistor.

EBay- Mega409shop
Listing : http://www.ebay.com/itm/BAOFENG-UV-3R-Mark-II-UPGRADE-136-174-400-470Mhz-Dual-Freq-Display-/120867680803?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c24467223#ht_4141wt_1256

Cedar · « **Reply #1 on:** March 12, 2012, 11:49:25 PM »

What is the range on them approximately?

Cedar

garysco · « **Reply #2 on:** March 13, 2012, 12:05:26 AM »

Quote from: Cedar on March 12, 2012, 11:49:25 PM

What is the range on them approximately?

Cedar

Roughly the same as a 5 watt hand-held. About a mile to another hand-held, 5-15 to a good base or repeater. All depends on obstructions and terrain. In the desert or mountain top with clear to the horizon sight I'd guess up to 20 miles. BTW- don't believe the 35 miles advertised on some store bought radios - maybe true in outer space, but not in the real world.

mxitman · « **Reply #3 on:** March 13, 2012, 08:33:56 AM »

sweet, I was looking at those on another site for $40 more...

backwoods_engineer · « **Reply #4 on:** March 14, 2012, 06:34:03 AM »

Quote from: garysco on March 12, 2012, 11:24:31 PM

I have been playing with a mini sized 2-watt handheld for a couple of weeks now and like it a lot. It is a BAOFENG UV-3R (Mark II) from 'mega409shop' on EBay, delivered for $43.60 with charger.

It covers all MURS, FRS, 2Meter and 440 ham (complete VHF and UHF bands). It is not as military-durable as a good Kenwood/ Yaesu/ Icom/ Motorola, but hey, at less then $50.00 delivered I have no complaints. Audio is excellent both transmit and receive, has an external SMA antenna connector, a Yaesu style jack for external speaker/ mic, and uses a swap-able LiIOn rechargable battery (about $12.00 each). It comes in different colors, and measures 3 1/2"H x 2"W x 7/8"D. One nifty feature is that it will listen to a local FM broadcast station while still monitoring my 2-way channel (usually my driveway MURS-ALERT).

The scan feature is SLOW so I don't use it. The only negative is that you cannot turn the speaker volume down real low without a circuit board resistor (18k) mod, that I have now done, but do not recommended for the technically challenged as you have to solder in a REAL TINY chip resistor.

EBay- Mega409shop
Listing : http://www.ebay.com/itm/BAOFENG-UV-3R-Mark-II-UPGRADE-136-174-400-470Mhz-Dual-Freq-Display-/120867680803?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c24467223#ht_4141wt_1256

Thanks for the post. At that price,I'll get one to see how it does.

No problem on the mod; I work with surface mount electronics almost every day, and I have the equipment. I'd do the mod if other TSPers need it.

Cedar · « **Reply #5 on:** March 19, 2012, 11:56:32 AM »

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/9749

Cedar

backwoods_engineer · « **Reply #6 on:** March 19, 2012, 01:03:05 PM »

I just ordered mine.

Looking forward to playing with it.

Cedar · « **Reply #7 on:** March 19, 2012, 01:23:57 PM »

OK.. same seller.. which ones are better? These ones or the other one?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2012-NEW-VERSION-UV-3R-Plus-Daul-Band-Radio-mini-radio-earpiece-/120877411280?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c24daebd0

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BAOFENG-UV-3R-Mark-II-UPGRADE-136-174-400-470Mhz-Dual-Freq-Display-/110844653105?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19cedb2e31

Cedar

austinrob · « **Reply #8 on:** March 20, 2012, 08:30:27 AM »

looking at those two, the only difference appears to be the physical size + weight.

templar223 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 09, 2012, 05:46:37 PM »

Some friends got about a dozen of these from 409shop.com.

They love them!

John

Cedar · « **Reply #10 on:** April 09, 2012, 07:54:00 PM »

I have been playing with mine.. it is fun.. and little!!!

Cedar

TexasGirl · « **Reply #11 on:** April 10, 2012, 01:22:40 AM »

I picked up a Wouxun KG-UV6D, dual band, and also does the FM. It's okay to program from a computer but almost impossible from the keyboard on the fly. Makes my head spin!

It's also small, has some fantastic LiMh batteries, and a AA pack too. Accessories like speaker mike, car charger, and standard SMA antenna (not reversed) so it can work with a mobile antenna. Rugged thing, it has a metal chasis inside. Did I mention flashlight, too? Geez.

Wish I spoke Chinese. Yeah, I turned off the voice prompts, that was too much!

~TG

monkeyboyf · « **Reply #12 on:** April 14, 2012, 07:55:07 PM »

Quote from: Cedar on April 09, 2012, 07:54:00 PM

I have been playing with mine.. it is fun.. and little!!!

Cedar

I ordered one like yours Thursday. Can't wait to play,too.

reefmarker · « **Reply #13 on:** April 16, 2012, 05:34:20 PM »

Help! I ordered this:

http://www.powerwerx.com/wouxun-radios/kg-uv6x-dual-band-vhf-uhf-commercial.html

Does it do 2m ham? I ordered it without realizing it said commercial all over it and nothing about ham. I am going to get my ham ticket and I wanted something that did the other non-ham bands.

cmxterra · « **Reply #14 on:** April 16, 2012, 06:38:11 PM »

Quote from: Cedar on April 09, 2012, 07:54:00 PM

I have been playing with mine.. it is fun.. and little!!!

Cedar

Thats what she said..

I ordered two.. One for my mom to keep with her at work to listen to Skywarn. The second to keep at the house for the same purpose.

garysco · « **Reply #15 on:** April 26, 2012, 01:49:50 AM »

Quote from: reefmarker on April 16, 2012, 05:34:20 PM

Help! I ordered this:

http://www.powerwerx.com/wouxun-radios/kg-uv6x-dual-band-vhf-uhf-commercial.html

Does it do 2m ham? I ordered it without realizing it said commercial all over it and nothing about ham. I am going to get my ham ticket and I wanted something that did the other non-ham bands.

Yes 144-148Mhz is in its band.

Herbalpagan · « **Reply #16 on:** April 26, 2012, 04:37:05 AM »

Quote from: TexasGirl on April 10, 2012, 01:22:40 AM

I picked up a Wouxun KG-UV6D, dual band, and also does the FM. It's okay to program from a computer but almost impossible from the keyboard on the fly. Makes my head spin!

It's also small, has some fantastic LiMh batteries, and a AA pack too. Accessories like speaker mike, car charger, and standard SMA antenna (not reversed) so it can work with a mobile antenna. Rugged thing, it has a metal chasis inside. Did I mention flashlight, too? Geez.

Wish I spoke Chinese. Yeah, I turned off the voice prompts, that was too much!

~TG
We got those and they work very well. a good solid mile range!

cmxterra · « **Reply #17 on:** May 02, 2012, 01:19:39 PM »

Quote from: templar223 on April 09, 2012, 05:46:37 PM

Some friends got about a dozen of these from 409shop.com.

They love them!

John

Anyone have any problems getting the USB comm cable to work?

reefmarker · « **Reply #18 on:** May 04, 2012, 02:19:44 PM »

Quote from: cmxterra on May 02, 2012, 01:19:39 PM

Anyone have any problems getting the USB comm cable to work?

Use the works every time USB driver on wouxun.com website and make 100% sure the radio end is fully plugged in! Mine was not plugged in completely. Duh...

gilevi · « **Reply #19 on:** June 01, 2012, 07:20:51 PM »

wondering the consensus on these radios?

Cedar · « **Reply #20 on:** June 01, 2012, 08:18:17 PM »

My friend Scott is having issues with the USB cable.. they are working with him on it. I did not order it with a USB.

Cedar

Lobo · « **Reply #21 on:** June 10, 2012, 08:44:25 AM »

Any update on people's usage experience with these radios? This would be my first radio purchase of this sort so I'm curious to hear reviews of it.
Thanks

Sailor · « **Reply #22 on:** June 26, 2012, 10:51:14 AM »

I have the Baofeng UV-3 and the the newer UV-5, and the Wouxan. For the price get the Baofeng UV-5 4watts vs the 2 in the UV-3. The case is much sturdier also. The UV-5 can be had for around $50.

Cheap copy prolific chips are in many of the usb cables. This can cause many problems. Check your system hardware to make sure the driver is loaded correctly and it is showing up.

Programming is a pain on these.

I have modded and programmed over 30 radios in the last few years let me know if I can help.

radiomacgyver · « **Reply #23 on:** June 26, 2012, 10:57:00 AM »

I have the Baofeng UV-5R and am very happy with it.

gilevi · « **Reply #24 on:** June 26, 2012, 11:12:59 PM »

anyone ever try hacking the radios to get a larger freq broadcast range for a SHTF situation

Sailor · « **Reply #25 on:** June 27, 2012, 08:07:00 AM »

From the factory they are fairly broad banded already. UHF/VHF FM radio. I have not tried to mod my radios, my area does not have any 1.25m traffic. I would guess it could be done fairly easy, but transmitting may damage the radio. If you try it let us know how it works.

SmartLikeTruck · « **Reply #26 on:** June 27, 2012, 10:51:44 AM »

Any opinions on BAOFENG UV-5R vs. the Puxing PX888 or suggestions for sub $100 radios with similar capabilities?

TLBones · « **Reply #27 on:** June 27, 2012, 06:18:50 PM »

I recently left my job and have a very conservative budget. Would I be happy with one of these as my first (and only) radio while a learn the ropes of HAM or am I better off with a used name brand unit?

Texas Sawduster · « **Reply #28 on:** July 05, 2012, 10:54:35 AM »

Quote from: TLBones on June 27, 2012, 06:18:50 PM

I recently left my job and have a very conservative budget. Would I be happy with one of these as my first (and only) radio while a learn the ropes of HAM or am I better off with a used name brand unit?

My two cents worth.
If you have the cash go with a true mobile and mobile antenna for the car/truck first.
You can always then go and pick up an HT.

NOTE: If you want to use your mobile to link up with an repeater while using your HT, you will need a "CrossBand" capable radio so the link will work.

I am planning on getting a HT. I probably will get the ICOM to match my mobile ICOM rig.
Programming software is free to download from ICOM for their products.

Hope this helps.

News:

Author Topic: Good cheap ($43.60 delivered) dual-band 2 watt Handheld (Read 15739 times)

Lobo

SmartLikeTruck