Baofeng UV-5R plus issues

[Powertrip]

I planned on going with this antenna: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=AA3MGRC7F9EI2

Is there a better one?

It will be going on this specific radio: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=AA3MGRC7F9EI2

On the 8-watt version, I would recommend getting a better antenna instead. 8 watts vs 5 isn't significant, and the antenna will make a much bigger difference.

I would take 5-watts and an excellent antenna over 50-watts and a crappy one.

YMMV

[Outlander Systems]

For the Baofengs, the Nagoyas are excellent antennas.

I planned on going with this antenna: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=AA3MGRC7F9EI2

Is there a better one?

It will be going on this specific radio: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=AA3MGRC7F9EI2

[Powertrip]

For the Baofengs, the Nagoyas are excellent antennas.

Thanks!

[PLA]

I'm amazed this comes up in almost every forum I'm a member of

The Chinese junk is exactly that.

I'm not sure why anyone would use them for anything besides toys, because they break with annoying frequency. I'm a ham radio instructor, VE Extra, and once some experience gets under your belt the B type radios are just throw aways.

Would you take an Olympic AR into harms way, or buy a BCM, Colt, DD or Knights? It really is like that

[tb-av]

Thanks, everyone for the replies. I will keep it around but will probably replace it with the 2/4/8 watt upgraded model that Baofeng released for now. Eventually I am just going to get a Moto XTS2500/5000 for my main rugged radio. But these Baofengs fill a hole while I work towards that.

You need a cable and an antenna but press the # key for 2 seconds. In channel mode that sets power to high/low. Held for 2 sec it unlocks the keys.

ETA: Oops, sorry, misread your post.

That said, I don't think your radio is bricked. Try turning off and hold monitor while turning back on... then # for 2 sec if needed. But it's not bricked if it works at all and can be reset.

[tb-av]

I'm amazed this comes up in almost every forum I'm a member of

The Chinese junk is exactly that.

So does the fact that thousands upon thousands upon thousands of these radios are used daily with no problem. They are not junk, they are simply an inexpensive radio. Also the OP indicates this may be operatior error so in that case it wouldn't matter how much it cost or how far up a ladder you could drop it from. You still have to learn to use them. "go spend $700 is not the solution to his problem"

[Naxet1959]

Thread drift here: Is there such thing as a portable mobile system? I have a company car so I can permanently mount a radio but my Baofeng UV 82HP with Nagoya antenna can only go so far... Is it possible to power off of a cigarette lighter with a good magnetic antenna?

[Outlander Systems]

The solution to your problem is a SMA-compatible mag-mount antenna on the center of the roof. Wattage is overrated.

Efficiency > Horsepower.

Plug the mag-mount into your 82, and party on.

Thread drift here: Is there such thing as a portable mobile system? I have a company car so I can permanently mount a radio but my Baofeng UV 82HP with Nagoya antenna can only go so far... Is it possible to power off of a cigarette lighter with a good magnetic antenna?

[Naxet1959]

The solution to your problem is a SMA-compatible mag-mount antenna on the center of the roof. Wattage is overrated.

Efficiency > Horsepower.

Plug the mag-mount into your 82, and party on.

I have a Nagoya magnetic so I have done that... but no way I can put it on the roof at this point of the winter. I put it on the trunk lid and route the line through the pass through seats. But I am looking at a Yaesu FT-2900R to plug into a cigarette lighter and a better antenna (Yaesu goes up to 75 watts and would fry the 10 watt limited I have now)

[Outlander Systems]

Roger that.

The FT-2900R is good kit for the cash.

If it's horsepower you're after, that'll give it to you.

I have a Nagoya magnetic so I have done that... but no way I can put it on the roof at this point of the winter. I put it on the trunk lid and route the line through the pass through seats. But I am looking at a Yaesu FT-2900R to plug into a cigarette lighter and a better antenna (Yaesu goes up to 75 watts and would fry the 10 watt limited I have now)