Baofeng UV-5RM. What is going on at Baofeng?
Вставка
- Опубліковано 22 лип 2024
- Baofeng UV-5RM. I'm not sure I can figure out what Baofeng is doing. The UV-5R series of radios finally after years seem to be clean now (at least the all the recent ones I've tested,) and then this radio is a "newer" version, and they seem to have forgotten all they learned on the UV-5R! This radio is a mess on 2M, but is clean on 70cm. From what I can find, it is only FCC Part 15 certified, so you can't legally use it on GMRS either.
I didn't test 220 MHz in the video so I will place it here:
223.500 MHz Test frequency.
Low Power: 2.5W, 2nd Harmonic: -57dBc, 3rd Harmonic: -45dBc (but above 25uW line)
Middle Power: 2.5W, 2nd Harmonic -57dBc, 3rd Harmonic -45dBc (but above 25uW line)
High Power: 5W, 2nd Harmonic -53dBc, 3rd Harmonic -46dBc (but above 25uW line)
Yes, low and middle power were the same output power. :(
Links to Items in this Video:
Baofeng UV-5RM (link for the one in this video) -- amzn.to/49daaE5
Amazon links are affiliate links where possible.
0:00 Intro
0:31 2-Meter Harmonics
4:40 70cm Harmonics
5:40 Finishing Up - Наука та технологія
Thank you! I am UV-5R owner for several years. They were purchased even before getting my amateur license. Now even though I understand the benefit/need for clean transmission, I can’t just toss them. An HT that is a clean transmitter, that transmits on frequency, has decent receive capability, and where the cost vs value is acceptable to ME is something for which I am ALWAYS looking. Please keep up your great videos.
Well said! This is one of the main reasons I like making these videos. I just want to put the information out there. It is up to each individual to make their own decisions. I would love it if all radios with spurious emissions could be junked, but the more people that know what is bad before buying the better! Thank you!
Mine won’t transmit just got it today and I’m trying to get it to. New to this radio. Any insight for this issue would be appreciated thanks
Loved the Stephen A edits lol😂 Another great vid!
Thanks! Appreciate the view and comment! 73
Many of the new Baofeng tri-band transmit-capable radios only have 2 final output sections - one for VHF and one for UHF. I'm thinking that they had to move the cutoff in the VHF low-pass filter (or get rid of it entirely) in order to add 200-260 Tx support.
I'd be interested in how the Hiroyasu HI-8811 tests - it is quad-band Tx (136-174, 220-260, 330-400, 400-520) and I'm wondering if they're using notch filters or just splattering harmonics all over like the 5RM.
Thanks for commenting! I'm glad to see this comment, because this is what I was thinking as well. It seems that the cheaper radios that are adding 1.25M are the ones with the issues. I say this loosely because I haven't done enough testing to say with certainty. 73s
LOVE the commentary by Steven a Smith : -) I laughed like crazy. More like this in future videos would be awesome ....
Thanks, my editor had a little fun with this one since it was so short. Glad you liked it.
Still unbeatable at the price points I’ve had expensive brands fail yet the baofengs still take it!!! Don’t be scared get one 😂
Hi one question I have buy that model and I try to connect to PMR 462.7130 I need it to Hiking :) and this model is Locket :( I try using the factory mode presing PTT + Monitor + VFO and power but it dont work :( you know how i can unlock it ? I appreciate the help
anyone know the password for the 'bricked uv-5rm?
Did you do a firmware update.
I read a bit and still don't understand what the significance of a clean vs dirty signal mean. How can you tell it's dirty and what are the real world consequences?
My understanding is if interferes with other frequencies. I'm new to this though.
Without a long explanation, it basically means the radio is transmitting on frequencies that are not intended. Manufacturers are supposed to account for this by adding filtering to the signal before exiting the radio. A simple example would be you are transmitting on 146.5 MHz, and you are unaware that you are also transmitting a signal on 293 MHz and 439.5 MHz (the 2nd and 3rd harmonics.) The FCC here in the US puts restrictions on this in order to try to keep people from causing unintentional interference on other frequencies, services (sometimes commercial or emergency,) or devices. You cannot tell just by operating the radio, and that is why some of us do these videos to show what a radio is really doing. Some people don't care, but it is something you agree to when you get your amateur license here in the U.S. (and most everywhere else.) Hope that helps explain it a little more. :) Thanks for commenting!
@@KC4NWK Oh yes. I can wrap my head around that explanation. Thank you very much.
So then, what is an alternative at a similar price and function?
Thanks for the question! There are many options available that are clean radios. The new UV-5R radios are generally clean, and if you want to be sure, you can order the GT-5R (its Radioddity's version of a clean UV-5R.) Some of my other videos go over this radio. You can also look into a TD-H3. You can use my affiliate links for either Radioddity or TIDRadio for a discount. There are other radios as well too many to list in a reply. You can look at other videos here on my channel or on some of the other Ham Radio UA-camrs. There are several of us that like to test these radios for the community. Best of luck and 73!!
It's the old saying of you get what you pay for. Long time Amateur Radio op here. I get that it's not easy to get into Ham Radio if you don't have the money. I got my license in 1986 and it took me a loooong time to get the gear I wanted. I tended to gravitate towards Yaesu and to date I have an FT 757GX, FT 857D, FT 7900 & an FT 60R. I also have a Yaesu ATAS-120 antenna. N4RGQ.
Yes I agree completely. My first license was around 90-91. There are a lot of choices on some of these "introductory" radios, I just want to allow people to make informed choices. I too am almost exclusively a Yaesu guy, although I did just pick up a new Kenwood HT. :) 73s!
That is impressively bad - thank you for an excellent test.
YES, yes it is! Thanks for watching!!
Normal people won’t care even if shoots flames, as long as they can talk with it!
Unfortunately you are pretty much right on with that comment! :( This is one of the reasons I try to put the information out there to let people know before they buy. There are plenty of radios in this price range that are also clean on transmit!
@@KC4NWKso how does it work? Is it illegal to use such radio since it’s certified by FCC? That’s $26 radio and has AirBand RX perfect for the airshows.
Can you make the test how you can be heard with high power transmission 1-2-3 miles distance? Maybe it is still good to communicate?
That is a good question. I answered with a rather long reply to another comment on this video (you can read that below if you like,) but the FCC certification that this radio has is nothing to do with its transmit capabilities. If you look up the FCC certification it is for 15B. You can look it up here: fccid.io/2AJGM-5RM I won't summarize the certification here again, but basically the same certification can be applied to a calculator. I think I will end up making a separate video explaining these FCC certifications. Technically, yes, this radio would be illegal to transmit on here in the US on the 2M amateur band. But is fine for listening to air-band etc. Hope that helps a little. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Flame throwing radio is good for toasting marshmallows
Honestly, I have no idea what this means... Is it that the transmit power isn't as strong as it needs to be (10w?) or that there is also other noise being transmitted?
I mean, if you and the other hear you... Isn't that mostly is what is of concern?
Would this reduce battery life over time with it being "dirty"?
I just got mine in today and these are my first radios, so yeah, a ham...let here (ha! Get the dad joke? ham...let, Hamlet... Like someone new to hamming or ham radios... Oh, com'on :D).
Maybe they should call it the UV-QRM...?
I LIKE IT! Thank you for watching and commenting! 73s
And Now We Know. I received an email today advertising this, and I thought, "hmmm, maybe I should get one." Not gonna waste my time. Thanks.
Hey Bob! Awesome to see you here! Been watching your videos for quite a while! Yeah, I would probably skip this one. I hope this "silly" video isn't the first one you've watched. LOL 73s!
@@KC4NWK Wasn't silly, and not the first. I like your grip on the technical side of things.
Baofeng uv 25 is a radio that actually does what it says. 10 watt vhf 9.9 watt uhf. With good harmonics.
Ok, good to know. I might look into getting one to have a look! 73
It’s just an upgrade from smaller older one. Screen on it sells it. Specs and all that same as always but it works DECENT and CAN reach repeaters
Whereas these harmonic levels seem to be pretty high on 2m, trying something different probably won't help much, but I would be more interested in the harmonic content from the antenna as I don't operate into a dummy load. My antenna is a real world application instead of a lab type situation. Years ago, our radios had high harmonic output so we built and installed low pass filtering to combat the high harmonics. Nowadays, everyone is an appliance operator, unable to do anything for themselves.
The 5RM looks like a poor imitation of the A36Plus. At least with Talkpod, they're showing that they're constantly striving to improve.
😂 OMG! SO MANY fundamentalists!🤺🤺🤺🤺🤺😂
Hahaha Yes! Thanks for watching Don! 73s
good thing I found this video, was thinking of buying a set of these.
Thanks for watching and commenting. 73s
Best regardss to you as well, great video. For those of us that don't own analyzers yet, this information is gold and shows why not to buy that radio.
Much appreciated! Thank you for watching and commeting!
my radio trade school teacher used to say You want cheap, Ok but dont expect it to be or last like a Rolls Royce.
I hate this radio....loathe entirely
So my big, big problem is you pop up a stair step but frankly I don't know w.t.f it's telling me. I'm used to seeing traditional spectrum analyzer sweeps with 10 db divisions so I can see how far harmonics are down. Everybody understands that. I do not see that here. Also I don't know a thing about your equipment or setup or if you are measuring this correctly.
Second, Baofeng actually went and got these FCC tested and they now carry.an FCC i.d. number. Something you completely fail to mention here.
The FCC number carries more authority than what I see (well can't see here). Just badmouthing Baofeng doesn't make you an expert either.
If we perhaps had a decent discussion about how the radio fails signal wise then we could also discuss the circuit and where they went wrong and perhaps amoleriate it with filtering. Something that hams have done for time eterna but it just seems easier to give Baofeng a kick in the shins so to speak rather than spend effort on circuit analysis.
Oh, and before you crap on Baofeng their crap radios are bringing people into the hobby. Which is something that's desperately needed. Sure you're not going to waste time on it while the new ham sadly happens on your channel with their Baofeng in hand!!
I'm not going to defend Baofeng's crap radio. But I'm also not going to defend a UA-cam video that is more of a crap Baofeng comedy hour rather than actual useful technical information!
This video is pure LID. Yes I'm calling you out for the above reseaons and THUMBS DOWN. 73's sir.
Thanks for the comment. This gives me an opportunity to address the FCC-ID misconception.
Did you look at the FCC ID on the radio? Here it is: 2AJGM-5RM
You can look it up here: fccid.io/2AJGM-5RM or directly on the FCC site at this address: www.fcc.gov/oet/ea/fccid
What you will see is that this FCC-ID is for FCC Part 15 Subpart B compliance.
Here is the report: fcc.report/FCC-ID/2AJGM-5RM/7132026.pdf
On page 1 of the report it says "Standards: 47 CFR Part 15 Subpart B"
On page 10 of the report you can see that it was specifically certified for 15.107, 15.109, 15.111 and 15.121(b) (of Part 15 Subpart B)
15.107 deals with radio frequency voltage that is conducted back onto the AC power line. On page 12 of this report, you can read the test procedure. Section 3.1.3 of the report "Test Procedure", this test was to measure interference over the AC power line between two "AC floor outlets" These tests were done during "Charging & Scanning" and "Charging & Receiving."
15.109 deals with radiated emissions from unintentional radiators at a distance of 3 meters. This is radiated RF energy from the device when NOT transmitting. Page 14 discusses Test Procedure. Here is a link to a WaterPik that passed the same test criteria: fcc.report/FCC-ID/2ANTU-20023329/4530520.pdf
15.111 is the same as 15.109 but with the antenna terminals shielded and terminated with a resistive termination equal to the impedance specified for the antenna. The signals are then measured at the antenna terminals and cannot exceed 2.0 nanowatts. Page 15 discusses test procedure.
15.121(b) states that the RECEIVER shall reject any signal from the Cellular bands based on 12 dB SINAD measurement. Page 16 discusses test procedure.
So as you can see, this FCC certification has nothing to do with how good or clean of a transmitter this radio is either in or outside the amateur bands.
This certification is what leads to the incorrect statement of: "It's FCC certified it has be good."
As far as the harmonic testing in my videos. I use 50dB of attenuation between the radio and the input to the spectrum analyzer. This exact attenuation number is obtained by measuring the attenuation of all cables and connectors used in the connection of the radio. This is done with the tracking generator on the spectrum analyzer, and applying this number to the offset. This "stair step" graph seen in the results is rather easy to interpret, and is why I use it. The display shows the fundamental frequency as the first bar, and the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th harmonic frequencies (I generally only look at the first 5 harmonics) in the sections to the right of the fundamental. This allows for an easy quick view of each harmonic frequency in comparison to the fundamental. I also place the 25uW (-16.02 dBm) line on the display for the secondary requirement that all harmonics are required to be below 25uW for FCC Part 97.307(e) compliance. In addition, each harmonic is listed below the graphical display with its relative dBc from the fundamental. This is generally much easier and quicker to view for everyone, and is the default display for the "Harmonics" measurement on current Siglent spectrum analyzers.
We all want new hams to join the hobby. It would be nice to have them make educated decisions on the equipment that they buy and use on our allotted frequencies. From several of my previous videos and many videos from other UA-camrs, it has been shown that there are other choices for introductory radios that are clean in this price range. Baofeng's own UV-5R seems to now be clean per my previous video here: ua-cam.com/video/KZv5XmEUGHo/v-deo.html
Hope this helps clear some things up.
I hate this model its total junk that is totally deaf and sounds drifty on everything I since tossed it in the trash can and used my trusty yaesu‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️
Yaesu!!! 😤🤟
I too like my Yaesu radios! Although I did just pick up a new Kenwood HT that is pretty sweet. :)