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Baofeng

  • Comparing the Baofeng UV-5R and TYT TH-UV88

    Audiogram excerpt from Episode 147 of The Two Way Radio Show Podcast - New Professional Grade FRS Two Way Radios

    It's no wonder the Baofeng UV-5R is one of the most popular two way radios in the world. It's tiny, powerful, and really, really cheap to buy. But there is another radio rising in the ranks that could become a contender for the UV-5R and its variants in the ham radio world. Called the TYT TH-UV88 Dual Band Analog Two Way Radio, this walkie talkie has similar features and power at about same price point.

    In this excerpt from Episode 147 of The Two Way Radio Show Podcast, Danny, Anthony and Rick compare these two portable handheld radios and explore the inevitable question, could the TH-UV88 be a UV-5R killer?

    You can find our complete selection of Amateur Two Way Radios available at Buy Two Way Radios.

  • Radio 101 - How To Program the Baofeng UV-5R From the Keypad

    We receive many questions from our customers who just purchased their first Baofeng UV-5R from Buy Two Way Radios and want to know how to to operate it. More specifically, they want to know how to program the Baofeng UV-5R directly from the keypad itself. In fact, it's one of the most frequently asked questions we get about one of the most popular radios in the world.

    In this episode of Radio 101, Rick shows you how to program a simplex channel into the Baofeng UV-5R Dual Band UHF/VHF Two Way Radio, and he does it step-by-step, in plain simple English. It's actually quite easy, once you know how it's done. The best part? You don't have to try to figure it out yourself from the original manual.

    Want more videos? Browse our video blog and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

  • Great alternatives to the Baofeng UV-5R

    Baofeng UV-5R Dual Band Two Way RadioThere's no denying it. The Baofeng UV-5R is one of the most popular and prolific handheld two way radios in the world. It's no wonder, really. It's extremely compact, feature packed, and extremely affordable, or, to put it bluntly, it's really, really cheap. A power packed dual bander at a powerfully low price, the UV-5R is without a doubt the preferred choice of many radio operators across the globe.

    Of course, with high popularity comes high demand. With such demand comes the challenge of keeping the UV-5R in stock and available to ship same day to our customers. Usually this is not a problem, but the current worldwide pandemic has created an unusual situation for retailers in general, and it affects our warehouse operations as well.

    Due to the sudden interest in personal preparedness during the coronavirus emergency, we've experienced an uptick in demand for certain makes and models of two way radios by the general public. As such, some of our most popular radios may be in short supply or temporarily out of stock. The Baofeng UV-5R is one of those affected models.

    But there's absolutely no reason to panic, or panic buy. On the contrary, we have plenty of other radios in stock and available that fit the bill. While some may not be at the same price point as the UV-5R, they are certainly capable of powerful, reliable operation on the same bands and frequencies as the Baofeng. Not only that, these models are of equal or higher build specifications for greater ruggedness and better durability, adding greater value for the price!

    For instance, the TYT TH-UV88 is a dual band analog radio that matches the UV-5R in almost every respect, even down to the built-in LED flashlight. Some even call it a potential UV-5R killer. Sure, it costs just a little more than the UV-5R, but it has something the UV-5R doesn't, a more rugged and durable housing. It also has a real one year manufacturer warranty from TYT, something that Baofeng claims to offer, but in most cases makes it all but impossible for the end user to actually redeem.

    Then there's a great selection from Wouxun. These are powerful dual band radios with exceptional features and capabilities, some of which are not available at all on the Baofeng UV-5R. Does the UV-5R have a full color LCD display? No? Well, it's a standard feature on many Wouxun models. Can the bands be freely set in the UV-5R for VHF TX and UHF RX or UHF TX and VHF RX on the same channel? Well, you can do it on the Wouxun KG-UV6D. Does the UV-5R have cross band repeat capability? The Wouxun KG-UV8D does, and so do several other Wouxun models, including the KG-UV8E, and it's a tri-bander!

    Yes, the Baofeng UV-5R is Part 90 type accepted for business use, and some of the other models mentioned are not. But some of them are. And if you need a radio specifically for business use, why settle for a cheap little transceiver when you can get much more durability, and in turn, greater ROI with more rugged Part 90 type accepted radios specifically designed for business use? Icom, Motorola and other manufacturers offer many models that fit the bill. And, if you really need to buy on price alone, Why not consider the Olympia P324? This is a great little radio for business applications. It's Part 90 type accepted, and it's an incredibly inexpensive buy. Note: at the time this article was written, it's also on sale!

    We could go on and on, but you get the point. Why be disappointed that the UV-5R is out of stock, when there are so many other great radios to choose from that are also a bargain, and are better radios, to boot?

    So the UV-5R is out of stock? No problem. Just upgrade. Considering all this, when you upgrade your purchase from a UV-5R to another model, you aren't settling for less, you're getting something more. It's a win-win for you. And that's a smarter buy.

    Here are some great alternatives to the Baofeng UV-5R:

    Manufacturer Model Type Acceptance Bands Service
    Baofeng UV-82 Part 90 UHF/VHF Business
    Icom F4001
    F3001
    Part 90 UHF
    VHF
    Business
    Motorola VX-261 Part 90 UHF or VHF Business
    Olympia P324 Part 90 UHF Business
    TYT TH-UV88 Part 15B UHF/VHF Amateur
    Wouxun KG-UV6D Part 90 UHF/VHF Business
    KG-UV6D PRO Part 90 UHF/VHF Business
    KG-UV7D Part 90* UHF/VHF Business
    KG-UV899 Part 15 UHF Amateur
    KG-UV8D Part 15B UHF/VHF Amateur
    KG-UV8D Plus Part 15B UHF/VHF Amateur
    KG-UV8E Part 15B Tri-Band Amateur
    KG-UV9D Part 15B UHF/VHF Amateur
    KG-UV9D PLUS LE Part 15B UHF/VHF Amateur
    KG-UV9P Part 15B UHF/VHF Amateur

    *The 2M/70cm version has been approved by the FCC. Type accepted for Part 90, FCC ID WVTWOUXUN07. The 2M/1.25M and 2M/6M versions are for amateur use only.

    Want to learn more about the TYT-TH-UV88? Listen to an in-depth discussion about this powerful and inexpensive alternative to the UV-5R in Episode 149 of The Two Way Radio Show podcast!

  • Baofeng and TYT BOGO Battery offers!

    Note: This promotion expired July 31, 2018 and is no longer available.

    Buy 1 Baofeng battery, get 1 FREE!
    Our Web Site Redesign Promotion Event is not yet over. Here are a couple of Baofeng and TYT BOGO battery offers (Buy One, Get One Free), and you'll only find them at Buy Two Way Radios!

    These BOGO offers are valid through July 31, 2018 or until we run out of batteries, whichever comes first. We only have a limited supply of each, so if you want to stock up on spare battery packs for your radio, the time to do it is now.

  • Baofeng UV-5R special - buy 6, get one FREE!

    Note: This promotion expired July 31, 2018 and is no longer available.

    Buy 6 Baofeng UV-5R radios, get 1 free!Our Web Site Redesign Promotion Event features another deal with a Baofeng UV-5R special - buy 6, get 1 FREE! For a limited time, purchase 6 Baofeng UV-5R Dual Band UHF/VHF Radios and we'll add one more UV-5R, FREE! There's no limit on the number you can purchase (until we run out of them). Every six UV-5R radios you buy gets you an extra one, free!

    The Baofeng UV-5R is one of the most popular portable handheld transceivers in the world, and it's well known for its large feature set, small size and very low price. Now one of the most inexpensive handheld radios is an even better deal when you get it from Buy Two Way Radios During this promotion. For every six you buy, you get one more, free!

    This offer is available at Buy Two Way Radios until July 31, 2018 or while supplies last. A minimum of 6 UV-5R radios must be purchased to qualify for a freebie. This offer is valid for U.S. residents only and is void where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law.

  • Radio 101 - How To Reset the Baofeng UV-5R to the English Language

    So you've reset your Baofeng UV-5R Dual Band Two Way Radio and now it's speaking in Chinese. How do you change the voice prompts back to English?

    In this episode of Radio 101, Rick Savoia from Buy Two Way Radios and The Two Way Radio Show Podcast shows you how to quickly and easily navigate the menu to reset the UV-5R back to the English language.

    Want more videos? Browse our video blog and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

  • Buy 6 Baofeng UV-5R radios, get one FREE!

    Note: This promotion expired December 31, 2017 and is no longer available.

    Buy 6 Baofeng UV-5R Dual Band UHF/VHF Radios and we'll throw in an extra UV-5R, FREE! Every six UV-5R radios you buy gets you a free one, with no limit on the number of radios you can purchase (until we run out of them)!

    The Baofeng UV-5R is known around the world for its big features, small footprint and even smaller price. Now one of the most economical radios just became even more so, because during the holidays, you can get even more for the same low price!

    This offer is available exclusively at Buy Two Way Radios from November 27 to December 31, 2017 or while supplies last. A minimum of 6 UV-5R radios must be purchased to qualify for a freebie. This offer is valid for U.S. residents only and is void where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law.

  • FREE Baofeng UV-5R with purchase of a TYT MD-2017!

    Note: This promotion expired December 10, 2017 and is no longer available.

    md-2017 and uv-5r.jpg

    For ONE WEEK ONLY, get a FREE Baofeng UV-5R Dual Band UHF/VHF Radio when you buy a TYT MD-2017!

    You read that correctly. For every TYT MD-2017 Dual Band DMR Digital Two Way Radio you purchase during the week of December 4-10, 2017, we'll give you a Baofeng UV-5R radio, FREE!

    The Baofeng UV-5R is one of the most popular dual band analog two way radios on the market, and it's no wonder. The UV-5R is extremely compact, loaded with features and is readily available at a very low cost. It's one of the most universally recognizable radios in the world, used actively by small businesses and ham radio operators who want maximum capabilities at minimal cost.

    This offer is good on a TYT MD-2017 or a TYT MD-2017 with GPS purchased from Buy Two Way Radios. Every MD-2017 you buy gets you a free Baofeng UV-5R. Buy one, get one. Buy ten, get ten. The only limit is the number of radios we have in stock, and we stocked up for this one.

    You don't need to input a promo code, either. It's all automatic. Order your MD-2017 radios and at checkout, you'll get your free UV-5R radios to match, one to one. It's really that simple, and it's a really great deal. Don't miss out on it!

    Note: although we prepared for this promo, supplies of the MD-2017 and Baofeng UV-5R radios are limited. Also, this thing is timed. This free radio offer is valid from December 4 through December 10, 2017 only or while supplies last. When it's done, it's done. No rain checks. If you want in on this deal, you may want to do it now.

  • How to manually program the Baofeng UV-5R from the keypad

    Baofeng UV-5R-2.jpgThe Baofeng UV-5R is one of the most popular dual band handheld two way radios on the market worldwide. It's compact, feature packed, and very inexpensive. For many users who are new to programming portables, it is also one of the most challenging to program, primarily due to a poorly written user manual and an all but complete lack of support from its manufacturer, Baofeng.

    Fortunately, there are some helpful resources available from a global community of UV-5R enthusiasts, including an easier to read and understand owner's manual and an excellent software application designed to program the UV-5R from a computer. The programming software is called CHIRP, and it is freely available online.

    Of course, CHIRP is a great solution, provided you have a computer, an easy to install programming cable and the time to input all the data for 128 channels. But, what if you are on the road or out in the field and don't have a computer handy? What if you need to add in a frequency or program a channel on the fly?

    We often receive calls from customers who just purchased their first Baofeng UV-5R from Buy Two Way Radios and want to know how to to operate it. More specifically, they want to know how to program their radio manually, directly from the radio itself.

    So, here's how to do it. Follow the instructions below to manually program your Baofeng UV-5R direct from the keypad of the radio.

    How to manually program a simplex channel

    • Step 1. Press [VFO/MR] and enter Frequency Mode.
    • Step 2. Press [A/B] and choose the A Side (upper display).
      The A side must be used to program channels into the radio. Programming data entered on the B Side (lower display) will not be saved.
    • Step 3. Press [BAND] for the frequency band.
      Toggle [BAND] to choose 136 MHz (VHF) or 470 MHz (UHF).
      If the incorrect band is chosen for the frequency entered in Step 5, the radio will cancel the operation.
    • Step 4. Disable TDR (Dual Watch/Dual Standby).
      Press [MENU] 7 [MENU] [press up/down arrow keys] OFF [MENU] [EXIT]
      It is highly advised to turn TDR off when programming directly from the radio.
    • Step 5. Enter the frequency.
      Use the keypad to enter the frequency into the radio.
    • Step 6. optional - Enter the transmit CTCSS/DCS code.
      • CTCSS - [MENU] 13 [MENU] [enter/choose code XXXX] [MENU] [EXIT]
      • DCS - [MENU] 12 [MENU] [choose code XXXXX] [MENU] [EXIT]
    • Step 7. Assign the frequency to a channel.
      [MENU] 27 [MENU] [enter channel number XXX] [MENU] [EXIT]

    How to manually program a repeater channel

    • Step 1. Press [VFO/MR] and enter Frequency Mode.
    • Step 2. Press [A/B] and choose the A Side (upper display).
      Like the simplex channels, the A side must be used to program the repeater channels into the radio. Programming data entered on the B Side (lower display) will not be saved.
    • Step 3. Press [BAND] for the frequency band
      Toggle [BAND] to choose 136 MHz (VHF) or 470 MHz (UHF).
      If the incorrect band is chosen for the frequency entered in Step 6, the radio will cancel the operation.
    • Step 4. optional - Clear any CTCSS/DCS codes previously assigned to the channel.
      If no previous codes exist or when setting up the channel for the first time and no codes are needed, set the menu items listed below to OFF.

      • RX DCS - [MENU] 10 [MENU] [enter 0 (OFF)] [MENU] [EXIT]
      • RX CTCSS - [MENU] 11 [MENU] [enter 0 (OFF)] [MENU] [EXIT]
      • TX DCS - [MENU] 12 [MENU] [enter 0 (OFF)] [MENU] [EXIT]
      • TX CTCSS - [MENU] 13 [MENU] [enter 0 (OFF)] [MENU] [EXIT]
    • Step 5. Disable TDR (DualWatch/Dual Standby).
      Press [MENU] 7 [MENU] [press up/down arrow keys] OFF [MENU] [EXIT]
      It is highly advised to turn TDR off when programming directly from the radio.
    • Step 6. optional - Delete any existing data on the channel to program.
      Skip this step when setting up the channel for the first time.
      Press [MENU] 28 [press up/down arrow keys to choose channel number] [MENU] [EXIT]
      It is highly advised to turn TDR off when programming directly from the radio.
    • Step 7. Enter the repeater output (your receiving) frequency.
      Use the keypad to enter the frequency into the radio.
    • Step 8. Input the repeater frequency offset.
      Press [MENU] 26 [MENU] [enter the offset for 2 meter or 70 cm repeater] [MENU] [EXIT]
    • Step 9. Enter the Transmit Frequency Shift.
      Press [MENU] 25 [MENU] [enter 1 for positive shift or 2 for negative shift] [MENU][EXIT]
    • Step 10. optional - Enter the transmit CTCSS/DCS code.
      • CTCSS - [MENU] 13 [MENU] [enter/choose code XXXX] [MENU] [EXIT]
      • DCS - [MENU] 12 [MENU] [choose code XXXXX] [MENU] [EXIT]
    • Step 11. Assign the receive frequency entered in Step 7 to the channel.
      [MENU] 27 [MENU] [enter channel number XXX] [MENU] [EXIT]
    • Step 12. Press the [*Scan] button to activate Reverse Mode and display the transmit frequency.
    • Step 13. Assign the transmit frequency to the channel.
      Press [MENU] 27 [MENU] [enter the same memory channel entered in step 12] [MENU] [EXIT]
    • Step 14. Press the [*Scan] button to exit Reverse Mode.

    To add more channels, simply repeat the steps above. If these step-by-step instructions are followed correctly, you should be able to program all 128 channels (000-127) in your Baofeng UV-5R as you need.

  • How to reset a Baofeng UV-5R two way radio

    Baofeng-UV-5R-Reset.jpgCertain circumstances may require you to perform a reset on your Baofeng. Performing a reset is extremely easy, however if you speak only English and the voice prompts are in Chinese, performing a simple reset or recovering from one may require a little more attention.

    Follow the steps below to reset a Baofeng UV-5R, BF-F9, BF-F8+, UV-B6 or UV-82 two way radio from Buy Two Way Radios.

    To perform a VFO Reset
    1.Turn on the radio and press the MENU button.
    2.Press the UP and DOWN arrow key to select RESET (Menu Item 40).
    3.Press MENU to choose RESET.
    4.Press the DOWN arrow key to choose VFO.
    5.Press MENU. The radio will display SOURCE?
    6.Press MENU to confirm. The radio will display WAIT... for a few seconds, then beep twice to confirm reset is complete. The radio will revert to Chinese language mode. Reset is complete.

    To perform a FULL Reset
    1.Turn on the radio and press the MENU button.
    2.Press the UP and DOWN arrow key to select RESET (Menu Item 40).
    3.Press MENU to choose RESET.
    4.Press the DOWN arrow key to choose ALL.
    5.Press MENU. The radio will display SOURCE?
    6.Press MENU to confirm. The radio will display WAIT... for a few seconds, then beep twice to confirm reset is complete.
    7.The radio will revert to Chinese language mode. Reset is complete.

    To set language from Chinese to English
    1.Press MENU.
    2.Press the UP and DOWN arrow key to select VOICE (Menu Item 14).
    3.Press MENU to choose VOICE.
    4.Press the DOWN arrow key to choose ENG.
    5.Press MENU to choose ENG.

    NOTE: a VFO RESET only resets the frequency values in VFO mode. To reset the radio back to factory defaults, choose RESET/ALL. A reset may resolve some issues, but will not resolve them all. Some scenarios, such as inoperability due to an incorrect or corrupt image file cannot be resolved with a reset and require another resolution. It is, however, usually a standard first step when troubleshooting the radio.

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