2m 70cm radio

What's the opinion on a reasonable priced 2m 70cm radio to use in the house, at the moment I have baofeng ur5 was looking at getting a hand Mike for it but there seems to be a lot of bad reviews,

Hi Chris,

Opinions will vary......wildly(!)

My own opinions will not be the same as others, but I won't get my knickers in a twist with a difference of opinion either.


I have an Intek version of the UV-5R and it doesn't do a bad job, (hits the repeaters anyway )
It's let down, as with any handy, is the small antenna. I get a great signal outdoors but unless I'm hanging out of a window it's quite poor indoors. To the point that I'm investigating homebase antenna options as even a simple dipole improves the situation a huge amount.

I did get an external microphone for mine and it does make it easier to use with much improved audio. Holding a mic to your mouth is much easier than holding the handy and you'll speak more clearly into it.

There's loads of faff about regards drilling holes, changing elements etc. in the mics and unless they're audio engineers I tend to take that advice with 'shares in Saxa'  
Ask them how the 'pop' response fairs after drilling their dirty big holes(!)
(Let alone how the slightest breeze will make them sound like they're in the middle of a hurricane.)


As for radio suggestions, I'll bet most of the 'recommendations' will be for a 'big-boy' manufacturer. (Yaesu/Icom etc.)
They'll always be a knock back regards Chinese manufactured goods, that despite most other manufactured goods also tending to be Chinese in origin......go figure(?)

I got into trouble for suggesting a Baofeng was even similar to a Yaesu unit a while back, despite them using the same topology, chipsets and even the schematics being extremely similar.


I'd say go for whatever feels right for you, regardless.

With an external mic, external antenna and hitting a repeater well I think anyone would be hard pushed to tell what sort of radio you're using just by the sound and signal strength


Just have fun.

Thanks Victor, havnt re-booked yet using the ham app at the moment..

Deffo,, looking at the 2m70 sharman good gain 5.5 on uhf and they don't cost a fortune just over £40...

Chris I have one of these pretty good for the price basically Baofeng software but has tri power 
mine came with hand mic and house changer and car charger

No worries Chris.

Always exciting comparing options, been looking at some of the alternative mobile setups from Chinese manufacturers myself to use as a homebase.

Regards your 'ticket', you keep studying mate and when you're more sure re-book that test. You'll get there

use what ever you feel like the baofengs there ok and work very well and if the users of yaesu are not happy if they made there radios a little less cash bring the prices down they might sell more but its not better then a baofeng and its not worse just use what you feel happy as i like pmr radio i got my base 446 antenna from Slovakia and it works great and with the crt7u a perfect base radio on the car a home made pmr antenna with the cutting and measure from a radio sight think it was tm one and with crt space-u they work great enjoy the hobby