Re: [PLUG] microcenter has baofengs again

["Keith C. Perry via plug" <plug@lists.phillylinux.org>]

Yep, they had too.  The reality is that Baofeng, for better or for worse, lowered the bar for new hams to get on the air.  Acceptance of them has lead to more and in my opinion better Chinese radio to come on the market so I think after all this time.  They're finally starting to make better units.

Even Yaesu, who in my opinion is is doing a number of things wrong these days, was force to respond the market with the FT-4XR.  They wanted that to be the Baofeng or "cheap radio" killer but at just under $100 I don't think it has worked out that way for them the way they thought it would.

I'm more of an HF guy so if a newer ham received their general or extra ticket it would be hard for me to NOT tell them to take a look at the Xiegu G90 or X6200 (with the amp- QRP ops is not really a good place to start for new HF folks).  It's the same rational.  Even used gear from the big 3 is often more expensive than new stuff from <not the big 3>.  Older models these days don't necessarily interest new hams because they can't do some of the digital modes that are popular.

Eventually, they'll get it like the ARRL did.  Hobbies don't have to be expensive.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
Keith C. Perry, MS E.E. 
Managing Member, DAO Technologies LLC 
(O) +1.215.525.4165 x2033 
(M) +1.215.432.5167 
[ http://www.daotechnologies.com/ | www.daotechnologies.com ]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Philadelphia Linux User's Group Discussion List" <plug@lists.phillylinux.org>
To: "Philadelphia Linux User's Group Discussion List" <plug@lists.phillylinux.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 4, 2025 11:22:31 AM
Subject: Re: [PLUG] microcenter has baofengs again

That's what I always hear from hams about Baofengs -- be careful,
they put out harmonics, etc. And oh yeah, I have a few of them too!

In the past year or so the ARRL seems to have given up and has even
offered some beginner web classes targeting the UV-5R.

Walt

On Thu, Dec 04, 2025 at 11:16:24AM -0500, Keith C. Perry via plug wrote:
> Just to put this out there....  Not all Baofengs are created equal.  Quite a few models can be "dirty" in the sense that there can be significant harmonics in other bands.  A number of ham guys on Youtube do tests to show this so buyers are informed.  I don't think I've seen this particular model tested so I don't know one way or the other.
> 
> I get it... it's a $20 radio.  I have a couple of Baofengs myself.  That said, they as well as Wouxon and Tidradio (also Chinese) have models that are clean for not much more money.  For Baofeng though, I would stick to models under the Btech brand since they are in the states.  Their Baofengs models tend to be a better quality.  The new UV-5R Mini (https://www.baofengradio.com/products/5r-mini) has however been tested by a number of people and that one has had good results too.
> 
> -$0.02 😎
> 
> ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
> Keith C. Perry, MS E.E. 
> Managing Member, DAO Technologies LLC 
> (O) +1.215.525.4165 x2033 
> (M) +1.215.432.5167 
> [ http://www.daotechnologies.com/ | www.daotechnologies.com ]
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Philadelphia Linux User's Group Discussion List" <plug@lists.phillylinux.org>
> To: "Philadelphia Linux User's Group Discussion List" <plug@lists.phillylinux.org>
> Sent: Thursday, December 4, 2025 11:00:55 AM
> Subject: Re: [PLUG] microcenter has baofengs again
> 
> I didn't know they ever carried them! I take it they're in that aisle
> with all the other impulse buy items by the registers? Do they have
> any other ham stuff?
> 
> Walt
> 
> On Wed, Dec 03, 2025 at 07:04:25PM -0500, Rachel plays Linux via plug wrote:
> > Not that too many PLUGgers need a new cheap ham transceiver anymore, but
> > I'm in line at MicroCenter and they have the UV-5RX for 20 bucks. Might be
> > a good present for a nerdy nibling.
> 
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Announcements - http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-announce
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Announcements - http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-announce
General Discussion  --   http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug