I've had mine for a few months now, I really like it. It's serving as the mobile in my truck right at the moment untill I get a proper mobile, because I just got the truck. The battery lasts for so long its crazy. Woah... I diddnt realize it did air band! I'm going out to the truck right now to check it out.
@derekroberson1073 Its wide open so it works for the amateur frequencies and I use it in the business band UHF on the repeater where I work on a university campus. I love it, it has no problem reaching repeaters on 2m many many miles away
First glance was 'i hate it'... But then... It does remind me of what I used to think walkie-talkies should look like when I was 10 or 12, and it brings back memories XD For that reason alone, I kinda want one now XD
I’m re-watching stranger things and really enjoying those radio shack HTs they are using. I remember mine and was about their age when we lived by them. I’m sure that’s what did me in.
I've had one for a month or so, I love it. Not something I'd take out anywhere, but the mad battery means it's always gonna have a charge. The bendy antenna is pretty good for picking up airband - I put a RH-770 on it and it's even better. Loved the video, do some more on this (or other Chinese radios) as it's fun seeing your take on something affordable.
Whenever I hear talk about harmonics these lyrics pop in my head: It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth The minor falls, the major lifts The baffled king composing Hallelujah That feng is a major lift for sure
This radio has had a bit of bad press but when i first reviewed it i was knocked out by the build quality and how it performed for such little money. I have used it quite a lot with incredible results. Thanks for the thorough video. M3VWN
Good God, Josh. I thought you just had small hands. That thing really is pretty big. Good point, too. I really don't wanna be chewing on 10 watts as I use my ht. Maybe during an emergency. If I didn't have anything around to warm my head. Inductive baofeng warmer. 🤣🤙🏾
Been doing HF since I started the hobby. Know plenty of ops who work repeater's but I never messed around with 2 meters. After your video I figured I might need to give it a try. My UV-25 is on the way.
I've got two of these monsters. I've read that there's an "L" version and an "M" version with slightly different PCB's. I have the "L" version which does NOT do air band. Mine tested at 11w peak on 2m, 9.5w on 70cm, and 5.25w on 1.25m. They work great on UHF, but like all my Baofengs, the squelch doesn't like to open up on VHF unless you've got a strong signal - even at the lowest squelch setting. I can put any Baofeng right next to my favorite Wouxun and the Wouxun will receive a distant 2m repeater while the Baofeng is silent. UV-5R, UV-5R8W, AR-152, UV-25 - they all have squelch issues on 2m.
I'll stick to my 3 GT-5R's (2-boxed backups) with 3800mah packs. Light and fit the hand well, plus around here HT's are used mostly for group events (like hamfests) where even 5 watts is more than enough. YMMV! 73 mike 🍺🍻
Bought it 3 months ago from that famous China website and paid about $35 delivered. I was shocked by how big it is. It's too big to carry. The funny thing is it comes with a belt clip that would yank your shorts down.
I know that you may never even see this, but maybe some else will. Studied for the extra exam and was doing ok. 80's on practice tests. Then totally got busy with life and forgot about it for a year. I took some practice and got high 60's😂. So I thought I would study up and take the teat. Now I just saw that there are new questions. How different are they? Do I have to relearn everything? Is it kind of the same but added some new stuff?? I already checked my area, (no tests at a time I can take them. I work too much.
Not sure if anyone has pointed this out... but there is nothing wrong with you SA, you just have it setup so that the marker shows the delta value. Notice that marker 2 is designated as 2-Delta-1, or the difference between 1 and 2... set a scale on the bottom of the screen and you will find out that marker 2 is at 293(ish).
Just received this thing from Radioddity a couple days ago. Not sure if this thing is worth the money. The receive audio is spotty. I don’t know if it is the radio or the antennas but on 2 meters I couldn’t get consistent reception from a nearby repeater even in my back yard. If I did get a signal I could move my hand and the signal would cut out. When it did decide to receive the audio was fairly clear. My 10 year old 2 watt Baofeng UV-5R is better.
It is a very intriguing device! Seems better than a regular Baofeng... I want a Farsometer 200 as well! Where can I get one of those... I know Randy had that market cornered for a while. ;)
What about the Tidradio H8 which is a 10 watt radio and it is only $39.00. Have you heard of this one? Great videos I enjoy all of the content you have have in them thank you.
Please note that if you order the Baofeng programming cable from Radioddity for this radio it WILL NOT work with the UV-25. It was built with too much material around the plug-in and WILL NOT seat into the UV-25 programming receptacle. They have zero clue that this is an issue and sent me a replacement that was exactly like the first even though I clearly explained the issue.
The Pro Max does tx/rx on those frequenxies-- as does the basic uv-25 which I believe is the one in this video. .. not sure about the regular pro model. Just double check descriptions before buying as there are some small differences between the 3. .
What an absolute CHONKER of a radio! I might be interested myself to see what it can do. I have some UV-5R Pros that I use, and this thing is twice the size of mine. Nice review! - KF0QNM
I am a straight up greenhorn rookie getting into comms…I was wondering if there is a radio unit that you can recommend that I can purchase and turn it into a manpack to be compatible with this radio and/or my UV-5R’s. Just need one for comms within the family and small prepper community and may further than that for now.🙏
I just got two of these UV25 radios at the same time. I noticed in the settings one radio shows Firmware V0.03 Hardware V01. The other shows Firmware V0.06 and Hardware V01. Just curious if anyone know the differences?
Couple of points, one there's a reason they ship a folding antenna with it, the bendy hose antenna sucks. Two, the buttons are much larger, people with fat fingers will really like this radio.
I have got one with firmware version V0.10 and Hardware V01, but this one is missing the scramble option. and the menu only goes to 45. There also seems to be a UV-24 Pro max version. I think you have that version.
That’s why I test rather than read specs’ mate. I can only speak as to my instruments and procedure, initial models were labelled as 2800mA/h and the cells are (conjecture) probably B-grade. You should have noticed the thermometer for the battery pack also is NC so this pack has been cobbled together. There’s a vid’ about it on my channel. There are four average quality 18650 cells inside the battery pack with a dog-shit charging circuit hence the horrendous recharge time.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Josh, The Radioddity website and the Amazon description state that the battery is 5200. Also, I don't think 10 W out just inches from the skull is a good idea. As you mentioned in your video, I like these inexpensive Baofengs as receiving radios only for both mobile and around the house - an inexpensive airband monitor, fm radio, scan local repeaters, weather band monitor, etc. Even if you never transmit with it I think its a bargain for monitoring and general listening. I look for battery life and memory capacity, so this one will probably be in my collection soon. Thanks for all you do, and enjoy your channel.
@@AudioDaze yep. As I’ve termed it - _it’s an RF [something] _ and yeah; do you really want a 10W RF shower inches from your face? I’m glad my testing matches with others’ specs at least! Trust but verify, all that 😂
I really have no reason to buy this, but I'm going to anyway. Gotta get one before it gets prominently displayed on any new streaming military/tactical movie/show and they will be unobtanium. "Look at me, Chris Pratt! I got one too!"
I'd buy this, just for the silly factor. And have it sitting next to my Yaesu FT2DR, FT3DR, Kenwood TH75, Icom ID-51, 52 and IC-31 and 91AD to make it feel bad about itself.
At last a decent physical sized radio similar happened to phones back in the day the trend was smaller smaller then- now THANKFULLY phones are bigger and sure hope radios besides this one (good size the Motorola) also go that way. Maybe in my case fat fingers and bad eyesight might be why this is my preference. The fact that its 10w is a bit of a worry next to a head but be careful and hold it away a bit or drop the power lower. Anyway that's my thoughts -good review thanks.73 de VK3DET.
There seem to be at least three versions of the UV-25. L and M on the two-band, but then at least some Amazon ones are tri-band without the other antenna, and some have the other antenna and also claim 11W. Is yours really just two-band? Can the two-band ones be modified to tri-band?
@@HamRadioCrashCourse One of your fellow ham youtubers ( Ham Radio 2.0) did a review of the UV-25 and showed 220. He also tested overtones and found a very different result from you. But, he also didn't have a flat baseline in his nanoSA. I wonder if you are both using them in different ways? It would be really great to know that your methods are the same and that the radios really differ, not the other way!
The UV-25 series is available in L and M versions. The M version SUPPORTS AM 108-136Mhz RX, 350- 390MHz RX and Voice Scrambling Functions (not for use on ham bands).
@@vhfgamer I’ll put a video up Sunday - the extra mass causes more issues with my engineer brain switched on - these really aren’t very tough at all, they’re a LARP gadget.
Interestingly, it also doubles as a Weapon of Mass Destruction. Beat the brakes off someone with it if necessary. Plus the fancy antenna adds a +10 modifier to damage.
Any idea if chirp will work on it? I just went to look at the specs on this, and they say it also works on 220MHz?!?!?!?! Can you check that and let us know if it really does.
I've had mine for a few months now, I really like it. It's serving as the mobile in my truck right at the moment untill I get a proper mobile, because I just got the truck. The battery lasts for so long its crazy. Woah... I diddnt realize it did air band! I'm going out to the truck right now to check it out.
Can you transmitt with it on your own channel
@derekroberson1073 Its wide open so it works for the amateur frequencies and I use it in the business band UHF on the repeater where I work on a university campus. I love it, it has no problem reaching repeaters on 2m many many miles away
@@patthesoundguy thanks
Two of these and a wrist strap. Fengchucks.
Reminds me of the old MX Motorola police HTs from the 80s/90s.
That was my first thought I'm like it looks like my saber.
"Heavy is reliable, if it does not work you can always hit him with it"
Boris.....
Ze Germans?
@@ek12746 who took the jam out of your donut?
That’s what people say about Hi Points 😂
Haven't heard that in a long time
You hooked me with, "Do we really want ten watts to the dome?". 😮
True!, just like people holding mobile phones the 'dome'... 😂
(However, a Tin Foil Hat will deflect the RF and act as a ground plane!) 👍
Sure, China, Russia would like to fry our brain...
First glance was 'i hate it'... But then... It does remind me of what I used to think walkie-talkies should look like when I was 10 or 12, and it brings back memories XD
For that reason alone, I kinda want one now XD
Big throwback vibes.
I’m re-watching stranger things and really enjoying those radio shack HTs they are using. I remember mine and was about their age when we lived by them. I’m sure that’s what did me in.
I've had one for a month or so, I love it. Not something I'd take out anywhere, but the mad battery means it's always gonna have a charge. The bendy antenna is pretty good for picking up airband - I put a RH-770 on it and it's even better. Loved the video, do some more on this (or other Chinese radios) as it's fun seeing your take on something affordable.
Good output for a small crossband repeater.
Whenever I hear talk about harmonics these lyrics pop in my head:
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor falls, the major lifts
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
That feng is a major lift for sure
This radio has had a bit of bad press but when i first reviewed it i was knocked out by the build quality and how it performed for such little money. I have used it quite a lot with incredible results. Thanks for the thorough video. M3VWN
Good God, Josh. I thought you just had small hands. That thing really is pretty big. Good point, too. I really don't wanna be chewing on 10 watts as I use my ht. Maybe during an emergency. If I didn't have anything around to warm my head. Inductive baofeng warmer. 🤣🤙🏾
Been doing HF since I started the hobby. Know plenty of ops who work repeater's but I never messed around with 2 meters. After your video I figured I might need to give it a try. My UV-25 is on the way.
That is a huge radio. Even at the $60 price point I don't think many people would be too upset if they lost it or damaged it when out and about.
Plus it counts as another person in the carpool lane!
@@HamRadioCrashCourse that's a good one. As far as I am aware we don't have those in Michigan.
Thats one of those radios at that price point makes it easy to say "Why not" 😂 can never have enough Bofangs! Lol
looks like a good radio to have around, can't wait for a further review
lol the belt clip and wrist strap for that chungus. I love it.
Last night I bought the 8-watt Baofeng from Amazon and I'm waiting for it to arrive on Wednesday 7/3/24, Can't wait to play with it.
I've got two of these monsters. I've read that there's an "L" version and an "M" version with slightly different PCB's. I have the "L" version which does NOT do air band. Mine tested at 11w peak on 2m, 9.5w on 70cm, and 5.25w on 1.25m. They work great on UHF, but like all my Baofengs, the squelch doesn't like to open up on VHF unless you've got a strong signal - even at the lowest squelch setting. I can put any Baofeng right next to my favorite Wouxun and the Wouxun will receive a distant 2m repeater while the Baofeng is silent. UV-5R, UV-5R8W, AR-152, UV-25 - they all have squelch issues on 2m.
i love the use of the guitar pick you did there
I'll stick to my 3 GT-5R's (2-boxed backups) with 3800mah packs. Light and fit the hand well, plus around here HT's are used mostly for group events (like hamfests) where even 5 watts is more than enough. YMMV! 73 mike 🍺🍻
Bought it 3 months ago from that famous China website and paid about $35 delivered. I was shocked by how big it is. It's too big to carry. The funny thing is it comes with a belt clip that would yank your shorts down.
Thanks for sharing. I'm the odd duck that likes my new FT5 and has six boefengs.
I know that you may never even see this, but maybe some else will. Studied for the extra exam and was doing ok. 80's on practice tests. Then totally got busy with life and forgot about it for a year. I took some practice and got high 60's😂. So I thought I would study up and take the teat. Now I just saw that there are new questions. How different are they? Do I have to relearn everything? Is it kind of the same but added some new stuff?? I already checked my area, (no tests at a time I can take them. I work too much.
Trust me, the second teat is similar to the first. 😂
A beast of a radio for sure! Quite an interesting thing!
Not sure if anyone has pointed this out... but there is nothing wrong with you SA, you just have it setup so that the marker shows the delta value.
Notice that marker 2 is designated as 2-Delta-1, or the difference between 1 and 2... set a scale on the bottom of the screen and you will find out that marker 2 is at 293(ish).
Just received this thing from Radioddity a couple days ago. Not sure if this thing is worth the money. The receive audio is spotty. I don’t know if it is the radio or the antennas but on 2 meters I couldn’t get consistent reception from a nearby repeater even in my back yard. If I did get a signal I could move my hand and the signal would cut out. When it did decide to receive the audio was fairly clear. My 10 year old 2 watt Baofeng UV-5R is better.
It is a very intriguing device! Seems better than a regular Baofeng... I want a Farsometer 200 as well! Where can I get one of those... I know Randy had that market cornered for a while. ;)
What about the Tidradio H8 which is a 10 watt radio and it is only $39.00. Have you heard of this one? Great videos I enjoy all of the content you have have in them thank you.
Josh: "Let me put an antenna on this so I don't blow it up." Me, chanting: "Blow it up! Blow it up! Blow it up!"
Great opening, first thing I thought when I saw it, heavy.
Thanks for the great video
The boat anchor of baofang
Please note that if you order the Baofeng programming cable from Radioddity for this radio it WILL NOT work with the UV-25. It was built with too much material around the plug-in and WILL NOT seat into the UV-25 programming receptacle. They have zero clue that this is an issue and sent me a replacement that was exactly like the first even though I clearly explained the issue.
now you need the Leixen uv-25d. Thats the godzilla for handheld
Thanks for the vid! Do you know if the UV-25 will TX and RX on 136-174 MHz?
The Pro Max does tx/rx on those frequenxies-- as does the basic uv-25 which I believe is the one in this video. .. not sure about the regular pro model. Just double check descriptions before buying as there are some small differences between the 3. .
Pairing it with a rollup j-pole for using the high power 10 watt setting will keep the it fruther from your head.
Looks like a UV-5R with a speaker box stuck on top! 😂
Still, nice addition to the Baofeng 'Family'
12:38 “Chungus Facts” 🤣
That size, they should of included SSB, that would make it useful.
I got asked to test one today. I may do it just to compare the QC between them... also to test the battery out, interesting
Yes please do. More data is always good!
Sounds like a plan! thanks for the video and information. @@HamRadioCrashCourse
The comparison of this to the UV-5R reminds me of the "You Vs The Guy She Told You Not To Worry About" meme. Someone make that for the meme deck
Interesting radio. oh, by the way, your hair and bread trim looks great!
Josh, I hope you do an antenna test using this model. I’m not sir sure about that antenna it comes with.
Looks like you could call in an airstrike with this thang
👍 Do you have a good tip for a PMR and Freenet antenna? Danke
I would like to see whats inside.
YES YES YES
What an absolute CHONKER of a radio! I might be interested myself to see what it can do. I have some UV-5R Pros that I use, and this thing is twice the size of mine.
Nice review! - KF0QNM
Hopefully, they will come up with a baofeng helmet with an integrated 2000w linear amplifier to pair with this.
I am a straight up greenhorn rookie getting into comms…I was wondering if there is a radio unit that you can recommend that I can purchase and turn it into a manpack to be compatible with this radio and/or my UV-5R’s. Just need one for comms within the family and small prepper community and may further than that for now.🙏
I bought a Baofeng AR-5RM. It seems to have the same menu and similar capabilities like air band, just lower power. Don't know what to do with it yet.
Your choice... Wouxun KG-UV9D Mte, or BF UV-25?
Is this just the next gen of the ARL-152?
Mine wont let me transmit on GMRS. Is there a work around?
Yup. Buy a GMRS radio. 😢
Man that display is big. Can it display both frequency AND channel name/label at the same time?
The Baofeng she tells you not to worry about 😅
But did they up their scan speed?
I was wondering that too
What is scramble?
I love mine, took it to the UK and got asked a few times what it was
That Talkpod is probably the only radio allowed in prisons. Can't hide a shank in it, so it's good to go.
I just got two of these UV25 radios at the same time. I noticed in the settings one radio shows Firmware V0.03 Hardware V01. The other shows Firmware V0.06 and Hardware V01. Just curious if anyone know the differences?
I would like to see someone make a radio like this.... but have it be HF.
I would like to buy it but it seems complicated to use
I sense this thing has HamGeek APX-8000 DNA. Similar large size and form factor to US public service radios?
Cool vid big radio to talk on
Couple of points, one there's a reason they ship a folding antenna with it, the bendy hose antenna sucks. Two, the buttons are much larger, people with fat fingers will really like this radio.
I have got one with firmware version V0.10 and Hardware V01, but this one is missing the scramble option. and the menu only goes to 45. There also seems to be a UV-24 Pro max version. I think you have that version.
After testing five batteries after three charge cycles, 5150mA/h is the capacity.
Hmmmm isn’t the sticker saying 5600? Not happy about that.
That’s why I test rather than read specs’ mate. I can only speak as to my instruments and procedure, initial models were labelled as 2800mA/h and the cells are (conjecture) probably B-grade. You should have noticed the thermometer for the battery pack also is NC so this pack has been cobbled together.
There’s a vid’ about it on my channel.
There are four average quality 18650 cells inside the battery pack with a dog-shit charging circuit hence the horrendous recharge time.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Josh, The Radioddity website and the Amazon description state that the battery is 5200. Also, I don't think 10 W out just inches from the skull is a good idea. As you mentioned in your video, I like these inexpensive Baofengs as receiving radios only for both mobile and around the house - an inexpensive airband monitor, fm radio, scan local repeaters, weather band monitor, etc. Even if you never transmit with it I think its a bargain for monitoring and general listening. I look for battery life and memory capacity, so this one will probably be in my collection soon. Thanks for all you do, and enjoy your channel.
@@AudioDaze yep. As I’ve termed it - _it’s an RF [something] _ and yeah; do you really want a 10W RF shower inches from your face?
I’m glad my testing matches with others’ specs at least! Trust but verify, all that 😂
Love your content, i know everyone else does too. Thank you!
Thank you!
I just got the Tidradio H8 10 watt not, 9 watts VHF, 7 Watts UHF 4 Watts GMRS. Looking for a high watt GMRS.
I really have no reason to buy this, but I'm going to anyway. Gotta get one before it gets prominently displayed on any new streaming military/tactical movie/show and they will be unobtanium. "Look at me, Chris Pratt! I got one too!"
What about the AR-152? Anyone do any testing to compare battery life between the two?
What's the difference to the pro and pro max version 🤔
Will this Tx on 1.25m and was it clean on all bands?
I'd buy this, just for the silly factor. And have it sitting next to my Yaesu FT2DR, FT3DR, Kenwood TH75, Icom ID-51, 52 and IC-31 and 91AD to make it feel bad about itself.
At last a decent physical sized radio similar happened to phones back in the day the trend was smaller smaller then- now THANKFULLY phones are bigger and sure hope radios besides this one (good size the Motorola) also go that way. Maybe in my case fat fingers and bad eyesight might be why this is my preference. The fact that its 10w is a bit of a worry next to a head but be careful and hold it away a bit or drop the power lower. Anyway that's my thoughts -good review thanks.73 de VK3DET.
Any idea on the range of the unit?
I think I would need a lot more functions for a radio that size to be attractive.
Reminds me of carrying my old Icom brick back in the day,
There seem to be at least three versions of the UV-25. L and M on the two-band, but then at least some Amazon ones are tri-band without the other antenna, and some have the other antenna and also claim 11W. Is yours really just two-band? Can the two-band ones be modified to tri-band?
Yes. I tried 220. Believe me if it was tri-band I’d be talking about it.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse One of your fellow ham youtubers ( Ham Radio 2.0) did a review of the UV-25 and showed 220. He also tested overtones and found a very different result from you. But, he also didn't have a flat baseline in his nanoSA. I wonder if you are both using them in different ways? It would be really great to know that your methods are the same and that the radios really differ, not the other way!
Mine will receive 220 fine. But will not transmit there.
whats the water resistant rating?
now how do you unlock/jailbreak it lol
At first, i thought this was a workout video, and then i noticed the radio. Thank goodness im lazy.
The UV-25 series is available in L and M versions. The M version SUPPORTS AM 108-136Mhz RX, 350- 390MHz RX and Voice Scrambling Functions (not for use on ham bands).
bro where did you get that toph patch??
I cant find the discount. When I go to the site with your link the price is the same as advertised. What am I missing.
Hmmm. Let me see.
Maybe they are aiming this for the SHTF crew.
I think so.
Trust me, it’s not very robust 😂
@@robustreviews The original baofeng was pretty robust. Why not this one?
@@vhfgamer I’ll put a video up Sunday - the extra mass causes more issues with my engineer brain switched on - these really aren’t very tough at all, they’re a LARP gadget.
It looks like it fits in an MBITR sized pouch.
Did you happen to check the swr on the antennas on 2M/70cm?
Nope. That’s not something I do as I don’t have a copy of their testing apparatus.
It will work on gmrs if I read specs correctly?
You can pound a fence post with it.
I cannot seem to find the discount code for this...anyone know?
Hmm that or another Abbree. Need another SHTF radio
Interestingly, it also doubles as a Weapon of Mass Destruction. Beat the brakes off someone with it if necessary. Plus the fancy antenna adds a +10 modifier to damage.
What's the gag about putting a label that says "farsometer" on a surecom?
It measures fars.
Looks like a 1970s hand held CB ('cept the 'tenna").
At that size, it should be at least 40 watts
Chungas Feng has more of a Genghis Khan ring to it.😂
I like that. Might swap the name. 😅
Some people say it transmit on gmrs and some say it dont why is that
BAOFEUNG and decent radio in the same sentence.......OMG!!
I like mine, I can finally program it through the keypad.
Any idea if chirp will work on it? I just went to look at the specs on this, and they say it also works on 220MHz?!?!?!?! Can you check that and let us know if it really does.
It works with chirp with firmware set to uv-17l