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Reviews For: Baofeng/Radioddity UV-5RX3 tri-band VHF/UHF transceiver

Category: Transceivers: VHF/UHF+ Amateur Hand-held

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Review Summary For : Baofeng/Radioddity UV-5RX3 tri-band VHF/UHF transceiver
Reviews: 1MSRP: 50
Description:
FCC ID: 2AJGM-UV5R EAN: 4897093820891 ?Tri-Band Radio?The UV-5RX3 was specifically designed as a Tri-Band transceiver. The internal filtering allows not only the traditional VHF and UHF frequencies but also includes the 220-225 MHz Ham band for the US. ?Classic 5R-Plus Design?UV-5RX3 continues the classic 5R-Plus design with a glossy metal shell. It shares almost all the accessories with Baofeng UV-5R Plus. ?What's More?Two antennas included. One is for the standard VHF/UHF band and the additional one is specifically tuned for 220 MHz. ?Features & Programming?? Tri-Color Display ? DTMF Access ? It also supports PC programming software via cable.
Product is in production
More Info: https://www.baofengradio.com/products/uv-5rx3
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0011
NH6O Rating: 2021-09-20
Disappointing - poor reception even with external antenna Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Although I am not a VHF/UHF FM enthusiast, I do like to keep a radio for casual listening and emergencies. My last radio was a Kenwood TH-F6A, but I wound up giving it to a friend on the mainland who was interested in working EasySats.

I still wanted tri-band capability, and the Baofeng triband radios were intriguing. I had read many good things about the original UV-5R - that its performance was a great value. I assumed this radio was going to be the same good-performing UV-5R, but with additional 222-225 MHz capability.

I have moved a lot over the last few years, and don't have many frames of reference to evaluate a VHF/UHF/FM radio. Strong analog amateur repeaters are becoming rarer - usually I only hear the buzz of digital audio when scanning. NOAA Weather Radio is one of my favorites, though. The first clue that something wasn't right was when I could only pick up NOAA on the Baofeng when the radio was oriented just right, but the same broadcast would be full quieting on my SDR dongle with a modest whip antenna.

I finally used the UV-5RX3 in an emergency preparedness operating event over the weekend on all 3 bands, and its performance was poor on all of them. 440 was probably the best of the bands, followed by 2 meters, and then 1.25 meters as the worst. I had expected underperformance of the stock duckie antennas, and had set up an external discone antenna to improve reception/transmission. That antenna made no difference whatsoever compared to the duckies, and I know the discone antenna/feedline was OK - I was switching it to my Elecraft KX3 for use on 2 meters and 6 meters during the same event.

Because the radio was not working as hoped with a good external antenna, it seems clear that there is some sort of problem with the radio. Stations were still hearing me on transmit, so I further suspect the problem was receiver-related.

I hoped for much better performance than I received from the UV-5RX3. I think I'll stick with major reputable brands from now on.