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Reviews For: BAOJIE BJ-UV88 VHF/UHF hand held

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

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Review Summary For : BAOJIE BJ-UV88 VHF/UHF hand held
Reviews: 3MSRP: 69 on eBay
Description:
Frequency range : FM: 88-108MHz (RX)

VHF: 136-174MHz (RX/TX)

UHF0: 350-390.995MHz (RX)

UHF1: 400-470.995MHz (RX/TX)

UHF2: 480-520.995MHz (RX)

Product is in production
More Info: http://www.qzbaojie.com/E_Products_d.asp?21
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0031.3
VA2PBJ Rating: 2013-04-26
What KB3VWG said and more Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
It turns out that Kenwood HT programming cables work. I ordered a USBK4Y from http://www.durhamradio.com/ (Canada) and it works fine, even on my Windows 8.

The programming software is downloadable off their site http://www.qzbaojie.com/e_xzzx.asp?2 .

The first thing you will realize is the installer program is for the birds. It makes a start menu item that does not even work. Go into the folder and create a short cut yourself. Running Windows 8, I decided to try that under xp and w2kpro and found it had the same problem. Oh well.

In standard short-sighted form, the configuration is done in sections and you have to read the configuration for each section. At least you can save them as templates. The menu's are split into channel, option, signal, freq range, and communication.

Communication: You have to set this before you can do anything. It wants the com port and does not remember the setting.

Freq Range: This is where you are supposed to be able to set up freq ranges and tx permissions. It doesn't work. It will reset the HT's configuration. The clue of things out of date is the choice of VHF0 and UHF0. The units come with UHF0,UHF1 and UHF2. If you try to read the config, the app will crash.

Signal: DTMF coding. As expected.

Option: This is where you get to set up the rig with global params, as expected. Among other things, you can set the rig to boot in channel mode. The options will make sense and the acronyms are in the manual.

Channel: This is pretty much where you want to live. It is an easy way to set up all the channels (128) and provide display names. Here is the rub: UHF is useless. The software will only set UHF0 for the band and the radio comes hard-wired for UHF1 for transmit freqs. It will accept the upload, but the rig will error (beep) when you try to use the channel.

I rate this handheld low because it requires you to use the software for full functionality, but prevents you because they have not updated the software in years...like 10 years. It's a VB6 (maybe even VB5) app with a VB6 installer. It would take a 10 year old an afternoon to have all these issues fixed and rolled out. It's like they just don't care. I have sent several messages to them and have yet to receive a reply.

Hardware wise, it is a very nice rig that I would like to be able to use on more than VHF. What a shame. You would think that if they don't want to fix the software they should at least open source it.

Relegated to packet use.
KB3VWG Rating: 2011-10-03
VFO Mode Excellent - get Program Cable to do Channel Mode Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This is a decent dual-receive dual-band radio which will work one cross-band or 2 single band repeaters at one; it could be better. This was my first HT as a new ticket and VFO direct entry allowed UHF/VHF, UHF/UHF, VHF/VHF entry, so you can manually enter a cross-band TX repeater frequency on one channel and the RX on the other, or menu programing 2 single-band repeater sets in Channel A/B to monitor two repeaters is simple out-of-the-box. Hand entering frequencies and their PL or other codes are simple. The rig also includes a great receiver and one channel can be set to a non-TX band for scanning/receiving.

Field programing is possible (except for entering RIG ID and Channel Names); but you must switch the radio to VFO mode via an obscure procedure (which can also be password protected). Saving repeater frequencies into an empty memory bank requires two separate steps for the TX and RX settings. Options such as TX PL saved under the RX frequency (and vice versa) seems to cause errors. The menu does not make it easy switch these options while field programing. In addition, a mistake or error in programing requires erasing the memory bank and starting the programming from Step One. So while it is possible, I suggest only attempting to program this rig for channel mode with a PC and Programing Cable.

I noticed when field programming, a phantom channel 000 appears when switching to channel mode (which seems to hold VFO data for both channels A and B, that seems to cause errors when field programming.

Since I cannot determine the circuit or easily order a cable from the manufacturer, a Woxun or other similar RIG is also a choice. I came across a Mot UHF antenna for the rig which improved reception over the stock. At Four/One Watt options, this is a good entry rig. Investing in one or two, and finding the programming cable and better Rubber Duckie would produce a small powerhouse of a rig. MARS/CAP capable. Instruction Manual appears to be roughly translated from Chinese syntax and language; often hard to follow. The included belt hook did not fit the rig.

(Assuming your rig also comes from the factory in Channel Mode, powering on the right while holding MENU switches it into VFO Mode, which, without a cable, is probably where you'll keep it set.)
K2OO Rating: 2011-04-27
Get something better Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
DOA. Something was wrong with the PTT switch and I couldn't access any of the menus to get it working. Minor manufacturing complaint: the holes in the belt clip didn't align with the holes in the back of the radio.