I’ve programmed local repeaters into my Baofeng UV-5R, my UV-9G is set up to listen to local ham repeaters, and I hold an FCC Technician license. Here is what the UV-5R does well, what it legally can and can’t do, how to program it with CHIRP, and the manufacturer specs.
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I've programmed local repeaters into my Baofeng UV-5R, and my Baofeng UV-9G is set up to listen to local ham repeaters. I hold an FCC Technician license. This review is built on that plus what Baofeng, the FCC and the CHIRP project publish. I haven't run a measured range test or a timed battery rundown on this radio, so you won't find those numbers here.
Editor’s PickSold out on Amazon
In stock on Amazon in the same class: Baofeng BF-F8HP (8-watt dual-band handheld).
This is not a plug-and-play radio. It won't have your local repeaters loaded when it comes out of the box, and you need a license before you transmit. If you're willing to spend an evening learning the basics, it is a very capable radio for the money.
These figures come from Baofeng's own UV-5R product page and the FCC equipment records, not from our own measurements.
| Type | Dual-band handheld transceiver (analog FM) |
| Frequency Range (VHF) | 136-174 MHz (per Baofeng) |
| Frequency Range (UHF) | 400-520 MHz (per Baofeng) |
| Output Power | 4W (high) / 1W (low) |
| Channels | 128 programmable |
| Battery | 7.4V 1800mAh Li-ion (Baofeng doesn't list a standby time) |
| Antenna | SMA-Female (swappable) |
| Programming | CHIRP (free) with a K-plug USB programming cable, or the keypad |
| License Required | FCC amateur license to transmit on ham bands |
| Weight | 500 g (about 17.6 oz) with battery and antenna, per Baofeng |
| Price | $22.99 regular, $17.19 on sale at Baofeng's store (checked October 28, 2026; prices change) |
Check out The Orlando Prepper’s field test of the Baofeng UV-5R:
The Baofeng UV-5R serves a specific user. If you are that user, it is hard to beat at this price:
It is a dual-band handheld radio that transmits and receives on VHF and UHF. Its range covers the 2 meter (144-148 MHz) and 70 centimeter (420-450 MHz) amateur bands, plus frequencies outside them. Being able to tune a frequency doesn't make it legal to transmit there.
Important legal note: You need an FCC amateur license to transmit on ham frequencies (47 CFR 97.5). The entry license is Technician. The exam is 35 multiple-choice questions and you need 26 correct to pass. The FCC charges a $35 application fee, and the volunteer exam team usually charges a session fee of $15 or less. I hold a Technician license, and it's the first step I'd recommend to anyone buying this radio.
FRS, GMRS and MURS are off limits for this radio. Those services require a transmitter certified under FCC Part 95 (47 CFR 95.335). The UV-5R's FCC grants we found are under Part 90 and Part 15, not Part 95. In 2018 the FCC also warned that two-way VHF/UHF radios that can transmit outside the ham bands need equipment certification. If you want family radios for FRS or GMRS, buy certified ones.
About emergencies: The FCC's emergency rules (47 CFR 97.403 and 97.405) are narrow. They cover communication for the immediate safety of life or protection of property when normal communication systems aren't available, and a station in distress. They are not a reason to skip the license. Get licensed and practice before you need it.
You can listen without a license. That alone makes the Baofeng useful for monitoring NOAA weather and local repeaters.
Key takeaway: Get your ham license before you buy the radio, or study for it at the same time. A radio you cannot legally transmit on is just a receiver. With a license, it is a genuine communication tool.
Out of the box, the Baofeng doesn't know your local repeaters. You need to program the frequencies, offsets and tones you actually use.
You have two options:
Option 1: CHIRP software (recommended). CHIRP is free, open-source programming software, and the UV-5R is on its supported radio list. You'll need a USB programming cable with the K-plug connector the radio uses. CHIRP can also pull repeater lists from RepeaterBook, which saves a lot of typing.
Option 2: Manual programming via the keypad. The manual covers it, and it works. Each repeater needs its frequency, offset and tone entered by hand, so CHIRP is much faster for a full channel list.
Once it's programmed, the radio is ready to use. That first programming session is where a lot of people stall. My advice: program it the day you buy it. Do not let it sit in a drawer “until you need it,” because when you need it, you will not have time to figure it out.
Key takeaway: Budget for a programming cable and an evening with CHIRP. An unprogrammed Baofeng won't do much for you.
I haven't run a measured range test with this radio, so you won't find made-up mileage numbers here. What I can tell you is what controls range on any VHF/UHF handheld:
| Factor | What it does | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Line of sight | The biggest factor for radio-to-radio (simplex) range | Hills, buildings and dense trees cut range |
| Your height | Higher ground reaches farther | Step outside, get up a hill, hold the radio upright |
| Repeaters | A well-placed repeater relays your signal much farther than a handheld can reach alone | Coverage depends on the repeater's height and location |
| Power and antenna | 4W high power and a better antenna help | The SMA-Female connector lets you swap the stock antenna |
Upgrade the antenna: Many owners replace the stock antenna with a longer aftermarket whip that fits the SMA-Female connector. We haven't measured the difference.
Key takeaway: Direct handheld-to-handheld range is limited by terrain. The real reach comes from repeaters. Get your license and learn your local repeater network.
This is a budget radio, and it's priced like one. Baofeng's product page doesn't list a water or dust rating for the UV-5R, so treat it as a radio to keep dry.
In the box, per Baofeng: the radio, a 7.4V 1800mAh Li-ion battery, antenna, earpiece mic, belt clip, hand strap, manual, adapter and desktop charger.
Baofeng doesn't publish a standby time for the UV-5R on its product page. Battery life depends on how much you transmit, which power level you use, and whether battery saver is on. A spare battery is cheap insurance for a go-bag.
Local repeaters: I've programmed local repeaters into my UV-5R, and my UV-9G is set up to listen to local ham repeaters. Programming repeaters is the step that makes a handheld useful when cell service is down.
Listening first: Monitoring your local repeaters is an easy way to learn how they're used before you key up.
Emergency backup: A radio that's already programmed for your local repeaters is a real capability when cell service is down. It only helps if it's charged, programmed and you've practiced. Read about grid-down communication strategies in our emergency comms comparison.
Learning ham radio: The UV-5R is a cheap entry point to figure out if amateur radio is something you want to invest more in. If you get hooked, you can upgrade to a Yaesu or Kenwood. If not, you are out about $23.
| Feature | Baofeng UV-5R | Midland GXT1000VP4 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $22.99 each (Baofeng store, regular) | $99.99 per pair (Midland store) |
| Bands | VHF + UHF (transmit on ham bands only) | GMRS/FRS only |
| Setup | Requires programming (CHIRP recommended) | Turn on and talk |
| License | Amateur Technician (exam, $35 FCC fee plus session fee) | GMRS ($35, no exam, covers immediate family) |
| Repeater Access | Yes (amateur repeaters) | No |
| Weather Alerts | Receive only, tune manually | NOAA weather alert built in |
| Best For | Licensed hams, monitoring | Family walkie-talkies |
GMRS radios (like the Midland GXT1000VP4) are easier to use, with no programming. GMRS still needs a license: $35, no exam, and one license lets your immediate family operate. They are limited to GMRS and FRS. The Baofeng reaches the ham bands and ham repeaters, but only licensed hams can transmit on it. If you want simple family walkie-talkies, get certified GMRS radios. If you want a radio that can do more, get your ham license and the Baofeng, and put in the time to learn it.
Key takeaway: Many families do well with both: certified GMRS radios for everyone, and a UV-5R for each licensed ham in the house.
A layered communication strategy covers different scenarios:
A starter comms kit: a UV-5R, a programming cable, a spare battery, and a pair of certified GMRS radios with a GMRS license for the family. Add a Garmin inReach for satellite backup and you have every communication layer covered. Prices change, so check current prices before you buy.
Verdict: A lot of radio for about $23. It takes effort to set up and a license to transmit, but for a licensed ham on a budget, the value is hard to beat. This verdict rests on the published specs, the price and the FCC rules above, not on a hands-on range or battery test.
Sold out on Amazon
In stock on Amazon in the same class: Baofeng BF-F8HP (8-watt dual-band handheld).
I've programmed local repeaters into my Baofeng UV-5R, and my UV-9G is set up to listen to local ham repeaters. I hold an FCC Technician license. Specs, prices and legal details come from Baofeng, the FCC and the CHIRP project, and are listed with dates where they change.
What I haven't done: a measured range test or a timed battery rundown on this radio. This review doesn't claim either.
I'm Mike, a union lineman of 22 years and a dad in a family of five. Adapt. Prepare. Evolve.
For FCC amateur radio licensing information, visit the FCC Amateur Radio Service page.
To transmit on amateur (ham) frequencies, yes. You need an FCC amateur license, and Technician is the entry level: a 35-question exam (26 correct to pass), a $35 FCC application fee, and usually a session fee of $15 or less. You can listen without a license. The FCC's emergency rules are narrow and are not a substitute for getting licensed and practicing.
Download CHIRP (free software), get a USB programming cable with the K-plug connector, connect the radio to your computer, and upload your channel list. CHIRP can import repeater lists from RepeaterBook. You can also program from the keypad, but it's slow for a full channel list. Program it the day you buy it.
It depends on terrain, antenna and height more than on the radio. Direct radio-to-radio range is limited by line of sight, and repeaters extend it as far as the repeater covers. We haven't published a measured range test for this radio.
Owning and listening: legal. Transmitting on amateur frequencies requires an amateur license. Transmitting on FRS or GMRS with a UV-5R is not legal, because those services require a Part 95 certified radio (47 CFR 95.335) and the UV-5R isn't certified for them. For legal GMRS use, get a certified GMRS radio.
Start with a USB programming cable for CHIRP and a spare 1800mAh battery. A longer aftermarket antenna on the SMA-Female connector is the next common upgrade. We haven't measured an antenna swap yet.
It can receive the NOAA Weather Radio frequencies (162.400 to 162.550 MHz) once programmed. Baofeng's UV-5R listing doesn't include an automatic weather alert, so it won't wake you up like a dedicated weather radio or the Midland GXT1000VP4, which has NOAA weather alert built in. You need to tune to the weather channel to listen.
Baofeng lists a 7.4V 1800mAh Li-ion battery but doesn't publish a standby time on its UV-5R page. Runtime depends on how much you transmit, your power setting and whether battery saver is on. A spare battery doubles what you carry. We haven't run a timed battery rundown.