AmRRON Survey: Handheld Radio | Results
We had a total of 171 responses! Out of the respondents, the Baofeng UV-5R was the most common Go-To H/T (handheld) radio! Of those, several of you are looking to upgrade!
Yaesu FT-60 (second)
BaoFeng BF-F8 (third)
Yaesu's FT-60R- 144/430 MHz 5-Watt FM Hand-held. Includes wide receiver coverage, outstanding audio quality, the most CTCSS/DCS flexibility in the industry, and a new Emergency Automatic Identification (EAI) feature for search-and-rescue work.
Product Overview Guide
Beginner's Guide
Operating Manual
Technical Service Manual
Yaesu FT-60R Review & Programming
Yeasu FT-60R Unboxing
Yeasu FT-60R Programming using CHIRP
Yaesu FT-60 personally although our team uses Baofeng UV-5A’s because some are not licensed, we use FRS Channels. I argue against the Chinese radio because I will not trust them in a true SHTF situ but everyone likes the $35 price tag.
For the price and simplicity to operate, I recommend BaoFengs. My wife and I own 6. Two in Faraday bags, one in my truck, one in the house, plus we each carry one on us. They have held up well. Sure, there are brands that are higher quality, but they carry a much higher price tag as well.
I wonder if I was the only one with the Yaesu VX 8 Dr… I hope not because it’s an excellent radio rugged waterproof durable all the way around.
None… I have one too… great radio
Same here. Yeas VX8DR is a great radio! Also love our ICOM ID-51a+.
I’m just wondering if amrron will start utilizing dmr?
Bill, I have the VX7 rugged waterproof and agree. I’m not sure why anyone would risk a $35 radio during the time when you would need it most. I’d like to try the VX8 but the VX7 is still a great rugged radio.
Another comment for the VX-8. Rugged, waterproof and allows scanning of the HF bands.
Use the VX-8DR myself. I wanted a go-to flexible platform.
I have both the uv5r and the ft60. I use the baofeng almost exclusively.
I like the baofeng for it’s smaller size. I don’t like it’s manual programming quirkiness but I use a computer to program my radios so once they are programmed they are equally easy to use.
I do like the near limitless memory capacity of the ft60. By comparison, the uv5rs 128 channel limit is….. limiting.
The uv5r can be used on frs/gmrs and murs if needed out of the box. The ft60 needs a difficult modification performed to do the same which is out of reach of most casual users.
Given the $40 price of the uv5r vs $170 for the ft60, ithe uv is well worth it for the cost savings alone. You will not notice a performance difference. Use the money saved for a better antenna and cool accessories!
I can’t believe the results. Baofengs are more of a toy than a real radio. The quality is poor at best, and over half of them have noisy TX. Put them on a service monitor and you will find out. I have many HT’s including a UV-5R, and I consider myself lucky that it works, but a go-to radio? NO WAY!! It’s a joke. It’s OK to get one when you first get your license, but after a couple of months throw it in a drawer or your glovebox, and get a good radio. You are just fooling yourself, but hey, to each his own.
I use the Kenwood Th-f6a. It is smaller than a baofeng but it can recieve the entire HF spectrum including SSB and CW with a good antenna attached. The Kenwood is a rugged little radio too.
Thank you for listing the Kenwood TH-f6a! Sounds like a great little radio! Thank you again for your recommendations! Polly-01
[…] We recommend that anyone who is at risk of a jamming learn to use “ham” radios. 3. In a recent AmRRON poll users suggested using the following for a handheld radio: a. BaoFeng UV-5R $30.00 b. Yaesu FT-60R $170 c. […]
I believe the dualband analog/DMR radios are gaining a lot of momentum, particularly the Anytone AT-D868 and the Ailunce HD-1. DMR can be encrypted (in a SHTF situation who is going to care about FCC anyways if there is total anarchy) so the degree if privacy is pretty good. These radios have integrated GPS and can exchange GPS locations (quite useful in heavily wooded areas) the AT-D868 in particular can do what is called “ranging”, once the remote station sends its GPS coordinates via radio, then a small compass screen in the receiving radio shows the direction and distance from the remote station, quite useful for search and rescue in normal times. I have a strong feeling that now that “ranging” is available in these radios other GPS features will be added.
What Kenwood or Icom radios do you recommend to work best with your system, I am currently looking at the Kenwood 74 but really dont like the $509.00 price tag.