Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Review of the Baofeng UV-5R Plus (2013 edition) I purchased this radio sold by Sain Store, serviced by Amazon in October 2013 with Prime free shipping. The radio arrived 3 days later, however the unit shipped was the European Version with the incorrect power supply and lacking the FCC type label. I contacted Sain Store and was issued an RMA and shipping address and they replaced the radio with a US version with the proper labeling and power supply. The Radios I received both had firmware version 281. Some units are also being shipped with version 291. Users should make note of which firmware they receive because the software version you use to program the radio is dependent on the firmware you receive. There does not seem to be any user functional differences between 281 and 291. Impressions of the UV-5R Plus. This radio is nicely small yet not to small to operate. Like many of its Chinese contemporaries, it can be a bit quirky to program via the keypad but easy to do so with the software. Understand that easy keyboard programability is not nominally supposed to be a Part 90 compliant radio. Even so you can program frequencies, splits, Tones and DPL from the keyboard with some patience, but not channel names. Pro's of the UV-5R Plus: Extremely Affordable, including accessories like spare batteries. Uses standard accessories including programming cable, mics, and antennas (with other Chinese radios such as Wouxon). Radio has voice assist operation of many functions. LED light is very handy. Three color LCD backlight is useful (standby, Xmit and Receive can have colors assigned). Small enough including antenna to fit in a pants pocket. Sturdy construction. Legal to use on both Ham and LMS (part 90) bands if you are licensed as a user. VFO limits can be set to ham bands (or restricted to other bands) Very wide frequency coverage as well as 2013 narrowband operation capability. Can monitor FRS, GMRS, MURS, (transmit capable, but not legal - lacking FCC part 95 type acceptance). Can listen to Broadcast FM Cons of the UV-5R Plus: Manual could be a lot better Not a true dual receive unit (its dual watch). Scanning is slow, and you can't select/deselect channels to be scanned from the keyboard. No copy memory channel to VFO function. No PTT lock out function from Keyboard (or software). No single channel display (would be ideal if it had a single channel mode that showed frequency and name and memory channel) Carrier Squelch Level is not adjustable (its on or off, levels 1 through 10 are all the same). No simple keyboard and VFO lockout insuring Mem Channel only operation (nominally a Part 90 requirement). No AM Aircraft band receive (many won't care). Would be even more usable by visually impaired if menu selections had voice prompts. Overall impressions. The value for the money is outstanding. These cost under $60 delivered, for a versatile sturdy product with a good capacity LiIon Battery. The ability to cover HAM and LMS makes them ideal for Emergency, and Community Service organizations. While there are many things to nit pick at (see cons:) the usability of this radio especially when programmed with the freely available software (as well as third party software) and very affordable USB cable (about 10 bucks), is very good. Its lacks all the bells and whistles of a $ 400 dollar dedicated Japanese Ham radio, but it costs 1/8th as much and has part 90 certification for legal operation on Govt. and business bands.