Baofeng UV-25 Review

[@Xpurple]

I bought one of these to leave in my truck. I drive five different trucks/vans. This 10w radio with a mag mount antenna allows me to hit repeaters with ease. As for mine? I bought it directly from china for half what you paid and it's totally unlocked for transmit. That includes being able to transmit on 1.25M. The radio is very silly, but it works well enough.

[@85lsosa]

did you buy it from aliexpress?

[@Xpurple]

@@85lsosa : I did!

[@Doomsdaypress]

There are two versions. The UV-25 and the UV-25 Pro Max. The second on has a scramble option in the menu and airband. Inside this bendable antenna is a very thin antenna like the Signal stick.

[@darryleavenjr.2171]

I have purchased 4 of these Uv 25's ,two are the uv25 pro max , but they all look the same, how can I tell the difference between them ??

[@Doomsdaypress]

@@darryleavenjr.2171 The pro should have airband and the scramble option in the menu on 45. But for the rest you have to mark them I'll guess. Or set the put the type of radio in the power on message option 40 I think.

[@EverydayAdmin]

Love my AR-152 for battery alone!!! Amazing run time.

[@regularuser492]

How about SPURIOUS testing ???

[@andriesburger846]

Hi how many watts do this radio have

[@EdHelms1]

Great review. Definitely some interesting choices made when they designed this radio. I don’t understand using the red font, it makes things so much harder to read. Those “military style” Bluetooth speakers was the first thing I thought of when I saw the top.

[@surplusdoctor]

CHIRP allows you to erase all HAM channels, and you can load all FRS, GMRS, MURS, Marine as I did. I got mine today and within 5 minutes it was converted

[@KS6DAY]

And you can transmit on those frequencies?

[@sproutpits]

@@KS6DAY Yep. Mine will transmit on FRS/GMRS. Haven't tried MURS. I got the tri-band model that also works on 1.25m, so maybe that's relevant.

[@northmanproject4007]

The 25 according to my tests has the worst spurious emissions harmonics fail of any radio I've tested. Shocking really how bad it was. Otherwise I actually enjoyed it for all the quirky things just cuz it's different.

[@rb343]

Can I put a different baofeng antenna on the uv25? Thanks for the vid!

[@KS6DAY]

Yes, you can.

[@rb343]

@@KS6DAY Thanks! Will any other baofeng antenna work as long as it fits properly?

[@KS6DAY]

@@rb343 So long as they are dual band VHF/UHF antennas and are SMA female on the antenna side they will work just fine. If you look at the inside bottom of the removed antenna you should find a ring with the frequency range of the antenna printed on it.

[@rb343]

@KS6DAY Thanks so much, you were a huge help! 🤘

[@TonyTully-r1b]

Is brass not a metal?

[@KS6DAY]

It is. I'm guessing you're referring to my SMA connection comment. It was indeed semantically incorrect. However, my intent was to convey that the antenna side of the threaded connection consists of a metal that it harder than the softer brass used on the radio side. And thus, the radio side of the connection would likely suffer if over stress by repeatedly bending the heavy antenna. Please do accept my sincerest apologies for having committed such an egregious error and potential insult to the brass community, and other lesser metals.

[@TonyTully-r1b]

@@KS6DAY I have to admit that in parts of the UK where I do my pedanting, a “Brass” is used to describe a lady of accommodating virtue! Also you might be worried about the wrong end of the joint. A bit of brass might be much stronger than the locally mined and cast Chinese supermetal “shittite”. All the best, Tony.

[@arupian666]

Man, I love Boo-Foos. Utter, utter junk, but how can you not smile when you look at this abomination ? I'd never buy this, I'm a rabid ICOM fanboy, but it just makes me happy that this exists. Subbed for the fun vid.

[@simonnoble7589]

Great review , big is good , big is loud ? lol .... just subbed to channel . Greatings from England

[@johnk23705]

This radio is marketed as a SHTF radio. In true SHTF, this radio will get you killed. It's not which radio has the most power, it's about which radio can put out the least power and still have decent max power when needed. In most cases, 4 or 5 watts will get the job done. You can always add a better antenna for more range. This P.O.S. radio puts out 3 watts, give or take on it's lowest power setting. In SHTF I want a radio that will put out 1/10th to 1/2 watt on low power. Your RF footprint will matter in SHTF. A lot of comms will be closer in and in that case, you want the minimum power needed to stay in contact with the others in your group. Keep your RF footprint foot as small as possible to get the job done. At 3 watts, a lot more people will hear, get information and/or direction find you and set up an ambush to get all your kit. If your in a tough spot, move or get higher. This will solve that problem most of the time. Secondly, this thing is a tank. It's physically huge and weights a lot. Ounces = Pounds, Pounds = Pain. In SHTF, trying to look "Cool" is the last thing you should be concerned with. Thanks for the review Scott. Sorry for the rant, this is more for people watching who's plan for a SHTF radio is something like this one. For me, There are far better radios and gear to spend my $$$ on.

[@eddiedowning2571]

I programmed my radio with chirp I used baofeng 5RM