Baofeng UV-9R / GT-3WP Review

[@chrissewell1608]

I have 2 UV9R+ radios. They are tough little beaters radios. I have dropped them on concrete, and in puddles, numerous times, when the OEM belt clips failed. I have swapped the clips out cell phone clips. The radios them selves work really well. Good audio quality, the batteries last for weeks, and even the OEM antenna works pretty good, and its sealed with o-rings. For a budget radio, that is waterproof, I recommend it.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

I noticed the Baofeng UV-9R and UV-9G radios the plus models loose the Radio Knob Guard i do love they are the same internally as the UV-5R @KS6DAY

[@hardtruth2039]

Wrap a little sticky back sandpaper around the stock antenna and it will widen the hole on the radio to allow a Nagoya to fit. I’ve done it on my UV-9G’s and a GT-3WP. Worked great.

[@dennisbuchen1686]

Yes thats a small thing to complain about when theres an easy fix to it. I have 6 uv9g's and 8 uv5r++'s and have nagoyas on each. they work great! BTW all 12 of my radios are ip67 rated and yes i have put them in water and left them over night without any problems. I also left them on while they were in the water and when i took them out they worked perfectly so there is no doubt in my mind that they will be dependable when i need them to be. As far as range with them I can get 20 miles (about as far as I have tried so far) out of each model but having said that I use them on the water without any obstacles in the way, so purely line of sight. I have range tested them simplex in the city and can get 10 miles without any problems. Thats as far as I have tested them on land. I figured that all the wifi signals would cut my range down but that doesnt seem to be the case.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

You can get a Sealed Motorolla style pin connector converter to convert it to K1 Connector which means you can use other accessories like k1 accessories I use My RayTalk RSM-350 and RMS-400W Ip67 Rated speaker mic's that are k1 connectors on my UV-9G radios all the time 15:20 @KS6DAY

[@GarrettHypes]

To make the antenna fit you can make the diameter of the base of the antenna smaller by sanding it down. It doesn't take much so it fit into the radio.

[@18dmedic]

I prefer the Baofeng Tech BF-F8HP over all of the UV-5R's and other clones that have come out of that radio. I also have and use a lot the UV-82HP also made by Baofeng Tech. The BF-F8HP and the UV-82HP are the two radios that I will take with me out into the field and I will leave my six UV-5R's and the UV-5RA at home to be used around the property in the various checkpoints. I have picked up three TYT TH-UV88's and learning more about them and as you have said many times the TH-UV88 and the RT-85 are two identical radios and very well worth the money. I use both the Retevis RT-85 3200 mAh battery and the Radioddity GM-30 1500 mAh battery on the UV88 without any issues at all. I love the GM-30 battery due to the very simple fact that it is recharged via a USB-C port which means I can use my Anker 26,800 mAh battery packs and other like ones in the field for basically unlimited power.

[@notsure7874]

BTech is great, don't get me wrong - but there's nothing special about the BF-F8HP or the UV-82HP. I've seen tests (not sure if btech, or other "hp" versions) where the actual output wattage was no higher than the uv5r - it just had 3 instead of 2 steps. With line of sight being the real limiting factor, I'm not concerned with the difference between 5 and 8 watts. I can more than overcome that difference with an antenna swap. The rx sensitivity isn't something you can change easily, and the boards are the same as any other 5r or 82. So I'm glad I have them, and I use them a lot, but I don't necessarily think they're worth the extra money other than you get Btech instead of "joe random" if you have a problem - and that IS worth something. They have other cool radios too, I have some Btech frs-b1's, and I've eyeballed the a1's. I've eyeballed that GM-30 battery on a TYT / Retevis setup because USB-C charging is very important to me - but so is "waterproof" and both for the same reason. I need a radio I can use for outdoor activities including very wet activities like boating, and diving (leaving the radio on the dive float). I've been looking high and low for a radio that I could charge from my power pack if I'm stuck, and also not die when it gets wet. So far, I have not found.

[@halledwardb]

@@notsure7874 Dive Alert. Its gone DEEP.

[@RHampton]

As a newb, thanks for the great caveats about the connector and antenna.

[@sukpon2746]

I have two UV-9R plus..love it. The antenna I used is Nagoya na771 with a small mod and will fit and work just fine. On the antenna base, the plastic part, I cut it off all the way to the metal plate and grind a 45 degree off just above it. It will fit and works fine, way batter then the oem antenna.

[@chrissewell1608]

The Nagoya (I bought) didn't fit my UV-9R +. I ended up with Expert Power antennas. The base coil is slightly smaller in diameter,and fits.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

I use BNC Connectors on all my radios makes easy to swap my antennas only thing i have used that works on the UV-9R and UV-9G radios 21:10 @KS6DAY

[@ClimbAClassic]

Disco32 has a BNC adapter that fits these radios well 👍

[@dominodoggy1]

I got a Nagoya NA-771 antenna to go onto my GT-3WP without any sanding or modifications at all. I did have to take my time and give it a little extra effort, though. I put it on and took it back off maybe four times, and each time made the finish/paint on the 771 wear down a little more to where it just fits inside the GT-3WP's narrow base ring. So it does fit. But what is the deal with these belt clips? They are horrible! I realized quickly that the belt clip wasn't anything worth actually using. The wrist strap isn't any better. I actually wanted to use the wrist strap but on the very first time out the front door with the wrist strap, it broke and the radio hit the ground. No damage, of course, but the cheap little wrist straps are no good either. $30 for the radio plus $20 for the Nagoya 771 and I have a couple of extra batteries from some also-identical-almost UV-9G gmrs radios I happen to also have. Not a bad deal for a first amateur radio. Should last me till I can get money for my Yaesu FT5DR saved up ;)

[@jefffields8261]

NOTE: The FM radio has been removed from Baofeng UV-9G due to chip cost. Other than that everything they fixed seems to be working great, just no FM broadcast radio.

[@dennisbuchen1686]

Thats not true. All six of mine still receive FM radio.

[@tedundercarriage8183]

​@@dennisbuchen1686new production, and only certain vendors.

[@dominodoggy1]

This is a year old and I bought two UV-9G's within the past month and they both still have broadcast FM receive

[@kidbach]

I bought the GT-3WP because except for it being a ham radio, it's form and function mirrors my UV-9G.

[@kidbach]

@@trueheavenlywarrior2033 I have not tried to unlock.

[@chrissewell1608]

I bought the Abree speaker mic. It is "supposed to be" waterproof. Your voice is muffled, due to the waterproof seal. So you have to speak loudly. But its well built, and does not feel cheaply made.

[@johnk23705]

I gotta say, Baofeng's just piss me off. Yes, I have a bunch of them. I used to buy one or two every month. I put them in my EMP trash can. They are used when I want to take a throw away radio and are there to give out to others in a questionable future. One is always in my truck. If it gets ripped off, so be it. I carry the good radio on my person. If in that future, if that person has not bought a solid radio, I'm sure not giving them one of my Yaesu's. The darn things do work. I'm not a radio snob, I just love quality. I think the slow scanning is one of their worst points. They do have their place and have been the first radio for many new Hams. Thank You for the review. It's good to know what is out there and I know it helps many make decisions on what may or may not work for them. The Boafeng has been responsible for many new hams getting their license due to the low price of entry. As I said, they do have their place. Just not as a radio I would bet my life on. If a Baofeng is all you can afford, good on you for taking the steps necessary to have comms. You're ahead of the other 99% who are the Sheep out there who will likely vapor lock in the first 48 without their cell phones.

[@joelhefner9517]

Thank you for the awesome video. I really liked your AR-152 review!

[@esincl52]

I have two uv-9G's and one UV-9R and another one on the way. For the money, they're good radios

[@trueheavenlywarrior2033]

Do you know how to unlock the uv9g?

[@notsure7874]

You can't. You have to buy the uv9r instead, and unlock GMRS if it's locked out, but I'm not sure whether any of those are locked, or how to unlock them - I've had to unlock another baofeng though (uv-82) and I think it's done the same way. But iirc, there is no way to unlock the 9g, because it's not locked - it just doesn't have a complete version of the software installed to unlock.

[@dennisbuchen1686]

@@notsure7874 Im like you I have tried several different ways to unlock my 9g's but havent figured it out yet. So far all of the other radio guys I know havent been able to do it either. The 5r and 5r++ are really easy to unlock and its the same method for both models. You are probably right about the software not being the same. I'll start looking around to see if I can find or (steal) the software to fix that problem LOL

[@notsure7874]

@@dennisbuchen1686 It's the firmware in the radios, your efforts would be better spent buying different radios unfortunately. They're fine for what they are though.

[@zachhartmann4444]

Expert dual band antenna screwed right in to my GT.

[@joeframo3347]

Ham radio dude did really good and it WP survived what's better waterproof radio I love mine I did my homework thank you for teaching me a lot over and out 73

[@-lupa6698]

I watched another KZbin channel and he sanded the opening a little bit for the antenna to fit .

[@chrissewell1608]

Nagoya antennas don't fit! The base is to wide! I use Expert Power antennas. They fit, and work well. Although my factory antennas work really well too.

[@joeframo3347]

Hey Scott great program thank you 👍

[@CarlitoDuba]

How much?

[@wp4rkf]

DAY, look on Amazon for "DHT Electronics 2pcs SMA Female to BNC Female Convert Adapter for Two Way Radio BaoFeng UV-5R FD-880" it might be what you are looking for. I haven't try it though.

[@brucemurray2520]

Looks like the UV-9r is heavier. Can someone confirm? Thanks

[@datseb997]

So how about hooking this thing up to a headset? Say a peltor type headset. Is that possible

[@MrContemplation]

Yes it absolutely is possible

[@joeframo3347]

No you're wrong cuz I have the diamond srj77a Fitz perfect on that radio 🌞

[@joeframo3347]

Hey buddy I love my WP it's a very good radio

[@robertmccraw6179]

Mfj has an antenna that fits

[@joeframo3347]

Two-way if so commercial Ken woods and icom commercial radios your phone speaker mic with then

[@johndowd7010]

Good luck using channel 15....it won't work.

[@KS6DAY]

Why not? And what is the context?