Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5 Stars)
The Baofeng AR-5RM handheld radio stands out as an excellent value proposition, particularly for amateur radio enthusiasts. While it comes with certain limitations, its robust feature set and impressive performance for its price point make it a highly competitive option in the market.
Strengths:
- Exceptional Value: The AR-5RM offers an incredible array of features at a price that’s hard to beat, making it an accessible entry point for new ham radio operators or a reliable backup radio for experienced users.
- Solid Build and Power: This radio feels sturdy in hand, more so than some of its predecessors. It boasts a true 10W high power output across multiple bands (VHF, 220, UHF), ensuring strong and clear transmissions over considerable distances. Many users report excellent audio quality, even at range.
- Wide Frequency Coverage: The AR-5RM provides extensive receive capabilities, including FM radio (68-108 MHz), AM airband (108-136 MHz), VHF (136-174 MHz), 220-260 MHz, and UHF (350-520 MHz). Its ability to receive airband frequencies in AM is a significant plus.
- Modern Conveniences: The inclusion of USB-C charging is a welcome upgrade, allowing for flexible charging options with standard mobile chargers, power banks, or laptops. It also features a larger 1.77-inch color screen and 999 memory channels, offering ample space for programming.
- User-Friendly Programming: While the factory software has some quirks, the AR-5RM is largely compatible with CHIRP software, which simplifies programming and channel management. The one-key frequency copy function is also a handy feature for quickly grabbing frequencies from other radios.
- Long-Lasting Battery: Equipped with a 2500mAh battery, the radio offers decent battery life, with options for larger capacity batteries that can be charged while still in use.
Considerations:
- Licensing and Legal Use: A crucial point for potential buyers is that transmitting on FRS, GMRS, or MURS frequencies with this radio is generally illegal without the appropriate type acceptance and licensing (e.g., an Amateur Radio License for ham bands). It’s primarily designed and best suited for licensed amateur radio operation.
- Screen Readability: Some users have noted that the color screen can be challenging to read in bright sunlight, particularly menu settings displayed in red.
- Software Nuances: While CHIRP compatibility is a strong point, the native factory software can be less intuitive, especially for programming airband channels directly.
- Spurious Emissions: As with many budget-friendly radios, there can be discussions around spurious emissions, though many users find its performance to be surprisingly clean for its price point.
Conclusion:
The Baofeng AR-5RM is an outstanding choice for anyone seeking a feature-rich, high-power handheld radio without breaking the bank. Its broad receive capabilities, including airband, and modern conveniences like USB-C charging, make it a versatile tool. While users must be mindful of proper licensing for transmission, the AR-5RM delivers exceptional performance and value, easily earning its 4-star rating.
Leave a Reply